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The sun is low in the sky and a cold wind has swept across the plains, growing darker by the minute.
"I've been here before," You say, scanning the forest. "But it was a long time ago. More than a year, if I remember correctly." You're staring intently at the landscape. For the first time in days, you feel a bit uneasy.
"Let's go back to the keep and speak to someone who's lived in this forest all their life," You say.
"Are you sure?" Claudia frowns. 'What do you see out there?"
"I don't like this place," You say, pulling the cloak up over your ears. "It's giving me bad feelings."
Claudia laughs. "You're imagining things. It's just a forest. It's just us out here. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Claudia and You walked side by side, making their way through the trees.
"You know," You say, nudging Claudia's arm, "You really do have the strangest hair."
"I don't know. I don't think so, to be honest. It's kind of nice." Claudia grins, running her hair through her hands, but it really is strange to you. Half black and half white and straight down the middle. "Small price to pay with dark magic sometimes."
"Yeah, I guess it can be. I'm glad you don't mind it. It's really beautiful," You say. "Will my hair get like that?" You ask not out of vanity, but you wonder what it means to be a dark mage. Since Claudia accepted you as her apprentice.
"Not if I teach you right," Claudia says.
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The pair emerge onto the hilltop and spot their destination, a giant tree, down below. A light dusting of snow still covers the ground, even this light coating gives way as the two begin to descend the hill, leaving no trace of their passing. It is a long, slow walk, and it takes them a very long time to reach the tree. They stop beside the open hollow and listen intently for any signs of life.
"It's a big tree, and it's cracked..." Claudia says.
"It looks old... What does it have to do with us?" you say, puzzled.
"Maybe nothing... But still, it's an old tree, and these things are a source for a ton of spells." Claudia said as she pulled her bag.
You pull out your bag as well. Preparation is the hardest part of being a dark mage, but if it means getting with the elves who captured you when you were a child then so be it. Your childhood was a nightmare. You don't remember your parents, but everything changed when Claudia found you one day.
You follow Claudia's instructions and gather materials. Claudia really is your savior. You've forgotten everything about your life since meeting your master, Claudia. Once you learn dark magic, you'll repay her as well.
Your thoughts were interrupted when the tree cracked open. The cracking noise is loud, and it makes the two of you stop and watch. Summer looks at the tree that's cracked. She frowns and says "We got company."
The side of the tree burst open, revealing a very tired and weary Earthblood elf, with a very worried face, and a very angry expression on his face. The elf is a bit disheveled and dirty, and not at all pleased to see the two of them trespassing on his land.
"What do you think you're doing?!" the elf shouts, the anger in his voice clearly showing that he is on edge.
You know he should feel more scared, but instead, he feels calm. Claudia is with you. She won't let you down. Besides, you had always hoped to take down one of these self-righteous elves.
He seemed to be made of muscle and looked more like a cliff's edge than a living being. He was tall and the broad shoulders hinted at a powerful and brawny upper body.
"You're not gonna get away from me, human," the elf says, taking a running start to make a flying tackle to meet Claudia.
For a moment, You seem surprised at how easily Claudia moves out of the way of the charging elf. She's so fast. She's almost flying.
You, however, can't seem to move. The elf missed Claudia and is now heading straight for you.
You reached for a dagger, but the elf picked you up and slammed you to the ground. You hit the ground with a loud snap and the dagger in your hands was thrown right out of your grip and snapped in half. All you could see in front of you was red.
The Earthblood elf bore all his weight on you, like a landslide. This might be it for you.
You closed your eyes and could hear voices in the background, muffled sounds of someone speaking, but you couldn't make out what they were saying. Everything was muffled, even her own breathing.
Then everything went bright.
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Claudia was talking to you, but you couldn't understand what she was saying, but you could tell from her voice though that it was panicked. She tried to look in your eyes.
"Claudia!" You got up with a shout and Claudia hugged you.
"Oh thank goodness, You're all right." You notice that her hair has a little more white in it now.
You and Claudia lean back against the tree to catch your breath.
The Earthblood elf, dead now, laid smoldering in a heap. "What did you do?"
"Llik drow rewop," Claudia said through labored breaths. "An instant death spell, but it takes a lot outta you."
You are in awe at the power at this woman's fingertips. The power you might wield someday, but you notice Claudia's hair. The white side has taken more of the scalp.
Claudia fixed her hair. "Still think I'm beautiful?"
"Yes," you say without hesitation. Dark magic comes at a high price and you vow that Claudia should not pay that price ever again.
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A week later, so much has happened since that day with the Earthblood elf. You found the will to cast dark magic.
It was a long day and you came to the river to wash and you looked at your reflection. Your hair now has a white streak running along the side.