Lost

Lost trudged on through the hot summer day. He had taken off his hood, rolled up his cloak and strapped it on his belt. He did this because people were looking for a hooded man, and they had no clue what his face looked like. But Lost had found himself rather unlucky, for he hadn't realized how much the hood protected his skin from being burned by the sun. He was incredibly pale, unlike in his old body, and thin too. If only there was a type of magic sunscreen, because he could feel the skin on the back of his neck slowly being roasted.

He wore a red headscarf covering his forehead and ears, tied in the back. There were humans in Evrite, but they were few in number and far between, drawing a lot of attention. So Lost had ripped up a red cloak from one of the bounty hunters that attacked him, making it into a sort of headscarf. He also tied a few to his right wrist, just in case he lost this one. Hey, you never know what could happen.

It was a precautionary measure, he looked like a human. But Lost wasn't even sure if he was human because he had amber glowing eyes, unnaturally black hair and seemed to be poison resistant.

Fen followed close behind him, always within a 3 meters or so. It had been about two days since they had met Ren. So far, Lost had taught absorbing mana to Fen, telling her to practice the magic rope illusion.

After he had fought Ren he was about to head back to town to buy some rope to tie up Ren and the Bounty Hunters, but then thought of something. He had showed Fen how to make a rope illusion, a fairly simple thing. It took some focus, but she was able to do it within 5 minutes.

If she focused enough, she could make the rope temporarily solid. Lost had been shocked and fascinated by this, but he had not told her that it wasn't normal for someone to be able to make their illusions solid. He didn't want her to get a big head.

By now, Lost was inclined to punch Ren, but he refrained himself from doing this because Ren was their guide to the elven capital. He also liked to talk; about everything he could think of. By this time, Lost had learned how to tune out Ren’s constant babble, but at times, it just wasn't possible. At least Ren was honest, and did not seem to have a single ill bone in his body. But some of his thoughts were borderline creepy, like one of the reasons he set out from his village was to meet girls. Lost believed it too, the way the elf tried to act like a knight to impress and get Fen to like him more.

This got him thinking for a bit. Lost had never actually been attracted to anyone, and he highly doubted it would ever happen, to be honest. At those thoughts, Lost quickly dispelled them and went back to his constant meditation while walking.

Ren had explained how he gained his Channeling magic. A family heirloom, an ancient scroll, that his father had gifted him with. Curious, Ren had supposedly tried out what the scroll had explained. Which was a lightning channeling spell.

In Lost’s opinion, channeling magic wasn't really magic. It involved absorbing the ambient magic in the air, that was the only similarity. After that, the Channeler, as they were called, would pick out certain parts of the mana. Then they would force that certain type of mana outside the body in a concentrated area and an effect would happen. The mana wasn't pure and it was a dangerous art, if you weren’t careful, you could set off the impure mana in your body, causing disastrous effects. Certain parts of mana could be used to strengthen the body, but it required more and more.

Eventually, the other mana particles would build up in the body, like a waste, but can’t be expelled by conventional methods. The Channeler would have to have a magic caster on hand that specialized in mana transfer and purification, or healers, if you preferred the more crude term.

All and all, it was a great way to die young in this era.

Lost knew a tale about how Channelers came to be. The process was originally made as a way to use magic without being a mage. Channelers were also created to hunt down rogue and dangerous magic users. That's how they got the name Infectrum Migas, or ‘Mage Killer’ in Fae.

Of course, Lost warned Renhold about this. He told him if he kept using it, he would eventually die from the built up pressure of the waste mana.

“So that’s what all those lights are?” Ren said while scratching his cheek in though. “Huh. Then can you purge the ‘waste mana’ out of me?”

Lost shook his head, “I am no mana transfer specialist, even if I was, you probably wouldn't enjoy the feeling of flame traveling through your veins from my fire mana. Most Healers used water or light. A few air. They were rare before, but I fear that they might as well be extinct now.”

“Infectrum Migas. I like it,” Ren said walking on. “There's no way that I’m going to stop using magic, though. But I will try to limit my use of it.”

“It’s your poison,” Lost said sagely, falling back into his mind.

