Hidden World: The Archmages(Draft)

Chapter 9 (Draft)

IT WAS EVENING by the time Aurelian and Arwen made it outside of the destroyed village, they had to hide a few times as the dragon rider loomed in the skies searching for them.
       Aurelian feared that the rider would be a problem for them on what he thought was going to be a normal journey to the mountains.
    Arwen was once again silent as they sat across from one another, Nóir laid beside her content at the moment as she stroked his broad neck.
     It was interesting to Aurelian that Nóir held back his strength to not have ended the soldier’s life despite him trying to kill them.
      If it hadn’t been for Arwen Aurelian would’ve possibly been killed, he only refrained from shifting to obey the law of the Archmages.
       “Arwen...I just want to say, thank you…” Aurelian said smiling softly at her.
          Arwen looked up at him a bit confused, “for what…?” She asked.
    Aurelian chuckled, “for saving my life silly!” He said.
     “You’re really one brave kid” he added.
    Arwen looked at him a bit shocked, “to be honest I only did it because you weren't doing anything” she said sounding a bit annoyed with him.
       “Why didn’t you shift...or whatever else you can do?” She questions.
      Aurelian frowned at her, “do you remember why I blocked your magic?” He asked.
          Arwen thought for a moment,
   “...Something...about a sacred rule?” she finally said.
Aurelian winced slightly, but nodded,
“Yes...you see long ago it was vowed by the Archmages themselves with the now ancient king Arken who ruled over Dragania that the mages would remain peaceful with the Kingdoms and to never use their magic against them...this rule has been heavily implied to us ever since”. He explained to her, concern ected Arwen’s expression.
        “Do they even know the horrors we go through? Just by being a mage?” She questioned.
         Aurelian didn’t want to soil the Archmages by telling Arwen “no” even though he knows full well that the Archmages have badly neglected their own kind.
        “I mean look at us, we were nearly killed by one of them-and we didn’t even do anything” Arwen said becoming frustrated.
       Aurelian sighed, “I don’t understand Arwen, why are they attacking the mages to begin with? What have they done to deserve become so weak and frail…?” He asked.
    
         Arwen merely shrugged her shoulders, she rolled back her sleeve slightly revealing her strange markings.
         “He called us...Dark Mages, he swore that I was one of them…” she said.
            “What are dark mages?” She asks.
    A grim look came across Aurelian’s face, Dark mages are said to hold dangerous and dark magic from what he could recall.
        They were banished from the Archmages’ world long ago for their dark hearts, and brutal nature.
      But Arwen was far from having a bad nature, sure she might’ve attacked the Berunda soldiers back in the pegasuses meadow but it was to protect the herd.
               “They’re...let’s just say bad mages” he answered.
     The forest around them beamed with evening birds singing their last songs of the day.
      Silence fell between Arwen and Aurelian once more.
Aurelian could tell that Arwen was in deep thought, he sighed quietly to himself.
             Aurelian hoped that their journey would ease once they’d get closer to the mountains.
          “We should keep moving” Aurelian said standing up.
      Arwen looked at him, “now? When it’s nearly night time?” She questioned.
       Aurelian nodded, night time would give them a huge advantage in hiding from the dragon rider and any allies he may have nearby.
      Arwen huffed, “we’ve been going all day-I deserve my rest for saving you don’t I?” She shot at him.
     Aurelian rolled his eyes, “yes and rest you will get, but need I remind you we have a man and his dragon on our trail, for all we know he could be waiting with others nearby, the cover of the darkness will make any of their plans more difficult” he reminded her.
      Aurelian however did recall her wound from the gryphon, perhaps she was in pain from where she was thrown down by the rider.
      “We can rest here a little bit longer, but when nightfall hits we move on, deal?” Aurelian suggests.
     Arwen seemed to reluctantly nod her head.

                                   *         *         *
When the forest became cloaked in total darkness as the sun was no more, Arwen and Aurelian continued their journey in the cover of the darkness.
        The night was chilly and silent Aurelian noticed Arwen gazing up at the stars as they came upon foothills. Nóir landed not too far from them, resting his mighty strong wings.
        His black coat nearly blended in well with the darkness, mist wrapped around the foothills making it harder to see, Aurelian stayed alert and aware.
        Arwen halted as they began hearing voices echoing throughout the foothills.
      Aurelian couldn't make out what was being said—but he could definitely tell that the people weren't very far away. The sounds of screeching sent the prickling hairs on the back of Aurelian’s neck standing straight up.
             His animal-like instincts settled him when he realised the screeches were coming from gryphons.
      “I think there are gryphon riders nearby…” Aurelian alerted Arwen. Arwen’s eyes widened, “oh no…”.
       Arwen looked a bit fearful as she pressed her hand to her side, reminding her of what happened the last time she encountered gryphon riders.
           Aurelian using his animal instincts tried to lead them away from the gryphon riders, flickering orange and bright yellow dotted one of the foothills.
        Arwen huddled up in her dark cloak as a chilled breeze glides through them.
        The air was becoming more and more chilled The closer they were getting to the Berunda Mountains. Aurelian allowed them to finally rest in a small wooded area.
      Aurelian began thinking heavily about the dark mages, he didn’t know why though.
       ‘Who are these dark mages? What if they’re not really dark mages and are just rebels…?’ He was heavily considering trying to find them to get them to join him and Arwen on their journey back to the Archmages.
        That is...if they’re friend and not foe, dark mages can be tricky and manipulative to those that offer them help. He looked over at the ever so quiet Arwen thinking of her strange markings.
     She was the first mage he’s ever seen to have such marks in her arms, even for an electromancer.
         ‘Perhaps she harmed herself when she was young?’ Considering the very few mages Aurelian encountered before Arwen it was definitely possible.
             Arwen is possibly the only electromancer in Mirri, giving her no chance to ever find a proper mentor.
       They began on their way again when the night sky was becoming brighter, morning was upon them but the more they traveled the colder it was becoming.
        “It’s so cold!” Arwen said shivering.
   “That’s because we’re near Berunda’s mountains. There’s nothing but snow up there” Aurelian explained smiling.
            Arwen stopped when they reach a hilltop overlooking far below them another village, “please tell me we’re not really going to try this again?” she said narrowing her eyes.
      If Aurelian was correct however this village should be abandoned too despite that Dragon rider lurking about there was really nothing to fear.
      Arwen however seemed to greatly dislike the kingdom villages for some reason.
       “Don’t worry just stay close to me and you’ll be fine” Aurelian assured her.
      Arwen seemed unsure of his words however, “really? What are you going to do, try and convince them ‘we mean no harm!’” Arwen said sarcastically. Aurelian rolled his eyes at her words but did consider them.
       It would take more than convincing the Kingdoms that they mean no harm to make it through to the mountains.