The Legend of the Mages (Closed/Starting)

Spoiler

My apologies for the delay - as I believe you understand, I've been somewhat more busy with school than I thought I would've been.

~Mist, San Aradia, breaking dawn

Tall woods, thin and pale, under the sky of dark blue, and land of silver dust under my feet. It is different every time, but leaves made of glass and silent melody of the forest never change. And it shapes the way I ask, mist and shadows twirling around me and hugging my mind. And I can't talk but in a whisper, craving to learn, to be able to do what I yet can't.

"Show me more," I say to him, to those darkened eyes that never stay the same, "show me everything."

And then he smiles, and I know I will do whatever he asks, for after that he will do whatever I ask.

"Patience. It's time for you to wake up now."

Opening my eyes, I found myself at the town's gates. Everything seemed to be asleep, calm and silent under still dark sky, as I slowly walked in. The wind teased me, trying to get me to remove my hood, but I didn't want to risk it - my appearance screamed a Wind Mage, and I couldn't tell if there was competition to watch out for. I disliked new places, and coming in in
secrecy. Looking up at the sound of flapping wings, I felt calmed the moment I spotted Otto. He was always there - and in a way, with him, my Contractor was as well. I smiled a little.

I sighed. Yes, I hated to pretend I'm something I'm not - or not anymore - yet my demon's instructions were clear, I wasn't to jump in like a Shadow I was. And from the wind told me, whispering softly against my skin, even with all my strength I could be out powered. For I wasn't the only Mage here, not even the only strong one. Not even - why, that was as much interesting as expected - the only Shadow one.
But again, it was too early for them to be awake.

I found my way to a tavern on a square, one that had either already been opened or was never even closed the night before, and watched as Otto landed on a box next to the door. He gave me an expectant look. Come out, I thought, watching through a window as a lonely girl inside swiped the tables. Shadows surrounded her, lurking in every corner of the bar.

Really, it was so easy to move them, to make the dark fall and the sounds turn silent - and then I just walked in.
Closing the door behind me, I let the darkness pull away a bit again, finding the girl with a candle, looking puzzled at scared at the same moment.

"How can I-"

She gasped for air before ending her sentence, but there was no air to catch. I watched as her eyes locked on mine, begging me to let her live, as her lungs lost the breaths she needed.

"Sorry," I muttered, in a calm voice as always, "I can't risk you appearing somewhere."

I let go of her, and the girl collapsed on the floor. It was somewhat sad, I didn't like having people killed if they did nothing wrong, but my Contractor gave me very clear instruction.

What I need is in that town, Cassie, he said. What I need and what I desire. You... Understand what that's like, don't you? And I did understand - perhaps even better than anyone could think I did.

Sighing again and calming my thoughts, I took Elyon out from her covers, moving her through the air with concentration and precision - I didn't want to take down the building - in the shape of an eight. I could feel the Wind magic, my inherited talent, and I took a deep breath, enjoying the freedom I'd feel every time air would become so easy to bend. Shadow magic came slower, but it came, twisting and turning, around my body and my mind, and merged with the air around me, deleting the line that separated my two talents.

I watched as the air and the shadows moved and shaped around me, observing myself in the mirror in the corner. After a moment, I could no longer see my reflection - and then I was there again, but it wasn't me anymore.

You were born with a gift to manipulate one element you can ever run out of, my Contractor told me once, enough time ago for me to forget was it a sunny or a rainy day; but the words sticked forever. You make a wrong move, and you're gone forever.. But you do it the right way, and you can do everything. If the air around you moves, and if the shadows fall in the right way, they can hide or expose you, make you invisible or change your face for
those who don't look long and careful enough.

I glared at myself. Well, I got the girl's face rather well, but I knew it wasn't very important anyway; no one ever payed much attention to the girls working in taverns like that one, and everyone who did were drunk enough not to care whom they're seeing in front of themselves.
I stepped behind the bar, and moved the shadows once again - this time, they covered the body like a cloak, not living anything visible. I was sure I wouldn't be able to keep it hidden like that for a long time, but for now, it had to be good enough. I stood up just as first customers came in.

In the middle of the morning, a girl came in, followed by an elk.
An elk? Could a Familiar be any more freaking obvious?
She was offered a drink, yet she refused - she only wanted to know where to find a certain lady, going by the name of Zan Dzierzega. Well, I wouldn't be so sure if it was a lady, if I haven't heard that name before. Even before meeting my Contractor, I was thought of history of this place - and when one of the men mentioned Jack, the town sheriff, I was sure I was on the right place.

