Chapter 38: Life magic

"If you do that, the master will never forgive you, Cora," Yona emerged at Tomas's side.

Cora's cold blue eyes came up to inspect her. Her boot remained resting on Tomas's head.

"Why not?" Cora smiled, "I thought he was just a nobody, a nuisance?"

"He is...my lover," Yona glanced down with a blank expression.

"Even more reason to kill him," Cora giggled.

"If you kill him, you will have to kill me," Yona stated flatly, "And when you do that, the master will come here and kill you,"

The triumphant grin on Cora's face abated. She retracted her foot and set it down with an irritated stamp, inches from Tomas' face. Yona watched quietly.

"Well, this was boring anyway," Cora shrugged. She cast Yona an irritated glance, "Tell Ace I said hi,"

Yona said nothing but waited silently until Cora had vanished beyond the clearing. She quickly knelt down at Tomas's side. She tore off the edge of her sleeve and went down to the water. She dipped the material in the water then began to dab at Tomas's face lightly. Luckily the wound was not deep.

Upon feeling the cold sensation against his brow, Tomas began to rouse.

"Yona?" he looked up confused.

Instinct kicked in and he sat up straight, rapidly looking around.

"She is gone," Yona explained.

Tomas's eyes came back to Yona with surprise.

"You... saved my life?" he asked.

"No," Yona replied in a low voice, "I just found you,"

"Oh," Tomas responded, "I could have sworn she was going to kill me..."

Suddenly his eyes widened and he began to pat himself down hastily. His hands came to the journal underneath his shirt and pulled it out with an annoyed grunt. He slammed it down on the ground angrily.

"This bloody thing almost killed me!" he exclaimed, "I should throw it in the river,"

Yona stared down at it, "perhaps you should, "

"What?" Tomas burst out laughing, "you're supposed to tell me no!"

Yona remained straight-faced as usual. Tomas let out a light chuckle.

"Um Yona," Tomas inhaled deeply, " I have something I need to say to you,"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry," Tomas scratched his head awkwardly, " I'm sorry that I hurt you,"

" You did not hurt me," Yona looked away.

" Yes, I did," Tomas said soberly, " but I shouldn't have. I was wrong, "

" You wanted to escape, "Yona responded.

"It doesn't matter, " Tomas said with a sigh," there will always be bad situations in life, but that doesn't give us permission to be bad people. I was wrong and I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"

Yona finally met his gaze. His fervent blue eyes were waiting patiently.

"I forgive you, Tomas, " Yona replied at last.

Tomas gave a wide smile, " Oh good," he sighed in relief, " cause I've really taken a pounding this week, I really didn't want to have any more enemies, "

"How do you feel? " Yona asked, glancing up at the gash above his brow.

" I'll be fine," Tomas answered with a chuckle, " But I think I need to sit down for a sec,"

Tomas leaned forward as if he was about to kneel when suddenly he stumbled and fell straight back.

"Tomas?" Yona cried catching holding of him.

She knelt down on her knees with his head on her lap and tapped his face gently.

"Tomas?"

He didn't answer.

********************

On the other side of the forest, a great black bird flew over the small shack. Veretta was standing in the clearing just outside looking up at the blue sky mournfully. The wind shifted and the leaves at the tops of the trees rattled. She was standing with her bare feet against the grass. She was only in her nightgown but the warm spring air felt warm against her skin. The soft sun felt strangely comforting. Like an old friend who had just returned after a long journey.

"Veretta?" Errik emerged from the other side of the clearing with a handful of logs.

Veretta's eyes slowly came down. She inspected the logs with a glazed stare then turned back to the sky.

"It's warm Errik, we don't need it," she said softly.

"I know," Errik replied. He went in ahead to the shack leaving her standing alone.

A moment later he returned with Veretta's shawl and put it around her pale shoulders.

"But It's not so warm that you should come out dressed like this," Errik said in a low voice.

Veretta inhaled deeply, "Don't do that,"

"Do what?" Errik frowned.

