The forest was white washed in light, leaving my attacker and I temporarily blind. I never saw him again, but I was horrified to hear the scream that followed the intense blast. I knew it belonged to Selene, The Princess of Estrieal. As the light faded away, I ran towards her, watching as the shape of her body crumpled. Transportation is difficult enough, let alone the strength needed to cast a light spell that bright. It took all the energy I had left to reach her. Falling at her side, I checked for a pulse…nothing.

I lifted her head into my lap and stroked her face.

“What were you thinking…” I began to sob uncontrollably, I was so exhausted and pain began to radiate from injuries I didn’t even know I had yet. I placed my hands on her cheeks and began chanting air incantations, hoping to get her to start breathing.

“You are not going to die here!” I screamed to the gods. I took a deep breath and poured all the power I had left into my magic. The taste of blood filled my mouth, my throat and chest burned with every word of my spells…still not a trace of life. I sat there willing her to live, to breathe. The forest was as lifeless as she was . Our enemy was slain by the lightning she summoned, but at a cost I was not willing to pay.

“I failed you, Selene! We trained side by side, you were always the stronger one, but I wasn’t even strong enough to save you!”

“Who said it was your job to save me?”

Her emerald green eyes fluttered open and focused on mine as she stirred in my arms. I pulled her into an embrace before I could think better of it. Her grip around me tightened, and we held on to the moment as long as possible.

“I don’t care if we can’t be together, I love you Selene!” I said still holding her close.

She stiffened a little but didn’t pull away.

“I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t say it right now!”

She pulled away, and gently touched the side of my bleeding face.

“Who said we can’t be together?” She rasped with a slight growl in her voice.

She pulled me in and kissed me. The whole world fell away.