Reflections of the Soul

Sighing Ezra continuing pacing the clearing. The mist had came in much earlier than he expected. He came to this mountain regularly for training. Despite the dangers he enjoyed coming here, it was calm and quite. Best of all there were no people tobother him. So when he was trying a new move he would ocme up here so he wasn’t made to feel like a useless failure when he messed up.

After pacing for another several minutes, the 18-year-old stopped and let out a short frustrated yell. He didn’t let it be too loud or long, there were many dangerous creature that lived up here and would love to try and eat him.

Even though he had cast a spell that protected the clearing he still didn’t want to risk alerting any predators.

Ezra glared down at a large puddle that he had stopped infront of. His reflection easright back and he couldn’t help but feel like that was appropriate. It matched what was going on in his head.

Most people don’t get tested for magic until they turn 19. Instead his ‘gift’ for magic showed up when he had turned 16. He was put with a mentor just like everyone else. However, since he was deemed to be strong enough, that only lasted a few months.

Most may have a mentor for years, the purpose is to teach the mentees not only how to summon magic but also how to wield it. He wasn’t really taught how to wield it, hence the solo training on a dangerous mountain.

“Maybe I should just take over. I keep being told I could,” Ezras mused aloud, “I have the power and means. If I was in charge I could make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Kids won’t have to be separated from families, and they would have good smart mentors.”

Before the young adult could continue with that train of thought, a movement in the puddle catches his eyes. Ezra stared at his reflection for a minute, trying to figure out if he actually saw something. The longer he looked the more he thought he was going insane.

‘Maybe I should take a nap or something. It can’t be a good sign if I’m seeing things.’ Ezra thought ruefully. He hadn’t been sleeping very well lately, maybe that had something to do with it.

Before he can decide that there hadn’t actually been anything that moved in the puddle, his reflection cocked it’s head with an evil smile. Ezra’s eye widen and he jumps back.

He hadn’t moved. And even if he did certainly not like that.

While he was still processing whatever just happened, the puddle started to rise. As it was rising it started to form a human-like body, slowly it started to resemble Ezra. The only difference was the blood red eyes that stared back.

Ezra could do nothing but stare at the imposter and hope it would disappear. That hope died as his living relfection stepped froward, never once losing it’s evil grin. The creature crouched forward in an offensive magic position. Imeaditly and subconsiously Ezra followed suit.

Ezra smirked, he was one of the strongest magic user alive. The monster wouldn’t stand a chance even if it shared his body.

This mentality lasted through the first few minutes, until Ezra realized that the monster was winning. Every time one of the young adult’s attacks landed and it looked like he was that much closer to winning, the reflection would somehow be entirely restored.

Turning on his heel, Ezra decided to run. He wasn’t winning this fight and he probably wouldn’t. This creature matched more than just his face but also his powers and skill. This could easily spell his end, and he didn’t want to die at 18.

‘Someone else can deal with this,’ Ezra thought as he left the clearing. If he kept running no other monsters should bother him. If he could make it off the mountain, the creature would probably stop chasing him too.

As he was sprinting through the dense forrest, Ezra’s foot caught a root and he barely managed to catch himself into a roll. As he was falling several ice spikes went flying where his head had just been.

Ezra’s eyes widened as he kept moving only slowing down slightly to check over his shoulder. The monster was still on his heel. The reflection was starting to gather water around itself for another attack.

Thinking quickly Ezra started dogdeing through and around the trees to make himself a harder target to hit. This was proven a smart idea when attacks started flying past him. The attacks kept hitting trees leaving a sizeable dent. Ezra didn’t want to learn what that would do to weak human skin.

Suddenly all the spells stopped and the footstep echoing behind him quieted. Ezra spotted a large tree trunk, without hesitation The young adult dodged around it and then dove for the slight shelter.

He curled into a ball waiting for some kind of impact. After a minute of nothing Ezra poked his head around the tree. When there wasn’t anything there he check the otherside for the same result.

The monster had simply left.

