Chaos erupted the moment after. A few bandits attacked Paul, charging him with their hatchets in hand. Others fled, the sight of their leader turning to dust before their eyes had told them they were no longer welcomed here.

Paul met a hatchet with his sword, cutting down the bandit in the next swing. Blood sprayed over his face, causing him to reel aside as another bandit grabbed him from behind.

“Settle down!” the bandit exclaimed.

Paul headbutt the bandit, turned, and kicked them in the gut. The bandit stumbled back, clutching at his gut, but Paul stabbed the man through his face. He kicked the bandit down, pulling his sword free to cut at another bandit who had dared to step too close. He was about to cut into the last when the bandit erupted into flames, his scream echoing through the forest before it fell silent, his body thudding into the ground.

Paul turned to look at Kriss, who held a finger out pointed towards the crispy bandit. Then his eyes fell to the tiny little girl beside the Guild Master. Her eyes were wide with fear and awe of such great power.

‘Oh divines…’

Paul sheathed his blade and dropped to a knee beside the little girl. “Are you alright?” he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The girl clutched his arm, her eyes staring deep into his soul. She then slowly placed her head onto his arm, as though trying to hide from the scene.

“Did they hurt you?” Paul asked, his voice calm like still waves.

She shook her head.

“Let’s get you home,” he said, lifting her up with one arm as he carried her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clutched him tight. Kriss followed, waving a hand as the items all disappeared.

“Oh Annabelle!” The mayor held onto his daughter tightly. She hugged her father in return, her eyes shut tight. “Those blasted bandits! Just you wait, father will hire all the soldiers in the land to hunt them down.”

“Don’t worry about such trash,” Kriss said. “We’ve dealt with most of them, they shouldn’t a threat any longer."

"Oh?" The mayor's brows raised. "Oh please, do stay the day. Allow me to host you!"

"It is rather late,” Kriss said. “I'd like a single large room with two separate beds."

The mayor nodded, a little taken back by such a request. "Of course."

Kriss declined to join the mayor for dinner, though Paul had gone to allow the mayor to save face. He ate with the family, which included the mayor's wife and four children. Annabelle remained near Paul the entire time, speaking quietly of what she had witnessed.

"I want to be a mage," she said.

"Oh no, that's such dangerous business," the mayor’s wife said.

"I want to be a mage," the girl repeated. "So I can make people explode."

The mayor looked to Paul. "The good Lady Kriss didn't make people explode, did she?"

Paul thought back to the bandit woman and then looked to the mayor. "I suppose she did, in various manners."

The mayor stared at him, sweat beginning to pour down his forehead. Paul retreated from dinner once it was over, the mood too cold for him to withstand.

"I'm no good with children," Kriss said.

"Children are no good with you," he said. "Though Annabelle doesn't seem to dislike you."

"Oh?"

"You've convinced her to be a mage."

Kriss smiled. "Oh.” She blinked. “How wonderful! Perhaps I should offer my service?"

"Perhaps you should. It will help you get better with children, and you’ll have raised a great apprentice who could join Red Oak.”

"What a good idea,” Kriss said. “I’m so glad I thought of it.”

"Though then she may go on a quest that was far too above her level and meet her death and it'll be all your fault."

"You're such a dark spawn," Kriss said, frowning.

Paul smiled.

Paul pierced through the wolf, grunting as he kicked it off of his sword before meeting another in combat. "I thought you said this path was safe!"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kriss was flying in the air, slinging Flame Bolts against the various wolves which surrounded the man.

"I said it was the safest route, not that it was safe." She then pointed a finger at the large Vulfaire once it was within range and a black beam shot towards it. It shuddered, howled, and then turned to ash and dust as the other wolves howled in agony. Paul took the opportunity to cut them down.

Paul grumbled to himself, wishing he had charged extra for such work. Kriss tossed the wolves into one of her many pocket dimensions.

"What are you doing?"

"Bringing proof of your quest completion. You can hand them in at Hailwood."

Paul nodded. That was fine by him, these would be worth a pretty penny. He wished she hadn't exploded the Vulfaire though.

"Oh," she said. "I shouldn't have exploded the Vulfaire. Well, I'll just enchant an item for you when we're back."

"..."

Kriss smiled a smile, a smile which Paul did not like.

No longer did they take their horses with them, for they was far in the north. They had hired some Northmen to guide them along. The warrior people reminded Paul of the Iyrmen, though the Northmen felt more normal to him. Though it could be perhaps because one of the Northmen, Axar, was someone he had once fought alongside.

"Didn't expect to see your round these parts after that winter boar," Axar said.

"Almost froze my limbs off." Paul smiled, remembering the day. "How many years ago was that? Nine?"

