BIT OF PAST. . .
The next few days she had open to herself, so she did just what she had proposed. Taking a few essential things, she left for the woods she hadn't been in since before she came to the little town.
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The riverbank was still scarred with burnt, dead trees and black, charred rocks. The grass was back, but that was expected in such gap of time.
"Time for a little stretch," Aariah commented to herself. She dangled her pendant out in front of herself and watched as it glistened with sunlight. "I call upon my own might to release the staff of my right." Like old times, the handle of the tiny dagger extended to the length of a staff and she quickly grasped it from its hovering place in front of herself. "My strength resides in my own heart, so outside me there will be a part." This was different of course. Since she had no imminent battle in front of her, that part of the spell was not needed. She stabbed her dagger staff into the ground below and her circle appeared. The fire and air dragon glowed fiercely in the pentacle beside the water and wood dragon's pentacle. The three elements released themselves from the tip of her staff. Water, Fire and Air whipped away as their wispy shapes of ribbons and the hint of young, free children, and a pair of white silver wings weighed lightly on her shoulders.
A fire pit had been set up and Fire leapt happily over to it. The river was Water's abode as the Air took to the skies. They were still hers, of course, for she was still alive and her power was still a part of them. She sat in the grass and savored the moment. It had been a longer time than she had thought, since she last saw all three of them. She sighed and lay down and could tell Air was doing her a favor. She could smell cool, fresh mountain breeze in the wind and so breathed deeply. Fire had also spiced the wind with the seasoned scent of burnt cedar. They all knew she liked to relax in the woods and play quietly like a new child. She rolled over and stuck her head out over the river's edge. Water steadied the rippling surface and showed her reflection. Her black hair had turned slightly brown over the two years. She had known this would happen, for her continuous use of her power was what had kept it black as pitch. She also longed for her old hairstyle. It was now up in a loose bun; in this town that was fitting for a woman who had her job.
She quickly released her hair and watched as it poured over her head and into the water. Water immediately danced up her hair and drenched it, knowing what Aariah had just been thinking. Slowly, under the contact with Water's power, her hair became darker, but didn't become black until Air and Fire had blown it dry. "Better," she sighed. Her memories began to stir in her head; Potoremin where she learned her first bit of magic, and of her faithful teacher, who was secretly against the no-women policy of current magic. Her first element capture had been there as well. Air, had wanted to pick on her; being almost snobbish, but she had overpowered it in her training to protect herself form other magic -- magic hunters especially. She even went as far as to go out and capture two other elements on her own. Water and Fire had each had their loosing turn against her. She remembered how strange it was for her to find Water in the middle of the frozen, wintry mountains where her aunt Amirie and uncle Siefoth kept their inn and tavern.
Fire had been her next fight, and she had used both Air and Water to defend herself against it. Her only regretful memory was that of fighting the Traveler. He had been a magic hunter, although, he only sought out women who used magic, instead of everyone who did. The fight with him came flashing bright, back into her mind. Fight lake; flying; she didn't kill him, she knew she couldn't have, but she never know she could erase all his magical knowledge and his power, let alone take it into herself. She now had both entities from the three elements. Two Water, two Air, and two Fire. All six were in her possession now, and she hadn't done anything with them since the final battle two years ago.
After a few long moments of bliss, Aariah remembered. "I wonder." She got up and wandered slightly to a clearing. Before realizing it, she began to dig. Her hands grasping at the dirt in almost a frenzy. After making a somewhat large hole, she had found what she was digging for, "It's still here!" she cried. With a few more swipes of her hands, she unearthed a dark almost rotten looking book. "My magic book." she sighed and sat down with it upon her lap. Although the pages were blank from its experience with the river -- and its low quality making -- she could still remember what page had held what. "Capturing was here." she turned a page, "The staff spell was here. and. . ." She flipped to the back where a loose page had been folded in. "My circle." She paused, "Oh, I wish I hadn't let these words get washed away!" The elements stilled at her slight outcry. Aariah then stood, "It's alright." She told her elements ash she placed the old book into her pack of things.
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When Aariah returned home the next night, the little apprentice was at her door waiting. "How was your trip?" he asked full of pep.
"It was alright," she answered.
"What do you mean alright? Where did you go, anyway?" He was up and walking beside her towards her front door.
"I mean," she sighed, "That my trip through the woods was exactly what I needed, and that it suited its purpose."
"Is that all? I thought you had gone somewhere to have fun. I mean, you got more color on you, your face is more rosy, your skin is tanned and I could swear your hair has turned black!" he followed her into her room.
"Little one! I may have been outside more that I usually am, but I am no different than when I left! Now if you please, I would like to get some sleep! That trip was exhausting!"
The little boy hung at the door a moment as she placed her stuff onto her table. "Did you bring me anything?"
"Oh really!" She turned to him and he ran out giggling. Closing her door, Aariah let out a sigh, she had forgotten that someone might notice her hair.
