An Adventurer's Story Ch. 01

"No, I will be fine. I am staying with you." Lea says, as she leans away from Sia.

Sia turns and starts to walk down the platform toward the stairs when Lea grabs her hand and walks with her turning her head slightly from the sight. Sia leads her down the stairs and through the lesser parts of the gore and to the rubble blocking the tunnel. The area around this tunnel entrance is clear of death and Lea relaxes slightly.

"I will start digging away some of this debris and see if I can't get to the tunnel." Sia says, still holding Lea's hand.

"I can help with that." She says.

"I would rather you keep an eye out for trouble. I don't know what could return while I do this." Sia explains.

"Am I to beautiful to help you clear rubble?" She asks with a smile, Sia smiles in reply. The two of them stand there for a moment silently holding hands.

"I should get started." Sia says noticing she is still holding Lea's hand. With a blush on her face she let's go, walks to the rubble pile and begins working.

Sia isn't concerned about enemies returning, she doesn't want Lea doing this work. She easily moves many of the large rocks and rolls a few quite bigger boulders out of the way. When Sia looks back at Lea she is always watching her work. Sia's mind isn't on the task at hand. Her hands are working but her mind is not paying attention.

"You sure are strong." Lea says watching Sia move a rock well over three hundred pounds. "You don't look like you should be able to move rocks like that. How are you so strong?"

"I am not sure. For as long as I can remember I have been strong." Sia answers. "Maybe once I find out who I am, more will be revealed."

"I have to admit I am curious about you." Lea says with a smile and then notices the odd rock Sia is about to pick up. "What is that?"

Sia looks at her and grabs the solid black chunk of stone. "What is what?"

Before Lea can answer, Sia learns what she was referring too. The stone chunk gets warm in her hand and a rune marking appear on the flattest side. The marking is red and unknown, it appears to glow against the black background. Sia tries to release the stone, but it remains attached to her left hand. She looks at Lea with a look of unease then the rune fades out and the stone turns to black magical energy and absorbs into Sia. Sia stands tall as her arms fall to her sides. Lea notices that Sia's eyes are pure white and she has no expression. Sia then falls backward into the rock pile, hitting her head hard. Lea rushes to her.

"Sia! Sia can you hear me?" Lea frantically calls, Sia's eyes still open and pure white. At this close-range Lea can see the outline of her irises, she also notices blood beneath Sia's head.

Lea quickly gets up and returns to the pool in the wizard's chamber. She frantically searches for something to carry water in and finds the bottle she drank the potion from. She quickly fills it up and returns to Sia. She doesn't try to force Sia to drink it, but instead kneels and pours it over her face. As she stands waiting for some reaction, she notices electricity spark between Sia's fingers and then another between her knees. Electricity begins coursing over her hands and quickly moves up her arms, her body also begins to generate the surge. When the electricity reaches the water, poured on her it ignites and Sia's head is enveloped in a blue flame. Lea immediately screams and panics having nothing to do to help. As she forces herself to look, she notices the fire is not harming Sia. With nothing else to do Lea sits down on a rock and waits. The fire burns out and after a few minutes the electricity stops coursing over Sia's body and she starts to move.

"Sia! Sia are you ok?" Lea rushes to her side.

"I think so, what happened?" Sia says blinking her eyes trying to get them to focus. "I remember that black stone dissolving into me and then nothing." Lea watches Sia's eyes return to their dark blue color.

Lea quickly and with excitement tells Sia what happened. Sia is speechless and just sits there trying to gather her thoughts. She stands and looks toward the rubble pile.

"Are you okay?" Lea asks.

"Yes, but my head feels a little cloudy. I better get to work." Sia answers.

Sia moves a few small rocks before rolling a massive stone from the entrance. After the stone is moved the tunnel is visible and can be entered. Sia spends a few more minutes clearing the way for Lea. She then removes a long sword from her bag and a gem for light. It is an agate gem pink in color. From one side the gem shines white light and the other it shines a pink hue.

"Will you carry the light?" Sia asks offering the gem to Lea, she takes the gem. Sia holds out her hand offering her to be led, Lea accepts.

