My life was finally starting to gain some normalcy. At least less crazy, I had entered into a sort of routine. I would attend the academy, talking with Ash when I got the chance. After class I would have some time to myself, then I would start training with Ruther. The training was hard and often painful, but I could see results. We had mostly been doing defence against mental attacks, which I couldn’t be happier to learn.

My day to day had completely flipped in a few short days, and it was better than anything I could remember. In fact, my life was so good, I was bored. This had never happened to me before, at least not in a very long time. On the streets, you always had something to do, or your mind was occupied with something else. But now, I had free time and nothing to do with it. I couldn’t go out since I had no money, and I felt uncomfortable asking Ruther for some. While classes were interesting, and I had a lot of room to improve my magic, at a certain point I would just rather sit and stare at the wall then do any more cycling.

It was strange how fast I adapted to the new situation; it was almost like my past life was a hazy dream I was forgetting. But when I started and my first instinct was to run and hide, and every time I saw food lying in the trash or on the ground I would reach out to eat it, those moments reminded of the gut-wrenching hunger and fear I felt from a not so long past.

I was about to leave the school and try stomach another session of clearing my mana pathways, when Ash invited me to walk with her after school. I jumped at the chance to do something, though after I accepted my mind instantly went to the fact that she was female, and I would be walking alone with her. This wasn’t a date; she was dressed in her normal attire and so was I. Besides, we were friends, just going for a walk. My sweaty palms said otherwise.

I excused myself before we left the school and hid behind a corner. I took out the body spray. I hated myself for listening to Ruther’s abusive advice, but he had a point; I didn’t smell great.

I came back and Ash smiled at me. My eyes took her whole body in and I struggled to look away from her long legs. I smiled back without thinking, warmth flooded from my chest. She did look different though, something had changed but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It clicked a second later, her small scar on her forehead and under her eye and was gone. Taking a closer look at her body, she looked as if she never got cut in her entire life. That didn’t seem right, I had my own set of scars and knew they never healed. My train of thought was completely lost as I looked into her green eyes.

She started walking and I followed, we didn’t go anywhere, just walked. She acted a little off, but then again, she wasn’t exactly the most normal person. We talked about random things, not prying much into each other’s personal lives.

My awareness was always spread around me, a needed safety precaution for when you’re a scrawny kid on the streets. So I noticed that as we continued walking, fewer people walked streets along with us and everyone was more spread apart. The houses were of lower quality, with more beggars.

I started to get a little nervous, back in Ziehrith I knew the streets like the back of my hand, so running was always an option. But if we got attacked here, I would just have to hope for the best. Though, maybe we could take the attacker. I looked over at Ash, she could use those axes in combat class.

Ash suddenly stopped and completely faced me, and even I could tell she looked mad. I took a step back, suddenly nervous for another reason. My eyes roamed the surrounding, but she had stopped inside an alley with no one around us. I started cycling mana just in case, old instincts taking over.

“Are you apprenticed to the mage who fought the prince in a duel!?” My hackles raised at her tone and my hand started creeping towards my knife. Was she going to try and kill me and bring my head back for a bounty? For some reason, that idea hurt. My hand hesitated for a second at the hilt of my knife, but I left it there, not unsheathing my weapon.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked. Ash’s face showed some emotion I couldn’t decipher, then it turned to back anger. I almost drew my knife, but I kept steady. ‘

“Why didn’t you tell me you were apprenticed to a master mage! I specifically remembered mentioning his apprentice.” I slightly relaxed as she didn’t look like she would attack me, but why was she so angry? Why did she care so much if I told her or not? For some reason, a warm fluttering spread in my chest.

“Well, he did humiliate Hisoph, so I was scared that if people knew I was Ruther’s apprentice people would target me. Sorry I didn’t tell you, but I don’t recommend seeking him out, he does know a lot of magic, but he is a little … weird and chaotic, to put it mildly.”

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Her eyes darted to her pocket for a second, before she looked back at me with less fire in her eyes. “I guess that makes sense.” Her anger did a complete one-eighty as she clapped her hands and smiled. “So, what’s he like? Did he actually stop Frost Field from interfering in the duel? Did he force the prince to run through the streets naked? How strong is he? …” I didn’t get a chance to say anything as Ash blurted a heap of questions while leaning in, her eyes glowing.

