《Aspra Mavra》


 Prologue - Aspra.

    Running barefoot through the dense forest filled with carnivorous plants and dangerous creatures, the young girl with dark red hair and an oversized cloak covering her face doesn''t look back, tears spilling from her eyes like a shattered dam.


    "D-damn it! Damn it!" She yells out.


    "Why must they do this to me?! I''m never going back to them!"


    As she runs and runs, she eventually stops paying attention to her surroundings, the only thing she''s capable of doing is running, and crying.


    Crash. "O-ow..."


    She falls to the ground, having ran straight into as fast as she could. She feels dizzy for a moment, before her eyes eventually shut themselves.


    In her dreams, she can''t escape what she was running from.


    She finds herself sitting isolated on a bench back in the castle she lived in, a few mere weeks before running away.


    Kids stare and snicker past her, including her own siblings.


    "Hehe... look at Aspra. She''s just sitting and watching us. She doesn''t wanna play with us." A young girl with dark hair says, her face is blurred completely as her brain tortures her by replaying such memories.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "Sooo weird!" A young boy with the exact same disfigurations exclaims.


    "S-Stop it... stop showing me these..." She whispers in her slumber.


    "Come on Aspra, won''t you come play with us?"


    "Well actually... i heard her father doesn''t let her play with us. She has to train."


    "Train? We are royalty! Training is for peasants without wealth."


    She wakes up with a horrified scream, the sky outside has darkened, yet is lit up by a nearby fire...


    A young boy pops out from behind a tree, approaching slowly and cautiously.


    Aspra crawls back slightly as her vision adjusts, and as it does, she starts noticing his features. His hair is deeply white, she thinks it couldn''t get whiter if it tried to. He seems to be around her age, but yet he seems shorter.


    "You''re awake! Thank god, you were out for a while." He says excitedly.


    Her eyebrows narrow. "Who are you?" She seems tense.


    "Me?" He points to himself. "I''m Falu!"


    Her energy goes from tense to confused.


    "Falu... i swear i''ve heard that name before."


    He lets out a giggle. "And what''s yours?" He asks.


    She sighs, aware that she can''t just ignore him now that he''s given his.


    "My name is Aspra." She looks away, towards the fire he''s set up. She notices that the flames are white.


    "What''s with that colour?"


    His face lights up, eager to talk about himself. "That''s how my flames look!" He presents his palm to her. Pure, white flames flow out on command.


    Her eyes widen slightly before thrusting her own hand forward, black flames flowing out of hers.


    His face lights up even more. "Coloured magic! Just like mine!"


    She meets his gaze for a second. "White flame sorcerer..." She whispers to herself.


    He tilts his head slightly, looking confused yet still smiling. "Did ya say something?"


    She gives off an eerie smile, reaching behind her back and pulling out an oversized staff. "I said i need you to die."

 Shameless.

    He stumbles back and pulls out his own staff, one that actually fits his age. Compared to Aspras, the staff might even be taller than her, something an adult would use.


    "I uh... i dont think we should be fighting, you were hurt just a minute ago..." he speaks slowly, pointing his staff at her.


    She chuckles while jumping forward, trying to smash his head in with her staff, not using any magic for whatever reason.


    He panics trying to dodge the unexpected assault. But he quickly fights back, his staff meeting hers, knocking it out of her hands. "Hey!" She jumps after it, falling to the ground and holding onto it.


    He moves above her thinking she''s done, but then he''s met with the sight of her staff pointed directly at his face. "Fell for it." She whispers, charging up an attack and firing, black flames rushing out of her staff like a flamethrower.


    He narrowily dodges getting his head dislocated by the mere force of the fire, but his right shoulder is completely charred, the sleeves burnt right into ashes.


    Falling to the ground, he clutches his shoulders, looking up at her.


    "Haha! I''ve done it! You''re done for!" She exclaims excitedly. "I''ll have my life back! I''ll walk back home proudly!"


    He winces slightly at what she''s saying, it sounds like she''s troubled by something, he feels as if he''s taking something away from her by living.


    "...Sorry. Not today."


    Falu points his staff up at the sky, he closes his eyes and focuses. "Sanar."


    His staff lets out a small wave of white fire that surrounds him, before it all condenses down into a small, angel like creature. It clings onto his shoulder as he stands up.