Sia leads Lea by the hand through the tunnel, not much is said during the walk. When they reach the end of the tunnel Sia can see that it is an illusion. Lea is confused as she follows Sia to the wall. Before she can ask, Sia walks through the wall and the illusion is revealed to Lea. Exiting the tunnel, they find themselves on the edge of a cliff. The cliff isn't wide enough for them to walk side by side. There are only a few hours until dark, but they can still see a good distance. The storm that brought Sia to the cave to begin with has passed and the sky is clear. As they look out over the area below, there is forests, fields and two towns. One town is two days away and one is half a day.

"Does anything look familiar to you?" Sia asks still scanning the area.

"Yes, my home town is over there." Lea answers pointing around the hill they are on.

As they walk along the edge of the cliff, the path goes around and down the hill, Lea speaks up. "Are you going to hold my hand the whole way home?" She asks with a smirk, Sia releases her hand.

"Well, I don't know the condition of the path or how steady you are with heights. And if I fall, I am taking you with me." Sia laughs.

"Oh thanks! My hero!" Lea laughs back.

They only take a few steps before Lea grabs Sia's hand again. "I can't let you fall. You promised to get me home remember?" Lea smiles, Sia replies with a smile and a squeeze. "How are you feeling Sia?" She asks.

"Better, my head feels weird. I can't explain it, but it is as if I am seeing myself from a distance." Sia answers.

"Maybe you just need some rest." She replies.

"Don't worry about me, let's get you home safe." Sia answers.

They continue down the path for near an hour before reaching flat stable ground. They part hands and walk toward the hidden town. When they get close enough that they can see the town, Lea's heart sinks, she was hoping to see Sia in action. Sia is relieved to see the journey near its end, rest does sound good for her head. As they enter the town edge visibility is fleeting. The town is still except for a few people wandering around, one of which sees them and runs off deeper into town. When they reach the first home, they begin to hear voices and laughter. Soon a small crowd has gathered to greet them. Several voices call to Lea, rejoicing in her return. As the crowd swarms her Sia steps away and watches from a short distance. Sia hears some of their conversations. The town was aware of her kidnapping and by whom but had no idea how to find her. Sia spots what looks to be a small inn or tavern, a good place to start either way.

"Your father is worried sick you must go to him at once." A young female's voice commands.

"But wait. I. Where?" Lea stutters as she is pulled away.

Sia watches to see where the crowd goes and then goes to the establishment, she thinks is an inn. When she enters, she sees that it is both an inn and a tavern. There is a small room for dining and upstairs there are a few rooms. Sia approaches the counter that is tended by a human woman.

The woman has short red hair which just covers her ears, blue eyes and a cute face. Her body is thin, and her clothing is common with an apron over the front.

"Welcome! We have warm food, cold drinks and warm beds. How can I help you?" She smiles.

"This is a nice little place you have here." Sia says.

"Thank you! It is big enough for the business I get. The locals and the very few travelers." She replies.

"I am not very hungry. How much for a room?" Sia asks.

"Four silver a night." She answers. Sia reaches in her bag, removes the coins and hands them to her. "Up the stairs and first door you come to. Thank you!"

"Thank you!" Sia says and makes her way to her room.

Sia closes the door behind her and notices it has a lock, as do the windows that are closed and locked. With all her stuff in her bag she falls on the bed fully clothed. She starts to pray, thanking Lady Kayla for her success, but falls asleep quickly in the middle. She sleeps soundly all night and awakens refreshed in the morning.

As she lays in bed looking at the ceiling, she starts her prayer again and starts reliving the events of yesterday. Her mind opens to her and she feels stronger. She begins to make sense of some images she saw when she was dreaming. She holds her hands up before her and electricity begins coursing over them. She finds herself able to increase the strength of the charge as well as how far the electricity courses down her arm. She spreads her arms apart and discharges a small bolt from her right hand to her left. This startles her a little. Her stomach rumbles and her focus changes. She gets up from the bed and goes out of the room. As she is walking down the hallway, she can see people down below.

Lea is at the door and three men are standing in front of her. There is another man at the counter holding a short sword toward the tavern keeper. Two of the men in front of Lea are common size, but the leader of the group is much bigger. He stands a good four inches taller and close to twice the size of the other three. They are all wearing leather armor and have short swords sheathed at their sides.

"You spoke of a hero, but there aren't any heroes here." The large man laughs. "Maybe we kidnap you this time and see what happens." Lea is visibly scared as she is focused on her enemies.

