by Eden Redd
Trystan reached out and hugged Nia, "You really are the best."
"Don't thank me yet. We have to get out of here before she knows you’re gone." Nia said, looking up with determination in her eyes.
Nia put away her spell book and picked up her pack. The two mages nearly darted out of the bar while the bartender whispered a good journey to them while cleaning a glass.
***
Freya walked up to Trystan's door, carrying a bag with several containers of take out. The sun was setting as the shadow mage reached out to take hold of the door knob. She hesitated as she noticed the door was open a crack. Gently pushing, the door opened to darkness. A flip of her finger on the light switch and the place lit up, empty and foreboding.
"Trystan, your door was open," Freya shouted as she put the food on the kitchen table.
Freya looked around when she spotted the keys and a folded note on the table. The shadow mage picked up the folded piece of paper and opened it.
Freya
I have been accepted to another college and will not be attending the shadow college with you. I wish you understood that we shouldn't be together anymore. I wish you the best on your studies and hope in the future we can be friends.
Trystan
Hands began to shake as Freya let the paper fall to the tiled floor. Rage stormed as she held up an open hand. Shadows swayed and curled before leaping into the air, swirling into a solid oversized hammer. Freya grabbed the hammer and screeched as she brought it down, splintering the table into shards of broken wood. Heaving again, she lifted it up and smashed what remained of the table into dust. Two streams of mist flowed out from under her black dress, one forming into a female gray ghost and another into a dark elf.
"I warned you he would run," Loc said while standing just out of range of Freya's hammer.
"Gather supplies. I'm going to find that loser and drag him all the way to the shadow college! No one leaves me!" Freya growled.
The busty gray ghost simply nodded while Loc bowed with a sardonic smile. Freya opened her hand and the black hammer melted away, shadows returning to their former places. The ghost and dark elf quickly left while Freya glowered at the ruined table and the note peeking out from under it.
"I bet that bitch Nia is helping you. I will make sure both of you understand how this relationship is supposed to work," Freya hissed.
Tiny shadows crawled out and took hold of the note, slicing and ripping it to shreds as Freya plotted Trystan and Nia's punishment.
Five
The road was quiet as the sun began to set. Two horses trotted along as Trystan and Nia sat silently. The trip out of town was quick. The two gathered supplies and raced to the stables at the edge of town. The guards waved at them as they nearly galloped out the main gate and onto the road to Stukarr. The panic in Trystan faded and in an hour, he felt peace, until he realized just how dangerous leaving the protective town walls was. Travelling the roads between towns and cities was extremely dangerous. Monsters of all kinds prowled the land, searching for hapless victims. They grew up their entire lives in Sapphire Cove and an hour into their journey real fear caused the two mages to sit in silence.
Nia gripped the reign’s tight, eyes glancing around as shadows grew longer in the setting sunlight, "Maybe we should camp for the night."
"I think your right," Trystan said trying to keep the quiver from his voice.
The two mages turned their horses off the road and trotted to a small group of trees in a grassy opening. Trystan moved around the small band of trees, looking for any monsters hiding in the brush. When it was all clear, he beckoned Nia to come closer. They dismounted and set up their camp on the other side of the trees so they couldn't be seen from the road. Trystan was not taking any chances on Freya possibly seeing them.
Nia pulled her back pack of holding from her shoulders and opened the top flap. Her hand dug in deep, all the way to the shoulder and pulled out a long pack and tossed it to Trystan. The mage caught it and gave it a questioning stare.
"It's a tent. I have one too. We can set them up while Red Fang collects firewood," Nia smiled.
A stream of mist flowed from behind Nia and formed into a vaguely human shape. The mist cleared and a hulking wolf creature stood by his mistress. Red Fang had a powerful muscled body with broad shoulders and a wolfish head. Orange reddish fur covered his body and a black loin cloth barely contained the familiar's rather large bulge. Pointed ears perked up as he turned nearly human like eyes to Nia. The familiar bowed his head.
