Six days.

It took six days to finally rid myself of the blackened mud that caked my body, my hair, as expected, taking the longest to clean. I was often tempted to cut it all off, but Milea was kind enough to help me through the worst of it, and showed me how to properly braid it to get it out of my face. I had never longed for magic more, but back in the depths of the underground, I had no such luxury.

With no new reports from the patrolling scouting parties, we used the somewhat idle time to recover from the chaos of the last couple of days. Ciro was enjoying the time off and was almost completely recovered for the most part, but I did notice him spending more time by the fire than usual.

Between bouts with my hair, Milea had also kindly offered to help train me. After our return, Milea asked what sort of experience I may have had with any sort of weapon when we recounted our strange tale of what happened in the fields. And, when I explained that the skirmish the other day in the clearing was my first time using a real weapon, I thought she would kill Ciro.

And so, during the evenings after she was done in the forge, I would go with Milea to the clearing above the underground to train in the dead of night. She was a far more strict teacher than Ciro, and I ended up most nights with cuts and bruises to show, but I found myself often asking to stay later to practice the skills she had taught. It was Milea who forced me to finally go to bed and to take it easy on my blackened hand.

A majority of the night training consisted of not only face-to-face combat, but also memorizing the different Selphene and Herculea armor weaknesses and when to best use blood magic. As Milea explained, Sephene knight’s main weakness was the helmet. Although my magicked blade could go through the chestplate with much force, the easiest way to access their magic was through removal of their helmet. But, even then, the wards imbued in the rest of their armor made it so I would still need to close the distance considerably if I wanted to use blood magic.

Herculea’s fighters were almost all beastriders, each with their own specific strengths and weaknesses. But, as I experienced before, once they were off their chosen steed, they were vulnerable. Those who were not atop a creature by choice, were quite similar to Selphene knights, although they favored bows and arrows over blades.

Thankfully, Milea also allowed me to continue sleeping on the spare cot in her home, and to my surprise, Aixel did not protest. During our training sessions, Milea also divulged that Aixel would often use that cot when the weather was not ideal. When I asked why he didn’t just stay in the underground, Milea explained that although there was no magic due to the anasilan, many blood mages did not feel safe having a void mage around. Milea fought for Aixel to be accepted by the small community, but Aixel seemed to want to avoid the conflict altogether. And so, Aixel always preferred spending time above ground rather than confined to the claustrophobic underground city.

I found that it was Milea who came across Aixel wandering the fields as a child. Initially mute and with only a tiny mouse void beast as companion, she couldn’t help but feel pity. She tried to keep him hidden away in her quarters from the others in the underground, but quickly found that he detested enclosed spaces of any kind.

The void mage did not seem to like to stay in the same place for too long. The next morning after we returned from our ordeal in the fields, he was already gone before I awoke. After my unexpected consumption by the flowery worm, he had somehow managed to find my falchion in the grass, and whether he planned to return it to Milea or keep it for himself, I was glad to see it resting on the floor beside me when I opened my eyes.

When I finally caught my reflection for the first time, I did not recognise myself. I knew that my eyes would be different, judging by Aixel’s reaction, but I was still not prepared. Where my irises once were, was instead a gold metal-like layer, even over my pupil. I was almost tempted to touch it, but my fingers were still far too dirty.

Other than my eyes, Lumo’s magic also had other strange and unexpected side effects. There were the same heightened senses I had experienced when I first awoke in the swamp, along with new, quicker reflexes, but also a bizarre lack of hunger. For the past six days, I had seemed to have completely lost my appetite. I tried to have some bread at Ciro’s incessant request, but when it touched my tongue, I tasted something akin to sand.

Milea had returned from a day at the forge, sweating and with smudges of grease on her face, and was sitting on the edge of her bed. Ciro was sitting next to the hearth, in his now usual spot, with Aixel beside him feeding Doris what looked to be a carrot. Milea sighed as she pulled a large leather glove off her hand.

“We’re running low again,” she said, voice filled with frustration.

“On what? Magic?” asked Ciro, adjusting and placing his hands next to the flames.

“Magic… food… everything,” she shook her head. “Aixel?”

Aixel then stood, brushing the soot from his trousers, then stretching.

“I’ll see what I can find,” he yawned. He then turned, looking at me expectantly. “Mira?”

I froze.

“Aren’t you going to put on your armor?” he asked.

“Me? You want me to come?” I coughed, trying to hide my surprise.

He sighed before lifting the curtain to leave.

“Hurry - we’re losing daylight,” he added, and Doris hopped behind him.

“I - .. Yes. Okay,” I stammered, jumping up.

Six rabbits.

