Sorcerer Elite

This feeling, I can't quite describe it, when I saw the flames and sensed the mana within it, I wasn't just amazed, nor did I simply find it astonishing.

I felt... drawn to it, hypnotized by it, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the inferno, the nearest word I can describe what I'm feeling right now is pure unfiltered instinct.

"Aki, it's beautiful."

"Huh?!" She was surprised by my remark, but I noticed the subtle strain in her movements. Something was wrong.

"Are you ok?!"

"Yeah... kinda." She winced as the flames on her hand flickered and grew, spiraling out of control.

The flames were dangerous, and I wasn't sure if I could get close without burning myself.

"No, I'm not fine, please help," Aki said, though her words were strangely casual, almost like she wasn't in immediate danger despite the flames threatening to spiral out of control.

If I don't do anything right now, people will see her casting sorcery.

Without thinking, I tossed the bucket of water—not just at the flames, but also at her.

We locked eyes. Her gaze was sharp, like daggers.

She didn't blink, her gaze still fixed on me.

"You had one job," she said.

She's drenched from head to toe, and I do feel guilty for my mistake.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

She's pissed, how can I salvage this? What should I even say?

"Tch, I need to get dried." She scoffed.

"What should we do?"

A wicked smile crossed her face. "I have a really good idea."

I'm not liking the energy she's producing right now, it does feel like I'm in slight danger.

"What is it?" I asked, nervously.

She pointed her arm at me with her palm facing my direction, then, "I should burn you alive." She said as I witnessed a slight flicker of flame igniting on her hand.

This is the part where I pray but I remembered I'm a skeptic so I'm screwed, but I know she's just joking so I decided to play along.

"I deserve it." I stand still firm on my stance like I'm preparing to embrace being hit by her flame.

"Cook me aki, like I'm some medium rare steak." With my arms wide open.

She was dumbfounded and concerned.

"Kai'len you're crazy!" She shouted.

We noticed some older people staring at us from a distance, probably questioning what the youth are up to these days. But then, I spotted the fisherman I borrowed the bucket from, getting closer.

It was awkward. Both Aki and I were nervous, thinking we might be in trouble. But the fisherman simply said, "Young man, can I have my bucket back?"

"Of course!" I quickly replied, handing the bucket back, and both of us relaxed a little.

"I'm bringing only Lyn'chael next time," Aki said, causing the guilt I felt to resurface.

"That's my loss," I shot back. "I did enjoy seeing your flames. Wish I could see them more."

Aki raised an eyebrow, clearly not amused. "Throw the entire water bucket at me again, and you might just get to see them... in a much less friendly way."

"I'll do it."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You are so—," she sighed. "Let's just go make fire. You gather the wood, and I'll wait." We moved away from the lake to go near the woods.

I nodded in defeat. It was my fault she was drenched, so I had to make up for it. Scanning the area, I searched for dry kindling or branches, but the ground was damp, and the trees were thick with moisture. It was going to take some time.

I bent down, gathering a few twigs and small branches, but the real challenge was finding enough to keep the fire going. Glancing back at Aki. She was standing a few paces away, looking a bit cold from the water I threw on her earlier. Her hands were glowing faintly as she prepared her spell—Exort, I think? Maybe I should ask her about it later, stacking the twigs into a small pile. Aki didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed, but her hands were shaking. Is sorcery that difficult? Or is it her lack of skill? I cannot tell.

Adding a few larger branches to the pile I stood up, dusting my hands off. Aki's eyes snapped to the stack of wood, and the flames slowly began to form in her palms.

With a flick of her wrist, the fire shot out, striking the wood with a burst of heat. The fire caught immediately, crackling and hissing as it spread.

I took a step back, feeling the warmth chase away the damp chill in the air.

"Now we wait," Aki said, finally smirking at me. "You did your part, now we get to dry off."

The fire was already drying her clothes, and her expression softened as she sighed in relief, stretching her arms.

"See? I did something right," I said, a bit smug.

Aki shot me a look. "You're lucky you did something right for once."

I let her relax for a while, though we sat across from each other. Despite the warmth of the fire, once again an awkward tension lingered between us, making it difficult to make eye contact.

"Hey, Aki... that spell you used earlier... Exort, right?" I mustered the courage to ask, although there was hesitation in my delivery.

She glanced at me, shifting to get more comfortable by the fire. "Yeah, what about it?"

"How does it work?"

She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Well... where do I even start?"

Because of her, my interest in sorcery was reignited. When I was a kid, this 'instinct' wasn't as strong, but now it felt like an itch compelling me to learn it.

"The basics, something a guy like me with a simpleton mind could understand."

She chuckled, "I'll do my best then." Then she began preparing a proper explanation.

"Tell me, Kai'len, what codices do you know?" Aki asked in a serious tone.

I paused for a moment, then answered, "I only know one—the Luminary Codex. That's all I'm familiar with, though I've heard there are many other codices out there."

"Yes, that's right. But there's a codex specifically for sorcery—it's where I learned how to invoke Exort. It's called the Al'shuran Codex."

My ears perked up at the sound of it. The Al'shuran Codex—just hearing its name made it sound like something I'd go out of my way to read.

"Tell me more, Aki."

Chapter End.