Wizard's Price

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The second time that Rune dropped everything to stare out at nothing, Lucia didn't immediately recognize what he was doing. She really didn't think that pretas would be so common that, not even a week after the first, another was appearing. So even as Sen was asking him where it was and he was hooking Chaz up to his hip, it still took Lucia a moment to realize what was happening.

She just didn't want to believe that pretas would be a normal occurrence.

"There's another one?" She asked in disbelief when it finally dawned on her.

Rune shrugged a bit sadly. "Pretas appear all the time. That makes them among the three biggest things I do. Barrier upkeep, river maintenance, and preta destruction."

Lucia shook her head. "O-Okay. So, where is this one?"

Rune focused for a moment. "Well, the map will be most accurate. I think it's just a bit north of the river."

Lucia followed after him as he made his way down the tower. Once again, the mural on the ground floor had a sickly purple light showing Lucia where the preta was clawing at the barrier. It wasn't all that far from the first one.

Yet another monster. How common were they?

"Chaz, show me a map of that region," Rune demanded as he lifted the book, swinging it around from his hip to look at it.

"You could say please," Chaz told him in a very haughty voice even as he was falling open in Rune's arms. His pages flipped quickly without Rune's aid before stopping suddenly.

Lucia looked over Rune's shoulder as he hummed thoughtfully. She gasped. Very softly so that even Rune didn't notice.

She could see something. It wasn't obvious. It looked almost like a smudge on glass. However, there was definitely something across Chaz's pages. The black marks were easiest to distinguish and she thought she could see some writing, but it was hard to focus on.

She could see it though! Her green tinged eyes were finally picking up Chaz's magick pages. Her cup was still completely clay, but the book was becoming clearer to her.

Rune caught sight of her amazement in his periphery and he turned, noting her wide eyed stare. He frowned.

"You know, you don't have to come with me."

"What?" She jumped, startled. She had been so focused on Chaz that she had almost forgotten that Rune was standing right there. For a moment his question didn't even make sense.

"You can stay here," he clarified. "I can deal with the preta myself."

She frowned. "Do you not want me to come?"

"My feelings on it don't matter. I'm looking out for you. You were terrified of the preta last time."

"Yes, and I'm sure I'll be scared again this time."

"Yet you want to come?"

"Why did you let me come with you before if you're trying to spare me the fear now?"

Rune shifted his weight a bit, frowning. "I just wanted you to see it the last time."

Lucia snickered. "You were mad that I didn't believe you so you decided that you would just show me even if it was horrific and scarring."

He made a face. "It sounds bad when you say it like that."

Lucia laughed. She reached up and touched his arm gently. "I understand why you did it, and I appreciate the gesture."