[Damn you, woman! If you don’t intend to believe me, I’ll have to force you to stop. This is the only warning I’ll give you.] Was that convincing enough?
So, you’re finally showing your true nature. It’s meaningless. I know that you hold no power over me, or you would have stopped me long before this.
They arrived. He was going to die. Again. Lucian closed his eyes.
He returned to the world of blackness, with his wisp of a body, and the bright orange orb burning with far greater intensity than a couple of minutes ago. A faint knocking sounded in his ears, his body trying to enter the wooden hut. Was this orb the girl’s soul?
He stretched his hand towards the orb, but the heat made him hesitate. A light blue, humanoid blob moved towards the two of them. Was it the one she was trying to call? Lucian breathed out, suppressed the confusion of how that even worked, and kicked the orb of fire. He lurched back into the real world.
His body was on his knees, gasping, nauseous, and threw up. A slight dissonance from his body kept him from being overwhelmed entirely. A simple kick had done this?
What did you do to me!?
He disliked hurting her like this, but compared to the destruction of his soul, that seemed a fair trade-off.
[I warned you, did I not? This was merely a fraction of what I can do to you. Do you still think me powerless?] Maybe he should threaten her in his normal voice; speaking in this manner was awkward.
The door opened, and a man massive in both height and size, wearing a pelt across his shoulders, filled the frame. His body looked up at the bearded face staring at the vomit on the floor and cringed. The man burst into deep laughter.
“Valeria, my girl, this is so unlike you! The last time I saw you nervous must have been years ago! Did the pressure of the big tournament finally get to you?”
[Don’t you dare tell him about me.]
What the fuck am I supposed to say then?
[Just agree with him.]
He felt her hesitation. Whoever this man was, she had deep respect for him, and it was clear she disliked showing him any weakness.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa.” That mountain of a man was her grandpa?! He looked capable of tearing them apart with his bare hands! “It just dawned on me how much of your reputation is at stake here as well. Some of the scouts will be from the academies where your former colleagues work,” Valeria said.
Her grandfather picked them up by their shoulders and pulled them up, then hugged them. For once, Lucian felt the appropriate cringe and tension in his body that fit the awkwardness because they were both uncomfortable with this. For different reasons, though.
I will make you regret this one day; both threatening me and embarrassing me like this in front of my grandpa.
[This would not have happened had you listened to me from the start.] One day was good enough; Lucian’s soul seemed safe, for now. But what was that tournament they were talking about?
“You’re going to be just fine. If I had even the slightest doubt you would make me proud, I would not have invited scouts from Casimir Academy to come watch.”
They took a step back out of his grip and froze for a second. “You invited scouts from Casimir Academy?!”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Oh, should I not have told you this? I guess it doesn’t lower the pressure, does it?” He laughed again.
This is so awesome. No way! I could go to Casimir Academy?!
[Why are you telling me this?]
I’m not… Can you fucking stop reading my thoughts!
“It’s fine, Grandpa. I’ll do my best. I have to go now to get ready for later.” They ran back towards her home.
“Now that’s the Valeria I know!” her grandfather yelled after them.
That man was far too jolly and nice for his monstrous appearance. Could he just ask her about him? Perhaps it would make her suspicious if he knew too little. But how would he know her grandfather?
[What’s the deal with that man? His appearance is… impressive.]
You don’t recognize him? The man I just spoke to, my grandfather, is the snowfall executioner.
Unsure whether the nickname was edgy or terrifying, Lucian remained silent. Anxiety rose in his body again.
Does that name not ring a bell? The snowfall executioner? He’s one of the most legendary mage hunters of our time; how are you so unbothered?!
[It’s nothing more than a title to me; it holds no weight.]
Their adrenaline surged and breaths deepened. Valeria’s grandfather must have been a true menace if not fearing him was cause for worry. Lucian needed them to get away from this village, lest he notice his presence in his granddaughter’s body.
Wasn’t dying supposed to be simple? How were there so many issues to contend with that he could spare no time to think of all he had lost? And even if he did, his body didn’t allow him to feel the way he wanted to; his emotions were bound to hers, and hers were stronger.
He should have been shattered, grieving what he’d lost, exhilarated and baffled by his new chance at life in a world full of fucking magic and beasts and mages. Hell, even the wood appeared redder than any he remembered, and this was his first snow. He should have been so overwhelmed. But his mind was clear; his emotions were not his own. It wasn’t right, but even that conclusion was logical, not emotional.
At least Valeria plotting against him was not one of his problems so long as she was not suicidal. He disliked intruding on her privacy, but he could listen to most of her thoughts and see all she did, so he had one advantage there.
You said you can only listen to some of my thoughts, right?
[When did I ever say that?]
You’re lying. I asked you this three times already, with no response. You shouldn’t have revealed that to me; I know now when you can hear me and when you can’t.
There went one of his advantages. So, from now on, he couldn’t hear her thoughts, but only when she spoke to him?
[Do you believe you hold more power over me now?]
He couldn’t deny that. But he also couldn’t make her realize how powerless he was. She didn’t seem like she’d ever believe his true story, considering how this world appeared to work. But he didn’t want to be on bad terms with her either, if this was how he was supposed to live the rest of his life.
They entered back into her home, and Lucian observed in silence as Valeria grabbed her breakfast from the kitchen and brought it to her room, telling her family she needed to focus. It took time getting used to not having control over eating the food, but the flavours were still the same, and her mother had made delicious bread. He waited for her to finish the food.
[So, what was—]
His words startled her. Did he just shock himself by speaking?
[Sorry about that, I would assume this will take some time getting used to.]
[I’m afraid that is outside both our control. Believe me, I would not be here if I had another option.]
[I don’t even… never mind. No, I—]
[You would not believe me even if I told you who I am and where I come from. There is no use in trying to figure this out.]
That tiny twinge in his stomach betrayed her silence: Valeria was afraid of him.
[Back to my original question. What was that tournament your grandfather mentioned before?]
Silence.
[The sooner you answer my question, the less I will bother you.]
Her inner turmoil lasted a few seconds.
[So, a mage battle then?]
Lucian didn’t understand how it wouldn’t count as a mage battle, and he didn’t care. He’d see an actual magic battle! From first person at that!