Ending

Part 1

We have a welcoming committee. The priest who I managed to stop from entering Earth, five men sporting the rather tasteless lilac morning suit that Jasper was wearing when we first met, and a whole crowd of displeased looking men and women.

Jasper bends his lips to my ear, and whispers, "Run."

He charges bravely off towards the mob. While I balk, remembering the callus way the priest tortured Kay. Jasper is relying on me though, so I mentally kick myself and run after him. He fires off flaming darts, which are easily absorbed by the men in lilac. It scares me, we'd kissed again before emerging from the cave, just in case... He should be stoked.

I meanwhile am doing nothing; I can't run and concentrate on a spell. Jasper pauses and the men begin to craft their attack. I cease movement, I have to defend him. As I begin to form my shield, a massive fireball hits the priest's staff, shattering it.

Of course, Jasper had a plan. He'd mentioned that the men he'd encountered before had such high magic they must have been using illegal cursed artifacts. I reckon the staff was the priest's source of power.

Jasper sways unsteadily. He must have put too much magic into that fireball or it's another trick. Not wanting to take the chance, I throw up my shield in front of him as the men release their attack. No one is killing my paramour. Remembering the taste of his kisses, the intensity of his caress and the wildness of our lovemaking, I concentrate on our connection, trying to feed him magic from a distance. His shoulders sag and his head droops as if in despair. I will not let him down. I concentrate harder, and his body begins to glow, encouraging me to persevere.

Part 2

To my relief, Jasper stands up tall and conjures up more fire which crackles around one of the men's wrists, until his jewelled gauntlet bursts into flame and falls away. Jasper then sends a volley of flaming darts towards the other men. While he fights, I concentrate on the flow of magic between us.

Pain punches into me as my shield is hit with a fresh stream of spells. What to do, power Jasper or my shield? I cannot do both it seems.

I choose the shield and yet even that is a struggle to maintain. Each time a spell is absorbed into it, I feel as if another part of my essence is ripped out ...

An odd whooshing beat distracts me, and I look up. A massive dragon is flying overhead, two people on its back. Some of the mob glance up too and flee. It's Ertl, Guy and Sophia, I sink to the floor in exhaustion and relief….

Eugh, I feel so groggy. I open my eyes to a blur and try and sit up. A hand rests on my shoulder and gently pushes me back. "It's ok. Stay still."

Sophia. I am so glad to hear her voice. My eyes manage to focus, she seems happy enough, which means Jasper is alright; and I can feel that he's nearby somewhere. I return my attention to Sophia, she's glowing with a golden aura, so pretty… my head is spinning… feel so weak…

"Your magic. Do as you've been bid," snaps Guy. I hurriedly hug my magic back to myself and feel warmth and power flow into me.

"Good girl!"

Good grief, I haven't been called that since primary school and I found it patronising then… Yet I haven't the mental energy to complain. "Where am I?"

"The infirmary. You overreached yourself… again. Explain how you knew Jasper had arrived in that cave before anyone else could see."

Part 3

Sophia shushes him. "She's exhausted, it can wait." She turns to me. "Jasper is asleep. You weren't the only one to overreach themselves, he's been beside himself with worry blaming himself for your unconscious state. He refused to go to bed until we'd both promised to guard his paramour, allegedly, beloved above all things. Guy is so jealous of you." She winks at me and mouths, "Men!" while Guy clicks his teeth in annoyance.

However, I saw the smile he gave Sophia when he first saw her in the cave. It's bubbled through my memories, making them as light and fluffy as his heart. Jasper and Sophia were right about him.

I relax, and immediately another jolt of anxiety hits me. "How about Flower and GinGin?"

"They appeared in the circle, just in time to warn Houky. Rio arrived shortly afterwards, with Thoma, and carried the injured boy back to the academy."

"They hurt a child?"

"Yes." Sophia scowls. "And made it look like a dragon attack. I reckon they wanted Ertl to be blamed. Luckily he was easily healed."

