Blue Mage Quest Collection: 4 Tales of Fantasy Romance Adventure (Blue Mage Series)

by Eden Redd

  Professor Hart made several hands signals, his mana flaring to life. All stone in the area stopped moving. The moth man let go of the wall and dived down to his mistress. Arms taking hold of her, he lifted her up and jumped into the sky away from the shadow of the crumbling wall.

  Professor Hart whispered an arcane word. The falling walls all changed direction, falling the opposite way. The crashing and rumbling shook the area before it settled down. The moth man floated down and gently let his mistress’ booted feet touch the ground.

  “Is everyone okay?” asked the professor.

  “I’m fine. Thank you.” The Lord Mayor dusted himself off.

  “We are fine.” Vanessa said, her eyes looking up to her familiar’s glowing eyes.

  “We should leave before anything else shakes loose.” Professor Hart said as he surveyed the area.

  Everyone nodded in agreement and began walking with a bit of haste in their step.

  An hour later, Vanessa found herself wandering the streets. She had said her goodbyes to Professor Hart and the Lord Mayor as they headed to a bar to discuss plans. The dead woman thought to go home but the emptiness of being there would only make her gloom thicker. She disliked that she was given a house on campus. The Headmaster and Headmistress said it was for her benefit so she may have time to adjust. Vanessa knew the real reason was to have a place to keep an eye on her and separate her from the other students. Not that any would room with her if she was in a dormitory. Before the giant slime attack, students went out of their way to avoid her. She tried to let it roll off her shoulders but the sting was still there, boring into her dead heart.

  Street lamps lit up the cobbled streets. The dead woman continued to walk and thoughts floated to Professor Hart. Her heart beating in her chest, she still felt butterflies in her stomach when he was around. She remembered their times together. How they talked all night and made love for hours on end. It was a magical time, but with the pleasant memories came the painful ones. Vanessa stared at the sidewalk as she walked along. Foolish and sad memories crept into her undead mind. She had hung herself because if she couldn’t have him then she didn’t want anyone else. How her heart beat only for him. A sad smirk appeared on Vanessa’s black lips. Even dead, her heart seemed to still beat for him.

  Looking up, stars twinkled in the vastness of night. The undead woman’s shoulders sagged and she turned to walk home. She had no other place to go and she had a full day tomorrow of helping with the reconstruction. When she reached campus, mist rolled off her shoulder blade. Castor appeared and walked alongside his mistress. Hand reaching out, he took her hand into his as they strolled.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been a good mistress to you.” Vanessa said without looking at him.

  The moth man squeezed her hand a little.

  Vanessa looked up to her familiar. Glowing red eyes looked down with an understanding kindness. Unspoken thoughts passed between them and Vanessa felt her gloom grow thicker.

  “I know you’re hungry. We can try again.” Vanessa said in a low tone.

  The familiar continued to hold her hand as they reached their home. The house was a single floor home. A small grassy lawn covered each side of the stone path to the front door. Vanessa and her familiar walked to the door, opened it and stepped inside.

  Closing the door behind her, Vanessa looked to her familiar. “You were so brave.”

  The moth man smiled. Vanessa thought he was incredibly handsome even with the glowing red eyes. His face looked like a man’s face with a strong chin and noble nose. Eyes were a bit roundish but she found them cute. A loincloth was the only bit of clothing he wore.

  Anxiety crawled along the dead woman’s nerves. She hated how she felt. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with him. It was more that she didn’t want to be with anyone. The depression wormed its way deeper into her heart, making the simple things, like feeding her familiar all that much harder.

  Castor took his mistress’ hand and pulled her to the living room. Gently sitting her down, he stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Vanessa leaned her head back into the comfortable couch, eyes staring at the ceiling. Trying to push away how she felt and focus on her familiar, she let out a long sigh. Pale fingers moved to her boots and she pulled one off.

  The moth man walked back into the room, flexing his wings and carrying a full wine glass in each hand. Vanessa gave him a small smile, taking a wine glass in her hand.

