Air was whipping around me as I fell; my heart was pounding as I saw the ground below getting closer and closer.
"Alfina, you bastard!" I screamed.
The fall felt like it was going to go on forever, and I could see my second demise about to happen. Why she promised me another life just to kill me, I didn't understand. I was about a few hundred feet from the ground when I braced myself for impact, pulling my arms up to cover my face.
Three. Two. One.
My body ached as I smashed into the water. I landed on my side, and I hit the water so hard that my left arm was riddled with excruciating pain. It felt broken or dislocated, but I wasn't sure. The only thing I knew was that I had to reach the surface, but I was so deep down that it felt like being back in the void again. Kicking and pulling, even though it hurt like hell, I did my best to make my way to the surface. I was barely progressing, and my muscles burned with exhaustion while my lungs cried out for oxygen. The light was growing dim, and I couldn't tell if it was because I was sinking or about to pass out. All I knew was that my life was going to end very soon.
I sat up, coughing and gasping as water flowed out of my mouth. I couldn't stop heaving until every drop of liquid had vacated my lungs. Finally able to breathe fresh air, I laid back, enjoying the pleasure of breathing. I took several deep breaths before finally opening my eyes, taking in the bright sun and the surrounding trees. It was so peaceful and calming. This was probably the most beautiful sight I've ever seen, from the bright, yellow sun to the blue skies and green vegetation. I couldn't imagine a better place to be. I closed my eyes to enjoy the sounds of the birds flying over until a voice disturbed me.
"Are you gonna live?" it was a female voice, but it wasn't Alfina.
I tilted my head back to find a pair of long tan legs. Tracing them up, I see a girl standing over me. She was wearing a white long sleeve that resembled a dress shirt, which was tucked into a brown skirt that was so short it almost gave me a peek of what was underneath. My eyes continued to follow her body up to her head. The skin was just as dark, and it was complimented by long black hair that reached down to her center chest. The color of her hair and skin made her eyes glow. They were a shiny grey; it was like her eyes had been forged out of silver.
She leaned over and snapped inches from my face. This made me blink and brought me back to focus.
"Huh, what? Oh yeah, I'll live. I think.", I said as I rolled onto my stomach and went to push myself to my feet.
I grunted in pain as I placed weight on my left arm. Quickly trying to shift the weight to my right arm, I fell over from losing my balance. I had forgotten about my arm until now as the aching returned. I looked at it, and the entire thing was swollen and turning a blackish blue. The woman began moving and knelt next to me to help me up. Finally, on my feet, we were now standing face to face.
"Your arm is fractured from the shoulder down, so I'd reframe from moving it until you can find a healer.", she said.
I looked at her questioningly and asked, "Where can I find a healer?"
"You can find one in Koth.", she replied as she turned and made her way over to a small leather sack.
I chuckled as I spoke, "Could you possibly give me directions?"
She glanced back at me from where she was kneeling, "You're not from here, are you?"
"What gave it away?" I asked as I scratched the back of my head.
She looked me up and down, "You mean besides the strange clothing and the fact that you appeared from a magic circle in the sky?"
"Uh, fair point.", I responded.
She stood up and shouldered the sack before turning back to me, "Koth is about a day's walk to the east." she pointed to the direction behind me before continuing, "I will take you because I have to stop by there anyways to turn in my quest."
She walked past me, and I turned to watch her, but I didn't follow her because, as with anyone, I was skeptical. She got about twenty meters from before she realized I hadn't moved.
Turning back, she spoke, "You don't have to come with me, but I must warn you when nightfall comes, this forest becomes a death trap, and I doubt you can make it out before then. Also, I won't be around to save you again."
Scary forest or random chick who saved me. I weighed my options.
She started walking again, which got me moving. I did a slight jog to catch up to her. Coming up on her side, I noticed her ears poked slightly out of her hair, ending in a point.
Is she an elf? She's got to be. I thought.
Clearing my throat, I broke the silence, "So uh, I'm Aric Crimson, and I appreciate the help."
She nodded, "I'm Xela."
Hmm, pretty name.
I found Xela to be very beautiful. Like her beauty was undeniable to anyone. It was like she was sculpted to perfection, from her shiny eyes to her silky hair to every curve on her body. It was hard for me not to fall behind a little and watch the swaying of her hips. Turning my head back to the front to avoid her noticing me staring at her body, even though she's probably used to it, I continued walking alongside her.
"So, I couldn't help but notice your ears, and I must know, are you an elf?" I asked.
