The Shadow Of Magic(first draft)

Chapter 3

He spent many nights there, in that prison. 30 days to be exact. He never did stop trying to get free, did not stop trying to get back to Kaiden. Not once.

This day was no different from the others. Some guards stopping by to check if he was still there. Only one guard giving him food and a single cup of water. More than most prisoners but still not much.

The door creaked open quietly and he lifted his head. He was expecting a guard dressed head to toe in armor so imagine his surprise to seeing a young girl in a light blue dress.

The girl from the throne room. The president's daughter was standing in front of the closed door, not talking but looking at him. "What do you want?" He growled. She remained quiet but she slowly stepped forward.

Eiran looked back up to her. His eyes held hers for a minute. They were different, her eyes. They weren't cold or harsh anymore, but they were sympathetic and loving. "I'm sorry about this. You didn't deserve it."She said, just above a whisper. "You don't mean that. For all I know, you were sent here to let my guard down so you could get your answers."He stated coldly.

"I promise, that's not why I'm here. My father, he's been cold and demanding ever since my mother died. There's a subdivision power that was thought to be forgotten long ago. Wish. It's said Wish was a subdivision of -"Eiran cut her off. "Yes, it's a subdivision of reality and reality is an extension of Soul. I spent my whole life memorizing those old charts. I know."He spat, visibly mad.

"Yes, well. Many thought it was lost forever but father was determined to find one. He wanted them to grant him two wishes. The first to bring mother back, and the other to grant them eternal life. Just them. He said to his men that I was expendable. They could always have more children. So I'm here to stop that. If you promise you will never help him grant that wish, ever, I will help you get free."She took another step forward.

"Okay, so I refuse to grant the big man's wish and you let me go. You don't get much out of this. I mean, you're letting go of the most useful weapon you could ever receive. Why would you help me for simply not being expendable anymore?"

She stayed silent for a moment then answered, "A dagger can be the most well crafted, sharpest of all the daggers in the world but it is of no use if no one knows how to use it. You would be unwilling to do anything for us. It'd just be one more cell being filled up and to them-" She motioned to the guards outside. "Just another waste of food and supplies."She stood a little taller then.

"Okay. You get me out of here and then what? You pin it on some guard?"Eiran raised an eyebrow. "No. I'm going with you."She stated nervously, as if asking permission. "Well, well, little girl doesn't want to be a princess anymore?"He snickered. "I'm not a princess. I'm the president's daughter. I won't go rule in his place after he dies."She said quietly.

"If your daddy gets everything going his way, you will. He thinks he's king already I mean, a castle? Little dramatic if you ask me, but to each their own." He laughed a little at his own words.

"I won't let that happen. I won't. That is a promise."She replied seriously. "All these empty word and no real actions."Eiran smirked.  She didn't respond, but she stretched out her arms and touched the shield. "Spirit of Water, Spirit of springs, your power dissolves and releases, purifies and heals. Peaceful but powerful, lifeblood of the Earth. Ocean of perfection. Flowing calm and meek, let the murmur of clear waters send me to heaven of peace. Wash away all pain, all doubts and sorrow. Spirit of water, Spirit of nourishment, I call on you now. Release!"

Eiran had to shield his eyes from the sudden flash of light. When he opened his eyes she was standing here just as she was before. "Try it now."She stated calmly. He walked cautiously to the edge of the small piece of land.

He placed his foot over the water, roots sprouting from the ground making a path under him. He smiled to himself as he walked back to the main part of the land. She was just standing here, watching, clearly happy with herself.

"Now, let's get out of here."She smiled happily. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"Eiran questioned. "Well, you're the Shadow, right? You can use every magical power. Use invisibility. You know, a subdivision of void."She was still smiling.

"The Shadow? What- You know what, whatever. I'll deal with that later. What makes you think I've ever practiced that power? It's Soul magic. That could kill me if I'm not careful!"Eiran exclaimed. 

Her eyes went wide. Clearly, she hadn't thought that through yet. "Well then, I suggest we find a new way out. What about that?"Eiran looked to where her eyes were. A window. More specifically, a window that was about 20-30 feet tall and right above water. Just great.

"Okay, and if we do that we have two options. I use Air to float both of us out individually or we grow roots and get us both out faster."Eiran, said, studying the small window. "Individually. There is no way we would both fit through there."She responded, walking towards it.

The bridge had fallen at this point so Eiran tried to stop her. "Hey wait, the- Oh"He stopped because she did exactly what he had. "Earth? So do you have an extension, subdivision?"He asked. "Nope. I have an element. Just Earth."She kept walking.

"People like you are hard to find these days. Was it a family power?"Eiran started walking after her on the make-shift bridge. "Your kind are pretty rare too."She looked over her shoulder this time, smiling at him. "Sounds like you're avoiding the question."He replied.

"My mother's side. Most of the people there had Earth extensions or subdivisions. My grandma had Earth just like me. Her and mother passed at around the same time."Her voice now sounded gloomy. 

"If I may be so inclined, How did your mother pass?"Eiran asked. "Illness. Father had used too much of his magic on her. It made her sick. Did you know that was possible? A Soul user can kill someone as well as themselves if they use their powers on them too much. I didn't know that until she died."She paused. "She died so father wouldn't kill me."She finally finished.

"What do you mean?"Eiran pushed on. "Every time my father would want to punish me with his powers, she stopped him. Psychological torture. Have you ever had someone go into your mind, rip it apart, and put it back together again?All while getting your deepest, darkest secrets revealed?"She looked back at him again. He hadn't noticed that they finally made it to the window.

As he conjured up roots from the ground to lift her up, he stared into the light above. Freedom, he thought. He was almost free.

"Don't worry Kaiden. I'm going to get you home."He whispered to himself and slowly was lifted up to the window, then, "Boom"

The door to the prison cell burst open. Then suddenly, their escape got a whole lot more complicated...