  “You are a wise one.” Vanessa tried to keep it light.

  Castor smiled and kneeled before his mistress. They toasted and took a sip. Vanessa could taste the mana infused wine as it flowed over her tongue and down her throat. The dead mistress watched her familiar drink his wine. She knew the wine was only a drop in the bucket and would barely satisfy him. Mages and their familiars fed through connection. He was so weak that if she cast a few spells, he would return to her skin unconscious, unable to reform until he leeched enough mana from her to come back. She could eat to feed him passively but there was no hunger or thirst driving her. The world had become gray as she slipped further into the gloom.

  Castor put down his wine glass on the coffee table. Standing up, long fingers touched Vanessa’s shoulders. The undead woman turned in her seat. The moth man sat next to her, hands caressing her shoulders. The familiar’s warm hands helped ease her dead muscles.

  Vanessa tried to relax but anxiety to feed her familiar was overwhelming. Her hand reached up and stopped his. “We should try another time.” She whispered.

  Castor pulled his hands back. Vanessa didn’t look at him but knew he was disappointed. The moth man turned to mist and returned to her skin. The dead woman drank from her glass of wine, sitting back and staring at Castor’s wine glass on the table. Feeling terrible, she finished her glass in hopes it would help to feed him a little. This was turning into a crisis. She had to do something or her familiar would continue to starve.

  Thoughts flowed to the ink witch, Gwen. Vanessa picked up Castor’s wine glass and sipped it. Silently she decided she had to see the witch tomorrow. It was her last chance to figure out what she needed to do to help keep her familiar happy. Drinking down the second glass, Vanessa stared at the coffee table, thoughts turning to her life and the thickening gloom.

  Two

  The door chimed as Vanessa walked into the Ink Witch shop. The undead woman noticed the place hadn’t fully recovered from the slime attack. The main counter had a large crack in it. The glass window to the shop was cracked and a few shards lay scattered on the floor. Dust covered the shelves and some books lay on the floor. From behind a beaded curtain, Gwen stepped out, her witch hat in her hand and a lost look in her eyes.

  “Gwen?” Vanessa said as she stepped forward.

  “Morning Vanessa, how can I help you today?” The witch said automatically as if rehearsed.

  “I wanted to see you today but……are you okay?”

  Gwen closed her eyes as if to regain her true self. Opening them, she looked to the pale dead woman. “I’m sorry. As you can see, the shop is still recovering. How can I help you?”

  Vanessa could see the lost confusion in the witch’s eyes. “Do you need some company?”

  Gwen let out a long exhale. “That sounds nice. I’ll make some tea.”

  A short time later, Gwen came out with a tray carrying a teakettle and two teacups. Setting down at a small table, both women pulled up chairs and sat down. Vanessa was silent as she observed the ink witch. Hands moved robotically, pouring tea into each cup. Gwen put a lump of sugar in her cup and offered the dead woman.

  “Please.” Vanessa said softly.

  The two women sat and sipped their tea. Vanessa eyed the witch. Gwen sipped her tea but stared off at nothing. The silence was deafening and Vanessa needed to say something.

  “It seems we are all recovering from the slime attack.” Vanessa took another sip.

  Gwen blinked and her eyes focused. Looking to Vanessa, she put her teacup down. “I’m sorry I’m
so scattered right now. The recent events have made me question a lot of things.”

  Vanessa nodded, knowing how she felt.

  Gwen continued. “Have you ever questioned what your heart wanted, even if it may be the wrong choice?”

  “There is a lot of that going on. That is why I’m here.”

  Gwen’s eyes widened a little. “I’m so sorry. Here I am talking about matters of the heart when I should be helping you.”

  Vanessa gave a small sad smile. “It’s okay. I just needed to talk about a problem I have encountered with my familiar. It can wait if you want to talk about your heart.”

  Gwen shook her head. “Perhaps later, but now, I would be more than happy to help with your familiar. What seems to be the problem?”

