22 Throwing the gauntle

Part 1

Evlin was carrying Ashley on her back while sending healing magic towards her legs and executing a mad dash towards the directions Ashley was giving. She kept running for hours trying to get as far away as possible from the city and, more importantly, from Xadi.

Strong opponents were nothing new for Evlin. During her time helping adventures on quests she had faced many monsters that were much stronger than her. But during those times she would always have party members giving her aid or having some means to quickly escape from the dangerous situation.

This time was a little different. Her opponent wasn't only stronger than her, he was also more clever and experienced, as well as probably being very well informed about her skills and accomplishments. Not only that, she needed to fight him alone and had no means of escaping since he knew exactly where she lived and where she was going. Xadi was an enemy Evlin could not take lightly.

While considering how to deal with this new threat Ashley made a plead for Evlin to stop running for a little bit.

"Evlin! Please!! I need a break!!"

"Oh, sorry! Let's rest under that tree's shade."

She put Ashley down and the two paused their escape for a moment to catch their breaths.

"Sorry... I know you have been carrying me all the way here but i really need some rest..."

"It's ok, i also need a break... I wish i would have brought something to eat... I'm starting to get hungry..."

"I have some fruits on my bag... It's not much but it might ease the hunger..."

"Thanks!"

Ashley revealed some apples and bananas that she had managed to bring along and the two started to have a quick lunch.

"I still can't believe you managed to beat my brother in a fight..."

"Sorry to disappoint you but i don't think i would call that a fight... More like a successful escape attempt..."

"But you knocked him out, didn't you?"

"Most people when they get hit by my rock fist tend to spend the rest of the day unconscious... But that guy managed to stood up and scream like a mad dog just a few seconds later..."

"... Do you- Do you think you can beat him...?"

"No idea... My mind wasn't focused on the moment to be honest... But he probably was also not going all out... He just wanted to capture me... But if he tries to go for the kill..."

"... Oh gods..."

"Yeah... Seems like i just have the worst luck when it comes to attracting the worst kind of magicians..."

"I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be... Thanks to him i got my best lead so far..."

"Oh yeah, about that... What did happen while you were sleeping?"

"I was transported into this white space alongside a small kid. I think he was the living weapon guy with the appearance from when he first came here... He told me i might find a way home if i find his son and his friends."

"Oh! That's amazing!"

"yeah... It seems like one of his friends has the power of teleportation and can go back to any place she was before... If i can learn that i might be able to go back to my own world!"

"I see... And why do you need his son?"

"His son will help me boost my power in case I'm not strong enough to open a teleport powerful enough to go all the way to my world."

"Ah... Makes sense... Opening a portal between two worlds must be really hard..."

"I wonder... But right now, it's the best chance i have... But now we have to deal with that maniac as well... How did your brother passed the morality test to become a mage...?"

"He... Wasn't always like that... At first he wanted to become a mage to save his fiance that was dying of a rare disease... But he ended up failing the exams many times and her condition kept getting worse and worse... By the time he finally became a mage she was already too far gone to be saved..."

"Oh... I see..."

"After that, he changed into a completely different person... He decided to only use magic for his own benefit... He became one of the king's private mage mercenaries, carrying out all kinds of disgusting jobs... He was still my brother so i wanted to believe he could come back one day... But he just went too far this time..."

"How powerful is he by the way...? In case we stumble upon him again..."

"You saw him using thunder magic to attack and wind magic to fly but he also knows water magic as well."

"Thunder, wind and water?"

"Yeah... People started calling him the tempest magician..."

"Ugh... I hate that this name sounds kinda cool..."

"His favorite move is to fly above his opponents with wind, freeze them in one place so that they can't escape with water and strike with lightning."

"Yikes!! That sounds nasty... Glad he didn't use that on me..."

"I don't think he would... It seems like you are very valuable to him..."

"Really...?"

"Yeah... He was talking about how you were some kinda of genius for turning your staff into a crossbow and using it's mass to your advantage or whatever...."

"This? I just use it like this because it's kinda cool..."

"I knew it!!"

"I always wanted to be an archer but i have no skill with a bow and arrow... This just makes it easier... Plus it gives me one free hand."

"I see... What about these pieces in your arms and legs?"

"Oh, i use this to send out some magic that can boost my strength. It allows me to run faster and punch harder!"

"Oh! Cool! What about the necklace?"

"Oh this? Just decoration... Some extra piece of wood that couldn't go anywhere else... Sometimes i use it to reinforce other pieces of the armor that need more wood."

"Wow... I'm so jealous!! I wish i was a mage too!!"

"... I don't..."

"...? Why...?"

"This might sound weird coming from me but... I kinda hate magic..."

"Really...? But you use magic all the time..."

"Because i have to... Not because i want to..."

"But your magic saved many adventures during your quests from the guild... People love you! You are everyone's favorite magician!"

"... Am i...? I feel like it's more a case of me being the only magician people like..."

"...?"

"It's hard to explain but every magician i meet always turns out to be some kind of massive jerk... The guy who summoned me, the prince that tried to capture me, you blood-thirsty brother... They all act like just because they can perform magic they can just do whatever they want... It feels like magic kinda makes people think that the rules don't apply to them..."

"But... Aren't you different?"

"I'm not... I was using healing magic on Dalla against her will... I thought i was helping her, but i was actually keeping her locked in here against her will... She even had to ask me to let her die because i wouldn't stop messing with her body without her permission..."

"Oh... "

"It's not just the fact that magic lets you do things... It makes you think that you have the right to do these things... It breaks the laws of nature and messes with the way things should naturally be... Even that tracking spell we used a while ago... What if i was invading someone's privacy because of my selfish desire...? The guy was about to die and i forced him to talk to me before he could go..."

