“Fight me!” yelled one of the kids playfully as they chased one another.

The bright smiles on their faces as they were ignorant to the thing ready to come. Vintra and I walked into the inn of the village, a few people were at the counter drinking some brown liquid that slipped off their lips.

“From the capital are ye?” asked one of the clearly drunken men.

I glanced over at Vintra who had no intention to answer. Was she being secretive or is it that she just has no social skills? Should I arrange for a date? Wait, what am I thinking!

“Indeed. We are here for…. Personal matters. Has your village chief announced anything?”

“”Huh? Is there something we ‘uppose to know? Why can’t ye lad just spit’r out. Is it something too much for such a high and mighty capital lady like ye’ self? Should I get on my knees and beg for you not to strike us down?” he uttered out mockingly.

“Sir, there’s no need for that really. I am new myself an--”

“Ah! New, you say? So the capital sent a new puppy out to play into a wolf’s den? How kind of them. If it was up to me, I’d burn that whole bloody green city to the fuckin’ ground I tell ye’”

At this point, the man was swaying in his steps as he tossed the bottle in his hand over the place. Spilling the drink as he talked. When he brought the mouth of the bottle to his lips, he lifted the bottle over to take a drink but clearly nothing came out. He shook the bottle only to see a drop fall onto his tongue.

“Missy! What did ye’ do to my drink! Did you piss nobles take my drink! Just as ye’ took my homes, you take a bloody man’s drink as well.” he yelled frantically, throwing the bottle onto the floor.

Before the bottle could shatter upon impact, it levitated a few centimeters off the ground, having a bright aura around it. I turned to see Vintra with her finger out, and she brought the bottle up and laid it on the table.

“I suggest you sit down.” Vintra said.

The man looked dumbfounded by the magic. Like it was the most impressive thing in the world. His face was mixed with angst and… astonishment. Until his face turned pink and I swear I could see steams coming out of his head. He grabbed the bottle and tossed it into the wall, shattering it.

“Why I oughta!”

“Horace that’s enough!” yelled the familiar voice from the side.

I turned to see the Elder standing there in an orange robe, hands put together inside the sleeves.

“There’s an announcement that must be made, a village meeting is called.” a tall athletic built man said, standing beside the elder.

The drunken man named Horace puffed out his chest and flared his nose, giving us one last death stare before storming out past the two.

I looked over at the elder who smiled his kind smile once again and nodded his head.

I guess they are going to announce the emergency now.

I looked over to the short black haired man beside him, wearing a vest without an undershirt along with puffed up pants. He looked over to me and I instinctively looked away. Why did I look away?!

I swallowed the lump in my throat and stood up from my seat and walked up to the two.

“Are you telling the town now Elder?” I asked, bowing my head a little like Vintra did before.

“Indeed, would you two care to come out to us? I believe the people will feel more safe knowing we have two exceptional mages here to help in our time of need.”

I looked over to Vintra who just nodded her head to me.

“Most definitely! Shall we go?”

***

We stood behind the Elder on top of a small stage set in the centre of the village. With Vintra to my right and the athletic man who I believe is the Elder’s son to my left.

“Something horrible is coming our way. We must do all in our power to protect our village.”

Murmurs in the crowd arose, the rustling movement of their feet as they felt the anxiousness in the Elder’s voice

“What is it!” The drunken man yelled from the crowd.

He gave me a side glance that irked me a bit but patience, patience. Yes, patience is virtue.

“Dem-”

“Demons?!” The drunken fool interrupted. “The bloody demons?! If you knew of this old man, you should have told us sooner so we can kick dust off this poor town. Come on everyone let’s leave.”

There were mutters of agreement as the small crowd grew terrified faces and were shifting to disperse. I balled my hands into fists and walked forward beside the Elder.

“Are you really going to abandon your homes? Your village? Everything you’ve been building here? How are you going to let some lowly demons scare you off to run.”

“What do you know kid!” Horace yelled. “We ‘ave already been abandoned by this forsaken kingdom the moment we weren’t born in the higher realms. They have already left us for dead huh? That’s why ye the only two here right? And what we goin to do with a kid and a mute?”

As the crowd murmured more in agreement, they began to separate. I glanced back at Vintra who just held her stance. Trying to urge her to show some of that flashy magic with the floating runes, she wouldn’t budge.

“Do you not care if they help us?” I whispered to Vintra.

“I do not. My mission is to defend these villages. With or without help, my mission does not change.” she said promptly.

I couldn’t tell if she is just the most loyal mage ever or if she is just supa confident.

I sighed and looked back at the crowd walking away.

I guess there’s no helping it, this is the only way to grab their attention.

Reaching to my backpocket to pull out my wand no longer in a box, I concentrated my mana. Concentrate. Concentrate.

I swiftly grabbed my wand and pulled it out in front of me. Aiming forward, a torrent of fire blazed from the tip of the wand. The orange flames tinted the surrounding area as the large torrent Shot out over the heads of the shocked villagers.

“Vintra! A little help please!”

She walked over and grabbed my hand. The flames died until only the tip flickered. She put the wand back in my back pocket and gave me a piercing look.

“Something up your sleeve huh?”

I gave a small chuckle and smiled.

“I promise, i’ll hold my own.”

The villagers murmurs were conflicted after seeing the power of a ‘kid.’ Even the drunken fool had his mouth agape and frozen in place.

Now then, let’s do this!