There were now six dead rabbits on my back. If I knew I would be the one carrying a bloody canvas bag filled with rabbits, I would not have come. Yet, despite my discomfort, I did find myself enjoying watching Aixel hunt.

It seemed as though every dozen or so paces, he would burst into his void-form, disappear through the trees, and return with a dead rabbit hanging from one hand by the ears. The other would be wiping the peculiar wooden dagger on his trousers, as he could not use his magic to kill. Although, I did find myself curious as to what void-corrupted meat would taste like.

Doris would scout ahead, and I would trudge behind, reminding myself to be happy to get out of the underground finally. With Ciro still recovering, any further adventure through the Barrens was on indefinite hold.

Seven rabbits.

The added weight may have made my steps heavier, but it didn’t seem to slow me down. Aixel tightened the rope top of the back once more, and with a grunt, I threw it over my shoulder.

“How many more?” I asked, adjusting the strap on my shoulder.

“Why? Tired already?”

“No… I’m just not sure how many more we can fit.”

“I brought another bag,” he said, “You really think seven rabbits is enough food for the entire underground?”

I sighed. “Fair point.”

Aixel turned, continuing his trek through the marshes, then suddenly stopped, holding up his hand. He then turned, placing a finger to his lips.

“Quiet,” he whispered. “Doris spotted something.”

I crouched, scanning ahead, and noticed movement between the trees in the distance. Then the sound of splashing water. In an instant, Aixel was in his void form, rushing towards the source of the noise.

I crept lower, careful and slow towards the source of the commotion, still hidden from view by the trees. There were more splashes in the distance, followed by a new noise.

A woman’s voice.

Distorted and haunting, the lilting voice seemed to be singing something, although I could not make out any words. I snuck closer towards the source of the noise, pushing the vines carefully and slowly out of my way, and froze.

There was a small clearing, vibrant green and covered thickly with moss. Ancient trees weaved around a small natural rock platform, elevated above a shallow clear water stream. Standing in the middle of the clearing, aglow from the trickle of sunlight making its way through the high branches, was a woman.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

White hair spiraled down onto the ground, framing rounded features, and a soft, serene face unlike any I had ever seen. The beautiful, singing woman had a hand outstretched and welcoming in front of her, beckoning to someone at the shore.

Aixel.

I dropped the bag and jumped over the thick roots and into the clearing. My boots began to slide in the mud, but I climbed forward, rushing towards Aixel’s frozen body. His black eyes were fixated on her, mouth open in a daze, as he was transfixed with her song.

With another stumble, I finally made it towards him, and quickly placed my hands over his ears. And, much to my horror, Aixel slowly moved his arms upwards, grabbing both of my wrists, trying to pull me away. As I resisted against him, his brows began to furrow in agitation.

Then came the pain.

Aixel’s void magic began to slowly seep into my wrists, sending icicle stabbing pain through my arms. I closed my eyes, trying best to remember what I had practiced, but the pain overwhelmed me. I staggered backwards, holding my hands to my chest as the woman continued her haunting song.

I turned towards her, and my eyes met hers. There was a flicker of acknowledgement, perhaps annoyance, as the woman turned her attention back to Aixel.

“Please… Please don’t,” I begged the white haired woman, but her strange song seemed to grow louder.

I turned to Aixel, who was now lifting his foot, taking a slow step towards the water’s edge. Once reached, there would be nothing I could do to save him. I grabbed him from behind, trying my best to pull him away, but he only tore me away, sending new pain through my arms.

I turned to the woman again.

“Please don’t take him. Please,” I fell to my knees, scattering rocks around me. “Are you hungry? We have rabbits. You can have them. Just please… Please don’t take him.”

Suddenly she stopped her song and flicked her wrist, and Aixel dropped to the ground beside me. She then turned her attention to me, stepping to the edge of her rock and staring pink-red eyes into mine.

“Little girl,” she cooed, “You plead so - yet you have an untouched blade at your side.”

“I… I…” I stammered, looking at the falchion at my hip.

The woman then took a step forward into the water, body suddenly hidden beneath the depths. Aixel coughed beside me, confused look on his face as he scanned his surroundings. A moment passed before the woman emerged again, this time in the familiar, eyeless form of the bogfae, slowly swimming towards me.

Aixel let out a shout of surprise, and I gave him a warning stare.

“Was it because you wanted me to take him? Put on a show for your conscience?” she smiled with glistening fangs.

“No… I just…” I stammered.

My mind raced. I knew I had a weapon - so why did I not think to use it? It surely would have broken her spell over Aixel.

Suddenly, I saw the pink eyes of the anasilian of the underground before me, and his silver words echoed in my head

Mira Ramsay, do you pledge to use this weapon only when necessary - to bring no more death than is required of the realm and of duty? Do you pledge to cherish magic in all of its forms and heed no excess without rightful reason?

