Chapter 30 MERCY IS THE HARDER CHOICE
There was no response from Magnus this time. He didn't say anything, letting her words ring in the air for a moment. Xyra took in a deep breath during this time, calming herself. She was hoping that she had won the argument, but a small amused laugh quickly cut that thought short.
"Compassion?" he questioned. "Let me tell you something. I've been traveling for years, so believe me when I say that this world isn't so easily understood. You can't solve things with 'mercy' and 'compassion.' You either kill or get killed. There's no in between. I had no choice but to finish him off."
"…I hate people like you," she stated, and her voice easily backed it. "There's always another option, but too many people aren't willing to try. Killing is the easy way, and if you refuse to show mercy, then you're no better than the demons you hunt!"
Xyra didn't have time to see the reaction her words had invoked, because before another word could be said, she had turned on her heels and ran, heading into the forest just off to the right. She had left Magnus standing there with a shocked and incredibly hurt look on his face. Never, not in his entire life, had anyone ever spoken to him quite like that. No one had ever compared him to a demon.
Magnus lowered his head a bit, his eyes no longer holding any fury. He glanced back at the pile of white and black ash that had once been a sorcerer. A black sorcerer, but a sorcerer nonetheless. That mound of dust had been a living, breathing human, and just like that he was gone. Taking life has always been an easy thing. There wasn't much involved. Preserving it took so much more work. I don't have the time to worry about this…
Before his thoughts could completely conclude, he halted them, realizing what he had been about to do. He had nearly proven Xyra was right. Killing was the easy way. What he had done hadn't been any better than what his opponent had tried. However, he really couldn't concern himself with the life of every person who rose against him. Otherwise, his mission would be completely pointless. This really was a world where at moments one had to abandon the thought of humanity. If you didn't want to die, you had to kill.
Magnus shook his head a bit, no longer wanting to think about it. However, Xyra's words had hit pretty hard, and now that he was finally thinking directly about the young thief again, he realized that she was gone. She had run off into the forest, he remembered that much, but he hadn't chased after her. He hadn't even tried stopping her. The forests usually concealed demons, and now that the sun was setting, they would wander the woods without hesitation. Xyra, you idiot! Don't you know better by now?
He quickly ran off in pursuit, hoping to find her before a demon did. He had already lost one companion. He didn't need to lose her and then try to explain why when Darren returned. The other hunter would probably hate him, but that would be no surprise. Magnus was hating himself right about now. It was his fault she had run away. He had laughed in her face when she had only been stating her opinion. She hadn't been wrong either which only made the matter worse.
"Xyra?" Magnus called as he glanced around, hoping to catch even a glimpse of his companion. "Xyra?" He ran a little farther, hoping for a response, but the one he got wasn't what he had been expecting nor was it what he wanted. A scream echoed through the forest.
Without hesitating, he sped up, heading right towards the source of the scream. He knew just what direction it had come from, and now that his mind was set, he was going to reach Xyra before anything happened. If you die because of me…I won't be able to forgive myself.
The trees soon came to an end, and he found himself in a clearing. His attention instantly went towards the only demon in the area. It was slowly approaching something, and that something he guessed was Xyra. His suspicion was proven accurate when he caught a glimpse of her sepia hair and brown cloak. He was about to get involved in this problem when the demon did something that sent his mind through a loop. It opened its mouth, and words came out. Human words.
"Child," it began, the voice very serpent-like. By its outline, it did resemble a snake. It was just much larger and had quite a few spikes protruding form its body. "What are you doing here in my forest?"
"I-I'm sorry," Xyra answered meekly. "I didn't know…I didn't mean to…"
"Did you come to kill my kin, just like those men?"
"No, I'm not a hunter. I promise. I didn't mean you any harm."
"Lies!" it hissed harshly, causing her to wince. "You won't take my children!" It bared its sharp fangs, and it looked like it was about to lunge forward and bite into her when a shadow appeared between the two of them. Both the demon and Xyra were a little shocked. Standing before them was Magnus, his back to Xyra and his palm towards the demon. His eyes had taken on a rather threatening look again.
Xyra looked away, positive that he was going to destroy the demon. Sure, it was in her defense, but this creature had only been trying to protect its kind. It had only attacked her because she had drawn too close to its resting place. She hadn't meant any harm at all.
A few moments went by, and Xyra had yet to hear anything. There was no muttering of a curse or the whisperings of a spell. Magnus was still just holding the demon's attention with his outstretched palm and his cold eyes. Eventually he dropped both. His arm returned to his side and his eyes softened.
"Leave," he demanded, "before I lose my patience." The demon did exactly as it had been told. It got down and slithered away, not planning on returning.
Magnus sighed and turned around, looking down at Xyra. She was sitting on the ground, her right arm gripping her left. Even in the darkness, he could see the trail of blood that was flowing through her fingers. A slight frown crossed his face.
"You got hurt," he said a bit sadly, almost as if he blamed himself. However, that look was gone before she could fully analyze it. "See, this is why you need me around. You're useless on your own."
"Gee, thanks," she told him with a slight glare and a lot of sarcasm. He only smiled in response and knelt down in front of her. Without asking, he took her arm and slowly moved her other hand away from the wound. It wasn't that deep of a cut, but it had probably hurt quite a bit.
"Just hold still," he whispered gently as he placed his hand over the gash, not quite touching the wound. A white light enveloped the bleeding area, and before she knew what was happening, the pain was gone. Her cut had completely closed up.
"Thanks…" He just gave her a smile and stood up. She followed suit and then began looking around. "Um…how do we get back?"
"Just follow me." He began walking off. "I think I remember the way."
Without arguing, she followed after him. She wasn't about to doubt his sense of direction. He had said that he had been traveling for a long time. His instincts were probably pretty good. Maybe he had even been in this area before, but that was highly improbable. He wouldn't be searching up north if he had already been there.
Once again they fell into a slightly awkward silence. There just wasn't anything left to really say. They had done more then enough talking even though most of it had been shouting and arguing. She easily remembered what she had said to him, and she suddenly felt the urge to apologize. She had been way out of line. He had only been doing what he had to do to keep them both alive, and even though it pained her to watch someone die like that, she would have to get used to it. There were a lot of evil people in the world, and some couldn't be reasoned with. Perhaps there wasn't always another way.
A smile tugged at Xyra's lips though as she thought about what had just happened. Maybe her words had hit harder than she had intended, and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Magnus had spared another's life, and not just any life. The thought made her want to laugh. She would probably never see something like it again. This was the first time ever that she had heard of a hunter, a person who loved what they did, spare a demon's life.