Ryza let the door close behind her and sighed leaning against it. Somehow she’d avoided a disaster with Snow and even more so she hoped sincerely that her uncle would give his help. She was estranged from Vayne definitely and she wasn’t sure if he was willing to even speak with her. If his relationship with Ryze was anything to off of, she doubted it.
Ryza had found this town off the beaten path of their journey. It was small, the inn barely having a few rooms and only one floor. She left it, stepping outside and glanced up and down the streets and they were mostly empty.
The day was grey and the clouds were thick above her head. It had rained overnight and the air smelled like freshly turned soil. Walking down one of the streets she folded her arms and huffed, feeling the cool air rush into her lungs.
“That woman is dangerous. Leaving her alive is going to get you killed.”
Ryza over her shoulder but of course nothing was there. The voice that accused her in her mind wasn’t corporeal. Not truly. But with her eyes the way they were now, she could see it. She could see the spirit that looked every bit like her brother as it walked beside her.
It turned to look at her and its face was so spot on it was scary. Even as new as it was, she didn’t back down and said, “You traveled with Isaac and he was plenty dangerous then.”
“I could control Isaac if need be. You cannot control this dog.”
“Snow. Her name is Snow.”
Her ghostly sibling scoffed, “You kiss her and suddenly only her name must be used.”
Ryza stopped in her tracks going to the edge of what she guessed was a general store. She turned at the corner of it and glared at the ghost, “You are not my brother. And even if you were I wouldn’t allow him to speak to her that way.”
“I bet,” it smirked.
It walked past her, following the edge of the building before fading away. It appeared behind her this time as if it had never missed a step. She scowled looking away from it, “An echo of my dead brother based on the power I gained from him. I don’t know if you are a blessing or a curse.”
“You will be the judge of that.”
There were a few people walking into the general store who gave her strange looks. Ryza glared back at them and scowled. “I must look insane talking to myself out here.”
“Thinking of going to Vayne for help definitely qualifies you as insane.”
“He’s our uncle.”
“An uncle who taught me the way to release a necromancer’s control on a zombie by sending a horde after me. I was a nine then.”
“Maybe he’s changed,” Ryza said softly. “He helped us defeat our mother.”
“His needs lined up with ours at the time.”
“He also helped Alison.”
“He wanted a student. A guinea pig.”
Ryza turned around to stare at him, “I don’t have any other options. What other demonologist do you think I know?”
“Why are you so attached to this woman. You’ve only just met her.”
“I don’t know,” Ryza said and looked down. She took the mask off her hip and stared at it. The cracked mask smiled at her in its own way.
“Lying to me is the same as lying to yourself after all,” the ghost said folding its arms. “You still haven’t faced losing Gest or your brother. So now you project it onto saving her.”
Ryza glared at the apparition, “You pretend that you know me just because you wear his face.”
“I know you because I am you. I am in your thoughts. What you feel and know, I feel and know. Even the things that you refuse to admit to yourself. You had a goal in mind before meeting this woman.”
“Shut up,” she growled her eyes glowing to life. “Begone you spectral cognition!”
She swiped her hand through its body and like a fog it disappeared. Huffing she glared at the air and then lowered her gaze. She stared at the ground balling her hand into a fist. It was gone. For now. She didn’t know when or if it would return.
“That thing wears the face of my brother but it isn’t him. It isn’t him,” she ground her teeth together frustrated. But she didn’t have time to think or dwell on that. She gasped and felt a sudden surge of energy. It was magical. Her eyes flashed and she could see it. It was in a building just past the inn that they were staying in. It was like someone had lit a bonfire.
While she looked in the direction trying to understand what she was looking at she felt the ground rumble. And then suddenly her gaze was filled with blue. She cried out covering her eyes at the sudden burst of magic and then felt the ground shake beneath her feet. An explosion sounded and the force blew her off her feet. Her head ached, pain echoing through her closed lids and rung through her ears.
When the light died down she came back to her senses and rolled onto her side coughing. Her hands dug in the dirt and she slowly managed to sit up. Blinking slowly, she let her magic slip away and she looked through normal grey eyes.
She stared at where the bonfire had been the first time and now it was just gone. Not just the magic but the building that it had occupied as well. In its place was a piece of scorched ground. She hobbled forward and looked around her. There were a few people on the ground knocked out or stammering quietly to themselves trying to figure out what happened.
Ryza stood and hobbled her way forward. Whatever that had been she knew it was magic in nature. A mage had done that no doubt in her mind. But why? Were they under attack? Was there some sort of vendetta that they had walked in? For a moment her heart skipped a beat as she contemplated a calamity going off.
“Ryza!”
She turned and was suddenly hugged by Snow who squeezed her tightly. Ryza winced patting her arm. “I’m okay Snow. But put me down. You’re strong.”
Snow did as was requested nodding her head, “Sorry.” She looked toward the epicenter of the explosion. “I felt the explosion and didn’t know what happened. Was afraid you were involved.”
