-=Still Ronnie POV=-


    “Areyoubothready?” Asks thestaffmember.


    “Yeah.”


    *nod*


    “Go!”


    Whentheguildstaffsignalledthe startofthe examination Burtranatmewhilewindingupa punch andeverypersonwatchingbrokeoutintocheer.


    ‘It’sliketheythinkthisissomesortoforganizedevent… !Thoseguysareevenmakingbets!’


    You’dthinkaslavewouldn’tbeveryknowledgeable,butyou’dthinkwrong.


    WhenIwasstill in the black market Iwastaughtaboutthelawsandetiquetteofthe country sothatIwouldn’tembarrassmyfuturemaster, and aguildstaffmembersettingupan examination as a betting matchdefinitelybrokealotofguildregulations.


    Burtfinallygotcloseandthrewhispunch,howeveritwasn’tanywherenearwhatIexpectedit to be.


    Itwasa normal punch, ithadno style, ithadno grace,howeverwhenIlookedathisfistIcouldseethatthe airarounditwasdistortingslightly, almostliketherewasafire.


    If itwasn’tfor themartialart my mastertaughtmeIwouldn’tevenhavenoticedit, Iwouldn’thavehadanyreasonto look athisfistsforanythingelsethandodgingthemifIdidn’tfightthiswayafterall.


    Toanyonefurtherawayit musthavelookedlike itwasacompletelynormal punch,howeverIsawthathemusthaveusedaskill.


    Ikeptdodginghisblowsover and over,watchingandwaitingfor anopportunity.


    Then,whenheseemedtohavegrownimpatientandtriedusingafeintIdodgedboththefeintand the real punchwhichcameafterwards, andwhilehewasoffbalanceIrippedoff afewhairsofmy fur andthrewit athisfisttofindoutexactlywhathedid.


    “!”


    As the fur hit thedistortingfilmaroundBurt’sfisttheydisappearedonebyone, IwasonlybarelyabletoseethemgetseenflyingdespiteBurt’sfistbeingstationary.


    ‘Windmagic? Ormaybeit’saskill?’


    Ikepton the defensive,evadingblowsandlookingforopportunitiesto strike back.


    *shwishshwish*


    ‘Bastard iseventhrowingdecentpunchesnowto!’


    WhenBurt gotmoreseriousyou’dexpectmetofollowright?Wellyou’dexpectwrong,becauseto behonestafterhavingbeenputthroughmaster’strainingthiswaskids play!


    SweatcoveredBurt''sfacewhiletheonlythingthatcoveredminewasthewidesmileofasomeonewhofoundsomethingto playwithandventtheirfrustrations on.


    “Haa,haa…”


    AlthoughIfelta bit bad for thenowwheezingBurt, Ineededtoventonewayoranotherand Iwouldn’tget anopportunitylikethisanytimesoonagain.


    *shwish*


    Burtthrewanotherpunch,thisoneslowerthantheothers, andthat’swhenIfinallysawit.’


    Theweirdwavydistortionsaroundhispuncheswereonlyaroundhishands, the restofhisarmswereonlycoveredbyhisclothes.


    WhetherthiswashowithadalwaysbeenorwhetheritbecamelikethisonlyafterhetiredhimselfoutIdidn’tknow,whatIdidknowhoweverwasthatBurtwouldsooncollapse, andifIdidn’ttakethisopportunitynowIwouldmiss itentirely.


    *shwish*


    ‘There!’


    Burtthrewa punchthatwasevenmoresluggishthanthe rest, Icouldsawthathehadalreadygivenuphimself,howeverbeforehecouldtellthetemporaryjudgehewaswithdrawingImademymove.


    “!”


    Igrabbedhisoutstretchedarm andusedmyownexceedinglylong arms tocreateenoughmomentumtothrowBurt tensofmetersintothe sky.


    ‘I’msorry master, asfunas it is to lobeverythingaroundthere’snothingthatquitebeats thesatisfactionofagoodhit.’


    As Burtreachedthezenithofhisflight Irantowherehewouldland andliftedoneofmy legs in preparation.


    *CRACK*


    “Guho!”


    Witha kickheflewbackintothe sky-


    *thud*


    -bouncedonce-


    *thud*


    -bouncedtwice-


    *thud*


    -beforefinallylandingandrollinga smalldistance.


