The Esper of Algol: Protector

The Girl in Pink

The soft drips of the moisture off of the stalagmites lulled Noah into an almost sleepy state. He needed to concentrate. Magic took some building up, after all.

He slowly felt the heat rise in his spine and swirl there, growing more and more powerful. He had to release it at just the right time, channel it through his staff in the most precise pattern, otherwise the spell would be either too weak zap a rappy or so strong it could electrocute himself. Who am I kidding... I'm not powerful enough yet to give myself a static shock...

"Excuse me..."

Noah started and dropped his staff. The magic let loose a fireball instead of the lightning that he had been building up. It flew randomly and nearly engulfed a girl who had somehow gotten this deep into the mountain.

"Eee!" She shrieked as she dodged the blast.

Noah brushed his long cyan hair out of his eyes and stared speechless for a moment at the opening of his little room. There, climbing her way back to her feet, was a girl of about 15 years old, wearing a pink dress and a chest plate, and carrying a short sword.

"Who are you? What the hell are you doing here?"

The girl brushed her hands together and looked up at him with a nonplussed expression. "Are you Noah? The wizard?"

Wizard? Sure, why not. These commoners...

"Go away, I'm busy with my training!"

"Alis, what happened?" A man's voice echoed from the corridor, "Did you find him?"

Oh damn, there's more of them.

"Are you OK? It sounded like someone tried to fry you." The third voice was a little high pitched and strange, although Noah couldn't place why exactly.

"Look," Noah addressed the girl named Alis, "I'm not interested in whatever crusade you want me to go on, I don't care what monster is ravaging your little village. Just leave me alone so I don't blow your head off."

A man taller and broader than Noah's own long lanky figure with closely cropped yellow hair wearing a chest plate armor and carrying an iron axe came into view. "Oh hey, you did find him!"

"Did you get burned?" That strange voice seemed to be coming from the floor. "Let me look."

Alis bent down and held out her hands. "I'm fine, Myau, really." A fluffy yellow cat placed its paws on her hand and purred loudly. The small cuts and burns on her hands disappeared.

"So who's this asshole that burned you?" The strange voice. It was coming from the cat!

"We found the magic guy," said the tall armored man.

Alis stood up again. "I'm sorry to bother you, sir Noah, but..."

"Then stop being a nuisance!" He didn't need his training interrupted by random strangers.

Alis tried again. "My brother was murdered by Lassic's men while trying to protect..."

"So take it up with Lassic! Why should I care?"

"Look," the big fellow stepped forward, "That's no way to talk to a lady. Could you just hear her out?"

"You invade my home and then demand I listen to your sob story? Get the fuck out!" Noah wasn't about to be bullied by some tough guy in battle armor. He grabbed his staff and started pulling his magic again. This time, hitting them would not be an accident.

Big blondie reached for his axe. "Odin, stop!" Alis cried out, stepping forward herself. "Noah, the governor sent us to find you!"

Noah turned his attention to Alis, his ire dwindling. "The governor? Of Paseo?"