The Mithril Magician

"After I am done with my studies, I will come back to visit." A young, fifteen year old girl picked up her bag and books.

"Afina, make certain to eat everyday and do not study for too long. Magic and your other lessons can wait. A good meal is more important." The girl's mother handed her a small lunch for the journey to her new home.

"I would not forget that. I will make sure to write as often as I can. Good bye."

The young girl set off on her journey to a small but comfortable home near the outskirts, of the city of Varrock. That house was large enough to meet the needs of a single person.
It was built from sturdy stone, fine timber of straight grain, and the roof was shingled maroon red. There was a large oak growing in the yard that looked like it had seen many lightning storms. From the looks of the ashes on the ground, it must have been struck by the luminous, heavenly bolts quite often. Although, the tree itself seemed to be in good shape. It was quite tall with lush green leaves and gave off a wonderful aura that filled the surroundings with life.

She stood at the entrance to the house and opened the door to her home. The first thing she saw was a stone fireplace of which to cook her meals. On the hearth itself was a black cauldron to make stew and a kettle to bake bread. There was also a stove and water source nearby. Next to the fireplace was a cozy bed. Upon touch, she could feel the soft texture of fine linen. The sheets themselves were a pearlescent style of silvery white and rich zaffre blue; her favorite colors.

There was a shelf near one of the windows on which she placed her books. They covered a range of subjects such as magic, the sciences, art, and history. Only here alone could she become a true magician she thought to herself. What better way to learn, then by self study and clearing of the mind.

Laying next to the mantle of the fireplace, was a broom which she used to clean the place up. Afina put down her belongings and made herself at home. Cobwebs and dust were swept up. Water was pumped through the faucet and brought to a boil in the kettle; so she could enjoy afternoon tea and settle down.

She decided to page through one of her favorite books on magic and tree lore while waiting for the water to boil. The window she sat at was large and clear. From inside, she had a good view of the spacious yard and the towering oak. When she was done reading, she closed up her books and caught notice of a letter, which was addressed to Afina, and a leather bound book on the mantle. Upon investigation, it was written by a magician who had lived there before her.

The young magician opened the envelope and began to read. The person who had lived there before greeted her and spoke of the oak that grew outside. It was called a Mithril Oak because its wood had a natural blue tone to it and its lumber was very strong. The tree was planted to protect the house from lightning strikes. As well as to meditate under; during good weather. It was a holy tree and could offer protection in whatever form a person could imagine. The book also contained the lore and scientific information of the tree. That knowledge was well detailed and quite interesting. Though, reading it further would have to wait until a later date.

In a corner of the house was a spinning wheel, loom, and a cabinet. She pulled on the doors to see what was inside. There was a needle and thread so she could produce her own clothing and hand tools to work with wood in case she needed to repair furniture. Next to it was a steaming chamber to adjust any portion; should she have to produce curved shapes. There was also a book on furniture building.

The kettle soon gave off a loud whistle; letting her know that the water had come to boil. She pulled it off the fireplace and poured it into a white porcelain pot which she had brought from home. Soon, she could smell the aroma of tea. She sipped it slowly and settled in.




Everyday, for a year, she sat at the table studying various sorts of magic. Having learned the history of the runes, spells, and origins of various magical works. With practice, she came to excel in the magical arts such as the casting of spells and incantations.

When needed, she fixed furniture that had become broken. At one such point, a leg of her bed had become damaged. So she got to work on shaping lumber for a replacement. Handling a rasp, chisel, gouge, and sandpaper she went straight to work. She carved, scrapped, and sanded throughout the day. Soon there was sawdust and wood shavings covering the floor. Although her hands were red from the work, they remained soft, graceful, and elegant; befitting that of a young girl. Once the piece was finished, she lacquered it to protect the surface and attached the new leg to her bed. She cleaned up the mess and went to bed exhausted from the day's work.




