ADRIAN FROZE, EYES wide, ears ringing, his heart hammering. The voice he'd heard hadn't come from the woods, nor from the storm around him - it had come from inside his head.
A woman's voice, it sounded like a woman.
He shook his head.
I'm losing my mind, he thought, a wild laugh threatening to escape. No wonder people fear me because of my eyes. If this is what magic does to people, I'd be terrified of it too.
The voice sighed, sharp with irritation.
- "Adrian, we don't have time for this. Now, if you are quite finished, my name is Daevera, and you are my master. I can help, but only if you listen to me." -
Master? Daevera? Adrian's hand tightened around the small wooden figurine, its edges biting into his palm. Just what in the nine hells is going on?
He looked down at the carving, staring at it with accusatory eyes. He had many questions, but he knew whatever was happening had something to do with it.
How are you in my head?
- "It's the only way we can communicate - though thoughts. You hear mine, and I, yours. It's called a mindlink."
A mindlink? Wait, you're who he wants, right? You're the reason for all this? I thought you were just a bit of wood, but you're alive, and in my -
A sharp crack in the underbrush snapped him out of his thoughts.
You know what? Forget it. That crazy mage wants to rip me to shreds! How can you help me?!
He thought he heard her sigh in relief as she responded. - "Good question. First, that 'mage,' as you call him, is barely more than an alchemist with a few spells memorized. He has a green core, and his primary affinity is water. He's nothing special, but compared to you, he's an army. -
Adrian's brow furrowed, feeling a faint headache starting to creep in from trying to process her words, as if his mind were being bent to fit something bigger.
Green core? I have no idea what that means. But water affinity? Does that mean he somehow wields water? How about the lightning?
- "I told you, he's an alchemist, and he's good with spells. Also, how is it that you don't know what a mana core is? That's basic magical knowledge." -
Adrian winced, feeling somewhat stupid, but he recovered quickly. What are you? Dense? This is the Emerald Dominion, and magic is all but outlawed here!
Besides, he added, watching his environment with wide eyes. "Everyone is trying to kill me tonight. So if you could save the questions for later and focus on my survival, that would be much appreciated!
Daevera didn't respond, and he thought she had decided to abandon him until a hologram blipped into his line of sight, as though hovering on the air, filled with details she had gathered on the wizard.
- Enemy: Wizard
- Class: 9 (low)
- Mana Core: Green
- Affinity: Water
- Strengths: Alchemy, Lightning, Storms
- Weaknesses: Dehydration, Lightning Conductivity
- "This is everything I know about the wizard for now. Does this put things into perspective for you?" -
Yes, it does. Adrian was amazed by the floating letters. You're doing this? Wow, this is amazing! It's no wonder he wants you so badly.
A thought occured to him. Wait, how do I dehydrate him?
- "You can't, not at your current magical level." -
Curiosity got the best of him. I have a magical level too? Can you show me?
The hologram blipped before changing, and he saw new stats reflected on it.
- Specie: Human
- Class: 10 (low)
- Mana Core: Deep Green
- Affinity: Light
- Strengths: Heat, speed
- Weaknesses: darkness,
Adrian didn't understand most of it, but he zeroed on the strengths, and his mouth dropped open in shock. I can really do all that?
Daevera mentally nodded. - "Yes, but you should be able to do more, if you can refine your core above it's current state." -
He shook his head, blinking those fantasies away. He had always known he was different, and he didn't need his eyes to tell him just how much.
Growing up, he always ran faster than Jax and Thorne, all without breaking a sweat. He could see through walls, see the heat that living beings gave off, and that made him a good hunter, and an even better thief.
But he had never considered just how magical his abilities were, often ignoring them until he needed them to survive. Believing he was magical was like accepting that he had deserved all the curses and hate that had been thrown at him his entire life for being born different.
So, he rejected her analysis.
Besides, why would I believe the words of a strange voice in my head? What would mother have to say about that?
If Daevera heard his thoughts, she gave no indication.
Suddenly, the wizard's voice broke through the night, snapping Adrian out of his reverie. "Come out, little piggy. I can smell you, I know you're out here somewhere." He was closer now, standing feets away from him, his view of Adrian obscured by the thickets.
He'll find me soon if I do nothing! You said you could help me even the odds, how?
- "The spells he's using are draining him fast. Your only hope is to wear him down and strike before he recovers." -
Wait? That's your great idea? I wear him down? He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How am I supposed to do that before he kills me?
Fear skittered down his spine, and any hope that appeared with Daevera began to fade. I don't even have a weapon…
A sudden weight settled in his hand. Adrian looked down to find a dagger with a golden hilt, long and wickedly sharp, glinting even in the low light.
He took a deep breath and steeled his mind against his next actions, as he heard his mother's words in his head. "If you're ever backed into a wall, you better fight like a hellcat because no one's coming to save you. Not even me."