Assistant's Abandonment

Smacking off another bug Derrick shot a meek glare at the older woman behind him. Her back turned to him quietly humming as she collected plants. He bemoaned foraging wishing his mentor would just buy these ingredients instead. Getting up he brough the filled basket to the mature elf who only spared a quick glance. Quickly filling hers she picked it up gracefully strolling away. Scooping up his Derrick quietly followed behind her the young man still finding the humor in towering over her. As if reading his mind she shot a knowing glance.

“Not one joke nor snicker, not my fault elves are short. Maybe humans are just freakishly tall…” she trailed off with a smirk

Returning home the pair went about preparing and storing the many plants Derrick made sure not to put any on the top shelf or else he’ll earn Alicia’s ire again. Once that was done, he went about prepping her alchemy station and grabbing the necessary jars and bottles. As always Alicia went about creating her salves, balms, and elixirs. Collecting the finished products, he loaded them into a padded chest and loaded it in their cart the pair leaving for town. Staying in the cart, he busied himself with watching the citizens go about their day. Yawning he continued people watching until something caught his eye. Down the street stood a scowling Alicia conversing with a man clad in a brilliant blue jacket. Despite being unable to hear their conversation he knew it was heated the smaller woman jabbing a finger in his chest.

The man gave her a lopsided grin holding his hands up the small woman still jabbing his chest. Seemingly having enough, she turned to leave but the man snatched her wrist pulling flushed against him. Wrapping an arm around her waist he flashed a devious smirk as her scowl softened. Rolling his eyes Derrick averted his gaze muttering a curse seeing a cloaked figure intently watching the pair. Quickly turning away, he did his best to subtly watch them. Feeling the cart jostle, he looked back to see the dapper man climbing in.

“Hey youngblood! Sir Amadeus Odigie, a former ‘friend’ of you’re mentor!” he cheerfully proclaimed.

“We worked…very close together during the war. He has a habit of being…extravagant.” She quickly chimed in.

Spitting an unconvinced hum, Derrick turned his gaze back to the figure, but it was gone. Filing that away for later he drove them home. The ride itself was uneventful aside from Amadeus constantly flirting with Alicia the elf doing a poor job pretending to be annoyed by it. Arriving he quickly put the cart away and took care of the horse while the pair went inside. Entering a few minutes later he frowned at the sight of the two sharing a glass of wine. Grumbling, he started making dinner.

“Youngblood, what Fawny been teaching you?” he asked taking the glass from the blushing alchemist.

“Alchemy mainly, but she taught me a few healing spells…” he trailed off busy with mise en place

“Really? She didn’t tell teach any of her-“ his words were cut short by a firm slap from the caprine woman.

Subtly raising his hands in surrender, he took another sip from the cup before handing it back. Quirking his brow at the exchange he shook his head keeping his attention to the stew. Hearing the older human shower his mentor with more compliments he decided now is the best time to go forage more ingredients. Going to a new spot in their usual area he took his time grabbing filling the baskets. Taking a moment to take the serenity he took a deep breath noting the humidity in the air.

“Guess it’s going to rain soon don’t you think?” a mysterious voice asked, “woah calm down! Just came to talk, watching is boring…you should know.” The voice continued seeing the young man whip out his grimoire.

As it slowly flipped through the pages he regarded the cloak figure with suspicion. They slowly approached taking their hood off. Derrick snapped the book close, clearing his throat. He muttered a curse realizing that she was utterly gorgeous. Producing a blanket from under her cloak she placed it on the ground before sitting down. With a warm smile she patted the spot in front of her. Opening his grimoire again he sat down as the mysterious beauty pulled out a modified ngoni. Flashing a sweet smile she began expertly playing. Giving him a wolfish grin she leaned closer.

“You think my father would convince the Miasma Mistress to rejoin the empire?” she asked in a hushed voice.

Bug eyed Derrick jumped up snatching up the baskets running home. Bursting through the door he found the room empty, the stew still shimmering. Dumping the baskets on the table, he marched to Alicia’s room banging on the door. Moments later the door cracked open revealing the disgustingly smug Amadeus the young man noticing he was extremely underdressed.

“Hey youngblood, Fawny’s a bit…indisposed for the moment what you need?” he chuckled, the sounds of Alicia’s deep snoring yanking out another.

Utterly disgusted Derrick just walked away returning to the stew. He paused discovering the woman sitting at the table. With a warm smile she waved but remained quiet. Putting a pin in that he stirred the stew hand resting on his grimoire. Giving it a taste he grinned, pleased that his hard work and patience paid off. Turning to grab a bowl he jumped the woman standing eerily close behind him. Towering over him she took a step back laughing before returning to her seat.

“I assume you and your father aren’t staying for dinner?” he asked sitting his bowl down, but the woman merely shrugged.

Turning around he grumbled seeing a now dressed Amadeus strutting towards him. Plastered with a stupid and absolutely goofy grin on his face the mature man fixed himself a bowl sitting beside his daughter. Despite his dapper appearance he ate like a starved animal. Even though he made a mess, to Derrick’s utter bewilderment his clothes were still pristine. Slurping down the last few drops Amadeus immediately got up to get a second helping. His daughter leisurely doing the same winking at the thoroughly annoyed Derrick. Biting his tongue he just glares at the two unsure when his mentor would join them. He didn’t have to wonder for long the short woman grabbing his shoulder.

