Chapter 6: The Twin Mages
Tiafell and his new friend, the dhampir Nadia, left Bridgecross and made their way to their next destination on foot. As they walked, they passed the time by getting to know each other.
"You know, it may be ironic to hear this from a vampire, but I love how the sunlight feels on my skin. Even though it weakens me, it also makes me feel at ease somehow, like I'm not a monster" Nadia said as she looked at the blue sky.
"I don't think you are, Nadia. A monster wouldn't go out of their way to keep people alive like you do. I think you are a wonderful person!" Tiafell told her, eager to encourage her.
"Aww, aren't you just the nicest person ever! That has earned you a little 'reward' tonight!" She grinned as she stroked his chin with her finger. "But let's be honest, I was going to do that anyway" she winked.
Tiafell chuckled, then decided to change the subject. "You know, that indoor plumbing system was incredible and so were those light bulb things! I would have never guessed Elfandall was so far behind. I wonder what else the elves have missed out on."
"Well, nothing really changed until about fifty years ago, according to scholars. There's a few other things but nothing major. The only things you should be aware of are guns."
"Guns?" the elf raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, they fire little round pellets the size of a fingernail at a really fast speed. The pellets move so fast that they can penetrate armor and make it useless. Think of them as 'super arrows'."
"They sound scary."
"They can be, in the right hands. The problem with them is that they can only fire one pellet at a time before they need to be reloaded, and you have to load powder that fires them too, which takes a lot of time to do in a battle. The gunman is vulnerable to attack while reloading."
"Every weapon has its strengths and weaknesses" Tiafell informed her.
"Yeah yeah.. I've also been hearing rumors that the Gashuan Military has developed some sort of carriage in the Capital that somehow moves without horses!"
"Really? That's.. incredible!"
"It is, assuming the rumors are true. So, I have a question, how old are you? You look young, you are an adult, right...?" Nadia asked, hoping the elf would say "yes".
"I am, I'm 19 actually. How old are you? Vampires can live for centuries, but what about you?"
Nadia gave him an annoyed look. "Did no one teach you that it's rude to ask a lady how old she is? Hmph!!" she huffed, crossing her arms as she turned her head away from him. ".... I'm 23. Dhampirs don't live for centuries like other vampires do. I may live a little longer than most humans will, but only for a hundred years at the longest."
"I'm sorry, I have heard you shouldn't ask that, but I was too curious about your age." Tiafell chuckled. "So you're older than me, I assumed as much."
"Oh, and what made you think that?" Nadie glared at him. "You calling me an old lady?" she leaned in toward him.
"Y-You seem so mature, that's all!"
"Haha, damn right I am!" Nadia laughed loudly. As they walked, Tiafell and his feisty new friend got to know each other, exchanging stories and information about themselves as they walked.
In another town, a commotion was occurring in a marketplace. A young man and a young woman were carrying food while being chased by an angry merchant through a crowded street, dodging and weaving between people. They were twins, both had blonde hair and green eyes. The male had short messy hair, the female's hair was shoulder-length. Their clothes were ragged and torn, showing signs of multiple struggles.
"Dirty little thieves!! Get back here!!" the angry merchant screamed.
"Mirya! Do something!!" the male commanded his sister.
Mirya began chanting to herself, and then a barrel fell over, spilling fish onto the ground. The merchant chasing them slipped and fell, cursing the twins as they ran off.
"We lost him, Cirris!" Mirya shouted to her brother.
"Awesome Sis, now we're home.. free.." The twins stopped in front of several armed guards standing in their way.
"That's far enough! You're coming with us!" their captain stated as he and his men raised their weapons and slowly approached them. "Do not resist!"
"Sorry, but we're in a hurry" Cirris said, then said a quick incantation.
"Don't hurt them, okay?" Mirya asked nervously.
"Don't worry, all I'm going to hurt in their pride, just be ready. Now, strip!"
With those words, the guards' armor and clothes ripped off, they yelled out as they tried to cover themselves. Mirya shouted the phrase "ice wind" which caused a very cold wind to blow. The genitals of the men shrank due to the ice cold air, leaving them screaming in panic. During the chaos, the twins managed to escape from the guards. Nothing else stood in their way to prevent them from leaving town. They ran nonstop until they felt it was safe to rest, then climbed into a tree with thick foliage, making it hard for them to be seen from the ground.
"We should be safe up here for the time being" Cirris said.
"Well, that one was new" Mirya giggled.
"I think we might have done more than hurt their pride." The twins prepared to eat their stolen meal.
"I wish we didn't have to resort to stealing.." Mirya uttered sadly.
"I know, but we have no choice until we make it back home, if there is a home left to return to.." he trailed off.
"Do you think anyone survived? Do you think Mom did?"
"I hope so, but if anyone did, it would be Mom. What I don't understand is why they took us and killed everyone else. If they wanted mages, there was an entire village full of them!"
"Maybe they wanted us because of who our grandfather is?" Mirya pondered.
"That's entirely possible. Damn, being the grandchildren of the most famous wizard in the world is a pain in the ass for us! His enemies must have decided to come after us to get back at him!"
"I wonder why they didn't try to take Mom too" Mirya sighed and took another bite.
"Maybe they thought Mom was too powerful to be taken alive. But we don't know that they didn't take her either. I think it's most likely that she is out there looking for us. Anyway, let's finish up so we can find a place to stay tonight."
They finished their meal, then left the tree and continued into the mountains. Storm clouds quickly gathered and before they could find shelter, a downpour soaked them both.
"Shit!! These are the only clothes we have, and they're already about to fall apart!" Cirris groaned.
"Look! A cave!" Mirya pointed. The two of them dashed inside, going in as deep as possible.
"Our clothes are soaked! At least there is firewood here, we can make a fire to warm up with" Cirris said as he placed the wood together. He said a short incantation that formed a small flame in his hands which he dropped onto the wood, igniting it.
"We should get out of these clothes and dry them" Mirya suggested, lifting her tattered shirt, revealing her small bare breasts and petite body. Cirris swallowed hard as he watched his twin sister strip naked, laying her clothes on a nearby rock. "Here, take yours off and I'll dry them too."
Cirris blushed and did as she suggested, revealing his slender but toned body. He laid his clothes next to his sister's.
"Now, since we are not wearing anything, why don't we 'warm ourselves up'?" Mirya grinned, walking over to her naked twin, swaying her hips.
"Wow Sis, ever since you and I did this for the first time, you haven't been able to get enough" he said, grabbing her hips. His penis had already been growing and hardening.