Chapter 2: A Bottle of Jinn

The further I get into the Wyrwood, the more uneasy I feel. For one, I keep being attacked by bugs – really large, really disgusting, highly venomous bugs. They go down easily enough, and I'm lucky enough to have studied some of them during my brief stunt at the academy. A lot of them are ingredients for the meals I make – made – back at the restaurant, but I never ventured this deep in to collect them. I know they're probably the least dangerous creatures here, and I have no idea how I'm going to deal with the bigger threats when they come. I better find the djinn quickly. Ban is tough and all, but I don't think he'll be able to do a whole lot of a house-sized rhino were to charge us.

I hear a few twigs snap behind the trees next to us, which means we're being stalked. A predatory cat? I can only think of darcats as the culprits. We're just small enough for them to attack us. Also, for some reason, I can feel mana inside them. This means that darcats, whatever they may be, are either being controlled through magic, or were created with it.

"Be ready," Ban tells me, but I just stick closer to him. Don't get me wrong; I'm grateful for all the help he's been, but he still is a stranger, and I don't trust him. If I've got to leave him here to fend for himself, then that's exactly what I'll do. Helping others is all well and good, but it's not worth my own skin.

The thing following us jumps out of the bushes, revealing itself to indeed be a darcat. It's not a particularly big one, and a single blast of light from Ban makes it vanish into dark smoke. Then all the others come out, and I realize right away he can't beat them all.

"Enchant me," he says, shooting down another one.

"I can't," I tell him. I've never enchanted anything alive before. The core principle is different from enchanting objects. If I just make him sturdy, and fail to allow any flexibility, he'll just freeze in place, incapable of moving his own body because of how sturdy it would become. One of the cats jumps at me, but I move back and avoid its claws, then kick it, causing absolutely no harm. Curse my skinny body.

"Link with me," Ban says, having spent all his mana dealing with all but three of the cats. "Take my hand, now. Quickly, boy!"

I try to, but the darcat that attacked me growls, then knocks me to the ground, its fangs inches away from my face. I pull my arms up to defend myself, and the flesh on them gets render by the predator's claws. I wince at it, but manage to avoid making a sound. The injuries the woman in black armor might have been healed, but these are going to be an issue. No one's around to heal me, and I've never tried doing it to myself.

Ban throws himself onto the cat, pulling it off of me. The others start going near him, but I get to him first, and put my hand on his shoulder. Immediately, I feel a warm light trying to enter me, and I allow it. My mana spikes up, and I feel Ban's own physical strength flowing into me. At the same time, I feel the same happening to him, and he kills the cat he has pinned under him with a simple wave of his glowing hand. As the other two cats pounce, I hold my hands up and try to shoot them with light. Nothing happens, and Ban winds up taking the hit for me. He only seems to suffer minor injuries to his shoulder, and then deals with the remaining darcats. Once they disappear, so does the link between us, taking all of his strength with it.

It gets just a little bit difficult to breathe, and I already miss the power he just lent me. That was my first time linking, though I have read about it in the past, and learned of it from Makena. It's an instinctual ability mage of similar power levels have, allowing them to share their powers amongst themselves. The stronger the two mages are, the more difficult it gets, which is why it was so easy for the two of us. Compared to some of the mages on the level of the Apostles, we're just chump change.

"You're hurt," I point out, using the mana that's been returned to me to encircle my left hand with magic. I attach the attribute of Life to it, then bring the hand closer to Ban's shoulder. The wounds on it heal instantly, but they leave scars. I'm not yet quite good enough to remove those, talented a Healer though I might be.

Ban just nods toward my own forearms, reminding me of the blood flowing down them. I try to heal the wounds, but my magic seems to be incapable of affecting me. Ban frowns at that, and seems a little bit puzzled by it. Is this not normal? I know some spells are meant to only be used on others, but why would a healing spell be impossible for one to use on oneself? "It's not working," I say dumbly. Ban reaches into the small satchel he's got with him, pulling out a rag, with which he cleans the blood from my arms. I don't wince when he rubs some alcohol on the wounds, after which he messily ties bandages around me. He's definitely not a Healer, but this'll do.

He turns around and starts walking without another word, and I just follow along. I still don't trust the guy. People who are that quiet are usually busy with thinking, and people who think a lot are dangerous. You never know what kinds of thoughts might crawl into their minds. Brash idiots are a lot easier to deal with, though their bravado can be a dangerous thing, too.

The rest of the way to the part of the Wyrwood where the djinn live is covered with the same bugs that were attacking us since we entered the damn forest, and we're kept busy trying to swat them away. Every now and then, I release a bit of mana to scare them off. It never lasts for more than a few minutes, but that's still better than letting some of the nastier ones get close. You do not want to be bitten by a nightcrawler centipede. Those things might as well have burning daggers for mandibles. They might have no lethal venom, but the toxins they do possess make for one of the most painful experiences anyone can live through, to the point that many people panic upon being bitten, and cut off their own limbs. Ban looks at me strangely every now and then, making me even more frustrated with him. After the tenth time, I finally speak out.

