Ascension Of The Archmage

There was nothing like the air of freedom. She stood before him, her wild mane of hair framing her features as she stared into his eyes, a mischievous grin still plastered on her face. She spread her hand, and chanted something beneath her breath, the words barely audible. Dancing colors flickered to life, like wisps of blue and green flames, staining the air with the tang of magic.

"It's been thirty years," she whispered, her eyes glinting with a knowing spark.

Just then, a loud crash rang from outside, making Karl's heart skip a beat. Something heavy rammed into the door, the wood creaking and groaning under the impact. Karl's eyes widened as he stared at the door, his mind racing with panic. Ayaki was trying to break into the storeroom. He couldn't bear fighting her again, not after what she had done to him.

"Can you get us out of this mess?!" he exclaimed, turning to Yukino.

"It's been thirty years since I last felt my magic flow through me," she said with a steady voice, her eyes staring at wisps. "It might take me longer than I expect."

Karl groaned, gritting his teeth in frustration. This could mean one thing: he had to use the spell that he knew to break the door, burn Ayaki and get the heck out of here. And yet, he wasn't sure if killing was the right move. He had never killed anyone, so why start now? There had to be another way. He wasn't a killer.

The door creaked and groaned again, the wood starting to crack under the relentless assault. The sound of splintering wood and scraping metal filled the air, making his anxiety spike.

"I'M BREAKING IN!!!" Ayaki's voice was like a pitch, screaming beneath the door. The door shuddered again, the wood cracking and splintering further. His heart sank, wondering if they'd ever escape the danger that lurked outside.

"I have a plan," Yukino said.

He looked at her. "What kind of plan?"

"We kill her." she said. "It's either she dies or we die!"

"No no no, that's not happening." Karl immediately said. "We can't just kill her like she's an animal!"

She clicked her tongue, molding her hand into a fist and the wisps faded like threads into the air. "The world is a cruel place."

"I said no, we are not killing anyone!" He said.

"If you have another plan, please enlighten me." she said with daring eyes, her eyebrow cocked slightly. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, a hand resting on her hip. "But if you don't, we are going with my plan!"

As the door shuddered under the relentless impact, splinters began to fly, and the heavy thud of Ayaki's assault rang in the small storeroom. Karl's heart raced, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Yukino stepped forward, standing firmly in front of him, her wild hair dancing around her like a tempest.

"Stand back," she commanded, her voice steady but a thrill of excitement tinged her tone. Quickly, she extended her hand towards the splintering door. A laugh escaped her lips, the sound filled with a hint of madness. "This is how you survive in Dale: kill or be killed!"

Suddenly, something began to flicker to life around her hand. It started as a soft glow but quickly expanded into a brilliant halo, spinning and shimmering like a wheel of light. Inside this radiant circle, smaller wheels began to take shape, each one pulsating with magic and intention.

He stood transfixed, his fear momentarily forgotten as he watched the display of magic. The patterns danced in the air, mesmerizing him with their beauty and power. He had never seen anything like this before. "Yukino, wait!" he exclaimed, feeling a mix of awe and dread.

But there was no time for hesitation. With a final, deafening crash, the door splintered apart, exploding inward in a shower of wood and debris.

As the dust settled, Ayaki emerged, framed by the remnants of the door, a fierce look on her face. Her crimson eyes were like tongues of fire in the dark, giving her a predatory look. Her wild gaze locked onto Yukino, and her face paled.

"See you in hell!" Yukino screamed.

"Wait—" He was too late to intervene. An explosion of light erupted from the rings, forcing him to shut his eyes. Even then, the light felt like it was searing into his irises, causing a stinging sensation to pierce through his vision. A swirling heat washed over him, accompanied by the faint sound fo Ayaki's scream. As quickly as it had begun, the light faded, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake.

His eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light. He blinked, taking in his surroundings. The storeroom was empty, except for Yukino's nightdress, which was piled into a heap on the floor. His insides twisted and turned as he stared at the heap. Something didn't feel right.

Then, he noticed movements within the heap. At first, it was just a slight stirring, but after a few seconds, something crawled out of the pile. His eyes widened as he watched a rabbit emerge, its slender form and long ears unmistakable. But this was no ordinary rabbit. Its features were slightly humanoid, its eyes gleaming with an unsettling intelligence.

His eyes widened as he stared at the rabbit, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. "Yukino?" He whispered, his voice trembling with confusion. "What...what happened to you?"

The rabbit looked at its paws, its expression contorted in concern. "Oh oh...I think I kind of ruined the spell somehow."

He stared at the rabbit. "What do you mean you spoiled the spell?"

"I don't know... it's been thirty years since I used such spells... of course I'd be a little rusty!"

He narrowed his eyes. "Ayaki...what happened to Ayaki!?"

The rabbit's expression turned blank. "I don't know!"

"What do you mean you don't know!?" He asked.

The rabbit sighed. "I mean exactly what I'm saying."

"Ugh..." He growled. "...what was that spell even about!?"

"It was a teleportation spell, and somehow, it backed fired on me!" the rabbit said, before hoping a little towards him. There was silence for a moment, before the rabbit scratched the back of its long ear, with a paw. "I remember now."

"Remember what!?" he asked.

"I don't know....but for what I can tell, I might be stuck in this form for a while..." the rabbit said. "...unless we find someone who might be able to help me."

"You mean in Woodhalla?" he cocked a brow.

"No." The rabbit said. "It'd take us days to travel from Dale to Woodhalla."

"So who do you expect to help you, cause I'm clearly not doing that anymore...." he confessed.

The rabbit chuckled. "Sure you'll."

"Listen.... I came here just so I could become the greatest...not get involved in some bullshit!" He protested. "I've had enough of this already. I'm leaving!"

"Leaving?"

"Yes!"

Karl walked past the rabbit, still feeling the burning pain on his shoulder where he had been stabbed. The pain pulsed and throbbed with each movement—reminding him of the torture he went through. He couldn't stop himself from wondering what exactly happened to Ayaki after that brilliant light tore through the air. At the same time, he couldn't stop himself from wondering hat type of magic was this, that Yukino had used. He could still recall the halos as they swirled around her hand, charged with magic and potential. It was a magnificent sight.

As he was about to exit the storeroom, he felt something that pierced through his neck, around it like needles. The sensation quickly changed, becoming more burning like it was fire. He groaned, his hand instinctively going for his neck, but there was nothing. Just naked pain.

"What did you do to me...?" He asked, turning around to gaze at the rabbit.

The rabbit smiled. "I tricked you."

"What?" He cocked a brow, still trying to understand the nature of this pain. He could feel it was magic that was binding him, powerful magic the least—a little similar to the one he had just broken.

"You're an asset I'm not willing to lose any minute soon." The rabbit said, its tone a little husky. "Not before you take me to Woodhalla."

Something pulsed inside him, something intense like surging anger. "And by doing that, you placed a fucking slave seal on me?"

"Not just placed it really..." The rabbit said. "...I simply made you do a simple spell that mirrors what has been done to me, to you. But with a little twist, so that makes you my servant."

That sensation exploded into a wave of anger. He didn't know how he moved, but the last thing he remembered seeing were the flames that appeared in his hand, eager to be unleashed. "And if I kill you now?"

"You can try if you want..." The rabbit said. "....but you can't. If it was that easy, I'd have done so to Tsuchiyo a long time ago."

"Why don't we test that theory..." He blurted.

"You can try for all I care." The rabbit said. "For someone with elven blood, you're so trusting...so easy to manipulate."

"You little vixen!" He growled, the flames dissipating from his hand.

"Let me remind you something...." The rabbit said. "Whatever happens to me, also happens to you."

