T he child had to be saved first.
She was smaller and weak, and worse, she’d frozen, staring wide-eyed as two fully grown men were about to crash into her.
I moved with all the speed my new mortal body could muster.
All it took was a palm on her ribs and a strong push. She flew back, stumbled, and then caught herself.
Good balance for a spawn.
However, her older sister required more assistance.
Clove had begun to move out of their path, but she was too shocked to act in time.
I caught her around the waist and pulled her out of the way. One of the brawler’s boots smashed into my thigh as we escaped.
I would have kept my footing, but Clove’s feet got tangled with one another and then mine, tripping us both.
I fell backward. She landed on top of me.
The back of my head cracked against the cobblestones.
Pain exploded in my head as my brain rattled inside my skull.
Damn mortal body. How do people exist in these forms? I have to get stronger. Every moment without spellwork is a dance with death!
“Oh my gods!” Clove whimpered, still sprawled across me. “I’m so sorry! Are you hurt?”
Clove sat up and kneeled by my side.
I tried to get up as well, but she pressed two hot fingers against my temples.
Concerned and unsure about what she was doing, I nearly pushed her away.
Clove was glowing a soft, reddish pink. The heat coming from her hands reminded me of hot coals, though not hot enough to burn.
It was soothing.
Immediately, the warmth filled my skull. The sharp pain in my head lessened and then disappeared entirely.
I sighed in relief and looked up at her. “You’re a healer,” I noted.
She blushed and nodded, biting on her lip again. Then her eyes went wide. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Not waiting for my answer, she yanked my shirt up and peeked underneath. Her hot hands followed, running across my chest and abdomen searching for injuries.
By the cursed horns of the Underworld.
“I’m fine,” I assured her.
But she was panicked, and clearly embarrassed that she’d injured me, so I let her finish checking.
She was seated firmly over my waist, completely oblivious to what she was currently shifting and pressing against.
“I don’t have time for this,” I stated, pushing her hands away and getting to my feet.
If she wanted to bed me, she’d have to wait until there weren’t children around. I was certainly confused by her behavior, and could only hope I would become accustomed to this place before long.
Perhaps mortal mating customs are different.
Clove scrambled upright, fidgeting. She was flushed and worried. Her wild, curly hair was all out of place.
Mabel crashed into my leg in a sudden attack – no , an embrace . “Thank you, mister!” she said.
Clove snapped back into focus and turned to her tiny sister. “You’ve already come with me too far. Walk back to The Night Owl Inn. You’re helping Vera in the kitchen today, alright?”
Mabel beamed and hugged her sister next. “Be safe!” And then to me, “You can keep her safe, right?”
It was an odd thing to ask a stranger. I just replied with, “Farewell, spawn.”
That was good enough for Mabel. She giggled like I’d just told the best joke and skipped away.
The brawlers chased one another down the street while the inn’s owner scowled at the broken door.
Without another look back, I continued toward the Academy. Main street took a direct line to the Academy entrance, and I’d made sure I knew this area perfectly, beforehand.
It would take me eight minutes and forty-three seconds to arrive at the Academy at my usual pace. And today was the last day to sign up for the school.
“Why do you want to join the Academy?”
I flinched as the soft, high pitch of Clove’s voice penetrated my thoughts. Of course, she’d followed me.
“I’m sorry, Clove. But do I know you? You seem awfully familiar with me, even though I ‘look like no one you’ve ever seen before,’” I commented, stepping over a small patch of broken stones that looked to be left over from the fight.
Clove, however, did not navigate them as well. She promptly tripped and pitched forward.
I caught her by the waist and set her back on her feet, much to her embarrassment.
I added, “And also, how have you managed to survive with such poor coordination?”
She blushed again and tried to hide behind her hair. “Thanks for the save. Honestly, I don’t know. I was ready to kick your backside when I found Mabel all confused and asking me what a corpse was. When you walked out of the Mayor’s house and we started talking… I can’t describe it. You’re not like anyone else I know.”
“You don’t know me,” I reminded her.
“Do I have to? To know that you’re… I don’t know? Special somehow?” She met my gaze. Nervous, but determined. “Let me walk with you to the Academy. Show you where to go. Is that so bad?”
To know that ‘I’m special somehow?’ Oh gods. If only she knew the half of it. She’d likely run screaming.
“Fine,” I told her.
She squealed in delight and clapped her hands, then aggressively linked her arm with mine, tying us together. “Let’s go! So, what do you want to study? Hm? If you’re going to the Tower Guild Academy, you must want to become an adventurer. Right?”
I did, but I was really going because that was the one place that could provide the resources necessary to master light mana as quickly as possible. “A mage,” I answered.
“Just a mage? What kind?”
“Battle.”
“Oooh! That’ll make the Tower fun for you! I’m a healer, so my goal is to join a party as soon as possible. Hopefully, if I pass the Tower’s test, someone will invite me into theirs. Every adventuring party needs a good healer!”
“Apparently.” I’d lost track of time, but eventually, we made it to the Academy. The Tower rose ten marble-columned stories into the sky. The school, training yards, offices, and Guild surrounded the ancient, mana-rich structure in a huge circle.
A marble archway with “The Tower Guild” etched into the pale stone welcomed us and a few other groups of people as well.
I was heading toward the line, but Clove pulled me to the left. “Trust me!” she said cheerfully. “I know a person! We’ll get you checked out fast. It’s the least I can do after I injured you and you saved me from planting my face into the street.”
“But my plan —”
“This is better!”