turning his head to look at the girl. Finding her blue eyes looking at him from only a few inches away, Sebastian wasn't surprised when Ashleen tilted her chin up bringing her lips to his. The kiss was gentle and soft. He could smell the flowered scent of her perfume and perhaps that of the soap she had found in the markets that was more expensive than the mage with a farmer's background could imagine.
Their talking paused as they repeated their kiss and he felt her right hand slide up his chest to caress his neck. Sebastian could feel a slight electricity between them and it wasn't just from their bond. Ashleen, as a wilder, always had her power on and couldn't prevent at least some of the defensive electricity leaking from her skin. Her power came from her connection to the earth and Sebastian often wondered how she could be tied so closely to it without burning up as they knew would happen to most wizards. If he could ever figure out how that worked, maybe the mage wouldn't need a staff to tap the earth's energy.
Even as they kissed, the mage's thoughts managed to wander trying to solve other questions he had. Sebastian had been called mizard at one point. A combination of wizard and mage for his ability to create mage spells out of ones he witnessed wizards use, the nickname had changed to owl for the supposed wisdom or at least knowledge the mage seemed to be gaining as he let his mind dream bigger than any other battle mage had before him.
"Stop thinking," Ashleen mumbled with her lips touching his. Her hand slapped his chest lightly before returning to his cheek once more making him want to laugh. The girl seemed to know when his mind wandered and at this time she only wanted his mind on her.
He didn't blame Ashleen and didn't mind letting go for a little while at least.
Their friends had met them at the Black Smith Inn that night. Fewer of those he had come to Hala with were around these days, but some of the wizards and mages remained in the city. He was pretty sure that part of that came from his leaders who hoped to get more out of him. While Sebastian had discovered dozens of new spells that could be used by battle mages over the last year and a half, his newest breakthroughs kept them watching him. The wizards and mages who had become part of his team were useful in bringing more out of him, or so Sebastian guessed at their thoughts.
Having a core group to relax with for long periods was tough while serving Southwall as a soldier, wizard or battle mage. They were transferred often. Once he would make new friends, invariably a new mission or place of work would be decided for him making him move and have to do it all over again. Of course, Sebastian hadn't been relocated as often or separated from teams that he liked to work with as much as most serving their country.
His length of service was really too short to begin to complain, but after his time training at the school in White Hall, Sebastian hadn't spent more than a few months in any one place. He had managed to keep most of his tournament team together over the summer, but that was because they had also been on a ship together performing a secret mission.
It was the remnants of that team staying in Hala which he and Ashleen had met for dinner and dancing.
Even while enjoying his time with the others, however, something had been eating at Sebastian since his time in the enemy's warehouse hideout. He had slept lightly and while it was still dark, Sebastian had given up on his rest to go wash up for the morning in the bathroom at the end of the hall.
Slipping out from under Ashleen's draping arm and leg as she snuggled against his side, the young man did his best not to awaken the wilder. He noted the gray light in the room coming through the drawn blinds. His eyes went from the light to the girl lying in his bed.
A pretty, blonde haired girl; Ashleen was sleeping in a thin shirt with straps over her shoulders looking peaceful as she slept. The