"Collect some firewood and start a fire," Nia said simply.
Red Fang dropped to all fours, turned and bounded into the dying evening light. Nia pulled another folded bundle from her pack and began setting up her tent. Trystan followed suit. Ten minutes later they were set up. Red Fang showed up with a large bundle of sticks and small logs. The familiar dropped them down and moved some rocks to create a circle. When he was done, the familiar opened his mouth and spit out a small stream of fire at the sticks. The air grew thick with the scent of burning wood as it caught and blazed to life.
Trystan sat, picking up a small stick and poking at the burning wood. Nia sat down with Red Fang doing the same. Trystan looked up to see Nia lean into her familiar and run her hands through his thick wavy fur. Red Fang was silent, letting his mistress pet him. A hint of jealousy stabbed at Trystan, he wished he could be in her arms, letting her run her fingers through his hair. The mage quickly pushed those thoughts away as he poked the fire some more.
"Maybe we should take turns keeping watch? We don't need any surprise monster attacks during the night," Trystan poked at an ember.
Nia dug fingers into the scruff of Red Fang's neck, "Red Fang can keep watch. He is a great guard."
Red Fang eyed Trystan with a knowing look. The mage pretended that he didn't see it and went back to teasing the fire.
"I have to thank you for all the help," Trystan said softly.
"That's what friends are for," Nia smiled.
"No, it's more than that. You’re the only person I have ever known to help without asking for anything in return. I promise I will pay you back and then some for helping get out of Sapphire Cove."
Nia lowered her gaze to the fire, "You really thought you were going to be stuck there for the rest of your life."
"Yea. I thought this was it. I was planning on getting a job as a street sweeper."
Nia let out a small laugh, "You would have been a terrible street sweeper. No, I see you more as a poet, drinking and writing your days away."
"If it paid better than I would have had that job ages ago."
Nia shifted, pulling her hands from Red Fang and folding them in her lap, "So why magic?"
It was Trystan's turn to shift on the dirt ground, "When you spend as much time as I do in my head, you wonder about the universe. Magic can help me unlock those secrets, give me a better understanding on why we’re here."
Nia stared through the flames at Trystan as he continued gazing at the fire, "You really feel that?"
Trystan nodded.
"What about Freya? If you stayed she would have made you join the shadow college."
"I would have had to figure something out. There was no way I was going to join that college."
"I'm glad we are on this journey together. It seems our lives are still meant to be side by side," Nia said while looking away again in shyness.
"Why did you want to make the journey by horseback? Your family could have paid for the train ride to Stukarr."
Nia leaned her back against Red Fang's side, "I guess I didn't want it easy. They have been wonderful parents and would have paid for a ticket without a second thought but they have already done so much for me. I wanted to experience the world without them holding my hand, if that makes any sense."
Trystan grinned, "It makes perfect sense. I'm glad the Stormskyes adopted you. You deserved it."
"I wish they adopted you as well," Nia was silent for a long moment, “I know you
have had it hard with no parents. I still feel bad that I was adopted and you weren't."
"Oh Nia, never be sorry about that. It was meant to be this way. Now we are on a quest to reach our college and learn the hidden arts of magic. I couldn't think of a better partner to share this adventure with," Trystan gave a reassuring smile.
Mist emerged from Trystan's arm. The mage looked over as Sylk formed right next to him, naked and stretching her arms. Nia covered her smile with a hand as the siren leaned into her master and curled an arm around his neck. She looked up into his eyes and grinned.
"It's getting late and I'm soooooo tired. We should get some sleep for the long road ahead," Sylk said while pressing her cheek to Trystan's chest.
"Tired? You were on my arm the whole time. How can you be tired?" Trystan said confused.
Nia fought to stop herself from laughing, "Sylk is right. We should get some rest. I think it will take us about a week on horseback to get there." Nia turned to Red Fang, "Watch over us tonight."