“Not this time,” she mumbled. She held her head for a moment longer and then pointed in the direction of the blast. “Come on. I want to find out exactly what happened.”
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
“Not entirely but I’m still going.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
Ryza glanced at her and smiled. Stilling herself though she started walking again going right over to the blast zone. The house was in shatters, the supports still standing but things like walls and the roof were scattered across the city. A few nearby buildings had pieces of brick and shingle in them. The air was an eerie sort of quiet, just hanging over the village.
A few others had journeyed to the edge but the inherently magical nature of what happened kept many people at bay. Stepping through the rubble of the former standing building they kicked beams of wood away.
Hesitantly Ryza let her eyes glow again as she looked around to focus and see the magical residue. It soaked through the building and every bit of the ground. Snow shuddered as she worked her way forward and sniffed the air.
“Smells. Awful in here. Like more than just fire. Like the stuff I cleaned within the bar,” Snow glanced back at Ryza but she kept moving forward.
She kicked away a pile of bricks that were barely still standing. She could see what might have been a bed at one point. Someone’s room. But as she brushed aside a burned and destroyed mattress, she saw a corpse. Blackened to a crisp.
From the shape, they weren’t an adult but not a child. A teenager maybe. Snow stared at the body and recoiled. “What happened?”
“They didn’t even know what happened to them,” Ryza mumbled. “Died without fear. I doubt even pain.”
“It’s still gruesome,” Snow looked away from it turning around. Sniffing the air her nose itched at this smell she couldn’t identify. But underneath that was a smell she was very familiar with. Quickly moving through the rubble, she shoved another block of bricks aside. She stared down at a shape huddled on the ground.
She reached toward it and put her hand on their shoulder. They shouted flinching away and then looked at Snow. Snow stared at them and her eyes went wide. His face was covered in blue veins that bulged from his skin, mostly around his hands and his face.
She flinched away from him and stared into his eyes. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen and his fear was pale. He looked at his hands then back at her and reached out to her, “Please. Help me,” he whispered, voice cracking barely a teenager. She lowered her hands sniffing the air and smelling the magic.
“Get back Snow,” Ryza said reaching out to her and putting her hand on her shoulder, and pulling her back. “This is a newly awakened mage. He’s dangerous.”
“A mage?” he said and started to stand, stumbled, and fell down again. “No. I can’t be a mage. I can’t be a mage. Please you have to help me.”
Snow stepped back looking at Ryza frozen. Ryza could see that she wanted to help but Ryza shook her head. Not just because of the clear display of uncontrolled magic power but because of what she was sure to come next. Glancing around her she felt the air shift, like a ripple moving past her, and immediately let her eyes return to grey.
Ryza grabbed Snow’s hand and pulled her backward quickly. Snow stumbled into her arms saying, “Hey what’s the pro-“
Light carved its way across the ground blinding the two of them for a moment. Snow covered Ryza with her body shutting her eyes through the brightness. When the light subsided, they each looked in front of them and stared at the sudden group of five men around the boy.
They were all wearing bright armor, cloth, cloaks, and weapons pointed at them. When Ryza looked closer she could see the shape on the ground. A diamond with interlocking circles beneath the diamond. Ryza scowled at the mark of the Father and then at each of them.
“Who are these guys Ryry? They smell. Clean. And kinda like magic.”
“They’re mage hunters,” Ryza whispered. “The assassins and hunters of mages. All for the great Father.”
“Does that mean they know what you are?” Snow mumbled.
She shook her head, “They’re not that good. They track heavy outbursts of magic, the closer to a settlement the better the tracking. Which unfortunately this kid just did.”
“Get back citizens. This matter is going to be settled,” one of the hunters said waving a staff at them. He stood taller with a deep cloak and hood around him. Around his neck was a necklace with the same symbol. A priest amongst the hunters.
Snow stood closer to her but nodded slowly, “Sorry. We just saw that boy and thought he needed help.”
“The only one that can help him is our Father. He’s doomed to be a sinner. If he repents maybe he’ll be redeemable,” said another hunter.
“Yeah if he cooperates and doesn’t make us prove a point,” said a third.
“Please. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what’s happening,” the boy stared at his hands shaking again.
“Quiet mage!” the fourth hunter hit him with the back of his weapon.
He stumbled forward, hands slamming against the ground. Ryza felt the surge before it actually hit. She ducked her head down and grabbed Snow, dragging her backward. The magic surged across the ground like a wave blowing everyone nearby off their feet. Snow flipped in the air landing on her feet and catching Ryza.
They met each other’s eyes, looked away quickly, and then stared at the hunters and the young mage. His body was glowing again, the veins in his hands and arms showing brighter. “Restrain him!” the priest shouted.
“Yes father!” the remaining hunters shouted.
Raising their hands, they pressed them to their fists and they glowed. Stepping forward they threw golden ropes toward him. One by one they wrapped around the teen, his arms, his shoulders, his chest. He was glowing gold with the light of the ropes. They pulled and dragged him down, rushing forward and stepped on his back keeping him down.