"Well... I think... Magic, like any tool, can be used for good and for bad, depending on the person who uses it..."

"That's the thing... I don't think we are mature enough to have this kind of power... At least I'm not... That's why i wanna go home..."

"Wait... There is no magic in your world...?"

"None at all... If people want to accomplish something they need to work for it..."

"A world without magic... Then how do the nobles in your world heal their wounds or fight demons and beasts?"

"We rely on technology to do most of the work..."

"Technology?"

"Yeah... Most of our problems are solved by machines that were created by our greatest geniuses..."

"But... What if you need to re-grow a lost limb or communicate with someone on another country?"

"Most people just try to learn to live without their limbs... And if they can't, sometimes they try to get a new one made with technology... As for communication, we kinda reached a point where reaching out for anyone is no longer a problem... Even kids now have the ability to talk to someone on the other side of the planet..."

"Ah... Please tell me more!!"

"How about i tell you on the way? I think i rested enough."

"Oh right! We need to reach the city before my brother!"

"Hop in!"

Evlin crouched making a signal for Ashley to jump on her back but Ashley was making a reluctant face.

"Is this really the only option we have...?"

"Sorry... I kinda developed a fear of highs so i never learned wind magic or anything like that..."

"I see... Guess it can't be helped..."

Ashley finally gave up and prepared herself to be carried like a backpack by Evlin again. After trying to make herself comfortable the two begun their journey again.

"By the way is it ok to abandon your job at the bar?"

"As long as my brother is there it's not safe for me to return to the city... Between losing my job or losing my life, i rather stick with you for now..."

"Ugh... Sorry about that... I'll ask the guild master to re-hire you after we are done with this..."

"Did you not just heard me? I can't go back as long as my brother is there... I can never return to the city again..."

"Oh... "

"Don't worry... I'll just find another job somewhere else... I'll be fine..."

"... Hey Ash..."

"What...?"

"You are a good friend..."

"Oh!! Thanks Evlin!! Why couldn't you have been my sister instead of that idiot?"

"... If it's ok with you i can be your sister for now..."

"... Really...?"

"Yeah... The truth is... You actually remind me of my sister from home..."

"Well... Once you return home tell your sister that she is really lucky!"

These words stabbed Evlin like a dagger. It was the same sentiment she received from Dalla who Evlin loved as a mother right before announcing that she could no longer be with her. Evlin started to worry that something might happen with Ashley after she returned to her world and she would be alone here with that crazy brother. Evlin then decided that before going home she would definitely find a way to stop Xadi from ever harming Ashley.

Part 2

The night had arrived and Evlin and Ashley decided to make another stop near a river to spend the night and rest. While sleeping Evlin dreamed that she was back at the white void space where she met Marceus. Sadly her young new friend wasn't here this time and instead she was face to face with Xadi.

"Ugh... What are you doing here...?"

"Tracking spell... Remember?"

Xadi raised his hand and revealed a piece of Evlin's shirt that he probably obtained during their clash in the middle of the red district.

"From now on... Every time you go to sleep, i will be here to keep you company!"

"Great... Because i didn't have enough garbage in my life to deal with, now i have to put up with this Freddy Cougar wannabe..."

"You don't seem scared of me."

"What are you gonna do... Stare at me to death...? Just go find something better to do..."

"Fat chance... I'm not done with you yet... I kept my word and let the entire kingdom know that the world's youngest expert-magician girl figured out a way to find the second living weapon. Besides having to worry about me, you now will have to worry about everyone you ever meet!"

"...!"

"Every person you talk to, every man, woman or child... Once they see you they will desperately try to capture you and force the information out of you! You will never be able to trust anyone ever again."

"!!"

"The only place you will be able safe will be by my side... Soon you will be begging me to protect you from the rest of the world... So why not be a good girl, put your tail between your legs, and crawl back to my side?"

"... Every single one of you... You are all the same... Every time..."

"Oh child... You have no idea how unique i am..."

"I do... Just another baby who got full of himself because he got an expensive toy... You think just because you have magic you are better than everyone else and can do whatever you want... You are no better than all the other stupid mages I've met so far..."

"Well, aren't you one of those stupid mages yourself?"

"I am... And i hate every second of it... I hate the fact that i need to rely on magic to survive in here... I can't wait to get home and never have to deal with this again..."

"You think i will just let you go home that easily? You belong to me now. You just don't know it yet! Once i find you, i will never let you go again! Your modeling magic, your fame, your connection with the living weapon... Soon all of that will be mine! I will put it all to better use than you ever could!"

"... I would like to see you try... I can't wait to see your face when i grab all your stupid goals and bury them on the ground alongside your ugly head..."

"And i can't wait to see you obeying every word i say like a pretty little pet on a leash! I think the first thing i will do is make you bark like a dog, just for fun!"

The two mages stared at each other with determination on their eyes. Neither had any intention to let the other win this fight that they knew was bound to happen at some point. Eventually Xadi started to fade and waved his hand to Evlin before disappearing completely.

"See you soon kid!"

Evlin was left alone and filled with anger and worry. She definitely could not let that person win. Of all the fights she was ever involved with, this one in particular she could not lose no matter what. But a deep fear started to rise inside of her. The fear that the one she was fighting against might just be better than her. She didn't fight Xadi for long or with all her power, but he was still much stronger than any past challenge. To the point where she was forced to run for her life while he was down after getting a lucky hit.

She knew that the next time they face off he would be sharper, faster and much more vicious. While thinking about that after leaving the white space and waking up she muttered a few words to herself.

"I need more power..."