I look up at the sky. Coal black clouds filled it. The drops of rain fell on my face, slowly at first, then faster. I got soaked within seconds, but I didn't care. I focused on the task that was at hand.
The dirt flew away as the shovel dug into the earth, lifted the soil, and flung it to the side. I repeated the process. The hole needed to be big enough. The memories of the past hour flooded back into my mind. I remembered her screams as she flew across the room, smashing onto the glass table. It had shattered, sending pieces of glass flying into the air. One had cut my face, leaving a deep gash on my left cheek.
I shuddered as the cold, autumn night air surrounded me. My head turned in the direction of the body. It lied limp, any sign of life gone. Vomit rushed up my throat as I looked at her. Turning my head away from the disgusting sight, I swallowed the bile.
I finished digging the hole. The body was easy to pick up. The corpse fit in the freshly dug grave. Replacing the dirt, I stumbled backwards, coated in sweat despite the frigid air around me.
The test was finished, I had passed. It was surprisingly easy to kill her. Simple spells had disoriented her. She had underestimated me, thought I was weak.That had been her downfall.
Grabbing the small leather pouch, I left. The bag contained the proof of the girls death, her fingers. They were to be used in a ritual, to ensure that her soul would go to the realm of the gods and not be stuck on Earth.
I hiked through the thick forest, the air growing colder, the chill almost tangible. It froze me to my core, it covered my bones in ice, stiffening them, and gnawed at my flesh. The cold was unnatural, and I knew it was caused by some malevolent creature that was watching me. It was normal for the enemys of the Gatekeepers to send creatures to watch and study us.
I continued my trek through the forest. The sound of a snapping twig echoed through the forest. I turned. The black figure of a tall man hid between the old, gnarled trees. I stopped in my tracks and stared at the mass.
"You don't have to stalk me you know."
The silhouette stepped from the shadows into the pale moonlight. It was Adish, one of the most famous and powerful fire magicians.
His eyes glowed red like embers, his light blond hair almost glowed in the light of the moon. He stood at least six feet, towering above me. He was my polar opposite. My eyes where a dark blue grey that seemed to almost suck in and destroy light. My skin was almost porcelain compared to his tan flesh, and my hair was as dark as night.
"I was sent to do just that. I'm to do so with all of the initiates," he replied after a long silence, his voice smother, almost regal in tone.
"Sounds like such an interesting career,"I said to him, my sarcasm thick.
"It can be. It depends on the person."
"Who was the most interesting person you've observed?"
"Rachel Mays."
"Last years initiate?"
"Yes."
I nodded. "How interesting am I then?"
"Just interesting enough to keep me from falling asleep, Alastair."
I glared at him. He just smirked, resulting in the clenching of my fists. His smirk transformed into a smug smile that spread across his face. We continued to stare at each other, both of our eyes piercing the others until they broke the skin, tore our tendons, and reviled our soul, releasing it from the confines of our bodies.
I looked away, a small blush spreading across my face. I silently cursed myself for being so meek. Turning, I started my hike out of the forest, to the portal, and back to the place where I would start my new life as a practicing magician. Adish followed close behind.
And so we left, leaving the forest behind, leaving the body, leaving the old me. I was to be a new person. That was what was required from the Gatekeepers. You must kill a target. Killing that target murders you at the same time, a part of you at least.
