Agony spread from my rips as I watched Ian tackle the monster. It clawed and he ducked, turned and came up beside punching. He was fast, I could follow his movements, but only barely, and each strike landed with a loud 'thump' as his fist impacted the stony hide of the monster.

As he did the aura around him sputtered to life. It pulsed like an old engine trying to turn over, again and again. It also wasn't enough, with my friend being tossed back by one of the creature's strikes. Unlike me however he rolled properly and came to a crouch.

Not one to be outdone I used the moment of their separation to launch my own assault. A flurry of force missiles in arcing trajectories, all aiming for the face of the creature. The rock pig thing tried to dodge, but I wasn't going to be letting up any time soon. Each place one of my arrows struck tore at the granite hide, ripping away chunks and exposing pink flesh underneath. My concentration was broken when I began to cough and hack, unable to stop my diaphragm from spasming I couldn't continue.

Ian surged back forward, taking the tag-out and running. I'd never seen him using so much magic before, not even knowing that he could. He also didn't hesitate to take advantage of the spots I'd opened, fist slamming into flesh instead of the hardened rock and penetrating. The result was nothing short of energetic, fountains of blood spraying from each place his hands made holes in the beast, chunks of flesh leaking their vital fluids.

I'd not bothered trying to rise as he finished the creature, but I did reach up to lightly punch his leg as he came to check on me. His armor had held somehow, a bit roughed up, but still in place and covered in gore.

“Nice work there,” I said before coughing, a metallic taste spreading through my mouth. That wasn't good.

“Justin, we need to get you to a healer,” he said huffing.

“A day's march, and I don't think I'm marching my friend. If you hurry I might survive long enough for you to get back, but you'll have to leave me.” I smiled, we both knew that there was very little chance of that, but it was the best.

“That's not happening,” he replied, carefully moving to wrap his arms around me.

“Wait,” I said, not wanting to be jostled and all the pain that would go with it. Hurriedly I wrapped my body in a cocoon of force, hoping it would be enough to last until he got tired and had to sit me down. For it was clear from the look on his face that there was no chance of him leaving me behind. “If you're determined we only need to get close enough for an emergency flare.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Without words he picked me up. It still sent a wave of agony through me to be moved, but with the stability I'd managed it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. Then he began to run, fast. Not bothering with the forest and the difficulty of dodging branches and vines he headed for the beach proper, getting close enough for the wet sand to give at least some footing as he sprinted.

“That thing shouldn't have attacked,” he griped. “They're cowards, normally just pretending to be rocks. Only time I've seen one act like that is when they come up against something that's attacked them before.”

I laughed, a mistake, but one that I didn't regret. “Atal used several for targets. One of them escaped, but I guess he recognized me.”

“Pretty sure that was a she Justin, but never mind that.” The sand began to flow below us faster and faster.

“Careful, you'll wear yourself out,” I chastised. “Using that much of your power already you've got to be tired.”

He blinked, then looked at me where he cradled me in his arms. “Wait, why don't I? This feels normal, almost like a light jog...”

Well that wasn't right, we were flying down the beach, each moment getting just a little faster. Curious I looked at his legs, and they weren't pumping hard. He was just pushing hard, far harder than a normal person could push, with each step carrying us much further than it had any right to.

Immediately I went to check on his aura, rather than sputtering and flashing like it had been it seemed to almost vibrate. If anything it was becoming more and more solid by the moment. It was a marbled thing, like stone carved from a mountain and polished to a shine. Even as I watched it began to settle into a firm structure, the vibrations through it seeming to put all the pieces into place.

Now I laughed in earnest, a huge guffaw. My ribs weren't amused in the least though and made me cough hard, spraying a bit of red from my mouth. Even through the pain it was funny, and I'd been so worried.

“I have good news,” I wheezed once I was able. “Your grandfather was right, congratulations.”

“Stop laughing you idiot, before it kills you,” he snapped. “And thanks.”

He ran like that for a couple of hours, and it was fast, easily two or three times faster than it would've been otherwise. However, magically empowered or not he still had limits. As time passed sweat began to pour off of Ian's face, his breathing beginning to struggle slightly. We were close, so close and he refused to give up.

As he was wearing down so was I. Keeping my own magic going for so long was hard in my state, and I was getting more and more tired by the second. Sleep, a sleep I'd likely never wake from tried to creep up upon me. It felt so peaceful, so welcoming, if I just let it take me... Isha's crying face flashed before my eyes and that was enough, enough for me to stir myself right as Ian stumbled.

“I need...” he said breathlessly, managing to put me down before he crumpled.

“Rest,” I answered with a peaceful smile. “You're not alone though.”

Willing my magic to move I formed a ball. One of the first spells I'd learned, one Elaya had taught me as a child, one of the first I'd even seen others use. The ball of light flew high, pulsing colors and patterns into the sky. It went up, up, over the trees, as high as I could send it, and it shone like a second sun.

There were a number of flare patterns for emergencies, and this one was simple. It told any looking upon it that help was needed, no immediate danger. Rather than soldiers we needed aid, and that flare was what might get it.

I was awake enough to see it when they found us. It wasn't guards or soldiers who came to our rescue, but rather a cadre of women. From their baskets and tools it looked as if they'd been out gathering. The first to see us as we lay in the sand let out a high pitched call for the others, and soon we were surrounded.

Their leader made their way to where Ian was huffing first. He had a lot more blood on him than I did, but the soldier quickly waved her in my direction. She took one look at me and began to sing, a gentle tune, welcome, as was the warm feeling that flowed over me, lulling me to a deep sleep.