    “Phew.”


    “...”


    “So?HowdidI do? Andwho’snext?” Isaywhileputting my handstogether.


    Is it just myimaginationor is thestaffmemberlookingalittlepanicked?


    “Excuseme…?”


    “Eep!”


    Okay, scratchthat,verypanicked.


    “?”


    *cough*“Y-youdid… Allthingsconsideredyoudidadequate… I-”


    Thestaffmemberwho’snameI stilldon’tknowgoesquietfor a momentbeforeraisinghervoiceagain.


    “You’vealreadyfinishedthispartofthe examination, theonlypartleftis foryoutocompletesomebeginnerqueststoproveyoucanworkon thefield.”


    ThestaffmembernowspokenormallyhoweverI stillsawsomesweatonherforeheadasherbodyshookwhenhewalkedasthoughshe’djustranamarathon.


    Thewaysheactednowaswellashowthespectatorshadbet on the matchmademesuspiciousofher,howeversincethebattlehadendedwithoutanycomplicationsIdismissedthosethoughts.


    ‘Maybeshejust has acoldorsomething? … Forsomeonewhoisn’taslavetoworkwhilesick,shemust be agoodperson…Kindafeelbad forlashingoutatherearlier…’


    Theentirecrowddisperseswhiletheyhandeachothertheirwinnings.


    ‘Ishouldprobablytry tofindPlush’sfamiliar, IdoubttheywouldthinkthatI’mtheonewholeftherbehindbutI’veheardmuchweirderstories.’


    I walk over tobehindthefenceI’dseenthefamiliarfly over tobeforeandhopedshehadn’talreadyleft.


    “Hey,rabbit.”


    Howeverinsteadthefamiliarcalledouttomefrombehind.


    Iturnaroundwithoutmysurpriseshow on my face.


    “What?”


    “Listen, Ihavestuff Ineedto do inthistown, stuffthatPlushandShionashouldn’tknowabout, solet’sjustpretendIflewawaywhileyouweren’tlookingandyouweren’tabletofindmealright?”


    “...AndwhatifItoldthemyouweredoingstuffbehindtheirbacks?”


    “Ha!I’vebeenwiththemlongerthanyouhave, andI’vehelpedthembothabunchaswell,youon theotherhand,youwereboughtas aslave, andmostpeoplewhoareslavesareso for areason, likethey’dhaveanyreasontobelievethatthegluttonousmayflyLizzcouldhideanythingfromthemaslavetoldthem.”


    “Alright.”


    “Good,thenI’llseeyo-”


    “I stillrefuse.”


    “Wha-”


    “YousaidthatthiswassomethingthatMaster andPlushshouldn’tknowaboutright?”


    Ismirkat thefamiliarwhoI’venowgottena bitmorerespectfor.


    “Thatmeanssomethingillegalyeah?You’reright,slavesareslavesfor areason, socountmeinwhetheryouwantmeto or not.”


    Thefamiliarstares atmedumbfoundedlybeforesmirkingbackmuchthe sameway.


    “You’rerealcheekyfor arabbityouknow?”


    “Andyoufor a dragonfly.”


    Despitemyproddingatherbeingsoalikeahalf-dragonflyshedidn’tflinchat all,provingthatshereallyhadjustbeenplayingitupallthistime.


    “Ha!”


    Shescoffsbeforeblack fogseepsoutofthegroundand coversher,thenafterexpandingthe fogdissipates,showingthatthemutatedhuman dragonflything(neverreallydidunderstandwhatshewaswhenPlushexplainedit)wasnowhereto beseen,insteadinherspottherestooda blackhairedwoman.Shehadlong pitch blackhairwithmatchingrobes and apointyhat.


    Shealsoheldinherarms averylongstaff, itwasas long asshewastall.


    Speakingofherheight,shewastheheightofanaveragehuman, so a fair bitshorterthanme.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    I’dhatetoadmitit,butsheactuallylookedprettycool.


    “Followme.”Shesaysandturnsaroundcausingherrobes toflutterin awindthatdoesn’texist.


    Andthenshefreezesupand stops.


    “...”


    “Hey,whathappened?” Iask.


    “... Suu...”


    Theshestartedmakingsleepingsounds.


    “Oioi,don’ttellmeyoureallyfellasleepafterallthatbravado?”


