A Mage, A Bounty Hunter, and A Knight

Part 1

Astrid Thror P.O.V.

I always thought that the choice made is the right one. That if there are paths available the one I didn't choose would disappear. As if you only ever had one choice. Then since you can't go back, you'd have to think carefully. However, the more difficult the decision, the longer you think.

There are many flaws with things like that, because if you sit, the more you think, the more issues you find with that path, and then you will never go anywhere, you don't progress because you let your thoughts consume you. When I became a mage, I left the philosophy behind. Now I'm free.

I suddenly sit up while gasping and huffing heavily. "Not that nightmare again, those words mock me dammit,'' I say though no one could hear. I'm all alone.

The winds howling is bitter, cold rushes down my spine. It's so dark out and if I were to use my magic to make a fire I'd have to deal with wolves and bears. 'Calm down' I thought to myself. It will only make a bit of sense to calm or frighten.

While I was in training learning magic, before you could cast spells you would have to learn to heighten and diminish certain senses, to take away your voice to heighten your hearing, your touch for your eyes and mind, your hearing for your sent. That was the start of it at first, I wondered why we would take away the one we did.

I never confronted my master with these bizarre questions though, instead I thought about it and only when we started learning how to cast spells did I realize I take away touch for my eyes and mind because when you can't feel you can imagine you can put more focus in how you see the world and what your spell will do. I realized you take away your voice for hearing so you can hear the very hum of the land you walk on, sent is heightened when you can't hear so you can find smell not sound.

I would have to find some way to sleep though these nightmares as they have become more and more frequent as I near Elderon. The kingdom of my birth.

The sound of a twig snapping pulls me from my thoughts. "Hello!" I feel so stupid asking a question to darkness. I just need to relax.

"Ahh!" I shriek as an arrow slips past my face, grazing my cheek. Then I knew I'm not alone. "Who's there? '' I holler to those who ever shot the arrow could hear me.

"Ignis" I whisper softly to set my hand ablaze with fire, now I was ready to protect and attack if it came to that. Quite ironic to think that a mage was taught under teachings of mercy and to use you spells only when necessary, not reckless and foolish. My master was only able to get that through to me though, my peers weren't as keen on the idea of being a "suck up little sheep" as they call it.

The sounds of leaves being crunched under running feet echo as they grow nearer. They were close enough now I could make out a face. The unknown archer was a man. However, he didn't carry a bow or quiver, no he had a belt with a sheive without a sword. He can't be a knight, not in that light armor, but his breastplate bears the seal of Elderon. I made a foolish mistake, getting lost. I was unable to realize it until it was too late, and I was knocked out cold.

"Dad, look! I caught a mage, an actual mage," said a young man excitedly to his father, who in return applauded his successful capture.

"Great job Damien, but what have I told you about your armor, if you want to fight mages and mercenaries-"

"-You'll have to wear better armor, I know. Relax, I'll get some better armor at the end of the week. For now I have to hand this mage over to the king, okay?" Damian said with pride, for this was his first mage he captured and was sure to have a big reward. Maybe 50 to 100 gold coins for her alone, 200 if she has any magic artifacts on her.

"Hmm," Astrid began to stir as she was being carried off to the castle. When she could, she saw people lining the street to watch the brave knight carry his recent catch to the king, wondering what it was. They murmured among themselves as the castle gates opened with a loud groan.

"Right this way," said a guard leading Damian to the king.

Author's note: Hey guys I hope you enjoyed the first part, I know it's a bit long but I hope I wasn't too long or boring. Let me know if you like and want to see more also consider following me. I will also be doing a shout out to the ten people who comment and vote. This will hopefully be a thing I do every part after this. Anyway, enough of that.

-Editor: @ScarletWintersD

Always find me in the woods.