The Shadow Mage who betrayed his Contractor, and the White Mage
who made him do it - I had to control myself and not suck air out of that girl's lungs. My Contractor wasn't the only one who needed that Contract now - Valastro was the one who now depended on what I do, wasn't he? And if the previous Shadow Mage could have been deceived to switch sides just like that.. I shook my head, watching the girl leaving towards the sheriff's place.

With a smile and careful not to step on the body behind the bar, I asked one of the lovely gentlemen - who seemed to be such good friends with the dead girl that they didn't even noticed anything has changed - to take care of the bar as I take a walk. They nodded without looking up form their drinks.

I took another deep breath as I left the inn. The air here was somewhat dusty and warmer than where I came from, but nevertheless, I liked being outside. Having checked that no one could see me, I let my disguise fall. It would be pain to keep putting it up and down every time I stepped into that tavern, but I knew it would serve me well. For a start, at least. Until a Mage with enough experience or power walks in, and then I'd need to rely on my own strength.

Walking in a random direction - though the opposite one of which I sent the girl from before to the sheriff's - I closed my eyes, and let my thoughts take me home. To the days when I was still practicing my Wind Magic with my parents, the days when I still dreamt of becoming a Sage one day, the days in which I read the stories of Jack and Zan with adoration for their bravery.

Unavoidably, my mind lead me to the darker days - those in which I came home to find everything gone, those I spent crying and craving revenge, those in which I had only one friend.. Those in which I signed my contract.

I opened my eyes as I bumped into something, losing my balance for a moment.

The next second, a man I would practically need to stand on a chair to properly look in the eyes, was holding my wrist. I took a step back, and he let me go. I was sure I was blushing - I didn't like bumping into people, not even while thinking of my Contractor.

“My apologies,” he said. I was wondering if this man was someone to fear or someone to team up with - I nodded and did my best to smile.

"It was my fault," I said. "I..wasn't paying attention to where I was walking." I did my best to recall what Jack looked like. Well, I was pretty sure the skin tone was wrong, but the fact that someone looked like he could blend with the shadows didn't put him on my side. Be friendly. Just be friendly and everyone will leave you alone. "My name is Cassie."

The man smiled, revealing dazzling white teeth. “The name is Centhron, my lady. You may call me Cent.”

Something in the way he talked, or maybe in the my lady part of that sentence, made me wonder if I should bow or something. Having spent so much time with a demon, I stopped feeling comfortable among people. And, for that matter, I stopped feeling like I even belonged among people.
*

Jack Pheral~~~~~~San Aradia (Afternoon)

It turns out I came at the wrong time. Zan was her own for the time being and I didn't have the heart to startle her just to tease her. I decided to head to my office so I could give newcomers some help if they need it. Being the sheriff of the town had its hills and bumps in the road, but it was the closest I had besides the town itself to my father. My father was San Aradia's sheriff, so it was set in stone that I'd take his place. I took the back way out of the training building, keeping quiet so I wouldn't startle Zan.
I didn't have to walk very far to reach my office. I knew where to look, since I was the last of San Aradia's original residents. As always since I knew how to walk, I took the back way in. My office was just a desk and a chair with a coat rack beside the door. Just as my father left it and I kept it that way. I sat down behind my desk and opened a drawer, taking out my badge. A golden star with its points sticking out of the circle, the badge of the town sheriff. Every Pheral inherited the badge since San Aradia's first beginnings, so the badge itself was a crown with the Pheral family as its royal line. There wasn't a drop of royalty in my veins, no matter how deep I dug into the Pheral family history.
A knock on the door startled me from my train of thought, infuriating me since I was startled out of my chair. I wasn't angry enough to change into my Shadow Mage self, but I was three steps shy of that and only Zan knew what would happen if I change.
I calmed myself down, then looked at the door. "Wha is it now? I already did my round 'o patrol, so if that's wha ya're thinkin', I'm not goin' another round."
The person who knocked answered, "Sorry to bother you in your quiet time, sheriff, but we got some newcomers asking for directions and I had to bring them to you since you know the place better than the rest of us do."
I rolled my eyes. "Who are they askin' fer? Me 'r someone else? I ain't got time ta play games, ya know."
A gulp told me I spooked the messenger. "They were asking for directions to Zan's place, but someone mentioned you, so the folks started asking for your whereabouts."
I sighed. "People these days. Can't give me even a moment ta gather up my thoughts. I'm tryin' ta find a way ta confess ta Zan, but can't 'cause people keep askin' for directions." I raised my voice. "Send 'em in here, but tell 'em I want 'em to come single-file. I don't wanna git crowded in my office."

