All Shades of Magic

All Shades of Magic - Chapter 6

I woke up early to the sun coursing through the trees and for a moment I thought I was home and I was going to summon the blinds open before realizing Kimi's heat was still there, but fading. I felt and dont feel her silhouette. My body shot up, my head turning around to find her standing a few feet away peeking into the woods. Hair looking slightly more pumpkins in the morning sun. I rose and she turned around, grinning a wide, perfect grin.

"Morning Val," she sang.

"Good morning," I yawned. "Whatcha looking at?"

"There's something rattling around in the woods, i was looking for it,"

"Weird..." I said, trailing my voice off. Black magic was near. I gulped, turning away from Kimi and letting emotion crowd my face as I considered a dark gray summoning spell that would bind the creature's body, but the problem with that was the summoning. And the fact that without knowing what the creature was I couldn't summon it properly. But a vision spell? Maybe that would work. Or a sensory spell where all my senses would be transported. And my abilities. I could bodybind it there. "Well, let's pack up," I suggested, hoping my voice sounded innocent enough. Kimi nodded.

"Yeah, we probably have a lot of walking to do," she agreed, walking over to the small camp we made. When she was out of hearing distance I thought about everything I could do. Slowly, carefully I whispered.

"Sensuale onerariam," I swear my soul was whipped out of my body, horror struck through me. This spell was one I could barely do. I should've thought this through. My confidence might be the end of me this time.

But then I felt my breath restart and realized that I survived. I looked down at my ghostly hands and walked into the woods to the creature. Hopefully Kimi would think I was just thinking. I wonder what I look like. Did I pass out? More advanced mages could control both bodies, the ghostly one and the flesh, but this spell was very new to me. There was no way I could do that.

I came across the creature quickly, and I swear it took everything to keep from screaming.

The thing had long curving horns that looked as if it could weigh down its whole head, the whole crimson hairy thing. It almost looked as though it was coated in snakeskin, weird patterns spotted here and there. Heavy eyebags surrounded its dark, swirling eyes. The black and red churning. The red flitting in and out of view. It looked as though it had the body of a hairless lion, without the tail. Giant claws came from distorted feet. Small spikes poked through the skin randomly, sometimes becoming tenser at sounds or movement.

Oh, and you know that everything that kept me from screaming? It gave up. The scream escaped my lips in the form of the bodybinding incantation.

"Duratus," I screeched. And the creature froze, stock-still. I let out a sigh of relief. Now the reverse incantation for the ability-transporting spell. What was it again? Oh! "Simul,"

And Kimi was in my face, woah.

"Oh thank god," She sighed. "You just fainted! I couldn't tell why,"

"It's ok, I'm ok," I assured her. Although my eyes were still blurry. I blinked a few times to clear them and it started to get better. Maybe I should have practiced that spell more. Although i always thought my life would be the same boring window spell life, not an adventurer way of living. Kimi cleared her throat loudly and held out a pack. I took it quickly to avoid looking out of sorts. I guess it was time to keep moving.

The necklace quickly led us back on track from where we camped and we tried to stick near paths as much as we could without going off-course. Although, we didn't need the necklace. The magic in the moonstone was pungent and I could sense it through all the creatures in the world. Including the ugly one I bodybinded.

Oh... that's why my vision is blurry. The bodybinding spell! I thought to myself. Because the spell wasn't one I had practiced on anything but rats at home,it was taking lots of brain power which was usually used on senses to function. "Dimittas," I mumbled as quietly as possible, thinking of the beast, stuck in place. I could feel the spell release and my senses returned. Thank god. My vision hadn't been getting any better and I was worried.

"Hey, why don't you ever visit me?" Kimi asked suddenly. I paused before answering.

"Well, I can't climb to your balcony or run as fast as the wind through my kingdom. Not to mention I didn't own a pair of clothes that would even allow me to until yesterday. And I guess ever since we met, it became clear who the cool, adventurous, risk-taking one was, and it was you. So when you thought of the weekly visit routine, it always stayed that way," I said, now thinking about when we first met.

It was right after a peace treaty was signed to put the magic moonstone on the border and keep peace between the kingdom of Darius and the kingdom of Fortis, my kingdom. We were only 13. A grand feast was hosted by my dad, when we were still the playful best friends that we were. I miss those days. I miss my dad.

King and Queen Bourbon came in and started chatting with my dad. Making jokes and such. Then, I spotted her. The princess. Kimi.

She approached me, introducing herself and such. We slowly became friends. I fell for her almost instantly. Her wit, wry smiles, and playful teases make my heart flutter and her kind words make my cheeks flush. Or I thought so, it's hard to tell when you're blushing. Tingles and butterflies, that was all I thought it was. Then she asked to see the garden and get away from the party for a moment and my heart raced in my chest. This wasn't just an anxiety flash about making a friend. This was something different.

I was shocked the first time she appeared on my balcony. Climbing that high? It seemed impossible. But there she was. And our visits began. Every week. Whenever she needed me, she would come an extra time. It kept going.