Ties Among Friends

Chapter One "Where...?"

I don't exactly remember what has happened, all I know is this is reality. Welcome to my life, I'm that random peasant you see in the woods trying to survive. I have no idea how this happened to me, but I just go with it. I'm Amber Kinoi, The woman who stays in the shadows. I have bright cold blue eyes; my brown hair is a bit messy but that is ok for a peasant. I live in my small camp near a town that is run down; the king of the region has been using it to force the peasants to make goods and needs for the main village such as varieties of food, medical herbs, and even ores for weapons. "Ey! What are you doing lurking in the shadows?" a familiar voice said. I'd reply, "I am just traveling to the main village." The voice got closer and I could see now; It was a man with ice blue eyes, warm ginger hair and a pale skin tone. He seemed only a few years older than me, maybe twenty five? "You seem to not know your way then, it is past the large dragon tree's behind you." The man was right, that was a stupid move...great job Amber! "..Oh! sorry. I get lost quite easy I guess." The man smirked at me, "Indeed. Next time be more careful and look at the landmarks." I nod, walking in the direction of the dragon trees. The dragon trees would be very dry as usually, since they were old and fragile some crows were pecking on the branches; maybe they were trying to get one of the million little snacks inside of the trees. I walked on until I was all alone, then as I dove into the forest. I heard something, a person screaming. I would rush into a clearing blindly, no weapons or anything like that, stupid stupid me. My eyes would widen; A girl with natural warm blue hair would be in a fire circle with some sort of demonic mage. Her emerald green eyes looked cold with fear. "..I-I'm not afraid of you." The woman said holding her iron blades. The mage just smirked, striking a spell at her. I listened to the painful cry she made as she fell, covering her left eye. Once the mage had left I ran up to the woman; I could see much clearer now. she was wearing armor, it was only chain-mail; Her blades had "Knight" engraved in it. "Are you alright miss?! I saw what had happened." I would tell the woman. The woman looked up at me, uncovering the left eye the mage had striked. Her left eye was not emerald green anymore, it was a pale blood tone of red. "...What did that mage do you you?" I'd ask the woman. She replied silently and in pain. "I-I don't know." I helped the woman up, she was around my age and weight so it was easy to help her. Once we got back to the little town the man from earlier walked up to us. "Is she ok?" He'd ask, sounding calm and comforting. I'd answer,"A mage striked her, see her left eye?" The man looked at it, knowing what had happened; his face full of pity and fear. "The mage has bewitched this woman. she has a dark magic now." My eyes widened at this answer, how would an everyday peasant like him know about this type of thing? "You must keep that eye covered, your going to scare the people." He passed the woman an eye-patch; she put it on without any trouble. She seemed to understand what was going on as well as the man. she finally spoke, her voice calmed now. "Thank-you. Thank-you so much." The man gave a small smirk, trying to not show the pity in his eyes. "Your welcome miss." He'd bow, heading off.