As instructed, she meditated underneath the majestic, Mithril Oak to gain insight into the world of spirit. The acorns growing on the tree were very large; about the size of a sweet, juicy melon. Strangely, there were no squirrels eating the giant nuts which seemed appetizing and nutritious. Surely, they would find that a feast too delicious to resist. She quickly let go of the idea and continued her work.

When she was not meditating or studying, she had daydreams about exploring the world. She often wondered what the rest of the land was like. What would she find? Some sort of new animal, plant, or some other mystery which she had not seen or heard of before.

Day after day, she thought to herself what she wanted to do once she completed her training. However, she was taught well enough by her parents that the outside world was dangerous and she should take precaution when stepping foot into any city, town, or forest. For there lurked monsters and other perils.

To become an explorer, she would require weapons and armor but could not afford or use metal armor. As an aspiring magician, she also knew that her greatest offensive abilities would be inhibited by the very nature of metal; that material had a way of impeding magical powers. That put her adventurous spirit to rest for a while.




On her sixteenth birthday, she wrote to her mother and told her how she was doing. In the letter was included details of the hours spent pouring over books, how many mind boggling notes she had to jot down, the casting of various spells, and the rest of her daily life.

When she was done writing back home, she was inclined to sit under the tall oak that stood outside but today a storm was brewing outside. The wind howled, and the air chilled. Storm clouds were passing over and the sky darkened. There was a crackle outside and she could see the flash of blue lightning and the roar of thunder. That was not enough to cause fright because she believed that the Mithril Oak would protect her. Then there was a sudden blast; a bolt of lightning had struck off one of the branches from the great tree. Afina was alarmed by the raw exhibition of nature's destructive tendencies and became worried about the tree. However, for the time being, she remained in the house.

When the storm had finally passed, she stepped outside to examine the tree. It was mostly unharmed. Only a large branch and several giant acorns had fallen to the ground during the mayhem of the storm. Despite the size of the acorns, they were very lightweight. One of them had even cracked. Peering inside, she could see a mass of white fibers. It was a wonder why squirrels did not eat them; there was no nut for them to eat.

The tree and fallen branch were still glowing very strangely; giving off a mysterious aura like lightning itself. It was as if the tree had become imbued with the power of the storm. Curious, she took the branch and nuts back inside the house and began to read the book on the Mithril Oak more closely. Upon closer examination, she learned that the tree was special. It had the ability to store the virtuous energies of the heavens and gave off a most holy power; especially after a thunderstorm. Though, over time the aura would fade. That gave her wonderful idea.

The young magician went to work on a new project. She pulled the fibers from inside the acorn and spun them it into thread. Skillfully, she fed small amounts of the textile matter into the spinning wheel. It was a long tedious process. When she was done, the thread was worked as warp and weft onto a loom which was woven finely into a very tough fabric. The cloth was as smooth as the linen threads of her blankets. Next, she used the steam chamber to shape the acorn shells and caps.

When finished, she cut and crafted the thick shells into armor which was coated with dark blue paint. Having the touch of a refined artist, and the time she spent learning to correct furniture, she was able to produce a very strong, wooden plate to go over the robes. They were nicely accented with gold colored trim; like the edges of her porcelain teapot and cups.

The branch that had fallen earlier was scraped clean of bark and dried for a week. It was then shaped with a wood plane. When it was removed, a fine grained wood of high quality was revealed. The freshly cut wood had the odor of oak but was much sweeter and more pleasing to the senses. Its scent immediately conjured the image of an oak grove with whatever mysteries such a place could bring. A blue orb of water was then attached to the top of the staff. She crafted a much smaller branch into a wand. Both the staff and wand were smooth to the touch.

Her outfit was almost finished; to complete it she also wanted to protect her hands. So Afina started to read up on various types of protective garments and decided to go with long, fingerless, gloves; made from very thickly woven, Mithril Oak fiber. It was dyed black with blue plating attached to protect the shins of the arms; crafted from the shells of the acorns.