  Vanessa let her story unfold. She informed Gwen of the lack of feedings and her being unable to get into the mood. How Castor has been patient but he was getting weaker and weaker. Gwen listened to every word, eyes and ears locked on Vanessa. The dead woman’s eyes glistened as she spoke. When she finished, Gwen reached over and took hold of her hands.

  “What you are experiencing is normal. Even mages with long relationships with their familiars can fall into this pit. But like any relationship, you must work through it for both of your sakes.”

  Vanessa nodded with wet eyes.

  Gwen continued. “May I ask a few questions?”

  “Please.” Vanessa said as her eyes dried.

  “When was the last time you were intimate?”

  Vanessa’s eyes peered down to her teacup. “Once with Castor, a few months ago. Before that, I was still alive.”

  “When you were with Castor, how did it feel?”

  “Forced, there wasn’t a lack of trying from Castor. I’m afraid I was the one who couldn’t get into it.”

  Gwen squeezed the dead woman’s hands. “You are a special circumstance but it is not unheard of. Even the undead can produce mana but it is slower and less powerful then living mana. If you do not supplement with raw meat and mana infused drinks, then you will fall into deep sleep. The dead can sleep for years before waking again. We inked Castor into your skin because his kind can do the same.”

  “I lost one familiar when I died. I don’t want to lose Castor as well.”

  “You won’t but as long as you are up and living your life as it were, he will need to feed. If you fall into a deep sleep, he will as well.”

  “I can’t fall into a deep sleep. I still have to right all the wrongs I committed. What should I do?”

  Gwen gave a small cheery smile. “What are you most passionate about?”

  Vanessa’s mind immediately went to Fredrick Hart. She tried to push the thought of him away but memories came flooding back. Images of the two of them fencing, practicing magic together, sharing their bodies, and endless discussions rolled through her mind’s eye. Never had she felt so alive when they experienced life as one being.

  Gwen let go of the dead woman’s hands and sat back in her chair. “Do you remember how I boosted your mana with mine during the giant slime attack?”

  Vanessa was silent. It was an odd and terrifying experience. She remembered how she sucked in Gwen’s powerful life force into her own. The energy blazed so hot that the dead woman could feel life reach out and touch her.

  “You nearly killed me.” Gwen said with an even tone.

  “I……” Vanessa trailed off.

  “I hold no grudge. We were in a difficult situation. Thankfully, I was able to hold onto my life force until the battle was won. But do you remember how it felt?”

  “I do. It felt like I was alive again for a few moments.”

  Gwen nodded. “A few moments of life can make a soul shine brighter then the sun, even a broken soul like yours. Find something that quickens your heart. Follow your passions and allow yourself to feel alive again.”

  “What if…..” Vanessa’s head tilted forward, shadows covering her eyes.

  Gwen smiled. “The only people you will fail are yourself and your handsome familiar. Castor’s race is a rare one here on Lurth, his essence and ink even rarer. I inked him into your skin because I knew you would be an excellent mistress for him. Find your passions and you will both feel life again.”

  Vanessa looked to the ink witch. “Thank you Gwen. Thank you for the advice. I will do my best to find my passion again.”

  The dead woman hesitated before speaking again. “I’m sorry for nearly killing you.”

  “Don’t be. We shared a moment and came out of it stronger.” The witch winked.

  Both women smiled and went back to drinking their tea. Vanessa’s eyes wandered to Gwen and something sparked. An image floated into her mind as the witch stared at nothing once again.

  “You are worried about Trystan, how you feel about him.” Vanessa said in a low voice. “I don’t mean to pry but I can see him in your mind.”

  Gwen nodded slightly to the dead woman, unsurprised. “We might have some residual connection. It will fade with a little time but yes, I have been thinking about him.”

  “I could see through the eyes of the dead as they evacuated the city. I watched as he bravely fought the slimes. Even from a distance, I could feel his heart shine.”

  Gwen tipped her head, the rim of her hat covering her eyes. “Can you keep this between us?”