"Don't pretend like you care about me," Veretta answered severely. She turned swiftly on her heels and marched off into the woods.

Errik's golden eyes fluttered grievously. He put his hands on his waist as if in deep thought standing alone under the empty blue sky. He exhaled sharply and took off expeditiously towards the forest.

He found Veretta only a little into the grassy path. She was sitting under the shade of a faintly green tree with a great primordial trunk. Errik stared down at her for a moment without anything. Veretta gave no acknowledgement to his presence. He knelt down in front of her and pulled her small hand to his.

"Veretta, I..." he started.

"Please Errik," Veretta interrupted, "Just stop,"

"You don't even know what I'm going to say!" he rose in agitation.

Veretta's green eyes came up darkly, "What are you going to say to me, Errik? More lies? More promises you don't mean? I'm not interested. You already agreed to this. Why are you being like this now?"

"I just...I wish I knew how to reach you,"

With that Errik turned abruptly and left.

Veretta shook her head and bit her lip. She cradled her knees tightly and buried her head there. She couldn't tell how much time had passed, but when she raised her head again, there was a slight chill in the air. Veretta stood and looked up. A congregation of grey clouds were closing off the blue sky. Veretta pulled in her shawl a little and began to walk back.

She hadn't taken more than a few steps when she heard a rustle. She turned back quickly expecting to see Errik. But there was no one. She turned back ahead again considering that it might be an animal. However, then she heard the sound again. This time she could distinctly make out the sound of running. Veretta looked out to the forest but she couldn't see a soul.

"Hello, is there someone there?" she called.

She turned quickly towards the shack. A figure suddenly appeared in front of her and she let out a small gasp. Yona was standing a foot from Veretta. Her red eyes were uncharacteristically wide and desperate.

"Help him!" Yona thrust out her arms.

Veretta's eyes panned down. In Yona's arms, Tomas was passed out pale and sickly. A cold sweat had broken on his brow and he was trembling slightly.

"Tomas..." Veretta breathed, "Quick, bring him inside!"

They raced back to the shack. Upon here their footsteps, Errik came to the door and looked over Yona with a mixture of suspicion and surprise. His eyes went to Tomas and narrowed seriously.

"Bring him inside," Veretta instructed and they both rushed past him.

Veretta swept her hand over the table and pushed everything there to the side as Yona lay Tomas down across it. By this time the trembling seemed to have stopped and he wasn't moving at all. Veretta held out her hands over him and began to cast a healing spell.

She continued in silent concentration for several moments. Yona stood by her side anxiously. Errik turned from the door and watched as well. Veretta's eyes grew wide and she drew in a shallow, unsteady breath.

"It's not working," she faltered, "why isn't it working?!"

At that moment, Errik came beside her and placed his hand against Tomas' forehead.

"What is it?" Veretta stared up apprehensively.

Errik skimmed a hand down the length of Tomas' body.

"His mana is unstable," he said retracting his hand. His eyes came up severely to Yona, "What has your master done to him?"

Yona began to shake her head slightly but did not speak. Veretta looked over to her with trepidation.

"Yona, if something has happened, you have to tell us," she gripped onto Yona's arms.

A flicker of distress passed Yona's features as she glanced from Tomas to Veretta.

"He fought with the master the day before, but he was fine," Yona said in a quiet voice, "The master didn't do this to him. He was attacked on the way here,"

"Did he have to use his magic then?" Errik questioned.

"I don't know..."Yona paused, "he must have. It was not an easy battle,"

"Demonic magic is damaging to humans," Errik turned back to Tomas.

"Damaging how?" Veretta asked apprehensively.

"Human magic is life magic. Demonic magic is the opposite. It absorbs magic. Drains you of your mana. As humans, we need a certain amount of mana to simply sustain ourselves. That is why when mages use up to much magic they become weak. You say he fought against your master and then battled again the next day? The flow of his magic was probably already disrupted then he used up all his magic. Foolish boy," Errik sighed.

"Can you fix him?" Yona demanded fervently.

"I will try," Errik replied.