When the work was done, she tried on the whole outfit to see if it fit. It matched well; her slender, graceful body was covered perfectly by the magician's armor she created. It was light, strong, and allowed her to be agile. The cloth robes underneath was as smooth as silk and strong enough to resist the slashing of a sword; which she tested with a sharp knife.

Now that she finally had protective garments, she practiced the combat spells held in her books. Casting fire, earth, water, and air spells until her mind was numb. These spells were not very difficult and proved quite effective. Though, they just did not feel right. As the next spell was being cast, she intuitively affected her next spell from deeper inside her being. The fire spell that was suppose to come out turned into a blast of lightning instead which leapt for a distance that she could not see. The sheer power of the spell was amazing and had a very long reach like a vine searching for the morning sun. It was reminiscent of the very lightning storm she had witnessed.

Sitting down, she inspected the armor with a meditative gaze. In her mind and throughout her body, Afina could tell that the lightning had somehow transformed both her and the essence of the tree. Lightning itself was tremendously potent. Nothing could resist it and nothing could cut it. These weapons and armor were the very embodiment of a majestic heavenly force. The very wisdom and power of the tree could now able to be carried with her anywhere she went. Having such resilient equipment made her very confident.

Picking up a quill and bottle of ink, she wrote back to her mother; telling her that she planned to study abroad and seek out the mysteries of the world. She just did not say that was traveling by herself. The letter was mailed out and she embarked on a journey to explore the world.




In her days of travel, she came to known by many names such as Mithril Maiden, Mithril Knight, and Oaken Maiden; due to her nearly inexhaustible strength. Most common of all was the title "Mithril Magician" because of the dark blue color of her armor and the virtue of her spells. With every feat, she proved to be heroic and gallant; earning her the gratitude of those she aided.

She eventually learned how to experiment and properly use her lightning based powers; exerting control over the weather as well. Three classes of spells were derived from lightning based magic. The first dealt with farming applications, second with combat, and last with mystical investigations.

The first and second classes are divided into elemental attributes which are air, water, earth, and fire. Lastly, the mystical applications produced very useful effects which can enhance the previous two classes or be used on its own. She tested different combinations to see what she could do. The process was slow but had the desired effect.

When properly moved, stagnant air could be carried away; which helped to prevent disease in plants. A sudden rush of wind could very well clear a field of opponents and give a magician time to cast spells. Moisturized plants were able to increase the yield of fruit. The watery vapors in the air can too be implemented to slow opponents down. Earthly farming spell electrified the clouds so they may produce natural, fertilizing agents to bring abundance back to any soil; especially for leafy plants. In combat, such small bursts can stun or paralyze a person for hours. More potent applications of lightning could either clear stones from a field or completely demolish buildings. All in all, these spells proved incredibly versatile when applied to agriculture or conflict.

Last were the mystical implementations of lightning to form connections that no one was even aware were even there. The mind itself was a mystery. Its very depths were strange and almost unknowable. Yet, she yearned to learn its structural wonders. To that end, she paged through many books on the workings of the mind and consciousness. The principle understanding came rather easily as she was a good study. After gathering a sufficient amount of knowledge she properly applied the spell's principles to the mind and spirit. In such a way the lightning magic could result in creativity and peace.

There was also a way to use it to ritually and physically cleanse a place by putting stagnant air as well as water into motion which ionized the air; destroying dangerous organisms. Should deeper connections be properly formed, it can result in a greatly expanded mind that was now whole; able to explore higher realms of spirit. That sort of creative purification and wholesome restoration could in turn rapidly hasten natural processes. It worked when applied to either the seemingly immaterial mind or apparent physical phenomenon. This last mystery would soon be put to use.




One day, she came across a village in the Eastern lands that was in danger because the crops were failing. She could see wilted crops that had died of thirst. The land had suffered and become barren. The soil was hard and cracked; signs that a drought had been there. Animals in the area had grown thin and sickly because the grass upon which they used to graze had dried up. There was nothing for them to eat.

