Have you ever felt that feeling? When you thought it was all over and that sense of relief came all over your body, when you let your guard down. When you think that, finally, you can rest from the shock and kick of adrenaline that pushes your body to its very limits,

Just for it to be cruelly taken away from your weary hands within a blink of an eye.

I felt that oh how I felt it. When relief turned into abject dread, a feeling which words can barely describe. To me, it was vaguely familiar.

But it didn't make it any easier to handle.

I felt it when I saw her collapse to the ground. Blood poured from her nose and eyes. Her pale skin was paler than before.

I felt it when I rushed to her, checking her pulse and breathing.

I found the pulse, weak and barely felt. Her breathing was shallow.

I felt it when I used the last ounces of my strength to hoist her up and carry her on my back.

The last embers of adrenaline in my bloodstream pushed me forward through the forest.

I did not know where I was, I was lost, and I didn't know the way back. But I didn't think of any of that in those moments.

My only thoughts were that she needed medical attention.

And she needed it now.

My legs burned and I felt like with each step I made my bones were about to snap. The weight of both her and myself combined made me push my body beyond what I thought was possible.

I ran in a straight line, barely seeing what was in front of me. My legs felt heavy. But I couldn't stop, not now.

After what felt like an eternity I pushed through a patch of thick foliage to emerge at a clearing. I staggered for a moment. I saw blackness in front of me but outlines of two structures that were blacker than the background stood out.

The house and the barn.

I rushed toward the house, though at this point it was a light jog. I physically couldn't go any faster.

I reached the door, hitting my head against it, and I realized it was locked. Kye had the key but I didn't have the time to rummage through her pockets. I hit the door with my shoulder.

Then I hit it again. I heard wood snapping.

Then again. Another snap.

Then again.

The door was smashed open, I fell inside alongside Kye. However, I managed to make it so that I took the brunt of the fall. I got up, and I put Kye next to me. While I was still on the ground I kicked the door closed with my foot and then got up.

I grabbed Kye and dragged her to the bed. The same one where she dragged me back then.

I checked her pulse again, but I couldn't find it. But I saw her chest go up and down ever so slightly, and I heard she still pulled her breath.

I took off her cloak and shirt. I checked her upper body for any wounds, only a few bruises and scratches. I checked her lower legs, the same thing.

There was still blood on her face, blood poured down her face like tears.

The bleeding was internal. I thought to myself as my mind raced.

I did not know what physical consequences occurred when you overexert yourself while using magic. Frankly, I never heard of it, I didn't know it was even possible.

I was no medic, I was no doctor. The best I knew were the basics of first aid.

I couldn't handle internal bleeding. And the nearest hospital is who knows how far.

I collapsed to my knees, watching her take what I thought were her last breaths. Then it hit me.

Healing magic!

Kye never taught me how to use it, but I knew she managed to heal my disfigured hand completely. Not even modern medicine was capable of such a feat.

Without thinking I put my hand in her cloak pockets, searching quickly I managed to pull out her key chain. I fumbled for a few moments before I found the key to the library.

I held it firmly in my hand and got up, making my way through the dark hallway to the door leading down to the library. My legs felt like jelly as I walked through the hallway, I hit the wall like a drunken idiot before I got to the door. I barely managed to find the padlock keeping it closed. I opened it and threw the keychain to the floor. I rushed down the stairs.

I didn't see a thing, and my legs gave in.

I fell down the stairs. I tried to shield my head.

Tried.

To no avail.

I hit my head against the stone steps before I reached the bottom. Thankfully it didn't knock me out, but I felt sick. I felt like I was about the vomit.

The darkness spun as I barely got back to my feet. Using my hands I was able to balance myself by grasping the wall. I searched for the switch. I needed light.

After a few moments, I found it and flicked it.

The light turned on, blinding me for a second. My head pounded. I felt even sicker.

I felt the bile rise in my throat.

I threw up. Was it from the head injury or stress? Both? I did not know.

Once I released the contents of my stomach, without missing a beat I began searching the shelves. Any book or scroll I could read. Anything relating to healing or medicine.

My hand grasped a few books, and when I saw they were not it, I released them. They hit the ground.

I searched and searched... But I couldn't find anything. Nothing I can read...

The realization hit me then. Even if I did find one I couldn't possibly read and learn the method or spell in a minute. There was no chance.

I dropped the scroll I had in my hands to the ground. And made my way up the steps.

I wheezed and coughed. My head was still spinning.

