Word: Magic

Some violence, death, little editing, I included translations to the 'spells' at the end of the chapter, corresponding to the number/order it was spoken (it's a weird mix of Italian/Latin lol). A little somethin' for Halloween! (Also apologies for this taking so long, I've fallen into a bit of a writer's block):

5k words

Don't show anyone.

Don't tell anyone.

Those words have been ingrained into Dakota's mind, seared into his brain. He used to whisper them to himself, remind himself, every single hour, to not show anyone, not tell anyone.

It was hard to forget when showing (even if it was unintentional) killed his parents.

He was hidden when it happened. In the cellar, which was magically concealed from the humans' view. He'd watched as The Hunters came in, a ruthless group of people clad in purple armor, who hunted magic users- just like Dakota's parents. Just like him.

They didn't even know what they did wrong. His parents would never even imagine hurting a fly, let alone a person, like the humans were so keen to believe. Humans had never accepted the magic using community. They always jeered at them, taunted and bullied them. All of the magic users ignored it- they didn't believe in violence, after all.

Then one snapped. Yelled at the nonmags, the humans, as they burned his cottage to the ground, begging them to stop the torment. He never even threatened them.

It didn't matter if he meant it as a threat or not. The humans took it as one. They formed "The Hunters", a lethal group of trained nonmag volunteers, clad in Embersight, a purple stone that shined in the moonlight- and was impenetrable to magic. They ravaged the lands, searching for every mag user for decades.

Dakota's parents had done well hiding their magic, up until they slipped. How, Dakota still didn't know to this day. He just knew that he was completely alone after that horrible night; crying by himself in the cellar, until sunlight woke him, the illusion spell that his mother cast to protect him, gone. He crawled out, trying desperately to keep his stomach contents in as he ravaged the house, taking what he owned and needed- including the spellbooks that his parents hid from him with illusion spells, now gone like their owners. He never came back.

And, for a while, he was understandably paranoid. And angry. Paranoid and angry.

He wanted revenge, so badly, for what they'd done, but paranoia had kept him far from them, at least until he rationalized with himself and realized how foolish revenge was. His parents didn't raise him for revenge. And if he fought back, he'd be just as bad as the humans.

So, instead, he shuffled through life. He built himself a little cottage at the edge of the town (a little regretful now- it always took so long to walk back and forth), and taught himself all he could from the inherited spellbooks. He was certain that some spells only his parents, and now him, knew, given how complex and unorthodox they were.

Hopefully, his parents were proud of him, continuing to learn magic, and blending in with the humans, heading into town and befriending as many villagers as he could. And now, heading back home after buying food and chatting up the marketplace townsfolk. Although, they'd probably be a little worried as a lanky figure clad in Embersight armor stepped out from behind a tree.

"Dakota."

And maybe even a little confused, as Dakota smiled at the figure, nodding once. "Hey, there, Bal."

The figure bristled, lowering the purple cloth mask that had Embersight crystal weaved into it. "That's not my name!"

Dakota laughed, stepping up beside him. "Ah, yes, my sincerest apologies! I meant, hello, oh gracious Hunter Cavendish!"

The Hunter rolled his eyes, turning to walk in the direction that Dakota had been going. "Now you're just being obnoxious."

"No, just teasing."

Cavendish scoffed at Dakota's blatancy, before wisely changing the subject. "Coming back from the market?"

"Mhm. As always. Want an apple?"

"If you're offering."

"I'm not."

"Oh. Then-"

"I kid, Cav." Dakota chuckled.

"Still not my name. But, ah, thank you." Cavendish mumbled, slightly embarrassed.

And though it was dangerous as dangerous could be, Dakota decided to have a little fun. He stopped suddenly, letting Cavendish get two steps ahead, before the Hunter turned around, puzzled. Dakota winked at him, bending over the wicket basket that he'd brought along with him for the produce. Though, it wasn't like all the other tightly woven wicker baskets it mimicked- it was practically bottomless. He usually used it when he was out getting food from the town, or gathering supplies for himself or his spells in the forest. Though, he always cast a spell on the basket to make it like any other (with a bottom), just in case a nonmag saw it.

For now, though, he bent enough to hide his face, mouthing the spell to turn it bottomless yet again, running his fingers along the tightly woven willow strands to let his magic play, the orange coils pressing into the basket that Cavendish was watching. Most magic users had to say their spells out loud, and their magic came in great bursts of light. Using the spellbooks, however, Dakota taught himself how to control the orange strands that once burst freely from his palm, simply needing to mouth the words instead of yelling them. He was working on only thinking them.

