Elies winced and rose to his feet, the snow caking his skin melting away when he cast his spell.

Repellum, he breathed. His throat had grown raw with how many times he’d uttered that foul word.

Flames slithered down his wrists, and he held out his hands, his heart racing when Ilta readied her weapon.

“Steel yourself,” Yarrow reminded him.

Elies rolled his eyes. How many times was he going to say that? He tensed his muscles, veins bulging from his arms, face, and neck. “Please work,” he said aloud.

Ilta fired away, a ball of yarn bursting from her barrel and into Elies’ chest. His flames dispersed, and he fell to his knees, gasping for air.

“Get up, Elies,” Yarrow said. “Time is of the utmost essence.”

Elies gasped for breath, sweat trickling down his face and arms, bruises checkering his freckled skin. He hardly smacked his lips before Yarrow swung his staff, the young man casting his spell in turn. The butt of the stick smashed into his chin, sparks spewing into the air when he staggered onto the snow.

“Not satisfactory.” Yarrow shook his head. “Again.”

Elies squeezed his eyes shut. His head throbbed, and blurred flecks obscured his vision. Rising from the snow, he raised his arms only for another ball of yarn to send him to the ground again.

Yarrow tapped his staff. “Do you want to stop your brother or not?”

Elies lifted his head, planting his hands and knees on the ground. “What kind of dumbass question is that?” He snapped.

“Calm yourself, then,” Yarrow said.

“I’m bloody calm for a man on his last leg!”

Yarrow shook his head. “You’ve flinched with each of the girl’s shots, not to mention mine. While faint, even the slightest movements will dispel the hex. Fight fire with fire. Not fear.”

“That won’t work for him.”

The trio turned and eyed the rustling brush, Yarrow’s old hag himself appearing from the tree line. She turned up her nose and flipped her loose, gray curls over her shoulder, making Elies glower. Undoubtedly, she and Ilta would’ve got along well if she wasn’t so gross to look at.

“You’ve done your part, my dear,” Yarrow said.

“Save it!” Ashencrane’s scowl deepened. “I’ve been following you around long enough to see you still need my help.”

“Who’s the wizard here?” Yarrow asked.

“Being a wizard doesn’t make you a scholar,” Ashencrane huffed. “I almost forgot you were a terrible teacher.” She eyed Ilta. “The same goes for the demoness over there.”

A smile tugged at Ilta’s lips, making Elies cock an eyebrow. He turned away from her and to Hazelmere’s grandmother, making sure he didn’t look into her dark eyes.

“Does this mean you’re here to save me?” Elies asked. He clapped his hands together. “Please tell me you know how to speed this up!”

“Stupid question,” Ashencrane said. She looked Yarrow up and down. “You’re far too soft. If anything, this boy isn’t afraid enough—how can you expect him to learn to handle himself if he isn’t afraid to die?”

Elies held up his hands. “Wait, there are many ways!” He protested.

Yarrow nodded in agreement. “I won’t have his blood on my hands.”

“I’m aware of that,” Ashencrane said. She stepped aside, giving way to the bulbous beast behind her. “That’s why it will stain mine instead.”

Yarrow choked the life from his staff while Elies took a step back, craning his neck as the round-faced creature stomped closer. Its striped fur was checkered black with char marks while froth poured from its gaping mouth. Its pupils shrank as it turned its head, its eyes meeting their own before it stood on its hind legs and bellowed.

Elies winced, his legs turning to jelly. An Ursa, of all things? What did Yarrow see in this goblin of a woman?

“It’s been following me for quite some time,” Ashencrane explained. “Some idiot riled it up.” Her eyes met Elies’ again. “All magics have one thing in common—a catalyst. Do you know what it is?”

Elies gulped and backed away, his heels at the riverbank’s edge. “Hell if I do! Just make it piss off already!”

The old woman didn’t budge. She smirked. “Adrenaline.”

Elies yelped and looked away when the Ursa dug its claws into the snow and dashed his way, squeezing his eyes shut and holding up his hands.

