A Journey Started

Arya and Jack made it out of the city with absolutely no problems. The only problem they now face is that they are seemingly alone in a hostile environment. They can't let people find out who she is.

After a few days journeying, they come to a small city.  There are only a couple inn’s in this city, but her uncle gave them money.  There was only a single room available. A group of magic users was staying at this inn also.

                Arya went off and to talk to some of the girls there.  One named Artimis, seemed to be the leader of the pack.  All of the guys from the other group didn’t stop staring at her.  She realized there was something about her that attracted men instantly. 

                Just as they were about to head up to their rooms, a small group of imperials showed up.  There were only three imperials, however Arya recognized them.  Her husband used to be part of their group, but he is not here.

                One of the imperial guards struck at Artimis.  Artimis struck back with what looked like a blade of water.  The imperial bled, but he was still up.  The next guard Arya recognized, her husbands friend, Edoyo.  Edoyo struck at another one of the magic users, this time a male.  This male struck back with an incredible power, Edoyo’s old wounds started bleeding again.  The last guard she recognized as admiral Jeroko.  Jeroko struck with his sword at one of the other women, who reshaped the sword to protect herself. 

                Arya looked back to Artimis and the guard she was fighting, and recognition finally struck, this man is her husbands brother, Lomaloko.  Lomaloko was always mean to her, so when he struck at Artimis again, Arya went in with her sword.  She struck him where she knew he had a weak spot, in his stomach.  He took a lot of damage from that hit, and toppled over.  “Thanks,” muttered Artimis as she rushed off to help her friends. 

                “Wait, I can help you guys.  That one your friend with the metal powers is fighting, his name is Jeroko, and he is weakest against fire magic.”  She looked around real quick, as Jeroko struck at the woman again.

                “Vanessa, go in for Dragonia, that man is weak against you.”  Artimis looked back at Arya.  “Any more useful information?” She looked to the battle in time to see Jeroko go down in a ball of fire. 

                “Well, the man your guy friend is fighting is weakest against air magic.” 

                She looked around again then yelled, “Sophitia, go in for Killik!  He is weak against air.”  After a minute, the two remaining guards were knocked down.

                Artimis looked at Arya, and after a few minutes finally said something.  “You could be useful to me after all, you and your companion may come along with us if you would like.  I just need to know how you knew what their weaknesses are.”

                “Well, my husband is an imperial guard.  I will tell you more about it later, but now we should leave this place.  If these three showed up then others are not far behind them, I can assure you that.”

                The one she named Cassandra is an earth mage, so she knew a back way to get out.  Once outside the walls of the city, they were alone.  Artimis came back up to Arya and asked, “now you must tell us how you know the imperials.”

                “Well when I was quite young still, my aunt married me off to an imperial soldier.  I was nothing more than a prize to be won.  My husband is the kind of guard we just encountered back there.  Lomaloko, his brother, is the one that you fought Artimis.  I knew his weak spot, and I didn’t like him anyway so I was glad to help.  The one Vanessa fought is admiral Jeroko, and the last one is Edoyo.  The only one that I know for certain is dead is Lomaloko.”  Arya finished.

                Artimis stayed silent for a couple minutes, then she finally asked, “do you have any powers?” 

                Jack spoke up this time, “I have similar powers to yours, I am an ice magic user.  It is a form of water magic, but the only thing I have been trained to use.”

                “Excellent, I can train you in more water based magic if you would like.”

                “That would be very kind of you.”

                “Very well, Arya is it?  What kind of powers do you have?”

                “Well, I have lightning magic like my father and healing magic like my mother.”

                “Another healer, that is very good.  How skilled are you in the art of healing?”

                “My mother taught me well, and how many healers are there here?”

                “Just me, and I am very relieved that there is another.  We will have to train our healing powers together, maybe one of us can become a greater healer.” 

                “That sounds lovely.  Shall we find a place to make camp for the night?” Arya replied. 

                The next day, Arya and Artimis practiced their healing arts to see what each other was capable of.  “Wow, I haven’t seen anyone heal like you do, except for the most powerful healer living today, Koashi.  I would give anything to be trained by her.”                 Artimis said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

                “She is the one who trained me, perhaps that is why my power resembles hers.” Arya mentioned in a casual way.  Arya doesn’t want these people to know that she is a direct relative of the empress herself.

                Jack came over to where the two girls were practicing on Killik.  “If you girls do not mind, I would like to steal Artimis away so I can start learning more water-based magic.” 

                Arya glared at him, “fine, I will just be over there with all the other guys.”  Now Jack returned the glare.  Arya laughed as she walked off towards the others.

                “Hey, Arya come over here with us.” the earth user girl said. 

                “Sure, and what is your name?”  She laughed at that comment.

                “My name is Cassandra, and the fire user is Vanessa.”  Cassandra has the deepest green eyes Arya has ever seen, and her dark brown hair looks beautiful in the light they are in. She looked so familiar. Vanessa looks like fire, with dark red hair that is almost black, and red eyes. 

