I hear the crackling of fire and crashing noises as my sight slowly begins to come back to me. Pain rushes all throughout my body as I try to get up. I hear the rumbling of the building I am under, this building is going to collapse. I need to get out as soon as possible, I can't die here. I still have to get Luelle a gift for all her kindness. I try my best to move my body and I can see some leeway but I can't feel as my body is too numb to feel it moving. I can only drag myself with my arms, my left leg is still unable to stand up correctly, I may have broken it during that thrust to save that kid. I try to call onto wind to push myself out but I used up all my magical power in me. wearing this mask is suffocating as I take it off and throw it to the side. getting a huge breath of somewhat fresh air as I finally make it outside the building, crawling a bit into the street as the building finally collapses. I lie onto my back staring at the sky with fire all around me, the buildings are falling apart and everything is in flames. This is my fault, but there was nothing I could have done to keep the safety of others and kill that Shaq'ul. I look to the side and see the charred corpse of the Shaq'ul ahead of me. I sigh in relief that I can see that he's dead and I try my best to get up and walk dragging my broken leg across the ground. I pull up my hood just in case so nobody can pick me out for my race and call out for help to see if there is anybody nearby. The sound of another collapsing building behind me booms in the distance as I search for any sign of a person. Suddenly, in the corner of my eye I see a small figure laying onto the side of a building on the ground. I walk up closer to get a better view of them.
"Hey! You there! Are you okay?"
I get no response as I get closer and closer. Eventually when I am able to get a perfect view on this person my heart drops completely. This is the little girl I was trying to save, Their body unresponsive and bloody all over. It was fine to look at until I looked at her face, parts of her face's skin were missing and what I assume had melted off from the blast of my magic. Immediately as a reaction I threw up. My throat burns as I collapse onto my knees breaking down into tears.
"God dammit! Why didn't you run! You would have been safe! This is my fault, I should have noticed you were still in the area before setting off that attack."
A few minutes pass by as I hear a whirling sound coming towards me. I wipe my tears and look towards the sound in the sky and I see multiple figures flying towards my location. One of the figures flies down towards me as the others fly around possibly to find others. A deep voice comes from the figure.
"Can you stand?"
I look up towards the person,
"Y-yes, I can who are you?"
"I'm a mage of Aeros, we were called here from an emergency order from one of the higher ups."
In the distance down the street I can see more figures running down. Other mages coming in and start putting out the fires with water magic.
"Please, save her, She's hurt really bad, she's unresponsive but she could probably still be saved."
My vision begins to get blurry once again as my hearing also distorts, eventually leading to my body giving out. All I can see is darkness and faint sounds of voices who's words I cannot understand. Eventually my senses come back to me and I wake up on a bed in a slightly bright room. The light flowing through the room is coming from the covers over the window where the sun is shining through. I hear the sounds of a knock coming from the door ahead of me. giving me no time to answer the door opens and the sight that instantly warms my heart. It's Luelle, gasping at the sight of me being awake and runs towards and giving me a hug. I return the hug despite the slight pain and soreness going in my body as I move. I speak to offset the silence.
"Thank the gods you are alive, there was so much chaos, I was so worried about your well being this entire time especially after I was almost killed by that huge Shaq'ul. Where were you during it all?"
She tightens her hug for a second and lets go as she looks at me with tears running down her face.
"I was at the area when the first explosion went off. It caught me off guard since I was just walking by, but I managed to help as many as I could. There were some who didn't make it since there were just so many Shaq'ul. But we managed to fend them off and take out their leader on our end. The mages of Aeros came in and took over helping the others, so I rushed to the second scene to see if you were there and I saw them trying to treat you. They said you were in an severe condition and that the amount of magical power you put out was too much for the wounds that you sustained so your body almost shut itself off trying to restore everything at once. But they managed to stabilize you."
I let out the tears I had been holding back.
"I'm so glad you're here Luelle, are we still in Cyphrun? Where's Willem? What happened to that girl I protected?"
She looks at me as she begins to calm down and her face's mood drops.
"After everything that happened, it was inevitable that dad would find out. He wasn't very happy with us, well me since you were asleep, but he was happy and grateful that we were alive. Yes we are still in Cyphrun but we are to leave as soon as you are able and capable enough to walk without any supports."
she points to a set of wooden crutches at the side of my bed. I hear a set of footsteps coming towards our room, and coming into the room is Luelle's father, Willem Vavillion. He looks at me with a stern look on his face at first but it then breaks to a relieved smile as he walks over to my bed.
"Namea, You've been with us for almost four years now, and in that time you have become a part of our family, and I'm sure that I have shown my displeasure of the magic arts. My beliefs are founded given that it was magic that almost got you killed, but in the end it was magic that saved your life. I ask that you please be truthful to me about this. Why did you both keep your abilities silent this whole time from me."
Luelle shys back and doesn't seem to have an answer for the question she was asked. I take a deep breath and look at him,
"It's because you try so hard to hide any knowledge of magic from her, to the point where she had to sneak and steal books so she could learn. She doesn't want her life chosen for her, she doesn't want to become somebody that has all their decisions done for her, she wants to struggle and help others just like me. We hid it from you because we never knew how you'd react, I hope you can understand and let us continue practicing magic up until we get to study at Aeros."
Willem's face was composed and calm the whole time up until I mentioned Aeros,
"Why would you want to go to Aeros, It's not the kind of place you think it is, you would be better off just practicing and teaching yourself."
