Someone’s coming. Jered thought, watching the approaching figure.

  When they got close, Jered scrutinized every detail he could. Untrustworthy. Strange clothes, no signs of exhaustion.

  “Stop!” Jared cried out.

  “May I enter-”

  “WHO ARE YOU!” Jared's colleague, Ryan, cried out.

  “I am Dawn Faith. May I enter this town?” the mysterious woman said, no expression on her face.

  Jared stepped closer to Ryan, whispering, “She can’t be trusted. Strange clothes, two names, no sign of a weapon, yet she’s uninjured.”

  Ryan responded, “Yeah. You tell her to leave, I’ll ready a swing.”

  Jared told her to leave, and before Ryan could even step forward, she left.

  “When we get off shift, we need to tell the Chief this,” Ryan commented, Jared nodding in agreement.

  Ooh? Have they sent a sacrifice as requested? Lovely. Jackson thought, seeing a figure approach from the other town.

  But when they got close, Jackson grew more concerned. The woman was beautiful, yes, but her dead gaze and strange clothing filled Jackson with fear rather than excitement.

  “May I enter town?” the stranger asked. Ah, she doesn’t know what she’s getting into.

  “Please wait stranger,” Jackson said, slipping into town to gather a crowd. She will help solidify my power. What a wonderful offering; they’ll eat her right up.

  Soon enough, he gathered the people and went back to the gate. When she saw the crowd, she turned tail and fled. You won’t get away that easily.

  Jackson lead the charge, rushing down the mysterious woman. She fled quite well, but soon after Ray’s fireball flew by, she tripped. With her on the ground, everyone rushed her, crushing her. But she didn’t scream. It was… unsettling. Was the woman in front of him human? He shook off the thought, and finished her off.

  Jackson yelled to the crowd, “A feast upon us! Satiate yourself as you please!” who responded by ripping her broken corpse into chunks and devouring them.

  “Hello, may I join you?” a strange voice asked Stevin. Stevin glanced up, but froze for a moment seeing the most beautiful woman in his life before him. But the spell didn’t last.

  “Ah, I take it the towns denied you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, take a seat. Why did they deny you?”

  “I don’t know. I know no one here, and my former clothes were… conspicuous.”

  “Take it you lost them?”

  “Yes. So, why did they deny you?”

  “The cultists didn’t like me being the next chief. Soon enough, I was exiled.”

  “Hrm,” the woman pondered for a moment

  “So many will die because of them,” Stevin continued.

  “I’ve decided. I’m going to become empress.”

  “Empress?”

  “I will make an empire and rule it. But I cannot rule alone. Will you join me?” the woman reached out her hand. “Where I’m from, shaking hands shows someone accepting a deal. Will you accept?”

  Should I take it? What would the consequences be? Do I have anything to lose? No. If there’s nothing to lose… Stevin reached out his hand and took hers.

  “Welcome. I am your Empress, Dawn Faith. What is your name, minister?”

  “I am Stevin.”

  After a few moments of thought, Dawn asked, “Do you know how magic works Minister Stevin?”

  “Not really. The cult claims that by eating people the runes come to them.”

  “Do you know anything about runes?”

  “Again, nothing. Just that runes are used and come to people,” Stevin said through a yawn.

  “Hrm. The sun is getting low, so we need to take shifts so we don’t get ambushed while sleeping. I’ll take first watch, you sleep.”

  “Okay,” was all Stevin replied before grabbing a bundle of leaves and wearing them as a blanket.

  “-up! A wolf is-” was the words that crept into Stevins foggy brain, before a sickening slash sounded out.

  Stevin hurried up, adrenaline pumping. He saw Dawn roll away, and call a massive flame before her. With a great hurry, she charged the wolf and grappled it’s legs. The wolf burned, it’s final expression one of terror.

  “Are… are you okay?” Stevin asked, approaching slowly.

  “Injured. It’s midnight. It’s your watch,” Dawn curtly replied, before slipping under the leaf blanket Stevin had just slept under.