“Derry relax, they’ll be leaving soon. Amadeus clean up your mess, you’re too old to still be eating like that!” she yawned sitting down and taking Amadeus’s bowl.

“So Fawny, you gonna come back? You know the Empire needs you…” Amadeus smirked eyes darting to the silent Derrick, “and of course he’ll be trained to be an Examiner.” He added.

Finishing her food, she sat her spoon down shaking her head. Without another word she leaned forward smacking the mature man out of his seat. Waving his daughter off, he nodded sucking his teeth. Getting to his feet and brushing himself off his grimoire floating into sight. Much like him it possessed an extravagant flair. The brilliant blue covers gilded with gold a black eye in a pyramid sitting in the middle. As it fluttered open, he sighed but a devilish smile pulled on his lips.

“Fawny, you know what happens if you say no, you really wanna take it there?” he asked but the excitement in his eyes already told her he made up his mind.

“Amadeus, I left that life after the war. The empire has the resources to replace me tenfold they don’t need me. I enjoy my peaceful life here, me and my son.” she said placing a hand on Derrick’s shoulder.

“You always had the propensity of picking up strays…fine go put on your armor I’ll be outside!” he darkly chuckled, his daughter sighing but continued to eat.

Patting his shoulder, Alicia all but sprinted to her room returning in a suit of black leather armor and an eerie plague doctor mask on her face. Going to a locked cabinet she unlocked it snatching up the multitude vials inside. Expertly placing them inside the many empty holsters she darted outside. Snatching several out vials out she hurled them on the ground. A thick dark purple haze sprouting from the shattered glass.

Watching it consume her Amadeus giggled producing six bookmarks. As the cloud sat, he took his time placing the bookmarks inside. Cracking his neck and knuckles he flicked his wrist a sword of whistling air bursting into sight. Spying the cloud creep forward he poked the cloud with his sword. The magical weapon greedily devouring the cloud muffling the whistle. Rolling his eyes at the sight a bright orange rapidly replacing it he conjured and flicked a dart of fire into the cloud. Instantly it burst into flames the alchemist stepping out smoldering. Flicking more darts he took a deep breath, a toothy grin twisting his features. He missed watching her work Alicia conjuring a rich blue cloud. Retreating at blinding speed he did the motion of drawing a bowstring back a bow and arrow of howling air slowly forming.

“Come on Fawny, I already know all your-“ his words were snuffed out by a shard of ice slicing into his cheek.

Still scowling under her mask, she conjured another ice spike and a pair of tiny whirlpools. Frosting over from the miasma she slammed the pair on the floating spike compressing it until a layer of frost slithered onto her hands. Firing it with an accidental flourish she bit back a somber sigh hearing the human yowl in pain. Hearing footsteps rapidly approaching a whirlpool roared onto her hand. Whipping around she shook her head hand colliding with Khadija’s chest, a thick layer of ice forming at an alarming rate. Ignoring her desperate gasp for air she kicked the young woman out of the cloud her father practically teleporting to her side.

Seeing his arm missing she knelt down reaching out to touch it. The ice leaping from the slush biting into the already abused flesh. Yanking him into the cloud she flung the dripping ice onto the agent stepping out kicking the young woman onto her back. Pulling a vial, she poured it on the ice. As it melted, she greedily gulped down air attempting to crawl to her father but a stern kick from the older woman put an end to it. Stepping back inside the cloud she produced another vial emptying its contents on Amadeus’s frozen eyes. Her brows knitted in annoyed confusion the human still grinning ear from ear. Summoning a spear of ice, she used it to push him onto his back, the tip hovering over his heart. Hesitating for far longer than she would admit the tiny woman drove it through his chest. The scant amount of spilled blood freezing near instantly. A silent curse fell from her lips witnessing the body of her former partner dissolving into an ochre goop.

“I told you Fawny, I already know all your tricks!” Amadeus’s amused voice rumbled through the cloud. A chorus of laughter on its heels.

In the blink of an eye a searing pain erupted in her stomach. Glancing down she went wide eyed, an arrow filled with her miasma jutting from her gut. Leaping out of the cloud she yanked out a vial slamming it into the port on the side of mask. Taking an extremely deep breath, she hissed in pain another arrow drilling into her shoulder. Hurling another vial it was shot out of the air, another arrow finding itself insider her thigh.

Fast asleep in a pool of drool Derrick missed the sight of Amadeus dragging the injured elf away. Khadija tunes still ringing in his ears. The heavy music of rain and thunder slowly fading in. Freed from the nocturn melody he looked around everyone missing. Rushing outside he spat a curse barely catching sight of Alicia being carried off by the uninjured Amadeus. Calling out he bolted after his grimoire flying open flicking through the pages. Finally landing on one his speed tripled. Now within reach he suddenly found himself flying through the air painfully landing with a heavy thud. Jumping to his feet he was sent right back down by a bolt of stone embedding itself in his leg.

Ripping it out and pressing his glowing hands on the wound he limped after the duo. Chuckling Amadeus dramatically unfurled a large tarp the duo stepping inside with their prize. In a small flash the three were gone. Rushing over he stepped inside the tarp channeling his magic into it, but nothing happened. After an hour of trying again and again and again the rain finally came pouring down rolling down his face washing away the tears. For the second time in his life Derrick found himself alone and cold. Thunder booming and lightning flashing as he simply stood in the rain.