The following couple weeks go by without a hitch. I train magic while Natalia watches. She actually successfully invoked her first basic chant the other day. It was just a small Chill, a tiny puff of cold air, but she was very happy. Unfortunately, even though the excitement of succeeding pushed her to try harder at learning magic, the results were still…lacking. It seems she just doesn’t have the talent for it yet. As for me, I’m gradually getting closer to mastering casting Burn along with Chill and Gust silently. In the realm of swordsmanship, Natalia is excelling quickly. However, my own progress has stalled. Without a master to teach me new things, it’s proving almost impossible to improve. The best I can do is practice the katas and drills and maintain what I know.

It’s on one of those very bright mornings when I’m banging away with wooden swords, when the winds of change begin to blow. Suddenly, a storm of those very same raven-like birds flies overhead, darkening the sky.

*Caw Caw Caw*

And then suddenly, something changes. I don’t know what it is at first, but I can sense it. Like the darkness sliding over your eyes as you blink, there’s a brief pause, and then he’s here. Out of nowhere, Perideen Darkblade arrives outside the Rainstopper Residence. Clad in a dark brown coat, which shifts slightly as if blending into the trees, Romy’s friend finally appears to protect me. Or at least, that’s what I thought he was here for. Carrying a single short sword sheathed on his back, Perideen Darkblade surveys Natalia and me with a neutral expression. Lithe, wiry, and somewhat shorter than Mephis was, this man still towers over us children. The Demi-Cat beside me raises her wooden sword warily, but I push the tip down.

“Did Romy send you?” I ask, and he nods, confirming what I already know. “So, you’re here to protect me?” However, his response is not what I expect.

“Circumstances have changed.” Perideen Darkblade is a man of few words. His face is smooth and angular, but marred by a cut which has been brutally sliced over one bright green eye. It gives him the appearance of a wounded animal. His eye is clearly still functioning though, so the damage is mostly cosmetic. “I came to check up on you since the Secthead ordered it, but a higher priority mission has arisen. Since you’re fine, I will take my leave. Goodbye. Do not get in trouble until I return!”

“W-What?” I reach out an arm and quickly snag the man before he can disappear on us. “But Auntie Romy said you’d watch over me! You can’t go! What’s so important?!” Trying to hide behind my childish appearance, I can’t shake the feeling that Perideen Darkblade knows more than he’s letting on as he turns back and regards me with inscrutable eyes. Softly, he removes my small hand from his coat sleeve. For a second, I’m worried that he’ll just blink away. But then he replies-

“Child, you’ll be safe here. I’ve already scouted the surrounding area, and there are no immediate threats in any direction. There have been reports of a potential Bloodfiend, a few towns over. You know of them, right? The Blood Witch’s servants must be eliminated before they can spread enough to resurrect her dormant soul. It is the duty of every warrior to investigate such evils!” He tells me the reason for his haste and I startle. Bloodfiend? Like Mephis? Could it be him? He did say that after transforming, someone would come to hunt him down one day! He even said it was the only thing that could be done…but even if it is…I can’t let him die!

“A Bloodfiend?” I whisper while thinking furiously and Perideen Darkblade nods, already drawing away to go.

“Now do you understand? This takes priority. The safety of the land is at stake. I promise you, once the threat is dealt with, I will return and take up my mission properly!” He pledges, but I am already moving to stop him. Grabbing his sleeve once more, I take a secure hold that he can’t easily shake out of. “Child…surely the Secthead has explained to you the importance of ensuring the Blood Witch does not return?”

“I…I want to go with you!” I boldly declare and both the man in front of me and girl behind me exclaim in surprise.

“Child?”

“M-Myrr!”

However, I am determined.

“My father…someone important to me was a Blood Warlock. Additionally, Romy wouldn’t want you to hurt him! So, I’m going with you to make sure it isn’t him! If it is, you have to find a different way!” Trying to explain my scattered thoughts causes Perideen Darkblade to furrow his brow.

“Unacceptable. The Secthead will have my head if any harm comes to you because of my negligence. I can’t bring a child along!” He protests, already shaking away, but I have him tight.

“Too bad. She’ll be even more angry if you hurt Mephis because you didn’t bring me along. That’s my promise to you! Besides…I’m not just a child. Romy has been training me. I’m an Acolyte!” At this, the man’s green eyes widen. He seems taken aback.

“The Eastern Raingoddess is personally training you? But that would make you the next potential Sect…” He abruptly cuts off. “Alright then. As an Acolyte, show me what you can do! If I’m satisfied that you can protect yourself, I’ll let you come!” Surprisingly, Perideen allows me to prove myself. However, before I can demonstrate my power, someone’s soft hand grabs my other forearm. I let go of Perideen’s sleeve and turn around. By my side, Natalia has a lost look.

“Myrr? Are you…going somewhere? But what about…” She whispers. Ahh…crap, there’s no way Natalia can come. It’s way too dangerous for an actual child, even if she IS a Demi-Cat. I’ll have to send her home until I get back.

“Sorry, Natalia. But for now, can you stay with your parents? Only for a little bit! I’ll be back soon, okay?” I say and she rapidly shakes her head, her cute ears swaying from the wind. “Pleaaase? This is really important to me. I need you to be good and listen to me.”