    Aspra looks afraid and steps back, looking angry or perhaps envious.


    "H-how! You''re already using spells! This isn''t fair!"


    He groans slightly in pain and steps back once more. "There''s a village to the north that''ll take you in... but i''m done with you. I''ll be going south."


    "Y-you can''t just say that! I have to kill you!"


    "You''re not the first to try... i''ll heal any wounds you put on me."


    She grumbled in frustration, her eyes widening maniacally.


    "W-who are you to act so high and mighty against me!" She digs her hand onto a nearby tree, trying to contain herself as he walks off.


    "Damnit... damnit!" She whispers to herself. "You come back here!" She yells out to no avail.


    The air around her goes silent; till she grumbles something to herself and stands up. Looking around, Falu is long gone, even with his injury, he had outsmarted her.


    Though she knew she had to let him go, if he had one spell developed already, she would not be able to keep up with raw magic, on top of that, he could have more than that little angel.


    "A village up north that''ll take me in... hell does that even mean?! Does he know i ran away or something?!" She mutters to herself.


    She kicks a rock in frustration but comes to regret it. Groaning as she holds her foot.


    "...His fault." She whispers.


    She holds onto her staff as a makeshift crutch and begins walking away on one leg, determined to find her way to the village suggested. She''s not eager to do what he told her, but its either that or starvation.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    She looks back south where she knows he was headed, but snaps her head around north to go on her own path.


    Aspra questions why he''d chosen to go south, that region of the empire is far worse economically and filled with crime. The people there had been neglected by generations of rulers, still, she doesn''t wanna dwindle on this thought for much longer.


    There''s plenty of creatures that could stir trouble for her, but one look at her flames is enough to drive a small threat away without a fight, still, she stays hyperaware of her surroundings, ready for any random confontation.


    Hours pass until signs of life makes itself known, luckily, she hasn''t had any problems up until now, though her hunger is evident.


    Glancing from tree to tree, she could see small engravings in each of them, a common tactic used by villagefolk to mark territory. These trees were clearly planted here, not native to this forest, these "Willrrow" trees are especially good at absorbing magic from nature, so they are used to protect against natural disasters.


    She stares silently at the trees as she navigates deeper, the markings are more charred the closer she gets to the village, indicating that an incident had happend from the inside, the cause presumably being the villagers themselves.


    Eventually, she reaches a sign that reads "Valar village". While it''s in northern territory, it''s not considered to be apart of it, but rather it makes up part of the border with the western sector alongside some other villages.


    Looking at the charred sign, she lifts her hood back on and continues onwards to find the village itself. It should be small enough for her to rest for a few days before starting up her journey up north again.


    "Their squabble must have been recent if no one has bothered cleaning up..."


    She looks around herself as she walks.


    "But then why would there be signs of fighting all the way out here?" She ponders.


    Continuing on her way, she stumbles upon the village, empty and barren, the houses all have dark marks on them, as if hit by lightning magic. The surrounding area is devoid of plant life, just ashes and dust with the occasional call of birds.


    Hurrying inside, there''s no one else around, as if everyone had gone up and left this place behind. Bandit raids arent unheard of, but they never cause this much destruction or drive an entire village away.


    Aspra makes her way to the village''s well, and she finally finds another person. A young girl her age with pink-ish hair, she''s sitting by the well, arms cradled around her knees, close to her body.


    She approaches her to get a better look. Theres a certain lack of light in her eyes, and she hasn''t even noticed Aspra approaching yet.


    "Excuse me." Aspra says calmly, afraid she''ll startle her.


    "Are you from here?"


    The girl looks up at Aspra, her expression still empty.


    "...Yes."


    "What''s your name?" Aspra squats down infront of her, hands on her staff for support.


    "...I''m Rouge."


    "What happend here Rouge?"


    Rouge looks back at Aspra hauntingly, as if she''s staring past her.


    "Man with black lightning came and... my friends are gone..." She says melancholically.


    Aspra stiffens up at the mention of black lightning, the exact magic her father, King Ble, also happens to use.


    "He was... big and strong... we couldn''t stop him. It''s only me here now."


    "You''re always on my tail father..." Aspra thinks to herself.


    Aspra straightens back up and offers a hand to Rouge.