She took in a breath of air to calm her mind and went into deep thought. Steadily she planned out methods to help those in need. After a bit of thinking, she went to work. She realized that in the short run, spells could be cast to restore rain and fertilize the once rich lands but had to figure out more permanent solutions. So she began to track down potential water sources. The villagers were told that in times of drought, wells were to be dug.

Having an affinity with lightning, moisture, and magic, she knew how to locate sources of water to meet their needs. The simple villagers acquired knowledge of how to test the earth below for underground caverns and rivers; from her. They used special tools to hit the ground in order to see if it was hollow underneath. When struck properly, it produced a telltale sound. The best areas were that which were lower compared to everywhere else as water tends to flow downhill.

Lessons moved on to the management of the land itself. The girl taught the villagers how to better manage their farms by properly tilling the earth, enriching the soil, and irrigating it from far off water sources. "Soil is living and must be aerated so that the organisms that live in it can bring abundance. If the earth is too laden with clay, you must mix it with sand."

She then cast a spell using water and air elements to bring about a storm. The air began cool and a rush of wind could be felt. With a now darkened sky, clouds swirled above. Lightning blasts pulverized large stones. The smaller pieces were then weathered using rain and swept with winds. That process was sped up very rapidly with one of the mystical approaches of lightning magic. Course sand was produced as a result. Weeds were immediately burned with electrical fires. These ashes were combined with the sand, clay, and compost then spread into the soil. Rivers were irrigated to moisten the earth so that worms may decompose the organic matter. The once rich soils were abundant once more.

"There are also natural compounds in the air that are created only during lightning storms and when rain falls; which can fertilize the soil. They are essential nutrients for a plant's growth. Remember these lessons and your village should prosper." They praised her for wonderful abilities and wisdom. Graciously, she accepted their thanks.

After many weeks, the troubles were over. Grass returned, crops grew, and animals had plenty to eat.

When the village was faring much better, a group of bandits attacked. They brought weapons, torches, and other menacing equipment; which they used to frighten the humble villagers and set fire to homes. During the mayhem of the flames and destruction, they pillaged stores of grain, crops, and other resources the people needed to survive.

Not a violent group, the villagers turned to the Mithril Magician for help. The girl came at the bandits and struck at them swiftly. Like a blazing thunderstorm, she blasted the bandits with lightning bolts, frightened them with roaring thunder, and brought a downpour of rain to put out the fires. Scared witless, the bunch dropped most of the food and things that belonged to the villagers. They left in defeat.

The villagers cheered. However one bandit was stricken with rage. He let loose an arrow at the girl who had subdued them. It inflicted an injury to her shoulder. Although the armor she was wearing protected her from physical harm, the ranged weapon still proved to be dangerous; ranged attacks were the very bane of a magician's existence.

Her body was in tact but her spirit was damaged. There was a great pain. The arrow may have fallen to the ground broken, but it had done what it was meant to do.

If arrows could do this to a magician, she thought, Afina did not know what to should something similar happen in the future; leaving her feeling broken and weak. The wound was quickly treated, but the pain was still there. The villagers simply did not know what to do so they consulted a sage. He came and examined her injury. In a moment's notice, he knew what was wrong and cured her of her ills.

"Thank you." Afina said softly.

He smiled and offered her water. "You should not rely solely on the use of armor and weapons for self defense. Even your magic, as powerful as it is, should not be your only means of protection. After all, the mystical art of magic can be defeated by archery. I could teach you methods to overcome that weakness if you will come with me. This is not meant to take away what gifts were bestowed on you. I am only offering you a method to cultivate the core of your very being to make you stronger; which your current abilities can then supplement."

Curious, she stared intently at the old man. "What would that be?"

"It is training in the mystical approaches, philosophies, techniques and application of combat.

In other words, martial arts."

"I have heard of the prowess of martial artists but had never been able to observe one up close. Let alone learn it."

He offered her a cup of tea. "If you study with me for ten years, I can assure you that you will fare much better in your travels.

My name is Shiren. What is your's, young lady?"

"I go by many names, but you may call me Afina. As for your offer, I humbly accept."

