Sami quickly sat Onyx on the floor next to him as he tried to catch his breath. Sami realized his body felt sore, and blood dripped from his nose as his head felt like a drum was playing in it. Sami dropped to the ground as sweat poured off him, breathing heavily.
He hasn't felt this much pain since his grandfather tried to teach him how to fight with a weapon when he was younger. The earlier soreness in his muscles seemed to ease slightly, as the ring began to slowly heal his body. Though Sami didn't realize it as he tried to deal with his headache.
Onyx looked over at Sami worriedly, knowing when it comes to magic there is always some downside to it. Though it was a miracle that Sami only had to deal with a nosebleed.
A strange sense of connection bloomed within Onyx, as her husband began to overlap the boy. Memories flickered in her mind as she kept repeating the last words of her beloved. This boy just made her remember things that she wanted to leave in the past.
Sami's breathing slowed after sitting for a while. "Just let me rest for a minute and we can look for a way out of this forest," he panted. His tone was low when the Minotaur was nearby.
"Are you okay, boy?" Onyx asked worriedly as she saw blood dripping out of his nose onto the ground.
"My name isn't a boy, it's Sami," Sami bantered, trying to lighten the mood as he used his hunting knife to make strips from the bottom of his shirt, using them to wipe his nose free of blood.
Onyx glanced hungrily at the blood being wiped away before asking, "Then, Sami, are you feeling okay?"
"Why, thank you for asking, Onyx," Sami cheekily answered. "I'm feeling very good, relaxed. A little bit bloody, but besides that, you know, it's good."
"Look, smartass, I'm just making sure you're okay," she sighed, shaking her head at his antics.
"Let's be honest, I don't think anyone would be okay with a half-bull man chasing after them," Sami replied softly.
"Yeah, that is true," Onyx nodded in agreement. "It is my mistake why you're stuck in this version of the forest."
"Oh yeah?" Sami questioned. "Then how did I end up here?"
"That is a long answer," Onyx grimaced as memories of the past flickered through her mind quickly. "Here, let me help wipe off the leftover blood," she said, scooting over to Sami to help him.
"Thanks," Said Sami, a little embarrassed by her offer.
Onyx absentmindedly began to wipe Sami's face as he tried hard not to stare at her darkened skin. It still felt as if she was subtly draining the light around them, but it wasn't as noticeable as it was inside the cave. Honestly, Sami didn't feel exhausted, just sore.
Even while fighting the Gbahali, he hadn't felt this sore. While he took major headaches for each attack he blocked, it didn't cause this much damage to his body. Not knowing the constant flow of light from the ring was being absorbed into his body, making him feel a little better.
"What you're dealing with is the drawback of overusing a spell," Onyx interrupted his thoughts as she finished wiping his face clean. Sitting back on the ground, she slowly began to bury the bloodied cloth in the ground.
"How can you tell it's a drawback of my spells?" Sami questioned.
"Magic, especially untrained magic, often has a trade-off, and in most cases, it's the user's stamina," Onyx lectured, summoning a small fireball to her hand. "You see, this fireball only takes as much energy as it would to light a fire. Now, the spell you use to turn is intangible, since it's not taking stamina from you as intended, it instead causes a massive amount of strain on your body."
Sami looked down as he heard the explanation. "I see," he muttered slowly.
"Cheer up, kiddo, you can easily make your body stronger to handle your abilities, and in some cases, negate the damage," Onyx chided, as if talking to a small child. "Most people who use magic would be lucky to deal with that rather than dying if they cast a spell wrong."
Sami wanted to answer, but he suddenly felt the ground shake. Sensing that the rumble was approaching, Sami quickly grabbed Onyx once again. Onyx yelped at the suddenness of being grabbed and becoming weightless once more. Sami quickly phased through a tree.
Right where Sami and Onyx were last standing, a giant fist slammed into the ground. Thoom! A small hole formed in the ground, and the Minotaur glared, frustrated that he'd missed them again. Underneath his hoof was the piece of bloodied cloth used to wipe off Sami's blood.
Hearing the loud grunt behind him, Sami ran as fast as he could. His form flickered before stabilizing again. After running for twenty minutes, Sami stopped to catch his breath.
"Sami, are you okay?" Onyx asked again, standing in front of the now-sitting Sami.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I didn't really use my ability; I'm just a little out of breath," he replied.
Onyx nodded in understanding. "This forest is endless," Onyx explained. "The only way we can leave is if we defeat the Minotaur, or overpower his magic."
Sami got to his feet as he started walking in a random direction, hoping to put more distance away from the Minotaur. Onyx quickly followed behind him in silence, both just concentrated on moving forward.
