Audrey groaned lightly as she stretched.
Her back popped nicely, and her shoulder rolled and clicked just how she liked. Moving away from her bed she pulled her little slippers on.
"I need coffee..." She groaned, looking through her bleary eyes.
Opening her, large, heavy, and solid, mahogany door she felt her left wrist pop, uncomfortably. Grimacing, Audrey rubbed at it as she made her way to her kitchen.
Looking at the unlit stove she blinked a few times before snapping her fingers.
FWOOM~!
Sparks raced across the room, entering and setting ablaze the stove.
Walking out as the fire built, Audrey filled a clean basin with water.
"Just now Waking up?!"
Audrey sighed and set the basin down, rubbing her eyes, and starring at the 'intruder'.
"Go back to your father Calliope." Audrey waved off.
"But Ma'am~!" Calliope whined. "You said you'd show me some really cool magic today!"
"Did I?" Audrey asked, playing coy with the child. "Well..."
She pointed her hand at the basin and it floated up into the air behind her. "I think that fits all the requirements."
"WHOA~!" Calliope yelled making Audrey wince at the loud tone.
"Now," Audrey said. "Go help your Father do whatever needs done."
"Yes Ms. Audrey!" Calliope said, running off down the hill towards a small house just back in the town.
Audrey shook her head with a small sigh.
Letting the basin levitate in after her, she floated it over onto the stove as she rummaged through her cabinets.
Pulling out the coffee beans, she pulled out a small hand full before grabbing her mortar and pestle. Dropping the beans in, she magically started to have the beans ground down.
When the basin of water was boiling she set in onto her table, Taking a metal pot, she poured half of the basin into it it as she let the, now fully ground, coffee beans fall in, and levitated it back to the stove.
Splitting the water in half once again she started mixing Lye and ash into the basin of unused hot water. Quickly she started to clean the few dishes that she had.
It didn't take her to long, the dishes were for a single person and were only sitting over a single night.
Using the last of the, no longer boiling hot water, she rinsed all of her dishes off and used magic to heat and dry them all.
Floating them back into their cuppards, Audrey held the lone survivor of the banishing, a medium sized metallic cup. Walking to her counter she opened a small metal dish and set a small slice of butter into her cup, as well as a spoonful of sugar and a pinch of dehydrated milk.
Walking over to the coffee pot, She poured the liquid gold into her cup, using her magic to strain the grounds out.
Stirring the coffee with a small spoon, Audrey took a small sip of her creation.
She groaned in satisfaction, the rich and creamy flavor mixed with the smoothness the butter provided.
"Amazing." She whispered. "To bad I ran out of cookies yesterday."
She glanced at her cloak and witches hat.
"...Don't do it Audrey." She told herself. 'I get enough visitors with Calliope and the supply drops the kings guards send.'
She looked at the glass jar that stored her cookies, or whatever sweets she had a craving for.
The empty glass jar.
Groaning, she downed the rest of her life giving elixir and walked towards her cloak and her hat that was hanging droopily off of her staff.
"It's Ms. Audrey!"
"Hi Miss Witch!"
"Ms. Mage! I like your hair today!"
"Why thank you." Audrey said to the children that greeted her with a smile. "Would you like your hair to look like this to?" She pointed to her braided hair.
"Yeah!" The little girl said.
"Abra Kadabra!" Audrey said, waving the staff in the air.
"Ms. Mage!" The little girl giggled. "That's not a spell!"
"Oh?" Audrey asked, feigning confusion. "Well maybe... Bibity boppity!"
"No~!" The kids said together.
"Oh darn..." Audrey said, donning a thoughtful look. "Well how about this."
She raised her staff.
"From the veins bellow, I command the guidance of all it know." She said in a tone that excited the children. "I cast... Pretty hair spell!"
She used her magic to braid the girls hair effortlessly, as all of the children watched amazed.
"Wow!" The little girl said, looking at the end of her hair. "Thank you Ms. Mage!"
"Anytime!" Audrey said with a smile, as she tried to escape.
"Me next!"
"No me!"
Audrey sighed.
A few minutes later and the two other children sporting rainbow colored tongues, the two boys didn't want the braided hair apparently.
Walking down the bricked road, Audrey looked towards the bakery.
Walking over to the shop, Audrey peeked in.
"Mr. Gates?" She called out.
"One second." A grouchy old mans voice called out.
An older man, using a cane to get around, walked out and towards the counter.
"...Is that you Audrestine?" The man asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I've told you to call me Audrey, Mr. Gates." Audrey sighed. "I'd like to buy a batch of... Apple cookies."