So, for ten long years, she endured rigorous training at his sacred, mountain home. There was lush bamboo covering the various heights and depths. As well as an enchanting waterfall dancing along the rocks. Birds chirped wonderful melodies that only nature could inspire. Things were peaceful. Here, no one would harm her as there was a protective outer wall of solid stone; sturdy and nearly impenetrable. The house, in the center of this, was decorated ornately. It was made of a beautiful white stone, covered with fiery red shingles; displaying images of dragons and cranes locked in a graceful dance.

She learned meditation directly from the enlightened master as well as rooting, fighting techniques, qigong, and how to skillfully apply these in any situation. Most important of all, she was able to cultivate her mind, body, and spirit harmoniously. She was especially skilled in close quarters combat and the use of fighting sticks. For distance fighting, a staff was employed.





On her final days there, she was tested to see if she had learned the lessons well. The first test was that of focus; especially against a group of opponents.

Disciples of the master circled Afina. That did not disturb her at all. She did not stare at anyone individual. Instead, her gaze was upon all of them to sense for motion. Searching for an opening, they waited. Then, one of them leapt out at her. The magician in training reacted and attacked. One by one, they closed in and threw punches at her. Those further in the back, kicked. Others slashed with swords and thrusted with spears. She was outnumbered, but knew that was actually to her advantage. With that many people, it would cause mayhem and possibly lead to overconfidence.

As each one struck at her, she dodged, evaded, and wove around their fists. Then with a swat and slapping motion, she disarmed their weapons, and trapped their arms. Locked in place with no way to generate strength, she punched at their vulnerable areas and quickly disabled them. When someone came up to her from a distance at an angle they thought she could not see, she launched an upward kick straight to the head.

The girl worked through them quickly. So swiftly in fact, it appeared as if she were fighting all of them at once. When they were defeated, they all bowed. Now it was time for her final test. Her master was to be her opponent. He had been practicing his martial skills for much longer. There was little that could distract him.

They greeted and stared at each other. Then they took up guarding stances. The master was silent. Afina had a slight tension and knew that her teacher was aware of that. Yet he did not attack first. She waited and thought she saw an opening where the master's root was unbalanced. A punch was thrown. The master simply evaded and knocked her back. Each time she attacked the old man, he was able to counter.

Instead of continuing to assault him, she stopped to take in a deep breath. She calmed down. Her body followed and became still and she listened.

Aware of her renewed strength, he decided to lure her closer to disable her. As expected, the girl stepped in but as the old man tried to hit her vital areas, she performed quick snapping motions. In an instant the master found his arms trapped and his feet unable to move. In his face was the end of fighting stick. She had won the fight. The young magician had been taught adequately.

"You have done well and are finally ready to leave." All of his disciples bowed.

Her master then offered her these words. "Since you have started training here, you have been diligent, intelligent, hardworking, and most of all perseverant. Even in all that time, you have not aged a day since I met you ten years ago. There is something special about you.

I suspect that the armor you are wearing is limitless but only if you are first. You should discover more about yourself. Clear your mind of distractions, then your spirit will follow. In battle, be deceptive. When weak, feign strength. When strong, feign weakness. Most importantly, keep what you cherish most in your heart and always remember that which brings you joy. For memories are a very powerful thing."

"Before I go, might I ask what the name of your martial art is?"

The master faced the heavens, "It is called Zhua Tien martial arts. That translates to grasping the heavens."

"An appropriate name for someone trying to put something within reach by close fighting." She thanked him and departed for the land where she came from. The magician continued to wander from place to place in an attempt to understand exactly what he had meant.




The Mithril Magician walked past a road to witness a beautiful landscape. Her eyes caught the sight of fertile farmland. There were fields of golden wheat and barely. The meadows had lush, green grass. Potato plants offered a different shade of green to complement the grass and grain. Various trees decked the land and were in flower. Mighty oaks stood tall in the furthest areas. Their roots sunk deep in the earth, gathering water and other nutrients to produce crops of acorns. These trees offered shelter and food to many animals. There was also a woodcutter chopping off branches for firewood. The smell of fresh baked bread passed through the air. It was the smell of home.

