The Battle Mage

Sapling

I walked along the old cobbled roads, cloak drawn tight around my body, hurrying home through the crowd of people. School had just been released, and everyone was rushing to get home before the cold rain chilled their bones. An older woman pushed past me, shielding an infant child with her body, muttering an apology as she went on her way. 

I left the main path of the town, now following the muddy dirt road that led to the forest where my father's house was. He was the town carpenter and always felt far more comfortable among the trees, and so chose to live among them. I was grateful for this, as the limbs protected us from the wind and snow that shook every other house in the town, and as I passed under their protection I appreciated their shelter from the rain with a whispered "Thank you." I followed the winding trail, as I had a hundred times before, but this time a fallen tree blocked the way. I sighed. The forest was thick with brush this time of year, as it was early fall when everything was fully grown and hadn't had a chance to die. It would be trouble to go around. But I was only four feet tall, and the trunk was at least that in diameter. I tossed my book bag over it, then attempted to scramble up it, only to slip on the slick moss dampened by the rain. 

"Just cut it." I heard a voice behind me say. I turned sharply. A boy stood there, soaked by the rain but not shivering at all. "You're the carpenter's daughter, right? Just carpent it." "I don't think you know what a carpenter does." I responded, then added, "And carpent isn't a word." He must have been my age, only about 9 or 10, and couldn't be any taller than me. He tilted his head and asked "Then why is it a carpenter?" I shrugged. "Or," The boy said, "You could just use your magic." That made me pause. Magic wasn't uncommon in this region, but no one in my family had it at the moment. "How would you know if I have magic?"  I asked him. Normally only the town seer would be able to identify it, and only past age 13. 

"You're glowing." The boy said, as if it was the most simple thing in the world. I stared at him. "Just like..." He made a chopping motion towards the tree with the sound affect "Hy-a!" I didn't respond. He dropped his arm, discouraged. "Why are you even in here?" I asked. "It's going to be dark soon, and the woods are confusing. You'll get lost." "I followed you. You were glowing a lot. I can just follow the glow back." "That doesn't make sense." I told him. He shrugged. "Aren't you cold?" I worried. He shook his head. "Doesn't bother me." "You're weird." I commented. "You're the one that's glowing." he retorted. "Hy-a!" He chopped towards the tree again. Nothing happened. "You do it!" He encouraged. "It's a simple battle spell. You're a battle mage, I can tell. Try it!" Hesitantly, I stepped back from the tree. I halfheartedly flicked my arm at it. "Hya." "No, no." The boy stopped me. "Hy-a. That's what the teacher said." I tossed my arm again with a "Hy-a." To my shock, a very small cut appeared in the trunk, only about two inches long. "Yeah!" The kid said. I stared at him again. "Who ARE you?" I ask him. He gives me a big smile. "I'm Jack!"