"I'll call You Audrey when that's your real name." Mr. Gates grumbled. He walked over to his cabinets and pulled out the ingredients that he needed. "It's been a while since you been inside the kingdom." He said, Starting pour flour into a bowl. "What's got a young gal like you locked in her home?"
"... You know I just don't like people." Audrey said.
"The same people you-" Mr. Gates said.
"Yes." Audrey cut him off. "I don't see how you can deal with them talking to you constantly. Just the children are nearly enough to give me a panic attack."
"You're great with children." The man waved off as he cracked a few eggs into the flour. "Now get on out of here. They should be done in an hour or so."
"Sure." Audrey said. "Thanks Mr. Gates."
Walking out of the bakery, Audrey flexed her wrists, wincing when her left one popped uncomfortably.
"Ms. Witch!"
Turning Audrey looked at a lone woman running towards her.
'Great, here we go.'
"What's wrong Ma'am?" Audrey asked.
"M-My son!" She said between gasps. "A wolf bit his arm! I heard you came down from your home! Can you please save him!"
Audrey sighed inwardly. 'I could just say I don't know healing magic... But that would be a lie.' "Take me there."
The woman nodded and grabbed Audrey's arm, quickly trying to pull her.
Audrey held back from whacking the woman with her staff.
The woman led her to a small cottage a bit further into the city.
"How did he get bit by a wolf this far into the city?" Audrey asked.
"He works as a guard." The woman said, opening the homes door.
'...Works?' Audrey thought tiredly, following the woman into the home.
"He's over here." The woman said, opening the door to a small room.
"Mother..." A young man said.
"I told you, The king said he'd hire a healer to help."
A young young man.
"How old are you?" Audrey asked, gently.
"I'm sixteen." The boy answered.
Audrey sighed and pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose.
"And the King set you as a guard...?" Audrey said confused.
"It was... Supposed to be... a training exercise." The boy said.
"Well look how that turned out." Audrey muttered, looking at the mangled arm. "Well I have to cut it off."
"What?!" The mother said shocked.
"Joking." Audrey said. "It is pretty bad though. What happened to the wolf?"
"It got away with it's pack," The boy said. "Reind was able to scare them off with a ball of fire."
...
"Did you say Reind?" Audrey asked. "As in Reind Herald?"
"Yes?" The boy said confused.
"And what's your name?" Audrey asked, unwrapping the boys bandages.
"Penth." The boy, Penth, said wincing as flesh ripped off of bandages.
"Well Penth." Audrey said. "Looks like you get to keep your arm."
She held her hands over his arm and they glowed a purply silver. The ribs and breaks in the boy's arm repaired themselves, the deeper gashes leaving bright white scars."
"Whoa..." Penth said, amazed. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
"Yep." Audrey said. "Be sue to not use the arm for much for the next seven days. The bones are still damaged, I just... bridged the gaps and sped up the healing." 'I totally suck at healing magic.' "Be sure to tell Reind and the king that they both owe me one."
"Y-Yes Ma'am!" Penth said, sitting up quickly.
"Good boy." Audrey said, setting a hand into his hair. "Also, good job. I know that sack of... Reind is almost always late, So you must have held those wolfs off long enough to be saved. So good job Penth."
"...T-Thank you Ma'am." Penth said, watching as Audrey walked out of the house.
"W-Wait-" The mother said. "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing." Audrey said. "I get to insult my friend a lot thanks to him. That's all I need."
"W-What?" The woman asked but Audrey had already closed the door.
"This is what I get for wanting extra cookies." Audrey sighed.
People were pointing at her and whispering excited words, as she passed.
She looked up at her destination as she drew closer.
The towers of the castle.
The guards watched her approach, eyes widening.
"It's the sacred Mage!" One of the guards whispered excited.
"Be cool dude." The other whispered.
"But I wan-"
"Is Reind in today?" She asked the two guards. "I need to speak with him and have an audience with the King."
"Reind is stationed at the training grounds today." The more stoic guard answered. "And we will inform the King of your presence."
"Thank you." Audrey said, Walking past the guards, towards the castle.
'Jeez. This place is as big as I remember.' Audrey thought as she walked to where she remembered the training grounds were.
Opening the door, Audrey looked at the tens of soldiers in training.
A large red haired man stood instructing them.
"Good movements!" He said. "But each strike has to be aimed to kill your opponent! Very rarely will there come a situation where we are to capture!"
"Says the softy that rarely even killed bandits." Audrey said, leaning against a pillar.
The man's eye twitched, and he shot a glance over towards her.
Eyes widening for a brief moment, He looked back to the students.
