Chapter 28

After dropping the dirty fruit off and showing Sika where he lived, it was agreed that having her walk around in Light Mage robes was a bad idea. While they weren’t hated, there were probably some who wouldn’t be happy to have one around. Which led to Sika having to meet with someone.

“Are you out of your mind?”

Nefi wasn’t the type of person to mince words, so Naro expected that response.

“You explain to me that this is that fanatic that tried to kill you, that you for some reason left alive…and now you want her, the person who tried to murder you meet my sister.”

“That is the gist of it yes,” Naro said.

“Absolutely not.”

Naro let out a weak chuckle expecting this response.

“Why do we have to listen to this pipsqueak, with your strength can’t you just barge in,” Sika said pointing down at Nefi.

“If you want to have one less limb I invite you to try zealot,” Nefi said flexing her claws.

“What’d you say brat?”

Naro got between the two holding his hands up.

“Now now let’s all be nice. Sikali and I have an agreement, a truce. She promised not to attack and she can’t use magic anymore.”

“Naro you believed her? This walking travesty,” Nefi said pointing past him.

“While I don’t need to explain myself to you, I do follow the Light Mages teachings, I keep my promises….and it is true I can’t cast my spell anymore.”

“Oh and what do your teachings say about Beastkin?”

Sika fell silent at this before resting her hands on her hips.

“Different Light Mages, follow the teachings differently. Beastkin are still loved by the Celestial…so long as they don’t follow the Shadow Deity I believe civility should be the first approach.”

Nefi eyed Sika for a long moment, then looked back at Naro who put his hands together grinning at her.

“...I’ll be staying the room with her. You make one bad move and I’ll slit your throat.”

“Thank you Nefi! You’re the best,” Naro exclaimed.

Nefi held up two fingers.

“I want double the snacks for this Naro. Double!”

“I-I got it. I’ll buy more snacks.”

Looking at Sika she motioned with her head.

“Hurry up before I change my mind.

A little over an hour passed before was called into the abode, once he entered Sika was standing in the center of the room staring at her hands.

She was in a different outfit, a simple brown tunic with a black belt in the center, she wore a green cloak hanging over the back of her torso. With a pair of what seemed to be olive gypsy pants, that stopped above her ankles. She wore a pair of brown shoes that from the looks were relatively new.

She actually looked like a normal person, he figured she shouldn’t have any trouble fitting in at this point.

“Her hands are…so soft,” Nefi said staring wide eyed at her hand.

“Wait really?! How soft are they,” Naro said entering the room.

“Can you two not be creepy about my sister?”

The two flinched feeling the glare from the boy a few feet away.

Aeli however let out a soft chuckle causing Sika to turn back towards her.

“Thank you very much for your help Lady Aelia,” Sika said lowering her head to her.

“Just Aeli is fine and it’s not a problem. I just repurposed some clothes I bought for Nefi when he got older.”

“Since sister’s wasn’t going to fit her…” Nefi mumbled with a grin.

Naro looked at Aeli then at Sika, however a sideways gleaned from the Light Mage caused him to look away.

“Oh also Aeli while I’m here would you-”

“Now that you’re done,” Nefi siad. “Both of you get out.”

“...like to talk later.”

Aeli smiled at Naro and waved to the two as they left.

With Sika situated he walked her through the Bazaar, giving her a small tour. He took her to Venilis to get her a piece of bread, the old elf was silent when he took a good look at Sika’s face but with a smile greeted her. Naro smiled at the two’s interaction, Venilis wasn’t the type of person to ask needless questions, and he was a wise person so any questions he couldn’t answer, Venilis probably could.

A bit more of a walk and the two returned to his home to discuss their next steps.

“No place was hiring…” Sika said messing with one of the plants.

“Yeah that’s…pretty much how it is here,” Naro said. “It’s a shame you can’t use spells, the Guild would hire you immediately.”

“Unfortunately I can’t cast my previous spell. More than likely because it was a Blessing. Now I’m powerless.”

“...your power was a Blessing.”

“Yes it was.”

Naro brought a hand to his chin and looked back at Sika, he could sense Mana from her so there was something they could try.

“...why are you staring at me?”

“Sikali…what if your spell is different?”

“I don’t understand. What are you talking about.”

“You know that their’s Blessing Magic and Perceived Magic.”

“Of course I do, I’ve lived for decades I know far more about magic than…you…”

Sika trailed off realizing what Naro was getting at, looking back at him he held his hand up.

“I may be able to help you. Have you ever Percieved before?”

“...no I haven’t,” Sika said. “I dislike owing you more but…I won’t survive on my own if I can’t defend myself.”

“Okay then I’m going to use my magic against you.”

“You-” Sika said standing up picking up one of the plants.

“Wait! Not in an aggressive way. I learned magic by being hit in the face by a fireball…but I think all you really need is to ‘feel’ Mana.”

“I can feel my Mana just fine.”

“Well…maybe it’s the way you’re looking at it,” Naro said. “You see your Mana in it’s old state, maybe it’s changed.”

Sika didn’t respond but slowly lowered the plant, still keeping it in her hand.

“...do it in front of Lady Aeli.”

“...I’ll ask Nefi.”

Nefi allowed it for triple the snacks but made it clear he was going to be in the room as well.

Sitting in the center of the room, still holding the potted plant Naro looked at the two before looking back at the Light Mage.

“I’m going to touch you now.”

“If you try to-”
“Shoulder, on your shoulder,” Naro said cutting her off.

“...not like there’s anything to grab anyway,” Nefi commented from the corner.

“You say something brat?” Sika said glaring at the boy a few feet away.

Aeli clearing her throat silenced whatever argument was going to happen between the two. Naro silently thanked Aeli before placing his hand on Nefi’s shoulder.

“Void.”

A violet glowed filled the room and Sika flinched at the familiar sensation, she almost hit Naro out of habit but she could tell the ‘pull’ compared to before was much gentler. Her Mana being drained forced her to focus on it and to her surprise it didn’t look like the Mana that she knew. It felt like coming across an old acquaintance, someone she once knew but now couldn’t place. A face without a name. She tried to touch the Mana, trace her fingers to understand it’s texture, to try and understand it’s voice. For a moment a flash of red hair passed by her thoughts and a name fell on her tongue.

“Mirror.”

Wisps of yellow soon surrounded her body, a glow soon surrounding her body hovering just over her skin. A large gust blew around the room, Nefi moving to protect Aeli, and kicking away Naro who did the same. A flare of Mana echoed off Sika, passing over the group repeatedly, a strange warmth filled the room and in the next moment a portion of the yellow Mana appeared next to Sika.

When she opened her eyes and turned she found herself…looking at herself.

“...huh?”

Her voice echoed as a second Sika sat a few feet away from her, eyes wide she blinked causing the other her to also blink.

Staring at the copy information soon filled her mind, a silent whisper that gave her the information she was seeking.
“I can create…illusions.”

Reaching forward the copy did the same and her hand passed through it.

“That’s…my magic,” Sika said.

“Congratulations Sikali,” Naro said climbing to his feet. “I’m glad it worked.”

Aeli applauded for Sika and Nefi stared at the copy with his arms crossed, while his face remind blank, his wagging tail gave away his interest.

Sika snapped her fingers and the copy went away, she stood up and brushing off the front of her clothes looked at Naro, he arched his brows before she spoke.

“Sika.”

“Hm?”

“You can call me Sika…Naro. Thank you for your assistance in this matter…what little you gave.”

It wasn’t much but Naro appreciated it all the same, he could feel a bit more trust between the two of them, and for the time being that was enough.