Chapter 4

As Cordelia continued to rummage through the remnants of the house, she stumbled upon something. In Fernicuse’s bedroom, there was a small wooden box that seemed to emanate a small glow whenever she was getting nearer.

“What is this here?” she asked herself, the curiosity winning over the pain that settled in her heart over the state of her home.

She lifted the box, and it shone brighter in her hands as if it was recognising her. Cordelia felt a familiar warmth take over her and a strong smell of orchids took over the smell of burned wood.

Fernicus, in her memory, was always spotted with an orchid sticking out of the breast pocket of his cherished robe.

Cordelia closed her eyes and allowed all the wonderful memories where she and Fernicus were happy and together to take over her.

A break of a twig and a whine of Kropka pulled her out of the memories. She crouched and looked to where the sound had come from. Coming in from the woods was a man.

Silently hiding behind the half fallen wall, she held the small wooden box and watched him coming.

Standing tall, he had blonde hair cut short to cover up the tops of his ears. He was standing tall judging the place, and Cordelia did not like that. He looked around, seeing Kropka and walking towards her. The horse allowed for a pat, but was suspicious.

“Where is your owner?” He inquired, the horse now covered in green patches. Kropka whined at him and returned to eating the grass. The stranger looked around the place and made his way towards the remnants of the home.

Cordelia stood up from her position and looked the stranger right in the eye. ‘’Who are you and what are you doing here?“ He smiled widely and took a step closer. Hiding the small box behind her back, Cordelia eyed him with suspicion.

‘’Hello there, I am looking for Fernicus. Is he around?’’ He asked and looked around the ruins of the house. ‘’No, he is not around, and how do you know him, anyway?’’ The venom was dripping from her lips as she stood her ground, her faded blue hair moving with the wind.

“I don’t remember him mentioning you.” He just looked at her. ‘’ I know his friend Skindik that lives in the Quinstin village in the Vamp Kingdom. Skindik used to teach me some basics of magic.’’ He knew magic? Cordelia thought to herself, as he didn’t seem to emanate any power and just looked like a soldier. His broad muscles, sword strapped to his side. If Cordelia was to guess, he looked like a royal guard of the Zurea Kingdom.

That was impossible as no one from that part of the world had found the Stompton village. Better no creature could ever find this place.

‘’How did you get here?’’ She asked, still standing strong in her place. The intruder watched her for a few seconds and then asked, “What happened here?”

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“I ask questions here?” Cordelia declared, “What are you doing here and how did you find me?” Her patience was growing thin. This man was annoying her. She didn’t have time to be standing and chatting about nothing. She had a mission.

“About a week ago Skindik he got kidnapped from his home.’’ Cordelia looked at him with a shock in her face. Another mage got kidnapped. This isn’t good. ‘’How did you know how to find us? I know for a fact that Fernicus doesn’t share our location with anyone?’’

‘’You must be Cordelia, I heard about you. I must say you look prettier in person.’’ Cordelia’s face became red. “Skindik has told me about his friends. We were very close. The moment he was kidnapped, I realized I had to locate his friends to ensure their safety. I found some notes of Skindik’s that told me your address, so here I am.’’ He finished telling the story and smiled stupidly at her.

This guy did not impress her; he was carrying himself all high and mighty and not like an apprentice of a mage. Besides, Fernicus and Skindik were never very close friends. Cordelia knows that he knows more than what he is telling.

“Fernicus got kidnapped as well,” she informed him. It happened during the night,’’ she told him. The stranger nodded as if he already knew that. ‘’Figured that much from the burned down house, cute house, by the way. Very forest vibe.’’ He looked around at the ruins and then back at her again. “Where were you when Fernicus got kidnapped?”

“None of your business!” She declared. The small box still resting in her hand behind her back was growing heavy. She had to get rid of him fast. Whatever was in the box must have been important, as it had some powerful magic woven into it.

‘’What do you want?’’ Cordelia asked one more time, with ice in her eyes. She didn’t like this outsider at all. He was giving her a weird vibe. She just didn’t know what it was. Kropka whined in that moment and Cordelia came to her to calm the animal down. Hiding the small wooden box in the saddlebag, she took out an apple from it.

‘’I already told you why I am here. I am looking for the rest of the mages to make sure they are alright. And from the looks of things, it’s a good thing I came. Another mage gone missing. We should team up and find the rest of the gang before all of them disappear.’’ he said and came closer to Cordelia.

She was stroking Kropka’s forehead to calm the horse and herself down from everything that has happened today. The horse moved its head up and nipped at Cordelia’s face.

At the sound of his footsteps approaching, she turned around, a dagger in her hand pointed right at his face. ‘’And why should we team up? I can find the rest of the mages on my own.’’ She knew she could. She once visited one of them with Fernicus many years ago. Besides, she was a skilled tracker and a hunter.

‘’Because together it would be more efficient. From what I can see, you are a demon hunter, so I presume you have noticed an increase in the numbers of the demons that are roaming the lands.’’

It was true what the outsider had said. There have been more of them around. Recently, she had more jobs, and some people were panicking about them. Even Lowlies the death eating shadows have got a little more aggressive than usual.

‘’I don’t even know your name and you want me to come with you around the land to find the rest of the mages?’’ She asked as she realized that.

‘’My apologies, my name is Zeak. Knowing my name, are you prepared to come with me? He asked and leaned over the dagger and gave her a better point of entry for the knife.

“You can trust me. Together, we will find out what happened and avenge them or something.” He smiled yet again at her, showing her his brilliant white smile.

Before replying, Cordelia witnessed Kropka whining loudly and directing her gaze towards the area where the trees and bushes appeared to be shifting under the weight of something approaching.

“In light of the fact that we have company, we’ll need to finish this chat later.”