    "I''m heading north. You''re free to come along. You shouldn''t stay here. There''s no one else around."


    She looks suprised at the offer but then nods and takes her hand, sitting back up herself, looking conflicted for a second.


    "Home... my stuff." She says, letting go and running towards a small hut.


    Aspra follows suit. She takes a look around, not understanding how anybody could live in such a tiny place. However, she knows not to say anything rude, unless she wants to make an enemy of her.


    Rouge rammages through a room that she probably called hers at one point, though its cramped and riggid, theres mold on the walls that suggests that this place was down and out long before it was attacked.


    She comes back out with a wand, holding it up to the air for a few seconds, pink lightning sparking lightly from the top, then she nods and pockets it. Aspra takes note of the colour but doesn''t say anything, just nods back.


    "Do you need anything else?"


    Rouge looks around upset at having to leave, but sighs and doesn''t fight it, walking out of the hut without looking back. Aspra follows suit outside, walking behind her.


    "Talking a little more wouldnt hurt you." She tells her.


    Rouge looks back slightly, smiling a little.


    "Sorry... i think i''ll be better once we are out of this place."


    Aspra nods and moves ahead of her, not looking back but expecting her to follow.


    "Can you fight at all Rouge?"


    "A-a little... my cousin used to train me a little whenever she''d pass by."


    Rouge''s face lights up slightly as she remembers this. "N-north! We are going north right? Roz- i mean my cousin, she lives there! She''ll take us in!" She says excitedly.


    "She doesn''t know me though. Why would she take me in?" Aspra asks curiously.


    "She wouldn''t turn family down, and if you''re with me, she''ll have no choice!"


    Aspra nods and looks around the remaining homes, taking in the mere destruction left around them. Her father didn''t even leave a single body behind. Yet behind her is now a girl who managed to outwit him.


    "I dont like owing people, so lets say me leading you out of here makes us even if your cousin takes me in."


    Rouge nods, seeming a little more content as they make the way out of the village from the northern entry.

 The dishonesty of me.

    Aspra and Rouge traverse their way through this new forest, now getting much colder and dangerous the further north they go. Rouge sticks close to Aspra''s staff, she''s been using it to let out her black flames for warmth. Though, she''s grown suspicious of Aspra. The colour of her flames is the same that was used to eradicate her village not so long ago.


    "I never asked... what''s your name?" She asks her.


    Aspra looks down at her, not yet realizing that rouge is onto her lineage.


    "Aspra..." She pauses. "Aspra Skura." She decides to lie on a whim, wanting to put her association to the Mavra family behind, scoring points with Rouge without realizing it.


    "Oh, i see..." She nods, too afraid to press her for more. She can tell something is off with her, but to ask her straight up would mean she distrusts her, and though that might be true, she''ll benefit nothing from pushing her.


    Aspra looks around from tree to tree awkwardly, she''s not actually sure how to converse with Rouge. Most people her age would usually be praising her and doing the talking.


    "So your cousin trained you... what rank is she?"


    Rouge pauses for a second to try and remember. "B-2"


    Aspra nods along as she registers the rank in her head, she''s been told about ranks but hasn''t commited them to heart.


    Mages in the Kitrino kingdom are ranked from A to E, with three stages inside each rank. B-2 would suggest that she''s better than a regular mercenary or soldier. The three stages indicate how strong someone is compared to the lowest rank in their grade. A B-2 rank indicates that she''s twice as strong as a B-1 grade, and a B-3 would indicate that she''s thrice as strong.


    "Is she like a big deal or what?" She asks.


    "Umm... she told me she used to be. But she''s not anymore."


    "What do you mean ''not anymore''"


    "I''m not sure... They told me not to worry about it" she pauses, looking to the side. "So i didn''t."


    Aspra sighs, but she understands she wouldn''t learn anything even if she were to continue bugging her.


    Looking up at the sky, Rouge''s eyes have a dreamy look to them.


    "When i grow up, i wanna reach S grade."


    Aspra tilts her head slightly to look at her, and she cant help but chuckle.


    "I thought that was impossible."


    Rouge can''t help but laugh along.


    "Actually, two people have managed it before. And one of them is even alive now."