I try to sit up and speak out in frustration, but my words are cut off by Luelle.
"That's exactly what we're talking about dad, you keep trying to decide our lives for us and tell us this is how we're supposed to live. But I don't want to live that way dad, I want to see the world on my own and try my best to help people like Namea was, people who have almost to no reason to live. I want to inspire people to rise above their means and I can't do it while protected by my noble life style. That isn't the life I want to lead for myself and you need to understand that."
Willem sighs and gives Luelle a pat on her head.
"I never thought you'd be able to speak out to me that way, I'm honestly very proud of you. I wish I could protect you from the dangers of the world and people who would only think to take advantage of you. That's why I wanted to bring you up in this life style, but it seems that you want no part in it. Very well but I ask to please be cautious of the city of Aeros, I can't explain why they are not to be trusted but if you wish to seek them out then I will not stop you, just know that you would need a recommendation from a graduated mage or higher to enter and study in the city."
As he finishes speaking a thought reaches my mind,
"how long has it been since the attack?"
Willem looks over to me and puts his hand on my shoulder.
"This might be a bit alarming to hear, but It's been 14 days since the attack, you've been asleep and recovering the whole time."
My mind is blank trying to process myself being out cold for a whole two weeks when the memory of that girl pops into my head. An instant reaction makes me gag for a second as I cover my mouth with my hand and stop myself from puking again. I take a deep breath and keep my composure and look as Willem.
"Is that girl okay, the one I helped, please tell me she's alright."
He looks away from my face and looks down,
"You should see it with your own eyes, grab your crutches and follow me."
Willem walks off as Luelle looks as me with no words and nods to come with. I try to get up despite my body feeling sore and a little bit numb. I grab the crutches and move my legs onto the floor. I put on my cloak that was lying on a desk next to my bed. there were slippers that were marked with my name on it on the floor below the desk as well. I then begin to follow into the hallway where Willem and Luelle follows behind me making sure I'm all good. I attempt to catch up with Willem,
"Uh where exactly are we? This isn't a church or a place of healing."
Willem continuing forward,
"This is the Eldrin household, it is the noble house that presides and rules over Cyphrun, his parents and I were good acquaintances before they were killed by a mysterious accident two years ago. I gave him some advice on how to rule since he was next in line to take over his fathers work. He seems to have done well with the advice I gave him. He offered to give you sanctuary as a token of goodwill towards me."
I respond to him,
"I see, I should thank him then the next time I see him."
Wherever Willem is taking me the walk there is painfully silent since I have no idea what to expect when we arrive to wherever we're going. The whole time my heart is just pounding, I really hope she's okay. As we make our way outside the sun shines into my eyes and catches me off guard. I take a second to adjust to the Eventually we make our way to a place of healing nearby. we make our way in and the sight I see inside makes me sad as I see tons of injured people crowding this building. Healers trying their best to make sure everyone is alright. Willem leads us to a private room where he knocks on the door. After a few seconds the door opens and a woman with tears running down her face is revealed on the other side.
"What are you doing here, is she the one?"
Willem nods at the women as she opens the door more to reveal the kid lying on the bed still seemingly unresponsive. I rush over to the bed almost tripping from my crutches. I look over at her and tears run down my face. Her face still horrifies me as the skin from the right side of her face is melted off. Her breathing is rugged as she sleeps. I did this to her, this is my fault, she'll never get to live a normal life because of my mistake. I drop my hood from my cloak down and I let out a cry, dropping to my knees as I am overwhelmed with emotion. The mother stands right behind me. As she calls me out and I turn over to her.
"Y-You're a devil?! No wonder my daughter is in this state, you cursed her with your disgusting presence. You don't deserve to live when my daughter is laying there on deaths door because of you, get the fuck out of he-"
Immediately her words are cut off as she looks to her daughter,
"My baby! You're awake."
I turn to the girl again as I see her eyes have opened. Her breathing becoming more rugged. The mother grabs her hands.
"You're going to be okay honey, mommy's here, she won't let this devil taint your body no more. You're going to heal and be back to daddy in no time."
She smacks her mothers hands out of her own, she slowly turns her head toward me, she reaches her hand towards me as I walk up and grab her hand. Tears not stopping as they drip onto her hand. She seems like she's trying to say something but her it seems like her mouth isn't moving the way it should.
"Don't speak, I'm so sorry I did this to you, I only wanted to save you. When I thought you had run away I thought I was okay to let off the rest of my magic. Please forgive me."
I look at her as she grips my hand tighter, she looks at me and attempts to give me a smile, she then closes her eyes and her breathing stops. My heart begins to pound harder and harder. Her mother screams,
"No no no no no! Please don't die on me, please don't leave me honey. You can't do this. This is all my fault, I left out of fear, I shouldn't have done this please stay with me."
The little girls body becomes lifeless as the mother cries and then turns to me with anger on her face.
"Get the fuck out of here you disgusting devil, your kind have no place in this world. All you have brought us is nothing but pain and fear. Get out!"
She then slaps me as the pain hits me, Willem grabs her hand as she goes in for another slap.
"I would suggest you stop and calm down, for the sake of respecting your late daughter. She clearly didn't hold any hatred toward my daughter here."
Willem's words strike me and I am filled with emotion. In a rush I grab my crutches and rush out of the room as fast as I can, I then make my way back to the Eldrin household and back into my room. I hop into my bed and cry until I fall asleep.