    Withoutrespondingtomesheresumeswalking,alwayskeepingaheadofmeand notlettingmeseeherface.


    Asweapproach themainroad I startpickingupvariouspiecesofclothfrom thegroundanddrapedthemaroundmybody, andalthoughitfeltveryuncomfortableIalsofoldeddown myearsalongmyheadbeforecoveringmy face inrags.


    “WhoeverseesmewillstillseethatI’mfreakishlytall,buttheywon’tseethatI’ma hare-kin’


    An all blackwitchand ahomelesslookingperson walkontoa road ready to dosomethingillegal.


    It sounds like the startofa jokebutitprobablywouldn’tend inlaughter.


    -=PlushPOV=-


    “Soyourslaveis arabbit?”


    “A hare-kin.”


    “Rabbit, hare, samething.Butsincedon’thaveathingthatmeansit’shers right?”


    “Yesbutnot forthatreason.”


    “Saysthejealoushusband.Besides,whatotherreasoncouldanyonehavingforowningarabbitslave?”


    “For the loveofgodpleasejust stop.”


    ‘FuckIhatethisguy.’


    Theguardgrins atmelikehejustwonan argument,normallyIwouldn’tcareaboutitbutthewayhelookedsosmugand sureofhimselfreallyjustpissedmeoff to noends.


    Wefollowedtheguardacoupleofblocksfurtherbeforeheturnedandenteredthe door to alargebuildingmadeofstonebricksandwoodenlogs.


    Hedidn’tevenbotherholding the dooropenforus, infactheevencloseditafterheentered.


    “You’rehere,thisway.”Saystheguardwhowemetback at themerchant’sstall.


    ****


    Halfanhourlaterwewalk backoutwitha small bagofvariousmagiccrystalsfrom themerchantas anapology.


    Hewasstill sent tojailthough,buthissentencewasreduced.


    Wewalkedback to theguildto checkupon Ronniebutshestillwasn’tthere, andwhenweaskedtheguildstafftheyhadn’tseenher.


    ItriedtocontactLizzagain,howeverthistimeshedidn’trespondat all.


    Ievenaskedthebookifitwouldbeabletofindher,howeverit justshookin averydejectedmanner.


    “Well,it’sLizzwe’retalkingabout,sheshouldbeabletofindusifsomethinghappens.”


    “Yeah,I’mstill a bitworriedthough.”


    GettinganideaItakeoutthemagicformationbookagainand lookthroughitbeforefindingwhatIwanted.


    Afterweget back to theinnandclosethe door Icreateatwocirclemagicformationabovemy hand and make it comeintocontactwithShiona, themagicformation thedrawsouttheslavecontractagain.


    “Thecontractis thephysicalembodimentoftheslavemagic, soifoneyoudiesand themagicdisappearsthensodoesthecontract, so as long asthisishereshe’sfine. Ifthey’renot back bytomorrowwe’llstartsearchingalright?”


    Wetheneatsomedinnerbeforedoingmagicpracticeand going to bed.


    TurnsoutShionawasn’tverygoodat normalmagic.


    -=Elizabeth POV=-


    Icastaguidancespelltohelpusfindourtarget, andabovemy handappearsapurplefoggyarrowthatpointsin thedirectionofmydesires.


    Wefollowtheconstruct’sdirectionsinsilenceand makeourwaythroughmanyalleywaysbeforearrivingin adeadend.


    “Guessmagiccanonlydo somuch.”SaysRonnie in analteredvoice, Ihadcastmagiconhertochangehervoice sowecouldtalkwithoutpeoplebeingabletorecogniseit.


    I walkupto thewalland touch itwiththeleatherarmletthatthebookmade, andwithsomerumblingthewallthengetscoveredbybluemarkings, symbols andpatterns.


    Afterhavingthankedtheheavensthatthemagicwasstillworkedaftersomanyyearscalledoutto Ronniewhohadjumpedontotheroofstoseeiftherewasanythingelseon theothersideofthewall.


    Witha*thud*shelands back on theground.


    “So…What’sthat?Someonegivea kidbluecrayons?”


    DisregardinghercommentItookoutanartefactfrom my robes andstartedaddingmoresymbols to thewall.


    “You’rekidding, itreallywasabluecrayon?”


    AfterdeemingitfinishedIgaveRonnie theartefactandtoldhertostandat thecenterofthewall.