    Simply nodding along, Aspra is a little less tense now that she knows her ridiculous wishes, though she''s still feeling awkward, unsure if she''s supposed to encourage her or share her dreams aswell.


    "Well uh... if your dream is impossible that means you can just... grow stronger forever."


    Rouge just stares forward silently, now feeling the ineptitude.


    "We''ll uh... be in my cousins town by early morning. Not worth sleeping out in the cold so we might aswell keep walking." She pauses. "I''m a little hungry though."The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Aspra sighs. "I''ve been hungry for days."


    "W-what?"


    Aspra looks at her through the corner of her eye.


    "I can''t just kill a bear or something. I dont know how to start with cooking that thing." She looks back on their path. "You''d think my instincts would guide me on how to butcher a damn animal..."


    Rouge looks baffled at what she''s saying. "That''s not how it works..."


    "When you''re hungry enough your body goes on autopilot and manages to eat anything edible."


    Rouge takes a slight step away from her, still smiling awkwardly.


    "We are in for a long night..." She sighs.


    "Dont worry. I have a few more days of not eating before my brain tells me to become a cannibal."


    "That''s not what i''m on about." She says in mock offense.


    "But you were thinking it."


    "...Yeah i was." She whispers.


    As the hours pass and they grow tired, they keep moving forward through the heavy snow and dense atmosphere, every breath they take feels capable of giving them frostbite. But the lights of the town they''ve been looking after for so long can be seen in the distance, dim but standing out within the endless expanse of white.


    Rouge can barely hold herself up by this point, it''s clear she''s not used to travels like Aspra is.


    Once they reach the towns gate, she collapses, barely caught by Aspra before her face could hit the floor.


    "Damn it... you''re the the one who knows what your cousin looks like... dont fall asleep..."


    She tries shaking her, but there''s no waking her now. Aspra thinks to herself that she''ll be bedridden for a few days from how sore she''s going to be from this marathon. She''d be suprised if she doesn''t get sick, but atleast they are here now.


    "Atleast there are people here..." she whispers to herself, letting Rouge''s body lean on her so she can keep on moving.


    "Her cousin''s name... Roz was it?"


    She stops by everybody she passes, asking for any information to widen her search, until she''s lead into a training dojo. From what she remembers, Rouge was taught how to fight a little by Roz, so if this is right, it won''t be suprising. Still, she''s feeling tense once more.


    Knock knock...


    After a few seconds, she hears a yawn from inside, followed by footsteps and the door opening.


    The woman who opened the door towers over Aspra, though she''s only twice her age, the roots of her hair are whitening, though the rest resembles the pink Rouge has.


    She looks around as if looking for someone, not noticing Aspra at first, looking all annoyed at being disturbed so early in the morning. "Damn kids think they are funny knocking on my door and running."


    "...Down here."


    She looks startled at the unexpected voice, but then looks down, realizing her mistake.


    "Oh! Short." she whispers, rubbing her eyes.


    She looks confused at first, why would a child want? But then notices Rouge leaning onto Aspra''s shoulder, her protective instincts kicking in instantly.


    "R-rouge? Hell is she doing here?" She asks, picking her up from Aspra. "Is she hurt?"


    Aspra looks up at her, her lips almost curling to a frown.


    "I found her village ravaged in my travels... She lead me here."


    Roz looks upset but signals for her to come inside.


    "You''re not much older than her... you were travelling alone?"


    She sets Rouge down on a bedmat to rest before turning her attention fully to Aspra.


    "It''s fine... i''m capable of fending for myself. But i rushed here because i dont know how to care for someone else."


    She shakes her head, "You''re just a kid, you have no business travelling alone."


    Aspra lowers her head to look at the ground.


    "I''m gonna get straight to the point... i have no where else to go right now... Rouge offered me to stay here a while, but this isn''t her place. I''ll be out in a flash."


    Roz''s face contorts in pity, but then she smiles.


    "You can stay here... I hate to admit it, but you seem... For someone your age atleast."


    She looks down at Rouge resting peacefully, then back at Aspra.


    "Thank you for bringing her here. I take it there wasn''t anyone else left..."


    Aspra nods slowly before collapsing into a bedmat herself, drifting off to sleep in an instant.


