A Ward's Tale

Chapter 24

"You are so good at sneaking out." Carea laughs as they are beyond the castle and near their training site. They had started training Mitchel the night after Carea found him and haven't stopped. It was draining on Mitchel and he now understood how Rissa had gotten sick so much.

"It's a talent." Mitchel shrugs. He trusts Carea but he still doesn't tell her how he and Clarissa would sneak out and sword train with Lambert. Some things can just stay secret. He knows she hasn't told him everything either. That was the way they were with each other, they both had their own secrets to keep.

"I was thinking, about how there are King's men who have magic and detect magic users-"

"Just call us mages, Mickey." Carea cuts in. "We have a name other than magic users." She laughs. Before Carea, only Clarissa would call him Mickey, it was her nickname for him. It feels wrong to let Carea keep using it, and he feels like he should ask her to stop but doesn't. A part of him likes to hear her say it because it reminds him of Clarissa. It makes him feel like she's there helping him. 

"Okay, they detect mages, but how did they not detect Rissa? Or did they and the King already know? I wonder if he knew the whole time since taking her in. He was close friends with Rissa's father." Mitchel continues.

Carea tilts her head in the way Mitchel has become accustomed to when she is thinking hard about something. He can't help but think it is really adorable. She puts her hand to her mouth and taps a finger on her nose as they walk.

"That makes sense on why he's made such a big deal of her staying at the castle, and staying in his sight. He wants to keep control of her. If she were to go away she could learn of the horrifics of mages verses humans and be a threat to him and his kingdom."

"I don't think King Charles could ever think of Rissa as a threat, she is like a daughter to him. Also what do you mean, horrifics? What happened to your village, did it happen to others?" Mitchel says. What Carea has said though bothers him. What does she mean horrifics of mages verses humans? She had mentioned her village before but only briefly and stays away from the topic on most accounts. Mitchel has heard rumors in the past about scuffles between villages in the past but they were over quickly. Never lasting more than a day's talk. 

Carea says nothing, avoiding his gaze. Mitchel knows he hit a rough topic. He wants to press her for more information but stays quiet, unsure of how to proceed. He doesn't want to press too hard and lose the only other person he knows that could train him. That wouldn't help Clarissa. 

Finally they reached their training site. It's on the opposite side of the castle as his and Clarissa's site, which Mitchel likes. It has a different feel. Also it doesn't have the memories of training with Clarissa, which would have been a distraction.

This site is a small alcove in the forest, perfect for concealing their magic usage. There is a large boulder they sit on to rest, also the perfect striking tool, although they don't do much of that since neither of them are offense magic users. They mostly work on the basics, controlling and concealing, basic defense and offense, basic healing potions. Today was defense and offense. Mitchel had a weak shield and Carea said he needs to get it bigger and stronger fast. She won't tell him why it is so important, other than for incase he is ever found out and needs to escape. Mitchel knows she knows something more, but again, he let's her tell him at her pace. She wouldn't put him in danger.

They stand opposite of each other. Mitchel creates his shield. It is small, only wide enough to cover his forearm, and only slightly taller than a forearm. Carea has a glowing blue orb in her hand.

"It is still happening Mickey." Carea says tossing the orb at Mitchel. He easily blocks it with his little shield. She creates another orb. "All the time, some mage village is attacked because we are different."

This time the orb comes faster.

"Our people are dying because we are different." Another orb comes faster and harder.

"Just because our villages do better than the humans. Because they are jealous creatures who only want to use and abuse us. They can't live with someone else doing better than them, they can't ask for help, they can't SEE US AS THE SAME AS THEM!"

The torrent of blue orbs are too much for Mitchel. He can't block the wild array. One strikes his shoulder, another his thigh, another his arm without the shield.

"Carea! CAREA! STOP!" Mitchel shouts, he no longer can feel the areas that were hit by the paralysis magic. A last one hits his other leg and he falls to the ground hard. His shield breaks into a glittering array. The air is knocked from his lungs as he hits the ground hard.

Carea stops and gasps. "Oh Mickey! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to actually hit you!" She falls to her knees beside him. Worry is clearly written on her face. She feels terrible.

"It's okay, you were just expressing yourself. I didn't know there was such a strife between the people of the kingdom."

"You wouldn't, the Lords keep it well hidden. I am not even sure the King knows all the details." Carea says helping Mitchel into a sitting position. Which was hard since he cannot feel half his body.

"Well that's not good." He is staring at her eyes now. He sees the pain and conflict there. She is full of grief and longingness but always seems so happy. She covers it so well, usually, except in this moment. Her vulnerability makes him forget about his numb body and reach out with his good arm and push a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He keeps his hand there a moment then places it on her cheek. She leans into his hand.

For a moment it feels as if time has stopped. Then Mitchel takes her face in his hand and pulls her to him. Their lips interlock. Carea leans in and the weight change causes them to fall over.

They both start laughing as they lay on the ground. The moment of anguish for the village's pass, but is not forgotten.

"That would have been better had half my body not been paralyzed." Mitchel laughs laying on his back. "How long until it wears off?"

"You are the healer," Carea laughs, "You should be able to heal yourself." Then she kisses him again. 

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