She buried her fear and dug out her power. She cast four spells at once to protect her. An energy wall was built. Her hands caught fire and were surrounded by floating magic circles as her entire body took on a shade of dark red. While Siem prepared for battle, the sound ebbed away in the restaurant behind her turned. Where just a moment ago everyone was laughing and the mood was light, the people from the restaurant now watched with as much curiosity as fear at the scene unfolding at the end of the alleyway. Even if magic was a common way of life in the city of the Middle Kingdom, “battle magic” was not welcome and very rare. Only a small part of the population was allowed to use this magic, let alone master it.
The guests were astonished when Siem rose in a ball of fire, looking like a phoenix rising from the ashes. She took one last deep breath. She had to be quick and precise, not too many people should see what was going on. After all, she was on the run from the King’s Guard! She jumped out of the alley and immediately turned to the wall of the house where she felt the energy radiate from the most.
She did not think. She saw a shadow on the wall and a body. Immediately, she shot two fireballs in that direction. The shadow jumped away immediately and shouted “Mikkkooooo!” She did not understand what this being wanted. She had to make sure she had the advantage, especially now in this precarious position. This had to be done quickly and quietly. There was too much at stake...
She shot three more fireballs against the creature, but it was quick. Her fireballs hit the wall behind it which was already scorched from her first attack. The creature was fast and windy. None of the fireballs hit its body, even though they had been incredibly fast. At the last second, it jumped away every time. Siem kept shooting and it kept screaming “Miiikkooooo” with every shot. Siem noticed that she couldn’t hit it and stopped for a second. The creature just stood in front of her. It didn’t attack either. It just stood there, staring. Siem was irritated. She stopped the fire and changed back, drifting to the floor and regaining her normal hues and colour once again.
The being just looked at her and smiled. Siem had not noticed that before. It smiled. It hadn’t attacked. It didn’t want to kill anyone.
“Who are you? And why are you following me?” she looked right at him. It was a “he” she presumed.
“So now you ask Mikko Mikko? After you fire?” The figure didn’t seem outraged. Although his question was challenging, he seemed more amused and from the way he spoke.
“Yes, Mikko Mikko, now I ask, and you answer. Why are you following me?”
There was no aggression, just curiosity from the figure. She could see it in his eyes. The longer she watched him, the safer she felt. There was no sense of aggression, just curiosity. He took a step towards her. He stood tall with black hair and wearing a robe billowing in the air. He stared at her with a confident smile while his brown eyes assessed her. She was irritated but that wasn’t new. The warriors of the Middle Kingdom could all move so quickly, she reminded herself.
“Siem...” He said softly and kneeled to lower his head. “Guardian of the one who turns against all.” That wasn’t a question, it was a statement. He knew who she was. It seemed their consciousness had been marked into the minds of many. But Siem did not know by whom.
Siem did not want to attract more attention. Too many beings had already been spectators of this show. “Please stand up,” She begged. He looked up again at her.
“Why are you following me?” She pressed again.
“I heard about your story, Siem. It is similar to mine. I too was expelled from the School of Mages. My name is Mikko. I am at your service.”
Siem was a little baffled. Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, one that was at once too loud to ignore and yet too quiet to understand. But the word she understood was like a fist in the eye. “Traitor!” Siem turned and realized just at that moment that a group had formed around her. A large cluster of beings, some of them their spectators. The one who was in charge was an old lady. She looked at Siem with big eyes. “I recognize her from the warrior images sent out by the Seven. “ She said, adding, “Whoever captures her will be greatly rewarded.”
Siem had forgotten to use the change spell after she had transformed back from the fire phoenix and now it looked like she would pay dearly for it. Step by step, these new attackers came closer and closed the circle around her. Siem did not want to hurt anyone. But she took two steps back and ignited her hands with fire again just so that no one would get a stupid idea...
“If we catch them together, we can share the reward,” said the old lady. You could hear the greed in her voice. The horde of people advanced on Siem. She felt like a wild animal driven into a corner with no possible escape.
“Don’t you dare!” Siem warned, her hands and eyes bright red. They whispered around her. “Demon...fire witch.”
Siem turned around to Mikko, still standing in the same place as before. She had nearly forgotten him. He looked at her but didn’t smile anymore. He glowed. “ Mikko at your service,” came out of him.
“Then do something!” She yelled at