I arrived at Kye's side. I didn't see whether or not she breathed.

I couldn't check her pulse. I just didn't have the strength to put pressure on her wrists to check for it anymore.

I grabbed her hand with both of mine. Her hand was cold.

I closed my eyes.

If magic is the realm of imagination...

I imagined the internal organs of a human with as much detail as I could remember and with as much clarity as my pounding head would allow. I imagined them wounded... I imagined the wounds close.

If magic is beyond nature...

I felt as if my hand became warm, hot, to an uncomfortable degree. But I still held her hand.

Make my will manifest...

I felt tired, so tired. I felt Death's cold breath.

Just. This... once...

----------------------------------------

I knew how it felt to wake up badly hungover. Sometimes it is bad enough that I considered never touching alcohol again... But all those nights out which resulted in that disgusting feeling in the morning... They all paled in comparison to what I woke up to in the morning.

I heard the chirp of birds. I felt a light breeze hit my face.

My eyes were heavy and they felt dry. I opened them just enough to see the sun's rays go through one of the windows, I saw the door was still ajar slightly, and the breeze was coming from there.

Every muscle in my body ached. I felt light-headed, I felt sick. I couldn't raise my head from the ground.

The only thing I managed to move was my neck. I heard some bones crack as I slowly turned my head to the right. My eyes were fixated to the bed.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Then I saw her. She was sitting on the bed, her hands supporting her body as she stared into blank space in front of her. Her shirt had crimson blotches at some points. How long was she like that? Did she just get up?

„Kye?“ I said weakly, my voice cracking.

She winced before turning her head toward me, lying on the ground.

Her face was pale, like always. But just now did I see the great contrast between her red eyes, skin, and black hair. The contrast was made even more evident by the trails of dried blood on her cheeks.

She stared at me for a second. Then she slowly turned around, and her feet touched the floor, I saw that her movement was stiff and clumsy.

„We are alive...“ She said in a whisper.

„I think... We are.“ I replied, looking at her.

„How are you... feeling?“ I asked.

„Like shit.“ She responded in a dry tone, staring at the floor. „But I'm alive.“ She nodded to herself and then looked at me. „I guess I have to thank you... For whatever you did.“ She squinted her eyes, looking back at the floor, thinking. Then she looked back at me.

„What did you do?“ She asked. I tried to think of a response... She was alive... The house was, frankly, a mess. I rewinded last night's events in my head.

I saw as Kye looked around, she saw the door was busted open. There was a trail of mud and small drops of dried blood on the floor leading to the bed. She followed the trail with her eyes, the trail of mud led to the hall leading to the library. She saw the door was open.

„Did you...“ She trailed off.

„I guess I did. The library wasn't much help though.“ I said. I felt my body was slowly returning to the world of the living. I could raise my head and my eyes didn't feel so heavy.

„No, I mean... Something else, forget it.“ She said, looking down at her body. I still wasn't in the state to read between the lines.

„I think I used healing magic.“ I said simply.

She murmured something in Almaganda, that I couldn't understand. Then she got up to her feet and grabbed her cloak.

After inspecting her surroundings for a few seconds she crouched down slightly and grabbed my hand pulling me up to a sitting position.

„C'mon, get up. We need to secure the house.“ She said. She recovered surprisingly quickly considering everything that transpired. I on the other hand still needed at least a few minutes before I could get up.

The moment she pulled me up my head began spinning again. I needed a moment to get my bearings straight as well...

„Give me a second... Please.“ I said, still remaining in the sitting position. I put both my hands on my face.

Kye was silent for a few seconds. „Alright... You deserve rest.“ She told me.

„No... Just give me a second I'll help you out.“ I replied. She had already stood up. I started to stand up as well... But the moment I stood up onto my two feet I staggered, nearly falling back down if it weren't for Kye catching me.

„You need rest.“ She said.

„And so do you.“ I replied.

„I'll be fine, I've had it worse before“ She said while she plopped me onto the bed. The moment my head touched the soft fabric of the bed I knew that she was right...

„I guess... I guess I'll have a quick nap then...“ I closed my eyes for a moment, I heard Kye walk off. I felt my body relax then...

----------------------------------------

I opened my eyes again. I was lying on the bed, I had a blanket over me. A wave of nostalgia hit me at first. I saw that it was dark. The smell of burning wood, I heard it crackling. I saw its light dance on the ceiling.

I felt fresh, well rested. My body didn't ache anymore.