He opened one of the flaps of the basket, and reached in, and kept reaching, and reaching and reaching- until his elbow hit the opening of the basket. He looked up, eyes shining with mischief as Cavendish's mouth opened.

He willed two of the apples in the basket into his hand, then pulled them out, ducking his head to once more mouth the spell, brushing his fingers against the inside of the basket, changing it to a human basket once more. He tossed one of the apples to Cavendish, who just about caught it in his shock, walking past him. "You alright, there?"

The words must've snapped him back to reality, because the Hunter squeaked, running behind Dakota.

"What?! How did you do that! I demand to know! Was it," he dropped his voice, and Dakota didn't miss the way his hands hovered over his Embersight sword. "Magic?"

Dakota bit into the apple, biding his time before answering, "A magician never reveals his secrets! And no, I'm not a magic user."

"Sleight of hand?"

"Maybe." He smiled at the Hunter, who still didn't seem convinced, but resigned himself to biting into the apple nonetheless.

Good. As close as they'd become over the years, Dakota was scared to tell him the truth. He was a Hunter, for magic's sake! They were close, but if it came down to magic or friendship, Dakota was a little scared to ask, especially with how he'd reached for his sword just moments ago. Even if he was certain that Cavendish knew, or at least had some theory of him having some kind of connection to magic. That might've been Dakota's fault, though, and his 'pranks'.

"So...how's the Hunting going?" He tried to keep his voice light, despite the new found fear hammering in his chest, praying that no more of his kind were slaughtered.

"Hum, so-so. Some of the other patrols claim to have a lead around these parts. But, otherwise, we haven't heard anything. Same with the neighboring kingdoms. Though I suppose that's good. They've either gone into hiding, and haven't been hurting anyone else, or most of them are gone."

"Ah."

Well, he supposes he'll take that as a good sign. He knew a few more magic users that were scattered within the kingdom, and on the outside of it. Now many, but they seemed to be taking care of themselves. And a lead, in this area? He was the only magic user in this area.

Oh no.

He was the only magic user in this area.

"Vincent?"

"Yes, Hunter Cavendish?" He looked up, hoping that he was masking his fear well enough. Cavendish glanced at his face, but it must have not been enough, because he frowned. Damn it.

"I...Can you promise me you'll be careful?"

He blinked. "Sorry?"

"It's just-" He gestured vaguely, looking at the woods around them. "If there is a magic user in these woods...can you promise me that you'll be careful? I don't want you to get hurt by one of them…" He glanced at Dakota as he said that, before turning to face the road again, only visible by years of walking on it.

"Y-you think they'll want to hurt me?"

"Well, I- Well, that's why The Hunters was formed, right? Because they're violent to humans. And, I just, I don't want you-"

"I don't think they are."

"Pardon?" Cavendish turned to face Dakota, but Dakota kept his eyes on his shoes, feeling some parts anger, fear, and frustration. He knew that's what humans believed, but...it still felt so...screwed up that that's what they actually believed, what they told future generations.

"I don't think that they're violent, Cav."

"That's not-"

"Tell, me, out of all the magic users that you've hunted and killed, how many of them struggled? How many of them did you find because they were being violent? How many only fought back once they realized that their families were going to be killed? How many, Cav?"

Cavendish stopped walking halfway through Dakota's questions, and he turned to stare back at the Hunter, anger and fear flooding to something rueful, the Hunter paleing as he thought over Dakota's words. The magic user sighed, turning back to continue walking.

"I don't think they're all that bad, Cavendish. I think they're just misunderstood. And scared. We're always been told that they started this war, but I don't believe it. Not when humans have created an entire army with the purpose to make them extinct, and they don't even fight back, not until their children are killed. So, you don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."

He heard Cavendish's steps resuming, until the male fell back into step beside him. Neither spoke the rest of the way back, Cavendish plagued by what he'd heard, while Dakota was reeling at his little rant, fearful that he might've spoken just a little too much. He prayed that Cavendish didn't realize he was a magic user, especially now.

Once they reached Dakota's little cottage, he leaned against the fence, fingers splayed against the wood, looking away to mouth a spell. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glow of orange inside his house from the window, the spell hiding whatever he had in the open that linked him to being magic. He turned back to Cavendish.