"Can I help you?"

He frowns again. "Your mana is back."

"Yes, it tends to do that." Mana always flows back naturally. Don't tell me he doesn't even know that?

"Not that fast," he explains, and then I inspect his own reserves. Still almost completely gone. How? Someone so strong should have more of it. It should keep coming back. It never takes me over five hours to recharge fully. "An average mage's mana container needs about a day to refill. You're already almost full. You don't even feel those little flares of it you use to deal with the insects."

"Call me lucky, then." Suddenly, I like my chances of actually being chosen at the Festival a whole lot more. If someone like him is willing to compliment me, does that mean I can reach high ranks as a magic knight? If I rank highly enough – around fifth rank or so – I just might get enough authority to take Kieran with me. Our parents, though dear to me, would be separated from us. Mother would not condone, no matter what I tried, and father would stay with her over us, as he's always done.

Ban and I keep walking in silence, and I keep checking his mana reserves. Still practically empty. There's no way he can cast a spell with what he has – not even a basic one, let alone one with the Light attribute, one of the hardest to pull off. He's starting to become much less of a helper, and more of a burden. If another animal were to attack us, he'd be dead weight, and I'm not skilled enough to protect both him and myself. I guess he should hope we don't get attacked more than I should.

After what feels like a whole eternity, I start feeling traces of mana up ahead. Cautiously, we approach the multiple sources, and I start picking up on a few more. The mana is powerful – easily greater than mine, Ban's or Makena's. It might be on par with the two women who attacked my family. Some are weaker, and some are stronger. All of their mana seems to have the same attribute, however; Fire. I sense fire and heat everywhere. Even the ground we walk upon is getting warmer and warmer now. The leaves are all an odd red color here, both in the tree trenches and the bushes. There are quite a few mana shrooms, too, which tells me the people I'm sensing have been here for a while. Those mushrooms only grow in places that provide them with lots of mana, and mana only comes from living beings.

"Do we just go in?" I ask Ban, who may have been told more about the djinn than me. All I know about them is that they're unmatched in terms of fire magic, and that their natural affinity with magic, as with most magical creatures, is greater than those of human mages. The only beings I can think of who surpass them are elves and fairies, but those aren't around anymore – not since the first Magic War.

"Raise your hands," Ban instructs, and I oblige. "If they perceive us as a threat of any kind, we're dead. They won't attack without provocation, however. It isn't in their nature."

I find it odd that beings who invented fire – something that destroys more life than anything else in this world – are known to be gentle. It's about as difficult as imagining a playful shark. Still, stranger things have happened, so here we go. Taking in a deep breath, I walk through the bushes, and am surprised to find a bunch of kids. There are no houses anywhere – nothing for anyone to live in. All I see is a group of kids playing around, throwing balls of fire at each other. Upon further inspection, I realize that the kids have skin that's a touch darker than the skins of people like myself – the inlanders – and yet is too pale for them to be islanders. It is a strange hue, and makes them seem inhuman. Their sharp, pointed ears tell me they're definitely not human. All of them are wearing the bare minimum – the boys only in white pants, with the girls adding white cloths over their chests. As their eyes turn to me, the small balls of fire they were playing with just a moment ago die out.

"Humans," one of the boys whispers, stepping in front. He looks just a bit older than the others. Is he the one in charge? "Go get the elders."

Ban turns toward me. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"What are you waiting for? Catch one."

I smack him on the shoulder. "I'm not kidnapping a child."

"They're jinn – probably older than you."

"Walks like a child, talks like a child..."

"You're making this needlessly difficult."

Is Makena gonna forgive me if I murder him right here? Most likely not. Would it be worth it? Definitely. I'm not going to enjoy doing this, but I'm going to enjoy it a whole lot more than I would enjoy watching my brother die. Kieran has to make it out of this unharmed, by any means necessary.

"Fine," I tell him, adding a shrug for effect. "Catch one, and I'll stuff it in. My legs still aren't well enough to run on." It's a lie, of course, and anyone with half a brain should be capable of seeing through it. Thank god Ban doesn't seem to have one.

He starts stomping toward the kids, who gasp and start running away. As Ban zeroes in on the oldest boy, I pick up a rock and start sneaking behind his back. The longer he chases the kids, the more agitated they get, resulting in their potent mana getting riled up. Small flickers of fire start sparking over the forest floor. If I don't end this fast, we're gonna have a huge problem on our hands. I rush at Ban from behind, preparing to smash his head in with a rock. It's a simple plan; He's the one trying to hurt their kids, and I'm the kind stranger who saved them, wanting only their magical help in return. I'll try not to do enough damage to kill him, but I'm not sure if the adult jinn are going to be so merciful.

I lift the rock high up, then swing it at Ban. He turns around and catches my hand with ease.

"How stupid do you think I am?" he asks, gripping me harder. "Next time, I'll fight back for real."

Just like that, he lets me go. Crap. I was sure I was a dead man just then. I wouldn't let the guy who tried to kill me live, much less offer to be of assistance to him. This can only mean he's either so nice that he's the dumbest fool ever to live, or that he has something to gain from me exposing and killing those two Apostles.