                “Nice to meet all of you.”

                “I am not done with introductions yet.” she said as she was motioning everyone to come near.  “My sister Sophitia has gotten very skilled in her earth magic.” she pointed to the girl with dark brown hair and what looked like white eyes.  Next she pointed to a woman with black hair and grey eyes, “that is our metal magic user.  You may have seen her using her power back in the city.  And that is Darlendia, she has what we call super sight.  She can see for miles, and in pitch black rooms, and she also can see into the future.”  Darlendia has beautiful black hair and the most memorizing eyes Arya had yet to see.  “You already met Artimis.”  Arya glanced over at Artimis, her blue-black hair billowing in the wind, and her blue sapphire eyes glowing with magic.

                “Now for the men.  Lukous has the power of illusion, ha can make people see what he wants them to see.  He is the reason we haven’t been caught by the empire yet.”

                Lukous was sitting by the fire, his dark hair emphasized by the firelight, and his eyes looked so dark, it was almost like you could fall into them.  Arya realized she was being put in a trance by him, so she quickly knocked herself out of the trance, which surprised Lukous by the look on his face. 

                “Hey Cassie, we got a good one there, she got herself out of my spell.” he yelled to Cassandra.

                “Shut it Lukous, anyway Arya, that one over there.” she said as she pointed to a man with black hair and the brightest green eyes she had ever seen.  “That is Trekonm, he can change into any animal form.  He has been trying to change into different human forms, but he hasn’t mastered that yet.  And over there,” she said as she pointed out another man, this one with black hair and black eyes from what Arya could tell.  “He is Stanton, he seems to have an uncanny attractiveness toward all women, so please don’t fall into anything with him.  He is also the shadow magic guy, he can manipulate the shadows any way he can think of.  It comes in quite handy when escaping the imperials.”

                “You don’t have to worry about me falling for him, I got Jack.  I also seem to have the same effect on men as Stanton does women.” 

                “I see, well shall we get on with this then, Ryan is the one with the dark brown hair, and the most beautiful green-brown eyes.  Please don’t tell him I said that.  He is super strong, so he is useful to us sometimes.” 

                “I heard that.” he yelled from his tent. 

                “He also can hear very well.  Now Killik has the most interesting power, you may have seen him working on your husbands friends.  He can bring back old wounds and make them bleed profusely.”  Killik’s eyes are the most interesting part on him that Arya noticed right away, his eyes are blood red.  His hair however is dark brown.  “And the blondie is Oakin.  He hasn’t known his power too long, but it is a good one if he learns how to use it right.  He can rearrange flesh.”  Oakin smiled at that, his brown eyes sparkling with delight. 

                “Where are you from?” Arya asked Cassandra.

                “From the capital city. I worked in the palace along with my sister. We were both married off when we were young. It is thanks to Sophitia that we escaped.”

                “I thought you looked familiar. Your Kachii’s daughter right?”

                “Please don’t tell anyone. If they know about that, they won’t accept me as one of them. And Trys is actually my father, not Kachii.”

                The next morning, they all woke rather early in the morning.  Artimis was already packing everything that she could.  “We need to leave now, get what you need leave anything you don’t need behind!”

                “Artimis, how is it that you have come to trust Jack and I so quickly?”

                “Perhaps because you seem trustworthy. I know you haven’t given us your whole story yet, but entrusting us with the facts you have so far was a very brave thing to do. Jack is in love with you, that much I can tell. I also believe you are deeply in love with him.”

                “He has always been there for me. Even when I was forced to marry he never left. He is the one true love for me.”

                “That is nice, how old are you by the way?”

                “I am eighteen years old barely. The day I left the capital city is the day I turned eighteen.”

                “That’s tough, don’t your parents miss you?”

                “I miss my mother, but I guess I will see her again someday. My father wouldn’t really let me see her all that much since he married me off to Takumi.”

                “So tell me about your trainer, was Koashi awesome like I think she would be? I have dreamt of meeting her for so long, and to have her pupil in our little group is the best thing to happen to me in this lifetime!”

                “Well, she was fantastic. Although she could have chosen a better husband. Her husband beats her so bad she can’t even heal herself. I fear now with me gone she won’t be able to recover from him. If only she could have come with Jack and I, then I could assure her safety.”

                “Wow, I heard she had a daughter. I also believe she is married to the brother of the empress if I remember right.”

                “That is all true. Her daughter was also married off young. She didn’t have much contact with her once she was married off to a soldier.”

                “Did you ever meet her?”

                “Yes, she was an unfortunate girl to be in such an escapeless destiny. She is meant to take over after her aunt leaves this world. I have heard it so, her aunt only wishes for the realm to be ruled by a female of her line. However she does not wish to give up her authority. The princess is also rare, bring as the royals are infertile with humans. Koashi was the lucky one to have gotten pregnant with one of their children.”

                “Yeah, well we will see to that once our powers are strong enough.”