"Do you still want to come in?"

Another habit that would have his parents crazy with worry. He didn't even remember when it had started, just that on the days he forgot to hide his items before inviting Cavendish in, he was extremely tired from the difficult illusion/telekinesis spell. He blinked owlishly at Cavendish, trying to keep the appearance as awake and normal.

"I suppose so."

Dakota nodded, leading the Hunter inside, each to their own devices as Cavendish took off a few pieces of armor, and Dakota went to get tea and some biscuits. He secretly used a spell to help lit the fire that didn't seem to want to light, making sure to hide it. "What tea do you want?"

"Do you still have blueberry tea?"

Dakota didn't respond, but Cavendish knew that that meant a yes. He set the water to boil, decided on getting some blueberry tea himself, and went to sit besides Cavendish at his little kitchen table, feeling tired from the illusion spell that he'd yet to master. Cavendish had taken off most of his Embersight armor, save the shin and thigh pieces, which he'd kept on. His chest piece was propped against the table leg, the side straps snaked on the floor, forgotten. His forearm and upper arm pieces were on the table, the straps that kept the pieces onto the Hunter neatly inside the armor, his mask beside them. Cavendish ran a hand through his silver hair, sighing.

"It's a tiring day, huh?" Dakota smiled at him. Cavendish simply returned the smile, before letting his head hit the table, groaning.

Just then, a familiar grey cat hopped onto the table silently. Dakota chuckled as Catendish went up to the Hunter that he was named after, when Cavendish spotted the cat during one of their walks, and pressed against him.

"Go away, Cat." Cavendish mumbled.

"He's trying to cheer you up." Dakota mused.

The Hunter raised his head to glare at the cat, who simply stared at him. "You are not helping in the least, Cat."

In rebellion, Catendish lifted his leg and started cleaning himself. "Gross."

Dakota laughed, standing to get the tea, and they talked the day away, until the sun started to set.

When they next looked out the window, Cavendish gasped softly. "My word, what time is it?! It's almost completely dark outside…"

Dakota stood, gathering their mugs and the plates of snacks that they'd started to eat while talking. He placed them in the sink, and movement from the window in front of the sink caught his eye. He watched, suddenly nervous and on edge as a group of Hunters circled his house, barely hidden by the shadows of the forest. He turned back to Cavendish.

Stay calm. Stay cool. If you don't act nervous, they'll never know. How could they possibly know?

He waited patiently as Cavendish put on his Embersight armor, the purple glimmering very slightly in the darkening room, making small talk as he did. He stayed slightly behind the male, paranoia getting the better of him as they stepped out of the house, tossing Catendish a snack.

When he turned back, a Hunter was in his way.

This Hunter was shorter than Cavendish, but much bulkier, and his frosty eyes glowed underneath the luminescent Embersight cloth covering his mouth. Mentally, Dakota jumped.

Instead of running away like he wanted to, though, he looked the Hunter in the eye, nodding. "Hey there. What can I do for you?"

The Hunter tilted his head ever so slightly, assessing him. Dakota kept his cool.

"Good evening, citizen. We were just patrolling, and wanted to tell you that there are reports of a possible magic user in these parts. We don't mean to alarm anyone or cause a panic, but we felt the need to inform you…" The Hunter's voice trailed off, eyes darting behind Dakota, across his property. He prayed that he hadn't left out anything that would raise suspicion.

"Oh, yeah, my friend already mentioned that." He threw his thumb over at Cavendish, who nodded, back completely straight. "Don't worry, I'm ready if that does happen. And I'll let you lot know if I see something odd."

The Hunter's eyes wandered back to Dakota, staring at him heavily. Dakota swallowed, looking to the side, at Cavendish, for help. The Hunter simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Ooooohkay…" Dakota stepped around the Hunter, raising an eyebrow as his eyes kept following him. "Well, we've got to get going, so…?"

"...Very well. We'll escort you back to town. I presume that's where you're headed?"

"Well, I-"

"Yeah, we're both headed there." Dakota quickly interrupted Cavendish. Typically, he'd let the Hunter go at his gate, watching as he faded into the woods, but tonight, Dakota was too scared to stay alone while these Hunters wandered around his house. He didn't want to be questioned, or injected to a house search. "I forgot something in town."

"Very well. After you two, then."

