“What is magic,” said Merlin whilst tapping on a blackboard filled with illustrations. A warm light filled his observatory warming the young princess who listened intently to her new tutor. It was a day ago when they had first met in the courtyard and now is her first lesson.

"Magic, Alexia, is a force that flows within all of us. It comes from the heart, both literally and figuratively." Curious eyes gazed up at him, the young princess absorbing his every word. "The heart?" she echoed

"Yes, just as blood flows through our veins, mana flows through our bodies. The heart is the central point, the source from which magic is harnessed." Merlin said nodding. “However in order to activate this mana, you need to draw in mana from your surroundings.”

"So, everyone has magic?" Alexia asked her brows furrowing.

A soft smile graced Merlin's lips as he nodded once again. "Indeed, my dear. Magic is inherent in all beings. But harnessing it, channeling it, that takes effort and practice."

As if to emphasize his point, he extended his hand, conjuring a gentle flame that danced upon his fingertips. "You see, Alexia, magic requires connection. You must understand the ebb and flow of mana within you, much like you understand the rhythm of your own heart."

“But what if my heart is too small for all that magic?" the princess asked her voice laced with worry

Merlin's laughter rang out, a melody that seemed to harmonize with the rustling leaves. He ruffled her hair affectionately, "Oh, my dear, a heart can never be too small for magic. In fact, it's the tiniest of sparks that can ignite the most powerful flames."

He extended his hand once more, conjuring a playful burst of colorful sparks that danced in the air before gently dissipating. "Remember, Alexia, magic isn't just about grand gestures. It's in the small moments, the kind words, the shared laughter. Magic is woven into the very fabric of life."

The memory flashed through her mind in an instant. She closed her eyes as blood splattered over her. It was wet and oozed a putrid metallic smell. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She had killed someone who helped her.

The creature's guttural roar was cut short by an agonized growl, and the Winged bear stumbled back, its eyes wide with confusion and pain. Through the tears she couldn’t believe what she saw.

It wasn't Ed who lay wounded on the forest floor, but the very creature that had threatened their lives. Through the pain, he had managed to seize his spear in the nick of time. The weapon now protruded from the bear's neck as it swayed dizzily. Seizing the opportunity Ed dragged himself into the field of flowers.

With a soft command, Alexia directed her familiar slinky towards Ed, its ephemeral form enveloping him. In an instant, Ed vanished from sight, hidden from the bear's predatory gaze.

Alexia wiped away her tears and faced the Winged Bear. The creature had recovered quickly from the wound and was now charging at her, jaw wide with rows of blade like teeth.

She began drawing mana from her surroundings. From the flowers, the trees, and even the air itself. She could feel her mana core ignite, stoking a fire inside her.

From her fingertips, tendrils of fire emerged, twisting and weaving into intricate patterns that coiled and looped, forming ropes of binding flame. The construct responded to her every command, and the flames crackled sending embers flying through the air.

As the ropes of fire took shape, Alexia's eyes remained locked on the wounded winged bear. With a wave of her hands, the ropes of fire leaped forward, encircling the bear's massive body. The flames tightened, constricting like a fiery embrace, and the bear roared in both fury and agony as the searing bonds held it captive.

Without hesitation, Alexia's emotions surged like a tidal wave, fueling the flames like oil Her memories, her feelings, her very essence made her magic more powerful.

With a primal cry that echoed through the forest, Alexia thrust her hands forward, the flames surging towards the bear. The world seemed to hold its breath as fire and fur collided, the blaze consuming the creature with an inferno that blazed with otherworldly intensity.

The bear's roar turned to a howl of anguish, its form consumed by the flames that Alexia commanded. The very air shimmered with sheer heat as she continued torching the creature. Then, as swiftly as it had begun, the blaze dissipated, leaving only the lingering scent of burnt fur and the echo of the bear's final cries.

The painfilled cries of Ed brought her back to reality. She saw him, battered and broken, his breathing shallow. There was no room for hesitation; Alexia knelt beside him, her hands glowing with a soothing light as she conjured her healing magic.

“Why isn’t the stupid spell working” Alexia cried out. The blood came like waterworks through the open wound. She realized that in her heightened state of emotions, she couldn’t use healing magic. She had to be removed of all emotions while performing the act.

Her nails digged into the grassy soil grabbing it tightly. She hated herself for not being to remain calm. The threat had already been eliminated so why can she still not save him? She was a fool to drag him into this.

