Chapter one, a blast from the past
Connor stalked the group of dark wizards through the snowy tundra. He had been tracking this group of criminals for the better part of an hour. He took a breath, steadying his bow as he drew an arrow from his quiver. The dark wizards were sitting on logs around a campfire talking about their next mark.
“I’m telling you, we should join up with that force of bandits who are gonna attack Culumnus town, I hear that their leader is a powerful dark wizard…”, one of the dark wizards said, “It could be what we need to become feared and respected across Magius!”
“Purity, if we join up with simple bandits then how are we supposed to be taken seriously? We want to be feared, not laughed at.” Her ally replied, sighing.
This was concerning to Connor, for multiple reasons. One, Culumnus town was his hometown before he was disowned by his parents for not being able to use magic. A detail that has changed, Connor reminded himself, smiling. Two, if bandits and dark wizards were going to make a coordinated assault on a town that was a constant supplier of wizards for the Magic Council, then clearly crime had drastically increased in Magius. Lastly, seeing people who couldn’t use magic as a lesser breed than wizards was Connor’s biggest annoyance, since he was considered a “disappointment” for not being able to use magic.
“You know I hate that name.” Purity spoke up, “It makes me feel like I’m supposed to be a goody two shoes” she said as her face contorted in disgust.
“Maybe you could have a nickname?” the third member of the group said, “You could be something like: Noire, Nox, Ecli-”
“HOW ABOUT HEARTLESS?!” Connor shouted from the bushes as he let his arrow fly directly aimed at Purity’s torso.
Not bothering to see whether his shot hit, Connor dropped his bow and fired a lightning blast at the third member of the group. Sending the dark wizard flying head over heels off of the log that they were sitting on. Seeing his groupmates being attacked, the second dark wizard sent a ball of magma flying directly at Connor. Connor screamed in pain as the lava seared his flesh and burnt his clothes. Drawing his sword, Connor stabbed the wizard through the chest. As the dark wizard’s lifeless corpse dropped to the ground, the third member of the group had just recovered from the lightning blast, and was channeling a spell. Connor looked down just in time to see a magic circle under his feet. Just after he dodged to the side; a pillar of red plasma had erupted right where Connor had just been.
“Nice try asshat!” Connor said as he snapped his fingers, calling down pillar of lightning to strike the dark wizard.
As the dark wizard’s blackened corpse dropped to the ground, Connor surveyed the scene. Purity seemed to have died before she hit the ground, thanks to the arrow in her heart. Connor’s nostrils wrinkled at the metallic and meaty stench of blood combined with the ozone from his lightning magic.
Sighing, Connor got to work. Bounties were worth more when the criminal was brought in alive, but since Connor had neither the patience nor the strength to carry an unconscious body all the way to the nearest Magic Council outpost he usually brought the heads of the criminals instead. This meant that the bounty on the criminals was only worth a seventh of it’s original value. As Connor decapitated the corpses, he thought about his next move. He needed to find out more about the Crimson Circle, but the only library that he knew had books on the clans of the seven seas was in Culumnus town’s library. He also had to deal with the bandit invasion that was soon to happen. Thus, after walking to the nearest MC outpost to turn in the bounties. Connor made his way to Culumnus town.
Connor pushed open the door to the Singing Angel. The Singing Angel was the best tavern in Culumnus town, it had good food and a nice fireplace to stave off the cold. As Connor entered the tavern, several of the customers turned their gaze to the newcomer. They frowned at the state of his clothing and continued to watch him as he made his way to the bar.
“Calm down will you? I’m just here for food and a drink, I’ll be out of your hair shortly.” Connor said as he noticed people looking at him.
Darian, the tavern’s barkeep, greeted Connor with a smile and said “What’ll ye be havin’ lad?”
“I’ll take the house sandwich and an ale please” Connor said, his eyes gazing around the room he never thought he’d see again.
“That’ll be ten crowns.”, As Connor paid for his meal. Darian leaned over and said “I thought ye said that ye’d never come back here Connor”. Seeing Connor’s shocked face, Darian chuckled, “I never forget a face, lad. And although ye’ve changed over the years, I’ll never forget how you and yer brother would come here for lunch on Fridays”
“Ah… my brother.” Connor said hesitantly, “How’s he doing these days?”
Darian smiled, “Yer brother recently became a commissioner fer the Magic Council. Of course, I’ve heard a few tales of yer exploits as well”
“A commissioner huh? Yeah, they always said that he’d go far…” Connor said, I could warn him about the bandit invasion. He would have a higher chance of listening to me than my parents would at least.
“Listen,” Connor said, “I’ve recently come across a troubling bit of news. Apparently a force of bandits lead by a strong dark wizard are going to be attacking the town. I came here to warn people and to have a look at the library, If Jeremy really became a Magic Council commissioner then I have to talk to him. Can you tell me where he is?”
“That is troubling news indeed lad, normally I’d be skeptical about some traveler coming in and warning us of a bandit invasion but I trust ye. You can find Jeremy in yer mam and pap’s old place. They gave him the property when yer father became mayor and moved into the town hall.” Darian explained.
“Dad became mayor huh? I’m not surprised. Maybe it’d be best if I remained anonymous then, if dad realized that I was the one who warned everyone then he’d probably discredit everything.” Connor said.
“Ye should talk to your parents lad, not now of course, but someday soon. Maybe after the bandit invasion.” Darian advised
“…I’ll think about it.”
“Good”, Darian said, “Now sit down, yer food will be ready in a couple minutes.”
End of chapter one
If you’re liking this story, please leave a like or comment down below. It allows me to see if people are enjoying my stuff or not. I’ll write chapter two in a week or so.