Though, things were not all as it seemed. Again she had came across a village in need. They were under attack by a group of bandits attempting to steal their belongings. People were running away screaming. Yet, there were a few who stood their ground; being simple farmers they were barely able to defend themselves.

She maneuvered rapidly on the criminals like a bolt of light crossing the bridge of sky and earth. Also, like lightning, she deafened the crowd with the roar of a thunderous magic. Her staff struck at them with reflexes that were so fleeting it was as if she never moved. They could not even read her attacks. She launched blows to their arms to disable them and render them weaponless. Then she smote them senseless.

They were defeated and had to retreat but not without plotting their revenge.

The villagers cheered, but Afina gasped with horror. She covered her mouth and realized that she had exhausted the mystical resource she gained all those years ago from the Mithril Oak. She was powerless now except for whatever ordinary combat spells she could cast.

The bandits were going to come back for revenge and deal with both her and the villagers harshly. What made it worse was that she was ill prepared; she did not yet understand her master's words in full. Even with what skills she did have, they were going to come back in larger numbers. She cried for the first time in years.

"What is wrong miss?" a young girl tugged at her robe.

"I am afraid I have lost my powers. Those troublemakers are going to come back to seek vengeance." She then turned to face the elder of the village.

"I have brought more danger than I had intended."

"Nonsense, they are just a group of unorganized criminals. They were scared off by your display and will most likely never return."

The girl calmed down upon hearing these words and everyone went to sleep for the night. She remained uneasy and could barely sleep. Tossing and turning, Afina was incredibly frightened and felt weakened. Finally, after what felt like many hours she went to sleep.




The bandits from earlier had told their leader what had happened. His face contorted, eyes reddened, and spat on the ground; brimming with rage. "We will go back and teach those villagers a good lesson." As instructed they armed themselves and snuck into the village in the quiet of the night.

Afina woke up when she heard shrill scream. Alarmed, she leapt out of bed and quickly grabbed her staff. The young magician came out running to see houses set aflame and several villagers being tied up and loaded onto a wagon.

Remembering what had happened before, the bandits stepped back. However, their leader was not afraid. He was unaware of her current situation so he made her a proposal. "Come quietly to my stronghold tomorrow and surrender. If not, we will behead each and everyone of these hostages." They then rode off in the middle of the night.

The village elder approached the magician and wept. "It seems you were right. They came back and will commit terrible acts to our people. I do not know what we are going to do."

She stayed silent for what felt like a long time. "I will find a way to rescue them. No matter how long it takes, I will do something about it."




The next day, she sat under a large tree to meditate on an answer. The sun rose slowly over the magnificent tree; bathing her in a glowing stream of tranquil light. For many hours, she focused her mind. Sitting under the tree quietly; not moving an inch. Secluded from the rest of the world, she probed her thoughts and feelings. Her breath was steady. No distractions were setting her off. Not even that of birds or insects could disturb her. There was a great peace in that state.

Although, she was in deep concentration, she remained aware of her surroundings. Not too far off, she could hear a young girl crying.

"What's the matter?" A woman patted the child on her head.

"I have lost my toy horsey."

That woman must be the child's mother she thought. Afina listened into the conversation.

"Perhaps, you brought it out with you to play?"

The child searched her box of toys. "It is not here."

"It could be in the house still. Try to retrace your steps."

No longer sobbing, she thought to herself. She was silent for a long time. "I know where it is. I heard a strange noise last night and thought it was a monster so I put the toy horsey underneath my bed to scare it off."

"That is wonderful, let us go fetch it." Her mother smiled and they went home.

Their conversation caused her to reminisce about her own parents.. Able to still hear her mother's voice and the taste of a good meal. How she was tucked into bed nightly and told stories of great heroes. All that brought back feelings of happiness and despite how often she wrote to them, she missed them dearly. The heroes in her favorite stories were strong, intelligent, and able to see through the hardest of times. Something she needed now more than ever.

