Chapter 247 - Return To Ishgar {25} What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

"Master, can I truly be granted such a selfish request?" She had never belonged anywhere, and she had never had an easy day in her life, it was but a miracle that this little girl still had her life intact and that her mind was not gone.

"Of course. As your master, is it not my duty to grant you power? You don't need to be so apprehensive about this." He saw that she wasn't letting down her guard. "Briar, I know that you have had a tough life, and your guarded personality is understandable, but you don't have to think like that anymore. Changing such a thing about yourself takes time, so when times get rough, lean on me and let me help." When you have five hundred years worth of life experience, if nothing else, you gain a lot of patience. Amell was the ideal person to help break down these mental barriers. He had all the time in the world and amazing tolerance to this specific problem.

"Thank you!" Her voice was weak and quiet, and as she sat on the ground she was silently weeping away the sorrow of yesterday and welcoming the comfort of tomorrow. Amell smiled and confirmed their location through a quick glance around. "Get up! This is where we shall make camp tonight." They had arrived in a dimly lit clearing in this cursed forest. This was among the three or four places in this forest where the fog was quite weak, so the sun could penetrate the fog and shine some much-needed light on this land.

"I thought we were leaving the forest behind finally!" With the White wizard under raps, Amell received a decent look into the true personality of Touka. When after many days of travelling together, Touka revealed her personality to be nothing like the shy girl under control of the White wizard. Maybe more spirited than the young Mirajane Strauss.

"If you want to leave, you are more than welcome to!" Amell smiled, knowing she acted this tough to simply prove a point. Would he offer her freedom through his next set of words, he was confident she would choose this group instead.

"And where do you suppose I should go? I'm wanted on multiple continents."

"Now, what is this? A week ago you would not have given such lame excuses. Can it be that this group, this already friendly environment is starting to attract the great and scary White wizard?" Amell said and his words prompt a reaction from Touka. Her expression went stoic and the air got heavy and thick due to her entire aura being released at once. "Do not presume to know who I am!" She raised a finger against Briar. "No one stands in my way!" Before her white magic activated, Amell reached out and flicked her forehead, forcing the White wizard back to sleep again.

"We will have to work on your control. I promise if you stay with me, I will teach you how to control the White wizard." Amell said in comfort. Clearly Touka didn't quite believe him as she glanced up at him in doubt. "What would you even know about it? All you did was put it to sleep. The White wizard always comes back, no matter what!"

"What I know?" Amell's aura was released and his eyes started glowing red, much like Aang when entering the Avatar state. The wind picked up and started leaving small cuts on every surface around them. Pure evil was the feeling rising from within Amell. A dark red, visible energy stared appearing with its source being Amell himself. "I have something similar within myself, and as you can see, I am in full control." His voice represented the epitome of darkness, his aura alone forced Touka's breathing to slow down dramatically. On the other hand, Briar was staring at Amell while the gears in her head started to break apart, one by one.

"If I say I can help you control it, I mean I can and will help you control it." Amell's eyes stopped glowing and Vaatu's aura was retracted again. Peace returned to the area.

"I had no idea you had that evil inside of you." Touka was trying to regulate her breathing while contemplating her future. It was starting to look a little brighter, and it swayed her to think over her options once again.

"Evil comes in different shapes and sizes. What differentiates the evil inside of us is our ability to combat it," Amell placed a hand on Touka's head to help her calm down her raging mind. "An angry mind is a narrow mind. Anger can inspire great change in you but don't ever let it control you or become the sole driving force that's keeping you going."

"Okay, enough with the life lesson, old man!" She slapped his hand away, "Shouldn't you start teaching her magic now? Wasn't that the reason why we're stopping here in this depressing forest?" Her attempt to divert attention away from her worked beautifully as Briar's eyes lit up in excitement.

"Indeed, that is the reason." He turned to Briar, "Come with me, we will start with the basics." He took Briar and walked to the medium-sized empty plot of land inside this clearing. Touka was left standing with feelings of uncertainty dominating her mindscape. 'Maybe I have a future as well?' She was still apprehensive about trying to control the White wizard.

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