• After an hour of watching Lun’Mara practice, Windra decided that it was time for him to show him a new technique. He walked up behind Lun’Mara and placed his arms over Lun’Mara’s and his head on his right shoulder.

    “Windra?” Lun’Mara purred.

    “Just let me move your arms so I can show you how to harness the power of arcane energy to your arrow. To harness arcane energy you must feel it in your body and soul. Arcane energy is all around us. It’s a key factor to nature, you know the arrow but you don’t feel it.” Windra explained as he spread Lun’Mara’s arms wide open as if he was about to embrace someone. “Let the energy follow into you, don’t push it away. Welcome it.” Windra explained.

    Mere second later sparks cracked and flash around Lun’Mara’s arms and a feeling of warmth filled his body.

    “Good you have let the energy into your body now take that energy within in you and fuse it into your bow and arrow.” Windra explained as he pulled Lun’Mara is the archer stance with the string drawn.

    The bow began to radiate warmth and it’s arrow fumed with a greenish fog with a black core. Lun’Mara saw the blackness and returned the string to normal tension. “Why do I feel so cold when I see that?” He thought to himself as his skin shivered.

    “Problem?”

    Lun’Mara shook his head. “No…Maybe…It is just when I see that darkness, my blood goes cold. It is almost like I did something and now it haunts me forever.”

    Windra nodded.

    “When I would work at temple, the fires would flare black and burn like destroying life. “ He began to fade out of it. The vision of a man on a black horse appeared before them. It appeared that the man was riding through DragonTane forest, but a pace of ease. “They were like signs for upon that day there was a death. Someone in that town or village would die and I would feel their life force leave their body. It is like having all the air in your body escaping.”

    Nodding, Windra sat down on the nearest bench. “I heard of such a power, but it was in an ancient tome some merchant wanted to be rid of. It was called the “Blackening Flame,” and it a book for the Necromancers of old.” The air stood still at those words as if haunted by a sick memory. “The only way for such a power to exist is if you studied the art.” His eyes pierced Lun’Mara.

    The air got colder, the vision vanished, his bow fell to the flowers. Legs weakening and head pounding he stumbled backwards; hitting the wall. Releasing a scream of horror and began to shake.

    “I can…Their screams…The blood…He did…THEIR SCREAMS!”

    Unable to bare the sight of self torture, Windra ran to Lun’Mara, held his shaky hands to the ground and locked lips with him to silent the screams. Slowly but surely he began to calm down, but a dark presence still lingered in his thoughts; something was coming.

    Meanwhile Sen’Gale was learning great things from forest spirits and the Humans, Elves and Halflings of the temple. They showed him all the potions a simple mixture of seeds can make. Spells, legends, and fighting techniques were just a few of the subjects that were discussed

    “Gale, it’s true amazing that you can comprehend all that we are telling you…What are you really?” A female Dryad dress is sliver gown asked as she eyed Gale.

    “To tale you the truth I don’t fully know I just know what I know now and that I’ve been with Windra since I was a pup and I’m not going to die till he does.” Gale replied with a slight laugh.

    “Ah, the “We are One,” spell, that will do it but what is Windra’s other half? I mean is he half elf or human or his he another part demon.” The same Dryad asked.

    “Thorn asked that same question and I can’t say for sure, but I really don’t care.” Gale replied with a sigh. He didn’t care what Windra was, after so many years nothing about Windra fazed him

    “Well, can you at least tell me where you are going?” She asked as she ran her left hand through Sen’Gale’s fur.

    “Who knows, we might just wander the lands for the rest of our days, who can say for sure. Now how do you make burn potions again I don’t think I fully understood?” Sen’Gale replied then decided to change the subject back to herbs and potions.

    “Sure you can help me with it.” Cingen’Loveth said with a warm smile and waved him over to the fire place where she was brewing potions with fairy named Lo’Dana.

    Back in the garden Windra and Lun’Mara where still locked in a deep kiss of passion, unaware of how long they can been kissing. “I love you Windra.” Lun’Mara whispered as he slipped away from Windra leaving him in a daze.

    “Ok Lun’Mara.” He began. “I want you to fire an arcane arrow at me. I want to see how strong you really are.” Windra demanded with wolves hunger in his voice. “His blade was drawn and silver halos around each pupil.

    The air sparked with energy. “Can you even keep track of it?” Lun’Mara laughed with sarcasms. Silver halos wrapped his pupils as well.

    He shot at arrow right at Windra’s heart only to have to be split in two by his blade. Slipping from sight, he side swiped the next arrow and dashed down the garden with his blade at his waist ready to be swung. He knew he had the upper hand, his speed and movements couldn’t be trace by an arrow. Unaware to his movements, Lun’Mara was tracking every step and predicting what would be his oppents next.

