Fire spread from one Hollow-Witch to the next like a viral infection. As each one caught they screamed horribly until the flames had devoured them from top to bottom. Zyrell couldn't tell but he was sure none of them had survived. AS the witches died the ache in his gut began to fade and the fire in his veins disappeared.

It took awhile for Zyrell to gain control of himself. It took an even longer second for him to realize he had attacked Trevor. He had pulled his knife and charged at the man. What a stupid thing he'd done. Trevor was a warrior with massive amounts of training and magical powers. Not to mention he was an ally. Not an enemy.

"Are you back to your senses now boy?"

"I..." Zyrell started ashamed. "I think so."

"Good." Zyrell grabbed him by the collar and shook him. "Do you hear voices boy?!"

"What?"

"Do-you-hear-voices?!"

"NO," Zy said ashamed.

"You didn't hear a voice telling you to attack me?"

"No" Zyrell said. "It was like my whole body was on fire. I was pissed at anything and everything. I was pissed at myself."

"Ugh, another defective power."

Zyrell looked up at Trevor. He was dusting the ashes off his body. This was probably the most he had ever talked without being asked questions.

"What do you mean defective?"

Trevor looked at him a long while and then sighed. "I don't understand it exactly. The magic power that comes from being given the Azure Mark has a kink to it. It messes with your mind. The last one with the mark, Julius, was depressed all the time and died soon after our training was over. And the one before that ran off into a monster cave and never came out."

"That would've been nice to know two weeks ago!" Zyrell shouted.

"And what would you have done? Stayed with your aunt and uncle? Those Hollow-Witches were after you. Not me. You're just lucky we lead them away from your family."

"They were after me?"

"Trying to stop you before you come to powerful. The others inheritors were attacked as well. I was also attacked when I was your age. It's almost a tradition. Just not by Hollow-witches. Never been attack by Hollow-Witches."

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"What were they?"

"Hollow-Witches. Female mages who overuse magic. Or they're spell backfired somehow. The spell eats them up from the inside creating creatures that mindlessly attack. They're not too strong but they can only be killed by magic so it pisses off normal people when they attack. I've never seen so many of them at once."

"What happens to male mages when the spell backfires?"

"They become Hollow-Apes. Physically stronger but also dumber and more violent. Not to mention smellier. Kinda' makes you proud to be a man right?" Trevor said the last bit with a hint of sarcasm.

"Are they poisonous?"

"What... why?"

"One of them bit me. I'm not gonna turn into a zombie or a ghoul or something right?"

"Oh. You mean venomous."

"What the difference."

"Venomous means it was trying to eat you and you got sick. Poisonous means you were trying to eat it and got sick. But no lad. They're not poisonous nor are they venomous." Trevor said with a slight smile.

Trevor led Zyrell back to the wagon. The horses were untouched, a few scratches here and there. When Zyrell had been picked off the wagon by the Hollow-Witch they all had stopped attacking the wagon and focused on him. Zyrell was actually more beat up than both the horses and Trevor. He had large scratches along his face arms and back.

"If you could set them on fire why didn't you just do that form the start?" Zyrelll said. Trevor gave him a sad look. The man starred for a long time at Zyrell who just looked on mindlessly.

After a long moment Trevor finally spoke. "40 years..."

"What?" Zyrell asked.

"It was 40 years ago I was given the Vermilion Mark. I get magic powers for 40 years. After that 40 years was up a new inheritor was chosen and my powers began to fade. That's why back in Huntsville I could only teleport one time. Every-time I use my powers I use more of what i have in reserves until I'm, empty."

"And this is a secret or something?"

"A few people know. More than I'd like. But think about it Boy. This is the most dangerous time. The original warriors are losing their power while the new ones aren't at full power yet. So we don't try to tell the world although some people who are smarter than myself have figured it out on their own."

Zyrell leaned back and winced. The adrenaline was fading from the battle and the wounds and scratches were staring to sting. Including the bite in his shoulder. He still couldn't believe that thing bit into him.

"Focus on healing. You should heal much faster now that your powers are developing."

"How?"

"Close your eyes," Trevor advised. "imagine your body as it was. Fully healthy and strong."

Zyrell did as he was told. He saw himself hunting, running, jumping, and fighting at full power. He was invincible. Unstoppable. He saw himself hitting the Hollow-Witches with his arrows. They were dropping like flies. Zy felt something in his chest leak. Like cold water. It flowed through his body and into his muscles and arms. It soothed his aching wounds.

"Whoa, that felt amazing!" Zyrell checked himself. His wounds were gone including the bite in his shoulder. "Fuck yeah that's awesome!"

Trevor laughed. "The more powerful you get the easier it is to heal. Also did you notice how much of a crack shot you were wehn fighting?"

"I missed a few,"

"Yeah but you hit more than you missed. The magic we get increases out battle preform. We fight better and get stronger faster. If there's something to learn we learn it faster. You were already good with the arrow but you'll see. Soon you'll be unstoppable with any weapon."

"Well if more of those Hollow-Witches come I'll need to be better."

"Oh they'll be more. If I'm right. There will be a lot more." And then Trevor sank back into quietness.