Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 8: Meeting

More than a few days past as Samth, Grix and Espex stayed in the down rotten inn. In that time new clothes had been bought for all of them. Espex usual seal skin clothes now a cloth metal mix. His upper torso, feet and hands now steel, engraved with tribal patterns all around it; the colour of the steel was blue. The cloth he wore with the metal was white and loose easily covering his legs as trousers, and his upper body was a jumper. Samth gone with the baggy seal skin now wore baggy blue trousers that hid her small skinny legs and a large baggy blue jumper with fine white stitching. Her long blonde unkempt hair now short to her neck and washed. She looked like a noble. Grix even had new clothes he sported green trousers on his legs rather than red. Samth thought it clashed with his blue fur but he didn't care. Sitting in a small shop that served food, Samth, Grix and Espex sat speaking.

"I love these new clothes. Thank you Espex!" Samths eyes wide and her red lips full of cheer as she played with her white necklace Xam had given her.

Lifting a mug from the table they sat at Espex replied "No problem you are travelling with me I can't let you looking bad. Now can we?" Both chuckled and Grix gave a small bark from where he sat in the middle of the table. As Espex placed the mug back on the table his low voice got serious. "Listen well Samth. Do you really want to still come with me? I can leave you with a friend of mine he can keep teaching you Magic."

Shock and hurt crossed Samths skinny pale face "Don't you want me anymore? I thought we were friends!?"

"We are lass we are, it's just we have been lucky thus far in our travels that we haven't ran into any Knights of the One. Remember I am a wanted man. I don't want you endangered by me." Her eyes still large watering with pain, Espex himself looking like every sentence hurt. "It will not be like the arena games, we will need to kill the Knights to get away, and it's for keeps. No one will be around to revive us."

"I.I... I don't care! You are the one that has shown me this magical world. So large and beautiful full of mystery and joy. If it wasn't for you I would have been stuck in my village for the rest of my days working in that tavern my father owned!" Now in a complete flow of tears "I learned magic." She pulled out her skinny hand and a wisp of air formed and rotated around her smooth palm. " I found out about creatures large like the bear and small like Grix!" she pointed at him and he barked. "If my life must end then it will end travelling with the person who freed me from my cage!"

Espex looked hurt his glowing purple eyes saddened. "I am sorry for asking.... If you keep commitments up like that. I and you lass will be unstoppable." A bark came from a small blue Grix. "And Grix of course the master of air." Samth rubbed her eyes of tears and chuckled as did Espex. The laughter lasted a few minutes before Espex asked another question "When did you learn that wind palm you just did?"

"Oh that, I remembered you did it when we first met. I just copied it."

Leaning forward in interest "You just copied it..."

Curiosity took over Samth. "Why is this not allowed?"

"Not at all, it is allowed... it's just unusual."

"How is it unusual all magic is recycled isn't it?"

Eyes wide Espex replied tapping his metal gloved hand on the wooden table. "Yes they are but that one is not... You see that is my spell. I made it I designed it only I know the word to use it... And you made it from wind mana. I did not."

Grix barked before Samth replied in surprise "wait but you never used a word to summon it? I can't fire it off I can only form the ball. Are you mad I tried to copy it?"

"No am not mad am just surprised as so far you are the only person to ever copy it. That spell does not require a summon word to use but does need a word to make it explode."

"Really? How many people have tried to copy it?" a shocked Samth asked.

"Many a Mage and all have failed. This is what I find amazing. You used wind but I use my summon mana. How many days have you tried to copy it?"

"Wow I must be brilliant. I have only been trying since Grix taught me wind mana stance."

Now rubbing his short hair with his metal gloves he pondered before replying "You may be brilliant you may be brilliant indeed." Samth was happy a grin as wide as a river across her pale skinny face.

Time passed on and they paid their tab and walked into the main street of the white city of Gord. The long path shadowed by the walls and the main gate full of people pushing their way in. Stalls on either side of the long large lane, screaming as people stood trying to sell their wares.

"I love this city." Espex said as they walked. "Not as much as my home but it is pretty close."

Samth just smiled with Grix on her shoulder who barked.

"Hey you there halt!" a shout came behind them.

Espex turned as did Samth. It was a group of men all dressed head to toe in armour. The helmets they wore covered their face; it only had eye holes nothing else. The entire suit was made from steel and was white. A crest of an eye on their torso same with the short swords they held.

"Crap Knights of the One, time to leave Gord. You run back to the Inn Samth! I will hold them off!" Espex ordered. Samth did what she was told and burst forward as the knights ran towards them. "Damn to many people to use offensive. Plan B" Espex placed out both hands in front of him. "Invocar El Agua! Roepon Brand!" In one hand flames burst forth making a ball and in the other water swirled and dripped. He slammed his hands together making a loud clank as the steel hit the steel. Smoke started to spread from his hand and made a large area of thick mist. Espex used it to follow behind Samth. Espex always liked the smoke screen as it allowed for a retreat.

Running down the street Samth ran for her life. Grix holding on to her robed shoulder just barked. The way back to the inn, she had forgotten it. She just ran and ran.

"Hey you! It's his partner grab her!" Another knight group had found her and gave chase.

She ran back and into an alleyway full of people. She pushed and barged her way through them as the knights in white gave chase.

"I can't keep this up" Samth said as she ran. Her face bright red and full of sweat. She continued to run until she ran into a dead end in a narrow alleyway. "No!" She turned to see the knights behind her all carrying swords.

"Give up girl!" his voice nasty and bitter. "We won't hurt you, just use you as bait!"

The men behind him all dressed the same. Grix jumped from her shoulder to the ground between the Knights and Samth.

"Grix! no! What are you doing?"

He turned to her with his big eyes and long blue ears and barked. He flexed his three digit gloved hands at the knights.

"Uh what is this thing?!"

Grix barked and a wave of air smashed into the knights sending them all back. The knights at the front all pushed meters back and knocked out. The sound of metal hitting the ground was loud. Grix the small creature had just levelled a group of more than eight knights with one spell.

"Thank you Grix!" he barked at Samth and ran back up her back to the shoulder and she ran forward.

Standing out at the inn was Espex.

"Damn Samth where are you!" as he finished speaking she ran from around the corner.

"Espex!" She cried out.

"No time let's go!" he replied.

"I don't think so." A deep voice replied.

From the rooftops and doors of the surrounding area knights spewed out surrounding Samth, Grix and Espex. Coming from one of the knights a man emerged.

"Damn you Kruem!" Espex said.

"You remember me that is indeed good! Get them!"