The Witch's Relay

Chapter 31: Mage Identity

Heather and I order a couple of Dahlia Buns each from the normal street vendor and we eat as we head back to the inn.

We had just left the adventurers guild after checking for when I can take my rank-up test into C-rank. As it so happens, I was able to get one scheduled for next week in nine days.

Once I finished talking with Burke and Bree, most of the day had already passed. Well, it's not like it was all that early anyways when we had first gotten there, due to my "morning nap", so by the time we had gotten to the blacksmith's shop, it was already past noon. So currently, now that we've been at the guild and bought some food, the time has to be around five-pm.

We had agreed to meet Burke outside of town tomorrow morning for a little bit of sparring, in order to determine my ideal weapon. This sword is looking to be quite expensive. I peer at Heather nervously, she will most likely pin this on me, despite it being her idea in the first place.

"So.. How much do you think they will charge us?.." She has to have a rough idea. I on the other hand have never really chosen any weapon except the cheapest option. After all, I used to use a knife.

"No less than a royal gold coin. One-hundred normal gold coins."

"What!? That's crazy much! For that amount shouldn't I just use the one I already have!? I mean, it has been more than sufficient so far."

"No. You maybe don't get it yet, but having a weapon specially forged for your specific needs is an incredible aid in the battlefield. Whatever weapon you use has to become like a part of you, and if it can't, then it will hold back your true potential."

"I mean.. I guess that makes a lot of sense.. But for that price?.." It is true that I've been using my sword simply as a tool and not as an extension, so it has been slightly clunky, but with my humble background.. One royal-gold coin is a steep price to pay.

"For extra certainty on the battlefield, it is worth every bit of that. Staying alive is your first priority, because unless you survive, everything else has been for nought." Heather looks down at her feet and I can see a hint of sadness behind her façade.

...

"Welcome back you two!" Vanessa exclaims the moment we walk in the door to the tavern-inn.

In the corner of the room it seems Vanessa and Linda are chatting. Still!?

"How are you guys just.. Still here? Don't you have anything better to do?" I ask, a little confused.

Linda giggles and Vanessa laughs.

"Not really, today's my day off, so I might as well spend it with someone fun." Linda smiles.

"And for me, I'm almost always here, and at the moment the evening crowd hasn't arrived just yet, so I'm more than pleased to have some company." Vanessa says cheerfully.

It's true, while there are a few people spread out at various tables in the room, the big crowd shouldn't arrive for another half-hour at most.

"Well.. I guess you do you?.. Meanwhile we've been a little everywhere." I jokingly say. Despite Linda trying to kill me just last night, although she can't remember that, somehow I can't help but relax when she's around. I guess she's just that kind of person.

"I'm heading upstairs, you coming Kade?" Heather simply nods and waves as she sees our two acquaintances and pauses for a few moments as I speak, but now starts walking toward the stairs again.

"Yea." I reply to Heather, but before following her I nod and wish the two at the table a good evening.

...

"I think I've gotten ptsd." I remark as I lock the door.

"You'd better. Not locking up last night could have cost both of us our lives. Imagine if she slit your throat before I woke up, and then proceeded to kill me just like her threat? If I had woken up just half a minute later, you would probably not have been standing here right now, and I'd either be lying next to you or hanging by a noose."

"Yea yea.. You don't have to drive it in deeper, I've already taken my mistakes deep enough to heart."

"Good."

We've already eaten something, so we won't need to go down to the tavern for dinner, we haven't drunk anything however, but of course we have a near infinite supply of that.

Heather stops at the door and stands still for a few moments listening to make sure no-one is outside. "Hey Kade. Why don't you show me how you create water? You said you succeeded once, so a second time should be a cinch."

"I.. Yea. I can do that." I walk up to the empty water pitcher on the desk trying to look as confident as I can, at which Heather smiles amused.

I recall the sensation I felt last time. "Mother water-" I focus on the warmth seemingly enveloping and gathering around my heart. "Who sustains all life-" the warmth grows stronger, but not burning, condensing into a single point inside my heart. "And washes away all impurities-" I start to feel a little cold in my limbs and head and it feels like a power is leaving them. "Grant me your power." The point of heat within my heart suddenly bursts and the point starts spreading out and starts forming a flow from my heart and into my arms, and into the tips of my fingers where the heat once again condenses into points. "Sphere of water!" All in an instant, it feels like a spark flies through my body and all that energy condensed in my fingertips discharges, instantly forming a floating bubble of water.

Heather's eyes fly open wide from surprise and she takes a step back. Slowly she recovers her composure and instead her lips form a wide smile.

I let the water slowly fall down into the pitcher without a splash and just a few gentle ripples.

"So how was that?" I look at her, holding back an excitement welling up in me.

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect." Mischief fills her eyes. "And what's more, I just found out what type of mage you are."

"Really!? What am I!?"

"That.. I'm gonna wait a little bit to say." Suddenly without warning, she bops me on the nose and winks."