"I'm bound to you?" He cocked a brow. "I swear, once this seal is broken, I'll do everything in my power to make sure I roast you!"

"You don't have the guts..." The rabbit said. "Otherwise, you could have escaped Ayaki a long time ago."

Maybe she was right. He was silent for a minute. "Stop talking like you know me."

"I'll, once I'm freed from being this stupid stupid ish..." The rabbit said.

*

The next morning came, and Karl couldn't help the questions that still swirled inside his head. He had hardly managed to sleep through the night, fearing something bad might happen. He managed to tear some of his clothes, to form neat bandages for his wounds and even now, as he walked, he could still feel the pain whenever his muscles rippled. It stung him. He had to drag down his bag, hang it lightly on his other shoulder to prevent from pressing against the wounds.

"A normal morning in Dale," he mumbled once more.

He had left the Inn earlier than he intended. And since then, he hadn't seen Ayaki. Everytime he asked Yukino about it, she'd just brush off the question as if it didn't matter. Something that made him wonder if she was telling the truth about it being a teleportation spell. His bag was heavy on his shoulder, not from his clothes — but from the rabbit he had to drag along.

He stopped in front of the Magic Shop, his attention fixed on the whites and reds of the tent. The sign creaked in the wind as he stepped inside. Ryūjin, dressed in a long coat and a hat that gave him a quirky appeal, looked up from dusting his shelves.

"Karl, my friend..." Ryūjin said, his voice warm. "...what a pleasant morning it is to have you pay me a visit this early."

"I need your help," Karl said, his expression serious.

Ryūjin's brow rose. "Help? What kind of help?"

Karl loosened his grip on the bag, and it slid down his arm, landing on the ground with a thud. A tiny squeak escaped the bag, bit Karl ignored it, pulling up his shirt to reveal the blood-stained bandages. Ryūjin's eyes snapped to the bandages, his expression concerned.

As Ryūjin examined the wounds, he noticed movements from the bag. The opening loosened, and a small, fluffy head peeked out. His eyes widened as a rabbit, with piercing blue eyes, crept out of the bag. It gaze locked onto Ryūjin, and it twitched its whiskers. Ryūjin's eyes darted between Karl and the rabbit, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"Ah, I see," Ryūjin said, his voice measured. "And who might this little fellow be?"

Karl bent down, his movements deliberate, and scooped up the rabbit. He grasped the soft fur behind its neck, lifting it up with a gentle yet firm grip. Its furs were a fluffy coat of silver-blonde that seemed to match with her human hair. Her eyes remained the same, piercing blue, and sparkling with mischief. Her ears were surprisingly long and pointed, as if retaining some of her elven features. They twitched and perked up, as if she was sensing something. Her tiny, button nose and the smattering of freckles across her whisker twitching nose made her stand out, almost enchanting. The rabbit's legs dangled in mid-air, its blue eyes locked onto Ryūjin.

"This is...a friend of mine," Karl said, his voice low and serious. "She needs help."

Ryūjin's eyes widened, his gaze fixed on the rabbit. "A friend, you say?"

The rabbit, still suspended in mid-air, spoke up in a high-pitched voice, "Actually, I'm not his friend, but his master. I'm Yukino!"

Ryūjin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Fascinating!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement. "A talking rabbit! Karl, my friend, you must sell her to me. I'll give you a handsome sum, I assure you."

Karl's grip on the rabbit tightened. "She's not for sale, Ryūjin."

"If not for sale, then what is she? Your familiar?" Ryūjin asked. "It's not always everyday when you find a sentient familiar like yours."

"Familiar? What's that?" Karl asked.

"You idiot, you don't even know what a familiar is..." The rabbit said, arms folded across its chest. "And please, I'm not his familiar! I'm his master!"

Ryūjin's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he reached out a hand to gently scratch beneath the rabbit's neck. The rabbit closed its eyes, and let out a soft squeak of delight. Her legs kicked out, and she squirmed in Karl's grasp, clearly enjoying the attention.