"About," the man replied, nodding his head. "So what business do you have so far north?"

"The Guild Master has business. I didn't ask."

"Fair," he said as they shared a roasted fish with one another.

"They're here," Kriss said. "Wait for me at this spot. I will return in a month."

Paul stood. "Where are you going?"

"Just a meeting, like I said."

"You're going alone?" Paul asked, worry in his voice.

"Yes. I'll be fine, don't worry.” She started to fly up. “My mother will make sure I face no danger.” She flew off before Paul could protest. He tried to followed her, trekking through the thick snow, but the snow whipped all around and he lost her. Axar grabbed the man’s shoulder and pulled him back.

Paul remained in the snow village for the month, though was growing antsy. Where had Kriss gone to? What was taking her so long?

Then someone blew a horn and the village folk gathered. Paul stepped out and looked into the distance to see a shadow in the snowstorm. It was a giant figure, humanoid in shape, and as they approached the village, he realised it was a giant.

A snow giant.

Yet no one made a move, they all just watched. Even the Northmen remained still.

"Oh," Axar said, furrowing his brows together. "Your Guild Master is a North Mage."

Paul looked to Axar, unsure of what he had meant. Axar motioned with his head and Paul looked out to see that sitting on the shoulder of the giant was a bundle. The bundle disappeared and then appeared nearby, pulling off her hood to reveal her shimmering red hair.

She waved at the giant and spoke something in a loud, guttural voice, though he didn't understand the language. The giant replied in a similar manner, waved, and turned.

"A giant?" Paul asked.

"Yes," she said. "I'm done with my business. We'll be making our way back tomorrow, so make sure you're ready."

So they did, the next day they began their trek back. Paul was still more than a little confused.

"What was all that about?"

"An old deal between the North Mages and the Giants. I needed to go to the meeting as a representative, being one of the most powerful North Mages."

"Not the most powerful?" Paul asked.

"No, that title belongs to someone else. Though I would like to say that I know the most spells out of all of them." She smiled. "A perk of being a Guild Master."

"I hear there are a great many perks to being a Guild Master," Paul said.

"Rights and responsibilities," Kriss said.

Paul recalled the three words. They were the ancient words of a kingdom long destroyed, though it was a powerful kingdom for its time. Each person had their own rights and responsibilities. Those that wanted to become members of the high society could do so regardless of what they had been born as, but the price was steep. Even those born into nobility had to take great care in trying to maintain their image, but also had to provide for so many others. Eventually they kingdom crumbled under the greedy nobles who tried to break the system, and their kingdom was only remembered by those three words.

The group made their way back south, heading towards the northern kingdom of Aksorvald. They found a small village, where they could rest up for a few days as they replenished their supplies.

"When we return, what will you do?" Kriss asked.

Paul turned to face her, watching her bite into one of the few fruits which grew this far north. It was round, hard, more like a potato, but it was sweet. She had paid a pretty silver coin to buy it, but she seemed to be happy with it.

"I don't know. I'll probably spend all my coin on some drinks, and then go back to wallowing in my self pity."

"So you'll return to being a dead man?"

"Until another dead Iyrman comes along," he said.

"Sounds miserable."

"It is miserable."

"Why don't you just die instead?"

Paul smiled. Perhaps he should die. He had nothing to live for. He was past his prime. He had no friends, no lovers, nothing. If he died the world would not end for anyone, and no one would remember him after a few years.

"Maybe I should." Paul said, looking into the crackling flames.

There was another crackling and Paul flung into the air. Lightning coursed through his armour into his body as he was electrocuted. Lightning surged out of the woman’s fingers, shocking his writhing body.

"If you want to die, I'll put you out of your misery." Her voice was filled with poison, and he knew she meant it.

He grit his teeth as his entire body convulsed with the heat. Then it stopped, and he fell still. His brows was covered in hot sweat, his breath coming to him ragged. He lay there, inches away from death.

"There's no need for you to die," Kriss said. "All of man lives for a purpose. You've lost your purpose for life, just a ghost shambling through the days." She stared down at the pathetic man. "I need a new Vice Master. I've found that you aren't too bad, other than your constant crying. Enough of that.” Her fingers crackled with lightning. “Understood?"

"What?" Paul asked, shocked by her words and her actions.

Lightning cracked at her fingertips. "You are to be my Vice Master," she stated.

"Your Vice Master? I'm not stupi-" Paul was stopped by the lightning crackling beside him. She waited for a long moment and Paul eventually nodded. "Fine, fine…"

She did not shock him any longer, save for her actions on the way back. She had stopped in every city and town for a few days, which added weeks to their total journey, and gold coins to his pouch.