Wizard Runners

Chapter 28's

“What do you think of ?!” Aev rampaged at Aang Feng.

They were back at the inn, and it had been over half an hour since

Stormleaf's gone. They patiently wait until they are sure they are not

heard, but now, Aev can finally vent.

“I think a little lie is better than letting us

killed,” said Aang Feng flat.

“Slightly lie ?!” Aev. “You agree that we will travel

with him! What are we gonna do? How can we stay hidden

if they were there with us ?!”

“That's the only option,” said Aang Feng. “Even without finding Nature,

we're too suspicious. And Academy ..” He sighed. “They prefer to kill

some innocents rather than risk letting the enemy escape

selves.

Aev wanted to protest, but he thought he might be right. Still, it needs

a few moments for him to calm down. When he finally calmed down, he

thinking of what Aang Feng said that night.

“What do you say about Aang clan ..” Aev asked while frowning

eyebrows. “Is that true?”

Aang Feng hesitated before finally speaking. “Some of them. I

truly a member of the Aang clan, if that's what you ask.”

“Then why are you in the convent?” Aev asked. “Don't your clan train

members themselves?”

“I'm not talented enough,” he said. “At least not for clans. They

still going to train me, but in the end, I was expected to marry

someone from the allied clan.”

“You're not talented enough?” Aev's confused. “But your Master in magic

very phenomenal!”

A faint smile appeared on his face, but he shook his head. “Klan

we expect more than just a little skill. Youth

the most talented were the future leaders and clan elders. We are all .

expected to marry into another clan, to secure allies and

strengthening the clan's position within the Empire. ”

” But how did you end up in the convent? ” Aev ask.

“I am not satisfied with the future as a wife to strengthen the bond

with some other clans,” he said. “So I ran away, hoping on

when I return, I will be strong enough to become one of the core members

clansmen. I know Windballad is taking students, so ‘ Where am I

go awayl. “

Aev thought. “Is that why you always work hard?” her

asked, given how obsessive Aang Feng was about his training.

He nodded . “I can't waste time. Not if I'm gonna

choose my own path,”

finally Aev understood. To Aang Feng, magic was not just a powerful tool;

it was the only way he was allowed to choose his own fate.

They talked more that night, with Aang Feng explaining

a little about the main clan to the Aev. Until now, he knew nothing

about them beyond the fact that they exist, and he was surprised to find out

that the main clan was one of the major powers within the Empire.

The more he studied, the more he understood how little he knew

about Empire.

Until late at night, they finally go to sleep, though Aev needs to

a few hours to fall asleep.

The next morning, they were awakened by the innkeeper, who gave

knew them that the magicians of the Academy were waiting for them outside

inn. The woman spoke of them in a whispering tone, and Aev

I can tell you that he is afraid of the Academy.

He should be too, he thought.

They packed in haste, and Aev realized with a little

exasperated that since they were going to travel with the magicians of the Academy, he

can't keep the items they bought the day before in the bag

empty them.

By the time they left the inn, he was already packed like

donkey, wearing an armored coat and not only carrying his weapon but

also the clothes Aang Feng had bought the day before.

Outside the inn they found Stormleaf waiting with the two

the other Academy Witches, more than half a dozen horses by his side. Subsequent to

seeing Aev loaded with weapons and bags, he laughed out loud.

“Your poor servant seems too burdened, Miss Aang,” said.

“He insisted he would need weapons and armor to

travel,” says Aang Feng. “It makes sense that he should take them.”

faster if we release your servant from at least some of his burdens.”

Aev was relieved to see that they had several packs of horses, and some

then he found himself free of the bag he was carrying.

“Do you two know how to drive?” Stormleaf asked, though,

“Of course,” says Aang Feng immediately.

“Slightly,” replied Aev with hesitation. He occasionally rode while growing up

in Riverbend, though the last time he sat on a horse were a few

years ago. The thought of not having to walk is

interesting though.

———

Aev soon discovers that the ride on horseback is hardly

as comfortable as he expected. The first day wasn't too bad, though

leaving his thighs and back pain. The second day was worse, because of him

I had to go up even though I was sick. On the third day, he found himself

hope to get back on the road again.

It took a week before Aev started to become more comfortable riding, though

he prefers to walk on his own two feet.

Meanwhile, he discovers that traveling with the magicians of the Academy

even more boring than scary.

At first, he spent every moment worrying that he could

found at any time, but he found that none of them were

attracted him.

Every day, Stormleaf and Aang Feng would ride in front, with Aev and two

the Academy Witch followed behind them. The only time both will be

talking to him was when they ordered him to water the horse

or doing other tasks. Mostly, they barely even

acknowledge existence.

While he was too afraid to use Shadow Essence during

the first few days, boredom and frustration end up winning out of taste

scared, and he began to check the Shadow seal on the Fire and Wind Realms at the moment

they travel.

Mr. Joko tells him that other witches won't be able to

sensing his Shadow Essence, and though he was reluctant to risk his life

at the man's words, the only other option was not to do

anything at all.

Knowing of the danger awaiting him in the Shadowflame Society, he could not

wasting time like that. He needs to be prepared, and the only way

to do that is to practice now, so that at the very least, he will

can open his Realm before he arrives.

Originally, he had only examined the seals, focusing his mind on them

while trying to figure out what it really is. It took a few days, but

eventually, he began to see more clearly how they were made.

The seal was like a complicated knot, formed from thin strands of Essence

The shadows are wrapped around each other in what looks like a weave that

meeting, completely covering his relationship with Nature.

Once he understood a little about the seal, he started to poke and stab

they were with Shadow Essence, trying to see if and how they would

reacting.

He discovered that there was little difference between his own Shadow Essence

and the Shadow Essence from which the seal was made, and he could tell that if

he knows how, he'll be able to manipulate that.

His progress was slow, but the journey was boring and he had none

there are many things to do besides practice when they ride.

As the weeks passed, he grew more and more adept at manipulating Shadow Essence

which forms a seal. He was still far from being able to remove the seal, though,

but he could sense that given enough time, he would eventually

succeeds.

Not that he was in a hurry, of course – before they parted with

academy Witch, she would not dare to risk trying to unseal.

About three weeks into their trip, Aev spent one night

again sitting quietly while he worked on the control over the Shadow seal,

ignored by others in the campfire.

“Miss Aang,” she heard Stormleaf say. “In these weeks

we spent it traveling together, I've been thinking about your situation. I

sure I have a solution.”

“Oh?” Aang Feng reacted calmly, even though Aev thought he heard

a little worry in his voice.

“I have a proposal for you,” said Stormleaf.