“Why?” She thought. Why did she choose him specifically. Alexia looked down on the brown haired man dying in front of her. There was something about him, something so familiar yet distant. She knew every servant in her home by name so he couldn’t possibly be one of them. He had only arrived in Felucia the day they met and even then she was only allowed out for a few months.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Her thoughts broke when he heard Ed mumbling incoherently. She leaned to her what he had to say.

“Bleeding…” Ed said taking a pause to catch his breath. “You’re bleeding”. He grabbed the hems of her dress staining it red.

She looked down at her hands and realized he was telling the truth. Her nails cut deep into the skin drawing blood. The pain however was non existent to her.

“You fool, stop worrying about me” she said as she closed her eyes. She had to clear her mind. Whatever happens she must save him. She thought of snow, of clouds, and of ice. Completely blank,empty, a new beginning. She internalized this feeling inside her and began to change her mana core.

Ed’s grip on her dress began to weaken. She knew his consciousness danced on the edge of awareness. Alexia placed her hands over the gash and a warmth light enveloped the area. Flowers had begun to sprout around him, their delicate petals unfurling.

"You're using healing magic," Ed murmured, his voice laced with awe. Alexia figured this must be the first time he had been conscious to witness such magic in action.

Alexia's gaze focused on the wound which had begun to heal, the sinews and tendons forming. "Yes," she confirmed. "Healing magic infuses the target with life energy, coaxing the body's natural healing processes to accelerate.In short you’re going to be fine" The wounds that had marred Ed’s body began to mend, and his breaths grew steadier.

"It's incredible," he marveled, his words tinged with gratitude.

Amidst the blooming blossoms, Alexia's attention was suddenly diverted by a sharp, unexpected sensation. She felt a bite on her leg, and her gaze dropped to see the winged bear's cub. It was a mixture of innocence and anger, both vulnerable and fierce.

"Hey, little one," Alexia murmured, her voice a blend of soothing and caution. She extended her hand "It's all right. We won't hurt you."

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the forest darkened, she knelt beside the cub. She had killed her mother and without her the cub may as well be dead. Alexia felt a pang of guilt. In her moment of rage she hadn’t decided to think.

“No” she thought. The winged bear attacked them first. If she didn’t kill her, it would be her corpse on the grass. However she still wanted to make this right.

"From this moment forward, you shall be known as Ember," Alexia whispered. She placed a hand over the cub and activated a glyph. She was giving it a contract almost as if saying she would be the cubs new mother. "Bound by blood and magic, our fates entwined."

A spark of recognition seemed to flicker in Ember's eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the pact that was being sealed. With a practiced motion, Alexia put her finger on Embers furry cheek, a drop of her blood welling. She touched her finger to Ember's fur, and as the glyph activated, the contract was complete.

Ember's essence resonated with Alexia's magic, becoming an extension of her very being. The cub's presence in her heart was now bound by a contract that spanned both blood and magic.

“Hey why are you laughing, this is serious you know” Alexia pouted as she saw Ed chuckling to himself.

“I apologize, but the shift from your earlier intensity with the fire to now is quite striking” he said still chuckling.

"Well, I can switch from dragon to dove in an instant. Keeps life interesting, doesn't it?" Alexia said crossing her arms, a proud glint in her eyes.

Ed smirked, "I suppose so, but you went from scary fire mage to peaceful healer in record time. I hadn’t expected someone like you to be so powerful"

She nudged him, "Life's too short not to embrace the unexpected. Keeps you on your toes." She offered a hand to her companion. “Come on the sun is setting”

The bright sunny sky soon left and was replaced with darkness. Ed had gathered the firewood and Alexia lit it. The crackling fire warmed the air, creating dancing shadows upon the surrounding trees. Alexia watched as Ed returned again, chest puffed as he carried two rabbits in his hands.

"Fresh catch for dinner," Ed declared, a proud smile on his face. He handed the rabbits over to Alexia, who nodded her appreciation. With a flourish of her hands, she conjured flames that danced and flickered upon her fingertips. The fire magic responded to her command, engulfing the rabbits with gentle yet controlled heat. The aroma of cooking meat filled the air.

“I hadn’t expected you to be a hunter” Alexia said as she continued cooking the rabbits.