The priest raised his staff and the tip glowed golden. He brought it down and it crashed above the teen’s head driving his head forward into the ground. The glow from the cracks began to fade until they were gone entirely. The hunters reeled him in until he slumped against the ground tied up.
“The mage is subdued father,” one said.
“Excellent my children,” the priest said waving his hand over them. “We shall bring him with us to Coreana. There he will be tried, judged, and sentenced.” Turning around he spread his arms and said. “You are safe citizens. Our father has blessed us with being nearby to prevent what could have been a true tragedy. We will send aid to help you rebuild soon.”
The mage hunters picked up the young mage and started to walk past them. None of them spared a glance at the two women, except for the priest. He appraised them, his eyes lingering on Ryza.
“You two ran to face this danger before anyone else,” he said softly. “You are truly good children of our Father.”
Snow started to say something but Ryza touched her cheek and glanced at the priest, “We saw the magic and were afraid if someone had gotten hurt.”
“Even at the risks to your own lives? Magic is a violent and dangerous thing. And mages are living calamities. Being near one is like facing death head on,” he said and even then he looked impressed. “The two of you would make excellent hunters.”
“We appreciate the offer,” Snow said. “But we’re looking for someone. Her uncle. We really ought to be going. Isn’t that right Ryry?”
“Yes.”
“Pity. But understandable. Family is very important. Very well I take my leave,” he lowered his head and waved the staff back and forth above their heads. “May the Father bless your steps.”
As the hunters departed there were some cheers from the people and curses slung at the unconscious mage. And then the priest came by and repeatedly people bowed, drawing the same symbol in the air and then clasping their hands together. The pair didn’t stay to watch for long and started back toward the inn.
“That was seriously not magic?”
“No. The power they call on comes directly from the Father of the Sanctum. Similar to how a Sanguiknight’s power comes from the queen of Cerise. But my power comes directly from the source, the calamity. And that makes me dangerous.” It took a minute for Ryza to realize that Snow was still carrying her. “Hey. Snow. Um. I can walk. And I don’t dislike this. But I think I should walk.”
Snow glanced down at her and smirked, “Nope. I’m okay with this.”
“Snow!” Ryza shouted but she was still being carried. “Snow put me down this instant.”
Snow ignored her taking her back into the inn one step at a time. So she pouted and waited until they were back in their room. Only then did she feel herself being set down and her feet touch the ground. But now that she wasn’t being carried she partially missed it.
Going back toward the bed, Snow sat down and let out a growl digging her fingers into the bed. “Mage hunters! I’ve never seen them before but after that, I hope I never see them again.”
Ryza grasped her shovel and leaned her forehead against it. “You should make yourself scarce. Those hunters will be looking for you next.”
“They have no reason to look for me,” Ryza said sharply. “And we are leaving.”
“You are able to hide yourself but what about her?”
“She’s cursed. Not a mage.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Who are you talking to Ryry?”
Ryza looked at her and then back at the ghost and waved her hand back and forth. “Don’t worry about it Snow. Just a ghost of my past.” She glared at it and then looked back at her. “We need to get moving.”
“Right. Finding your uncle! Where’s the horse by the way? Didn’t see it around the inn.”
“That’s because it’s not here. Not sure if it died or if it ran off when the demon attacked. But we need to find a different way to travel.”
“Does this place not have a stable?” Snow asked.
“Too small,” she replied. “If you have a horse out here you don’t sell it.”
“Hm. And I thought my village was out of touch.” Snow shrugged. “No big deal though right?”
“Potentially,” Ryza rubbed her chin slowly. “If we get away from this town and don’t go in the same direction as the hunters we can go digging for the horse. It being dead is preferable.”
“I’ve never heard someone say something like that before,” Snow laughed. “But I can help.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Ryry. I’ve got the best nose in the business,” she tapped her nose and wiggled it at her. “I’ll be able to find our horse in no time. And then we’ll be off to find your uncle.”
Ryza giggled, “Indeed. Let’s get going.”
They left the village together but Snow took the lead once they were out, sifting through the grass. She kept her nose in the air sniffing aggressively. She could smell the horse at the very least. Or what was left of it. It had been long enough that the scent was scattered all over the place and mixed in with others.
Just walking around like this it was easy to get distracted by what else was on the air. Wood. Manure. Sword polish. People in general. Things didn’t smell this aggressively before. Her sense of smell was stronger. Her hearing too. She could just barely hear the words on the wind. Conversations from the town.
It took the better part of the day for Snow to find the scent but she did eventually. It didn’t get far because it was hurt. The smell of the blood was really what turned her onto it. What they found was a dying equestrian on its last legs. Figuratively and literally. One of its legs was broken and the other was a bloody mess.
Its breathing was labored and it struggled trying to continue. But it knew it was dying. Snow paused and whispered, “Poor thing.”
Ryza approached it tapping her shovel against the ground. She raised a hand and it glowed, leaving a silver trail behind it, “Poor thing indeed. But like I said. Dead is better than alive.”
The Harlequin Library 