Cavendish and Dakota started walking along, both silently deciding to keep to the man-made trail as opposed to the natural trail they'd made up and used. They kept silent, the four Hunters behind them making them both nervous; Cavendish, probably because he felt like he was being judged or something, and Dakota, because, well- he could die at any minute.

After about five minutes, shouting made them all look up.

A lady was waving at them, then pointing at the tree line. The four Hunters behind them stepped in front, and Cavendish stepped closer to Dakota, a hand resting on the Embersight sword, making Dakota's breath catch.

They eased closer, the lady clearly distressed, waving about, voice hoarse and hard to understand.

It was when they were a few steps away that Dakota saw the branch strangely caught on her leg, the foot definitely not the right way. He didn't have time to feel sick though, because at that exact moment, a crack echoed the air, making them all freeze, silence deafening the area.

The lady looked at them in the eyes, and her next word, so painted with fear, was audible.

"Run."

Dakota didn't waste time in grabbing Cavendish's hand, booking it forward, while the Hunters stepped back, confused. He got a few good steps away, before the Hunters yelled after them, and a final craaack~! broke the air, and the towering tree on their left collapsed, splinters flying this way and that.

Dakota looked back in time to see the look of fear on the faces of the Hunters and the lady. He didn't think twice before whispering a spell, orange flickering on his hand, a similar orange surrounding the tree momentarily, moving it to the side, avoiding crushing the humans. Dakota just caught the eye of the Hunter that had questioned him earlier, realization and anger clear, even from the distance.

Then the tree collapsed completely.

It was obvious from the angered shouts that it didn't injure anyone, just as Dakota had intended. And, thankfully, it was big enough that it covered the pathway to give him just a little time to book it.

"Dakota! We've got to go back, and help them-!"

Oh, yeah. Cavendish.

"Uhh, we can get help at the town! C'mon, we gotta go quick!"

"Right!"

Dakota felt bad about deceiving Cavendish, even worse as he looked like he genuinely believed Dakota's excuse, and ran faster than him. But he was too scared. He's a Hunter!

But another voice made him even more scared, sending fear straight through his bones.

"STOP! MAGIC!"

How did they get through that tree so quickly?!

Cavendish looked back, but Dakota simply pushed him forward, panting. "Go!"

"But-"

"HUNTER! STOP THAT MAGIC USER!"

And Cavendish, the stupidly sweet fool, stopped mid run, making Dakota slam into him, groaning from the sudden stop.

"Oh! Sorry, Dakota, but they said-"

"HUNTER! CATCH THAT MAGIC USER!"

Dakota looked up, groggy, fear flashing through him at the realization of how close the group of Hunters were. They were a mere few meters away. He glanced up at Cavendish, fearing a sword to his throat, but Cavendish, bless the ignorant dear, simply glanced around them, still not realizing that it was Dakota that they were talking about.

He heard the Hunter leader curse in anger, and looking back in time to see a crossbow loaded, and shot.

There was no more time to think. He shot to his feet, screaming, "Fermare il telum che viene tam celerite; proteggere!"(1) A burst of orange light shot from his palms, where he faced them at the incoming bolt, shapes and vines and golden flecks flying around him and Cavendish, encasing them in a light orange dome, the bolt slamming into the dome- and clattering to the ground harmlessly.

"Dakota…?"

Oh no.

Dakota kept his palms outstretched, facing the incoming Hunters, and looked back.

Cavendish had stepped back as far as the protective bubble allowed him to, looking at Dakota with shock, fear, betrayal, and something that Dakota couldn't quite pinpoint.

"...You're a...magic user? But…"

"Cav, I'm so sorry! I- I'm sorry, I didn't tell you, but I was scared! I thought- ahh!" He bit his lip as something tore across his soul, and he glanced back to the front of his bubble, where the four Hunters had reached him, slashing their Embersight swords against the bubble.

The purple stone, which shone brightly in the moonlight, was strong, breaking through his bubble just slightly, but Dakota had studied spells that no magic user has ever studied before. The swords, which would usually cut through such spells as if they were butter, just barely managed to dent his.

"What the hell?! Give it up, magic user! Your time is up! Hunter! Stop him!"

Dakota shrieked as the swords kept slashing at the orange bubble, feeling his own soul be torn and slashed with the cursed stone. He managed to croak out another spell, pushing the Hunters back slightly, but they came back with just as much force. He glanced at Cavendish.

And felt his heart drop as Cavendish looked at him, still confused and betrayed and hurt, but with his sword now in his hand, raised halfway.

