My Zodiac Guardian

Catch Fire[8]

The snow crunching underfoot filled the quiet atmosphere, each step another weight added to it. I was avoiding my developing feelings. I knew I was. And Aquarius had no idea what I was thinking, certainly not that I liked him. Gods, how sad I must be, to crush on someone after only a day of knowing them.

It was pathetic, that’s what.

“What are you thinking about?” Aquarius called out, and I nearly jumped in my skin at the sound of his voice.

“Uh, just how I’m going to find this school,” I lied breezily, cursing myself for the lie after we had literally just discussed the uselessness of it. “And this boar. Do you have any last-minute cantrips for me before we hunt this thing?”

Without saying anything, he grabs my hand, causing my blood to run cold as he lifted it up into the air. With his right hand, he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger, and uttered the word, “Ignis.” A small mote of fire bloomed into existence, and then he flicked his finger. The small flame shot across the forest, hitting a tree and igniting a small hole through it. My eyes widened.

“Incredible,” I whispered, curling my hand into the same motion as his and repeating the phrase. It took a little time, but a small flame swirled into life, burning with anticipation. “Heh, nice!” I then flicked the fire, not looking where I aimed.

It hit the boar we were searching for straight on it’s head. It’s squeal ripped through the forest and penetrated right into my chest, freezing me with fear. “Oh…” Son of a-

“You should really watch where you’re aiming,” Aquarius couldn’t help but snide at me. Before I could snap at him, the massive boar let out another blood-curdling screech and thundered towards us.

Perhaps the first spell was just a weak fluke? Yeah, it had to be, I convinced myself as I readied the spell again. “Ignis!” I cried as I flung another mote, this time it was bright enough to hurt my eyes as it slammed into the head of the boar, engulfing it in flames.

Then it broke through the inferno, squealing it’s rage once more and now even closer. “The hell is wrong with this pig?! Is it fire-proof or something?” I wailed, turning to run, but I tripped, and then I knew I was looking an embarrassing death in the eyes.

“Rimona!” Hands wrapped around me and lifted me from certain doom, whisking me away from the charging boar. “You must be more careful!” Aquarius scorned me. I swallowed, sheepishly stealing a look at him, surprised to find what seemed to be genuine concern on his face. Once more, my traitorous heart thumped.

Get it together! To him you’re just a weak girl, a child he’s forced to look after. You were just the mildest option to him. A safety net. That’s all. Keep it together.

“I understand,” I said coldly, peeling myself from his arms despite his protest. I pinched my fingers together and whistled sharply, attracting the boar again. “Tasty planesman over here,” I taunted, and that was all it took for the wild beast to come for me again. Exhaling, I moved my arm in a semicircle, finishing it with a clenched fist.

“Giuardis.” The air shimmered before me again, just in time for the boar to smash his head into my shield. As though he rammed his head into my own arm, the limb smarted with pain as my body trembled from the impact. But it worked, the beast was dazed.

With a panting exhale, I removed the dagger from my sheath, crouching down by the animal and closing my eyes as I gripped its tusk and sunk my blade into its skull. A quick death, but it made my stomach churn all the same.

The creature fell limp, snow crunching from where it landed. I grimaced and hitched a breath as I removed the blade, wiping the blood off with the snow and placing it back on my belt. “Can you carry this," I asked, nodding towards the cooling animal.

Aquarius was silent for a moment, and this time I didn’t look at him as I stood up and brushed myself off. I was not weak. I could handle myself if I calmed down and stilled my mind. Affirming this belief in myself, I walked on in the forest, heading somewhere, nowhere, anywhere, just forward. Because I couldn’t sit still.

“Yes, I can,” he mumbled silently, hoisting the beast over his shoulder and following me silently.

“We’ll turn it in at the next town.” I suddenly stopped, looking back at him. “Any cantrips to make a trip go faster?”

He huffed a small laugh at that. “Unfortunately no.” A smile grew on him though. “I can fly us though with wind manipulation.”

I tilted my head at him, refusing to let jealousy cloud my intrigue in his admittedly useful ability. “That’ll do. Is it too much to carry me and the quarry though?”

My Guardian snorted as he came up beside me and rested his hand on my waist, the warmth of his palm sinking through my layers of fabric. My chest pressed against his, and if it weren't for the dead boar, the lack of space between us would have been intoxicating. As it was, it took intense concentration to keep my heart calm.

“It’ll be nothing. Just hold on tight,” he said softly, his breath running along my skin as his hair tickled my temple. I wrapped my arms around his waist, squeezing tightly and nodding.

“I’m ready, fly away.”

“As you wish,” he said silky smooth, in the same way as when I first heard that tenor voice a couple of days ago, then a powerful gust of wind swept underneath our feet, and into the dull gray sky.

My eyes latched on to my hands clutching on to Aquarius’ blue clothes, my brow furrowing in thought. These hands, when you are older, will tell a story…

Perhaps this story is not as sad as I thought it would be, mother.