~Elira's Pov~
"Over there, I see her!"
The voice of a man in rage yelled, as he saw the shadow of my fragile body. Running through this forest with no sight whatsoever, I hear them. Their steps, slamming the ground like soldiers marching to war.
But that's not the case. They aren't soldiers or going to war, instead they are cashing a girl. A fragile and lifeless girl. A girl that looked as though she was about to faint at any moment.
What did I do? What did I ever do to deserve this?
Learning magic?
That was all I was taught back at the academy.
I knew it was dangerous to practice it outside of the academy. Where it was safe and protected from these blood thirsty mages. But I wouldn't help it. I wanted to see. I wanted to push the boundaries of this world.
I wanted to know it all.
However, instead of that, I was betrayed. Betrayed by that one person.
Sigh~
I am sure you don't understand what I am saying. You are probably thinking: What is this dead, young and fragile girl spouting?
So let me take you back. To where it all began. A couple of hours ago, and then you would understand, from my pov. And not just a girl talking gibberish.
_
It was sunny and cloudy day. Yes. sunny and cloudy. That is how it is here, in the city of Luminastra. It is the weather that we see often. While other places have winter, summer, spring, and fall. Here, we have it all in one. My guess, it is an effect of the overflowing mana.
On this normal day, just like any other day, I was in the academy, or rather an orphanage, as I would like to call it. It wasn't so much as an academy since it was home to only young ladies such as myself, who were promised to become great witches and change the world.
In this realm, there are two distinct types of people. Witches and Mages. Witches, as it is said in history, are the core of mana. The ones closest to nature, the light and mothers of all things, both living and nonliving. Witches are said to be the originating source of mana. The ones tied to the raw, chaotic and unimaginable power, called… magic.
And then we have Mages. There are the second, or rather they should be. However, they don't want that to. They claim to be at the top of the realm, with the highest authority.
But even that isn't true, no matter how they want to believe it. Which is why they turned to the wrong side.
Hunting Witches.
Knowing we are the knowledgeable and core of magic itself, the mages had set it to be their primary goal to capture every last witch.
What an unforgivable race.
Not only would they capture a witch, they would also extract every bit of mana they have, causing such witch to lose their lives.
They call it an experiment. More like murder. Take another race, extract their mana, and kill them.
Pure slaughter.
We don't know what they use the mana extracted from the witches to do. But it is certain they are taking it for themselves. And this has been going on for over a century, causing every last living witch to go into hiding.
Not showing our faces, or what we are capable of. All because of the Mage Dominion. One word of a witch in sight, and every mage available would be dispatched for that one.
And here comes how I happen to be that one.
_
"What are you working on today Elira?" Sarah calls.
I see her standing at the door, arms folded as her slender curve leaned on the wall. She had a Mini Cornrow hairstyle, adorned in bright brownish colour. Her pure blue seductive eyes gazed at me, almost piercing my skin. If I hadn't known her for so long, I would say, she was here to seduce me.
"Oh me?" I asked bluntly, as though I didn't hear her the first time.
"What are you working on this time?" she asked again. "Don't tell me you are still stuck on that magnificent project you have been talking about all year?"
"Hmph" I scoffed.
Seeing how focused I am, Sarah left her seductive position and walked towards me. Her jaw over my shoulder, while she stared at the tools I had in my hands.
There weren't the regular equipment a witch should be wielding. Morelike, no witch would ever wield such equipment.
Witches only make use of their wands for casting spells, and their brooms for transport. But those have been banned by the Grand Baby Mama, the mother of all witches.
"It is mandatory we don't use our witch tool, so not to be caught by those blood thirsty mages." is how she puts it.
"So? Is it that…?"
Sarah turned to me, her eyes displaying a spark of curiosity, as though I haven't told her of the project about a million times.
"Sigh." I began. "I don't know why, but I think I am missing a certain piece. Everytime I try to place both wires together, they would only bring a slight spark, but never the real thing."
I stared at Sarah and I could see it in her eyes. She had no clue of what I was talking about.
"I don't get it." she uttered.
Figured.
"What exactly are you trying to produce? Like what exactly would be the end goal." she asked.
And I would explain to her again, for the one million and one time.
"You see, whenever I placed these two terminals together, they would complete the circuit and cause the filament to glow. But it doesn't work as I expect it to."
Sarah nodded like she gets what I am talking about, but I know she clearly doesn't. She's just trying to act as though I am making sense to her.
"If it is not working, then why don't we go to one of the shops nearby. They should be able to have whatever it is that you need to make it glow."
I turned to Sarah as the words left her lips, my eyes filled with excitement. This was the first time she had ever shown interest in my project.
"-"
We both went to a shop outside the academy, dressed as normal civilians of Luminsatra, so we don't attract them. And when I mean them. I mean…
The Mage Dominion.
They are here, everywhere in the city, dressed in their dark green robes with the sigil of a falcon showcasing their power of domination. One mistake and you are a victim.
Sarah and I entered an average looking shop. It didn't look like it was in good shape. Probably the owner doesn't make the most out of his sales. Although it was the best we could find at the moment.
Inside were various colour and shapes of swords, blades, armor and chainmail. Seeing all these, I had my doubts of finding what I needed to complete my project. This wasn't the kind of shop that would have the kind of tools I need.
I looked around for a while, and afterwards decided to ask the person behind the counter, when suddenly a loud noise echoed.
Thud!
I turned and saw two men in dark green robes with the sigil of a falcon.
"The Mage Dominion?" I muttered. "What are they doing here?"
The two mages walked in with such authority as though they owned the place.
"We are looking for a witch!" one of them yelled at the person behind the counter.
However, with my swift precision, I had already hidden myself behind one of the shelves, before they turned to the counter.
"I…I don't know what you are talking about." the man behind the counter stuttered, both hands raised in surrender.
"Lies!" one of the mages shouted.
"We were tipped that a young lady with crimson hair had entered here. A witch!'
'Crimson hair?' I thought to myself.
That's me.
How did they know I am here? A witch? Who gave them such information? And that when it hit me.
What of Sarah?
I turned to my side, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Where did she go?" I mumbled to myself, not knowing how loud it was.
"Who said that?!" one of the mages shouted.
I quickly covered my mouth, not to draw any attention to myself. But that didn't fool anyone. These were trained mages, with a very keen scent.
Without even a second to wait, a figure appeared before me.
I thought I was hiding, but it was nothing to them.
"Found you!" the figure proclaimed with a wide mischievous smile.
Without hesitation, I quickly stood and ran outside the shop.
"Stop right there!"
I ran as fast as my legs could take me, without a destination in mind. I knew I couldn't go back to the academy, so I don't get the others in this mess. It would be very bad if they found our secret base.
While running, I thought of Sarah. Where had she gone too in this kind of situation?
"Don't let her escape, she's a witch!" the mages shouted, alerting their fellow companions.
At this point, I didn't know what to do, except to run fast. Because if I am caught, I was be killed like they did with the other.
"Wow, is that a witch?"
"Yes it is."
"I can't believe that there are still some living amongst us."
Whispers began to swirl the streets as I ran towards the part that leads outside of the city. To the forest. They were loud and noisy, which made me shift my gaze to them, and then it landed on a figure.
My eyes widened.
Whispering amongst them the crowd like a stranger, a mischievous smile on their face as though they were witnessing a game. And then our eyes met.
Those seductive eyes.
I know them.
I didn't want to believe it, but there was no mistake. There it was.
Is that?
My mouth quivered, couldn't believe, and then it called;
"Sarah?"