I sigh with relief and hope the incident will not scar the child mentally. Jasper had been attacked by a dragon too. At least he thought he was, and his injuries suggested it, although he had been drugged with hallucinogenics at the time… "What happened when you escaped?"

"Rei and the others went back to the academy, and I heard Toa finally managed to convince Albert that Letty was alright. Meanwhile Guy and I waited and waited, protecting the circle for you. Nothing happened, it was excruciatingly boring, and Guy wanted to go home. Then he started to grumble about Jasper going exploring, and asking what did Jasper think this was? His day off!"

Guy interrupts. "I did not grumble, I stated."

Part 4

Sophia ignores him and continues, "Flower rushed into the shop, and said you'd gone to rescue Aki. Then Rei arrived and said Aki was in Roy's quarters, he'd appointed Grayson to guard her, so all was well. She meant for Aki, being guarded by Grayson would have been Aki's dream come true. Guy became even more crotchety and was threatening to leave for home. Then suddenly his eyes sort out mine and he said we needed to go, no arguments. Ertl met us, and we flew to rescue you. It was an epic battle, however, we all survived, and the priest and the lilac brigade are in custody, so I'll tell you about it later. You need to sleep."

I am glad everyone is alright. I let my eyelids close again, feeling safe. Soft warm air cocoons me and I float away….

I feel Jasper's approach. Drag myself out of semi-consciousness and haul myself out of bed to hug him.

He holds me tightly to himself, then tighter as my legs give way. "Why didn't you run when I told you too? I've a mind to teach you obedience."

"Would be about time," mutters Guy, "you do nothing but coddle her."

I lower my gaze. "I'm sorry I let you down. I was so terrified of the priest, that's why I hesitated."

"I meant, run away."

I look up into Jasper's exasperated face. "And leave you?" I am so horrified that tears prick at the edge of my eyes.

"You forget your life is mine." Guy is as unimpressed as I am by Jasper's heroics. Which makes me smile because I know it's coming from a place of love. "You can have the day off to look after your woman, but no playing she's too weak… Tch, you look like a petulant…"

"Teenager," finishes Sophia for him, before bursting into laughter.

"You should have chosen someone stronger. My Sophia handled all that and more."

Hey Guy! Although for some reason his proud smirk does amuse me.

Part 5

Jasper's expression though, doesn't show any amusement at all. "I guided her through a forbidden ritual, exchanging words and power for kisses, while she was half asleep and had no idea what she was agreeing to."

"Oh, that's what you meant by saying that he stole your magic!" says Sophia.

Well no, I can't remember him doing that, nor me telling her. "I never told you that."

She smiles softly at me. "No, however, you told yourself variations on that, over and over again, semi-delirious with mental anguish." Seeing my puzzled expression, she adds, "You didn't really think I'd leave you alone and vulnerable in a room like that, on your first night in Saligia did you? I'd almost believed you beforehand, that you and Jasper meant nothing to each other. However, the other things you said, as well as being too much information." She winks at me, making my cheeks heat, before continuing, "left me in no doubt."

Guy looks at me intently. "The bonds appear quite separate. I wonder what effect that will have when Jasper's body occasionally tries to reject my magic. This is your fault. Keep him safe."

My fault! In what universe? However, I still agree to do so. Promising myself that I will get better at wielding my power. I will practice and finetune until I can accomplish magical feats well beyond what someone with my level would normally be able to manage. Life here is not the comparatively easy, safe life, I'd had on Earth. I will up my game accordingly and never again falter when Jasper needs me.

I am whisked into his arms. "I will protect you always, as I protect my master. There is no need to look that level of guilty, earnest or determined."

Guy snorts. "Who had to save who, surely you haven't forgotten already?"

Jasper bows with me in his arms. "Thank you, sir. I do appreciate your kindness."

Sophia strokes my cheek giving me enough magic to feel strong again, without making an aura glow around me. "Rest well."

I smile my thanks. Jasper turns around and carries me towards his room.