    Looking down at them, Roz remains confused at this whole situation. She kneels down to take a closer look at Rouge. Her knees are slightly bruised and bleeding, peeking from the back of her shirt there''s a giant, black scar running along her spine that causes her to wince in pain just from looking at it.


    In contrast, she tries looking for any sign of harm on Aspra, but her body seems to be in perfect condition with no sign of visible fatigue, it''s as if she simply teleported here.


    Letting a stranger live with her would be completely insane; but the fact is, aside from her strength, Aspra seems to be just an ordinary child that helped out her cousin. Well... There''s something scary about a child managing physical feats that not even an adult would be capable of with years of training.


    She can tell that Aspra has probably advanced her endurance beyond her age, though she''s rather... unsettled by that.


    She covers them both in blankets before turning to leave, the uncertainty in her mind is at war with wanting to house this child she''s just met.

 If not for this or that.

    When Aspra comes to later that evening, she had already been moved to another room. Rouge wasn''t next to her, she was already up and talking with Roz, she wasn''t sure what they were saying, but it''s clear they were conversing.


    Outside her room theres a set of stairs, leading down. Alongside two other rooms on either side of hers, she explores them for a little while, seeing what she could get her hands on.


    When she makes her way downstairs and into the main part of the dojo. It wasn''t occupied, so Rouge and Roz were using it to sit around and eat.


    Rouge notices her entry.


    "You''re up!" She smiles excitedly, forcing a smile in return.


    Roz side-eyes her and waves for her to sit down besides them.


    As she does so, she feels a bit uneasy, like she''s invading their family time.


    Rouge hands her a bowl of soup, the first meal she''s been presented with in days. It''s almost like she forgets her restlessness as she digs into the food.


    "Thmank ywou!" She manages to say while scarfing down her meal.


    Roz giggles softly at the sight of her eating so hastily, but she''s not quite ready to scold a child.


    In the moment, she doesn''t notice Rouge staring at her.


    She looks conflicted, her head is clear now, when Aspra found her, she was a mess emotionally, in truth, she didn''t even register Aspra for a while, you could have told her she''d only imagined that someone helped her and she''d believe it. Now she has to watch as a stranger is welcomed into their home, not knowing anything about her, or if she''s dangerous.


    Her cousin senses that something is off about her, but dismisses the concern. What Roz sees is in the moment is just an abandoned child who was lucky enough to make her way here, selflessly helping Rouge along the way.


    "Aspra was it?"


    She looks up at Roz slowly and nods.


    "I''m a little impressed by your endurance. That was a marathon you walked, with her slowing you down on top of that." She strokes Rouge''s hair, who looks not so pleased at being called dead weight.


    Aspra gives off a sly smile, but she''s not super interested in speaking.


    "I''ve been training since i was a toddler... and my father used to tell me that my magic is boosted in some way, it helps me recover..."


    She lets out some small flames out of her hand to give her an example.


    --!


    Black flames, black coloured magic is a trait most commonly found in the Mavra family, Roz knows this. Hell, everyone does.


    "What''s your full name?"


    Her eyes narrow before she takes a big breath.


    "Aspra Skura, why?"


    "Oh, nothing..."


    There''s always a chance that her black flames were a blessing rather than a trait from her lineage, it''s the same reason why Rouge''s lightning is pink, it had nothing to do with her parents. Still, she''s suspicious. King Ble is the head of the Mavra family, and he has been rampaging within his own borders, striking down those who oppose him.


    Rouge''s entire village was wiped out, and from what she learned from her, it was definitely him... black lightning and all.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    She brushes off her suspicions, a child has no threat attached to it.


    Once Aspra and Rouge finish eating, she shifts her attention to another topic, not wanting to make Aspra feel tense.


    "Listen here kids. If you''re gonna be staying here, there''s a couple things youre gonna have to get used to."


    As she looks over both of them, she acknowledges that infront of her are two powerful sorcerers, and if she can nurture that strength, they''ll go far in life, further than herself.


    She points her hand to them.


    Swoosh! Roz uses her wind magic to mess up their hair, looking more serious.


    "Whaa-!" Aspra and Rouge frantically try to fix their now raffled hair, Aspra''s dark red hair looks like a lions coat when its all puffed up.


    "Alright... lets set up some ground rules." She looks serious as she starts speaking, almost looking excited to put them to work. "You''ll both train as my apprentices. And i expect you to be useful around this damn place if you wanna live here."


