Plans for the Future

Maya made quite the commotion once she arrived at the Master's home. Originally Mariella thought her master would be shocked or even angry about losing her magical barrier, but instead she simply laughed it off and welcomed Maya with open arms.

She knew her master was a friendly old woman, but she treated Maya with special care. They chatted back and forth as if they had known eachother for along time, but that impossible.

After all, Maya herself said that they had only met the one time. It was back before Maya had saved her life. She said that she had gone too deep into the forest and suddenly hurt her knee. Master healed her with forbidden magic and then sent her back to the village as if it was nothing.

Maybe she reminded her of someone she use to know and that's way she looks at her with such affection. Either way, she didn't see it as a bad thing. She was just glad that Maya could stay.

But something still tinged at her mind even more then the strange way those two carried on.

The concept of forbidden magic still confused her to some degree. She knew Apostate Mages could cast more of a variety of spells then mages who learn from the Tower, but how could she use healing spells if she was a Warrior type mage like Colin and herself?

Maybe it was because Apostate mages sometimes used runes to boost their abilities? Or maybe it was a magic item that the master had that she didn't know about yet.

Is this why the Tower and the Templars hunt down Apostates so viciously? Because they wouldn't limit their ability according to their rules? Maybe they felt it was too much power for any one mage to handle, and deemed them a menace to the kingdom because of it.

She honestly didn't know why using more than one class of magic was such a crime, but she knew it had to be incredibly hard to accomplish even with the help of runes. As far as she knew, no other mages but her master could use both Healing and attack magic. It was unheard of really.

Such a feat greatly impressed her, and only made her determination to become stronger more and more absolute. She hoped that one day she would be able to learn such skills for herself. She could only imagine how useful it would be to be able to heal one's self in the mist of a battle.

Colin had been living with master since he was an infant, but he showed no signs of knowing any other class other then being a Warrior.. After all the beatings he's taken from her since she's been here he hasn't healed himself with magic even once.

There was still so much that didn't make sense to her. It was as if this world was full of loopholes but no one knew because the Tower and the Temple had brainwashed its citizens that it was blasphemy to even try to go against their teachings.

Mariella had a strong suspicion that that they were hiding a larger truth from everyone that could be used against them if found out by an outsider. Why else would they try so hard to suppress Apostate mages? It was because they were afraid of their power being taken away by someone stronger then themselves.

She had long decided that the Temple and the Tower needed to end its rain over their kingdom. The people who lived their lives in this ghoulish nightmare everyday day but unable to free themselves made her hart ache. She knew that feeling all to well.

The temple commits such evil crimes in the name of the Holy Maker, and the citizens brainlessly follow their every word while being completely blind to these crimes they commit! It was as if they could do no wrong in their eyes at all.

They have no care if the common folk are murder if they don't share in their faith, because the temple said it was okay. They didn't care if they treated elves as slaves and beat them mercilessly for simply looking at them the wrong way, because the Temple said it was okay.

The Temple was the organization that brought slavery into the kingdom in the first place, saying that Elves and other races were the scum on the earth and needed to be oppressed. That they needed to serve humans in the name this God they call the Maker because they are the lesser race.

If this Maker really had these beliefs, then he would be no God to her. Who could worship a God who promotes such hate and discrimination?

They even use their Holy Knights they call Templars to control their country's citizens, saying that they're there to protect them. When really they are there to kill people for speaking against them, and hunting down mages they deem dangerous to maintain their own power.

The Tower wasn't any better. They worked hand-in-hand together to commit such crimes so that no one could dream of overpowering them. The temple had their Knights, and the Tower controlled the mages. There is a power to numbers, and that they had plenty of.

If they needed to be stopped, then who said she couldn't have a hand in doing it herself? She was making a long list of things she wanted to do once she got stronger, and she intended to make sure each one would happen even if it killed her.

Helping the people who were too scared to think or help ⁷themselves was on the top of her to-do list.

...

It was pretty late in the day, the sun had just set moments ago. Mariella sat alone with her knees to her chest in the herb garden. For some reason, the smell of dirt and herbs comforted her racing mind and made her thoughts a bit clearer. Maybe it was because she was an earth element that she felt so close to nature, but she couldn't say for sure.

The sky was especially clear that night, not a single cloud in sight. Even the moon seemed bigger and brighter then usual, making it easy for her to still see her surroundings.

The herbs were lined one after eachother in neat rows, each one slightly more rare then the last. And an owl was softly 'hooting' in the distance making the night feel cozy and complete.

Just as she was about to stand up to head back in, she heard a loud 'crunch' from someone stepping on some near by twigs. She tilted her head in the direction of the noise, and smiled kindly in acknowledgement. Her memorizing eyes locking in on a familiar face.

"Can you not sleep, Maya?" her head slight tilted to the side making a strand of silver hair fall from behind her ear.

Maya calmly walked over to her side and sat next to her on the cool ground, looking up at the same sky as her dear friend with a gentle smile on her face.

"Indeed, nothing gets past you. But what about you? What's on your mind that has you thinking so intensely in the dirt like this? If you stay anu longer you just might sprout roots and be stuck her for good!"

Mariella chuckled for a moment before she grew quite once more. A slight frown tugged at the corner of her lips as she thought.

There was no need to lie or hid the truth. Not from Maya at least. She was her first friend and sister. She truly felt that no matter how she said what needed to be said that she would still be on side.

"I'm thinking about leaving soon." she replied honestly. Her gaze driven down to the ground with guilt.

"Leaving? And go where?" Maya tried to sound calm, but a hint of panic still slipped through. She had only just found her, and now she wants to leave again? It felt too soon.

"I need to go to the Capital."

"The Capital?! Mariella have you lost it? The Temple's main headquarters is in the Capital!" Her calm demeanor completely slipped away and was replaced with shock and wide eyes.

"I have to start looking somewhere, and I just have this feeling.. something's in the Capital for me. I can't explain why I feel that way, but I do."

"They won't let you in, even if you tried. Not without a human with slave papers on you to prove you have an owner."

Mariella chuckled bitterly. She knew she was right, but she didn't like to be reminded that she was a slave. But fortunately for her she all ready had a plan in place to overcome this little problem.

"Master know's a magic item that will help me. Its forbidden magic, but it will suppress my elven blood to the point I look like a normal human girl. She's almost done with it, she just needs a few more days."

Maya shook her head still not convinced.

"If you go to the capital.. who will take care of you? You won't have anyone on your side.. There are cruel people out there, even to human girls. It's just not safe!" Her wide eyes were holding back tears by this point, trying desperately not to start sobbing right then and there. "Take me with you at least." she finally chocked out.

"It could dangerous, and I can't promise I can keep you safe with my current strength alone." Marella looked back at her solemnly, her eyes sad but clear.

"I don't care! We'll work together to stay safe! I'll protect you, and you protect me. It's what family is supposed to do.. You can't just leave me behind again!" She could no longer hold back her feelings. Soon her face streaked and covered in snot and tears. It was heart breaking to see.

Mariella felt touched. So much so that even her own eyes began to gloss over. As far as she knew, she had no family at all, but now... Now she had Maya. Blood related or not, this silly girl was without a doubt her sister whom she would die for, and she knew that she would do the same for her.

She put one arm around Maya's shoulders and gently knocked their heads together.

"Then.. we're in this together. I promised I wouldn't leave you again. Like you said, we're family now."

**********

Author's note:

Hi, readers! I just wanted to say thank you so much for your time and support you have given me. My son was born july 30th, so we have been very busy tending to a newborn. Thank you for your patience, I love you all!