Zephyr and the girl lay exhausted on the ground, their bodies covered in the blood of their fallen foes. Zephyr winced as he tended to his severed pinky finger, the pain throbbing through his hand. He ripped a strip of cloth from his shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound, trying to stem the bleeding as best he could.
"Ah! Blast it all!" he exclaimed through gritted teeth, wincing in pain.
After attending to his own injuries, Zephyr turned his attention to the girl.
'She fainted,' Zephyr thought solemnly.
He gently lifted her into his arms, being careful not to aggravate any wounds she might have sustained. He surveyed their surroundings, looking for a place where she could rest and recover in safety.
Zephyr trudged through the forest, his body covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. He was exhausted, his muscles aching and his mind numb from the ordeal of the past few days. His black hair was matted and tangled, hanging in greasy clumps around his face. But despite his disheveled appearance, his piercing blue eyes still shone with determination and strength. They were like two bright stars in the darkness, a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Spotting a nearby cave, Zephyr made his way over to it, gingerly stepping over the bodies of the fallen enemies. He carefully laid the girl down, trying to make her as comfortable as possible. He looked at her face, her features soft and peaceful even in the midst of their violent struggle.
Her features were delicate, with a sharpness that added to the mystique of her appearance. Her skin was as pale as the moon and seemed to shimmer in the light. The girl had a mane of jet-black hair that flowed down her back in cascading waves. Zephyr gently lifted the girl's eyelids with his fingers, checking for any injuries that might have befallen her. As her eyes opened, he was struck by their beauty. They were like pools of blood, a deep crimson that seemed to glow in the dimly lit cave.
For days, he had watched over her as she slept, waiting for her to awaken. He had found a new cave deep in the woods, far from prying eyes, where they could hide and recover in peace.
As the days passed, Zephyr grew increasingly worried about the girl's condition. Her wounds had been severe, and she had lost a lot of blood during their battle. He had done what he could to stop the bleeding and prevent infection, but he knew that her recovery was far from certain.
One morning, as Zephyr was gathering firewood outside the cave, he heard a soft groan coming from within. He rushed back inside to find the girl stirring, her eyes fluttering open. She looked around, disoriented, her gaze eventually settling on Zephyr.
Suddenly, she lunged at Zephyr, her movements unsteady and weakened by her injuries.
Zephyr reacted quickly, dodging out of the way of the girl's attack. He could see the fear and confusion in her eyes, the remnants of the battle they had fought still fresh in her mind.
"Easy, easy," he said, trying to calm her down. "You're safe here with me."
The girl struggled to regain her composure, her breathing ragged and uneven. Zephyr watched her closely, waiting for the right moment to intervene.
"It's alright," he said soothingly.
Slowly but surely, the girl's breathing began to steady, and she stopped struggling. She looked up at Zephyr, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and gratitude.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Zephyr nodded, relieved that she was starting to calm down. He knew that her injuries had taken a toll on her, both physically and mentally. As he looked at her, he couldn't help but see a reflection of himself in her. The only difference was that no one had been there for him when he needed it the most, besides Gerald that is.
"I am Zephyr and this is Gerald," he said, holding up the small stone. "He's been with me on all of my adventures."
The girl looked at Zephyr confused, wondering why he would have such an attachment to a rock.
"He's been there for me when no one else was," Zephyr continued. "Whenever I felt lost or alone, I could always turn to him for comfort. He's been a constant in my life, and I don't know what I'd do without him."
The girl nodded, starting to see the rock in a new light.
"I am Elaine," She introduced herself while looking at him with a conflicted expression.
"Is something wrong?" Zephyr asked, concern etched on his face.
"Why did you save me?" Elaine asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zephyr was taken aback by the question. It seemed so simple to him. He had saved her because it was the right thing to do.
"I couldn't just leave you there," he said. "You were in danger."
"You would go to such lengths, even killing Inquisitors of Imperium Solis," she said with fascination.
"Inquisitors? Wait, they were part of the Imperium?!" Zephyr shuddered at the thought of the Imperium Solis, an empire that he had heard much about from travelers.
The Imperium was inhabited only by humans and was known for being fiercely xenophobic. They believed that other races were inferior, and anyone who didn't conform to their narrow definition of humanity was branded as an impostor.
"You don't know who the Inquisitors are?" she said, her surprise evident in her voice.
As Zephyr nodded Elaine explained, "The Inquisitors hunt down beings like me because we live off humans," she said, her voice low and steady. "We need human blood to survive."
Zephyr's eyes widened in surprise, his mind struggling to process what Elaine was telling him.
"You mean you're a vampire?!" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"You witnessed my abilities, didn't you? So why the surprise?" Elaine asked, a note of incredulity in her voice. "Someone with your strength should have been aware of what I am,"
"Is that so? " he laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head with a wry smile.
After calming down, Zephyr and Elaine sat together in the cave, their backs against the rough stone walls. The fire crackled and popped in front of them, casting flickering shadows across their faces.
"Do you have any family, Zephyr?" Elaine asked softly, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames.
Zephyr shook his head, feeling a pang of sadness as he thought about his past. "No, I've never had a family," he replied. "I've always been on my own."
Elaine's expression softened. "I'm sorry," she said. "That must have been hard."
Zephyr shrugged, trying to brush off the sadness that was creeping up on him. "It's okay," he said. "I've managed to get by on my own."
Elaine looked at him with a mixture of admiration and sadness, realizing how much strength and resilience it must have taken for Zephyr to survive on his own.
"And what about you?" Zephyr asked, changing the subject. "Do you have any family?"
Elaine hesitated for a moment before answering. "No, my family is...gone," she said.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up," he said softly.
Elaine shook her head, trying to compose herself. "It's okay," she said. "I just...miss them, that's all."
Elaine trying to lift the mood changed the subject. "I was on my way to the Valoria Academy of Arcane Arts," she said, her eyes brightening. "It's one of the most prestigious and oldest sorcerer academies in the world, accepting students from all races."
Zephyr listened intently, fascinated by Elaine's story. He had never heard of the Valoria Academy before, but he could tell that it was important to Elaine.
"The entrance exam is in a few weeks," Elaine continued. "I was hurrying to get there on time, but then I was attacked by the Inquisitors."
Zephyr frowned, remembering the danger that they had faced together. "Do you still want to go to the academy?" he asked. "After everything that's happened?"
Elaine nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I do, more so now than before," she said firmly. "It's a step toward my dream, and I won't let anyone stop me from achieving it."
Elaine looked at Zephyr with a hopeful expression. "Zephyr, would you like to come with me to the Valoria Academy entrance exam?" she asked. "If you don't have any plans, that is."
Zephyr thought about it for a moment, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. He had never considered going to a sorcerer academy before, but the idea of accompanying Elaine on her journey was too tempting to resist.
"I don't have any plans," he said finally. "I'd love to come with you," he said, smiling at her.
Elaine responded with a slight smile and a nod, feeling grateful for Zephyr's company. She knew that the journey ahead would be tough, but having Zephyr by her side made her feel more confident and determined than ever before.
Together, the two of them settled in for the night. The very next day, they set out towards the Valoria Academy, excited and nervous about what lay ahead.