‘Maybe I ran past it’s boundary?’ Ezra thought in confusion. With a shrug he turned ready to continue his run to the base of the mountain. If the monster decided he wasn’t worth the chase then what did he care.

Before he could start running he felt guilt clutch at him. The logic in his head was telling him to leave it. After all that is what people would expect of him. Shaking his head the magician decieded to leave. It wasn’t his problem to deal with it.

Ezra started jogging continuing his previously thought out path to leave. What happened here doesn’t matter, he can find a new place train away from other people. Before he can get far Ezra hears something that makes him stop abruptly.

It was a scream accompanied by an evil laugh. The scream sounded more like pain than terror and the laugh sounded like it was under water. Neither sounded human.

The reflection must have found another prey, which would explain why it left him. Biting his lips Ezra knew he didn’t have long to make decision, whatever screamed probably couldn’t last very long.

If he went to help like his heart was screaming at him to do, what help would he be. The living reflection absolutely beat his ass, he would probably cause more harm than good. Besides his logic is telling him to leave for those very reasons.

The Magicain Council didn't do much but they did teach him to listen to logic over feelings. With a deep breath the 18-year-old made up his mind. Clenching a fist he turned and ran. He always enjoyed spiting and ignoring that stupid council.

When Ezra got to the area of the fight he was shocked to see the reflection attacking a rabbit. Rabbits were thought to be extinct, the population had been killed off when people learned of the magic that laced the world. Rabbits were one of the most magical creatures, something people realised quickly.

As the reflection prepped to shoot the wounded rabbit, Ezra jumped forward using the magic in the air to create a shield, sheltering him and the rabbit from rocks that came hurtling at them. The reflections face changed from it’s evil smirk for the first time but changed back quickly.

It seemed to be baiting him but Ezra wasn’t falling for it, this might be more powerful than him but he wasn’t backing down. There was something that needed to be protected, so no matter what he would try his hardest.

After realizing that Ezra wouldn’t fall for the taunts anymore it summoned water from the mist in the forest. The reflection turned the Water into small ice pellets. The projectiles floated around for a minute before the barrage started relentlessly hitting his shield.

Ezra started thinking of creative plans this thing knew all of his regular attacks but maybe he could surprise it with different techniques. He was stumped for a minute before it came to him.

The reflection was made of water wasn’t it? It had formed from a puddle and mostly used water from the air even though using the rocks on the forest floor would be easier. The thing had to be getting extra strength from the mist.

Quickly Ezra shoved outward with his shield knocking away the ice spikes and hitting the reflection. Quickly he summoned as much wind and air as possible charging them between his hands so it was like a small twister.

Then he released it. The strength of wind blew away all the mist and even most of the dew on various plants.

Ezra glared as the reflection stood again though it looked kinda battered. Maybe he could do this, he would overpower himself if he had to. There was a creature depending on him for help and he wouldn’t let them down.

The monster staggered and Ezra quickly used a stone to cut through it’s head. Had he stabbed it anywhere else the death would have been long and painful. Even though it caused harm and would most likely continue to, Ezra couldn’t, no he wouldn’t leave something to die a slow painful death.

Ezra watched as the magic and body dissipated, the water seeping back into the ground. After he was completely sure that the reflection had been destroyed, Ezra turned and hurried over to the rabbit. The poor thing was out cold so he picked it up and started to lightly jog back to his training clearing. It apparently wasn’t monster proof but definitely monster resistance.

After a moment of indecision Ezra kicked open his folded sleeping bag and gently laid down the rabbit. Quickly he pulled out some of his bandages, before he applied them to the injured creature he noted that this was the only roll of bandage he had left.

Looking at the cut down the rabbit’s leg Ezra quickly started wrapping it tightly to stop the blood. He wasn’t trained in medicine, especially not animal medicine. Taking a deep breath Ezra sat back against the large boulder, using it like he had many times in the past.

Closing his eyes the young magican decided to doze for a bit, he would do what he could for the rabbit if it was still there when he woke up. There was a chance the small creature would leave as soon as it was awake. Besides the adrenaline from the fight was starting to fade and he could barely keep his eyes open.

