A month is how long it took for Lijah to settle into a routine. It hadn't been easy for him to settle into a dull cycle of traversing from town to town, switching up his story. In Blackwood he was a homeless teenager who had been kicked out of an orphanage; in Dark Grove he was a merchant who lost everything and was trying to get back on his feet; in Roseville he was a boy running away from a marriage he didn't want.
The stories became too easy to fabricate depending on the desperation he needed to faux to earn a bit of coin and a meal for a night. In some cases where his name was sure to draw attention, he pulled on the name Elijah Davidson. A mask like any other, another personality to switch out at will.
He was twenty now. It's been three years since the "Incident" as he called it. He missed his moms, but he always carried a piece of them with him in the form of his sapphire pendant. The protective magic within it still pulsed like a heartbeat.
Speaking of magic, his was gone. Well, that was exaggerating. But it's what it felt like. Whatever had happened to him on the day of his graduation, that invading tendril that hurt every cell in his body, had locked away most of his magic.
It felt like he lost a part of himself. And he despised it with every cell in his body. It feels like losing a limb, but the limb was a very important one that I never thought about having to live without, Lijah thought mournfully as he outstretched his left hand.
Before, he could just think a spell into existence. Now it took what seemed like thousands of tries before he could even light a simple fire. Again, another exaggeration. It's been three years and Lijah has learned to not rely on his magic much anymore.
Not even when he needed to run like he did right now.
Lijah found it almost hilarious how similar this situation was to his final exam at the academy. It was exhilarating to feel this type of rush again. He's stayed in Silverbane for two years now. Everyone now knew the young man with lavender hair, golden eyes, and silent resignation paired with not-yet healed despair in his expression.
Everybody in Silverbane was familiar with the boy who had two-toned skin and avoided the busy streets like they were infested with vermin; the boy who dressed like a prince and not a fugitive. The boy who only stole the most valuable of treasures and was only accompanied by the shadows.
And that was exactly what Lijah didn't want. If he was well-known, then they would find him. Lijah realized it a year ago, when he temporarily lived in Roseville. He had come home to his quaint apartment to find his door unlocked and a note stating that he would have to pay for eliminating the entire academy. He's been on the run since then, avoiding staying in one place for too long.
But it's been two years, and he's ready to leave again. He's not safe, especially not in a small town like Silverbane. Which is why he's planning on going to the nearby city—a bustling metropolis named something posh and gaudy that Lijah didn't bother to remember—to board a ship and leave the country.
Was it overzealous and paranoid? Perhaps. But he'd rather be paranoid and over-cautious than careless. With that plan in mind, Lijah took a momentary breather before sprinting towards the shortcut to the loc.al motel, hopping in through the window and locking it
Seeing that he was more trouble than he was worth, the local police eventually gave up on chasing him. Now in the "safety" of his motel room, he could begin packing. Because yes, he was leaving as soon as he motherfucking can.
Robes, check. Toiletries, check. Jewelry and grimoire, check. Books, check. I feel like I'm missing something… Ah! Lijah laughed to himself and turned to look at the window. He unlocked and opened it. "Apertus, come!" He called, and black smoke congealed into the form of a fluffy tuxedo cat.
"There you are, boy. Out hunting mice again?" Lijah asked the nonverbal being as he lifted the cat into his arms and shut the window once more. Apertus mewed softly and nudged his head against his human's arm.
"I know, dear. I probably interrupted something very important, hm? Sorry, but we're going to leave soon." Lijah cooed with all the affection he could muster in his heart as he set Apertus on the bed to pack the feline's necessities into a cat-sized backpack. The witch's own belongings were stored in a shoulder bag that was enchanted to be much larger on the inside.
He grabbed the key to his room and rechecked to see that he had everything before beckoning Apertus to hop onto his shoulder and walking down to the inn's owner. "Miss Olivia, I'm turning in my key." The young mottled-skin man said in a polite but still curt tone as he handed over his room key.
The wise woman who reminded Lijah of an ancient willow tree—gnarled and worn but still majestic—nodded gently with a kind smile. "I understand. Be safe on your journeys, Mister Dove." She bids him adieu, and Lijah bows with a hand over his heart. Before departing, Miss Olivia spoils Apertus with a small treat that he takes with a chirp.
