What the fuck just happened?

He winced and turned around, wondering how long he had been running. He shuddered as he remembered that feeling.

He shrugged, and looked at the ground. A look of intense concentration crossed his face, then he was in the air, flying back to his guild.

Half an hour of flying later, he was back in his room. His brother was looking at him with a worried expression.

“What?” he found himself asking.

“What do you mean, ‘What?’, two hours ago you just up and ran, looking like the fucking devil was chasing you! Scared the shit out of me, you know that!?” Kiere said.

For all I knew, it certainly felt like the devil was chasing me!

He shrugged.

“I have no idea what happened. One moment I was practicing my….” His eyes widened.” –My wand! Where is it!?”

Kiere scratched his head.

“It’s on your desk in the Library. It’s in two pieces though.”

“No! Goddamn it, that wand took me three months to make!”

Kiere gave him a self-satisfied grin.

“Serves you right, for scaring the shit out of me. We thought you’d went and summoned something again.”

“That was an accident, and I was seven years old! Speaking of which though, that feeling… it did- oh shit oh shit oh shit it is the fucking devil! We need to tell everybody fast and…. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“A devil would have destroyed a kingdom by now.”

The wind went out of his sails.

“Oh. But I swear it felt like it. I remember that feeling very vividly.”

“Even if someone had summoned a demon, why would you be the only person to feel it?”

“Maybe… because I summoned a demon before?” He didn’t sound very certain.

His brother raised an eyebrow.

“Akalis, Movare, Ferron, and plenty of elders have summoned demons. I’m sure they would have felt it too, if what you’re saying is true, and if it is true, everything would probably be going to shit now.”

Sirien slumped back into his chair.

“But that feeling… it made me feel like something was after me, and when it found me… “ He shuddered.

His brother got up and gave him a pat on his shoulders.

“Or maybe you’ve been working too hard. I admire your dedication, Sirien, we all do, but you need to take a break time to time. Or else all sorts of things could happen.”

Sirien half-heartedly nodded, his thoughts somewhere else.

“Well, goodnight, sleep well, because seriously, you need it.” His brother said, now standing by the door way.

He was about to nod when he swore he saw… something staring at both his brother and him, with malice. But before he could figure out more, it disappeared, leaving him looking over his brother’s shoulder, his face pale.

His brother, noticing his gaze, turned around to find nothing there.

He turned back to his brother with concern written all over his face.

“You know what? First thing tomorrow we’re gonna find you a girlfriend. Maybe you might be relieved from stress a little, and finally get out of your cocoon.”

His eyes widened, but before he could protest, his brother was already gone.

Some not so nice words filled the air.

Just as he was about to go to sleep, he could help but remember that… thing, but finally dismissed it and fell into sleep.

The eyes of a mage in a painting turned towards Sirien. He shuddered once more, but did not wake up. The mage’s lips turned upwards into a sadistic, horrifying grin.

***

End of chapter 9