Fire burned all around us as I pushed my mana to its limits. The runic script flowed out in front of me, glowing with the power of my magic. Another fiery blast came our way just as I finished writing the runes. A large shield came into being, forcing the fire in a cone around us. With the shield up, I turned my attention to my companions. 

Tilah, our fire mage, was sickly pale from having diverted most of the initial blast. Dillan was on the ground, his shoulder bleeding from an arrow that had pierced his armor. Leon was doing his best to heal him, knowing that the enemy would rush us as soon as the flame blasts stopped. Dillan was a fine guardian, but even he didn’t keep his defences up at all times. It was a godsend that Tilah had noticed the attack before it hit. 

Sariah, our final member, had her eyes closed, using her gift to scout the area. She held up seven fingers, signaling how many opponents were in the woods surrounding us. 

We’d received reports of a dragon spotted in the area, and the local Hunter’s branch had sent us to investigate. From the arrow in Dillan’s shoulder, and the fact that Sariah had detected others, it’s clear that the Dragon wasn’t acting alone. The creature had a rider, and I’d caught glimpses of other humanoids in the trees. Likely, a draconic tribe had decided to cross the border, using some ancient blood feud as an excuse to plunder and kill.

We weren’t prepared for this. Even fighting the dragon by itself was a last resort, we’d hoped to simply strike a deal of some kind with it. A whole tribe of warriors were beyond our estimation.

Another blast hit my barrier, weakening it.

“How long until Dillan is up?” I ask Leon as the wound slowly closes before my eyes, “Tilah, I know that you’ve already used a lot of mana, but bring these fires down, we need to be able to see.”

Tilah nods, and the fires that are burning the forest around us start to go down.

“Three minutes.” Leon says, his attention focused on Dillan.

As the smoke clears, a large shape shows in front of us, it’s clear eyes staring down at us from a serpentine head. It’s two wings stay slightly open to balance itself as it sits on its haunches.

I do my best to keep my expression neutral at the sight of the majestic creature, but a small shiver of fear makes its way down my spine.

The dragon shows its teeth in a large smile, as the rest of the draconic tribe shows itself. 

A deep guttural voice rumbles from the dragon, “Your people’s deaths will be used as payment for the death of my child. My carnage will be a tale used to scare generations.”

I frown at his words, recognizing the tint of madness in them. Mana is dragged to the dragon as he readies himself to cast a spell. 

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I take a deep breath to steady myself as mana pours from my body, creating a long line of runic script in the air around my party. Pulling out my dagger, I cut my arm. Blood flows from the wound, joining with the pure mana. 

“I do not know how your child died, Ancient One.” I start, my brain going foggy as my blood flows from my arm and through the runic script I am creating. “I apologize if my brethren have caused your family harm” The runic script forms a pattern in front of me, a pentagram as large as the dragon itself.

Minor spells are cast at me as the shield I created breaks. Dillan stands in front of me, his shield expanding to protect us as blood trickles from his still open wound. 

“I can not allow you to kill more children simply because of the death of your own.” I say to the creature, my words beginning to slur

The dragon’s eyes study me for a moment, as time seems to slow down. My head starts to spin as I stare into the large predatory eyes of the dragon. With a huff, the dragon casts his spell at the same time that my runic script finishes writing itself. 

A pillar of darkness erupts from the pentagram in front of me, a pillar of blue fire coming from the dragon at the same time. 

My eyes close as the energies clash, the world disappearing from my sight.

***

A week later, I stare up at the ceiling of the medical room, mentally and physically exhausted. 

Dillan had died from his wounds. Tilah had tried to help stop the power of the dragon’s last attack and now suffers from an extreme form of mana exhaustion which could take years to heal. 

Leon is heartbroken over Dillan’s death, and I suspect that their relationship went deeper than I’d realized.

The only member of our party who had come out unscathed, aside from a nasty cut she’d gotten from killing the only surviving draconic warrior, was Sariah. 

Sariah watches me from the corner of her eye as she pours water from a pitcher into a cup at my bedside. 

We’re both quiet as she sets the pitcher down and hands me the cup. Sariah stares at me patiently, waiting for me to break the silence. 

“I’m leaving the Hunters, Sariah.” I say, after a few sips.

“What are you going to do now?” She asks calmly, having expected the news.

I pause, considering her question, “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher.” I say, studying the cup of water, “As a child, I would teach the younger children everything I knew. Did you know that there’s a whole generation of street-rats on the east side of Dentral that know how to read because of me? I enjoy helping people learn new things, and I think it’s something I’m good at.” 

“Isn’t teaching something you do when you’re an old man with a grey beard?” Sariah asks, teasing me with her smile.

I growl at her affectionately, something I’d picked up from the beastman that took me in. “Tell me one person who knows more about enchanting or runic magic than me.”

Sariah puts on a thinking face, her hand rubbing her chin thoughtfully, “I think I heard of an elven mage far to the east....”

“Don’t even get me started on that charlatan,” I say, frustration welling up in me. 

Sariah smiles, happy to have brought me into a better mood, “I can get you a job at the Academy. Easy as pie.”

“I don’t want them knowing who I am, Sariah.” I say, exhaustion entering my voice, “I want to retire from my life as a Hunter altogether.” 

“Not as easy as pie, but still doable.” Sariah leans forward, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “I owe you my life many times over.”

“You don’t owe me anything, and thank you.”