Lost was relieved to see a large city. It was Valcrest, the capital city of Evrite. They had just crested a hill, at the top, a imposing site spread out before them. A vast plain spread all the way to the horizon, the city itself was close, maybe a few miles away. But it was gigantic, at least spawning 100 miles, maybe more, and at the center of the houses spread around, was a huge stone wall. It encircled the city, and Lost could see at least two more behind it. A large town encircled the outside of the cities walls, with acres of farmland.

Before Lost died, there had been cities at least this big, but he had not visited many. There hadn’t even been a Valcrest back then. The elven capital had been a place called Falcree.

A caravan slowly passed them on the road, then a few people on horses. Wagons pulled by oxen or horses slowly passed by in different directions down the road. They paid Lost and company no mind other than a passing glance. These sites became more common as they approached the city.

Mercifully, Ren had stopped talking and was taking in the view of the city with pride. From what Lost had gathered Ren had only been here once before. His grandfather and father supposedly came here for business or something.

Fen looked about as impressed at the size as Lost felt. She probably hadn't been to the capital before. She had pulled up the hood of her cloak, hiding her white hair and wolf ears.

In addition to helping her learn to use illusion spells, he had also started to teach her a little bit about using knives. She had looked at him horrified the first time he suggested it. He told her he wasn't always going to be able to defend her, and that she would need to learn to protect herself.

She had magic, and it was powerful, but it should only be used when necessary. It could be dangerous and Lost knew all too well that you had to be prepared for the worst. If you were cornered and had no magic, then learning to fight could be life and death.

Lost was pulled from his thoughts as they entered the outer city. The streets had become cobbled, filled with people mounted, wagons and even a ornate cart passed by. Signs hung in windows and above doors, showing a picture and some words under to tell you what the place was.

They walked for a while, then they entered a square. Tents and carts were set up and merchants yelled out their wares. There was a lot of delicious smelling food being cooked that made Lost hungry, but also sad for the fact he couldn't taste anything.

Ren turned to Lost and shouted, “This is where I must say good bye for now.”

Lost looked up at the elf, “What!? I thought you were going to stay with us, at least till I taught you better control of your magic.”

Ren chortled, “I never said I was leaving your company. We will meet back here, when do you want to?”

Lost thought for a moment, “I will probably be in the castle for a few days at least. How about we meet you back here in 4 days? Till then, what are you going to do?”

“I have some cousins living here, I think I will go visit them. If you're not back here within 4 days I will wait at least a week, then head out. If you can't get back here in time, you can come to my cousin’s house.” Ren then told him the street and description of the house.

“Farewell, Milady!” He said, bowing to Fen, who looked uncomfortable, “I will see you in four days!” Ren shouted over his shoulder as he blended in with the crowd.

Lost sighed, and looked down at Fen. Who was clutching his long, black sleeve. He could tell she wasn't sorry to see Ren leave. But then again, it was kind of nice without his constant prattle.

She looked up at him, with big, innocent green eyes. “Alright, kiddo. Let's head to the capital.”

Lost walked off, pushing his way through crowds, Fen still holding onto his arm. He walked through cobbled streets, staying away from alleys and slowly made his way to the gate into the city wall.

There were less people here, but it was still a sizable number. Everywhere he looked, Lost saw elves. There were so many, he thought he even saw some beastmen walking around, but wasn't sure.

He took a step through the gate, and immediately stopped. A Jolt went through him, his heartbeat spiked for a second. It felt like something had noticed him.

Tess

Tess took a sip of her herbal tea, listening to the ladies talk to her mother. They were here for a sort of tea party, her mother’s friends. It was a small, formal get together. As the princess, Tess was obligated to come to this party.

She may have been sitting still and staying quiet, but inside she was squirming and screaming. This get-together was incredibly boring and she would rather have been learning to use her magic.

She had looked through the archives their family had saved from the Old World. Eventually she found a book detailing on magic particles and elements. Supposedly the little particles that came to her, were magic elements. You could tell what kind of magic user a person was by what type of elements they controlled.

Supposedly, the light green lights were earth magic and the white ones were air. So Tess was an earth and air magic user. That meant she would have an easier time using earth and air related spells. In time she would be able to call on the other elements, but it would be much harder to master and use them.

