Small talk

"Very well. It will take me a day to prepare everything I need for the spell. After you eat, you should go find your spirit animal. Collin can escort you through the forest." The old woman gestured toward the golden haired boy, making him blush excitingly.

He was over joyed by his grandmother's suggestion.

[My grandmother is the best!! She really is on my side! Well done, well done!]

Thanks to her, he would have an excuse to spend some alone time with this beautiful goddess! He almost couldn't contain himself. A goofy smile crawled across his face, and his puppy dog eyes light up. She could almost imagine him as a golden retriever with a big fluffy tail swinging excitedly behind him.

Marella had mix feelings about that. She didn't think Collin was dangerous anymore, but felt uncomfortable with the way he looked at her. It wasn't perverted or held any malice, but instead a look of hopeless admiration. She wasn't use to such a look.

Why would he admire an half-elf? Even if she WAS human just like him, they had only just met. And it's not like their first meeting was impressive. In fact, she beat him with a candlestick and spoke incredibly rudely to him. Maybe he was into that sort of thing?

If the role's were reversed, she doubted that she would like such a person. But she didn't have much choice in the matter when it came down to it. Last time she roamed the forest on her own, she ran right into poison mist and passed out. A guide would prove very useful considering she didn't want to put herself in unnecessary danger.

Collin had lived in this forest for pretty much his whole life. He knew these woods like the back of his hand by this point. He knew were the strongest beasts lived, where the traps where, and how to properly avoid them. If she wanted to find that stupid rabbit, then she would need his help to do so. She didn't like it, but that's just the way it had to be.

...

Marella trailed behind Collin, following him closely through the forest so she wouldn't get lost again. They followed a small dirt road that looked like it was formed by someone, or something, that frequently walking back and forth on it. It was unclear if it was from beasts, or if it was Collin himself that made it over time.

"So, what's your name Miss? You haven't told us yet." Collin gave her a backwards glance and flashed his best 'pretty boy' smile at her.

She honestly wasn't use to being looked at in such a way, and it made her heart feel alittle uncomfortable. Like someone was squeezing her her from the inside.

She avoided looking into his eyes and instead focused on the ground to watch where she stepped. She no longer spoke rudely to him, but her voice still held a hint of chill.

"Marella. No last name."

"No last name? Can you not remember that as well?" Collin's question was innocent, but still made her stomach twist.

She kept an expressionless face, and her voice nonchalant. As oi what he asked was nothing but talk of the weather.

"It's true I don't remember, but I doubt that's why I don't have one. Elf's are slaves and are not permitted a family name."

Collin couldn't help but stop in his tracks, and turned around to study her face. How could he be so stupid? This was common knowledge but he went and shoved his own foot in his mouth! How could he ask somthing like that to an elf? He had no doubt that he had hurt her feelings.

"I'm sorry... I.. didn't think about that.."

There was genuine regret and concern for her in his voice. His goofy way of talking reminded her of Maya. She also spoke without much thought. Marella couldn't help but find such an honest and awkward trait quite charming.

A small but gorgeous smile tugged at the ends of her lips, her expression lightened, and her body was being delicately framed by the forest foliage and the sun shining behind her. She looked like a goddess sent from the Heavens in such a setting.

Before he could say anything to redeem his own blunder, Marella spoke instead. She felt bad that he was embarrassed because of her, so she decided to change the subject to help him out at bit.

"So, you've lived here for a long time?"

He jumped at the sudden change of topic, but quickly recovered with a beaming smile.

"For as long as I can remember! Grandma said that the villagers abandoned me here in the forest. Apparently, my father was a mage that passed through the town. When my mother found out she could be pregnant with a future mage, she left me in the forest. I turned out to be a mage after all, so in the end I am lucky that grandma took me in. It's much nicer here then in the Tower."

It wasn't uncommon for the people to do such a thing to their children. It made her angry to think about. Who could chose to harm an innocent child, especially when it was their own fault for making one in the first place!

"You're an Apostate Mage then?" Curiosity filled her eyes. She looked at him in a new light. He was young but still had to live his life in hiding in order to be free.

He awkwardly scratched his head and let out a light chuckle.

"I guess you could say that. It's true I was never reported to the Tower, and I doubt the magic I practice is legal."

"Why would the magic you were taught be illegal?" she asked.

"Well, not all of it would be. But the Tower only let's it's mages learn a select few spells that are easy for their Knights to stop if they find the need to. Basically, they don't want their mage's to have any REAL power. Grandma has taught me a variety of different spells without holding back. Most are not suitable for the Tower."

He looked kind of scared for a moment. Like he was afraid that after what he said, Marella wouldn't like him anymore. Most people didn't.

"And you have a spirit beast as well then?" She didn't notice his frightened expression, but after she took what he said with such a light heart, his face eased considerably. She didn't care in the slightest.

"I do! His name is Kai. He's a different type from your rabbit. He's a wolf, and is an attack type spirit beast. Though he can do other things like tracking as well."

"There's different types?"

"Mhm! There are three. Attack types are pretty common, they can be used to fight for you. Defensive types only protect incoming damage from reaching their mage. Then their's support types, like yours. They can help gather mana and give it to you to increase the power of you own spells and keep you from getting too tired."

She nodded in silent acceptance. That was good to know. If she ever had to defend herself against another mage, then it would be handy to know what they might have hidden up their sleeves.

Collin wasn't fazed by her silence in the slightest. He didn't know her too well, but he had a good idea about her character. She was a woman of few words. Instead of waiting for her reply, he slightly shifted the conversation.

"What's your rabbits name? Its awfully cute. I bet you gave a great name."

Marella paused her steps for a moment and her face turned alittle red.

"Stupid.. Rabbit?"

"You named your rabbit.. Stupid rabbit?"

"Well I don't remember what I named it before, and its pretty stupid so.."

Collin found her choice of words hilarious. He laughed so hard he had to use a nearby tree for support. He looked like he might even cry because of how hard he was laughing.

"Hahaha! What a great name! Haha, I would never of guess that even if you gave me one hundred years!"

Marella was slightly flustered from his sudden outburst, but didn't find it unpleasant. It was actually nice to hear such a genuine laugh. She couldn't help but wonder if she would still beable to laugh like that after she regains some of her lost memories.