《Rachel Kalos: World Protector》Chapter 7- A Fire Side Chat
Advertisement
That night, the trio sat around their campfire at the neck of Mt. Krals. They sat silently as the sound of the crackling fire filled the night. While their journey had never been warm, up where they were- more than halfway up the rocky face of the mountain- the wind was especially cold. Rachel thanked the Stars for her warm clothing.
She walked over to the fire, removing one of the rabbits that were skewered over it. Al’tun had hunted a wide variety of game for them down on the lower slopes, but such food was becoming scarce and they had to be careful with what little remained.
“They’re ready,” she called to Alexia.
Even though it was cold away from the fire’s heat, the Elemantist sat outside of the warm glow. Alexia had her back to the fire, staring out over the edge of the mountain. Rachel waited for a response, but when none came she sat down, digging into her meal. The meat was tender and juicy and gone before Rachel realized. Her stomach rumbled as the smell of cooking meet drifted towards her from the fire. She looked over and saw that Alexia had not moved.
“If you don’t grab it soon, the meat’s going to burn.”
Alexia didn’t move as the smell of burning meat grew stronger. Rachel got up from her seat and snatched the burning rabbit from the fire. There was still a bit left un-charred. Her stomach grumbled as she stared at the remainder of the rabbit, but after a moment’s thought, she walked over to Alexia.
“Here,” Rachel said, handing the rabbit to the mage.
Alexia started, seeming to just remember that Rachel was there. She grabbed the rabbit without a word. One bite was all she took before she cried out, dropping the rabbit onto the cold ground.
Advertisement
“That’s burning!”
She rounded on Rachel. The Beast Tamer took a step back. She had never seen such a fierce look in Alexia’s eyes before. A soft glow gathered around the Elemantist, gradually gaining in intensity as she spoke.
“What are you planning Beast Tamer? Are you trying to kill me too? Are you another assassin? I saw the way you and that rabid mongrel have been watching me. Try it Beast Tamer. Try and take me. I promise you, I will not be easy prey.”
“You know, maybe everyone is right,” Rachel said, feeling an anger of her own start to boil. “Maybe you are just a horrible person. You stand there, accusing and threatening me, but what have I ever done to you, huh? Name one time in the three years we have been together that I have done anything, anything at all, to hurt you. As for watching you, of course I’ve been watching you! We’re out here- alone!- in this forsaken place. The only thing keeping either of us dying from one of the hundreds of different things that are trying to kill us is each other. So yes, yes I have been watching you. But if letting me nearly die is how you thank you me, then fine! I won’t watch out for you anymore. Next time an ice goblin strikes at your back, or a snow wyvern tries to freeze you, Al’tun and I will just let them!”
Rachel was breathing heavily, her face flushed with heat and anger. It, it felt good. She had never lost her temper before, and she felt exhilarated. That is, until she saw the way Alexia shrank under her. Immediately, regret and shame flooded out all of her good feelings. Rachel wanted to go to Alexia, to apologize for her angry words, but before she could, the Elemantist spoke up.
Advertisement
“Thank you.”
“What did you say?”
“Thank you. For helping me.”
Alexia stood up and walked towards the fire. As she passed Rachel, she saw tears running down the Elemantist’s face. She reached the fire, and kneeling down, started to poke at it with a stick. After a moment, Rachel walked over and knelt down next to her.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a horrible person,” Alexia continued. “It’s just, it’s just so hard sometimes. You don’t understand. How could you? The pressure, Stars the pressure! Some days it’s all I can do just to get out of bed. It’s awful. Everyone’s expecting something of me, everyone’s saying how I’m going to save the world.”
Alexia turned to Rachel, the normally reserved and calm Elemantist was crying unashamedly by the light of the fire. “What if I don’t save it? What if I can’t? Ever since I was born, everyone told me I was going to save the world, but no one says how, or when. I can’t ask for help; the professors expect me to be able to save the world already, and the other apprentices hate everything about me. I wake up every day wondering if this will be the day that the world needs me, and all I can think is I’m not ready!”
The future savior of the world collapsed onto Rachel. Deep, heartfelt sobs racked her thin frame.
“So many people want me dead,” she said, her voice muffled against Rachel’s coat. “Everywhere I go, I’m always worried if I am in danger – ‘Did that inn keeper poison my food?’ ‘Are those merchants planning my death?’ – every person I meet could be hiding a knife. I’m just so tired of it. I never asked to be a hero, I never wanted this responsibility!”