As he was starting to fully doze Ezra felt a small weight crawl into his lap. Slowly he opened his eyes hoping nothing was about to kill him, he used all his energy already. Instead what he woke up to was a pair of brilliant violet eyes staring into his soul. Blinking a few times he realized those eyes belonged to the rabbit he saved.

‘Thank you human. What is your name?’ a feminine voice said from nowhere. Ezra jumped and looked around. Maybe he was dreaming and had fallen more asleep than he thought. There was an ethereal chuckle before the voice was back again.

‘You are not asleep child, however I wish to thank you.’ Once again Ezra couldn’t find the person responsible for speaking. The only other living thing in the clearing was the rabbit still sitting on his lap.

“Who said that?” Ezra asked, supsiously eyeing the rabbit still staring at him. Long graceful ears flicked back and forth, without thinking Ezra started to pet soft fur only slightly remembering that this was an animal that probably wouldn’t want to be touched.

‘That was me human,’ the voice started once again, ‘My name is Mana. the creature you saved me from was called a reflected shadow. It is brought forth from someone’s anger, hate, fear, and arrogance. It takes the form of a person with those emotions covering their heart. Then it won’t stop until it is either killed by the person, or whoever they are imitating is dead.’

Hazel eyes blew open wide as Ezra realised the speaker was the rabbit. Which shouldn’t be possible. However what the creature was saying made sense, more or less. After all the monster appeared as he started to listen to the teachings of the MC. When he was having his darkest thoughts.

‘Most lose to this creature for one crucial reason.’ the rabbit continued speaking seemingly unaware of the thoughts in the young adult’s head. ‘The creature gains power with everything dark emotion. Had you left me to be killed or ran during the fight the monster would have killed me before continuing to hunt you.’

Though every word that Mana spoke made sense, Ezra still didn’t understand what was happening. The rabbit he had saved was speaking to him, kinda. It was communicating with him but wasn’t using actual words. Finally after the rabbit paused and a moment of failing to speak Ezra finally managed to get words out.

“Okay so that makes sense, but how are you talking to me? And why?” Ezra hated how out of his depths he sounded. He had been trained better than this. Still he couldn’t keep the confusion from his voice or the worry from his eyes as he waited for an answer.

‘I am talking to you through telepathy,’ Mana said simply as she cocked her head and continued, ‘As for why it is because you saved me. If a person saves a magical creature’s life a connection is formed. The animal can use this to communicate with the human, this can be permanent or temporary. In some cases the animal will thank the person then leave and the connection will be broken.’

Ezra looked at her in confusion, this wasn’t something that he was ever taught. Though it sounded vaguely familiar. He was glad as she continued explaining what was happening.

‘For it to be permanent the pair have to bond their souls. It is this that makes the connetion stable. To do this both parties have to agree. This will cause a few changes in both parties. The animal will change colors. The person will experience more changes including a change in eye color, an increase of a sense and quicker reflexes.’

Mana finished her explanation and waited for a response. Ezra had finally figured out why it sounded familiar, she was talking about animal guides. They were rather rare but still happened occasionally. Everything she said reflected what the humans knew but more in depth.

Still she was possibly talking about them becoming soul partners. Which would be amazing, but she might just be answering a question. She hadn’t exactly asked him but maybe it was expected that the people ask not the animal.

After a minute of contemplating Ezra finally decides to ask. “Would you be willing to bond with me?” Ezra could feel his body crying out in pain and exhaustion regardless of what she answered, he would still probably pass out.

‘Yes, I would enjoy being your guide in this world. You have proven yourself better than most by fighting a stronger version of yourself to save another’s life. It would do you well to have a companion who cares about you.’ Ezra could feel Mana’s fondness as she spoke, even while he was falling closer and closer to sleep.

‘Sleep well little one.’ Before his eyes fell shut completely Ezra could see a golden light and felt all of his pain disappear. ‘I will protect you while you sleep.’