Axis Mundi [HP]

CH 8 [Crossing Paths]

It was somewhere around midnight. Acher was laying in bed, his back pressed against the white, lace lined pillows. Struhanka had made the dip of his chest into a perfect sleeping spot, the tiny kitten curled up halfway beneath the soft cotton of his pajama shirt, pressing the wet tip of her nose against his skin. She was staring at the contents of the wide tome of magical creatures he was balancing on his lap with bleary but determined purple eyes as if she could actually read what was written on the pages and would have a test regarding it tomorrow.

At his side, standing upon an old silvered holster was a half used up candle, casting warm, orange light over the tall dark green curtains. Lighting them into a strange hazel hue. All that the candlelight ceased to touch was drowned in darkness.

Achers roommates were all fast asleep by now. But in the same way a sheep won't sleep when hearing howling in the distance, Acher refused to cease his studies as his mind was restless and uncaring of his tiredness.

He flipped to another page, coming face to face with an intricate drawing of a Snow Starked Wolf. Powerful creatures, yet surprisingly not the most dangerous as long as you knew what to do when coming face to face with one. They are prideful creatures, traveling in packs, always seeking the cold. The key to surving an encounter with these magestic creatures was presenting yourself in the most respectful way possible, they were similar to the Hippogriffs in that way.

Struhanka let out a squeaky growl, pulling her ears back and hissing at the page.

"Big, scary wolf." Acher nodded, smoothing the pad of his index finger up the kittens tiny forehead. She bristled her whiskers and chomped down on the digit with her tiny feline teeth. "Ouch. I'm already hurt, can't you see?" He showed Struhanka his bandaged hand. "What's with cats craving my blood lately." The kitten meowed and started to knead Achers skin as if nothing happened beforehand. He let it slip, not like he could ever resist those big, bug like eyes and tiny nose.

The blonde carded through the pages of the textbook before closing and pushing it to the side, too tired to start another chapter on common magical rodents. It was a third year textbook so he didn't have to read it right now anyways. Honestly, he should probably get started on potions as that's the lesson he would have in a few hours.

Acher watched the slim flame of the candle burn in complete stillness

Mindlessly he reached his hand out, allowing for a trickle of magic to escape the confines of his body and extend towards the tiny flame through his index finger. He wrapped up that tendril right underneath the fire and swept it up gently as if cradling a baby.

The flame went with it and soon he was holding fire with his magic, a single flame burning in his grasp. Hovering in mid air.

"Huh..." The blonde stared at the flame, completely dumbfounded. Struhanka also began watching the orange speck, her small head cocked to the side in interest. "So it does work on plasma..." Carefully, the boy extended the rest of his fingers, linking multiple lines of magic to the fire and slightly pushing out. The fire extended its surface area, hissing quietly like a hot coal turned on its back, its light stabbing at Achers eyes.

"I think...it's using my magic as fuel..." The boy whispered to the cat, the creature replying with a low pitched "mreow".

Gingerly Acher allowed the metalic pull of his energy to loop around and create a circular shape. The flame followed it, creating a deep, orange ring of fire.

The wizard watched his creation as it hissed and cracked, as if seeking to break free of its symmetrical confines and spread further.

"So is the nature of fire," Acher frowned.