|| The Chaos Mage ||

Chapter 3 - Testimonial

A/n: Image above: Kahlua

Soren

Ketean Forest, Affiliation: None 

Soren fucked up.

Truthfully, it was not the worst fuck-up he's ever made in his life, but this?

This is most definitely up there in the top ten.

He was trapped in the slight indent of a hill, with an injured horse and nothing between him and a horde of murderous Edotarian soldiers scouring the forest for him, but a bit of borrowed and rapidly fading spellwork which he was too exhausted to fix. And of course, lets not forget the gaping wound in his side and sprained, perhaps broken, ankle. Both which might he also mention, are quite painful.

The wound he had received in battle with the Edotarians, he had fought for as long as he could. Hopefully long enough to allow the Natians to escape. It was undoubtful that he would eventually be caught off guard. The soldier had stabbed at him from behind, too quick to dodge. Luckily for Soren, the soldier didn't hit anything important, but the slight fuzziness as the edge of his vision was most likely a sign of blood loss.

The sprained ankle he'd acquired much later. He had managed to flee the fight once he deigned it long enough for the Natians to escape, and slipped up his tunnel himself. Once he had made it out from the earth and into the stable, he had quickly selected one of the few leftover horses, not bothering with a bridle nor saddle. He mounted the majestic creature, and spurred the tan stallion on, leaving Ketea in the dust. 

For a few moments, it was incredible. The greenery whizzed by in streaks of colour, the wind buffeted his pale features. All that he could feel was the mechanical ripple of powerful muscle beneath him. For a few moments, he felt free.

Unfortunately for him, he had been too wrapped up with his own miraculous victory, that he did not notice the soldier chasing behind them, rather un-ideally brandishing a bow, until it was too late. The soldier followed them into the dense forest, drawing their bow and flying an arrow into the flank of Soren's poor steed. His reaction time after that was quite impressive, throwing a harmful bolt of magic at the archer, possibly killing them. He wasn't sure. 

Soren's horse had gone down like a satchel of rocks. The equidae's body fell to the earth, crushing his leg with an near audible crack. Yeah, probably broken.

After he'd managed to free himself from beneath the horse, he rummaged through his pockets, pulling free a pouch of what appeared to be glass shards. But when he threw the small bag down, they built themselves into a wall of mirage that warped in such a way, it could fool anyone into thinking they were nothing but a pile of rocks. It was a spell gifted to him from another mage, and so drew no magic from his reserves.

He could have simply left, perhaps caught the fallen archer's horse. But he refused to leave his own horse, which had helped him escape with such bravery. Besides, he had already named the stallion. Kahlua, he decided was a suitable name. In honour of his tan coat, and his pa's favourite guilty pleasure. 

Yes, he and Kahlua were getting out of this together, he thinks, will of iron despite the lightly fracking spell that soon would be the only thing between them and death. 

He formulates a plan. If he can heal Kahlua, then maybe, maybe they can make a run for it. He lets his magic spark at his fingers, quietly proud that even after the multiple powerful spells he'd cast that day, he still had some power left. He just had to pray it was enough to get them to safety.