  Stevin slowly relaxed, the tension leaving his body. He didn’t feel tired though, likely because he woke up and didn’t do anything. He watched around, but nothing happened until morning.

  Stevin heard a rustling, to which he snapped his head towards. But it was just Dawn rising, inspecting her injuries.

  She’s mostly unhurt!

  “Ah, you’re awake! Are you alright?” Stevin asked.

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  “Yes. Did you do something to heal me?”

  “No?”

  “Then,” Dawn showed her arm to Stevin, “do you know why I healed this fast? Do you heal this fast?”

  “Not at all.”

  “What happened with the wolf's body?” Dawn asked.

  “It’s still there,” Stevin pointed to the body.

  Dawn got up and began looking at the wolf. It was thin, and its body was charred everywhere.

  “Do you think this wolf was alone?” Dawn asked.

  “Uhh…” Stevin’s mind raced, tried to compile an answer, “yes? It didn’t have more come after all.”

  “I agree. It seems quite thin, so it was likely kicked out of its pack a while ago.” Dawn stood up as she spoke and turned to Stevin asking, “How much food do you get daily?”

  “Not much.”

  “Hrm. We need food. You try and salvage meat from the wolf, I’ll try hunting.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Dawn subsequently walked away into the woods, away from the camp.

  Stevin began to skin the wolf, but it was hard work. It’s pelt was burned all over, and strangely taut to the flesh. But he kept at it, finishing soon enough. Gently placing the meat on sticks, Stevin prepared to cook.

  “Did you manage to get any meat from the wolf?”

  Stevin was startled for a moment, responding, “Yeah, but not much,” before showing Dawn the wolf meat.

  “I got a rabbit here,” Dawn said, lifting the rabbit.

  “Could you skin it then? I’m cooking the wolf right now.” Stevin turned his back to Dawn as he carefully cooked the wolf.

  A few moments passed, and he heard, “Here,” from Dawn as she handed the skinned rabbit to Stevin.

  “You… don’t have to do it like that. You just need to separate the skin a little, and you can pull the rest off.”

  “Ah.”

  “I’ll show you later,” Stevin turned back to cooking the wolf.

  In a short while, Stevin turned back, saying, “Meat’s cooked.”

  “I’ll take first watch tonight,” Dawn said between bites, “but first I need you to try something.”

  “What is it?”

  “Close your eyes, and focus on the mana in you.”

  “Mana?”

  “Right,” Dawn swallowed the final bit of rabbit before turning and facing Stevin. “To cast the fire spells, I used an internal energy. I’m calling it mana. What you need to do, is get in touch with your mana.”

  “Alright,” Stevin said, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. Internal… energy. Is there anything? After several minutes, Stevin opened his eyes and said, “I can’t feel it.”

  “Close your eyes again. I’ll try something,” Stevin followed her orders, feeling a strange sensation flowing into him. His body rejected it, shaking in the process. “Do you feel it now?”

  “Y-yes,” Stevin stammered out.

  “Open your eyes.” When Stevin opened his eyes, he saw a rune floating above Dawn's palm. “This is the rune of [Flame]. Make one with your mana and try running your mana through it.”

  Stevin did as she asked, producing a small flame.

  “Woh!” Stevin exclaimed.

  In a moment, a flame burst before Dawn’s hand, dwarfing Stevin's flame.

  “Why’s yours so much bigger?”

  “It doesn’t appear to be stress or adrenaline. So my next two guesses are my understanding of the rune makes it more powerful, or that your mana is just weaker than mine. For now, when your watch shift comes up, try understanding and immersing yourself in flame.”

  “Like… set myself on fire?”

  “No. Just understand fire. Stare at the fire. The world is fire,” seeing Stevin's confused look, Dawn shook her head and said, “Just try.”

  Dawn said goodnight, and for Stevin to wake her when the moon was directly overhead.