Tess had been practicing controlling the elements out in the garden, in secluded area away from prying eyes. So far she could make a small gust of wind, and move a pebble with her mind. That was the extent of her abilities at the moment.

She was pulled from her thoughts at a scream of fear. She snapped her head up, looking around. It was her mother who had screamed, she now lay shivering on the carpeted floor.

Tess bolted towards her, setting the tea down on a table. The other ladies were gathered around her mother, in a loose circle. Pushing her way through, Tess crouched down next to her shivering mother.

“Mother? Mother, what is wrong?”

The Queen whispered something, Tess leaned in closer. “H-he i-is here.”

Then she fainted, Tess pulled back from her mother. He is here? Who was he?

“Guards!” A blond elven lady yelled. Two guards wearing chain mail burst into the room shortly after. The royal crescent along their chest: a bow and scroll crossed over a crown.

“Take my mother to her room, and call the doctor.” Tess commanded the guards.

“Yes, milady!” They did as she said, picking up her mother gently and walking out of the room. A tense silence filled the room, as none of its inhabitants wanted to be the first to speak.

“The tea party is over, I wish you a happy farewell on my mother's part. Your carriages will be waiting for you outside,” Tess said, eyeing a servant in the corner. He scurried off, with the ladies in tow.

Sitting back down on a velvet couch, Tess stared out the window. Now she was worried. She thought for a while, what had her mother meant? Did this have something to do with the ‘ancient evils’ she had seemed so worried about? She had said that one was headed here, to Valcrest? Was it already here, and was that who her mother had warned her about?

She sat there for a while more, contemplating it. She was scared, even knowing that this evil should not have been able fight through all of the royal guard. But what if it did? She was making little to no head way with her magic, only just starting to learn how to use it.

She decided it would be best to go to the gate, only just for now. To make sure everything was fine. Her father was currently occupied in the War room. Preparing to go to war with the humans.

Getting up, she headed for the castle gate. The corridors were quiet as always, other than a passing maid, Tess didn't see anyone.

Stepping out of the front door, Tess made her way down a lavish walkway to the giant, iron gate. It was completely composed of iron, given intricate carvings. The thing was huge, at least 40 feet tall, and heavy. It was always open, of course with a platoon of guards watching from the grounds and wall. The gate could be shut by a crank system, but it would need at least five people to use.

“Milady! Is there some where you need to go?” The guard captain shouted when he noticed her there. He was a big, burly elf with a brown handlebar mustache. He wore shining, iron plate armor. He was captain of the royal guard. He had a shield on his back and a sword on his hip, then there were the pistols.

All royal guard, nobles and other influential people with money could own these things. They were elven made, based off designs from the dwarven made pistols, but still not as great. They costed between 150 gold pieces to 10 silver pieces.

Elven pistols were made of metal, wood and other things. The captain had two, each strapped onto one of his thighs. Both were holstered, but Tess had seen them every once and awhile as he polished and took care of them. They were repeating pistols, allowing him to fire off three shots with each pistol. They had a metal barrel, trigger at the bottom and a wood handle with leather around it for gripping. The pistols were some of the nicer ones, but the ones dwarves made were far better.

Tess had a vague idea how they worked, and that he had to load gunpowder and the round metal bullet in by hand, making it slow to reload.

“No, I’m only making sure everything is okay at the gate, Captain Verdes,” said Tess, nodding to him, she turned around and started walking back into the house. Just as she was about to reach the stairs up to the grand wood door of her house, she heard the guards yell, “Halt! State your business at the Royal Castle!”

Turning around, Tess saw a small figure cloaked in a brown hood, and another with a red headscarf. The little figure clutched the taller one’s sleeve, features hidden beneath the unnaturally stretching shadow of the hood. The tall one was grinning happily.

He had pale, creamy skin- like the skin of a bloodless corpse. He was also unhealthily thin, his face was basically skin over his skull, giving him a skeleton look. He had short, tousled, dark hair with amber colored irises, that seemed to almost glow. At least a boy, 15 or 16 years old. He wore a sheathed sword on his back, with a black, long sleeved cloth shirt. He had even darker cloth pants and heavy, black leather boots. With a black leather belt, several pouches hung from it, with a small bag attached to it in the back.

The smiling boy stood in a relaxed posture, like nothing was happening, while the small, brown cloaked figure stood silently next to him.