The familiar nodded his wolfish head. Nia stretched her arms just like Sylk. The siren watched as Nia stood up and walked over to her tent and crawled inside. The siren turned her attention to her master and gave him an innocent gaze.
"So, Red Fang, want to tell me your story?" Trystan asked the familiar.
Red Fang stared silently at Trystan before moving his head slowly from side to side. Trystan shrugged and looked down at Sylk as she continued to beckon with her eyes. The mage gave a nervous smile and glanced back at Red Fang who was rolling his eyes.
"Alright then, Time to sleep. Goodnight Nia and Red Fang." Trystan said as he stood up nearly dumping Sylk onto the ground.
"Goodnight," Came a soft reply from Nia's tent.
Trystan walked over to his tent, opened the flap and crawled in. The siren was close behind, crawling in next to her master, making sure she rubbed her body against his. Trystan closed the tent and unlaced a boot. The familiar smacked his hands away and began untying her master's boots with webbed fingers.
"You don't have to do that," Trystan said with a whisper.
"I want too. It is important that I please you," Sylk whispered back.
"Sylk, you don't have too. I can take off my own boots," Trystan protested.
The siren pulled off one boot and then another. Trystan laid back and sat up immediately as Sylk began undoing his pants. He tried to grab at her hands but she knocked them away. Silently he watched as the siren pulled off his pants. A webbed hand reached out to run along his bulge and she licked her blue lips seductively. Blood rushed to the mage's hardening member and it rose up like a zombie from the grave.
"Sylk, please st........." Trystan's mouth made a silent O.
The siren pulled down the band of his boxers and closed her mouth over the tip of his cock. The familiar moaned quietly as she let inches push past her lips. The siren's pointed tongue ran along the shaft and played with the tip as she sucked away. Trystan unclenched his hands and watched as the siren sucked his manhood. Sounds of slurping filled the small tent and Trystan prayed that Nia couldn't hear it.
"You taste so good master. Feed me with your come. I'm so hungry," Sylk managed to say with his cock in her mouth.
Trystan said nothing as the siren's blue haired head bobbed up and down. Pointed nipples grazed his bare legs and that made the mage harder. Sitting up, hands groped the siren's full perky breasts. The familiar gave a muffled moan as Trystan played with her. All distractions melted away as the siren forced every inch down her throat. Lips touched the hilt of his member and Trystan tried everything to not moan. Sylk upped the tempo and Trystan was helpless. Muffled whines bubbled up her throat as she begged for his seed.
Trystan tried to think of Nia, twenty feet away in her tent, listening to him getting a blow job from his familiar. Will she get mad? Is it really okay for him to be doing this? Is this how Sylk is always going to feed? A small moan rose up his throat as his cock bulged in his familiar's mouth. Spurts of come ejected, filling the siren's mouth and she greedily drank it down. Energy flowed and the familiar sucked all of it down, deep into her core. Trystan fell back with heavy breathing. The siren continued to suck on his member as it softened.
Trystan contemplated if he made the right decision on getting a familiar when his cock started to grow hard again. The siren looked up at her master with an evil glint in her eyes. Sylk pulled Trystan's cock from her mouth and smiled.
"Yum, seconds," said the siren as she sucked on her master's member once again.
Trystan put an arm under his head and stared at the tent ceiling, quietly thinking about how much his life has changed in a day. A buzzing from his pants nearby made him pick them up and fish his cell phone from the pocket. The mage tapped the screen to see that he had several voice and text messages from Freya. Trystan let out a sigh as he powered down the cell phone and threw it aside. Right then he knew in his heart he made the right decision.
Six
Trystan slipped out of his tent into the morning light. Yawning, he stretched his arms and legs while squeezing his eyes shut. After a long deep breath, arms dropped and hung at his sides. The mage looked around to see Nia cooking eggs on a pan over the fire. Red Fang was curled up next to her, peacefully asleep.