  Stevin closed his eyes, recalling the rune. He couldn’t just study, though, so every now and again he stopped to look around and make sure nothing was approaching. Every time he closed his eyes, it felt like he began to become one with the rune. And when the moon has risen to it’s zenith, Stevin awoke Dawn, demonstrating his [Flame].

  “Did you meditate on the rune?”

  “Yeah, but I feel… like I still don’t understand it.”

  “But this does confirm at least part of the issue was your lack of understanding of [Flame]. Well, get to sleep.”

  Stevin nodded in agreement, slipping into bed.

  The days with Dawn passed swiftly, with Stevin learned more magic. And every day, he felt a feeling in his chest growing stronger. Loyalty, for sure, but something else. It didn’t matter, though, as Stevin was overjoyed at recovering his emotions.

  He did notice something odd, though, that his thin body began to gain muscle. His hair remained short, but its color grew more defined. Despite the rest of the changes to his body, he didn’t grow any taller. He didn’t mind, though.

  “Prepare. 2 days from now, we will begin the annexation.” Stevin nodded, to which Dawn returned to her training.

  And when the two days passed, Stevin followed her to the edge of the forest.

  “Stevin. You’ll stay back and hide in these woods. If I hurt someone too much, you’ll heal them. Be as secret as possible.” Stevin nodded at her orders, watching as she left.

  She began to talk with the guards, and soon enough the chief appeared. And Dawn struck. She tore through the guards, entering the town somewhat to fight the crowd that formed. Stevin stealthfully approached, hiding himself outside the walls. He inspected the guards, stopping their bleeding before glancing up to see Dawn punching the chief repeatedly.

  “Stevin!” Dawn yelled, so Stevin approached. “Heal any fatal injuries. Call me if you run out of mana.” Stevin nodded, so Dawn dragged the chief away. Stevin walked around, doing his best to stop bleeding and cure deeper wounds. He grew quite tired, but he managed to stop anyone from dying. But many wouldn’t wake up.

  “You all… move the unconscious to an open room. And you,” Stevin pointed at a woman with a stump for a hand, “join them.”

  After moving everyone to the town hall, Stevin tried to heal them, but was unable to do so.

  “Ah… Stevin?” the chief entered, nervousness all over his thin frame. “Dawn was calling for you.”

  “Understood. In the woods?” the chief nodded, so Stevin left.

  After meeting up with her in the woods, Stevin informed her of the healing progress. She headed off, and soon enough left the town hall, so Stevin peered inside to see everyone healed, the unconscious beginning to rise and the amputee with a new hand.

  “Stevin,” Dawn called, so he hurried over. “Every day you will hunt for food. Bring a hunter to make sure you’re getting the right amount.”

  The days once again slipped past, with Stevin hunting in the mornings and hanging out with the villagers in the evening. They all chatted about random topics, and Stevin learned they didn’t even know what to do without hunting.

  But one day, Dawn didn’t return. Growing concerned she had been killed, Stevin excused himself and went to find her. In the middle of the field, a short distance away, was a small tree. And at its base… Stevin raced over, using mana enhancement to practically fly over and check out Dawn’s body. Finding her still breathing, he slung her onto his back and brought her back to town, gently laying her into her tent.

  Stevin was terrified that she wouldn’t wake up the next day. But when a crowd began to form, Stevin’s fear was replaced by a different feeling. He headed to the gate to stop her. And as he thought, she appeared.

  “Stop. You need to rest,” Stevin told her, an expression of concern covering his face.

  “I do not. I collapsed due to mana exhaustion, but since my mana has recovered, so I am fine.”

  Stevin manifested a spear and pointed the tip at Dawn. “Rest.”

  Dawn responded by smacking the spear aside, thrusting her hand to his neck, and throwing him aside. “I do not need to rest,” she told him as she left through the gate.

  Stevin lay on the ground, feeling like his heart was trampled on. He figured out the feeling that had been brewing in his chest, and what replaced his terror at her possible death. He was in love with her and was terrified of losing her. But she didn’t care about him. He was, after all, just her minister.