Finally Bonding

Ezra sighed and looked around the mountain while petting his guide. Mana's pink fur was ridiculously soft, it was incredibly soothing. Which was needed as the teen across from him was glaring daggers. For some reason the kid completely despised him. Ezra had been tasked with mentoring Triston by that stupid magic council. The kid had good magical potential but would refuse to do anything Ezra asked him to do.

It didn't help that Triston was only sixteen. Most people who get selected for magic aren't tested until they're eighteen. Ezra had also shown a 'gift' for magic at sixteen, this fact didn't make it any easier to deal with a teenager that hates his guts, and won't hold an actual conversation.

“Ugh. I’m soooo bored.” Ezra sighed again as the sixteen-year-old complained. About the same thing. AGAIN. Trying not to snap with irritation, Ezra responded with a mostly level voice.

“We could be doing something but you refuse to do any of the exercises I suggest.” Ezra was ridiculously tired of doing this. Instead of piloting the planes he loved or actually training to improve himself, he was stuck on a mountain with a teen that hated him.

“You know we could climb down this stupid mountain.” Triston had been trying to leave since they arrived at the bottom. “It's too misty right now.” Ezra replied as he looked up at the sun. It’s position told him it was probably around noonish. Their phones had lost signal like they always did when the mist rolled in. They were stuck up here until the mist cleared due to the creatures hiding in he mist.

Deciding he was done sitting there Ezra stood up and started going through his stretching positions. “What are you doing?” came the judgemental voice from behind. The teenager was constantly hassling his mentor on anything and everything. Thankfully Ezra was mostly immune due to a truck load of bullying he received as a kid. He had been trying for the past several weeks to bond with the kid but nothing worked. So he was gonna stop trying.

“What aren’t you gonna try and get me to join you?” Even though Ezra couldn’t see him, the sneer was audible. He replied simply, “No.” there was quiet for a moment before his mentee spoke again.

“What do you mean?” There was something about the kid's voice that almost had Ezra checking back on him, instead the 26-year-old finished with his stretches. besides Ezra was probably just imagening it

Finally Ezra turned around, his long black hair that was kept up in a bun was starting to fall down. He reached up and started to put it back up. “You have the potential to be very powerful, and I would love to be able to help you. However you don’t want to try, so neither will I. There is no use in me trying to teach if you refuse to learn.”

There was a pause after his mini speech. He had been debating what to do just a few days before when he consulted his guide. Mana had looked at him with her beautiful violet eyes and gave him her advice. “Your not going to get anywhere if he doesn’t want to. Bring him to the mountain where we met, try again. If he still doesn't want to, tell him that he will no longer be your apprentice.”

It had been good advice that he had taken mostly, though he was going to deliver the news much kinder than she would have. “When we leave the mountain you are free to go back to school and give up the chance to learn magic.” Triston stood up and crossed his arms.

“You know what! I’m not waiting to get off this stupid mountain, I quit!” the teen’s vivid green eyes seemed to shine as he shouted. As Ezra was trying to tell him both not to yell and not to leave, but, as was common the teen ignored his mentor and hiked into the woods.

“Oh Hurensohn,” Ezra cursed going back to his second language. “Mana, come on we have a rouge teen to protect.” The pink bunny was fast and quickly landed in the side satchel that was perfectly set up for her, Ezra spent minimal time adjusting the satchel so she wouldn't be jostled.

Starting to lightly jog, Ezra was really hoping that Tristen would get scared and come back because chasing him through a forest full of dangerous creatures including one that could take your form and powers wouldn't be fun. It had been a long time since that fight with the monster but the 26-year-old could still clearly remember it.

Unfortunately, a second later a roar was heard through the woods. Without another thought the bunny and man duo ran faster through the woods. A roar in these woods has always been a bad thing.

After a minute or two of sprinting Ezra came upon a scene he was more or less expecting. A massive bear-like creature was swinging its paws at Triston who was crouching in front of some creature, brandishing a stick like that would do something. Without waiting Ezra was shouting out instructions to Mana and running forward to intercept the bear.

“Mana protect and heal.” Was the only thing he needed to say before she knew exactly what he wanted her to do. Not many people had a guide and they assumed the animals were stupid. However, Mana and Ezra had formed a strong bond and understood each other deeper than anyone else could ever imagine.

Without looking over his shoulder at his guide and mentee Ezra summoned a shield of light and slammed into the bear. Shaking with anger the bear turned and roared at what had attacked it. Ezra didn’t falter and immediately launched balls of ice at the bear using the mist in the air to freeze the water quickly.

After a few hits the bear fled after all, prey that could fight back wasn’t as appetizing. It was at times like this that Ezra was glad he was so familiar with using the situation to his advantage.

After checking to make sure the bear was truly gone and that there were no other threats around Ezra turned to see his guide huddled next to an injured ferret. She was glowing the gold color of her healing magic. Hovering above them with worry on his face was Triston.

When he walked over, the teen looked up and Ezra noticed how young he looked. Most people started training at eighteen, not sixteen. It had been ten years since Ezra had been 16 but he still remembered the struggle of having a terrible mentor after being different and having the 'gift' of magic at such a young age. Seeing his face Ezra knows that Triston doesn’t just have a gift in magic that needs nurturing but also a soul of kindness that just needs some support.

“Do you think it will be okay?” he asked as Mana stopped glowing. Neither was moving but that was usual. Considering how long it took, the ferret was probably badly injured. The healing magic exhausted both Mana and the subject of her healing.

Stooping down to pick up the bunny Ezra spoke to the teen. “Yeah, they will be fine. Mana doesn’t heal if they won’t survive. You’ll need to carry it though. Healing is tiring for both parties.”

As he was turning away Ezra saw out of the corner of his eye the teenager carefully picking up the ferret he saved. Neither said anything until the were both sitting in the safety of the enchanted clearing and any injuries were bandaged.

“You’ll have to wait until it wakes up but that ferret might want to become your guide. You can keep it even after we announce your leaving magic.” Ezra said with a sigh. He looked up at the sun and saw that it was almost time for the mist to be clearing.

In the quiet, a small voice cut through. “Do I have to leave?” Ezra smiled gently as he looked up at the the kid. His green eyes were down on the ground and he was biting his bottom lip. The kid's curly hair was laying plastered to his forehead from running through the mist, his sweatshirt was tied around his was so all he had was a light t-shirt covering his bandaged side.

Ezra smiled as he pet Mana’s ears. He responded quickly so the kid wouldn't get anxious.

“Of course not. I’m happy to teach if you want to learn.” When Triston smiled widely, Ezra knew he would do anything for this kid.