As soon as the last word left my mouth, a small blade pressed against my throat.
I held up my hands, "Woah now. I just asked a question. I'm new to this world, so I'm curious about its inhabitants."
The tension in her body melted away, and she pulled the blade away from my neck.
"Sorry, Aric. I'm very paranoid because the people of this world like to capture my kind and sell us as enslaved people, so when someone notices my ears, I put my guard up. Please forgive me.", she said as her cheeks turned red.
I patted her on the shoulder, "All good. No harm, no foul. I understand being skeptical of strangers."
We started walking again before she answered my original question, "To answer your question, yes. Well, I'm half making me even rarer, but I have eleven blood nonetheless."
"Wow, that's really cool!" I responded excitedly.
She furrowed her brow, "You'd be the one person in Lorna that thinks that. The people of this place are very cruel to my race."
I tilted my head, "Is there a reason why?"
"It's a long story that I'd rather not delve into right now. Just don't mention my race when we get to Koth.", she said.
I gave her a thumbs up, and we went on our way.
***
The sun was just about to disappear on the horizon as night set in, and the scary part was Xela led me to a small area a little ways off the path. She explained to me that we would not make it out before beasts and bandits came out to find their victims, so we were going to make a small camp for the night. I didn't too much like this plan any more than I did the option to keep walking, but it was my fault we didn't make it. Had Alfina given me some shoes for walking long distances, we wouldn't have had to stop so much, but here we are in a giant scary ass forest.
Once she finished placing wood on the pile we had made, she held out her hand, and a small yellow circle appeared in front of her palm. From this circle shot, a small ball of fire ignited the wood, creating a small campfire. I was amazed by the act of magic even though I knew magic existed here.
"Is that your first time seeing magic?" Xela asked, slightly amused by my awe-struck face.
"Yes, it is. I know magic exists here, but seeing it be performed is still mind-boggling.", I said with a small chuckle.
She smiled and tilted her head, "Magic doesn't exist where you come from?"
"Uh, no, unfortunately.", I responded.
"So you can't use magic then?" she asked.
According to a certain being, "I can now, but I'm not sure if I can or how."
Xela walked over to me, "Would you like me to help you learn."
I nodded, and with that, she got up close and personal before she grabbed my good arm.
"Hold out your hand and close your eyes.", she said, guiding my arm to be straight out in front of me.
Holding my palm out how she did earlier, she began to speak again, "Good. Now I want you to clear your mind and concentrate on the color of your core. Seek it out from within and draw it to the surface."
I concentrated as much as possible with her body pressed against mine, and after several long seconds of clearing my mind, everything went red. Xela let out a gasp.
"Open your eyes.", she whispered in my ear.
When I did, I found a small red circle in front of my palm. I looked at Xela, and her face was so close to mine that our noses almost touched. Many emotions were going through me right now, and my blood was racing all over my body from the current experience.
Come on now, Aric, focus. I thought to myself.
"How do I make it work?" I struggled to ask.
She tapped my chest, then my forehead, "Let the magic flow from here, and visualize up here."
I nodded, and I went based on what I knew of blood magic from my world and our idea of what blood mages can do.
Let's do something simple like a dagger. I began to visualize an ornate dagger that my dad owned, and at that moment, a sharp pain went up my arm as the skin split. Blood rushed down my arm to my hand until the same dagger I visualized formed in my hand. The entire thing was blood red, and when it was done forming, the small gash on my arm closed.
Xela took a small step back, "Who taught you magic? No one in all of Lorna can use or knows how to use blood magic."
"I, uh. I can't tell you. The being who gifted me my magic has asked me not to name them, but Lorna can raise its blood mage count to one.", I said jokingly.
"Aric, like anything else that is rare, I advise you to be cautious of who you let around you and who you show this to. Many have tried and failed to use this form of magic, so if they get word of a mage with your gift. They'll come for you.", she said as fear dawned in her silver eyes.
I nodded, "Don't worry, I'll be discreet with my power. On the bright side, we're in the same boat, so if you want, we can partner up."
She lightly patted my shoulder, "I've never had a partner before, but I'll give your offer some thought. For now, though, I'm off to bed. I suggest you do the same."
With that, she returned to her bag and laid down, placing her head on top of the pack. Within seconds she was fast asleep, softly snoring. I sighed heavily as I sat down and put my back against a tree and did my best to sleep as well, but this forest really freaks me out. This is why I cradled my new dagger in my hands for comfort.