"How were you able to capture him in the first place?" Sami asked, interrupting the solemn silence.
There was a brief silence as Onyx was trying to come up with a response. Memories flashed in her mind as she tried to put the feelings to words. She can only assume it's been years since she's been free.
"A warrior of great renown at the time known as Theseus bested him in a duel," answered Onyx. "Right before he was killed, I summoned his body to the cave, binding him to me and forcing people away from this part of the forest."
"I see," Sami commented. "I just don't understand why you chose him."
"That is a long, complicated answer," Onyx mumbled. Her tone was sad as her voice lowered.
Sami, realizing it was rough on her, decided to stop with questions. Both of them kept moving forward for what felt like hours, having a hard time telling the time since the sun had been in the same spot since Sami had entered. Sami slowly began to understand what Onyx meant by being trapped as everything looked the same.
"Sami," Onyx shouted, stopping in her tracks. Sami turned to look at her, his face confused as to why she stopped. "We should do the familiar ritual now. While you don't have access to my Grimoire, I'm sure the natural magic I can use will help to strengthen your abilities."
"I'm not sure," Sami sighed, rubbing his hands through his sweat-soaked hair, releasing the dreadlocks from the small bun he held them in. "What would I have to do to make you familiar?"
Repeat after me," Onyx said, walking up to Sami and grabbing his hands. "I, Sami, accept you, Onyx Ambrogio, as my companion and counselor."
Sami nodded and repeated the words. "I, Sami, accept you, Onyx Ambrogio, as my companion and counselor."
A large circle formed underneath both Sami and Onyx as they glowed from white to purple. Light began to shoot up in the sky as a large amount of mana radiated from both of them.
"By the bond of will and words, I join you to myself," both finished at the same time. A glowing purple tattoo in the shape of intertwined vines formed on Sami's hand as the magic began to die down.
The Minotaur felt the large surge of magic and smiled. Finally, the hunt could begin again as he activated his enchantments, speeding off toward where he felt the mana was coming from.
Sami felt a rush of energy hitting him as his eyes glowed briefly purple before returning to their normal brown. Onyx, on the other hand, glowed a white color before shrinking, now resembling a normal-sized bunny. Her fur turned black and white.
"Ugh, come on!" Onyx whined as Sami looked over and laughed. "Haha, laugh, kid." Just wait until I get my powers back; I'll show you why I was once feared."
"Why... are... you... a... rabbit?" Sami gasped, trying to catch his breath after laughing so hard.
"I haven't eaten or drained magic in years, going on centuries depending on how long I was locked away," Onyx sneered. "I hoped I could shapeshift into a useful form after the ritual, but sadly I still don't have enough energy."
Sami continued to laugh as Onyx pouted, finding it adorable that she was trying to pout as a rabbit. Even her voice changed, now not sounding like grinding stone but more squeaky. Maybe due to the size change, but it is much better than before.
Sami immediately stopped laughing as he felt something. Completely different than before, he sensed something rushing at them again. It was almost like something in his body was telling him danger was coming.
Not having time to run, he put Onyx on his shoulder. A second later, a blur rushed right through both of their bodies before stopping in front of a tree. Sami glancing up, he saw the Minotaur slowly turn around and look at him, its red eyes narrowed.
"You know, boy, you've lasted longer in this game than I expected," the Minotaur taunted as he slowly walked closer.
"I aim to please," Sami sassed, taking a bow, almost causing Onyx to fall off his shoulder before standing straight. He looked the Minotaur in the eyes, stepping in front of Onyx to try and defend her so she could try and get away first.
"I like your spirit, boy. Let's make a deal," the Minotaur proposed, his voice almost charming. "All you have to do is hand over Onyx, and I'll let you go free."
Onyx looked at Sami's back in fear, since Sami took a moment to respond. Sami, though, wasn't paying attention to any of this. His mind was racing, trying to come up with a way to survive this encounter.
"So, what will it be, boy?" boomed the Minotaur, his tone growing angry at Sami's silence.
"Vincula Ferrea!" Sami chanted quickly. Orange chains erupted from a circle, quickly surrounding the Minotaur before he could react.
"THIS IS YOUR CHOICE, THEN, BOY! I OFFERED TO SPARE YOU," the Minotaur roared out, snapping the chains with a loud crack and a shower of sparks in his rage as he tried to charge at Sami.
Sami quickly summoned the chains again, grabbing the Minotaur around his arms and torso. He then summoned a shimmering, golden barrier to surround himself and Onyx, hoping to protect them.
"If you want Onyx, then you'll have to go through me!" Sami yelled, his eyes turning purple as energy glowed around him.