Hidden World: The Archmages(Draft)

Chapter 5 (Draft)

THE SOUND of crickets and frogs croaking filled Arwen's ears, dark tree limbs were the first thing that came into her vision-followed by the flickering stars that glittered the sky.

She began to sit up but pain in her sides made her think otherwise, "take it easy-sudden movements aren't going to make those wounds feel any better"

Arwen jumped at the sudden voice, she snapped her head over to see Aurelian sitting on the other side of a burning fire he must've make.

The warmth brushed Arwen's arms, her eyes widened as she realized her black cloak was gone. Underneath it this whole time was just a mere white shirt.

But her exposed arms revealed the jagged black lightning markings that zipped down her arms.

Arwen glared at Aurelian, "what are you doing here!?" Arwen demanded-she tried to make her hands spark threateningly with lightning but they merely snap and pop with weak small sparks.

Her lightning markings glowed dimly,

"Me? Oh I'm just here eating delectable berries while waiting for a child to wake up" Aurelian said sarcastically-he popped another berry into his mouth eating it happily.

Arwen narrowed her dark blue eyes at him, "what did you do to me?" She asks trying to form a stronger spark but it wasn't working for some reason.

"I'm merely keeping you from using your magic" he said casually.

"Wh-"

"You have broken the sacred rule that the Archmages have specifically asked you mage not to do-and that is, use your magic against the kingdoms...it's no wonder they're trying to kill you off" Aurelian explained.

'Archmages?' Arwen shook her head not understanding anything he just said.

The only people that set rules against the use of magic were the Kingdoms not the mages.

Silence fell between them, what was Arwen suppose to say? She had no knowledge of this mage-now he can not only shift in animals but also keep her from using her magic.

"Hungry?" Aurelian said as he tossed an apple at her. Arwen caught it in her hands-she looked at the red apple carefully as if to see anything wrong with it.

She recalled what had happened, the gryphon that had her pinned and the last words she heard its rider say.

"Did you...did you save me?" Arwen asked quietly.

Aurelian chuckled, "do I look like a knight in shining armor to you?" He questioned smirking.

Arwen rolled her eyes, she clutched the apple thinking about chucking it at his head.

"Nóir is the one that fought off the men and their gryphons-I just happened to have seen the commotion and decided to see what was up-and there you were lying there bleeding" Aurelian continued.

Arwen blinked at him, "Nóir? Who's that?"

"You encountered him before-he mistaken you to be a mere human when really you were a mage".

The memory of the mighty black pegasus flashed in her mind, "the pegasus that nearly killed me?"

Aurelian studied her for a moment concern now etched his face.

"Has everything the Archmages have ever done in this world really been forgotten?" He murmured.

Arwen found the strength within herself to stand-clutching her side however as her bandaged wounds burned.

"I don't understand-what in the world are these Archmages you keep speaking of? And what are you? You can somehow change into animals and block my magic" Arwen finally said wanting to know where Aurelian came from.

His face was full of shock, "you don't know the Archmages!?" He cried as if it was the worst thing he's ever heard.

Arwen shook her head,

"The Archmages are our ancestors! Our Creators! How could the Mages of Mirri lose this sacred knowledge!" He shouted in anger. His voice carried throughout the woods.

Arwen frowned, Aurelian stood looking at Arwen square in the eyes.

"You must come with me back to the Archmages, they need to know what has become of this world" he said coming closer to Arwen.

Arwen backed away from him, "I told you-I'm not going anywhere with you!" She yelled at him. "Why!? I told you I mean you no harm child" Aurelian argued frustrated.

Arwen glared at him, "how do I know that? When you can somehow block my magic?" she pointed out.

Aurelian sighed becoming more frustrated, "I've been sent by the Archmages themselves to bring back mages of this world, I'm just trying to fulfill my mission..." he said in a quiet manner.

His expression filled with sorrow, "believe me....if I could find another mage I would...I went to your village after our last encounter..." he clenched his fists.

Arwen felt her emotions settle into sadness, "There was nothing left...no one was alive...I don't understand...how have the mages of this world grow so weak?" Aurelian murmured.

Arwen looked at him, but remained silent.

She limped over to where her cloak was near the warm fire, she drapes it back over her arms and shoulders and left Aurelian at the camp he had set up.

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