Nia looked over and smiled, “Good morning," She said cheerfully.
"Good morning," Trystan said with another yawn.
"These should be done soon. After breakfast we should be on our way. We still have a long trip ahead of us."
Trystan nodded. A quick look down at his arm and a tattoo of Sylk lying on her back with salvia dripping down the side of her mouth greeted him. The mage smiled and walked over to Nia. The mage slipped the eggs onto two plates and handed one to Trystan who nearly gobbled it down.
"Slept well?" Nia asked with a shy smirk on her face.
"Um....yes," Trystan managed to say with egg in his mouth.
"Slept really well?" Nia grinned wider.
Trystan stopped shoveling egg into his mouth and looked at Nia with shock written all over his face, "You heard me, didn't you?"
Nia stabbed a piece of egg with her fork and put it to her mouth, "I think the whole countryside heard you."
"I...uh....um....I...." Trystan went on until Nia started laughing.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. I keep forgetting you need time to get used to having a familiar. It really is normal what you're going through."
Trystan used his fork to move the eggs on his plate from side to side, "It is still so strange for me. I have seen other mages with their familiars and I always felt like they were taking advantage of them."
"I can understand that if someone was looking into our world but it really is normal. They feed in different ways but most like to feed off sexual energy. I think it is less of us taking advantage of them and more the familiars taking advantage of us."
Trystan went back to eating his eggs while Nia leaned back into Red Fang and ate her breakfast. The morning air was crisp and clean, the two mages enjoyed their meal in the growing dawn. Trystan found himself staring at Nia as she relaxed into Red Fang. She was wearing only a shirt and leather pants but Trystan could make out her curves and the gentle points of her nipples. Nia went on eating, oblivious and Trystan had to turn away. When they were done with their meal, Trystan went about cleaning the plates with a little water from his back pack.
Nia stood up and Red Fang turned into mist. The familiar floated around the mage and etched into the small of her back. Trystan again tried to not stare but it was getting harder and harder not to.
"Before I fell asleep, I thought about us protecting ourselves on the road. I'm sure Red Fang and Sylk can help protect us but I was wondering what defensive spells you know?" Nia asked while collapsing her tent.
Trystan put the clean plates down and stood up. In the rush to leave Sapphire Cove, he barely had any time to prepare spells for the journey to Stukarr. There were a number of spells he had already memorized but had very little
practice.
"To tell you the truth, I haven't had much practice with defensive spells," Trystan admitted.
Nia continued to fold up her tent, unfazed, "Sometime today we should get some practice in, just in case."
Trystan smiled, "Sounds good to me."
The two mages packed up their gear into their back packs and readied the horses. A few minutes later they were back on the road. The country side was filled with fields of emerald green grasses and bands of trees swaying to the gentle wind. Trystan could feel himself relax as a peaceful calm washed over them. The mage found it hard to believe the stories the elders used to tell everyone in town. If you went by what they said, you swore you would run into hungry monsters if you stepped ten feet out of town. They were on day two and nothing jumped out to eat them so far.
Nia lifted up her cell phone as they clopped along the road, her brow scrunching up, "I'm not getting a signal."
"There is no signal out here. As far as I know there are only signals in towns and cities. There is a belief that gremlins can find technology faster if there is a signal."
Nia powered down her phone and put it in her pants pocket, "Funny you should mention gremlins. The night before we left, a group attacked the Sapphire Cove power plant. They managed to make it to the wall."
Trystan looked up in deep thought, "They are getting stronger or desperate. I remember from school that there used to be technology all over Lurth. The gremlin crisis pushed us back to walled cities and towns. Did you know there used to be large metal cylinders with wings that ferried people all over the globe? I remember the teachers calling them planes."
"So strange, I can't even imagine a flying machine strong enough to carry people through the air," Nia looked over, her mind working to make sense of it.
"The planes used to carry hundreds of people on each one. If they were still around, we could have flown to Stukarr."