"Cav, please-"

"You...you're a magic user…"

"Yes, but-"

"What did you do to me?!"

"W-ahh, fuck! What do y-you, nghk-, m-mean-?"

"Did you put a spell on me or something?!" Cavendish raised his sword chest level, the purple shining menacingly. Dakota felt tears spill over the edge, both from the pain of the swords against his magic, and at what Cavendish was implying. "Did you put something on me?! Tell me!"

"No! Cav, I'd never! I just- I just wanted to be your friend-!"

That seemed to stall Cavendish, as his eyes widened, sword dropping just a little. But Dakota couldn't contemplate it, because a blinding pain swallowed him, and he screamed, collapsing to one knee. His bubble momentarily broke, but he forced it back up, panting, forcing himself to focus on the relentless attack in front of him.

"Give up, magic user! You're dead anyways!"

"N-no! Please! I didn't do anything! Please!"

Oh god, what did he do?! What did he do, how was he supposed to escape, what about Cavendish-

A howl interrupted everything.

The five Hunters and magic user glanced up, at the edge of the forest, where StarHowlers roamed the edges. Dakota saw the hesitance and sudden fear overtake the four Hunters on the outside of the bubble- humans were very delicious to StarHowlers. And very easy prey.

There wasn't a second thought for the half wolf creatures, their howl making tree branches crack.

Dakota brought the magic of his orange bubble to one palm, making it face his heart. He pointed his left palm at the four now scared Hunters, managing out, 'P-proteggere qui ferirci merentur anche se prendono…"(2)

A weaker orange flickered from his hand, just in time to burst into existence around the four Hunters, as the StarHowlers snapped its jaws, hitting a magic barrier.

The magic usage was too much, and Dakota crumpled to his knees, head dizzy. Keep it together. Now there's Hunters and StarHowlers. Keep it together.

He had to get everyone to safety. StarHowlers were no joke, even to magic users. Though the creatures preferred humans, they weren't picky. Need to get everyone safe-

"C-Cav." He croaked out, praying that the Hunter heard him. "Please...come closer…"

"Don't do it, Hunter!" The lead Hunter shouted. They'd stopped slashing at the magic, thankfully, seemingly realizing that it was protecting them. Apparently still didn't stop them from hating him and wanting him dead. "He's trying to lure you in closer to kill you! Don't trust him! Kill him first!"

Dakota didn't say anything, just focused on his magic, trying not to break his spells as the StarHowlers kept snapping at the bubble. Their teeth, claws, and tusks were no Embersight, but it was painful nonetheless. Especially from the earlier barrage of Embersight against him. He whimpered, dropped his head, whispering spells to keep his shields up.

The hand on his shoulder surprised him, and he looked up, Cavendish's face blurry through tears and exhaustion.

"Vinnie...I trust you."

The Hunter helped the magic user to his feet, letting him lean against him for support. Dakota could hear the other four Hunters screaming at him, but focused on his magic, letting the hand that faced his heart reach up, shrinking the bubble surrounding him and Cavendish, breathing a little easier as he had to focus on lesser magic. Cavendish hugged him tightly, and he only now realized that he'd taken off his Embersight armor so as to not stop him from doing magic.

Keeping his eyes closed, Dakota focused heavily on what he was about to do next. A spell few in the history of magic could create. And he was about to do it twice, once with four people, and again with Cavendish. Hopefully.

He let himself lean against Cavendish even more, trusting him to hold onto him as he mumbled an extensive spell, the trails of orange on his palms growing brighter and brighter, until it was practically daytime.

He opened his eyes, the heterochromatic pair of eyes glowing a fierce orange as he whispered the finale of the spell, watching as orange wisps emerged from inside the Hunter's bubble, tangling about them, until the screaming, wriggled Hunters were cocooned inside…and they disappeared, teleported to somewhere safe on the edge of town, far away from them.

Dakota collapsed.

He faintly heard Cavendish screaming his name, but he kept what little conscious focus he had on the magic bubble surrounding them.

Slowly, he came back to, groaning at the horrible headache he now had, and the shattering pain in his soul from the violent use of such difficult magic.

He blinked his eyes open, staring up at Cavendish's worried face. He realized that he'd actually collapsed, completely, half sprawled on the grass and half in Cavendish's arms as he kneeled behind him, holding him close. His hands were sprawled on the grass, weak orange light still trailing his fingers as he managed to keep an orange bubble around them, much, much smaller than before, but keeping the StarHowlers away, the animals never ceasing their attacks.

