Without You, The Beginning of Magic {Magical AU}

Chapter 9: Betrayal (Part 1)

I groaned as I heard voices, "Are you sure about this Clara?... She's not even an adult..." She snapped, "She's royalty! The same that massacred our village!" He sighed, "They didn't... They just didn't make it in time..." She snapped, "It's the same! I lost my baby! They should feel the same pain!" I pried my eyes open and went wide-eyed at her hatred filled eyes and disgusted expression then Hilton's guilty one. I looked down to see Mikeal on the ground bleeding, Gengi restrained in a collar, and two men hovering over me.

I gritted my teeth and suddenly disappeared. They grew panicky and looked around, but I landed on one of the men's shoulders as I took out my wooden katana. I wrapped it around his neck and began suffocating him as he was forced to release Gengi. I took a deep breath and began singing. The two men stumbled as I landed and grabbed Gengi.

I yelped as Clara pulled my hair and held me to the ground. "Why?! Why did you have to be royalty?!" I cried as I looked at her, "Why did you lie to me?! Why did you make me form a connection with you if you hated me and were disgusted by me so much?!" I reached around and grabbed her hand. My voice broke, "Please... Don't make me do it... Please..." She yelled, "You can't do anything!" I bit my lip hard as I saw the two men. I whispered crackly, "Fine..."

I took a deep breath before holding my hand like claws and applied my mana. I cut my hair to release her grasp and then flipped onto my feet. I reinforced my foot and kicked her into the wall, but the impact lessened thanks to Hilton catching her. I groaned and coughed as I felt my sternum crack as I was kicked into the bed. I went into a handstand to dodge the next swipe of his club. I held out my hand and a scarf appeared. I formed it into a whip as I got onto my feet. I whipped Gengi to me as I dodged them.

I groaned and grabbed Mikeal and threw him over my shoulder. I breathed heavily and I forced my backpack on. My barrier activated at him going to kick me, but I stumbled to the window then jumped down the two story building into the mud cushioning my fall before running with Gengi and Mikeal. I wheezed as Law's earring was healing my sternum and I ran to the horses. I threw him over it before hopping on. I immediately ran it out and made my way out of town in the rain. I went through the ring as I was unlocking his device.

After thirty minutes of riding into the night and rain I stopped on the side of the road. I shakily tied the horse to a tree and set up the tent as Gengi silently healed Mikeal. Gengi dragged him inside as I gave the horse a blanket to block the rain. I plopped down inside on the floor with my backpack as Mikeal was resting on the bed. I leaned against the foot of the bed breathing heavily and shaking. I looked up as Gengi turned big wrapped around me. I began bawling my eyes out and hugging him until I couldn't handle it anymore and faded asleep. 

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I took a sharp inhale and looked around to see it was day time and Gengi was watching over me, but Mikeal was gone. He's making breakfast right outside the door. Go get dressed. I just nodded and got up before getting dressed in my armor and slipping my scarf around my neck. I looked at Mikeal as he was staring into space as he cooked. He looked at me as I sat next to him and leaned against his shoulder.

He rested his temple against my head, "... I never took them as those types of people..." I just stayed quiet, so he stroked my back, "Let's eat and get going..." I nodded softly as we ate and then packed up after cleaning. I held his hand as he led me to the horse. He slipped my backpack on before he helped me up then got on behind me and we headed out.

I leaned against him and pet Gengi as we rode silently. I looked up at him then down, "I'm sorry... You're friends... You lost them and experienced that because of me..." He shook his head and whispered, "We were grouped up... I wasn't actually their party... I have no reason to be with those people anymore... As your blood brother, I swear to be on your side no matter what..." I nuzzled him, "... I will always be on your side... You're my family now and nothing is more important to me than my family... Never betray me Mikeal... I couldn't handle it..." He nuzzled the top of my head, "I swear. God as my witness, I won't betray you." I nuzzled him and relaxed against him as we made our way to the frontier.

He chuckled, "You know Iris... I'm actually in love with someone..." I looked up at him and giggled, "Who?" I blinked as he looked at me, "His name is Mary. He's a year younger than me. We grew up together. I'm becoming stronger for him." I smirked, "You're gay?" He nodded, but blushed softly at my laugh, "I see... Well, that's quite comforting... I don't have to worry about you falling for me." He huffed, "I figured I should let you know." I smiled softly, "Thanks for trusting me."

I motioned to Gengi to move so I could draw. I took out my sketchbook and drawing set from my ring before getting a little more comfortable. I started drawing our ritual for when Mikeal and I became blood siblings. He continued riding towards our next destination and occasionally looked at my drawing and expression. He listened to my melancholy humming as we just made our way. After that drawing, I drew Clara holding my hair and yelling at me, Mikeal on the ground, then Hilton in the corner with the other men. He stroked my back as I was teary and shaking slightly as I drew.

After I was done drawing it was time for lunch. "... Mikeal, we have no food... You managed to kill and cook a deer, but... We no longer have the means of carrying them... There's one city before the border... I have money, so I think in the next town we stay there for a little while and get a wagon we can live in... Use it as a portable home... We'll get it big enough for a bunk bed, a desk, a chest, and then a little storage area... I'll draw up a diagram and have them make it. I'll get it decked out completely with even a bathroom. Although it'll be small... When it's done, we'll get a mana crystal freezer for food and a war horse for transportation... The side will have a window, so we can cook inside..."

I started drawing dimensions, "So... A large carriage should be fine... We need two war horses and then all the supplies for it... So, remodeling and adding stuff... Should be around a thousand gold for the carriage and another four hundred for the other war horse... The feed, our food and things... Let's say it'll all cost about two thousand which I have enough for." I looked up and tilted my head as he sighed heavily. "Iris... You're crazy..." I giggled, "I know! I hope you know what you got into." He huffed, "Yeah, I do... Come on, let's try to find some lunch. We'll do a quick stop in town for all the food we can carry at the moment, then we'll just keep riding for the city." I nodded in agreement and started perfecting our carriage. 

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So that's what we did. We didn't really run into any trouble along the way either. It was smooth sailing, maybe too much to be honest. We stayed in the inn for an entire month while it was being made. Mikeal got us quests for money, we did them together, then he would turn it in and we'd use that for the inn and food while we were there. We only did enough to stay at the inn and eat there.

We were almost scammed a few times, but there were some respectable people in the end. It was actually a person from Waters seven named Tom. He was nice, helpful, and creative. He perfected what I wanted and at a lower cost, but I still gave him the true value, two thousand and fifty gold. We got a white war horse, so we named ours Yin and Yang.

After a month of investigating, researching, and waiting we made our way to the frontier, Yoryth, which was now only a few days away. I got some fabric for winter, it was expensive because it's a magical wool called Liddulla. It's from a Ludil Sheep, which is known as the warmest sheep in the world and is raised in the northwest from here.

The reason for the carriage is because at the frontier, while it's a town, the people actively fighting are set up at a campsite right outside an outpost. For the next few days I made Mikeal a coat, socks, gloves, and beanie made from the Tuleweed and Liddulla using my magical sewing kit from my birthday. I made myself a coat and thin under armor so I could be warm.