“Well that was disappointing,” Azura said turning back to the crimson haired mage. She had saw her getting chased. The internal debate to help or not was quite fierce. In the end she thought having a mage in her debt might come in handy… If she was really honest with herself the idea of watching someone, even a mage, get eaten didn’t set well with her. Besides, it was a good change to test out her new powers.

Pfft. What a letdown that was. With her ki steps the thing couldn’t even nudge her. Then with a ki infused punch the bug simply exploded. Well, that part was pretty satisfying. However, she still didn’t have a bench mark for her abilities. Sighing she knelt down next the mage.

Should she leave her?

It would be cruel after saving her, but if she let her go… her secret could be out.

“Hmm” Azura hummed. The mage didn’t appear to be powerful otherwise she wouldn’t have fled.

After another minute Azura decided to see where this went. Perhaps she could intimidate the mage. Torren said she was really good at that. Of course he only said that after she thwacked him on head a few times.

The only problem was… the mage was still out. Fetching a stick Azura began prodding her. It wasn’t until the stick drove up the mage’s nose that she thrashed about, snorting loudly.

Brianna flailed wildly before scrambling away. She was about to bolt when a stick plopped on her head. It must have fallen from the tree above. The jolt broke her blind panic. Brianna’s rapid gasps calmed as she tried to recall what had happened. A loud cough drew her focus.

A kin. She vaguely recalled something with a kin. Her mind was still foggy as she stood up.

“What happened?” Brianna asked her voice slightly slurred. She glanced around confused. Where was she?

The cat-kin didn’t answer. She just peered at her curiously as if waiting for something. What was she looking at? Did… did she like girls? Brianna felt herself blush.

“I’m Brianna of house Runedane,” she stumbled. “Who are you?”

“Azura.”

“What happened?” Brianna asked again.

“You don’t recall?”

For a moment the confusion remained. That lasted until Azura pointed at a nearly splattered mana beast corpse. It all came rushing back.

She was in the mana forest. This would have been obvious if she was thinking clear.

She had been chased and nearly caught by a mana beast. Then a kin saved her. A kin in the mana forest. A kin mage. What else could it be? A surge of terror raced through her.

“I should get going,” Brianna said her voice trembling. She had to get out of here. She might be in more danger now than ever.

She turned to go when Azura grabbed her wrist. Her grip wasn’t painful but it was immovable.

“Well we have a problem Brianna. Can you guess what that is?”

“Unhand me,” Brianna said trying not to panic. She pulled hard. The hand didn’t move in the slightest.

“I see you are beginning to understand,” Azura said. “So I saved you mage. However in doing so I exposed my secret. What should I do with you?” The kin tapped her chin as if in contemplation.

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“I won’t tell anyone…”

“I’m to trust the word of a mage? I think not Brianna Runedane.” The intensity of her name sent a chill down her spine. Panic returned as her heart beat wildly.

What was she going to do? Every exaggerated tales of violent kin flashed through her mind. She had never believed such tales before. But right now, with this powerful kin staring her, she did. Perhaps that is why she lashed out.

“FORCEBOLT!” Brianna cried launching the spell at Azura’s chest with her free hand.

The spell landed. The kin should have been torn apart. Or at least thrown backwards.

None of those things happened.

In fact nothing happened besides the kin’s tunic tearing from the force. What was left couldn’t even be called rags. Brianna only got a quick look as the kin’s exposed chest when a crushing pain enveloped her wrist. Bones broke, then broke again as they compressed against each other. Brianna screamed.

“Whoops,” Azura said.

Azura didn’t mean to break the young woman’s wrist. She had been annoyed. True she had intentionally antagonized the woman, but she didn’t think she would actually attack. Fortunately her ki reinforced her body to an absurd degree. She hadn’t even taken a scratch. The same couldn’t be said for her clothes. Perhaps she could extended her flow of ki just outside her body, like an aura. Then she could reinforce that. She would have to experiment. Now she had to deal with the weeping girl. Azura let go and instantly the Brianna fell to her knees cradling her wrist.

“That is two you owe me Brianna,” Azura said her tone menacing. “So for the first one, give me your under shirt.”

Brianna’s tear streaked face looked up at her. “W…What?”

“Your shirt under your robes. Give it to me,” Azura clarified. “You ruined mine.”

“Okay,” Brianna sobbed. “Just don’t hurt me.” She struggled to undo her robes and got out of her shirt whimpering as her wrist move. Azura tried to suppress the feeling of guilt in her. She was being mean but she couldn’t show any hesitation. Perhaps she shouldn’t have saved her. But… wouldn’t she be just as bad as the mages?

“You attacked me,” Azura reminded Brianna and herself as she took the offered shirt. Azura slipped it on. It was finely made and was easily the nicest shirt she ever had.

“So now about my secret…”

“I WONT’ TELL!”

“I wish I could believe you, however I’m not that dumb. I will however take an oath on your mana.”

Brianna stared her eyes wide. The request was so absurd that she even forgot her shattered wrist.

A mana contract, as it is called, was an oath sworn on ones mana pool. If the oath was ever broken the mage’s mana pool would shrivel and close. The mage would be a mage no longer.

“I can’t…”

“You can,” Azura countered. “You will swear to never tell anyone about what happened here today. Not by word of mouth or by any other means. You will also swear to owe me a favor to be done to the best of your ability when I come to collect.”

“If I don’t…”

“Use your imagination,” Azura said with a smile as she hid an internal grimace. Gods below, she sounded like some story time villain. There was no way the mage was going to believe this.

Brianna swallowed. Azura could see the sweat beading on her face. Perhaps she was doing a better job than she thought…

“I Brianna Runedane hereby swear on my magic that I shall tell no one of today’s events, by any means that transpired with the individual known as Azura.”

“And…” Azura prompted.

“I… I also swear on my magic to owe one favor to Azura to be claimed at the time of her choosing.”

With the words spoken Brianna grimaced as the binding oath wrapped around her mana pool squeezing it as it locked into place. Her own magic and intent making it real.

“Good!” Azura said cheerfully. “Now let’s get out of here.”

The pair walked toward the exit in silence. Azura took it slow practicing with her ki on each step. Brianna was just as slow. Pain and exhaustion sapping her strength. When the pair left the mana forest Brianna collapsed in relief.

“I made it…”

“With a little help,” Azura chimed in. “Remember your oath.” Tired of dealing with the mage and wishing to dramatic. She waited till Brianna looked at her then deliberately stopped practicing her technique. Instead she moved as quickly as she could. Within a minute the smuggling entrance was insight. She stopped her rushed movements and returned to practicing as she entered the tunnel.

Brianna shielded her face as the kin moved. The burst of speed was so great that the backlash of the wind was similar to a tornado spell. Once the wind died down she looked back to see the kin far in the distance moving faster than she thought was possible.

Supreme haste???

What else could it be?

Brianna gaze dumb founded, momentarily forgetting the pain.

The kin must have been an Archmage at the very least. Perhaps more. How did a kin get so much power? By the gods of above, what had she gotten herself into?