Chapter 4: Liadrin

The blue-haired beast-cursed collapsed in front of Liadrin. She was still shocked and slightly scared; everyone who had been chasing her - which she knew included several guards from Ghelard - was gone in an instant.

She was holding the scant-clad man up in her grip. What are the odds I'd run into a mage? she wondered as she gently set him down. With no pursuers she finally relaxed a little since beginning her flight, looking up at the darkening sky. She winced as she saw the burn marks on his skin from her catching him.

It had been two days and nights since she had fled her home. Pursuit had not come for her until hours later, and she was maintaining a steady pace ahead of them, only stopping when they stopped for the night. It had been close a few times, and she had clawed at several dogs who did catch up to her, feeling sorry for the beasts as she slashed enormous gashes across their bodies that then exploded into flames.

But now her problems were gone - wiped away in an instant. All was silent in the Scorch Wood, save for the gentle breathing of Cobalt at her feet.

Liadrin set about making a small camp; digging a small hole for a fire-pit, gathering some of the decimated sticks with brief kicks, and dumping them into the pit before holding her forearm to the wood. Within seconds the kindling ignited and she was sitting in front of a roaring blaze.

She reached into one of her satchels and pulled out a blanket. She never felt cold - well, since her transformation had happened. But she gently draped the blanket over Cobalt. As she did so, she saw something glint in his hand.

Fascination struck her and she slipped her hand along his, wriggling her claw into his vice-like grip. As soon as her finger touched whatever it was her heart jumped up into her throat. She gasped as she backed away, feeling an incredible pulse of energy arc through her.

She flung herself onto the ground as she felt every single sensation of heat wash over her - from pleasant warmth to excruciating burns. The pain ceased within a few seconds as she sucked in  air. She sat up and glanced at the sleeping mage. What is that thing? she thought.

As she stood up she felt an odd sensation - the fire seemed to call to her. She knelt back down and stared into the blaze, feeling compelled to reach her clawed hand in. She hesitated for a split second before shoving her whole arm into the roaring fire.

She felt no heat, but the flames seemed to cling to her as she pulled her hand back. It felt mushy - like mashed potatoes - but springy and pushing back against her. She smiled as she held the fire, tossing it back and forth between her hands like a ball. Is this what Salamanders can do? she thought, recalling the word Cobalt had said regarding her bestial curse.

She frowned as a thought came across her mind; an alien thought. Eat it. Liadrin lifted the flame to her mouth and took a bite out of it - compelled to do so. She giggled as it felt like a bubbling, frothing drink that tickled her nose. It tasted peculiar as well - slightly sweet and meaty; like a decent steak with some type of gravy.

She ate the rest of the flame in her palms and licked them clean, feeling quite full. I'm fireproof and can eat it? That’s amazing! I don’t have to worry about food ever again! She smiled at the prospect of how much she would save in the future. The thought made her giggle a little as she lay down and fell asleep; finally able to rest after days of pursuit.

>>>---<<<

"Wake up." The voice was calm but stern. Liadrin stirred and woke her eyes, seeing the slowly brightening sky above. She sat up and looked toward the voice. Cobalt sat at the edge of the fire-pit, chewing on one of the travel biscuits from her bag. "Hope you don't mind."

Liadrin nodded and took a scoop out of the fire that apparently Cobalt had reignited and fed with more wood. A cold wind blew across the land and she saw him shiver slightly as he hugged the blanket tight around himself. He raised an eyebrow as she lifted the flame to her mouth and ate it. "That's okay; I don't need the food anymore. You can have that bag - it's the least I can do to thank you."

"You're not mad I may have killed gods-know who?" Cobalt seemed genuinely surprised.

Liadrin shook her head, "No. I was planning on leaving for a while. I just…became this as I was leaving. I never liked my home, much less the people there."

Cobalt grimaced - a knowing facial reaction of someone who had obviously experienced what she described. "It's a strange thing when it happens. The beast-cursed part. Your whole world turns upside down. And sometimes innocents get hurt."