"Dakota! Hey, are you back with me? Are you okay? Please, answer me, Vinnie, please…"

"Mmm...m'back...what…?"

He groaned, his soul hurting again as the StarHowlers scratched at the bubble. He focused in on Cavendish's now relieved face.

"Oh my god...thank you...you scared me! Please don't do that again...Uhm, where did you...send?... them anyways?"

Dakota groaned again, managing to sit up, back pressed against Cav's chest with the Hunter's help. "Jus'...town...bu'...yuh need, to hurry...they, they'll find yuh...punish ya...for being friends wih me…" He slurred badly. He started mouthing a spell, placing a hand on Cavendish's wrist.

"What…? Oh, well, I suppose you're right. They probably will. It's fine, we'll find a way away from them. First we need to deal with these StarHowlers first, then we'll focus on your health- I don't know how magic works, but I see it hurts you physically- and then we can...we can...Vinnie? What are you doing now?"

Cavendish was right next to him, thankfully, so the spell didn't need to be as long as it did for the Hunters. He whispered the final parts of the spell, omitting the final word, and orange tendrils of magic, not as bright as earlier, but still shining colorfully, encircled Cavendish's wrists, travelling up his arm, encasing him like it did the other Hunters.

"Vincent?! Wait, please, don't send me away like them, I want to help you! I want to-"

"Cav, listen close." He focused his attention on his words, not wanting them to waiver. "They're gonna search fo'r yuh...You need to run. Run as, as fast as possible...Go...The...They'll kill you if th-they find you...S-soon as you get h-home...run...please…"

"Wait! Vincent, please wa-"

"Recarsi" (3)

As he whispered the final word, the orange tendrils completed their journey, encasing Cavendish completely, silencing his protests as they sent him away.

And Dakota collapsed backwards, with no support around, and no one to save him, the StarHowlers edging closer to the unconscious magic user.

"-it, I want to help, I want to-!"

Cavendish stopped himself as he realized that there was no more familiar weight against his chest.

No shimmer of orange surrounding him, protecting him from the vicious growls of the beasts outside the bubble.

No heavy breathing of difficult magic use.

The transportation spell, what he assumed it was anyways, felt strange. It felt soft and out of sorts, like a fuzzy 3D prism in his hands, surrounded by dozens of fuzzy triangles that pressed into him, until he found himself...behind his house?

Yes, he was. Behind his house.

Vinnie sent him home, to gather his things and run from the Hunters, now surely a fugitive because he'd been friends with a magic user.

He didn't know that Dakota was a magic user though!

Well...he did. But he didn't! Well, it was odd, all these tricks he did, and it just seemed…

Oh god. He did know that Dakota was a magic user. He just...didn't know.

And now he was out there. All alone. With the StarHowlers.

There wasn't a single thought of hesitancy as Cavendish bolted from his spot on the ground, running around his house and gathering every and any supplies he thought might be useful. He stopped once he heard incoming voices, not friendly sounding ones.

He hopped out of a window, opposite of where the voices sounded, and stealthily made his way to his pasture, whistling low, then high.

Hooves thundered over lush grass, and a gorgeous sorrel Quarter horse trotted up to Cavendish, staying still as Cavendish hastily saddled up. Once he was done, a little wonky, but on nonetheless, he whistled, kicking his heels, and turned the reins towards where he knew Dakota laid.

And though the thought of being an outcast scared him, as did the StarHowlers, and The Hunters (is this how Dakota felt, all the time?), he didn't worry about any of that.

Because he was Dakota's friend, forged in a friendship that was far from forbidden, but he'd be damned if he lost the only person who genuinely cared about him, and who he genuinely cared about.

"Let's go Dennis. We got a magic user to save."

(1) = "Stop the bolt that comes so fast; Protect!"

(2) = "Protect those who hurt; they deserve, though they take."

(3) = "Go."

Please, the 'spells' sounded so much better in writing, translating them sounds funny XD Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this story! I hope to finish an art piece that goes along with this story, keyword being hope lol. If I do, I'll announce it on whatever chapter comes out when I'm done, and this one! Thank you as ever for reading! Maybe leave a review or piece of constructive criticism? Hope you all enjoyed the spooky day, and have a fantastic morning/afternoon/evening/night! Stay safe and enjoy your treats!