I look around, and realize the jinn kids are gone. Thankfully, in their panic, they left behind a trail of footsteps, burned into the grass. Ban and I follow them quickly, not wanting to lose 'em. It takes us only a few minutes to catch up, but by the time we do, there is an adult woman with them, and the very sight of her mana nearly forces me to my knees. This power – it's incredible. It's coursing through her like a storming river. Compared to hers, my mana is like a raindrop. Is that really what a jinn is like? We're supposed to get monsters like that to help us? I have half a mind to run away right now, but my legs are frozen with fear. She's got the same pointy ears and odd skin as the rest, and there are tattoos over her face, shoulders and belly.

"You would dare threaten us in our place of power?" the woman says, lifting up a hand. No good. She's charging up for a spell. The fire attribute they're so good with can instantly kill us if used by someone like her. A single spell would be enough.

However, she's not throwing the attack, despite having prepared it. Why's she hesitating? The look in her eyes is one of fear, not anger. She's scared for the kids – that must be it. She doesn't want to kill in front of them.

"We won't hurt them," I say quickly, not trusting my voice to be firm enough for me to speak for much longer. The jinn woman's eyes narrow at me, but I keep going. "We simply scared them so they'd take us to you?"

"To me?"

"To any adult jinn."

Her glare intensifies again, and I drop to one knee. Since she's focusing on me, Ban might be able to land a hit, and then we could try to escape. There's no winning here. She's in a league of her own. Humans really can't match the jinn. "And what would humans want with us jinn? We've cut ties with your kind for a reason."

"It can't wait," I tell her. "My family's lives are on the line."

"As is the survival of my species. We'll not risk having what happened to the fairies happening to us. Turn around and leave."

This is it – the moment that'll decide my destiny. Either I will die where I stand, or I'm likely to succeed. It all depends on her response to my attitude. "I refuse. Go ahead and do something about it."

The woman's anger flares, and she summons a massive sun above herself, lifting her hands into the air, palms upward. "You dare challenge me?" The power the sun is emanating alone is enough to put a mage out of a fight. The heat is incredible. There is absolutely no chance a living being can survive being hit by that. That spell can destroy a whole army if aimed correctly.

"I don't," I tell her. I know I'm weaker. I'll just have to trust my instincts. "I'm not challenging you. I know you're stronger than me. However, I also know you won't attack me – not here, where you risk destroying the home you're trying to protect." She winces, letting me know I've hit the mark. Though strong, she's not that good at communication. I suppose that'll happen if you seclude yourself with the same people in a dark forest. "I'm not leaving until I get what I came here for."

The woman jinn nearly explodes with rage, and takes a few steps forward. "Why you-" Then, suddenly, she seems to hit an invisible wall, and is pushed back. Interesting. "Don't think you can do this to us, human! We'll have none of your kind in here! Better I destroy this home than let you have it! AWAY WITH YOU!" Each word she spits at me sends me closer to the ground. Her mana is making me feel like a little kitten kneeling before a lion. Ban isn't saying anything, or even moving. He's just kneeling there, eyes wide, struggling to breathe.

"Mother," another voice says, and a teenage jinn comes out of the bushes. "Mother, you know you can't be out here. It's too far from-" He just then notices me. Why is he speaking like she's the only one at risk here? Isn't he crossing the same line?

Though, those kids from earlier crosses it, too, and they seemed just peachy. Is it about power? Age? The teenager is easily as strong as the Apostles, but nowhere near his mother's level.

The woman turns to him. "Raksha, don't be a full! I'm handling this!"

The guy extends a hand toward me, and a blast of wind magic knocks both Ban and I on our backs. Shit. Wasn't expecting that one.

Although, this does present us with a good opportunity.

"You dare hurt my mother?" Raksha says, scowling, then takes a step forward. Yes, that's it. Keep moving. Just a little bit closer, and you're mine. "I should burn you for this."

I force myself to look up at him, my hands slowly going to the urn I have strapped to my thigh. "Go ahead and try it."

Turning red, he steps over the line his mother can't seem to cross. She notices, too, but I throw a rock at her before she can say anything, enforcing it with all I've got. Caught off guard, she's hit across the face, and her nose breaks, resulting in a downpour of blood all over her neck and chest. When Raksha sees this, he whirls on me again, and starts running. Yes! Come and get it!

"I will kill you!" he screams, enforcing his legs so he can kick me. However, just when he reaches me, I open the urn and turn It toward him. His eyes widen in realization, but it's too late by then. His body is turned into pure, golden energy, which is itself then sucked into the urn. I lock it, sealing his fate. The woman jinn ignores the wound I gave her, and starts trembling a bit. "P-Please, my son-"

"Will be fine," I tell her. "You have no reason to trust me, but at least know I'm not going to hurt him. I just need his help for a little while, and then he can return."

I'm not about to wait for her permission, though, so I just turn around and start walking, ignoring the sounds of her fists banging on the invisible wall as she begs me to return her son to her.