"Give me a drink cutie and all your coin." The man at the counter demands. "And if you're good maybe we'll take you with us."

Sia makes her way down the stairs. Between the noise of them talking and laughing, Sia is undetected until she gets to the bottom of the stairs. As she rounds the stairs Lea sees her as does the tavern keeper. Neither one let on that they see her, and the thugs are oblivious. She walks up behind the man at the counter grabs his blade from him and before he can get any words out, she bashes him in the face with the butt of the hilt. The force of the attack snaps his neck and he falls dead. Sia drops his blade on his corps and approaches the remaining three. She grabs the leather on the back of the two smaller men and with ease moves them toward her. She then collides them into each other face first, their legs buckle, but Sia holds them up. She discharges a bolt from her right hand through the two thug's chests and into her left. When their bodies quit convulsing, she drops them to the ground, dead. The leader is now well aware of Sia.

"You..." He says as Sia starts the fight.

He swings a closed right hand at Sia, she knocks it away easily. He follows it with a left, she does the same. She draws back and punches with great force straight toward his chest. He tries to block it, but the force is to great. He stumbles backward, but Sia steps up for another hit. She swings across and catches him in the jaw, he falls to a knee. Sia doesn't relent and punches him in the face downward with a coursing fist of electricity. The snap of the electric spark is as loud as the snap of his neck as he falls to the ground dead.

"You killed them all." Lea says softly.

"I greatly overestimated them." Sia confesses. "I am sorry, but I wouldn't let them take you, or her, and they surely would have tried this again somewhere else."

"You don't need to apologize. They got what they deserved." Lea answers and the tavern keep agrees. "You had that electricity on you again, can you control it?"

"Yes." Sia answers as she raises her hand and the current flows over it.

"Who are you?" Lea asks softly.

"You must be the hero I have heard about." The keeper speaks up. "You have done us a service in both saving Lea and killing that wizard. Thank you!"

"Glad that I could help." Sia replies. "Lea, I should get going."

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave? You haven't eaten yet." Lea says.

"It's on me, for the both of you." The tavern keeper says happily. "Whatever you want."

"Thank you!" Sia replies, knowing if she refused it would hurt Lea's feelings. Sia motions Lea to a table and they sit down.

The tavern keep searches the thugs for any valuables and then calls the town guards to remove the bodies after a little explaining.

"I am sorry about last night I didn't mean to abandon you." Lea says.

"It's ok. You went through an ordeal and they were worried about you and very glad to see you back safe." Sia replies with a smile. "I watched where they lead you, I wouldn't have left without saying goodbye."

"I want to thank you for saving me, and my father agrees. After we eat you will come to our shop and get whatever you need." Lea says.

"I appreciate that Lea." Sia answers, but before she can continue, she is interrupted.

"What can I get you two? Anything at all." The keeper beams at them.

"If I may?" Lea looks to Sia, Sia nods. "We would like the venison steaks with bread and gravy and some of your fresh berry juice." Lea says looking at the keeper then turns to Sia. "They have the best food here. Everything is so fresh."

"Sounds good to me." Sia replies, the keeper smiles and leaves them.

"What will you do now?" Lea asks.

"I am not entirely sure. I will see where Lady Kayla leads me and go from there." Sia answers.

"Maybe she led you here for some reason." Lea smiles.

"For you." Sia replies, Lea's eyes get big and her face blushes. "But now that you are home it is time to move on." Sia misses the expression on Lea's face as she turns away.

This ends the conversation for the time as the food is brought out. Sia prays over the food for both and they eat, Lea has lost her appetite and picks at her food. Sia notices but waits to address.

"You are right this is the best food." Sia says finishing the last of her meal, Lea nods halfhearted still picking at her nearly full meal. "Maybe on the way to your shop you could show me around." Sia smiles at her. This cheers her a little as she looks up from her food. Sia reaches across the table and puts her hand on Lea's. "I am not in a rush to leave." Lea's face lights up.

"There isn't really a lot to see but we have some good shops and some really nice people I think you would like, and I know they would like to meet you." Lea is excited again and ready to go. Sia removes a platinum piece from her bag and places it under her plate.

"The meal was free Sia." Lea says watching her.