"There were no innocents there," Liadrin replied immediately. "My mother abused me while my father did nothing. I was…” she trailed off and a look of deep sorrow crossed her face. But, she shook her head and stared him in the eyes with a fiery, inner-glow of pure hatred. “I’d have burned the city down if I knew they would chase me out of town."

Cobalt smirked, showing an expression other than seriousness as he stirred the wood around in the fire-pit, taking another bite out of the biscuit. He showed manners, swallowing before speaking. "You're definitely a Salamander then." He hiked a thumb at himself, "I didn't get so lucky.” He stared forward into the fire pit, “Your beast-curse is that of a monster from the history books. Pretty handy if you ask me."

Liadrin sat up the rest of the way and scooted closer to the fire pit, "What's that gem in your other hand?" She asked.

Cobalt glanced down at his closed palm and shook his head, "I don't know what it is. It was in The Magister's robes-"

"You know The Magister! Well, of course you do. If you're a mage you had to have been one of his apprentices in the past-"

"He's gone."

Liadrin cocked her head aside, "Wait, what?"

Cobalt nodded and gestured to the North-East and pointed up, "See that giant mountain? His tower was on the top yesterday. It fell. I doubt he'd let his home fall if he was still around." Cobalt opened his palm and Liadrin got her first good look at the gemstone; a crystal that looked clear with uneven edges. But within, multi-colored flecks swirled about. "I took this from his robes - his empty robes."

Liadrin gasped, "But he's been around since the world started!"

Cobalt nodded slowly as he closed his hand, "So they say."

She felt surprisingly at ease around this other beast-cursed despite knowing little about him. Perhaps it was their shared affliction. "I touched the gem last night, sorry!" she blurted out.

Cobalt shrugged, "All you did was touch something in my hand. You could have killed me. Thanks for not doing that, by the way…I appreciate the apology."

"My whole body felt warm, then hot, then scalding…then I could eat fire."

He looked at her and his eyes widened, "Can you see into the fire here?"

"What? Of course! It's right in front of me."

"No. I mean really see the fire. Look close at it. Tell me what you see."

Liadrin looked at the fire and stared. At first it was naught but dancing flames. But the longer she stared, the closer she moved her face - until her head was in the fire - she could see little flashes of lights deep within.

The smoke smelled like sweet incense and she breathed it in deeply. She could acutely make out the heat of the flames and what damage they would inflict upon a person's skin. She knew the exact temperature and what it could melt. She pulled her head out and told Cobalt all of what she experienced.

"You awakened. Your magic, I mean. This gem must let people become mages!"

Liadrin was excited but confused, "I'm a mage? How?"

Cobalt shook his head, "I don't know how. I can explain the knowledge behind it - what I was taught and read, at least. But first…do you have any extra clothes?"

"Yeah! Sorry I should have offered earlier." She reached into one of her packs and pulled out a plain pair of pants, a simple shirt, and a pair of shallow boots. "I don't know if any of it will fit." She paused, “Why didn’t I light the clothes on fire?”

Cobalt chuckled, "One good thing about being so skinny - I can fit into just about anything. As for the ‘lighting the environment on fire’ part? No clue.” He stepped behind a tree and after a minute emerged holding the boots, "Those are too small. Thank you though."

Liadrin smiled and bowed her head, "It's not like I can use them," she said, gesturing to her clawed and scaled feet.

Cobalt laughed out loud and to Liadrin the voice was quite pleasant, if a little gruff. She giggled as well at the realization that she wouldn't have to ever buy shoes again. After they both had settled down Cobalt stared at her with curiosity, an odd gleam in his piercing blue eyes. "Where are you traveling to?" he asked.

"I just wanted to go to a new city. I'm not sure how good of an idea that is now that…I'm this."

Cobalt grinned, "If you don't mind a suggestion - and company along the way - how about Thunderfall?"

Liadrin thought back to her rudimentary schooling. She recalled seeing a map with that name on it, and something about it being on the coast. "I've never seen the ocean before."

Cobalt clapped his hands together and grinned, "Good! I can teach you the basics of magic while we travel, and how to deal with your new affliction."

Liadrin nodded and helped Cobalt in breaking down camp - not that much had to be done regarding that. The two traveling companions set off into the morning light, heading East towards the coast.

Next Chapter >