White Magic

Chapter 2: Ecca

Ecca

Despite Arrex not complaining about my teleporting anymore and him seeming comfortable with me pulling him around, I knew he was still grumpy at me for using 'forbidden magic.'

The only reason it was forbidden was because it was incredibly dangerous, but it wasn't for me.  Due to my heightened magical abilities and training in that area, I could set a destination and get a clear picture of the area so I know if I'm going to put myself in any danger. I didn't even need to be familiar with or know the area at all. But, the further the destination, the more unclear the picture, so I tended to take multiple short teleportations rather than one long one.

I was holding Arrex's hand as we walked, making sure he didn't fall behind. We'd entered the forest to the south side of the city, and I was excited to show him one of my favourite places as well as inform him of all the things he'd missed at the speech.

Although my hand seemed small in his, I wasn't that much shorter than him, so I was quite happy. I shook my thoughts away and I led Arrex underneath several spiky, low-hanging branches.

"Do you actually know where you're going?" Arrex asked in a half-playful, half-serious tone.

"Of course I do!" I replied, before pausing in my steps momentarily, "I think."

Arrex's chuckled filled the silence and I couldn't help but smile. Moments later, we arrived at my favourite spot, much to both mine and Arrex's surprise.

It was a lake in the forest, surrounded by sandy banks and hidden from the rest of the forest by a thick layer of trees and undergrowth. The sun shined down on the lake, causing the clear water to seemingly sparkle, and most likely warming it as well.

I watched as Arrex released my hand and walked to the edge of the lake, his mouth slighly open as his took in the beauty of the area with his indigo eyes. Running a hand through his short blonde hair, he turned to me.

"I'm surprised you ddn't just teleport us here," He said, a playful smirk resting on his lips, whereas I just groaned.

"Will you stop bringing that up?" I sighed, crossing my arms.

"No, why should I?" He replied, mimicking my movements.

"Because otherwise, I'll drop you," I threatened playfully, a smirk now forming as an idea popped into my head.

"You'll... drop me...?" He replied confused.

The world flashed around me three times until I was standing where Arrex had previously been, looking towards him as he fell a short distance from the air into the lake.

"Ecca! You-" Splash.

I couldn't contain my laughter as Arrex rose to the surface with an angry roar and begain swimming towards me. Quickly deciding that my clothes were thin enough not to hinder me too much, I teleported myself into the air near Arrex, recreating his almighty splash and covereing his head once again.

"You're insane," Arrex delcared, chuckling, once our heads both reappeared above the surface. Laughing happily, I slapped the water, sending it into his face, before squealing and dodging his return attack.

We splashed and laughed and sawn for quite some time, the seriousness and pressure of the King's speech fading as we childishly played in the water.

The only reason we stopped is because Arrex cheated.

"I wasn't cheating!" Arrex complained for the fourth time as I walked from the water onto the sandy ground, shivering slightly.

"Levitating me in the air and paralysing me whilst splashing me with water is definitely cheating!" I replied back, keeping a playful tone in my voice.

"Yeah, well so is teleporting!"

I stuck my tongue out at him and walked past a few trees on the outskirts of the clearing to collect so dead leaves and twigs. Once I had enough, I joined Arrex who was sitting on the grass with some rocks and began to build a small fire. After lighting the fire with his magic, Arrex looked up into the sky. Following his gaze, I noticed the beginnings of the sunset.

"How romantic," I said with a fake dreamy voice as I let my head fall onto Arrex's lap and bringing my clasped hands to my neck and my eyelashed fluttering wildly.

"Of course, my darling," Arrex replied, continuing the joke in an overly posh tone, "This gorgeous scenery is the perfect time for me to - to confess I'm in love with you!" He threw his head back as he yelled the last part, raising his arms to add to his dramatic acting.

We looked at each other in silence for a few moments before both cracking up into waves of laughter.

"So, you were supposed to inform me of every celebration we're supposedly having this week," Arrex said, as he lay back, resting his head on his hands to look at the darkening sky. I didn't move from his thigh, deciding it was a comfy enough pillow.

"Yeah, we have a couple of feasts, a parade at some point, a huge fireworks display, and also some kind of ball..." I trailed off, frowning. I was probably supposed to wear a dress for that.

"When's all this happening, and how did I miss so much?" He asked, confused.

"I think there's one or two celebrations a day, and you missed it all because you were too busy staring at my sexy body." I winked. Once again, we both chuckled before falling into a comfortable silence. At least I'd made one friend out of the seven people I was going to be locked in a tower with.

My eyelids grew heavy, and I eventually gave into them, shutting my eyes and letting sleep take me.

A soft bouncing motion lulled me back into consciousnessness, and I realised I was travelling through the darkness along a path illuminated slightly by a small ball of light. Opening one eye, I recognised the not too lean, but not too muscular form of Arrex as he carried me. He was more tall, than short, and as I sneaked a glance up at his face, I was once again reminded of his uniquely indigo coloured eyes.

"If you're awake, you can walk yourself," Arrex's voice rumbled in the silence, as he looked down at me, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Then let's pretend I'm still asleep," I murmured, closing my eyes again, and latching my arms around his neck.

"Okay, but just this once," He hoisted me up a little higher in his arms, "You remind me of my sister."

"Oh dear, please don't say that," I chuckled tiredly, and snuggled my face closer in the crook of his neck, "You confessed your love to me, remember?"

He laughed, "And now I'm carrying you to your bedroom, so I guess we're married as well."

"I guess we are," I joked, before continuing, more seriously, "Where are we going, anyway?"

"Back to my parent's inn," He replied, "Unless you want to go home?"

"I don't live near here," I frowned, thinking of my younger brother who was staying home alone.

"Ah, so I guess you're stuck with me then."

I smiled, I doubt that it'd be that bad. I began to drift back into unconsciousness, deciding that in the morning I'd go searching for the other magicians and see if there were just as friendly as Arrex.