Aidan fled as fast as he could, away from the old man's cottage. His thoughts were irrational and panicked.

That old man was going to sell me to slavers! I should have known! What if they're pursuing me!

He kept running until he his legs gave out and he had to stop, gasping for breath. He surveyed the direction he had come from, but there was no indication the elusive slavers were following. The foliage was so abundant; that he began to forget which way he had come. Leaves rustled behind him, and a juvenile voice caused him to nearly jump out of his skin.

"What are you doing here?" Aidan turned to see a youth of about fourteen years glaring at him. He had fiery scarlet many fire mages, and intense brown eyes. Aidan ran a hand quickly through his own flawless raven hair, withdrawing twigs in disgust.

"." Aidan coughed. "I was fleeing from slavers. They were." The youngster's somber expression broke into a smile. His mouth twitched, and then he erupted in bales of laughter.

"Mister, there aren't any slavers around here! This is a civilized village!"

"Dragon, Del wants to know what you're doing?" A euphonious, puerile voice inquired. A petite, chestnut-haired girl appeared next to the hysterically laughing boy. She gasped at the sight of Aidan, and hid behind the older boy.

"Jule! Dragon! Who are you talking too?" An elder girl or rather woman paced into view. "Who are you?" She demanded quickly. Aidan ran another hand through his now not-so-perfect hair, and shakily got to his feet.

"I am Aidan of the Order of the Dragon." Dragon ceased laughing and stared at him with wonder. Jule beamed, and peeked around him.

"You are a mage?" The older girl asked anxiously.

"So what, you actually trust this pansy." Another boy walked over to stand beside the older girl. He appeared to be around her age, but his eyes were steel gray and impenetrable, while hers were cerulean and sorrowful.

"Ty, look at him." Del gestured at Aidan, causing him to nervously run his hands through his hair. "The poor boy's petrified." Aidan frowned, then primly stared down his nose at her and brushed leaves and loam off his clothes.

"I am not a boy, I am a full mage." He added less resolutely, "And I am not petrified." Ty cocked an eyebrow and snickered. Dragon scowled at Ty, and flicked a flame at him.

"Ty, this mage could help us!" He growled. Aidan frowned and observed the stubborn expressions on both youth's faces.

"Dragon, have you gone completely crazy?" Ty snarled. "Trusting an outsider, and a simpering idiot such as this." Del sighed and shook her head.

"I am sorry. Tyson doesn't take kindly to strangers." Aidan nodded, and quickly handed her several gold coins. Delaine stared at her hand, dumfounded, and then back at Aidan. He turned to leave then smiled benevolently.

"Keep those. You can tell Tyson I shall be setting off alone." Aidan disappeared into the foliage, Delaine staring after. Tyson ceased arguing with Dragon, and watched the mage leave.

The small hamlet was dark and hushed. Aidan walked through the village, his thoughts returning to the mage-child, Dragon. A mage, who found a similar elemental wielding child, had the responsibility of returning the child to the Mage School.

He dismissed the thought, and searched for an inn. Unfortunately, the common people were illiterate, or at the very least, close to it. The signs above the shops were wretchedly crude. Nearly every sign read "In" with an arrow pointing into the shop.

As he approached the largest building, he began to get a chill. Nervously, he spun around and scanned the deserted street. An alley cat darted across the street, chasing a minute mouse. Unconvinced, Aidan cautiously turned back around and again walked towards the building. A frigid breeze blew through the hamlet, the wind whistling hauntingly. Aidan shivered and crossed his arms close to his body. Somewhere far off, a wolf howled, as the moon disappeared behind gossamer clouds.

"Nice night for a walk. Wouldn't you say?" The silky whisper floated through the empty street. Aidan quickly conjured a flame in his hand, and held it warily, searching the shadowy street. "Poor frightened little mage, all alone." Despite it's softness, the whisper echoed in the deserted streets.

" are you?" Aidan choked. "Where are you?" He demanded, slightly fiercer. The whisper chuckled and the street seemed to darken.

" sweet little mage." the whisper sighed. Aidan shivered again, and increased the mana of his fireball. "Don't be afraid, little mage, come here. Come to me, little mage." The whisper began to take a direction, and Aidan could see a ghostly hand beckoning.

"Stay back." Aidan ordered, readying his fireball. Thunderous, chilling laughter echoed again. Footsteps approached from behind him, and he whirled around. A burly farmer wearing some sort of uniform was walking towards him, his face frightened and angry.

"A wizard!" He roared. Aidan glanced at the fireball in his hand, and quickly extinguished it.

"Sir, I." Aidan protested futiley