Tess was taken aback by this boy, unlike every other commoner, who ever tried to enter the Royal Castle, he was completely at ease. Not a bit of fear or nervousness on his face or in his posture. Tess had become good about reading people through necessity, and this kid was giving off an aura of calm, almost peacefulness, but there was also something chilling coming off him.

“State your business for approaching the Royal Castle!” Shouted the Captain, walking in front of the two strangers. The boy just smiled happily, and responded.

“I wish to talk to your ruler, it is an urgent message,” smiled the boy, the grip from the cloaked one tightening slightly.

The elven Captain grunted and said, “Then you can let me look at the message.”

“I’m sorry, but it is verbal. Only the King may hear it, I can only say it is urgent and he must hear it,” said the dark boy, still smiling.

Tess frowned, this boy hardly looked the part of a messenger. He wore a sword, most Royal or Noble House messengers only carried a knife and dressed rather fancily. This smiling boy was dressed in complete black, however odd his apparel, it was not one of a messenger.

She cautiously approached, taking strength in the fact that many of the guards were standing near.

“Then you will have to tell me the message and I will decide whether or not it worthy of the King,” growled the Captain, a hand resting on the hilt of his sword as if to say he could kill him in an instant. And that was true, the Captain had earned his title from years of grueling and intense training, then he slowly made it to Captain of The Royal Guard by skill, brawn, brain and loyalty.

The boy’s smile increased in size, almost looking happy at that answer. “I’m sorry, but I can not do that, for it is only for the ears of the King.”

The Captain glared at the boy, he was obviously in a predicament. Because if this boy really carried important news, however likely, Tess knew, he could not turn him away. Then the boy obviously wasn't going to say the message.

Tess decided to step in and help the Captain out. She walked forward, fluffy dress swaying, “I am Princess Tessa Hasrio Sander.”

The boy’s smile faltered for a second, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of her, but he quickly regained the smile. But he did not bow, nor his companion. Tess felt a twinge of anger and shock that a commoner would not bow to her, much less two. But she kept her face neutral, hiding her emotions.

Burrowing into the boy with her icy eyes, she spoke, “If I am not worthy of hearing this message, then it will never be heard by my father. So, you can either leave or tell me this message and I will consider whether it worthy of my father.”

‘Got you, now you have no chance unless you tell me.’ Tess smiled internally with victory. She was actually never told anything about her family's business and this was her chance to get some information on what her father was up to.

The boy still smiled happily, but his eyes darted from the Captain, who had backed off, and Tess. He stayed like that for a minute, contemplating.

Who exactly was this kid? He obviously had no respect for royalty.

“So be it. But none other may hear my message,” He said after a little bit.

Tess waved her hand and the guards around her backed off uneasily. If the boy attacked the princess, then they would riddle him with holes from guns and bows, but what if he took her hostage? Either way, they would have to be vigilant, Tess knew, and she would be too. She gripped a small knife hidden in the billows of her long sleeve where it was strapped to her arm. She never went anywhere without it, by now it was a good luck charm and a weapon for defense.

She stepped cautiously closer, eyeing the messenger and his silent companion. He adjusted the red scarf he wore on his head, and took a step forward, leaning. Tess was now within a foot of him. He was small, a few inches shorter than Tess.

“Magic has returned.” He whispered it with a smile, loud enough for Tess to hear but none of the royal guards. Her eyes opened wide.

No one should have known about magic, except… The royal families. It, of course, was told in tales and stories sometimes, but no one should have known it had returned. He spoke it with certainty- like he knew it.

Tess took a step back, returning her expression to one that was neutral. She turned to the Royal Guard Captain, “I will personally see this messenger to my father. You may return to your duties, Captain.”

He looked uncertain, “Milady, are you sure? I can bring him to your father.”

Tess glared at the captain, her icy blue eyes burrowing into him, making him squirm, even though she was shorter than him. “Are you implying I can not do a job as simple as showing a messenger to my father?”

Squirming, he meekly answered, “N-no, milady.”

“Hmph,” She said, walking off from the Captain, “Come.” She said to the ‘messenger’ boy.

He followed a few steps behind her, the small, cloaked one still clinging to his arm.