Land of Mistique

Chapter Eight

Things changed around the despondent fairy village after word spread that Leanne had repelled and killed a Fire Titan with magic. They believed their magic gone, but she was a new beacon of hope shining over the dark hills, because for once, someone had magic again. They thought that meant their magic would return, too.

Leanne spent her days deep underground practicing magic with Peveri away from the watchful eyes of the villagers. Meanwhile, Leroy was socializing with everyone. The people were shocked by how ordinary the magician's sister was, but they didn't dare to say anything against him, fearing Leanne's wrath.

They called Leanne the Magician, like she was someone dangerous, and she didn't entirely agree. She wasn't dangerous at all. Killing never came naturally to her, and it shouldn't.

But she did find herself in a strange friendship, with Snowi Blizzardberry of all people. Snowi was an ordinary fairy, with her damaged wings letting her mice around more easily without getting tired, and she fit right in with Leanne, who didn't even have wings.

Snowi was one of the few in which Leanne had confided the location of her secret training cave. In case they ever needed to find Leanne, someone needed to know.

Her relationship with Snowi was... Odd. She didn't trust Snowi completely, and Snowi didn't trust Leanne much, either. Leanne had trouble trusting fairies, and Snowi just generally had trust issues.

But... It was working out, in a way.

"Your magic has progressed at a slower pace than I expected," Peveri told Leanne. "I started you with defensive magic, but I don't think we have enough time for that. You might have to skip to offensive magic now. You created Blighted Lightning by accident, so..."

"Blighted Lightning?" Leanne asked, confused.

"Oh, right. Basically, you compressed lightning into that golden orb, turning it into one of the deadliest forms of magic," Peveri explained. "So, I'm thinking, if you can create Blighted Lightning by accident, a feat that takes most advanced magicians hundreds of years to perfect - I'm not saying it was perfect, by the way - it shows you have a lot of potential. Like, a lot, a lot."

"You don't have to say it twice," Leanne grumbled. She raised her hand, and the dust in the training cave whisked itself away. "Great, so what offensive magic?"

"Well, we can't make Blighted Lightning without dealing serious damage to the cave, so... I'm thinking, a simple fire charm should do the trick," Peveri explained. "You'll have your water magic at the ready, true?"

"Doing so many spells in quick succession exhausts me," Leanne warned her dragon familiar. She thought Peveri knew that, but sometimes her familiar was oblivious to the limits Leanne had.

Peveri nodded. "That's why we have to keep doing it. I intend to have you casting spells until you pass out. Such rigorous training will increase your magical stamina, and eventually you will be able to cast many more spells without tiring."

"Won't that be the day," Leanne mumbled. Then she focused every bit of consciousness on a fireball, a long lance of fire.

It speared against the stone wall of the training cave, blackening the stone but not burning through it, and Leanne sagged to the ground, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. That had almost taken as much out of her as Blighted Lightning.

"That's not right," Peveri murmured. "Stone is fireproof, yet you came very close to burning through it."

"So... My fire was very powerful?" Leanne asked.

"No, I... I believe you created the Eternal Flame. Now I understand why you struggled so much with the defensive magic I taught you."

"What... What do you mean?" Leanne asked cautiously.

"Blighted Lightning at that side should have blown the entire Titan apart upon mere touch and obliterated the entire village. Your Blighted Lightning was at the right size, but it dealt far less damage. Can you guess why?" Peveri was looking a little worried now, which Leanne guessed wasn't a good sign.

"No," Leanne admitted truthfully.

"It's very bad, Leanne. It means I may not have much to teach you at all."

"What... What do you..."

"I'm a creature of light magic, Leanne. And you are a Dark Magician."