Zan

I was having to much fun, as I drifted towards the bottom of the the deep pool as the three assassins came swiming after me, as I touched the bottom of the pool, I began to spin in the water, except when I did the water around me bent to my will. The pool became a whirl pool that the three assassins were sucked up into it. then using my mastery of water, I froze water at my feet, and skyrocketed my up and out of the pool destroying the whirl pool and grabbing the three assassins as I rose out of the water.

I keep going rising, and rising, on a forming glacier, out of the pool and into the sky as I erected a massive glacier, I could see the town, I looked down and I could see the combat arena where I usually disappeared off to. The three assassins were on the glacier and climbing it, it was time I stopped playing around.

"Die Dzierzega!" One guy yelled.

Each used fire, I hated the flames, fireballs were headed right for me, and then I jumped and with a leap of faith, I was falling towards one of them, before he could realize what I was doing, I draw my sword and slashed him. Catching him off guard in one swift motion, then with both of us falling, I stabbed my sword into the formed glacier softening my landing as I touched the ground.

"Here's why, they call me, the White Deludge!" I said.

I put my hand to the glacier and all at once the glacier turned into water, and the water came down and flooded the combat arena, washing everyone out, as we flooded out we went though a tunnel that went straight into the streets. A citizen of San Aradia was near by, I called to her.

"Go get the Sheriff, tell him that Zan needs help!" I told her.

She didn't hesitate, she ran as fast as she could, I turned and saw the two others coming with swords and fire in hand. They launch the fire balls at me as I spun my sword in hand to block the fireballs, I needed to hold out until the sheriff gets here, at least then the odds will even out. These two fought nothing like Jack as I remember him when he was still a contract runner for Vastero, all I could do for right now was block and defend. I just hope the sheriff gets here soon enough, or I'm done for.

Aiden Silver ~ Marcus' Marker.
The horse plod slowly toward the small stone house, it's head drooped low, sweat soaking it's flanks, looking as though it where about to drop any moment.

Aiden glanced up and smiled to himself, something he hadn't even imagined doing in years, though he was too tired to even accomplish that tiny physical task. He finally had arrived, slowly he pulled himself off of the poor horse and taking a few hesitant steps across the sandy yard, straightened his sword belt and knocked softly on the door.
He heard the sound of footsteps inside and suddenly the door burst open.

"Hey mom." He sighed, leaning down and hugging the surprised old woman standing in the doorway.

"Aiden!" She cried in delight." What are you doing here?" She stepped back from him, grinning, her long grey hair falling in her soft blue eyes. Of course she wasn't his mother, she was Kiral's mother, but she was a mother to him and didn't judge him for his past, something he loved her for. In all practically every sense she was his mother, and he thought of her as such.

He sighed." I won't be around long, just a quick job Kiral wanted me to do." He hated to see the disappointed look on her.

She shook her head and accepted the information quickly though, and for that he was glad. That was her best trait, nothing seemed to faze her, no matter how bad.

Aiden almost smiled but stopped himself.

"Well." His mother said brightly, stepping into the house and holding out a welcoming arm." You must stay for dinner, at the least." Aiden stepped in, scraping the dust and dirt off of his boots on the door mat. She frowned." Where's Kilaria?"

Aiden sighed at the thought of his pet . . . no, he had long ago stopped thinking of Kilaria as his pet, his friend and companion more like." The desert." He gestured around the small, lightly furnished room." She's a snow leopard, doesn't really go in with the heat that well, so I left her with Kiral."

She nodded and gesturing him to a seat pattered out of the room.

He sank down gratefully, but was even more grateful when she came back with a cold cup of water, he took and and drank." Ahhhh, you have no idea how good that is."

She smiled." Ah, well, at least I can do something for you." She glanced out the window at the sandy little town sprawling about the house.

"How have things been going around here." He queried." How's Marcus?" Referring to his younger brother, a tall thin boy.

"Marcus is fine." She sighed, her voice almost breaking, tugging on her rough cotton dress. She sounded odd." But San Aradia isn't, sadly."

"Oh?" He asked, his curiosity picked.

"I'll let Marcus tell you." She sighed, staring somberly at the setting sun.

"When will he be in?"

Slowly she stood." Come." She ordered.

Carefully he stood, a strange sense of foreboding building inside him as she led him through the small, cool house and out into the back yard.

If you could call a sand pit a back yard.

She led him to the far side of the yard and stopped, folding her head in her hands and bursting into sobs.

He glanced around, not sure what it was that was wrong, then his eyes slowly drifted down to the ground they where standing on.

Before him was a small rectangular stone, carved on it's surface was a name.

