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Magical Lovers

Chapter 1:
Hamani crouched down low, breathing hard. He had been running for three hours straight from the slave traders. Run, Hamani! His mother had screamed before they dragged her off to the stand to be sold. He had fled after biting the owner’s hand and breaking free. Now, they were looking for him to be broken and sold again. Hamani wiped his eyes with a dirty hand and blinked back tears that threatened to fall. He missed his mother and he missed his father who had been killed when their village was raided. Hamani was celebrating his seventh birthday when their village was showered with arrows. Hamani held his breath suddenly, hearing voices of the slave traders and their henchmen nearby. “He can’t have gotten far!” the slave trader snapped. “But sir, he’s nowhere to be found!” a henchman argued. “Then send the hounds after him!” he screamed. Hamani winced and covered his mouth. He was terrified. He didn’t want to be attacked by dogs. Mommy… I’m scared… he trembled. The men debated, arguing with one another. Hamani turned and fled, ignoring the branches slapping at his arms. “There he is!” someone shouted. Hamani ran faster, tears blurring his vision. “I’m going to kill that runt when I get my hands on him!” the slave trader snarled. “Help me!” Hamani screamed at the top of his lungs, stumbling down a precipice. “Where did he go?!” the slave trader shouted. “Down there!” a henchman pointed to Hamani’s unconscious form. They made their way to Hamani slowly. The slave trader kicked Hamani’s back. Hamani coughed, curling up. “Goddamn runt! How dare you bite me you slave!?” he shouted and grabbed his whip then swung it at Hamani’s unconscious form. A hand shot out and grabbed the whip, pulling it towards them. The slave owner released the whip. “Who dares?!” he shouted. A young man in his late teens glared at them. He had dark blond hair and ocean blue eyes. He towered at 5”11 and wore a traveling cloak, the color of blood. An insignia was sewed into the back; a phoenix emblazoned with red tears encircling it. “I dare,” he said calmly. The slave owner frowned at him. “Get him!” he shouted. His henchmen stepped back, recognizing the emblem for what it was. “I said get him!” the slave owner shouted louder. “Run!” one of the henchman shouted and took off running. The rest followed. The slave owner snarled and took off after them. “Why are you dolts running?!” he screamed. “That was a prefect from the Order of the Phoenix!” one of the henchmen shouted and ran faster. Back to Hamani, he was still unconscious. The prefect picked him up carefully and walked away with him.
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Chapter 2:
Hamani woke up a few hours later to find salve and all sorts of bandages on him. His clothes were nowhere to be found and he was lying on a cloak, covered by folds of it. It smelled of herbs that had been crushed and placed on his wounds. A campfire was glowing brightly with a pot over it. Something delicious was coming from the pot. “Where… Am I…?” he asked aloud. “You shouldn’t be up,” a soft voice said, coming from a man who was emerging from the woods. “Who are you?!” Hamani shouted, scrambling to get to his feet. The man was right by him in moments, gently taking a hold of his shoulder and settling him down. “Calm down… I saved you from your pursuers,” he explained. “Oh…” Hamani smiled a bit. “Thank you, mister…?” “My name is Kaisen,” he replied, smiling. “Oh! Well, thank you then mister Kaisen!” Hamani exclaimed. Kaisen smiled and looked at Hamani. Hamani was around 4”3 with muddy brown eyes and tousled hair. He had a light tan to his body. He also had a cute boyish look to him. “You are welcomed…?” it was Kaisen’s turn to inquire. “Hamani!” Hamani answered. “Hamani? I see. It’s a very cute name,” Kaisen said. Hamani blushed and looked down at his hands. “Thank you…” he said. Kaisen handed him a cup full of mixed herbal tea. “Here you go. This will strengthen your body,” he explained. Hamani looked at him curiously. “Why do you know so much about this?” he asked. “I come from an order called the Order of the Phoenix. We study herbs, magic and more things,” Kaisen replied. “Magic?” Hamani asked. Kaisen smiled. “I know. It sounds incredulous and such, but my order studies many things like this,” he explained. “We also investigate ghosts and the paranormal.” “Paranormal…? What is that?” Hamani asked. “Its things not mundane and of this world,” Kaisen replied, sipping his tea. Hamani sniffed his tea, then took a gulp. He tried not to make a face. “Um…” he said. “Bitter?” Kaisen asked, smiling mirthfully. Hamani nodded. “Tea is bitter, but it strengthens your body,” Kaisen said. He stood up and walked over to the fire, holding his palm a few inches away from the fire. “Phyra,” he whispered and the flames shot up, sparking wildly. Hamani was amazed. “How did you do that?!” he asked excitedly, scrambling to get up. Kaisen held his hand out for Hamani to stay. “Don’t move around. You need to rest,” he said. “I want to learn that too,” Hamani declared. “Its not just something you can do,” Kaisen explained. “You have to be born with the ability.” “Born? But how do you know what determines those factors?” Hamani asked. “Well… I was born with the ability to control fire… I had my teacher tell me that,” Kaisen replied. “Then, can your teacher tell me what I was born with!?” he asked, more excited than ever. “Well, you have to get into the Order first,” Kaisen said stood up. He walked over to Hamani again and kneeled down beside him. “But first things first. Where are you from?” Hamani looked at Kaisen then he lowered his eyes sadly. “My parents were farmers of the region in the southern Liore regions… We were ransacked and raided by bandits that sold us off to slave traders... My father was killed though and my mom was sold off to slavery…” he bit his bottom lip, trying to fight the tears. Surprisingly, Kaisen spoke up. “My parents sold me and my sisters off to slavery. We were separated after the first day. The person who bought me was a member from the Order, seeking a young acolyte.” Hamani looked at Kaisen who was staring off into the embers he had tamed. Hamani couldn’t imagine his parents selling him off. His beautiful and sweet mother, Bertha and strong yet gentle father, Priam would never leave him alone. Kaisen continued. “My master found me able to wield the power of fire, so he had me taken under his wing. I am his fifth apprentice,” he said. “I’m sorry to hear that your parents sold you off,” Hamani gushed. Kaisen smiled a bit. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. Kaisen looked at Hamani. “So, where are you headed off to now?” he asked. “To your Order,” Hamani replied. “To learn magic?” he asked. Hamani nodded. “I wish you luck then. I’ll take you to my order,” he smiled. “Really?!” Hamani asked. Kaisen nodded. “Yes. I believe you still owe me for my help,” Kaisen smiled. Hamani laughed. “True! And when I learn magic, I’ll return the favor back to you!” he exclaimed. “Good,” Kaisen said. “For now, who’s hungry?”
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