    Rouge hides behind Aspra, who doesn''t understand why she''s concealing herself in mock fear.


    "L-last time i trained with you i was so exhausted i couldn''t use magic for days... and you said it wasn''t serious..."


    Roz chuckles devilishly.


    "Oh, it wasnt serious." She leans over to look her in the eyes. "I''m gonna train you to be stronger than me. No room for mediocrity."


    Aspra looks back at Rouge, trying to avert her gaze from Roz, whispering to her.


    "I-I''''m sure there''s another village nearb-"


    Roz grabs both their necks before they can get the chance to scheme together.


    Aspra tries to look up at her, but her hair is obstructing her face.


    "You two aren''t going anywhere, far as i''m concerned, i''m your legal guardian now."


    Aspra squirms under her grip, the only thing she manages to accomplish though, is to obstruct her vision with more of her own hair.


    "N-no you''re not! This is kidnapping!"


    Roz chuckles and lets go of their necks, dragging them towards an open area of the dojo.


    She throws them on the floor firmly, looking down at them.


    "Do it. Show me how strong your magic is."


    There''s many ways to showcase ones strength, but these girls are young, so their choices are limited, both by their physical and mental capabilities.


    She hands Aspra her staff, giving her a look that screams to "get on with it."


    She''s never had to put on a show of strength before, so she''s completely baffled by what she''s being asked to do.


    "I... uh..."


    "Go on. I''m not asking for much."


    Aspra looks over at Rouge anxiously, she''s holding onto her wand, fingers trembling, both of them are baffled and on edge.


    Roz sighs and grabs her own wand from a table nearby, before pointing it at them, closing her eyes.


    "Sharp mistral wave."


    ---! Swish! in a flash, her wand lets out a powerful wind, trapping them up against the wall, unable to move forward as the powerful wind keeps them pinned against it. Each pass of the wind feels like they are being stabbed by thousands of tiny, cold needles.


    Like they are being tortured for a crime they didn''t commit, the pain is bearable but still torturous.


    Crash! She suddenly stops the spell, letting them fall to the ground.


    She lets out a long sigh, "Weaker than i thought..."


    --! Aspra points her staff directly at her face once her guard is down, unleashing a barrage of black flames directly at her.


    Her flames quickly start growing out of control, the entire room being set ablaze in a matter of seconds. Rouge''s terrified screams fill the room alongside the smell of burnt wood.


    As quickly as it had spread, it vanishes in one large sweep of wind, pushing the staff out of her hands. Roz emerges from where she was covered in flames, her look all too punishing as she wipes the ash off her face.


    "Hah... bahahhaaha!" She starts laughing with a maniacal glint in her eyes, looking down at them.


    "Had you been a grown up... we''d all be smelling like pork now." She sniffs a burn on her arm, her muscles are all tensed, as if she''s prepared for combat.


    Aspra steps back confused at her reaction, she wasn''t trying to showcase strength, and she hadn''t lost control. At that very moment, she had gotten so insulted that she had tried to kill her. "I''ll paint your face in the fire..." she whispers to herself.


    "Yeah... had i been a grown up." She smiles bitterly. Her eyes twitch, the next time she points her staff, she doesn''t plan to let her live.


    "Clean up your mess... we''ll get back to training tomorrow."


    Rouge steps forward hesitantly, "I-i''ll help clean up..."


    Roz doesn''t bother looking at her, simply nodding and walking off, mumbling something to herself.


    Aspra watches with indignation as Rouge scurries off to find two brooms, reaching down to grab her staff a little too firmly. "Insolent nimrod..." she bangs the staff on her head out of fury, once, twice, but stops right before the third hit as she hears Rouge coming back.


    She doesn''t notice the blood running down her forehead as she lets her staff fall, grabbing a broom from Rouge''s hands rather roughly.


    Rouge moves away from Aspra to broom the opposite corners, not wanting to be caught in the middle of whatever she was experiencing. She looks at her angrily sweeping through the corner of her eye, a stark contrast to the girl that had helped her before.


    Was this her real personality? That she doesn''t know, but she''s aware now that in life, anybody who seems too sweet is only putting on an act to slither their way into someones benevolence.