"I know, this is a tip for the service." Sia replies.

They leave the establishment and begin the tour. They see and talk to about seventy five percent of the town. Sia is treated like a hero and everyone is all smiles to see her and hear Lea tell the story again. Sia gets the feeling as though everyone thinks that they are a couple. Lea subtly makes comments and eyes Sia, but she is not presumptuous to that effect. They are enjoying themselves and this is the first time in a while Sia has felt a joy within her. Their next stop is Lea's shop.

"Now remember you can have anything in here you want." Lea says opening the door and leading the way, Sia cracks a smirk as she follows.

"Do you buy weapons that are in good condition?" Sia asks.

"We keep a small number of weapons in stock, but from you yes." Lea replies. "We will give you a great deal."

Sia begins wandering around the shop, not interested in anything, but looking for Lea's sake. The shop is actually very large and has a wide variety of items. There are two people running the shop one man at the counter and a young woman wandering the isles. As the woman starts to approach Sia, Lea interrupts her with a nod. Both attendants continue to watch them intently from a distance. The shop has several isles that are around five-foot-tall and the shelves around the walls are closer to six feet. The shop contains a variety of everything Sia could imagine, she has never seen such a selection. The stock ranges from clothes, books, paintings, gems, and even spices and rugs.

"See anything that interests you Sia?" Lea asks slowly walking a few steps in front of her.

"Yes actually. I have had my eye on something for a while now." Sia replies.

"Excellent!" Lea says turning to face her with a big smile. "What can I offer you?"

Sia steps closer to Lea and wraps her arms around her waist pulling her close. Lea let's out a startled yelp as she feels her body pulled into Sia. They are together at the waistline, Sia's hands on Lea's hips and Lea's hands on Sia's shoulders. Lea is stunned and searching for the words as she and Sia look each other in the eyes.

"Well, I think that I have put it off long enough." Sia whispers.

"You have?" Lea replies.

"I should have done this sooner." Sia continues.

With no resistance from Lea this far, Sia leans in and softly kisses her lips. Lea is stunned does not respond. Sia releases her and backs away.

"I thought as much." Sia says.

"Sia I..." Lea stutters.

"Your lips are as soft as they are sweet." Sia smiles at her, Lea blushes and turns her face. "You have an amazing shop here Lea." Sia says as she starts walking again. "What do you have in the area of leather bags?"

Lea looks at Sia as if she is joking. She knows the bag Sia has holds many items, why would she need another.

"All the things we have here, and you ask about a leather bag." Lea says dumbfounded. "Your bag is magical. Why would you need another one?"

"I don't know the limitations on the bag and I don't know what situations I might encounter." Sia answers.

"You are just trying to get something cheap, aren't you?" Lea says with a smirk.

"What I am after is not cheap." Sia smiles back. This comment changes Lea's expression to flattered as she knows of what Sia speaks. "Do you have any leather bags?"

"Yes, of course, right this way." Lea motions and starts walking toward the counter. "They are in the back."

As they reach the counter the man behind it displays several leather bags. Lea immediately realizes they have been watching and listening the whole time. The bags vary in size, color, thickness and quality.

"What color do you prefer?" Lea says with blushing face.

"That black one looks pretty nice." Sia says pointing one out.

"It is a fine bag, but I think this one is better suited for you." Lea picks up another black bag. "It has a little more capacity, thicker material and the draw string is of better quality. I bet this bag will still be in prime condition years from now."

"Sold!" Sia calls out with a smile.

"It's no charge remember. It is a gift for saving me." Lea insists.

"I think she wants something else." The woman whispers to the man behind the counter, not quietly enough, Lea snaps her head to face her with a look of warning. The woman bows her head.

"Shall we continue our tour?" Sia says placing the new bag into her back pouch.

"I want to apologize for her behavior." Lea says.

"There is no need. She is correct." Sia smiles, Lea smiles back at her. "Show me the rest of your town."

Lea leads the way, after a few steps away from the counter she stops and takes Sia's hand. The two exit the store and finish the tour hand in hand. Lea's nervousness fades quickly as the laughter and stories continue. Sia decides to try for another kiss during the tour but is interrupted at every chance. It is close to midday when the tour concludes. Lea sees Sia looking toward the road out of town