It was late into the night.
Melisa had one of her illuminating runes lit up as she flipped through page after page of the book she'd gotten that Illuminate spell from.
[Come on,] she thought, glaring at each word. [Come on, something... Something...]
Melisa tried. Her eyes strained, her head moving from side to side like she was on crack.
[Come on, there's got to be some kind of offensive spell in here. Fireballs, lightning bolts, magic missiles, anything!]
No luck, though. She came up empty.
It seemed that this particular book was more focused on practical, everyday magic. Light spells, spells for warmth, spells for mending broken objects.
It made sense, Melisa supposed. Why would the average nim need fancier, more demanding spells? But it was very inconvenient.
[Damn it! Come on, couldn't you have at least one spell for someone to turn someone to dust!?]
She slammed the book shut, her mind racing.
[Okay, think, Melisa. You're a programmer, right? You said it yourself, programs are just bits of code, put together in the right way to make something happen.]
She looked down at the illuminating rune, an idea sparking to life.
[Spells are kind of like that too, aren't they? Just pieces of magic, woven together to create an effect.]
She grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil, sketching out the spellsign for Illuminate.
[If I can just break this down, figure out what each part does... Maybe I can recombine them, make something new.]
It began.
She worked like a woman possessed. One spell after another, she drew their spellsigns, cross-referencing the Illuminate spell with others in the book, jotting down incantations and diagrams as she went.
[This part seems to be about creating light... And this bit, from the fire-starting spell, that's about generating heat and energy, even though you can't throw it at anything.]
Hours ticked by. Melisa worried she'd be seeing the sun come up soon. The rune on her table slowly dimmed as Melisa poured over her notes. She could feel the Essence inside her draining away, the magic she'd absorbed from Lily's kisses slowly burning out.
[Gotta hurry. Don't know how much longer I can keep this up.]
She scratched out another failed attempt, growling in frustration.
[Come on, come on... Just need to find the right combination...]
And then, suddenly, it clicked. A pattern emerged from the chaos, a sequence of signs and syllables that just felt right the way the lines flowed into each other.
Melisa's heart raced. She carved the new spellsign into a fresh rune, her hands shaking with excitement.
[Please work. Please, please work...]
She held up the rune, taking a deep breath as she focused what little Essence she had left.
"Illumi, nerca, var fal!"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a whoosh of displaced air, a brilliant blue flame burst into life above the rune.
Melisa yelped, nearly dropping the stone in surprise.
[Holy shit. I did it. I actually did it!]
She stared at the flame, mesmerized by its dancing light. It wasn't a normal fire. It looked like pure energy, a concentrated burst of Essence-given form.
[Could this hurt someone? I need to test it out.]
She walked outside, into the garden, rune in hand. She looked around and found a tree with some fruits that resembled lemons.
[Sorry, kinda-lemon tree. I need you to take one for the team.]
She aimed her right hand at the tree, holding her rune in the other.
"Illumi, nerca, var fal!"
A flaming, blue sphere shot out from her right hand.
Upon touching the tree, the tree was burned. Rather intensely. That part was predictable, what wasn't predictable was the way the tree crackled as if it had been electricity that Melisa shot out, not fire.
[AGH!] Melisa looked around, trying to see if she'd woken her parents. It didn't seem like it.
She sighed with relief, and then, a grim smile spread across her face.
[Yeah. Yeah, this will do nicely.]
Something else came to her mind, though.
[So, I can cast spells without runes too, right? As long as I have the Essence for it. I'll probably need to be able to, anyway, if things go south.]
---
Melisa walked out into the streets.
It was so cold. The twin moons hovered in the sky like a pair of eyes watching Melisa as she made her way down the dirt path.
She was looking for any place that might resemble an inn.
[A guy like that for sure doesn't actually live in this village. My guess is he must move from one place to another, collecting money all the while.]
Melisa only had a few offensive runes to rely on here. Outside of that, she'd be using the remaining Essence in her body and another rune for her getaway.
She could almost see her breath, crashing into her scarf. A few guards up ahead walked lazily from one place to another.
[Not a whole lot of security. I guess not much crime happens in a town this small.]
She walked and walked...
But, soon, she saw that she didn't need to find Striker. Destiny must have delivered him personally, because, soon, he was walking up, flanked by two friends.
"... every single one of the fucker's teeth out," Striker muttered casually.
Melisa exhaled deeply.
She raised her scarf and lowered her hat, trying to hide her features as much as possible.
[On the off chance the results are different, no harm in protecting my identity. How many little nim girls are there in this village? Even if he does survive, what is he gonna do, kill us all? No. Everyone's got their limits. This village wouldn't just let that happen. I hope, anyway.]
As the men drew closer, the moment of truth came.
"Huh?" One of them went. "A kid?"
Striker's eyes narrowed.
He walked up.
"The fuck are you doing out here? You lost or some shit?"
