Young Writers Society

I’ve been told that a common dream of a man is waking up with a woman in his arms. While I never understood the sentiment. I could understand the appeal for attention, something I didn’t have much of growing up. I woke up with black hair in my face, and curse wrapping herself around me like I was some sort of pillow. 

While I seemed to be covered up, hidden from the elements in a tent, I felt like it was her body warmth that I noticed most. Her hold strong enough that I couldn’t move anything but my head. Despite the restriction, it was a comfortable feeling, like I was wrapped in a gentle warmth. While I am not comfortable with the idea of being hugged on, I could easily fall back asleep in this embrace.

But I woke up for a...pressing reason.

“Curse?” I whisper. I try to move enough to wake her, under her surprisingly strong grip, I started flailing about.

It barely did anything at all...is one point in strength really that useless?

“Mmm?” Curse finally responded. “What’s the matter?”

“I...need to go.”

“Go? Go where?” She muttered, squeezing down on me a bit. Do bathrooms exist in this world? What phrase can I use?

“Well, I drank a lot, so.”

“Oh!” Curse finally let me go. “Go ahead, do you need me to come with you?”

“That’s okay.” I say, I quickly bolt from her grasp, slam into what I assume was a tent wall, and then fumble my way out of the opening.

Outside, the stars were bright, with the moon lighting up the forest beautifully, reminding me of a painting. The trees were lit ever so gently by the moon's light, and the waning camp fire gave everything nearby a soft orange glow. I glanced around at the campsite I had only vaguely focused on the day before and saw that there were only two tents, the one I just left, a dark grey, presumably for the girls, while the other, a dull brown, for the men.

“Oh, up so soon?” I let out a squeak of surprise when I heard Lore’s voice. I didn’t notice her, she was leaning on a tree, casually observing the camp. How did she hide herself with such bright orange hair? Ah! I need to focus.

“I just need to go do...a thing.” I mutter. I am starting to accept this body as mine, despite it only being a day, but every time I talk, that cute soft voice feels so wrong and alien to me. I’m afraid that at any moment, my male voice will break through, so I keep muttering.

“Oh? Well try not to draw any more beast dear,” She pointed behind me. “There should be enough cover over there without going too far.”

“Thank you.” I follow her advice, shuffling my way through the undergrowth until the light of the fire disappears and is replaced by the weak light of the stars. While at first, I struggle to see through the jungle, it all becomes a bit more clear, the colors simplifying to black and white, and sharpening enough that I could pick up details even without bright lights. When I finally stopped a few minutes had passed. It’s not that I was nervous about being seen but-

I’m a girl now.

I’ve never been embarrassed about relieving myself. But now I have parts I have never really seen in person. How do I even use them? I never really thought about it before. So I kept walking, and walking, ignoring the pressing weight that demanded my attention.

All the way until an heard a growl. Under my bundled nerves I let everything go with a scream, falling over as a dark shadow swooped over my head.

A bit too much…sob.

“Mist!” I hear Lore yell out to me, running in my direction, running she reached me within seconds, looking down at my wet state shortly after arriving.

“I-i-i-i...”

I don’t want to think about the rest.

Sob.

After a depressing series of events we finally reach a small village that Crux calls Longview. A small town with wooden walls so short that most of the buildings within reached well over. Despite that guards still stood near the gates. I kept tightening the replacement robe Quill gave me, hugging myself to hide as much of my shape as possible. I even forced all of my overflowing hair into the hood of the robe, and hid my head in it.

“The more nervous you act, the more they're going to pay attention to you, just breath a bit.” Crux said, pulling the hood back and patted me on the back. I know he has a point but I don’t want anyone to remember my face. I probably still smell like- Ugh.

"...c-calm down." I muttered as I steeled myself. I shift my clothes about me to seem more normal, and tried to relax my face.

By the time I was confident in myself, we were already at the gate.

“Are you already finished with the bounty? I figured it would take you a month.” I glanced over at a two men in full armor, solid metal with a fireball icon on their chest. I could hardly hear them through the metal face guard, one of the two started talking.

Wait! A bounty?

“We ran into armies of mad cats in there, so pretty easy picking. But we’re not actually done. We came across this little girl while we were out there, said she was part of some merchant caravan.” Stupid Crux, don’t draw attention to me! The armored guard and his partner looked over at me.

“Another lost kid? Your group practically draws them in like flies to honey.” The guard said, laughing.

After that they opened the gate and simply let us through.

“See?” Crux said, slapping me on the back after we were a few minutes of walking away.

“Act natural, and nothings going to happen,” How does one act natural? “If that doesn't work, I’m sure Curse will burn down the problem for you.” Crux laughed as we walked.

Weak.

I’m forced to rely on others.

I’m too weak.

I’m even afraid of a guard from a tiny little village.

I lose out to a freaking kitten!

I’m supposed to be a magic hero!

“I don’t want to.” I say, trying to look determined even though I wasn’t looking at anyone in particular.

“What?” Crux says, confused.

I turn and look at Curse. “Can you teach me magic?!”

“Well, you should be able to learn given what you...are. But I don’t know, magic is only useful for fighting, you know.”

“Exactly!” I shout, quickly covering my mouth, trying to calm myself down. They think I have a trauma, so maybe I can guilt them into helping me. “I don’t want to be helpless anymore.” I say, trying to keep my excited voice steady.

I’m not lying. So they should believe me. Curse lifted me up and started hugging me.

I think that’s a yes!

“Well...” Cruse started murmuring to herself. “It only cost one green silver to test for magic aptitude. So it should be fine.” Green silver? I’m guessing that’s part of this worlds currency.

“I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.” I say, I don’t want to leech off them too much. She shoves me into her chest in a tight hug.

“Nonsense,” She finally lets me breath after I start flailing about.

“Then...” I wanna go now. “Let’s go!”

“Now?” Lore voice. “You should at least get some new clothes first.”

“I don’t want to use up all of your money.” I say, adding on. “I want to learn magic as soon as I can, then I can buy my own clothes.”

“We have plenty of money, so you don’t have to worry about that.” Curse said.

Well I don’t want to shop either. That sounds boring. I could claim that I don’t know anything about fashion since I was ‘locked away’, but then they’ll probably try to teach me.

“Which way to the magic testing thing?” I ask, giving up on hiding my impatience.

“Ugh.” Curse looked at everyone. “Well, I guess me and Mist are going to go to the guild, send me a message when you find us a Inn.”

Magic!

Whatever divine force put me in this world, please let me learn it!

I can’t help but skip as I start following Curse through the crowd.

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Authors note: #magicfordays

I'm not sure how well I am pacing all of this, but I'm gonna say this is good enough, and hope you all enjoy my story!