Yarrow cut his eye at Ashencrane while Ilta reached into her robe, the former of the two barking at the madwoman. “Fool girl!”

Repellum!

Elies gasped and opened an eye and then the other. He felt nothing; no searing pain of teeth in his skin, no blood trickling down his face, nor the crushing weight of the Ursa’s massive body.

Turning his head, he murmured at the sight of flames stretching across his hands, forming a smoldering wall the size of a doormat. One that didn’t break or turn to smoke when the beast sank its fangs into it.

A ghost of a smile formed on Ashencrane’s shriveled lips. “The fear of death,” she said. “Makes anything possible.”

Elies thrust his hands into the Ursa’s face when it snapped its jaws again, smoke coiling from its short snout. Jumping to his feet when it stumbled several hairs, the young man skittered in front of Ilta, standing protectively before her while Yarrow stood beside him.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ilta huffed and pushed Elies to the side. “Move!” She fired her hand cannon, the smoldering metal shards dotting a patch of the beast’s fur with bloodied holes.

Yarrow glowered and twirled his staff. Hydris Hydririere, he uttered. A tendril of water slithered from between his fingers, seizing the Ursa’s thick leg when it charged him next.

With a snarl, the Ursa crashed to the ground and lifted itself, shaking its head. It bellowed and tore at the watery tendril, blood spewing from its tangled limb.

Hydririere Hydrixius, Yarrow breathed.

The river churned, bursting with more watery ropes that snaked around the Ursa’s torso and neck.

The old adventure pulled his staff towards himself, the tendrils hoisting the beast into the air. With a splash, they pulled it beneath the river’s surface, the water bubbling before it finally stilled.

With a sigh, Yarrow tapped his staff, and the Ursa rose to the surface, it’s limp remains floating down the stream and out of sight.

Elies’ eyes flashed, and he pointed a finger at Ashencrane, Yarrow cutting him off before he could spew the first insult.

“Fool!” Yarrow growled. He dropped his staff and seized the front of her black robes. “You could have killed them both!”

Ashencrane pried his hand away. “But did I?” She stepped towards Elies and swung at him, the boy holding out his hands.

Elies’ frown deepened. “Repellum!” He spat, wrapping his fingers around the old hag’s cane. It glowed and turned to ash, falling to the ground.

A smile lifted Ashencrane’s face, and she patted Elies’ shoulders, making him shudder. “He’s blossomed, I’d say!”

Elies pulled away. Such a sweet-sounding voice was unsettling coming from her. He turned to Yarrow. “P-please tell me I’m ready!”

“Hmm.” Yarrow’s lips twitched with a frown as he twirled his staff. “Elies...show me that again!”

Hydririere, Yarrow uttered. He swung his staff, and water arched from it.

Elies held up his hands. Repellum!

The young man sucked in a pained breath as steam stung his face. He grunted and pushed his hands forward, a volley of droplets launching the old adventurer’s way.

Scrapes formed across Yarrow’s face as the droplets nicked his skin, but he didn’t wince or frown. Tapping his staff, he gave a curt nod. “I’d be a fool to say you’ve mastered it, but I’d say you’re ready for Haze.”

Elies breathed a relieved sigh and fell to his knees. “Oh, thank the gods!”

***********

Ayko hacked at the shell of ice encasing his limbs, his upper half drenched in sweat. “Just melt, damn it!”

Frost plumed into the air, obscuring his view of Hazelmere, who sat across from him, the fire separating the two.

The half-elf frowned. “Stop it, already!”

“I…can’t…” Ayko said between breaths. His swings grew slower and weaker, and the young man finally dropped his sword. “I can’t stay here and rot!” He tugged at his frozen legs. “I have to catch him. I have to—”

“It’s not always about you,” Hazelmere said. “If a brooding giant caged me in a block of ice, would you have left me?”

Ayko clawed at his legs. “I would have come back for you.”

“You would have got lost and froze to death yourself!” Hazelmere snapped. “Just be still and listen to me!”

