Hunters.
There are humans who are descendants of wizards and witches but do not have the ability to do magic but they can feel it's presence and sometimes do a little bit more. Under this category are psychics, mediums and many more, including Hunters.
Back in the days before witch hunting, those who had magic but could not use it were shunned, and this was why the hunts first started. Fueled by jealousy and discrimination the first Hunter used herbs and tools to their advantage, inciting humans against the magicians.
Later on peace was made and Hunting soon became a profession. Wizards and witches would hire Hunters to get them a rare magical herb or creature and maybe even 'take out' some other magic wielder.
Humans. Symon thought with disgust as he finished his explanation. They always say they are better than animals but meanwhile some are no better than monsters.
The exceptions are people like the boy walk next to him with an adorably cute confused look on his face.
"Come on kid, don't tell me you don't believe me." Symon sighed stopping. Val took a few more steps, too deep in thought to notice.
"Oh, I do...in away. But Alex and Audrey, they..."
"Had an ulterior motive Val, try to keep up." Symon said agitated. "They could probably feel the magic in you the first day they arrived. Your awakening on your birthday must be what gave them the assurance that you're not like them, that you can use magic."
"They can't use magic?"
"Yes Sherlock, I think I made that clear." He huffed watching the boy in front of him. Why did he have to get transformed into a kid too. He turned to window of the store beside them, despite how cute he looked he knew it was a disadvantage. Like literally no one would take him seriously. He faced Val once more only to find the boy was leaning against a lamppost. "Val?"
"Something feels..."
"Wrong." Symon completed. A split second later he grabbed Val's hand and pulled him to the ground just as the glass windows of the store shattered.
Val closed his eyes and used his hand to shield the back of his head. He could feel the tiny shards of glass plop onto his back and hands. His first thought was, What the heck just happened?
He looked to his left where Symon lay still and alert. He opened his mouth to ask but he got the shut your trap sign i.e, the normal shush gesture.
Symon raised his head slightly and looked around, "We're being hunted."
Val had actually guessed that buy he decided not to point it out, "Is it the twins."
"No its not them. This was a trap someone knew we'd come this way." He pulled Val unto his feet. "Time to run-"
"Not so fast." The voice unnatural and scratchy leading Val to believe that this person was using some sort of voice modifier. They both looked to see a figure whose face was covered by a black hood approaching them. In each hand the figure held glowing orbs of blue fire. As cool as it looked Val knew they were in big trouble. "Take even one step and might just find yourself feeling very hot."
"I'm quite hot already if you get my meaning." Symon winked.
"Not funny." Val pointed out.
"He's right cat."
Symon glared at him with suspicion, "How did you...who sent you?"
"That's none of your business, you'll find out soon enough anyway, just come along peacefully and no one has to get hurt." Their attacker was beginning to sound impatient.
"Please tell me you learned some basic attack spells." Symon whispered to Val.
"You told me look for a spell to change you back not something that might actually be useful."
"I thought you were a smart kid. I take it back."
"Hey what are you talking about? I'm giving you five seconds to surrender or I'm taking you by force." The attacker snarled, "Five!"
"At my word we run." Symon said.
"You're joking, please tell me you don't mean that. "
"Four!"
"Now." He grabbed Val's arm and dragged him into the nearest alley. A fire ball missed the other boy by a few inches.
Val touched the side of his face to find the temperature a little bit hotter than the rest of his body. "Bloody hell! I thought you said Hunters don't have powers, this guy seems pretty powerful to me."
"If you think this is power your sorely mistaken." He glanced back to see the person following them and preparing another set of fire balls. "I'll explain later right now let's just focus on not getting burnt to crisps."
Val mentally agreed with him. As they ran he tried to recall all the defence spells had taken note of but he couldn't remember any of the instructions and he couldn't stake he and Symon's lives on trying out his untested powers.
"Symon can't you do something? You're a magic cat for God's sake. " He said when he could think of nothing else.
"Nope." The other said a flat note to his voice.
Just as they were about to take the next turn a long rope like object shot towards them. Symon sensed it's coming and pushed Val away from him.
Val watched as the rope wrapped around Symon and slammed him into the nearest wall and retracted back into their attacker's cloak.
"This has being quite the annoying work out." The scratchy voice huffed. "Now I'm irritated."
Val ran over to Symon who was having trouble standing. "You okay?"
Symon gave a small smile. "It's been a while since I've been in action, I'm out of my element in this human form."
Val watched in horror as blood dripped down the white haired boy's nose. The attacker was getting closer.
"Val run, he must be after you."
"No." He picked up up the lid of a trash bin and turned to the hunter, "Stay back, I'm warning you."
"You've spent twenty minutes running away from me. You wouldn't scare me if you held a sword." The hunter laughed. He raised his hand. "Now stand exactly still cause this is meant to just knock you two out."
A bright green light was gathering around the hunter's hand, growing a deeper menacing green by the second. Val had thought of carrying Symon and running but even then they wouldn't be fast enough. He had one last resort he hoped these stupid powers wouldn't fail him now. He directed all the energy he could feel into the hand holding the trash can lid.
"Pathetic." The hunter scoffed before launching the ball.
Symon shut his eyes, preparing for the pain that came with the impact of a spell but it never came. The air had stilled and a soft yellow glow peek through the crack in his lids. He opened both eyes to see the ominous green ball stopped by a transparent golden shield which was once the trash can.
Their attacker looked just as shocked as him.
Val frowned, he was breaking into cold sweat, he had to do something. He pushed the energy ball back in the direction of the hunter who deflected it with little difficulty. Symon caught him as he was about to fall. His head was spinning.
"Val? Val stay with me." Symon shook him lightly.
"You put up more of a fight than I expected. That really pisses me off." The hunter stated, pulled out a small circular pink pill and placed it in a compartment in a bracer on hid right hand. Almost immediately tentacles made of chains sprung from his back. "For your troubles I'll only break a few bones before I hand you in."
The tentacles headed straight for the two.
"Not so fast!" A sharp voice called echoing around the, at the same time a portal opened up behind Symon and Val sucking them in.
Symon scowled, just what they needed, another one.
He looked between the guy who wanted to break their bones and then the portal, he made a split second decision he would come to regret and jumped in taking an almost unconscious Val with him.
He just hoped things would be better on the other side.