Magic of Emotions

Eiric rolls across the ground for three seconds before recovering to his feet. He stands, but Astrid tosses three blades, forcing Eiric to react by jumping backwards and into another spell from Torsten.

Once again, Eiric finds himself rolling but recovers much faster, prepared for his mother’s attacks and moving past them towards Torsten.

Eiric reaches Torsten within three step, fast enough to give himself time before Astrid’s next barrage of blades reaches him, but not fast enough to surprise Torsten.

“Einn gust.”

“Gah!” Eiric is tossed up and met by six blades he parries.

“Alright, that’s enough. Not bad, Eiric.” Torsten said as he clapped.

Eiric drops to one knee gasping for air. The past two weeks have been filled with grueling training, each day becoming more difficult as Eiric was forced to understand the skill of his parents. Any time he believes he has made progress to them, they’re more than happy to display why they are captains.

Still, his mother only remained at a distance. Her strength is still a mystery but her control of magic is on par with Torsten.

“You did well, sweetie, I’m no longer afraid to let you go.” Astrid wipes dirt from Eiric’s face, “How do you feel? You’ve gotten better at light magic but haven’t used it much.”

“I’m fine. I wanted to focus on fighting with my sword, I can still use light step without trouble.”

“Alvis gave this to you, did he?” Astrid scans the sword. Well made, light, with nothing obvious to make her suspicious but she knows Alvis much better than that, “I’ll allow it for now, Alvis doesn’t kill without good reason.”

“How are the others doing?”

“Well, I believe you’ll be ready to go after today.”

“Is that all?” Keldan points a sword at Vilgur who stands holding a broken shield.

Between Sigrun, Eiric, and himself, Vilgur was the most frustrated after the battle of Sanctuary. He considers himself a failure after fainting from one attack, worse that he remained asleep as Eiric was taken away. He could do nothing to stop Sigrun’s crying, he didn’t believe he could have stopped Eiric either.

“Damn it!” Vilgur’s shield grows, much of it created by his magic instead of materials around him, “Never again. I’ll never lose like that again.”

“Are you sure? Vilgur, such conviction requires acceptance of death. Being afraid is fine, it is natural. But if you wish to protect everyone, understand and accept that a shield must stand even past death. Can you do this?”

“I can! I will! Dad, hit me!”

“Very well. Divine retribution.” Keldan’s sword strike causes a massive explosion heard around the realm, enough to tear trees in the vicinity out of the ground. A strike that will kill most, even his son, but Keldan would never dishonor his blood by holding back.

As the smoke clears, Vilgur’s shield lies on the ground in pieces. Vilgur stands, bloodied and hurt but awake and alive. His arms raise, a new shield forming at great speed until he is stopped by Keldan.

“That is enough, Vilgur.”

“I’m sorry, dad. I should have done more.”

“You can now. You make me proud.”

Across the training field, Sigrun and Freydis train by battling each other. Freydis has changed into an outfit that reveals parts of her arms, legs, and no longer convers her face with a veil. None of her usual clothes are because of her position as princess, they are to prevent light from hitting her body.

Much like Sigrun’s shadow magic, Freydis is a user of will fire. A rare form of fire magic, Freydis absorbs light through her skin to empower her magic and body, and can be further enhanced by her own willpower. It is an unstable form of magic however, a loss of focus could lead sickness or burns, it is why she covers her body to prevent a careless mistake.

Freydis swings an axe larger than her entire body at Sigrun who blocks with a wall of ice before disarming the princess by creating a block of ice around the blade of the axe.

Sigrun punches Freydis who returns the favor by slapping Sigrun before the two lock hands in a fiery exchange of strength but are left in a deadlock.

“Say it! I know you don’t like me!” Freydis said.

“You could have done more! We have all suffered because of you!” Sigrun said.

“I know! But I’m only 15. I don’t know what more to do, I’m afraid I’ll lose even more if I make another mistake.”

“But you-”

“I’m sorry.” Freydis cries, her strength waning as Sigrun forces her a step back, “I wish I could do more. I want nothing more than to find an answer where we are going. I will do all I can to make things right. But I’m not my parents or my brother. I was never meant to be the leader of a kingdom. Everyone suffers because of me. I’m sorry. I did all I could, I promise I did.”

Sigrun lets go of Freydis’s hands, the princess surprised by this and falling into Sigrun’s arms. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. If you say you tried your best, then I will believe you.”

“But it doesn’t make it right, I’m so sorry.”

“You still can, that’s why you’re here now. We’ll help you, I promise.”

“Thank you, Sigrun.”

“Thank you, for bringing Eiric back safely.”

“Good job you two.” Leif said as he floats while lying on his back, “The best way to make up is always to hit each other I say. Freydis, you should rest, the others have a cloak and veil for you to use.”

“Thank you.”

“Sigrun, I’m sure you’re wondering about Eiric. I believe he left to take a break from training.”

“Thank you, I’ll go find him.”

Eiric sits by the river crossing in the forest next to the training ground. He looks at his reflection, his heart beating out of control because of what looks back at him.

“Guess who.” Sigrun covers Eiric’s eyes, pulling him into her chest to calm him with her heartbeat.

“Sigrun.”

“Incorrect.”

“My love.”

“Closer.”

“My beautiful and wonderful fiancée.”

“Accepted. Are you ok?” Sigrun sits next to Eiric, splashing her feet in the river.

“Much better now that you are here.”

“Eiric, what are you hiding?”

“Nothing. I’m ok, I promise.”

“Liar. Why won’t you trust me? I can help you; I want to help you.”

“I do trust you, and you do help me. Being next to you calms me.”

“Good, but I want to know what’s on your mind. Please.”

“I’m afraid. I think I’m turning.”

“Your headaches are getting worse?”

“They are. It no longer disappears after time; I’m left with a little headache at all times now. I think we will find answer with the immortal one, but I’m not sure if it will be in time to stop me from turning. Maybe I was just a prolonged case.”

“Or, you can control it. Trust yourself, I believe you can do it. But, don’t bear that pain alone, come find me if you need help. I’ll always be there for you.”

“I will. But, what if I do turn?”

“That is fine, I will find a way to bring you back. You can’t get away from me that easily. Don’t worry, I won’t let you harm anyone, it’s why I’ve been training after all. You still have a long way to go before you catch up to me. Vilgur will help to, he’s been training harder than me.”

“Thank you. I’ll try my best; I want to stay with you all for as long as I can.”

“Forever.” Sigrun kisses Eiric on the cheek, “How do you feel?”

“I feel, good. Happy.”

“Headache?”

“Not really.”

“I thought it might help, I’m glad my kisses make you happy.” Sigrun pulls Eiric into her arms, “Stay here for as long as you need.”

“Thank you, Sigrun.”

“Always. My love, I will not lose you. Never again.”