forum "Wait, you... you're... magic?" "Darling, what do you think?" (Fantasy o/o Closed)

Started February 01, 2022 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

Shade's face was edging towards a pale, sickly green.

"There isn't much that can be done… it's the electrum. I think-" she pauses to swallow. "I think it's something to do with my possible Fae ancestry. Or maybe something else entirely."

A series of coughs make her body spasm and curl in on itself. She gets an idea. It would be risky, very risky, but it might just pay off.

"I- I have an idea. But you all need to agree and be willing. No doubts can be had." she says, her voice coming in wheezes.

Farah and Brucie were quick to agree. "Yes, whatever it takes," Farah murmured, holding Shade close to comfort her. "What is your idea?"

Shade nods. "Life exchange, of a sort. I take part of your aura, and in return you gain some of mine. We take on parts of each others burdens. As I said, it can only be done willingly."

"I'll do it," Farah said quickly. "Just tell me how."

"It needs two." Shade says, lookig at Saul and Brucie. "But, first, Farah: you need to take my left hand."

Farah was quick to grip Shade's left hand. Her eyes were wide looking up at Saul and Brucie. "One of you," she begged. "Please!"

Saul looked at Brucie. "No offense, but I–"

Brucie held up her hand and winked. "I got it." She knelt down beside Shade and took her right hand. "You're sure about this, pumpkin?" Brucie asked with a serious tone.

Shade steels herself. "I'm sure. Any of the burdens you bear… well… I've carried mine for quite awhile. It might do me some good to let a bit out."

Inhaling, she starts the spell. Slowly, the auras of Farah, Brucie and Shade become visible even to those without the Sight. Then, faster, the pulses of auraic energy traveled from Farah to Shade, From Brucie to Shade, from Shade to Farah and Brucie. The light rises to a blinding corona of greens, violets, whites and blacks, and a rushing noise can be heard as energy is drawn from the leylines as well to help stabilize the magic. Shade cries out, once, and the light dies. It was over.

Farah gasped and winced, dropping Shade's hand to hold her head.

Brucie rushed to her side. "Farah?!"

Panting, the fairy answered shakily. "I'm alright… what about you?"

"I'm a spirit," Brucie remarked simply. "It's impossible for my aura to be drained."

Shade shakily stands, the color already returning to her as the electrum's poison leaves her. She drops to her knees again and wraps Farah in a tight hug.

"Are… are you okay?" are the first words out of her mouth.

Farah gasped for breath and leaned heavily against Shade. "Yes, I'll… I'll be fine," she mumbled. "Just wasn't expecting that." Her eyes closed briefly. "How are you?"

"I'm better…" Shade murmurs. She looks at Farah in a new light, now understanding the faerie a bit.

"Are you sure you'll be fine fine, Farah?" she asks gently, leaning back and resting the back of her right hand against Farah's cheek.

"Yes." The world began to grow dizzy in the blackness behind her eyelids, so she quickly opened them to avoid passing out. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

(Btw, mans that attacked Shade is still tied to a tree)

(Oh, I know! I'll get to him now.)

Shade looks alarmed. Oh, no… come on, come on, "COME ON!"

The last words were yelled without a thought. She stalks over to the man, after making Farah was comfortable.

"Who are you?" she screams, her face savage and red with pure malice and rage.

The man flinches slightly. "I have no reason to tell you."

Shade just gives the man a demented grin, and pulls out the same knife she'd threatened Saul with earlier. Moments later, the air misted with blood as the tips of the man's fingers were chopped off. The man gasps but doesn't scream.

"Who. Are. You?" she asks, her tone deliberate.

"Gebura Jinx." he says, clutching his injured hand to his chest.

"Why are you here?" she asks.

"I was paid to kill you. Shade Theta." Gebura says.

Shade snorts. "Good luck with that. Sure, electrum is extremely effective against me. But what can you do against a pissed maybe-human?"

The man just stays silent now, knowing anything further he says brings him closer to death. But Shade was done questioning him. Leaving him tied to the tree, she packs up camp, hauls Farah onto her shoulders and takes off, not bothering to untie the man.

"Damn, Shade," Farah groaned. "I can walk by myself anyway."

"No, you clearly can't," Saul interjected, casually slipping his arm under Farah's shoulders and taking her weight from Shade since he was a more even match for her height. "But that's why we're here."

Farah rolled her eyes.

Shade chuckles. "You could barely keep your eyes open. And you expect me to believe you can walk on your own?"

She glares at Saul. "I can handle her, you know."

"I'm fine," Farah murmured, leaning on Saul.

"Sure you can," Saul replied to Shade with a wink.

Shade raises an eyebrow and simply picks Saul up, with Farah. "I can make it there faster than any of you on foot at this point. Hold on tight."

She starts sprinting full speed, and the surrounding forest becomes a green-an-brown blur. In thirty minutes, they've reached the mountains, and she's forced to slow down on the steep shale slopes.

Farah gasped. When Shade slowed down, she doubled over. "Shade," she groaned.

Shade laughs. "Yes, Farah?"

"What the hell was that?" she moaned, gagging.

"Running…?" Shade says, walking over and checking Farah's aura. It seemed… paler. And her own aura was… the same color as Farah's. She shrugs at this.

Farah gagged again, and Saul put his hand on her lower back to steady her. "Farah?"

"How did you go–" gag "so fast and why a–" gag "why are we here now?"

Brucie was gone as well, having long ago transformed back into her spirit self.

Shade walks over and gently lowers Farah to the ground, sitting behind her and holding her. "It's… complicated."

Farah's eyes met Shade's firmly. "I think we have some time." She breathed heavily. "Explain."

Shade sighs. "I- I suppose it has to do with the aura transfer. I gained not only some of your burdens, but apparantly some of your powers too."

"As to why we're here-" she glances at Saul. "We're here for Saul. This is the place where I sensed his brother's aura wall."