He gulped, tears stinging his eyes.

MARCUS SILVER.

It was a grave marker.


So guys! Sorry for the late post, what'd ya think? - Spoilers removed by request ???

Jack Pheral~~~~~~~His Office

I was getting bored waiting for the people who called to meet me. This is why I don't like having to work behind a desk. People are either scared to death of me or just don't have the gut to tell me what they want to tell me. At least Zan's brave enough to put up with me.
Speak of the devil, a hard knock sounded. A girl's voice called, "Sheriff, Zan needs help!"
I almost fell out of my chair. Whenever Zan sent a messenger out to get a hold of me, that only meant she was in a tight spot the she couldn't get out of herself. I took the back way out and head to the stables.
Phantom didn't sound happy when I came in. He neighed like he was annoyed about something.
I opened the stall and led him out. "We gotta fly, boy. Zan needs help 'n ya know I can't leave the lil' lady in distress." I mounted Phantom and snapped the reigns to get him going. I rode him to where Zan was and chuckled. "Looks like ya bit off more than ya could chew, Zan. Good thing ya called in fer my help or ya'd be toast." I took out my sword and began battle on horseback. I managed steel on steel, then blocked fireballs with fire-covered steel to guard Zan. "Don't ya fellas know it ain't nice to pick a fight with a woman?" I chuckled again and kept up with the battle.

Zakura O'kara

Maybe I was wrong for helping the boy. Maybe I was being punished by some unknown person because I did help him. But I had to fight. For one, not to get the crap knocked out of me, and two, to knock some sense into the boy. He may be taller than I am, but that does not mean anything.

I dodged his hit. "Have you ever heard of the name 'Shockwave?'" I could feel the weapon inside my cloak vibrate at the mention of my name. He shook his head in between jabs. "Well you should." I backed up suddenly, and mentally called out to Shadow. She heard my call, and I could feel her changing from her cute, stray puppy alibi to my guardian animal. She reached me quickly and pounced on the boy.

"Down Shadow." She growled at him. "Down!" She walked away slowly. I pulled out my scythe, it slowly growing larger as it felt my touch, falling in sync to my heartbeat. "I am a master at the craft of bending lightning to one's will. I heard from those thugs that you are here to see Zan." He nodded. "I can get you to her."

"I've had a bad day, trusting a lot of people who just stepped on my face. I suspected you to be the same."

"I understand. I would be the same if I were you." I helped him up. Shadow growled a bit. "And this is Shadow. She's a softy once you get to know her." I looked at her. She whined a bit, asking for my permission, or in this case, my lack of permission, to turn FluffyPuff. I nodded, and she whined. Her body slowly morphed, changing her blue and dark violet tips into light grey. She became smaller, her teeth becoming less like razors and more like pearls. Her snout shortened, and her eyes turned blue. She was a puppy now, in its full cuteness.

she jumped into his hands, startling him, but at the same time comforting him.

He smiled, and held out his free hand for me to hold. "Will."

"Zakura."

William Summerstone~~~~~~~San Aradia(early afternoon)

I looked uncertainly at the creature in my hand, but shook the feeling away.

"Will." I smile at him, and holding out my free hand to him.

"Zakura." He grasped my hand tightly, and we left the building.

"So you know where Zan is right?" I say to him, and when he turns to point in a direction I look the around us. My reflexes kicking in, I tackle Zakura out of the way of a black horse. It's hooves were silent as it ran past us kicking up dirt. Looking up to see, someone was riding the horse he was wearing a maroon blue cowboy suit and I thought I saw a badge. "Hey, I think that was the sheriff! Looks like there is trouble. Come on get up!" I say running after the black horse, not waiting for my new friend. As I run I focus my magic, making my gloves release a small mist.

When I get there I see the some maroon blue cowboy fighting with blade and fire. I also see a girl in the center that he seems to be protecting. Out of the corner of my eye I see someone getting ready to throw a fire ball. Quickly forming an icicle I throw it at him and run towards him, he glares at me as it flies past his head. He turns and throws his fire ball at me, I slide underneath it and kick his feet from under him. I stand up as well as he does, he pulls his sword out and swings at me. I grab it with my glove and pull it towards me, and swing my free fist into his temple. I then turn to see someone hiding behind a rock, he just released a fire ball from behind the lady in the middle. The Sheriff was busy with another and the lady was distracted with someone in front of her. So I run between her and the fire ball, it explodes on my back. I fall to a knee from the pain, and then fall my side and throw an icicle at where the caster last was. But all I saw was Zakura blocking my ice.

Spoiler

Sorry that this is late.