The door of the inn shuts behind the witch and his furred companion, and both of them take deep breaths. "Well, let us see if we can barter a man for his horse for our journey." He suggests, smiling at the feline's skeptical mew.
"Oh come on, it'll be fine." He rolls his eyes as he begins to his way towards the outskirts of Silverbane, Apertus filling the silence with quiet mews and chirps.
"Does no one want to pity a poor boy and lend a horse in this place?" Lijah snarls, dragging a hand down his face. Apertus licks his paws, completely unbothered. He's been refused three times, and if he had his magic then he could've just used it to manipulate someone into giving up their horse.
But no, instead he had to go door to door offering a variety of services and payments to no avail. So obnoxious. "Hey, sir? You seemed bothered, is there something the matter?" A soft and sweet voice—one that didn't make the witch want to cast a curse upon the speaker's entire bloodline—asks. Lijah looks up from his brooding to see an unfamiliar but intriguing face.
Soft, light cocoa skin with faint freckles and almost black eyes framed by long, ivory-colored hair. Underneath the person's side-swept bangs was an eye-patch, the most peculiar thing about them. Other than their clothing, of course. They were wearing a skimpy red dress and sheer stockings, no shoes.
Lijah arched an incredulous brow. "Nothing that I believe is your concern." The acerbic young man replies with a scowl. The stranger laughs softly with a bright and completely fake smile.
"You're quite the liar, sir. I overheard you complaining about needing a horse? Well, this nice man gave me two so one could carry my luggage. The thing is, I don't have many belongings, so you can use one of them instead!" Lijah wondered if this random stranger was some kind of angel. Or perhaps a demon trying to steal his soul. Too late, Lijah thought sardonically. I don't think I ever had a soul in the first place.
"Is that so? Well, you're too kind. What sort of payment are you looking for for the horse?" The lavender-haired young man asks, popping his hip to the side and crossing his arms over his chest.
"No payment!" The dead-eyed stranger chirped before running off. Moments later, he was gently leading two horses by their reins. Both were clearly well-cared for. Likely purebred for leading carriages or horse races. They were nothing short of gorgeous too.
"Well… I suppose there is a payment, depending on where you're going." The stranger said sheepishly, smile turning awkward. Lijah gave the person an unamused glower.
"The city. I plan to board a ship and leave the country." Lijah says cautiously, and the unnerved pit growing in his gut grows at the scantily-clad stranger's brightening expression.
"Perfect! I want you to take me with you." They—he, she? No, he, Lijah had the feeling this was a man—said in a way that allowed for no protests.
"Absolutely not. I don't take scandalously-clad people on little road trips." Lijah scoffed, feeling the way Apertus bored holes into the human's skull.
The dressed-up man scowls back. "Yes you will." He retorts, like by sheer will he can convince Lijah to change his mind.
"No I won't."
"Yes you will."
"No."
"Yes."
The bickering goes on for multiple minutes before Lijah sighs. "Fine." He grumbles, already walking up to the black and white painted horse. He hooks his foot in the stirrup and mounts the mare, petting her coat gently.
"Good girl." He murmurs gently and beckons Apertus to hop up as well. The red-wearing stranger mounts his own horse as well—a white stallion with silver speckles—and Lijah pointedly looks away from what was obviously not being hidden by the skirt.
Lijah grumbles to himself and removes his outer robes and hands it to the stranger. "Cover up. I don't want to see that." He spits the words out like they leave a bad taste in his mouth. The stranger takes the robes with a flushed smile and slips them on.
"Thank you." He says kindly, and Lijah replies by snapping the reins and beckoning the mare to break off into a quick trot. The overly sweet man scrambles to follow, his cheery smile never wavering.
"So what's your name? And the cat's?" He asks, trying to make small-talk. Lijah has to will himself to not completely leave the tag-along behind.
"His name is Apertus. Mine is Lijah," he mutters, hardly sparing the other a glance. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, he'd prefer to know the other's name. "And yours?"
"…Call me Quinn."