Turning my head I saw Kye was sitting next to the fireplace crosslegged reading some book.

„I overslept didn't I?“ I said.

„That you did.“ She replied „I managed to secure the house though... You busted up that lock pretty good back there.“ She closed the book she was reading, she stared into the fire. „Cleaning your vomit was no fun though.“ She added.

„Sorry about that... I hit my head pretty good on my way down.“ I said.

„I assumed, there was some blood on the steps. You were bleeding from your head so I knew that was yours... Your head should be fine now, does it hurt?“ Kye replied.

„No... Not at all actually.“ I said, going through my hair and putting pressure where I hit my head before. It didn't hurt at all, I felt no bump. „Healing magic truly is something, isn't it?“ I chuckled.

„It is...“ She turned around in the chair to face me. I got up and sat on the bed. „I think you should know as much. But what you did, I think at least, wasn't healing magic.“ She said.

„What do you mean?“ I asked.

„I think you simply transferred your essence after my essence was depleted.“ She said.

„Elaborate.“ I replied.

She sighed. „After a mage depletes his or her essence there are consequences to the body, which may result in death if enough is depleted in a short period. Pair that with physical exhaustion, death is almost certain. One begins to degrade slowly from the inside out faster than essence can be restored naturally.“ She explained.

„Total organ collapse... Internal bleeding? Then how are you still alive, even if I transferred some of my essence there is no way it just went away like that?“ I asked, confused.

„Wyatt... Not even I know how everything works exactly. What I do know is that you most likely transfered some of your essence into me which helped with my recovery. And you transferred a large amount of essence. It would normally take days, weeks, or even months of recovery even with the help of a minor transfer. You replenished my entire store in a few minutes, probably... And yet you are still sitting here. Alive.“ She said looking at me.

„What does that mean exactly?“ I asked.

„That means you have a sizeable store of essence... I can't tell how much. I will just ask you that you do not do that again. Do not put your life at risk for mine... You could've died.“ She said.

I thought for a few moments. I did what I thought was right at the time... After all, I did owe her my life, she saved my life after all. She put her life at stake for mine as well. But I won't push it, I understand her concern.

„Alright, I won't. But that still doesn't explain some things. I am human... Well, mostly human. I have two generations of separation from any Elven ancestry, at least from what I know and from what you've told me. By that logic, I know I will have essence and the capability to use magic but I would have a minuscule amount at best.“ I said. Darren and Christy would love this... Damn, how I miss those two.

„I know... And Master Rosallyn was a Halfling as well. Despite that, I knew he was a great mage that surpassed even some full-blooded Elves. I can feel that essence is present but I can't tell how much. I don't know much about his ancestry, he didn't talk about it much...“ Kye said, reminiscing on the past.

„What was your relationship with my grandfather anyway... I never really asked. You told me that he was wise and capable, old. But you never spoke about how you got to know him.“ I asked, despite promising myself that I won't pry into it... Curiosity got the better of me.

Kye shifted in her seat, I saw that she was uncomfortable with the topic. But she spoke.

„When I was young I was separated from my parents. I can't remember much of my childhood, I was little. I was taken in by a group of wandering mages who took care of me and raised me until I was capable enough to be on my own. Though at that time I was still a novice at best with magic... Then I was separated from them as well, they were killed.“ She paused, she stared at the floor. I saw her eyes shifting back and forth as she recalled her past.

„I was alone for a few years. Surviving barely in the forests of Aesir. I was lucky because you can't survive alone for an extended time in these lands. But one day my luck ran out and I was attacked by a group of monsters. I was gravely wounded and I thought I would die. That was until your grandfather showed up. He managed to disperse the monsters and he took me in. He healed me, gave me a roof over my head, he fed me. I felt immense gratitude for that because most would've left me for dead. I felt apprehensive at first because he looked human, until I found out he was a halfling, and that he was a mage. That was when I became his apprentice, I decided to help him and live with him. And in return, he will teach me everything he knows...“ She explained.

I took a moment to let the whole story settle in my mind. Our upbringings have some similarities... Though her's was arguably ten times worse. Who knows how much she went through? But it explains her quietness and stoic demeanor.

„Did he have any other apprentices?“ I asked.

„From what he told me he had a few over the years, but I was with him the longest.“ She replied. However, I had another question that had been bugging me ever since I met her...

„I know this is impolite to ask a woman... But, how old are you?“ I asked, genuinely curious. I was trying to construct a timeline of events in my head.

