Early afternoon bathed the road in gentle warmth, light filtering through the leaves in dancing patches. The dirt path wound between flowering trees and whispering grass, wild magic flickering faintly in the air like distant fireflies.
Axel walked near the front, Kyra's small hand wrapped in his. Her steps were short, but she kept up well enough, at first.
Sylthea strolled alongside them, her violet cloak fluttering with each breeze, and Korrak lumbered just behind, humming a quiet tune that might've once been a lullaby.
The peace lasted all of ten minutes.
"My feet hurt," Kyra groaned dramatically, dragging her heels.
Axel gave her a sidelong glance. "We've barely walked a mile."
"Exactly," she pouted. "That's forever in goblin years."
He sighed, but a soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Alright, come on."
He knelt and held out an arm. Kyra lit up instantly.
With practiced glee, she scampered up his arm and perched on his shoulders, legs draped on either side of his neck, hands settling into his dark hair like it was her personal reins.
"Ahhh, much better," she sighed, resting her chin on his head. "View's nice up here."
"Glad the royal goblin is satisfied," Axel muttered.
Behind them, Sylthea gave an exaggerated stretch and groaned. "Ugh, my legs hurt now."
Axel glanced back. "Seriously?"
Sylthea looked over at Korrak, eyes gleaming. "Hey, big guy. You wouldn't mind helping a poor tired witch, would you?"
Korrak blinked. "What do you mean... ?"
"You're strong," she said sweetly. "Can't you carry me?"
Korrak opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, then gave a slow, uncertain nod. "I… I suppose I can."
He turned and knelt.
Sylthea giggled and hopped onto his lean muscular back, wrapping her arms loosely around his shoulders. "Ooooh, this is nice. You're like a walking throne of muscles."
Korrak stood upright with practiced ease, but his pale skin darkened instantly. His ears twitched. His entire body, from his tusks to his neck, went from bone-white to beet-red.
Axel raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You alright back there, Korrak? I didn't know trolls could turn that red."
Korrak struggled to form words. "I-It's just a bit… warm, is all."
Sylthea leaned her chin on his shoulder. "Aw, I can cool you down with a little air magic."
Korrak's voice cracked. "N-No need! I'm fine! Totally fine!"
Axel chuckled low in his throat. Kyra burst out laughing.
"He liiiikes her," she sang.
"Definitely," Axel agreed.
"Do not!" Korrak huffed, stomping forward a little faster now, though not enough to jostle Sylthea.
She grinned behind him. "You're cute when you blush."
"G-Going to pretend I didn't hear that," Korrak muttered.
And so, the strange little group moved forward again, laughter weaving between their steps like wind through tall grass. A goblin child riding a shadow-suited warrior. A witch smiling atop a blushing troll.
They were no longer just fugitives.
They were becoming something more.
A family.
By late afternoon, the sun hung low, casting long golden beams through the trees. Birds chirped quietly above as the road gave way to a small forest clearing nestled beside a slow-moving stream. It was peaceful, the kind of peace Axel had learned to appreciate in small doses.
They made camp beneath a broad tree. Axel gathered wood while Korrak cleared space for a fire ring, and Sylthea used a spell to coax dry leaves into soft bedding. Kyra, of course, chased a glowing beetle until Axel had to call her back twice.
Now, the fire crackled gently in the center of the camp, its orange light flickering against the surrounding trees. Axel sat on a flat stone, absently stoking the flames with a stick, the embers glowing like distant stars. The others were just finishing their food, a stew Sylthea had managed to make taste surprisingly good for forest ingredients.
"Alright," Sylthea said, brushing her hands off and standing. "Magic class time."
Kyra's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"Can I join too?" Korrak asked, ears twitching with curiosity.
"Of course." Sylthea smiled. "It's never too late to learn magic."
Axel raised an eyebrow from the fire but said nothing, just kept poking at the embers with a faint smile.
Sylthea clapped her hands together. "Okay, listen close. Magic in this world flows through six primary elements, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Nature, and Lightning."
She raised one hand, and a gentle swirl of wind spun above her palm, glowing softly.
"I was born with an affinity for Air. That means I can control it more naturally than other elements. But," she added with a spark forming at her fingertips, "I also have smaller affinities for Fire and Lightning. That lets me create light-based magic, like flash spells or stun bursts."
Kyra and Korrak stared in awe.
Sylthea continued, her tone becoming more serious. "Most people only have one natural affinity. Two is rare. Three or more... well, let's just say that's incredibly unusual. But now, let's find out what you two have."
She motioned for them to sit. "Close your eyes. Focus your mana, not in your head, but in your heart. Imagine walking into your soul. Keep going until you reach its center. There, your element will appear."
Both Kyra and Korrak sat cross-legged in the grass and closed their eyes.
A long moment passed in silence, only the fire and forest singing softly in the background.
Then...
"I see it," Korrak whispered, eyes still shut. "It's… a flame. A big, red flame!"
He opened his eyes, blinking with childlike wonder.
Sylthea grinned wide. "A Fire affinity. Strong and straightforward. It suits your warrior spirit."
Korrak rubbed the back of his neck, face quickly flushing again. "I-It does?"
Kyra giggled.
Then, Kyra opened her eyes slowly.
"It was a ball of ice… but it had lightning running through it, and it was steaming! It kept shifting colors!"
Sylthea's smile faltered in shock. "Wait, what?"
Kyra tilted her head. "Is that bad?"
"That's unbelievable," Sylthea whispered, kneeling beside her. "You have four affinities: Water, Air, Fire, and Lightning. That's… I've never seen that. I knew you were special, but not this special."
Kyra was glowing, practically buzzing with pride. "I'm gonna explode something!"
Sylthea laughed. "Not too big, please. Okay, both of you, focus your mana outward this time. Korrak, you'll say: Fire Magic – Fire Blast. Kyra, try: Combination Magic – Elemental Combination Blast. Got it?"
They both nodded eagerly.
"Ready… now!"
Korrak roared, "Fire Magic – Fire Blast!"
A burst of flame shot from his palms, streaking into the sky and exploding in a puff of orange sparks.
Kyra raised her little hands, her eyes shining.
"Combination Magic – Elemental Combination Blast!"
A swirling bolt of water, lightning, wind, and fire coiled upward like a helix, then detonated high above the trees with a thunderous pop, sending a shimmering mist down like glittering rain.
"WHOA!" Kyra shouted, spinning around with her arms raised. "Did you see that?!"
She bolted to Axel, nearly tripping over her own feet in excitement.
"Did you see?! Did you see?! I did the thing! The blast thing!"
Axel looked down at her with a proud smirk. "I saw, Kyra. That was super cool. I'm proud of you."
She beamed at him, glowing brighter than any spell she'd just cast.
Then, without warning, she hugged him tightly.
And passed out.
Right there, snuggled into his chest, breathing softly.
Axel blinked, caught off guard, then wrapped one arm around her protectively.
Sylthea strolled back to the fire, hands on her hips. "Oh… yeah. I might have forgotten to mention magic uses mana. And when you run out, it hits you like a sleep hammer."
"She'll be fine?" Axel asked, already knowing the answer.
"Just needs rest. She'll be bouncing off trees again by morning."
They laid down for the night, each on their leafy beds, the fire crackling gently in the center of the camp.
Axel rested on his back, Kyra curled peacefully against his chest, her small form rising and falling with each breath.
Sylthea lay nearby, arms behind her head, cloak draped over her like a blanket.
Korrak was already snoring softly, lying flat with his arms crossed behind his head.
The stars blinked into the night sky one by one as the clearing settled into silence.
Their pasts were behind them.
Their futures uncertain.