He wasn't quite close enough yet. Melisa didn't want there to be even the slightest chance she'd miss.
"Hehehe... You guys think we should get this boy to his family?"
The way Striker was smiling really didn't make it seem like he had any intention of that.
Melisa inhaled slowly.
[Not yet.]
"What do you think? Actually, how about we give 'im a new family? Could use someone to carry our shit."
[Not yet.]
"Yeah, boy, come over here, let me show you-"
He took two steps forward.
[NOW!]
"Illumi, nerca, var fal!"
She raised her rune.
A flaming, blue sphere launched out.
It struck the man and, as she predicted, it burned him.
"AAAAGH!"
Striker fell back.
Melisa stared for a moment.
She'd never even been in a fight before. She'd never hurt anyone like this.
His friends walked forward.
Using her own Essence, Melisa cast the same spell a second time. This time, at the guy next to him.
Same result.
"AAAAOOOH!" He too fell, the blue flame chipping away at his skin.
"You little...!" The last one ran up.
[Last trick up my sleeve. Come on...]
"Illumina, car ei!"
She activated the second rune right in his face, hoping for a specific effect, given how bright this thing was.
And, it was achieved.
"FUCK!" The man fell back, momentarily blinded.
That was all the space Melisa needed.
She turned and sprinted.
"G-Get back here!" One of the men yelled. It didn't matter who it was, the point was one of them was clearly okay enough to at least see her running. She needed to move.
[Make some distance, slip away, get back home. That's all I need to do.]
She darted between houses, trying to keep the buildings between her and her pursuer.
[Just gotta break his line of sight. If he can't see me, he can't catch me!]
She risked a glance over her shoulder and immediately regretted it. It was Striker himself, head half-burnt off, running at her like a damn zombie.
Melisa's eyes widened and she tried to move faster.
She zigzagged through the alleys, her small size and nimble feet giving her an advantage in the narrow spaces.
[Okay, I think I'm losing him. Just gotta keep this up a little longer...]
She turned a corner and found herself in a dead end.
[Oh, come on! Seriously?]
She could hear Striker's heavy footsteps getting closer.
Panicking, Melisa looked around for an escape. Her eyes fell on a stack of crates against one of the house walls.
She scrambled up the crates, her heart in her throat as they wobbled beneath her feet.
With a final leap, she grabbed the edge of the roof and hauled herself up, just as Striker rounded the corner.
"Where are you? I'm gonna wring your fucking neck!"
Melisa flattened herself against the roof, hardly daring to breathe.
[Please don't look up, please don't look up...]
She heard Striker curse and kick something, then storm off, still muttering threats.
Melisa waited a full minute before daring to peek over the edge of the roof. The alley was empty, no sign of her pursuer.
She let out a shaky breath, her whole body trembling with adrenaline.
[Holy crap, that was way too close.]
She climbed down from the roof, her legs feeling like jelly.
[Okay, new plan: get home, hide under the bed, and hope he's too injured to come for us tomorrow.]
She took off, sticking to the back alleys and side streets as she made her way home. Every sound made her jump, every shadow seemed to hold a lurking threat.
[Almost there, almost there. Just a little further...]
Finally, her house came into view. Melisa put on a final burst of speed, practically flying up the steps and through the front door.
Just as Melisa thought she was home free, a hand grabbed her from behind, yanking her back with a yelp.
She found herself face to face with Striker, looking back at her with murder in his eyes.
"Thought you could give me the slip, did you?" he snarled, his grip tightening on her arm so much she worried it would break. "I had a feeling it was you, you little cunt. Saw you skulking around last time I paid your dear old dad a visit."
Melisa's heart dropped into her stomach.
[Oh no. Oh no no no. This can't be happening!]
She tried to pull away, but Striker's hold was like iron.
"L-Let me go!" she cried, hating the way her voice shook.
Striker laughed.
He leaned in closer, his breath hot and foul against her face.
"I don't think so. You're comin' with me. I'm gonna introduce you to all my men. We could use a bit of fun."
Melisa's mind raced, desperate for a way out.
But, at that moment, a voice rang out.
"Let her go, Striker. Now."
They both froze.
Melisa's head snapped up, as did Striker's, her eyes widening in disbelief.
There, standing in the doorway, was Melistair, fists clenched at his sides, eyes narrowed in Striker's direction.
Striker sneered, his grip on Melisa tightening.
"Well, well. Look who it is. The man of the hour himself."
Melistair took a step forward, his eyes never leaving Striker's face.
"I said, let her go. This is between you and me. Leave my daughter out of it."
Striker laughed again, a harsh, grating sound.
"Decided against havin' her fight your battles for ya? Shame, she hurt me more than you ever could," Striker cackled. "But, nah, I don't think so. See, your little girl here did something unforgivable. I think if she gave me this," he gestured at his face, "it's only right I-"
Striker raised his hand, about to punch her.