“It was a skill I picked up in my chilhood” Ed replied. “Quite handy don’t you think?”

“I thought you grew up Valonde, is that not a city? How did hunting fit into that?” Alexia questioned raising her eyebrows.

Ed’s face darkened. “I’d rather not talk about it, it’s not something a noble like you would understand”

There was a silent and akward pause until Ed broke out into a cheerful grin.

"So, let me get this straight," Ed began with a mockingly quirked brow. "You're telling me that you just turned a bear cub whose mother you just killed into your pet?"

Alexia was taken aback by the sudden tonal shift but decided to play along. Her lips curved into a playful smile as she glanced at Ember nestled by her side. "Well, when you put it that way, it does sound a bit unusual. But it's not just a pet. Ember's now my familiar, bound to me by a blood contract."

The rabbits exterior had taken a golden hue allowing it to be consumed. The tender meat practically melted in their mouths, each bite bursting with flavor that was heightened by the crackling firelight. The savory juices mingled with the slight smokiness from the fire, creating the perfect dinner.

Using fire magic to cook is a whole new level of convenience," Ed remarked, as he devoured his food. "Remind me to never challenge you to a cooking competition."

Alexia grinned, her own delight evident. "Glad you like it. Fire magic has its perks besides killing, you know."

Once they had devoured every last morsel, Ed's expression turned serious, his gaze meeting Alexia's. "Thank you, Alexia. For saving me back there with that winged bear."

Alexia's eyes softened, and she shook her head gently. "You saved me first, Ed. If you hadn't pushed me out of the way, that bear's attack could have been much worse."

Ed's lips quirked into a half-smile. "I suppose we're even then."

Now that we're free from that mess," Ed mused, his gaze wandering to the starlit sky, "where do we go from here?"

Alexia's eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and contemplation. "I've been reading about a city," she began, her voice carrying a sense of wonder. "It's a place of machinery and innovation, a realm that's transcended the need for magic. They're known for their airships, machines that sail the skies with a grace that rivals even the most skilled mage."

Ed's eyebrows shot up in curiosity. "Airships? I think Gery told me something about that once. Aren’t they the ships that float in the air, propelled by... machinery?" He placed his had on the grass ready to sleep after all that has happened. “What’s machinery”?

“Think of Machinery like artifacts. I’m sure you’ve seen those before. However instead of being powered by magic, it operates on its own or so I’ve heard” Alexia answered.

As the night wore on, the stars above twinkling in a sea of darkness, exhaustion began to settle in. The fire's gentle crackling became a soothing lullaby, and their conversation gave way to a comfortable silence. Under the starlit sky, in the heart of the field of flowers,they drifted off to sleep

~~~

In his dream, he found himself in a house shrouded in darkness, its walls seemingly whispering secrets he couldn't comprehend. The air felt heavy, laden with an unsettling tension that set his nerves on edge. He was lying on a bed, his surroundings seemingly familiar yet filled with an uncanny dread.

As he stared into the abyss of the room, a tap-tap-tapping sound reached his ears. It was like the echoing of fingernails against glass, a chilling melody that sent shivers down his spine. He got up, his heart pounding, and made his way toward the window.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated the room in a silvery sheen. Outside, the world seemed to hold its breath, and Ed's eyes narrowed as he tried to pinpoint the source of the sound. He could see nothing, only the darkness that clung to the edges of his vision.

He leaned closer to the window, his breath fogging the glass. And then, just as his pulse began to steady, he heard a whisper of movement, a rustle of leaves that didn't belong to the wind. His heart quickened as he scanned the surroundings, his unease growing with each passing second.

Suddenly, he turned around, his eyes widening as a monstrous form lunged from the shadows. Its grotesque features were contorted into a hideous grin, its eyes gleaming with a malevolent light. Ed's voice caught in his throat as a scream echoed in the confines of the dream.

The creature's gnarled hands reached out, its touch cold and clammy against Ed's skin. Fear clawed at his chest as he stumbled back, his heart racing as he tried to escape the clutches of this nightmare. The room seemed to twist and warp, the boundaries of reality and dream blending into a distorted nightmare.

And then, with a gasp, Ed jolted awake, his breath ragged, his heart pounding. As he tried to steady his racing heart, he couldn't shake the feeling that the dream had been all too real. He reached for his cheeks where the monster had struck and felt his heart stop.

There was a cut on his cheek.