    Windra’s ear perked at the whistle of an arrows tail in the breeze, he stopped as the arrow struck the wall, only to break on a magic barrier of the wall. Windra smirked at the dryads magical defenses.

    “Good now repeat after me…Mo’Co, De Lana, Vansav, Stry, demy, Wind!” Windra chanted as he drew the symbol of air in front of him, and then as he finished the chant a twister shot forth from his hands and head straight for Lun’Mara. Lun’Mara quickly jumped out of the way as the twisters hit the wall and vanished.

    “A magic barrier huh, I should never underestimate a dryad.” Windra thought to himself as he watched the ripples in the barrier slowly smooth out. The sensation of an arrow aimed right at his neck was over whelming. Turning to see Lun’Mara grin with the arrow, he began to run.

    Too late, the arrow was speeding towards him. He voice rang with energy as he called out. “Cra’The!” It took no time for Lun’Mara to drop his bow spin on his heels and lock his short blade with Windra’s katana; all before the arrow hit the wall.

    “You cheat.”

    “I never cheat, there were not rules.” Windra snickered.

    “a**.”

    “Love you too.” He locked lips with his mate as if they were reunited.


    “What in the name of the Eternal Fire Plains are you two doing?!” A voice rang out like temple bells. It was Thorn, who apparently had been watching Windra and Lun’Mara spare.

    They broke the kiss with embareis

    “We…Uh.” They stuttered for words.

    “Get inside before you two do some real damage.”Thorn laughed as he waved them inside.

    Within the temple were several Elves, Halflings, Humans, and fairies were laughing and chatting about happenings of the forest. In front of the pond was a small caldron which was really an illusion. Within the magical caldron was a blue bubbling brew that smelled of sage berries.

    “Oh Windra you’re here, Cingen just left to get a few more ingredients. She’s a master of potion and she knows how to make some of the most powerful potion in the land with just a few simple ingredients.” Sen’Gale explained when he appeared from behind the caldron.

    Moments later Cingen came through the right door carrying a brown cloth bag filled to the brim with vials, bottles, and pouches filled with liquids and material from all over the woods.

    “Ah good you two are here I was just about to make a burn cure potion, this potion can cure any kind of burns fire, ice, you name it.” She laughed as she placed the bag of the floor and pulled out a vile of sage root, diamond thorn, and river water.

    “Potion can be complex or as simple as lighting a fire with magic. Potion making is an art and a type of magic.” She continued cheerfully as she popped the cork on the thorns and sprinkled a few into the bubbling water.

    “How is it a magic?” Lun’Mara asked as he examined the sage root bottle.

    “Nature is magic by itself and when ingredients mix so do their magical properties…Could you pull out a root and break it into pieces then sprinkle it into the caldron.” Cingen chimed sweetly.

    “It must have taken you ages to learn all these potions.” Windra said as he looked at a potion book on the table next to the caldron.

    “Aye it did but I love nature and making potions and I always have a book on potions and ingredients at the ready.” Cingen laughed with a grin when she saw Windra going through one of her books.

    “What are you looking at Windra?” Lun’Mara and Sen’Gale and asked curiously about what had drawn Windra attention. After Lun’Mara finished sprinkling the sage root into the brew he walked over to Windra with Sen’Gale at his side.

    Windra was browsing through a book of potions which was large, thick cloth covered with the words “Herbs to Potions” printed in black on the top of the cover. By the looks of the tattered spine it was clear this book had been passed down among herbalists. Many of the pages had begun to crumble and darken with the ages, but one page was sealed with magic and marked by a red silk ribbon.

    “You had a lover didn’t you?” Windra asked in a loving voice.

    “He was a man that couldn’t be matched, he was my lover and he still is.” Cingen replied slowly drifting out of reality.

    “Is that why you have this potion marked…” Windra began but Cingen’interrupted.

    “Forever Memory, a rare potion that lets you keep the memory anything for the rest of your life. It was his parting gift and a symbol of his love for me. Just think of what you want to remember then put five drops in your next drink. He made it and put it a tiny green vile that carries just enough for four uses.” Cingenexplained in a soft dreamy voice.

    “What happened to him?” Lun’Mara asked.

    She stopped stirring the brew and stared into oblivion. “He helped an elf scholar group get back to a research site on the outskirts of Vindea Chome, he told me was going to stay with them till their next return to the city.” She broke her trance and began to fill five vials with the brew.

    “You’re good with moving water magically.” Lun’Mara said in a surprise voice.

    “Thank you it makes potion making so much easier. Hold on let me show you how to make a potion that can make a magic circle anywhere.” She whispered hoping Thorn wouldn’t hear, and then snuck to away to get the special ingredients. Windra, Lun’Mara, and Gale just looked at one another hoping one had an answer, but no.