Melisa flinched, bracing herself for the blow.
But it never came.
She looked up, her jaw dropping in awe.
Melistair stood over Striker, holding the man by his wrist.
Melistair shoved Striker back.
The loan shark stumbled, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. Melisa, too, could hardly believe her eyes.
Her father walked forward.
Melisa had only known Melistair for a few days. Most of that time, he'd spent toiling away at the mines.
To her, he was a gentle, kind man.
Physically, he wasn't exactly the peak of masculinity or anything. He was thin and were it not for the few muscles he'd developed from what were likely years of hard work, he'd look more like a librarian than an MMA fighter or anything.
But, in that moment, to Melisa's eyes, he was standing as tall as a giant.
"You will not touch my daughter," Melistair said, his voice ringing with a authority Melisa had never heard before. "And you will leave my family alone. For good. I gave you your damn money. I'm not giving you a single other sun."
Striker's shock quickly turned to rage.
With a snarl, he charged forward, his fist cocked back for a devastating blow.
Melisa gasped, her heart in her throat. But Melistair didn't flinch.
He ran forward the same exact way, meeting that punch with one of his own.
The two men clashed like bulls locking horns.
Striker punched Melistair's abdomen and Melistair dealt him an uppercut in return.
They were quickly trading blows with a ferocity that made Melisa's blood run cold.
Soon, it became clear that Striker was the more experienced fighter, though.
"Agh!" Even now, injured as he was, he dealt Melistair a punch to the gut that brought him to his knees.
[Meli... Dad?]
Melistair spat out some blood. And, Melistair...
Melistair wouldn't stay down.
"AAAAGH!" He ran back in.
He looked faster all of a sudden. Stronger even. He pushed Striker back!
Now, for every hit he took, he returned one of his own, his eyes blazing.
Striker's friends soon arrived, probably following the sound of the commotion. The fight wasn't interrupted. They were too shocked at what they were seeing to do anything.
Melisa watched, awestruck, as her father battled on. His nose was bloodied, his eye swelling shut, but still he pressed forward, driving Striker back.
Bam, bam! Two hard punches to Striker's head saw teeth fly out, gleaming in the purple moonlight.
Melistair inhaled and exhaled, his breaths strained. Striker was reeling, looking like he could fall over any second.
".... AAAAAAAA!"
And then, with a final, mighty roar, Melistair landed one more uppercut, directly to Striker's chin.
Striker's head snapped back, his eyes rolling up in his skull.
For a moment, he teetered, suspended on the brink. Then, like a falling tree, he crashed to the ground.
Melistair stood over him, chest heaving, fists still clenched. Blood dripped from them.
The guys, his friends from earlier, walked over and picked Striker up, who regained consciousness quickly.
"You..." He spat out blood. "I'm gonna fucking kill you!"
"You won't do anything," Melistair replied. "Not unless you want this village to become your grave."
"What!?"
"You go after me again, after I paid up, you think the people here are just going to let you go?" Melistair shook his head. "Unlike you, Striker," he glared down at the man, "I never abandoned this place."
[Huh?]
Apparently, there was some history here Melisa didn't know.
"The people here won't let you leave if you do," Melistair promised. "Everyone here's my family... But, then again, you don't know what it's like to have one, do you?"
Striker clenched his fist, gritting the teeth he had left.
"Agh!" He pried himself away from his allies' grasp and turned away, walking off into the darkness.
"Uh..." His friends walked away with him.
Things were quiet for a moment.
Then, Melistair turned around.
Slowly, he turned to Melisa.
All that anger, all that venom he'd just used to fuel his punches was gone. All that was left was a smile spreading across his battered face.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice so soft all of a sudden.
Melisa couldn't speak. She could only stare, tears welling up in her eyes, at the man she thought she knew.
Her father.
Her hero.
With a sob, she ran forward, throwing her arms around him. Melistair embraced her, holding her tight as she cried into his chest.
He laughed.
"Ahhh, it's okay, it's okay. Got me good, the bastard. But, it's alright," he murmured, stroking her hair. "It's over now. You're safe."
Melisa clung to him, her heart swelling.
Was this what having a family was like? A real one?
She had no idea.
[My dad,] she thought. She had no trouble stating that at this point. [My dad is the best.]
"Now," he pushed her off gently, looking into her eyes seriously. "I'm gonna need you to explain why Striker's face was burned like that. What did you do?"
Melisa laughed nervously.
"I... Uh..." She thought about it. "You're not going to believe me if I tell you."
"Try me."
"Okay... Tomorrow," Melisa said.
"No, I need-"
"Dad," she cut him off, "I want to show you but I literally can't do it right now, but first thing in the morning. Okay?"
He breathed in, staring Melisa down.
"Alright, I trust you. Tomorrow."
And, with that, they walked back indoors, leaving all thoughts of loan sharks and debt behind them with the fallen teeth on the street.