“Any time now, Acolyte. This matter cannot wait.” Perideen Darkblade comments while watching the two of us. Natalia looks between Romy’s friend and I with an increasingly frustrated expression. However, when she sees the determined set of my shoulders and how I stare at her, she can only put down her hands. Her ears droop, and for a second, I feel terrible leaving her behind after she was so excited to sleep over. It’s only for a little bit!

“Promise you’ll come back soon? And then you’ll cook pasta for me?” She asks hopefully, and I nod.

“Of course, just wait for me! I’ll feed you until your belly bursts!” My response causes her ears to perk back up and she steps back, letting go of my arm. “Thank you, Natalia!”

“Mhm…” She murmurs with sad eyes. Stepping forwards, I face Perideen Darkblade once she’s clear. Like Romy, the man does not have any fear of a child. He does not draw his blade. Instead, he stands there, empty-handed, palms out.

“Are you ready, Acolyte? Show me what the Secthead has-“

Before he can finish speaking, I have already detonated my plan. Out of nowhere, a hidden tornado springs into existence, shooting him high in the sky. Or at least that is what my Bloodstone-assisted spell would have done if it connected. Even though I didn’t use a chant, there is a slight delay when casting using Mephis’s glove. In that instant, when the extra mana is gathering in the Bloodstone, Perideen Darkblade immediately dodges to the side and avoids the budding whirlwind!

*Shuaaa*

“You…chantless magic?!” He gasps, but then flickers in midair and appears behind me. “Unprecedented at your age, and with such power, but ultimately…too slow…?!” Before he can finish his sentence, I begin chanting.

[Muddy Stone of My Endurance, Move Forth-Meld]

The ground immediately bubbles under our feet and he starts to sink down with me as the dirt turns to liquid mud!

“Deceptive.” Perideen Darkblade comments but takes to the air again. He flips over, approaching me. “What will you do at close quarters?” His hand stretches out as he rights himself and soars towards me like an eagle, claws outstretched. A small dagger materializes in his hand. “In the end, even if you know magic, you’ll need to be stronger then that-”

Heh…you might be strong. But you’re holding back way too much. Romy attacks twice as fast as this when we train!

[Frozen Wind of My Soul, Come Forth-Chill]

[Frozen Wind of My Soul, Come Forth-Chill]

I silently cast a chantless Chill as he approaches me and simultaneously cast another one out loud. My newest technique, Double Casting! It’s pretty much Disguised Casting, but with the same spell twice. It can lead to some surprising combinations! Using the Bloodstone to empower my spellcasting, since he’s in midair, I have just enough time to form a shard of ice the size of my head with the chantless Chill.

*Clink*

Perideen Darkblade doesn’t hesitate even though I might shoot it at him. He charges right on through, the dagger in his hand punching forwards into the ice crystal between us. However, I have no intent of using this particular crystal as a weapon. It’s simply there to obscure his sight and buy me time! Beneath our feet, a horrifying pressure builds from the Chill I cast out before. Since this was the one I said out loud, it draws in a terrifying amount of mana from the Bloodstone in my glove!

*Krrrr*

*KACHA*

Perideen Darkblade’s dagger smashes through my ice shard decoy and he appears in front of my face. The slight noise from the Earthen Icebomb I planted beneath us, attracts his attention. I see his eyes warily glance under my feet. However, he isn’t used to fighting someone who can cast chantless spells. He doesn’t realize, that even if I cast one spell, there could be several more traps set in that moment! Even though he senses something is wrong, he doesn’t believe in his instincts, and that will be his undoing!

[Stormy Breeze of My Loneliness, Gather Forth-Gust]

I have just enough time to cast a chantless Gust which shoots me backwards. It’s a suicidal plan, if I can’t escape the radius of the Earthen Icebomb I’ve planted beneath us, then I too will be caught in the blast. To be honest, I’ve never casted my custom spell with Mephis’s glove before, so there’s no telling how strong it will be. But I have to make sure that he accepts my power!

“Using wind to escape? Inventive, but too slow for now. If that’s all you have…” Perideen Darkblade abruptly stops talking as he detects the massive accumulation of mana under his feet. “What did you…!”

*Toc*

He immediately jumps straight up with cat-like reflexes as the ground below explodes. I yell out loud, casting as quickly as I can, using Glacia’s lessons to omit as many syllables as possible, as I chant the spell she doesn’t remember showing me,

[Cold Wall At The End of The Divide,

You Who Guard Against Failing Light,

Sunder This Dark Night!

Bring Me Refuge From All Plights!

Come Forth-Frozen Seal]

Flying back from the force of my Gust, I hurtle into Natalia, and plant my feet in the dirt. Wrapping my arms around the Demi-Cat’s shocked face, I give everything I have, as the expanding shockwave of mud and ice reaches us. My Frozen Seal finishes. A dome of ice springs forth from the empty air, thickening in an instant to protect us from my own spell. Sorry! Didn’t mean for you to be caught up in this!

*TOC TOC TOC TOC TOC TOC*

*KACHAAAA*