  Vanessa nodded.

  Gwen continued. “He and I shared a moment. I was there to teach him and help him but my heart…..couldn’t say no.”

  Vanessa thought of Professor Hart. “I know what you mean. The heart wants what it wants.”

  “Now I may lose him.” Gwen fought the tremble in her lip.

  “Have you talked to him? Told him how you feel?”

  “No, not yet. I can’t decide if I should.”

  “I’m the last person to have any useful advice about relationships but I think you should talk to him.”

  Gwen lifted her head. “I know I should. Maybe I just needed to hear it said aloud. Thank you Vanessa.”

  The undead woman gave a small smile. The witch and the dead woman continued into polite conversation. Vanessa’s mind kept calling up images of Professor Hart and warmth filled her broken soul. She remembered how they agreed that they would be strictly professional but Vanessa couldn’t let it go. Speaking with Gwen only seemed to enforce what her heart already desired. The undead woman sipped her tea, pondering on how she could win back her old flame.

  Three

  The sky grew gray and threatening. Vanessa hurried along back to her house. When it was in sight, the heavens could not contain themselves any longer. Sheets of rain fell from the sky. The undead woman moaned her annoyance as she went from nearly running to walking. She was already drenched and saw no point in running any faster. Sad eyes looked down as she walked the rest of the way in the falling rain.

  At her doorstep, she opened the door and walked in. Water dripped down from her hair and black dress. The wooden floor had pools of water as the undead woman moved to a nearby closet and pulled out a towel. Vanessa was about to undress when she heard a knock at the door.

  Moving to the front door, she opened it. A warm smile greeted her. Fredrick Hart stood in the rain, completely dry. Vanessa tried to see how he was doing it. The water seemed to curve away from his body, as if it didn’t want to ruin his day. The undead woman stood uncomfortably as water continued to run down her face and clothes.

  “Afternoon Vanessa, I hope I’m not being rude. I wanted to stop by and see how you were doing.”

  Vanessa’s face remained dour as she beckoned him in from the rain with her hand. Professor Hart stepped in with dry boots. The undead woman frantically began drying her hair, stepping away to the bathroom.

  “Have a seat. I just need to dry off.” The she said as she ran off.

  Inside the bathroom, Vanessa felt her heart beat again as she tried to dry and fix her hair. Remembering Gwen’s words, she tried everything she could to fix herself up. The lacey dress was a little damp and her w
et hair curled down the sides her face as if someone dumped a bucket of water on her head. After a few long moments, she had dried herself off as best as she could and stepped out of the bathroom.

  Walking around a corner, she spotted two wine glasses on the living room coffee table and a bottle of Crimson Valley wine. Heart fluttering to memories of the two of them drinking that particular brand of wine and staying up all night. She couldn’t count the times they would finish a bottle or three and end up in bed, bodies entwined. Those nights carried a burning warmth that even her cold skin could not forget. Frederick stood, looking at her library of books with his back to her. The air held electricity and the undead woman could not help but smirk.

  Professor Hart turned around with a kindness in his eyes. “I took the liberty of bringing some wine on this rainy afternoon. I thought we should talk. Sit with me.”

  Vanessa felt her back stiffen as she sat. Professor Hart sat on the couch, picking up the open wine bottle and pouring into each glass. Professor and student each picked up a glass and had a sip.

  “I have been thinking about you.” Professor Hart said with a warm edge.

  “I’m not going to hang myself again.” Vanessa said with a small frown.

  Professor Hart looked to the raven-haired Vanessa. “I see your sense of humor is still pretty much alive and kicking.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me. I had a long talk with Gwen and she gave me some good advice. I just need some time so I can help feed Castor.”

  Professor Hart nodded. “Good to hear, but I wanted to see you and spend some time together.”

  Vanessa eyed her professor. “Is that a good idea? I mean with our past…..” The undead woman wanted nothing more than to force him down on her body. Keeping her face neutral, she took another sip of wine.