“You… you just watched me?” Aixel choked, “You could have killed her and you just stood there?”

“Now, now, boy… she put on a good show,” the bogfae teased. “Put her hands on your ears and everything. Good thing though, or else I wouldn’t have known what you were. Surprised you can still move, little one.”

I looked down at my still sore arms and backed away from the water. With shaking hands, I removed the armor from my forearms, only to see them filled with blacked marks, like lightning strikes, down to my elbows.

Aixel looked over to me, brows furrowed and lips tight. He shook his head.

“I… Sorry about that,” sighed Aixel.

“You’re lucky I detest the taste of void mages, boy - although you aren’t the worst looking one I’ve come across,” the bogfae smiled her haunting smile, before removing her stringy black hair from one eyeless socket.

Aixel shook his head in dismissal.

“Where’s Doris?” he spat.

“Doris?” the bogfae asked, slowly spinning in the water.

“My void beast,” said Aixel with jaw tightened.

The bogfae let out an exaggerated sigh before plunging into the depths of the water. A tense moment passed and bubbles began to form at the surface of the stream. Then, to my surprise, something was flung from the surface of the water.

With a splash, the little black mass of wet fur bounced against the rocks.

I let out a gasp, horrified.

Aixel jumped up, dashing to where she had landed, before gently picking her up, cradling her the palms of his hands. Then, much to my surprise, I watched as she unrolled her body and began to shake the water off. She seemed completely unharmed.

The bogfae then emerged once more from the water.

“Little rat tried to bite me,” she grumbled. She then turned to me.

“What’s your name, little one?”

“Mira.”

“Ah…” she smiled. “And why, little Mira, was there a Guardian looking for you?”

I paused.

“Myrot?”

The bogfae smiled.

“Yes… He was asking for you all over my forest. Why?”

“I… I don’t know. I tried to ask when he found me. I think he may be working with Herculea.”

At the mention of Herculea’s name, the bogfae reeled, teeth sharp and grimacing as she lunged towards me. A clawed hand wrapped around my boot, pulling me closer and almost into the water. Aixel jumped forward, grabbing my arm in surprise, pulling me away from the water.

I felt the bogfae’s hot, earthen breath on my face.

“You speak her name so freely,” she seethed.

“Herculea wants her dead,” interjected Aixel. “We’re not your enemy.”

My mind raced.

The ring.

I held my hand out in front of the bogfae’s face.

“I was given this ring. From a bogfae named Vasati,” I spoke, struggling to keep my voice steady.

The bogfae let go of my leg and grabbed my hand, feeling it with long, wet fingers.

“Cut her head off,” she whispered.

“What?”

“When your path’s cross again, I want you to take that sharp blade of yours and cut that vile guardian’s head off. Selphena’s too,” she seethed. “For too long has she taken our creatures of the Barrens, bent them to her will. Trampled our lands. Spilled our blood. Even now, they march towards us.”

“March towards us? Who?” said Aixel.

“The red and gold ones. They make camp in the east. Where the smoke clouds the sky and wooden talons break our trees like twigs.”

She let go of my hand then paddled backwards, oil silk hair flowing in her wake.

“Iwubury,” breathed Aixel, letting go of my arm. He then stood, putting the wet Doris in his front pocket. “We have to tell Milea.”

He turned away and started walking towards the trees, steps urgent, but I could not yet move. No, this was not how I would end things with this fae.

“What is your name?” I asked.

The bogfae stopped.

“I am called Dilente,” she smiled.

I stood, putting the armor back onto my blackened arms.

“If you feel this strongly, Dilente, then help us. Help us keep them from the Barrens,” I said, straightening.

“Help? The fae have seen enough bloodshed at their hands. We no longer fight in these wars of men,” she said, words bitter.

“Yet you let them walk through these lands, free to roam? Are they not intruders? Where are the guardians and wardens of the Barrens?” I shook my head, “Each great forest has them. So where is yours?”

“Dead. Long dead at the hands of men,” she seethed.

“Mira - stop,” said Aixel, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I shook him off.

“So you will have the blood mages and those born of the void defend this land for you? Are there no creatures brave enough to face these intruders?” I said, voice growing loud in the small clearing.

“That ring may say you are friend of fae, but it does not make you our commander. Your wars are your own. We have long learned to not interfere,” said Dilente.

“We will do our best to defend, but our numbers are small,” said Aixel, to my surprise, “If they’re already making their way from Ilaross, we won’t have enough soldiers in time to hold them off. And if they make it through our ranks, which they will, they will trample their way through here, bringing their fire and steel with them.”

The bogfae looked away.

“Then I will warn the others of what’s to come,” she said softly.

She then lowered her head beneath the water for the final time, gone.