Eyes Aglow (3)

"So… this is?" Mary began, looking at Damien skeptically.

Ymir and Mary were sat on one couch, while Damien and I were directly across from them. The only thing making it awkward was Damien's incredibly close proximity to me. Despite the coach being at least eight feet long, Damien insisted on sitting directly beside me, leaving all but an inch between our bodies. I laughed weakly to try and clear some of the tension.

"Mary, Ymir, this is Damien."

"Yes okay," Mary huffed, "But who is he? Why is he here?"

I couldn't understand why, but Mary seemed almost jealous.

"Well, that is what he plans on explaining. To all of us," I grinned, carefree as a bird.

"You don't know either?!" Mary shrieked, and I shied away.

"Now, now, let's calm down and hear them out," Ymir said, trying to placate my little sister. He acted calm, but I could tell from his demeanor he was uncomfortable, and I think a little confused as to why I was bringing up this subject now. They must have assumed I'd know Damien for quite a while. Maybe because he refused to sit farther away from me…

"Look you guys, this is all a shock to me as well. I met Damien for the first time last night, when… well something strange happened."

"Something strange?" Ymir repeated.

"Yes well, I'm hoping Damien will be able to answer all our questions. Including mine." Then I nodded towards the strange enigma and he perked up, realizing it was his turn to speak.

"First, I'll start by telling you, I am a demi-human."

Mary and Ymir's eyes flew open.

"To prove it to you? Well…" Damien said and suddenly changed into his wolf form.

Ymir and Mary's shock tripled.

After changing back, he began the explanation, "Now, I will continue explaining under the assumption, that as humans, you know very little about my race."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, including me.

"Good. So, for demi-humans, we are more instinctual than anything. While we do form groups based on our animal counterparts, we have never built anything as grand as an empire. We prefer to live off the land, taking from it's bounty, and giving our reverence and respect in return. But every once in a while, someone special is born among our people. We call them king candidates."

Damien seemed to pause for dramatic effect before continuing on. We were all intensely engrossed by his story.

"These king candidates are born with a certain 'potential' if you will. One thing I am sure you know about demi-humans is we are especially adept at using magic, which is no surprise considering our connection with nature. This 'potential' is a type of magic affinity. What it allows a king candidate to do is bond with one powerful person in their life time, and with this bonding process, the two are able to interchangeably use each other's abilities. In a sense, they share their magic affinities with one another."

My mouth fell open.

"Are you suggesting," I began, "That you and I have already completed this bonding process?"

"Yes, master!" Damien beamed.

My head whirled. I didn't really like the idea that this had been carried out without my knowledge or permission. In fact, it made me a little angry.

"And you didn't think to ask whether I would like to share this bond with you or not?"

Damien balked.

"I would have liked to ask you too, but unfortunately, it would be impossible."

"What do you mean?" I asked, "Explain."

"I was just getting to that…" the man mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing! Anyway! The thing about king candidates and their bond is neither of us get to pick. The truth of the matter is, our destinies are preordained at birth. It is simply a matter of growing and waiting until the faithful encounter."

I didn't like the sound of that at all.

"So are you telling me you're being forced to serve me? Is that why you call me master?"

"NO! Of course not!" Damien was adamant. "Let me see if I can explain this even better."

Damien cleared his throat and looked apprehensively at Mary and Ymir, who were both watching all this unfold with stark horror on their faces. This was turning out to be a lot more complicated than I'd originally thought.

"As I'd mentioned before, demi-humans are very in-tune with nature, the source of all magic. It is nature itself that decides upon the people who are destined to change the world. Whether it's a human, elf, or other being, there are creatures born into this world that are destined to change the very fabric of existence. Because of this, they are very powerful. It is all decided upon by the universe, and us demi-humans are a tool of nature. We were born to help these powerful people. We are like nature's envoys. We appear to let the chosen people know, that this world is on their side. That they have the backing of nature. Isani, my master, you are one of those people. You have been chosen to change this world's fate, and I am here to assist you in your endeavors, if you would so allow me."

