// Chapter 2 \\ Every time a customer at this shop sees me using magic to do anything, even just washing the windows, I have to explain that I'm a water mage. And, apparently, I'm the only water mage that anyone has ever seen. No one knows why there aren't any other water mages. I've seen plenty of people who practice light magic, some who use dark magic, occasionally earth or fire, and even a few who can use air magic, but never someone like me. The customers then always ask my name and where I was born, and I'm forced to tell them that I'm Elizabeth Belmont (everyone calls me Eliza, and my friends occasionally call me Bestey, but strangers don't need to know that), and that I'm from Luminaregna. As far back as I can remember, I lived there with my mother, who worked for these traders named Kesara and Ai. Their daughter, Amora, became my best friend, like my sister. When I was nine, my mother suddenly died. She was killed by bandits while traveling with Kesara. I barely even had time to grieve because right after that, Amora's family took me in, and we moved to this little town called Sirenchester on the western coast of Meraregna. Now Ai and Kesara own a small shop in the town square where Amora and I often help out. That's where I am now, ten years later, wiping some dirt off the front window with a floating blob of water that I move with my hand. Kesara is off on another commercial trip. The last customer, who asked about my magic cleaning skills, just left, so right now, no one else is at the shop except for Ai, who is in the back restocking some shelves, and me. That is, until a familiar face suddenly appears out of nowhere, pressed against the glass window, grinning at me. I yelp in surprise at first, but then shake my head. "Hello, Amora," I chuckle as she rushes to the door, throwing it open. "ELIZA ELIZA ELIZA!!" Amora gasps, losing her balance momentarily when her shoes slip on the floor as she dashes inside and runs up to me. "Yeah, what is it?" I ask, bewildered, when she grabs my arms, eyes shining. She points out the window. "Something's happening out in the streets!" she exclaims excitedly. "C'mon, you've got to see this!" "What? I mean, okay, but..." I glance back at Ai nervously, who laughs softly. "You two can go check it out if you'd like, but be back soon," she says. I turn back to Amora, who takes my hand. "So what exactly is going on?" I ask as she brings me out of the shop and down the street. She looks over her shoulder at me, elated. "These ladies showed up in the town out of nowhere. They're asking for people to come with them to defend the king's castle!" I blink, startled. "What? Is the rumor true?" At this point, probably everybody in Meraregna has heard through the grapevine that a raid on the king's castle was being organized. The king isn't amazing, sure, but before hearing that, I didn't expect anyone to speak out. "Guess we'll find out!" Amora replies, nearly shouting as the loud chatter of a crowd grows nearer while we walk. Once we're further down the stony road, I see what Amora was talking about. A woman about my age with dusty blonde hair and a cloak who appears to be a sorceress, a tough-looking barbarian with dark hair obscuring one half of her face, and a paladin decked in silvery armor shouting something are standing on a platform together, surrounded by a dense crowd. Amora and I wind up just outside the mob, staring in awe. I've never seen a gathering like this in Sirenchester. "What the heck is happening here?" I jump a little when another voice suddenly sounds from beside Amora and turn to see Edwin, the young medic, standing there with his arms folded, eyeing the crowd suspiciously. His older brother, Renn, the cleric, is next to him, apparently dazzled by the spectacle. "Not sure, really," Amora says to Edwin, scratching her head. "These people are trying to gather a party to defend the castle from raiders." "Woah! That's wild!" Renn gasps. "Sounds kind of fun, I won't lie." Edwin rolls his eyes. "Sure, getting obliterated by radical usurpers sounds like a blast." While the two bicker and Amora tries to intervene, I scan the crowd. On the opposite side, near where the platform where those three people are standing, I spot my old friend Thomas, standing near the blonde sorceress. I make eye contact with him and raise my brow as if to ask what he thinks about the situation, and he shrugs in response. Then Renn smiles and suggests something that brings back my attention. "We should join them!" = = = = = I got excited and finished early oop // Characters \\ Thomas- Eliza- (moi) Amora, Kesara & Ai- Ridge & Renn- Raven- Cory- Edwin- Sparrow- Magnolia- Music: "World 7- Dreamland" from Kirby's Epic Yarn (hit me RIGHT in the nostalgia mate-- that game and super mario galaxy RAISED me) Go read Ch. 1 if you haven't :O