That was when she then remembered training with her master. Be simple and direct her master had said. Clear your mind. Remember that which brings you joy. For memories are a very powerful thing. There was a sudden burst of light, an influx of  wisdom, and the powers of the universe poured into her body. Awakening in her was the raw strength of mighty oak and the quickening force of lightning. Her whole being had become a finely tuned instrument for focusing heavenly powers; which manifested in her as strength, speed, and concentration. In her weapons and armor, it generated rain, thunder, and lightning; rather than just store it. Now able to tap into these very forces and command it to do her bidding. Transformed permanently, they were now a whole.

Shiren's lessons then became clearer than the water of a lake. For what you once truly had cannot be lost. Even the abilities she once had were stored as a memory in the essential structure of her mind, body, weapons, and armor.

She also finally knew the reason she did not age one bit. The time she had spent meditating under the mystic Mithril Oak had formed a bond between her and the essence of nature. Allowing her to resist aging; no matter how much time went by. Even without the armor, she would look as young as she did when she was sixteen; graceful, slender, and beautiful. The look on her face changed. There was the glare of confidence and the rosy color of renewed youth. Tears began to stream from her eyes.

Overcome with joy, she spent the rest of the day adjusting to her newfound abilities.

At the core of the training, she honed her own talents and skills apart from just the equipment. Speed, strength, proper technique, fast reflexes, and a sharp mind were her most formidable weapons. Weapons and armor were only extensions of her body.

She was ready once more.





At the stronghold of the bandits, their leader was preparing for the girl to make an assault. He was going to let her in and then exploit her weaknesses as a magician. Once inside, there were archers waiting to ambush her. Should they fail, there would be a group waiting for her on the ground. If she made it past that too, he would trap her in the dungeon; knowing full well that a magician is at an advantage only when given ample space to cast spells. He was going to bring her into a close quarter battle where she could not use her magical powers. Confident that he was going to win, he waited patiently for her arrival.

As expected, she had come.

From what she could tell, the stronghold itself was built to protect from intruders. It was at least two stories high and made of thick stone. The walls were stacked high with mortar; covering every possible crack. There were towers with which to keep watch; lit by lanterns and patrolled by guards. Where there were any openings they were used for counter attacks. Nearly impenetrable.

For a bunch of criminals living there, it was well built. The fortress itself may have been built by others only to be abandoned; upon which the bandits took up residence later.

Afina investigated the area as thoroughly as possible. She could tell that the guards were being a bit lax. Perhaps they had a bit too much to drink to celebrate their victory. That or it could have been a trap she thought but she just could not let the villagers die. So she waited until the patrolling watchman changed his shift. A rope was tossed up on the wall where she believed no one was watching. Then the girl slipped in quietly.

She made it silently to the middle of the courtyard. The bandit leader's plan began to unfold as the archers prepared for an ambush. However, they were in for a surprise themselves. In her new state of awareness, she knew their positions. The archers took aim and let loose their arrows which whistled through the air with blinding speed and deadly accuracy. In a moment's notice and without thought, she moved as if lightning were coursing through her very body. Each time she twirled her staff, there was a strike, a twist, and a snap as she deflected their arrows.

Before they had time to reequip themselves, she assaulted them with quick bursts of lightning magic to paralyze them. Knowing they would be stunned for hours, she made her way further in.

Ground forces quickly moved in on her. They were armed with spears, swords, and axes. She faced them with great courage despite how many of them there were. As each one advanced on her, she struck at them with incredible precision and impressive speed. Each swing of her staff left pain and bruises. Blows were dealt with high accuracy to their heads and vital areas. They were left thoroughly beaten to a pulp. Afina then continued to the lower chambers of the fortress.

The dungeon was dark and smelled horrible like that of stagnate water oozing with slime. It was cold. There was moss growing on the walls and puddles of water everywhere. Even knowing how disgusting that place was, she pressed on. The only thing that brought her some comfort was that there were torches lit to provide lighting; the only things that had any warmth in that area.

