The Role of Mages

Unexpected Takings

I cough and put my hand next to my throat.
" It hurts...." I cough again.
" The best thing you can do to take it easy. " Celiest says.
I'm sitting in the living room on a couch by myself. Ryland and Celiest are sitting on a different couch, next to each other. Zero and Achned are sitting on a couch near the window, next to each other.
" yeah..." I cough again.
" Has the feeling of being strangled gone away?" Zero asks.
I nod.
" slightly...." I say.

" Kyoto!!" Aster runs up to me,  with bandages on his arms, neck and torso, wearing only his pants.
" I think....." I cough.
He puts his hands on my shoulders.
" I'm so sorry I had to put you through that!"
" When did you decide to act concerning?!" I ask him, a little freaked out.
" Celiest, how many roots of dragon root did you use?" Ryland asks.
" About three." He repsonds.
" He's acting like that because, of the medicine!" Ryland says to me.
" Medicine?"
" Yup." She says.
" I thought I would lose you forever, when you decided to let the man choke you!" Aster hugs me, bringing my head to his chest.
" Wait, I Didn't-"
" As he whispered sweet nothings to you as you moaned as his grip tightens around your-"
" Shut up!!!" My cheeks turn red.
Zero chuckles.
" It's not funny!!" I yell at him, trying to get away from Aster.
" No!! Then the scorpions will eat you!!" Aster panics.
" Ok, now I know not to use three roots of dragon root on Aster next time." Celiest says.
" Let me go!!!!" I punch and kick Aster for him to let me go.

" Sorry, Kyoto." Aster says, looking out the window.
" I'm just glad you're back to normal." I cough and my voice sounded rough and scratchy.
He sighs.
" I'm bored. Can we do anything today?" Aster groans.
" No. Due to your condition, you can't fight." Celiest says.
Aster growls.
" Listen to the doctor, my chili pepper." Achned teased.
" Shut The Hell Up!!" Aster hisses.
Zero and Achned chuckle.
" Kyoto, want to go anywhere?" Mercurius asks me.
" Oh....I don't know. I've only seen a few places since I've been here." I say.
" I can give you a tour around a small town near here. " Zero says.
" Why not the elf village?" Ryland asks.
" They don't really like demons so-" Zero looks at her.
" They're ok with you. They just hate nearly every demon they don't know or have bad history with certain ones." Ryland says.
" I never knew that. " Zero says.
" So...." I look at Zero.
" We can go there." He grabs me hand and fire surrounds us.

When the fire disappears, I look around to see we're in the middle of what seems to be a farmer's market. Many small shops out in the open, outside on a nice day.
" Where-"
" Welcome to Meridian, home of the elves." He says.

" Elves..." I look around as the people around us begin to stare at us.
" Hey!" A guard runs up to Zero.
Shit, did we do something?
" You two will be coming with me." The guard says.
He pushes me from behind and I look up at Zero.
" Just follow him." He says and follows the guard.
I look at the crowd uncomfortably as we walk through the town.
I move close to Zero, wanting to hide under his wing.
" Relax." Zero says to me.
" If you say so...." I say.
We walk into a large building with two pillars lined up on each side of the tan entrance.
" We're going to be judged...." I whisper.
" No. We're not. " Zero says.
" If you say so..." I whisper.

" Identify yourself, filthy demon." An elf spits.
" Zero Kurosaki. And this is Kyoto DarkFate." He says.
" Oh. Zero.... they're free to go." The elf leader says.
" Wait seriously?!" Both the other elves and I say, suprised.
Zero lifts me up, carrying me over his shoulder.
" Off we go." He says, walking out of the building.
" Put Me Down!!" I struggle to get out of his grasp.
" You're really light." He says.
I pout.
" You're light as paper." He says.
" Gee, thanks." I say.
He chuckles.

We walk around the town.
" They...have very unique jewelry." I say.
" Each have their benefits.  But some are actually used to capture people or animals." He says.
" Some are..." I look at the jewelry,  carefully.
" I can tell you which is which later." He says.
" I look forward to it." I smile.
He smiles back.

I yawn.
" We should go back." Zero says.
I nod and rub my eyes.
We teleport back to the fort.
" How was your trip?" Mercurius asks.
" It was interesting. And fun." I say.
" That's good to hear." She smiles.
I smile back.
" Maybe I can show you more tomorrow. " Zero says.
" Sure." I say.

" Well, goodnight everyone." Mercurius says.
" Night." I say.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
" Meridian.... I wonder what else is out there in this world..." I think to myself and close my eyes.

I suddenly wake up to a piece of cloth shoved onto my mouth. My eyes shot open and I see a figure holding a cloth over my mouth. I hold my breath so I don't breath in whatever is on the rag. I kick the figure in the stomach and he flies off me, hitting the wall behind him. I gasp for fresh air, looking at who the figure is.
" N -Nighttail?" I ask.
He spits out blood.
" Why are you here?" I feel my blood run cold as he glares at me.
" That is none of your business." A spear appears in his hand and he swings it at me.
I dodge it and quickly run past him and to the door. He grabs my ankle and throws me away from the door.
" Why are you in my room?!" I exclaim.
" Just shut up!" He grabs my mouth.
My vision begins to blur.
" You won't need to worry about anything." His smirk was the last thing I saw before I blacked out.