    “Whatnow?”Sheasks.


    “Tightenyourfistaroundtheartefact-”


    “Crayon.”


    “-Artefact-”


    “Crayon.”


    “...”


    *sigh*


    “Justholdit and punch thewallokay?”


    “...What?”


    “...”


    “... Is itbecauseofwhatIsaidaboutmagicbefore?”


    “Just do it.”


    Ronnieresignsherselftoherfatewithasigh,takesoffsomeoftheragscoveringherand wrapthemtightlyaroundthe handshe’sholding thecra-artifactin.


    Andthenshepunchesthewall.


    *CRASH*


    -=Ronnie POV=-


    ‘Whatthefuck!’


    WhenIpunchedthewallwiththecrayonin my hand itshatteredlikesomeonehadjustthrownalargerockintoa glasswindow!


    Piecesfleweverywhere,theyrangedfrom thesizeofsand to thesizeofwagonwheels.


    Isheepishlyturnedaroundtoseethehugemessthatmust’vebeenmadeby allthosestoneshards-


    “!”


    -onlytoseethemallsuspendedinmid-air.


    “Well?Areyoucoming or not?”


    IturnedaroundandsawLizzstandnextto theopeningithewall.


    Wherethewallhadbeentherewasnowtheentranceto a tunnel.


    Somepiecesofthewallwerestillthere, itlookedlikesomeonehadbuiltthewallspecificallyto coverthistunnel.


    Buthere’sthething-


    “How…”


    -thereshouldn’tbe a tunnelhere.


    Ihadseenwhatwason theothersideofthiswallfromabove, it justwentintoanotherstreetand thewallwasonlyhalfa meterthick, itshouldn’tbepossiblefor a tunnel to behere.


    *sigh*“Ithoughtyousaidyouweregoing to be comingalongRonnie.”


    “Wellsorry forbeingsurprisedbymagicI’veneverseenbefore!”


    Takingtheclothoffofmyfistand putting it backwhereI’dtaken it offofbeforefollowingher.


    Lizzthenwalkedcalmlythroughthe tunnel and,seeingherexample, Ifollowedher.


    “Arewegoing to bedoinganythingotherthanwalking?”


    “Wewill, assoonaswegetthroughthistunnel.”


    “Andhowlo-”


    Just asI’maboutto askhowlong itwilltakeusto walkthroughthe tunnelI’mbathedin abrightlight, andwhenI’mfinallyabletoseeagainwe’reinside a darkcavern.


    “Thisis…?”


    “Deep underground.”


    Lookingaroundwecouldbothseethatthewallswerecoveredinlargewritingand imageswhichdepictedundergroundcitiesand thepeoplewithinthem.


    “Longagopeopleliveddownhere.Entirecivilizations,eachwiththeirowndistinctculturesandwaysofliving.”


    “...Youmeanthepickits?”


    Plushhadtoldmeabouttheirencounterswiththepickitsandhowthey’dhelpedthemout.


    “No,longeragothanthat, andmuchdeeperunderground aswell.”


    “Okay, sotheywereherebefore,butthenwhyaren’ttheyherenow? Andcouldyoumakesomemagiclightorsomething?It’simpossibletoseeanythingwithonlythisglowingcrayon.”


    Lizzwavedhergiantstaffaroundandconjuredawhiteglowingorbwhichroseintothe air andilluminatedtheentirecavern,revealinghowhugeitreallywas.


    Thecavernwewereinlookedlike the insideofagianttawnyeggwithfouropeningsonopposingsides.


    “Youaskedwhytheyleft?That’swhy.”


    Almostall the space in theentireroomwastakenupbywhatwasinside.


    Wrappedupinchain,coveredinmagicalcharms andhalfsubmergedin thegroundtherewasacreature.


    Itwashard toseewhatitwas,butfromwithinthemeshofchainsand charmstwoyelloweyesglaredatus.


    “Theseancientcitieshadperfectedthe artofsummoningdemons andhavingthemworkforyou-”


    “Itdoesn’tlookveryperfected,whatwiththisthingprobablybeingthereasonthecity’sabandoned.”


    *glare*


    “... Sorry.”