At the very end of the dungeon was awaiting the bandit leader. She approached him quietly. He pulled a hostage over to him, and held out a knife. "Submit and no one will be harmed."

The girl stepped forward slowly. When she was within distance, he drew his sword and lunged at her. Her finely honed martial skill was put to the test and she quickly drew her magical wand. Although it was meant mostly for spell casting, she used it as well as any fighting stick in the martial arts.

They clashed and stepped back a bit. The bandit leader made certain she could not get away. Each moved carefully in an attempt to study each other's strengths and weaknesses. They excelled in the art of fighting and were prepared to launch an attack the moment an opportunity arose.

Both were careful not to let their guard down or to expose any hint of weakness. The probing lasted for a good five minutes as they stared each other down. She was as swift as a deer, powerful as a bear, rooted firmly like a might oak, and as deceptive as an animal in camouflage. Her fighting spirit was indomitable. The bandit too was equally strong and cunning.

The girl took in a deep breath. That was when the bandit leader made a strike. He slashed and thrust rapidly. With each motion, he could feel closer to victory. She evaded skillfully and struck with her wand; thrusting and bringing her weapon onto his vital areas. He quickly dodged and moved out of the way.

For too long the battle lasted. He was a strong opponent. For now she had strength, but knew that should that conflict be prolonged she would lose. The battle ready magician then remembered her lessons at Shiren's home. "When strong feign weakness." Poised and without delay, her wand wielding arm was withdrawn and she stepped back.

Not wanting to grant any advantage to her, he instinctively stepped forward and assaulted her with a furious blow. As he was about to strike her down, her wand was promptly thrust at him. She let out a loud cry which was following by a blinding flash of light. A short range lightning spell had been unleashed. It instantly paralyzed him and ended the fight. Defeated, he fell to the ground like a mighty tree.

"How, how could you still use your magic at such close range?"

"That fight was definitely intense. For a bandit, you performed well as a fighter. So I will explain. That skill was actually a gift from a friend long ago. In close quarters combat, you can still apply great force by taking advantage of techniques such as proper breath control, and utilization of the whole body; that includes your spirit. Finally, to implement these principles fully, you must be in total harmony. Only then could you cast an impressive burst of magic within such a short range.

When you can get back up, leave and never return."

The bandit nodded in agreement and laid on the ground.

Afina took his keys and unlocked the cells holding the villagers. She untied them and examined them for bruises and any other injuries that could have befallen them. Some of them cried. "Thank you for coming to save us."

"I am glad you are all safe. They should not be bothering you again."

As they left the stronghold, she faced the thick outer walls and began casting a spell. Invisible plasma formed from her body like the branches of a great tree reaching for sunlight. The air quickly ionized and her hair stood on end. The violet limbs of that tree turned an electric blue. Then glowed a brilliant white. There was a loud clap, as tremendous blast of pure magical energy was released. It was so potent that the walls were quickly torn down; leaving nothing but rubble. With the fortress destroyed, they headed back to the village.




Back at their residences, they all cleaned up and celebrated.

"You have my gratitude for saving our people." The village elder bowed to the young heroine. They sung songs the whole night. After it was over, they rested.

The next day, she packed her things and headed back to the house where she had grown up in.

The whole journey was spent pouring over her past. How long it had been since she had seen her favorite toys, her vast collection of books, and the way her parents read to her.

Old memories welled up for her as she made each step towards her house. Soon she caught sight of her family waiting in the front. They could not help but weep; unable to see her for over ten years.

"It is good to see you home again. I see that the legendary Mithril Magician has made her presence known to us. We have heard rumors of a heroine going around rescuing people in need." Her mother stared at her intently and then smiled. The girl covered her mouth and let out an unending stream of tears. "I am so happy that I can come home now." They conversed for many hours. She then told them the stories of her adventures and everything that had happened since she had left home.