A Witches Exile

Part 2. Snowflakes

Magenta had packed a small bag filled with snacks, a little bit of clothing, and a pyromancy book.
"I'm ready." She said closing her house's door.

"Are you sure?" Alva said standing, his sniper rifle had designs carved into the metal, and was tied to his back.

"Yes I am." She adjusted her bag onto her back.

"Well shall we get going?" He asked smiling. She nodded.

"Yeah we should." Scorch barked. "No baby, you can't come with mommy... stay and keep the house safe." The dog whimpered and pawed at her leg.

"We can bring him with, I don't have a problem with that."

"You really are okay with it?" Alva turned around, and rubbed Scorch's head.

"Yeah I am. I may be a hunter, but I sure do love animals."

"Then why be a hunter?" Alva stopped and shook his head.

"Because the wild has been getting out of hand. And now with the war starting, it'll be ten times worse." Magenta nodded.

"We should get going." He agreed. "Where to first?"

"The town at the base of the mountain. It should be a good place to get supplies."

"I, quite frankly, would not know." She responded following Alva down the mountain path.

"I can't believe a pretty witch like you lives up here."

"Hey, got to be where the great below is, else it all falls. And anyhow, how did you know how we live?"
"Oh that, I may have researched it for a friend."

"I bet you just wanted to have a witch love you and know how they work." Alva shot a glare back, causing Magenta to get uneasy. How did he do that? 

"You'd be surprised what some men would do for a witch to love them." She, this time, did not respond. "But I digress. Somethings are best left untouched and forgotten."

"You can say that again." She mumbled, cramming her hands in her pockets.

"Are you cold?" Alva asked concerned.

"If I were cold I'd do this." She casted a fire and waved it around to warm herself up. "Are you?" He shook his head.

"No I'm used to the cold... do you feel that?"

"What?" Alva grabbed his rifle. Magenta followed lead with her sythe.

"Someone or thing filled with malice." Jacob? She thought, glancing throughout the woods. "You ever fight a real foe?"

"No us witches are forbidden to fight actual enemies, we were only permitted to face the dark beasts, from below."

"Well guess what?" Alva said aiming. "Those damn rules mean nothing now. If you ever read through the entire thing that dictates the rules, it even says that humans are also forbidden to kill, hell, even harm a witch." Magenta nodded, slightly surprised at Alva's knowledge.

"Then how do you fight a person?"

"Like anything else. Just a lot faster."

"Um... what's that mean?" Alva sighed firing a shot into the woods.

"It would be best if we just moved." They stumbled down the mountain.

Magenta was looking behind them when she ran into Alva.

"You mind?" He growled.

"Sorry." She didn't move from his back.

"Are you hitting on me?" He turned and looked her in the eyes.

"N-no, of course not!" Magenta's voice squeaked matching her bright red cheeks. His eyes had a kindness to them, a perfect feeling of relief and love.

"Now, can we continue?" She nodded. "You're one of the strangest people I have met. Really, I have never met someone so... hesitant." Magenta looked into her palm.

"That's how I was raised, I'm sorry if it's an anoyance." Alva looked back this time with a smile.

"And I was raised to treat women like gods, else I have my insides ripped apart. But I digress, my father was a pervert."

"Was?" She asked softly.

"I... I shot him after he raped my girlfriend she died shortly after. I have not tried to get a woman since." He fell mute.

"I'm sorry for asking."

***

After a long trudge through the mountain range, and possibly a few close calls, they made it to the town.

"Just act natural, don't reveal that you're a witch either that may cause a riot." Alva stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Fine, but one person does know what I am." Magenta continued, adjusting her skirt. "They may have slipped up."

"It wouldn't surprise me. After all us humans are easily broken, especially under heavy pressure." She nodded.

"My father was, that's how he died. He may have killed a few people, but it's not important. Not anymore anyway." They continued in silence.

"Hey Magenta!" A kid ran up to her and leaped into her arms. "When are you going to give me those magic lessons." She whispered.

"Not for awhile Lucy." Magenta set her down.

"Is it because of the war...?" Alva shuffled uncomfortably. "Hey, mister, will you keep her safe? I won't forgive you if you let her die."

"Don't worry I'll protect her, it's my job anyway." Lucy smiled.

"You guys better hurry out of town, if you need anything say, I can get it." Alva, and Magenta shook their heads.

"Nothing of note." Magenta said taking the pyromancy book out of her bag. "Here start off with magic this way, use the section for medical care, don't burn everything down." Lucy nodded waving the pair off.

"I'm still sorry about Scorch you know..." Magenta sighed rubbing Alva's back.

"Don't worry about it, he was due tomorrow or in a few days. The fall made it a lot less painful... I hope." Alva breathed into his hands. "Here." Magenta casted a small fire for him.

"I can already tell this journey will be cruel." Alva stuffed the fire ball down his jacket.

"What about the snow tower?" He shook his head, muttering about women and dangers.

"The snow tower is filled to the brim by creatures from the great below, the other thing there is a lot worse."

"And it would be?" He sighed.

"A giant lizard from hundreds of years ago, one dumb idiot summoned it back to life. Now it stalks the halls fre-"

"Then we'll kill it!" Magenta cut off. "We have a month till doomsday, we might as well try and save the world as well."

"You're such a strange person." She shrugged.

"That's part of my charm kid." Alva sighed.

"Kid." He muttered. "Yeah right."

They continued in silence.

"It's snowing..." Magenta mumbled. "And on top of that it's becoming night."

"We can sleep, hopefully the snow stops in the morning." Alva said walking to the side of the road. "Come on, we both need some sleep." Magenta walked over and sat with Alva as he set up camp.
She began to sleep after a few minutes. Alva glanced at her.

"You idiot, you can't just fall asleep out here." He picked her up and layed her in the tent. She began to tear up.

"You're going to be okay." He smiled softly, holding the girl close.

He began to sing a soft song.