    *sigh*“Theyhadperfectedthe artofdemonsummoning,theykneweverythingtheywouldneedtohaveand do in order to get the demonthattheywanted,howeveronepersonthoughtthatitwasn’tenough.Theysoughttoimprovewhathadbeenthoughttoalreadybeperfect, and in order to dothattheycreatedamagicalartefacttohelpin the rituals.”


    Wewalkedcloserto the demon.


    “Theartefactcouldstore theobjectneededfor the rituals,anyanimalsneededassacrifices, itwasabletocreateanentireselfsustainedecosystemtogrowmoreofferingsandbreedmoresacrifices, itcouldevenspeedupthetimewithintheecosystemtoinstantlyrestockwhatevergetsused, itmadedemonsummoningspracticallyfree.”


    Sheliftedherwand.


    “Thismadethe personwhohadtheartefactabletosummonanydemon atanytime,includingonesthatnoonehadbeenabletosummonbeforewithouttheartefact.”


    Shegatheredenergyintothestaffcausingit toglowbrightred.


    “But, the manthatmadetheartefactgrewgreedy.”


    Abovethestaffasingleredcircleformed, and fromthatcircleblueflameseruptedontothegiantdemon.


    “Heknewthattheartefacthehadcreatedwasgoing to be themostpotentofferingin asummoningritual, andthenhedidexactlythat.”


    Theflamesspreadacrossthe demon as itstartedto roar in pain.


    “Heusedtheartefactas anoffering,howeveritwastoomuch. Noonedemonwasenoughtobecomeanequivalentexchangefor thehugeamountsofenergythattheartefacthad,insteada gatewasopened,throughthatgatecameahugenumberofthesedemons”


    The demon in frontofushadbecomearaginginferno andstartedtogrowsmallerandsmaller.


    “Theartefactbrokeandeachofthe demonsgrabbedapieceandranoff to dotheirownthingsincethesummoninghadendedbeforethe mancouldstrike a dealwiththem.”


    Thebluefirewhichusedto be a demonkeptgrowingsmaller.


    “The demonsspreadfrom city to city, killingeveryonetheycouldfind, andwiththepowerofthefracturedartefacttheywerenighunstoppable,butthenaheroappeared.”


    The demongaveouta final roarofpain,yetevenafterthe demonappearedtohavediedthefirekeptraging.


    “Theherograbbedthe brokenhuskofanartefactwhichhadbeenhiddenawaybyitscreator, theherothenproceededtohuntdown the demons andreclaimthepiecesoftheartefactfromthem, and as thenewsspreadamongthecitiestheinhabitantsstartedtotrainthemselvesand fight backagainstthe demons,theycapturedthemandawaitedthehero.”


    Thefirehadnowshrunkto thesizeofa small house.


    “Butas thenewsspreadto thepeopleitalsospreadto the demons,somedemonsconfrontedtheheroheadon to try andkillthem,butthemajorityputalltheireffortsintorunningaway,becauseofthatitbecameharderfor theherotorepairtheartefactand save thepeople,eventuallytheherodiedofold agewithoutcompletingtheartefact.”


    Thesizeofa wagon.


    “Theherowentdown in legends to thepeoplewhosurvived,theyalllongedtotakeupthehero’smantleandcompletetheartefactonceand for all.”


    Thesizeofashed.


    “Manyfollowedthehero’sfootsteps,manyofthemsucceededin killing a demonbeforetheirlivesended,howeveronlyafractionofthemknewofthetrueheroanddidit for the sakeofcompletingtheartefact, the restsoughttousethepowersofthefracturedpiecesforthemselves,causingthepiecestoscatterthroughouttheworldand fallintothe handsofnot just the demonsbutalsothepeople.”


    Thesizeofa horse.


    “Yettothisdaytherearestillsomepeoplewhoattempttokillthe demons andreclaimthepiecesoftheartefact.Somedo it for the sakeofgoing down inhistoryasheroeswhosavedthe land,othersthough…”


    Lizzreachedoutherhand andgrabbedthefire.


    “Theydo it tohonourfamily.”


    Thefiretooktheshapeofaglowingbluepieceofpaper.


    “Wellthat’scool and all,butIthoughtweweregoing to bebeatingupsomepeople...Iwasreallylookingforwards to it…”


    “Fufufu…Youalreadyhaveadisguisesoifyoulikewecouldlook forsomecriminalsbeforewefindPlushandShiona.”


    “Deal!”