"You are quite the unique creature, aren't you?" Ryūjin said, his voice filled with curiosity.

The rabbit's ears perked up, and her eyes fluttered open, gazing up at Ryūjin with mischievous glint. "Unique?" she repeated, her voice high pitched. "I'm a powerful mage, trapped in this....this rabbit form!"

Ryūjin chuckled, his eyes shining with amusement. "Of course you're." He continued to scratch beneath her neck, earning more squeaks from the rabbit.

Karl's grip on the rabbit tightened, his expression uneasy. "Ryūjin, stop that. We need to focus on one thing here."

Ryūjin's hands paused, and he looked up at Karl with a hint of disappointed. "Oh sure. What did you want help with, anyways?"

"First of all, I need a healing potion." Karl said, his tone gentle. "These wounds sting like fuck."

"A healing potion you say... mine cost ten gold pieces." Ryūjin said.

Karl cocked his brows. "Ten what?"

"Gold pieces." Ryūjin said.

"I call for a discount!" Karl said. "Ten gold pieces are too much for me. I'm only left with like, twenty five coins."

"That's still a lot!" Ryūjin said softly.

"Please....I have a long journey to go." Karl said, his tone pleading.

Ryūjin's tone was firm. "I'm sorry kid, but my price ain't dropping. It's either you take it, or you leave it!"

"No need to get serious here." Karl said. "And for the other thing....can you please find a way to get my friend back in shape?"

"What happened to her?" Ryūjin asked.

"I used a spell, and turned into a rabbit..." The rabbit said, a smirk playing across its face. "... though I feel like I did something wrong when I was casting the spell!"

Ryūjin chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Well, well, well. Looks like we have a spellbound individual on our hands."

The rabbit's ears perked up. "Spellbound?"

Ryūjin nodded. "Yes, spellbound. You see, certain individuals tend to suffer from curses that prevent them from casting certain spells. And it seems like you, my dear rabbit, are one of them."

Karl's eyes narrowed. "Is there a way to get her back into human form?"

Ryūjin's expression turned serious. "It takes a long time...depending on the nature of the spell that was cast on them. Others might take a few minutes, hours, days...or years."

The rabbit's face fell, and she let out a dejected sigh. "I guess I'm stuck in this form then."

Ryūjin grinned mischievously. "We can't be sure."

The rabbit's face brightened, and she chuckled playfully. "I guess that means you're gonna have to carry me around, Karl."

Karl groaned, and before the rabbit could react, he let her go, and she fell to the ground with a soft thud. "What the heck!?" the rabbit exclaimed, scrambling to her feet. "I'm your master, you shouldn't throw me around like that!"

Karl shot her a bitter glance. "You're not exactly the most considerate master, you know."

The rabbit's expression softened, and she looked up at Ryūjin, ignoring Karl. "Do you sell maps?"

Ryūjin nodded. "What kind of map?"

The rabbit's ears perked up. "One that can show me around Adana."

Ryūjin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, a map of Adana! That'll be five gold coins."

The rabbit's face lit up. "I'll be taking that!"

Karl's eyes widened in alarm. "Whose money are we spending here?"

The rabbit chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Yours, dummy."

She looked up at Ryūjin, her expression serious. "Do you also sell weapons?"

"I have a few...but I doubt there's anything that can accommodate your small size." Ryūjin said.

She smiled. "I'm not exactly looking for something for me. Its for this dummy over there."

"I don't recall ever wanting a weapon." Karl said. "I can fight better with my magic."

"Oh please..." She said. "If you could, we wouldn't be here right now."

"One quick question, Karl." Ryūjin suddenly asked. "Are we still going for the Dungeons or you've already got other plans?"

Karl awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "I wish I could, but something came up."

"Sure." Ryūjin said. "I guess I'll see you next time then."