Suddenly, Damien fell to the floor and bowed in front of me, almost groveling. My face went red as I tried to get him to stand, but he wouldn't budge.

"I am sorry I have displeased you by entering into our bond without your knowledge. I really had no other choice, you must understand!"

"Alright, alright!" I pleaded, "Just get up already, you're embarrassing me!"

"Yes, master!" And Damien was back beside me on the coach.

I rubbed my temple as I frowned, trying to process everything. This was just too much. I had planned to change the human empire a little, tiny bit. But I just wanted to get rid of some outdated laws! This guy made it sound like I was a destined hero who would one day save the world from destruction. I just couldn't understand it.

Mary too, seemed very confused.

"But Damien, if brother Isani really is one of these special people you've mentioned, why are you only appearing by his side now? Didn't you say his destiny was sealed from birth?"

Damien's brow furrowed, "Yes, it is very strange. You see, I wouldn't have known of master's existence until he awakened as a mage, but even then, most humans awaken by the age of five, no? Even I am not sure why it took this long for things to be set in motion."

"Wait, awaken as a mage?" Mary looked at me.

"Yes," Damien barely blinked, "Master awakened yesterday."

The room was thrown into an uproar.

Awakening as a mage. Yes, maybe I had ignored the possibility before because the previous Isani had never awakened. But I should have known things would be different now that I was in his body. Awakening as a mage occurred when a person felt very strong emotion for the first time.

That was why many human children awakened between the ages of five and seven, when most people experience their first huge disappointment, or traumatizing experience. This was essential for a mage, because whatever event triggered their awakening would determine their affinity. For example, a child who has a terrible experience with water, might awaken as a water mage. Or a child who is afraid of thunder, might have the ability to control lighting. Of course, some people never awakened at all.

So what emotion had triggered my awakening?

I thought back to yesterday's events. It was very draining. With Ymir's confession of gratitude, and Wyatt's 'warning'. I thought hard about what I felt the most intensely that day, and only one word came to mind.

Fear.

It wasn't fear of Wyatt obviously, but what he had said did leave an impression on me. Whenever I had thought of my future before, I just imagine a nice and cushy life in solitary peace. But as I continued to live on in this world, I found people I cared about, and who cared about me, and somehow, my feelings began to change. I started prioritizing their feelings, and putting them above all else. I began to worry about their well-being and what might happen to me if they ever got hurt.

I was afraid of losing the ones I loved.

So then, what had my magic affinity manifested as? What magic could possibly translate from the emotion of fear?

"Defense magic," Damien said, as if he had read my thoughts.

"What?" I asked.

"I know you must be wondering what kind of magic you possess. It is defense magic, master. You are capable of summoning the strongest defense known to man, whether it is in the form of a physical shield, or a barrier put up like a wall around you. If you will it, you can protect anything within your sight."

I just stared blankly at Damien, and then I slowly began to smile. I didn't think I could ask for a better power. I still didn't like the idea that I had been forced into this, but if it was something that couldn't have been avoided anyway, why not just go with the flow?

Everyone sat for a moment, digesting. It was a lot to take in. Eventually, I spoke up again.

"This has certainly been a surprising conversation. I think we should all take some time to rest now. Ymir, I will talk with you tomorrow about whatever it is you wanted to discuss, and I think we'll keep the shop closed for today."

Ymir nodded in agreement, and the room was cleared. Leaving only Damien and I behind.

I looked him up and down again, still amazed by his beauty, and decided to ask one last question that had been nagging at me.

"Damien, you said you were the king of demi-humans, but I thought you also said your race doesn't follow the structure of any kind of empire or kingdom?"

"You would be correct master. But I also mentioned our kind splits off into groups depending on our animal deviants, right?"

I nodded.

"Because I was chosen as a king candidate, and am now bonded to my master, I have become the king of the wolf clan. I have command over every wolf demi-human in all the forests."

Upon hearing his explanation, and idea began to take form in my mind.

"And we can share our abilities, you said? Interchangeably?"

"Yes."

"Does that mean, that I too, have command over your clan?"

Damien tilted his head, "Well yes, I don't see why not."

I grinned.

This event really was more lucky than anything.