I managed to get a word in when she took a breath. “One at a time. His name is Ruther, and he … well, he is hard to describe. He’s the most powerful mage I’ve ever seen, he teleports everywhere like it’s nothing, he appears to be a master in multiple fields of magic. But, he is a bit of a creep, and maybe a little pervy.” Ash nodded at that.

“As for the duel with the Prince, well, he may have gone a bit overboard,” I said while rubbing the back of my head. I opened my mouth to continue describing him when something out of the corner of my eye moved. A man came hurtling out of the dark wielding a knife, swinging. I jumped back, dodging most of the blade, but the tip searing a red line across my stomach.

My hands reached back to my sheaf and pulled my knife out. The man attacking me was wearing ragged clothes and looked emaciated. I didn't get any more time to examine him as he rushed at me.

I took in my surroundings, heart beating wildly in my chest. The only exit was behind me and the attacker. I shoved my mana into my legs and jumped back again, dodging him.

When he came at me next I was ready, with my knife held in front of me. Just as I was about to try and Dodge out the way and counter-attack, a fist hit the side of his head dropping him to the ground.

I stood there staring at the drowned man with sweaty palms before walking up to see ash standing above him with her hands on her hips. She grabbed my hand and pulled me back onto the open streets. I stumbled after her, knife still in my hand.

She walked down a few streets until we came to the back of a rundown inn. She proceeded to climb up the wall and enter through a window. I looked up at her puzzled, as she leaned out of her window and gave the come here motion. Shrugging, I followed her up. I entered the second-story window easily, as there were a lot of handholds and I had lots of experience climbing in cities. The room was shabby, with the wood coming apart and the only chair standing by a splinter. But, it was a roof over your head. I made a pointed note of not looking at the bed.

Ash sat down on her bed and I followed suit, by sitting on the rickety-looking chair. “This is my room if you couldn’t tell.” She gave me a weak smile. “Don’t speak too loudly, the walls are thin, and I’m guessing you don’t want any more attention than you already have.” I nodded enthusiastically at that. All the moisture in my mouth disappeared at the mention of her room. Getting attacked by a crazed man on the streets I could handle, but being in a room, alone, with a girl was too much. I had the urge to jump out the window and run, but that would just be weird. That idea put the image of talking to Ash after I did something stupid. The room suddenly seemed to be a lot hotter.

“It’s not the coziest place, but you won’t freeze in winter.” Ash looked down and fidgeted with her hands. \

“I’ve slept in worse.” I tried to give her my best reassuring smile, I’m not sure how good it was, but Ash returned it nonetheless.

“So, the prince.” She leaned in, with her familiar spark returning. “What exactly happened there?” I let out a nervous chuckle.

It was a long and awkward talk, but I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I told her everything I knew about Ruther, only excluding the part of him being Daisy and some more, unpleasant stories about me. Yea, I did not want her to know why and how I met him.

. . .

I came back to my inn with a smile so bright it almost hurt, scratch that, it did hurt. I didn’t care. I literally couldn’t get it off my face. I entered my room and found Ruther sitting on my bed. That did nothing to dampen my mood.

“Why are you so happy, did someone get laid?” My face instantly reddened, I tried to refute him but only a stuttering mess of words came out.

“You actually did! Congrats man, I didn’t think this would happen so soon. Truthfully, I thought you would stay a virgin till 40, but good on you for proving me wrong. It looks like even an old man can still be surprised.”

I finally managed to get my stuttering, under control. “We did not ha-have sse-ex. We just talked, that's it.” Ruther nodded seriously, but his lips were slightly turned up, and he gave me a wink.

“Of course, you definitely, 100%, did not have sex. But, if you theoretically slept with a, let’s be honest, truly desperate and lonely girl, then you better use protection. A bunch of minnie you’s walking around.” Ruther shuddered. “Do you know the anti-pregnancy spell?”

My mouth hung open, I should have known this was coming. “Actually, you don’t have to answer, I know it can be embarrassing for young men to talk about this kind of stuff, so just in case you don’t know and are too embarrassed to admit it, I will teach everything from the very beginning. The birds and bee’s, if you will.” My protests fell on deaf ears, as I was subjected to a lecture I would rather have never heard. It still did nothing to dampen my good mood though.