„I don't know... I was Kellynstir's apprentice for exactly 33 years, which is more or less half of my life. Which would make me about 60 or 65 at least according to the Human calendar.“ She said.

Sixty?! She's an old woman then, but she doesn't look a day past 25!

„You're... In your sixties.“ I repeated, trying to process that information.

„Yes, us Elves life can live up to 300, but most perish before their 200th birthday. I am still very young.“ She explained.

I did a quick calculation in my head. If the average life expectancy is about 200 years for Elves... Which I knew, but having an actual elf sitting across from me and telling me that information is different from reading it from a textbook.

She looks to be in her early to mid-twenties. The average life expectancy for a human at the moment is around 50 considering that infant mortality skews those statistics by quite a lot. I would say 70 is around the average life expectancy for a human after surviving infancy and if they live in ideal conditions with our current medical knowledge... 70 times 2.857 is 199.99, round it to 200. One-third of 70 is 23.1 while one-third of 200 is 66... Which would mean that we are the same age, proportionally speaking.

„That would make you 23 in human years I think... Coincidentally the same age as I.“ I said.

„How'd you get to that number?“ She asked.

„Quick and crude calculation... Forget it.“ I replied, and she nodded.

„I would rather not talk about my past any further... I am concerned about the here and now.“ She started.

„I understand.“ I said. I could sympathize. „What are you thinking?“ I asked.

„In a few days, we are going to leave. We can't stay here any longer.“ She grabbed the book she was reading through from the table and threw it onto my lap. „This here is good material for learning Almaganda. I will help you learn the script first.“

„Wait, wait. Why are we leaving?“ I asked.

„The Ju Mo, the monster which attacked us. I am surprised you didn't ask any questions about it.“ She said... She was right, I was a lot more concerned with her health that I forgot about that damned monstrosity... Honestly, I would rather forget that even happened. I'll have nightmares because of that thing...

„We would've left today if it weren't for you killing the Ju Mo... Human weapons are a lot more powerful than I give them credit.“ She commented all I did was aim for the softest and least protected area... Which so happened to be probably the most difficult to hit, luck was on my side as well.

„Okay, can you explain to me what's up with that Ju Mo thing?“ I asked.

„The Ju Mo is one of the oldest and arguably one of the most powerful monsters that roam the Earth. In the past, there were more of them but today they are rare. What makes them powerful is the fact that they are intelligent and have a large amount of essence. They can use spells the same way we do... Legends say that they taught the first Elves to wield magic before some curse turned them into monsters, but those are only stories.“ She explained.

„That's the backstory... Why are we leaving if the thing is dead?“ I asked.

„The Ju Mo is almost exclusively found in colder climates. They inhabit the north. I have only heard of them... This was the first time I saw one in person. The fact one of them went this far south is concerning. It tells me something is pushing them south. If there is one there ought to be more. Not just them but other monsters as well.“

Something is pushing them south...

„That means that there is also something which they are escaping from... From what?“ I asked.

„I don't know. I didn't hear anything of note from the east or north. The petty squabbles between lords aren't nearly enough to push them out. I doubt even a major war would push them out...“ She replied.

„Now that you mention it... You said that the game was abundant in these parts. But in the last few weeks, there had been fewer and fewer animals.“ I said.

„Yes, I just assumed they were migrating. Though it is unusual in this season, it isn't unheard of. The Ju Mo could've scared them off... But something is off. I can't tell what... And that is why I decided we must leave in the coming days. We'll go westward closer to the Lydas. It has a lot more people but we'll manage, I know a small abandoned hut where we can set up for a time. I just hope no one has beaten us to it.“

I nodded in agreement. I couldn't go against her. I trust her judgment.

„Then I assume we'll have to pack some supplies.“ I said.

„I already have, not everything. I set aside some books from the library for you to learn more about magic and to have more material in Almaganda... I can't take the whole library, unfortunately.“ She said, pausing for a moment. „Until then... We have to eat, I prepared that rabbit.“

„Yeah, let's eat first.“ I agreed, I got up and we made our way to the dining area of the house. I realized then that the floor had been cleaned, mostly at least. The front door was closed with a padlock... She had some in reserve I guess.

We sat down while she went to pour a rabbit soup for me and herself.

We ate in silence. Both of us contemplated what to do next once we were on the road. And if we can even settle somewhere westward...

I wonder if I can cross the Lydas? Should I?