Phantoms

3. Tasha

I walk through the forest near the institute. My phone buzzes and I pick it up and look at the caller, it was Llexis. Llexis was my friend since birth, she protected me and kept me company, she was like a sister to me.
I answer the call and brace myself for the rampage she's going to have down the phone, "Don't come to the institute!" she screams down the phone with wild footsteps thundering down the phone. I looked up to see her running down the path screaming something I couldn't hear but she looks scared and concerned. Blaz stood up on his toes and growled slowly.
"What's wrong Llexis?" I asked, reading her face.
"Enroy." She huffs, still catching her breath and looking at the firefox. She points to it and looks it up and down.
"It's my familiar. Anyway, what about Enroy?" I ask looking past her towards the institute.
"They were monitoring you at that mission," she pats me up and down looking for any cuts or bruises, "Have you got your sword?"
I nod and show her the case which holds my sword in, "Yeah, I have now, would you please tell me what's going on." I give her a harsh stern tone not wanting to mess around anymore.
"One of the phantoms monitoring you reported that you used Demon Tiger magic." She was not messing either.
My firefox perched on my shoulder still on edge but calmer now rolls his eyes, "I told you"
I ignore him and turn my gaze back to Llexis, "ok and?" I say not getting the point.
She sapped, "Tash! You need to stop messing around, recite code 243...Now!" She shouts at me like one of the second in mission leaders.
"Code 243 is, if a phantom displays any sort of magic abilities they should be hunted down and killed, even if it was the director." I say scowling at her, "So what? Should I just leave?"
"Yes." She bluntly replies, "But Tasha... do you know what Demon Tiger is?" She looks genuinely upset. Probably also be disappointed if I didn't know. I shake my head no in reply. She sighs, "A Demon Tiger is an ancient being that died out years ago. There were six types of Demon Tigers; Snow Tiger, Ash Tiger, Shadow Tiger, Aqua Tiger, Fire Tiger and the most powerful Demon Tiger. Since we already call all of them Demon Tigers we can't just call them Demon Demon Tigers, we call them Hex Tigers or Purple Flame.'' She looks back at the institute only to see guards and wyverns running and slivering towards me. Llexis looks at me then takes off her backpack, "Take this, it's got food and clothes to last a week and a half." She shoves it in my arms, "Find the Demon Magics Academy. Run Tash." She looks into my eyes and I back look into hers. I could see the worry and fear in them, I also see the guards nearly here and with no choice I run.
I look back to see them grab her, beat her and chain her. She is going to be punished for helping me even though she doesn't have to. She's going to be in a world of pain now.
And I bolt off. I look back once more. I saw Enroy on top of one of the institute's turrets, he was watching me closely and smiling. I turn one corner and I'm out of sight .