"Good job everyone!" He said, with that stupidly charismatic tone. "Everyone go grab some food and take a break."
Audrey watched the students silently walk towards the table that held a small feast.
"So." Reind said, His smile almost charismatic enough for her to care. "What brings the Sacred Mage to the Castle of the king?"
"Well this Mage decided that she wanted to go to town today."
"Ran out of sweets?" Reind asked.
"I will gut you." Audrey said. "And yes. I in fact did, run out of sweets. And a Woman approached me, saying her son got attacked by wolves."
Reind winced, Looking away.
"When I go to heal her son, I see that he's a boy, one that you are supposed to be training. And I see his arm has the bare bone medical treatment for survival, and he had a promise of a healing mage."
"I sent out a falcon." Reind said. "If that hadn't worked, I would've come to you personally."
"Ahuh." Audrey said. "I'm guessing you were late to the training you held, outside of the town?"
"...No?" Reind said before a glare taught him his place. "Yeah..."
"God you're an idiot." Audrey said.
"Fine." Reind said. "Yes, I'm an idiot. But... you wouldn't come to the castle just to say that? What's up?"
"I need to talk to the king." Audrey said. "It's my yearly, are there any good mages to be trained visit."
"Actually..." Reind whispered. "I think you'll be in for a shock today."
"... Someone else is actually using magic?" Audrey asked confused.
"I guess you'll just have to speak to the king." Reind said. "I'm just an idiot after all."
"Whatever." Audrey said.
Audrey walked into the throne room, where the King sat, amused.
He was an older man, in his late thirties, hairs already graying. He was dressed in deep royal purple.
"Looks like age is catching up to you old timer." Audrey said. "How's the last year been? Also, can you send more sweets with the supply drops? I had to come down to get a batch of cookies today."
The guards on either side of the king gritted their teeth.
The King raised his hand and they remained silent.
"I believe that can be arranged." He said with a caring smile. "I believe you're here for a separate matter though?"
"Yep." Audrey said. "And little Witchlets I need to beat better?"
"There is one, that just might meet your criteria." The king said.
"...Reind said the same thing." Audrey said raised a cautious eyebrow. "Why are you two beating around the bush? Who am I training?"
"That would be me!" An excited, demanding voice declared.
Turning Audrey looked at a well dressed girl, no older than twelve.
"... Who the heck are you?" Audrey asked. "A stray cat?"
"I-!" The girl said embarrassed. "I am Ralline Mars! Daughter of the great king Ramone Mars!"
"..." Audrey turned to the king. "Don't think she'll get any special treatment cause she's your brat. If she can't pass my test she fails."
"I'm certain she'll do fine." Ramone Mars, King of Hiethbrieg, said.
"Huh?" She pulled her staff off of her back, walking over to the girl. "What's your favorite color?"
"...What?" Ralline asked, before Audrey brought the gemmed part of the staff down roughly on her head with an audible Thunk!
"OW!" Ralline said, holding her head and backing away. "You crazy old hag!"
"I'm twenty?" Audrey blinked confused. "You're fathers old if anything. I-" She stopped as she looked at her crystal. "Huh?"
"I assume she's passed?" The king asked.
"... Barely a pass." Audrey sighed. "Her magic is Strong, yes. But it seems she doesn't have the ability to manifest any elements besides that of the ocean. Strong when in conjunction to anything else but fairly easy to counter if you know what you're up against. That alone would have failed her. But..." Audrey looked at the gem in her staff as it glowed silver. "She's got the gift. She a Craftweaver like I am. I'll train her."
"Like I'd want to be trained by you!" Ralline snarked. "Bat shit crazy Hag!"
"I'm Twenty." Audrey said, no care in her words. "And you don't get a choice. In a month, I'm swinging by the castle again, I'll take her out into the world and make her a mage."
"Take me?!" Ralline said, flabbergasted. "You can't just-"
"Then try stopping me Ralline." Audrey said. "Ooh that's your first assignment. Your grades based on how many seconds it takes me to kidnap you. Bye Ramone."
"Goodbye Audrey." The king chuckled. "And keep your window open. I'll be sending you a falcon in a few days."
"You can't just tell me here?" Audrey asked confused.
"It's a secret." Ramone smirked at her annoyance.
"God you're annoying." Audrey frowned, walking out of the throne room.
"Father..." Ralline said.
"Yes dear?"
"Is she really able to teach magic or is she just another old hag?"
"That she can." The king said. "You may not remember, you were only eight when it happened." He set his hand in her hair and gently ran his hands through it. The last reminder he had of his late wife.
"But that girl killed the Devil."