Alexia broke down, sobbing even harder into Rachel’s shoulder.
“I can’t speak for anyone else,” Rachel replied, “but I never wanted you dead. Stars, I kind of admired you. I mean, the way you strolled up to that drake the other day, that was pretty amazing. I don’t know, maybe this will help, but as a Beast Tamer they always tell us to ‘worry about the beast in front of you. Not the one around corner.’ Focus on the problem at hand, you know? Instead of worrying about saving the whole world, just focus on helping a small part of it. If you’re destined to save it, you’ll be ready when the time comes.”
Alexia raised her head. Her face was tear stained but the smile on it was warmer than the fire.
Advertisement
Twice Lived
Previously called Standard Reincarnation Story In a fraction of a moment, the Earth was no more. The planet was destroyed, and billions and billions of people were dead. And it was all an accident. This is the story of Elm. A regular American born once on earth and given a chance to be reborn again on a planet with magic and monsters and dungeons. Except that for Elm, this is far from the idealistic reincarnation into a loving family -- the standard story of a child raised by loving parents who teach him the ways of the world, Instead, Elm is born into a family of inquisitors. An order of nobility that is dedicated to hunting down and killing "Twice-Lived" -- the name society has for people like Elm who are reincarnated with all their memories of their past life intact. Disclaimer This story is: 1) Extremely violent and graphic. 2) Still in a rough draft stage. I see what I am writing more like a synopsis than a fully fledged story. I periodically will go back to flesh out earlier chapters, build characters, etc... If you find the words "Show don't tell," comforting accept that unfortunately, I'm not at that stage of the writing process yet. 3) At one point this story was called "Standard Reincarnation Story," and I had written an extremely off-putting description of the story. This was mostly to keep out people who would just read the silly first few chapters then rage quit as soon as the violent stuff got started. Since I just had my first .5 star rating (without a page read count increase) that technique is not working, so I might as well treat this as a regular fiction and try to get regular readers.
8 167Cantrip - A Wizard's Tale
The Fae were a legend, a myth. Until five years ago, when they made contact with humans and then abducted 1% of the population, disappearing once again into the shadows. Kel is a boy fueled by an obsession to regain the family he lost even as he fights back at the debts they left behind. Seeking admission to the Academy and rushing to escape the threat of enslavement, Kel must use his wits and determination to master more than simple tricks. To regain what he has lost, he must become a true wizard. Updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! (Cover photo by: DarkWorkX from Pixabay)
8 227Murder Eternal: Prophecy Unfolding (Book One)
Life is complicated. By the year 2597 survival has taken new meaning. After a devastating war with forces barely comprehensible, humans are now extinct. A new species has emerged, blending the remnants of humanity with their alien warmongers, the Atra. Both humans and the Atra died off centuries ago, but these humatrans have inherited a gift, of sorts. Murder now grants youth. In a society teetering on the edge of oblivion, everyone now has the chance to live forever . . . if only they’re willing to kill. Young Jason Jacobi soon discovers the oldest of these and their kin can do so much more. As the centerpiece of a forgotten prophecy he finds new purpose, as he can now witness future events, read minds and only the prophet knows what else. Others soon join his quest to reveal a mystery none can know. All the while being hunted by the strongest of all ancients . . . his own father.
8 190Building an army in another world
Eirisse Ianthe silvana is a military historian or was before she died. She then arrived in another world where she sets out on a journey to build an army with the assistance of a magic book in a world of swords, magic and monsters. I have also published this story on Scribblehub under the same author name.
8 105Proposal Week
During Proposal Week, all seniors at Tristan University are fake proposed to, from boy to girl.Each boy is given a piece of paper with a fellow senior girl's name on it. In one week, the boy has to come up with the next to most sincere proposal that they can conjure up in a week. Then, they perform the proposal and video it for proof. The girl doesn't know who the boy is until they are proposed to. This does propose drama, when one girl may have been proposed to twice, leaving a girl with no proposal.After that, the girl has to wear the ring for at least a week. That's if the relationship between the guy and the girl are more than just partners for a project. Let's just say, Proposal Week just got hectic with everything and more Ryla has to do.Cover Made By @Sanctuary82
8 75The girl trapped in mystic falls
A new twist to the originals and most fanfics. Tvd fanfiction. I do not own tvd or To the only rights I have are to my plot and characters I create.
8 155