Chapter 3 A Glimpse of Power

IKARIS

I was telling her the truth.

There were so many loopholes about my life, so many disasters I had faced, so many problems I was running from. But somehow, I knew I was being honest with her. There was a feeling I had about her, something that attracted me to her, a force I could not explain. Indeed, I knew I was giving her my assurance that I would be there for her and I knew what that promise will cost me. Still, I was ready to face whatever came my way to ensure she stayed safe. This was not a physical attraction... It was something more, something magical about the connection.

Suddenly, I could read an expression on her face, like she was shocked... her eyes widening. She wasn't looking at me, I realized. She was looking at something coming from behind!

Suddenly, she pushed me aside so fast, with so much strength that I could not believe she could muster and I lost my bearing and fell to the ground, turning instantly, getting on my feet, keeping my eyes on her.

Then I saw something I would never believe... something I never thought was real. She raised her hands against the coming arrow as if she would have caught it if possible. In that split second, I was scared out of my wits, just imagining that the arrow will strike and kill her.

"No!"

Then suddenly, there was a dazzling blue light, so I bright, I had to shield my eyes a little but I could still see what was going on very clearly. I watched the arrow go back so quickly, like she was the one who shot it. Instantly, it struck the man on the other side and he fell to the ground with a groan.

There was silence and a moment of confusion. What the hell had just happened?

But I knew the answer. It was magic! She was a witch!

I watched her as she slowly turned to me and could swear that I saw the surprise drawn all over her face. It was then I realized that even she had no idea what she had in her. She was just as surprised and confused as I was, or maybe she was even more confused as she looked from her hand, to the man and to me again as if waiting for me to explain something.

Still, I knew that now was not the perfect time.

"If that man shot at us, then they're around us!" I said as I stood immediately. "We must run!" She still looked as confused as ever but she nodded and followed me as we ran through the woods. I chose not to ask anything about what we had just seen, at least, not until we had gotten to somewhere safe where we could talk and think.

We ended up running in silence through the woods for more than two hours before we could ascertain that we were safe and the men were no longer behind us. We were just slowing down when my ears caught the sound of something very relieving, something we needed the most.

"There is a river nearby. I can hear it." I exclaimed. She seemed to perceive the fresh water breeze as well and we found ourselves moving through the woods with our noses in the air, searching for the river until we found it in no time.

Tired and exhausted, we fell at the riverbank and drank to our fill before we began washing our faces, hands and legs. Then we collapsed on the sand beside each other in the cool afternoon and watched the clear skies. We were still yet to have a proper conversation.

"Thank you for saving me." She suddenly said. I had not expected it. In fact, I was really surprised that I had to look at her to make sure she was really conscious. Then I nodded even though she wasn't looking at me. I was lost in my own thinking, wondering how I'll bring up the matter of the magic we both witnessed.

"What happened back there?" She was the one who started the topic, surprisingly. I wanted to keep the conversation going but wasn't sure of what to say.

"It's evident you have magic in you." I replied dryly, going straight to the point. As a matter of fact, that was the only explanation.

I watched her from the corner of my eyes as she stared out, watching the river. "It was dangerous! Whatever it was..." She stated. She had a point, though.

"You just have to master it." I assured her. "Was this the first time?"

She turned to look at me now. "I've never seen myself do such before."

I knew that wasn't a good idea. Magic that was yet to be controlled was highly dangerous to the bearer and those around. "You're a witch..." I stated blankly. She suddenly looked pale and white as if she was scared to realize it. "And everyone is out there, hunting for people like you. We have to get you to somewhere safe."

She seemed to fully understand what I just said but was quiet because she needed time to think about it carefully. "That was why they hung my mother and the other women... because they were witches too..."

"The kingdom of Alga and every other kingdom on their side are simply full of insane people. Many of those women are not witches but they have become bloodthirsty, killing both normal people, even more than they kill witches. They don't care. Many of the women you saw being hung were not witches at all..."

"And they all died because of people like me..."

"Hey!" I felt bad hearing her say something like that. "You don't have to blame yourself. It's not your fault." I replied.

"Where do we go now?" she asked me as tiny tears flooded her eyes.

"For now, we need to rest. Then we will travel to the Land of Caravan. I know an elder there who could help us and teach you what you need to know..."

"A witch too?"

"Grenga is not a witch..." I mentioned his name. "he's just a very wise man."

"My mother's last words were 'find the Master'. She wanted me to find someone that was referred to as the master."

From the way she said it, I knew she was trying to know if I had an idea of who he was. Sadly, I didn't.

"There are many people that bear that title so I can't say. When we get to Caravan, we will ask Grenga. He might know something." I replied honestly. "Rest now..."

She smiled warmly at me and folded herself on the cool sand for a nap while I sat looking over the horizons when I suddenly remembered something I forgot.

"What's your name?" I asked. She smiled, as if she realized that till now, I was yet to know her name.

"Alessa..." She replied before shutting her eyes again for a nap.

I looked into the horizons again, admiring the name.

Alessa, the name of a beautiful witch...