The Seventh Moon

A Lady Mage

Deep inside, I know my heart will never stop screaming. For I'm hoping that this time, you'll be able to hear it… ~ Florence Joyce

xxxxxx

"You don't have to force yourself to recall them if it brings you so much pain, Miss Risa."

But Risa paid no heed to Jehan's words as the pain was more disturbing than it ever was. And yet, for some reason, she could only see blurry images in her mind. Some of them, she knew it happened. While the others... She could see water everywhere. She could feel them, as well.

So she eventually ended up in the river after that car struck her. But how did that happen? Was there some magic about that car that pushed her to this place? She had already seen that magic was possible here.

The person who called her name when the car was about to run over her... It was still a mystery to her. She knew that it was not her brother at all. A friend, perhaps? She shook her head.

That call was the trigger for her to end up in this place. At this point, she was sure of that.

Risa took a deep breath when the pain subsided and soon faced Jehan.

"I'm sorry. But I think I won't be able to answer that question. Even I don't know how I ended up there."

"As I said, you don't have to force yourself for now. What matters most at the moment is that you take a good rest."

Risa nodded and sighed in relief. Not long after, she looked around.

"By the way, where is the Master Mage?"

"He's outside. He's setting up a barrier so that any stranger to us could not enter this place. That way, you don't have to worry about anything or anyone barging in here again."

Risa frowned.

"Anything? Are there creatures that would decide to barge in here, as well?"

Jehan smiled and shook his head.

"Not every time. But yes, there were wild creatures that would crash into someone's cabins or houses located in these woods. It doesn't happen often, though. As for the Master Mage's house, only mystical creatures that he commanded to guard this place could enter."

Even though Risa nodded, a large part of her mind still couldn't comprehend the words she had just heard from Jehan. So there were mystical creatures in this forest that would obey the Master Mage's commands.

"I want to thank him for letting me use his house to rest. I'm just hoping that I wasn't a bother to him at all."

But before Jehan could stop her, a voice had already done so.

"This is the only safe place that Jehan and I could think of for you when we saw you clinging to a log while floating on the river unconscious. There's no need for you to thank me. I know you're not someone who could do any harm to anyone."

"Master Mage..."

Risa could only look at him after he said those words. Soon after, she smiled and bowed to him.

"Even so, thank you for saving me."

The Master Mage smiled and shook his head. "I guess you are one stubborn woman."

It made Risa smile, as well.

As it was happening, the door burst open and made the three of them look at it. To Risa's confusion, a middle-aged woman with long wavy silver hair and wearing a purple gown entered the house. She did so while continuously going ahead with her litany that appeared to be meant for the two men.