I thought I was dead, but instead it was like I was several meters below the surface.
I began to swim upwards, but the water suddenly thickened and turned into a mass of mud, vomit and blood.
I felt like I was running out of breath. I have to rise above the surface. After a while it changed again, this time I was trying to dig myself out of the dead bodies I was surrounded by. I pushed one of the bodies away and suddenly light began to shine through the cracks between the bodies. I was almost at the surface. My lungs were burning. My body gradually began to weaken from the lack of oxygen. One of the last bodies remained, but I didn't even move him.
I've given up, I'll die nicely in a random place in a pile of corpses.
The body above me was suddenly swept away and the girl I helped looked into my eyes. Her azure eyes seemed to control the whole world.
Suddenly I reappeared in the darkness. It was only a dream, but the image was vivid in my mind.
I opened my eyes and focused. Those azure eyes watched me.
I was on a bed in a smaller house. I silently looked at her to see if she was hurt, she was wearing a clean white shirt.
Suddenly a memory from the last moment I was conscious flashed into my head. A barely covered girl helped me to the caravan. I probably wouldn't mind if I died at that moment.
"You pervert!" the girl scolded me and slapped me as a bonus. A numbing pain shot through my face.
I didn't understand how she read it. I laughed, pain shooting through my stomach.
"You have to be able to defend yourself," I told her back. Her cheeks were slightly pink.
"Says the one who needed a woman to help him up," she paused. "I should have left you to rot there." Her words were sharp as daggers.
"Would you do that to your savior?" I pointed out amused. An elderly lady entered the room.
"Have you agreed yet?" she asked. We both fell silent. "That's good because you should be still or your wounds might reopen."
Apparently we were in a smaller doctor's office. Azure eyes locked on me again. She still wanted to argue, annoyed that I had the last word. The lady placed two cups of tea on the table.
"This will ease your pain," she said and walked out of the room.
"Why did you get involved in the ambush?" I asked.
"What's wrong with you," she retorted.
"I wonder why you went into a fight you weren't going to win. It doesn't make sense to me," I added.
Instead of an answer, there was only silence.
"At least tell me your name," I asked her, but I still didn't get an answer. "Please.?"
The girl hesitated. "My name is Lasin, you?"
I chuckled. "Well finally a sensible conversation with you Lasin."
She smiled.
"I'm Daen."
Lasin took her cup of tea and sipped loudly.
I frowned at her, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. I sat up, nearly hissing in pain. I will not give her such pleasure. I tried to get up.
"Shit," I hissed in pain. She turned her gaze to me and laughed lightly. I gave her a look that said if she laughed at me again, I would strangle her in her sleep. Div didn't burst out laughing.
"Would you please hand it to me?" I asked desperately.
"Does the little boy need help from the little girl again?"
I'd rather strangle her.
She moved the table a little closer. "You won't be like a baby, you can take a few steps, it'll do you good. I stood on the ground and leaned against the wall. Step by step I got closer. I was about a step away when she suddenly pushed the table back to its original place.
"You can see that you're good at it." She must have really enjoyed my suffering.
I looked into her eyes. "Are you kidding me?"
She smiled devilishly. "That's called motivation so you're not totally incompetent." My legs almost gave out.
I might get to the table, but I doubt I'll get back. I got to the table, then it dawned on me that I wasn't just going back with tea in hand. Lasin sipped loudly again, then put the tea down.
"What can I do, I thought you'd give up," She raised a cup of tea to my mouth. I tried to lean over and drink, but Lasin playfully pulled the mug away.
"What do you want from me?" I said angrily. She tipped the mug closer again.
"I'll strangle you in your sleep," I said aloud. She laughed out loud.
"A boy who can't stand up twice strangles a little girl?", she paused. "How realistic," she laughed.
"Yes, a little boy strangles a little girl who can't be anything but nasty," I retorted.
She stopped for a moment. He obviously hits the spot. I leaned over my cup of tea and took a sip. The pain began to subside almost immediately.
"How did we even get here?" I changed the subject.
"After you passed out, that caravan owner came back and took us to a nearby village," she said rather coldly.
I slowly walked back to the bed. Lasin took a few steps towards me and handed me my tea.
"Well, you're good at it," I remarked.
She frowned at me. "That's the last time, next time I'll pour it on your face." The corners of her mouth lifted.
"What if I can control water magic and throw it back in your face huh?" I raised my eyebrows curiously.
"You're not Zurien or Ming, so I'd take that risk."
The Zurien are an intelligent sea race who take the partial form of various sea creatures, from fish to many predatory fish. Inland as we are at present, it is almost impossible to encounter one.
"Have you ever met a really powerful mage?" I asked suddenly.
Lasin was probably half-breed based on her slightly pointy ears, so while her ancestors might have mastered magic, she probably didn't. Half-breeds were only exceptionally skilled at magic and were lumped into the same bag as humans. Compared to them, the Ming often appear at the top of society and have an excellent affinity for magic. I'm also a half-breed with pointy ears from my Ming ancestry, but I also had other odd features that ruled me out as pure Ming.
Unfortunately, I didn't quite master magic. The only thing I am capable of is minor muscle strengthening.
Magic is divided into external and internal. Internal is based on the manipulation of magical particles inside the body. Many people can use it, but only few people are able to use it to its full potential. It is mostly used for physical strengthening and acceleration. The more capable ones have the opportunity to awaken an attribute that varies by race. Varieties, they are more of a demonic race and thus have a great affinity for fiery attributes. On the other hand, the Ming people prefer natural ones. Of course, there are exceptions when a person was able to awaken the fiery attribute in himself, but these situations happened rather exceptionally.
External magic is based on the fact that the individual is able to control external magical particles in the air and use them for various spells. There are fewer such individuals and they are called mages.
Anyway, back to the question.
"When I was still little and lived only with my mother, I was walking down the street once and out of nowhere our neighbor's house exploded. All that was left of it was one person standing in the middle of the fire," she paused. "Luckily I escaped, but it scared me to death and you?"
"I was a child during the Luskar-Detruisian war, so I don't remember much, but I secretly watched a border battle once." I took a breath. "Originally, this place was a sparse forest, but from all the powerful spells, a blood-soaked plain with all kinds of craters was formed."
She raised her eyebrows curiously. "Were you interested in battles as a child?"
I laughed at the thought. "I guess so, but my parents talked me out of it."
"I'm not surprised," she added.
We chatted for some more time and then decided to continue sleeping. I got comfortable and stared at the ceiling and thought for several hours, then finally managed to fall asleep.