Stella woke up hearing the clang of metal and rustling fabric. "What's going on?" She asked, sitting up.
"We should get going. I'm just packing Blitzen for the trip. I went hunting while you were asleep- don't worry, Silver was here with you- so we have plenty with us for the journey." Hunter said.
Stella nodded, looking over in the direction the noises were making. "So, what sort of quest were you on when you found me?" She had been wondering that the entire time- he had said 'final quest' when he found her.
"Oh- see at the Keep they teach different kinds of magi to be the best in their element. Well, I have the element of earth- more specifically vines. I decided I wanted to become a warrior magi, specializing in fighting tactics and using my magic to ward off evil sorcerers and magi. To finish my training I had to do one final quest- a test I guess you could call it- to kill an evil sorcerer and bring back proof. He wasn't there, and I'd rather not fight on his own ground when he comes back. I'll go back again once I drop you of at the Keep."
Stella nodded, looking downward sadly. She didn't want to be 'dropped off' with strangers. Especially if they found out what she could do…
"What? Did I say something bad?" He asked. She heard footsteps come toward her, and felt the nearness of him as he kneeled next to her.
"No, I'm just… worried. They don't know me, and I'm not sure how they would react to me." She said softly. Remmy squeaked as he ran up on her shoulder, sitting down in his usual spot.
"Hey- a jerboa rat!" He said. "Those don't normally bond with people easily."
"Yeah, Remmy's been my little buddy for a long time." She reached up to pet the small creature with a finger, smiling at his happy squeak.
"Well, he seems quite fond of you." He said, a smile in his voice. She looked up at him, wishing she knew what he looked like. He sounded young- indeed he must be if he was still finishing his training. Was he her age? She wasn't even sure how old she was. "Can… can I see what you look like?"
A small silence came over them before Hunter moved closer to her. "How would you do that?"
She leaned forward, feeling the ground until her hand met one of his legs. She kneeled on her knees in front of him and reached forward, her useless eyes staring ahead at where she thought he was.
Her fingers contacted cloth, her palm resting on a wide expanse of powerful muscle. He cleared his throat nervously, shifting beneath her as she felt the vibrations of his cough through his stomach. She moved up and felt a metal plate covering his chest, held on by straps around the sides and around his neck. A cloak fell over his shoulders, her fingers running over the hem of his shirt before coming to his face. She looked down nervously as she ran her fingers lightly over his face, his skin heating beneath her hands. High cheekbones, angular features- his shoulders and chest were broad and built from his training. Oh my… he must be incredibly handsome. She took her hands away quickly, wrapping them in her dress nervously.
"Thank you. I was wondering." She whispered, looking away from him.
"No problem." He said, his voice filled with an emotion she had never heard. She felt his hand wrap around her wrist as he helped her up and guided her over to the elk. "Same as before- I'll lift you up and be on after you."
She nodded and was flung upwards, hooking her leg around the saddle of the elk before feeling him against her back again. When his arms hooked around her she blushed at the vision she'd made of his face. She didn't quite know what to do now… how should she act? She decided to stay silent as the elk moved forward, quickening his pace to a gallop.
The next day, they rode through a large meadow, Blitzen's hooves pounding against the ground as he ran. Hunter gasped and slowed the elk down to a stop, remaining silent as they stood still.
"What's wro-" Stella began, but stopped when his hand covered her mouth.
"Keep quiet- it might not hear us." He whispered softly to her, clicking gently to tell Blitzen to back up slowly. The elk backed away, a loud snort sounding from in front of them.
"Shit, it saw us." Hunter growled as a loud strange roar sounded. Hooves came running toward them, Blitzen dancing out of the way as it passed. Stella felt heat burn the air around them, flinching from the sensation.
"What is it?" She said in panic as Hunter dropped her to the ground and jumped down beside her. She felt a rush of air as he spun a rod of some sort, a strange crackling sound coming from it.
"It's a Delroch- they're not very nice." Hunter muttered, grabbing her by the waist and moving her as it charged again. He moved swiftly and she heard a pained yell from the animal.
"Of course Silver would decide to hunt now." He muttered, his other arm still around her waist. He moved them as the Delroch charged again, heat filling the air as Hunter yelled in pain, the rod dropping to the ground with a wooden sound.
"Shit, not good." Hunter growled in pain as the Delroch snorted and roared from a distance as it prepared to charge. Stella looked in that direction and closed her eyes in frustration, knowing there was no other way now…
She took a step away from Hunter, moving out of his grip. She closed her eyes and raised her hands, letting her magic flow through her.
When she opened her eyes, the world was filled with vibrant colors- streams of magic filled the air in rainbow hues around her, the plants glowing a bright green. She looked to Hunter and saw him glowing with the same green magic, his expression shocked as he stared at her.
She had been right- he was handsome.
She turned toward the Delroch, who burned with red magic as it stomped the ground angrily with a hoof, red flames shooting out of its nostrils.
Stella glanced hesitantly back to Hunter before letting out a long sigh- she wished she could do two spells at once to keep him from watching- but she had learned long ago that was impossible.
She raised her left hand, a white sphere surrounding the Delroch, freezing it in place. It didn't move- not even breathing. She dropped that hand and raised her right, closing it into a fist.
The Delroch ried out as the grass beneath it waved at a rapid speed before wilting. The creature's fur started to grow dull and gray with age, muscles shrinking as it grew thinner and feebler. It fell to its knees when it couldn't hold its own weight, gasping loudly for air.
Stella looked away, hating to watch as the skin and muscles melted off the dead creature, leaving only a skeleton behind on the ground. Even that turned to dust in a few minutes. She lowered her hand, the white sphere fading and the dust blowing away in the wind. Her head spun for a minute as she stood, turning to look at Hunter.
He was still staring at her, his expression filled with shock- but now it held horror as well.
She had been afraid this would happen. The one person she hadn't wanted to see her full magic had just seen her kill a creature with it.
If the magi find out what you are capable of, they will try to kill you.
The sorcerer's warning rang through her mind as she watched Hunter. Terror filled her at the thought of him trying to kill her, making her take a step back in fear.
"Wait-" He rise a hand to stop her, but was too late.
She ran into the forest behind her, tears filling her eyes as the trees glowed green around her. She cursed loudly when her magic ran out, the world fading back to darkness around her. She stumbled on something and fell against a tree, holding her head in pain as she fell against the trunk.
She felt the world start to spin and sat on the ground. She had used too much magic. The last thing she remembered before her mind went blank was the memory of Hunter's horrified expression.