Ayko ceased his struggle and let his arms fall to his sides. The lump had returned to his throat. “Fine,” he said, his voice calm. “We’ll do it your way.”

Hazelmere wrapped her arms around her legs, the flushing of her cheeks shrouded by the fire’s glow. “I snapped at you because I care about you,” she finally huffed.

Ayko nodded. “I know.” He stared into the fire, the wind howling, before finally looking up at her. “Scold me more.”

Hazelmere’s eyes widened. “W-what?”

The sound of clapping hands filled the air, the pair following the sound to a branch hanging above their heads. Perched on it was a silver-haired woman crossing her legs. Her cat-like eyes burned brighter than Hazelmere’s fire, as did her tear-shaped ocarina hanging from her neck.

The woman beamed and waved at the two like old friends before she hopped down and landed on the toe of one of her dancer’s shoes. “I do adore seeing kids in love!”

Ayko and Hazelmere traded glances, his face heating up while hers reddened. “W–we’re not—!”

“Oh, shut up,” The strange woman snorted. She plopped before the fire and sat criss-crossed and adjacent to the two. Placing her hands on her knees, she leaned forward. “Sooo…” she began. “Spill it to me.”

“Spill what?” Ayko asked.

The woman puffed her cheeks. “How you lovebirds met!” She eyed Ayko, placing a finger on her chin. “If teenage angst was a person,” she said before turning to Hazelmere. “And Elven Rapunzel…” She clicked her tongue. “That hardly seems fair.”

Ayko’s brow twitched. “You don’t get to show up out of nowhere and ask us anything.”

“Ugh!” The stranger groaned and threw her head back. “You’re far less likable than the other one. Uglier, too.”

“What?” Ayko’s eyes flashed, and he tried to lift himself off the ground.

The stranger dismissively waved her hand. “So easy to tease.” She turned to Hazelmere, the half-elf fidgeting beneath her gaze. “You, on the other hand, are exactly my type.” Her smile widened, and she leaned further in, her face nearly touching the flames. “I’m guessing you're the brains.”

Hazelmere leaned away. “I—”

“Thought so!” The stranger said, cutting her off. “I’ll ask you this, then. Why didn’t you save him?”

Hazelmere followed her gaze, her eyes landing on Ayko, who gave the stranger a queer look.

“You don’t have to play dumb with me,” the stranger said. “I know you’re magical. You’re particularly good at playing with wind.”

Ayko narrowed his eyes. “The hell are you on about? Haze can’t spell cast!”

“Shh!” The stranger put a finger to her lips.

Hazelmere looked down. “I’m not good at it,” she muttered. She looked up, locking eyes with Ayko. “Ayko, I’m sorry, but I can’t control it!”

Ayko cocked an eyebrow at her. Control what?

The stranger eyed Hazelmere expectantly. “Well?”

Hazelmere sighed and lifted her hands. Zephyriere, she muttered.

An arc of wind shot from her palms, resembling Arzen’s; it lacked the same cyan hue, however, and was instead a translucent white. It flew into the air and sharply turned to the right, tearing into a nearby tree before nicking the ice covering Ayko’s legs.

“I could have killed him!” Hazelmere yelped.

The stranger giggled. “Adorable!” She took a heap of snow into her hands, rolling it into a ball before tossing it her way.

Hazelmere flinched, gasping when it fell into her lap. In the snowball’s place was a stick of wood, stained ebony and glowing faintly.

Ayko gasped, immediately remembering when Chestplate did the same.

“That should ease things,” the stranger said, jumping up. Her smile evaporated. “But that’s your only freebie.” With a wave, she whirled around and stepped into the brush, the rustling of leaves fading into the distance.

“Weird as shit,” Ayko said. Hazelmere nodded in agreement.

The young man’s eyes swelled as he looked down at his legs. The ice had chipped away on his left leg where Hazelmere’s spell had landed. “Haze!” He gasped. The half-elf glanced down, her eyes swelling as his had.

Ayko’s eyes glittered. “Cast that spell again!”