2 A New friend

I heard a sound behind me. And immediately whirled around, ready to attack whatever threat stood behind me,a magical shield already formed in my hand.

It was a young girl, no more than twelve years old, her face streaked with dirt and tears. She was staring at me with wide, fearful eyes.

I lowered my shield, allowing the magic to dissipate. "Who are you?" I asked the girl.

"My name is gift," the girl replied, her voice trembling. "Are...are you the one they call the witch?"

I hesitated. "I suppose I am," i said. "But I'm not what they say I am."

Gift's eyes widened. "You saved me. The hunters were chasing me, too."

My heart sank at the girl's words. The hunters weren't just after me, they were hunting all magic users and mutants. "How long have you been on the run?" I asked.

Gift shook her head. "It's been so long, I'm not sure I can remember... the hunters took my family away but I was able to escape,I've been hiding in the abandoned parts of the city, I thought they'd given up." She swallowed hard. "Until tonight."

My gaze hardened. "We have just ourselves now gift, and you need to be strong if you want to see your parents again, we need to find a way to get out of here."

Gift hesitated,

Common Gift, you can trust me. I won't hurt you, it's either you come with me let's find somewhere safe to be and find a way to stop these so called "hunters" or you stay here and get captured by the Hunter's like your parents

Gift nodded. I'll come with you.... She said, her heart pounding hard in her chest, I didn't know how but I could hear every beat.

Together, Arlie and Gift slipped out of the alley and into the night, 

They kept to the back streets, ducking into alleys and abandoned buildings.

 Whenever they heard the sound of patrolling hunters. Gift clung to Arlie's hand like a lifeline.

"Where are we going?" Gift asked, her voice low and trembling.

"To a place where magic and mutants can't be hunted," i replied, fixing my eyes on the horizon.

The night wore on, the air growing colder and more still. I knew we couldn't keep running forever we needed shelter, and fast.

As we rounded a corner, I caught sight of a familiar landmark: the old cathedral, its crumbling facade illuminated by the moonlight. The place had been abandoned for years, but I knew a secret passage that led to an underground network of tunnels.

"This way," I said to Gift, grabbing her hand and leading her into the darkness.

I pushed open a hidden panel in the side of the cathedral, revealing a narrow stairwell leading down into the depths of the earth. The air was damp and musty, the sounds of our footsteps echoed through the tunnels.

"Where are we?" Gift asked, her voice echoing in the darkness.

"This is eleftheria," Arlie replied. "It used to be part of the city's infrastructure, before magic user's and mutants were seen as tools of power absorbtion. The tunnels lead to an underground network of magic users and mutants, who've been hiding from the hunters for decades."

How'd you know about this place, Gift asked

My mum told me about it, i said 

Arlie led Gift deeper into the catacombs, following the twists and turns of the tunnels until they reached a heavy wooden door. She knocked and placed her forehead on the door, and the door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man with a thick beard and piercing eyes.

"Arlie," he said, stepping aside to let them in.

How'd you know my name... I asked, obviously surprised 

You wield a very strong power within you, how could I not sense it, he said, his gaze piercing into my now confused eyes

And who do we have here, he said unbotherd about my confusion and shifted his gaze to Gift

I clasped my hands tightly around Gift's. "She's a magic user, like me. The hunters were after us."

"Welcome to eleftheria, Arlie and Gift, this is a safe haven for all the supreme mutants and magic users, in here we're family." He gestured for us to follow him deeper into the tunnels, which were lit by flickering torches.

Gift stared in awe at the underground settlement that greeted them. It was like a city within a city, with people of all ages and backgrounds moving about.

What's your name, I asked the man

"You can call me Thane," he replied. "I'm the leader of this place. Our people have been hiding here for years, ever since the mages were hunted,executed and stripped of their powers."

"I'm sure you two must be starving, you must have had a long day."

You can't even imagine...I replied

Follow me, thane said

He ushered us into a well-lit dining hall, where several students were eating. Professor Thane introduced us briefly as the newest additions to eleftheria and urged them to make us feel welcomed, then says, 

Help yourself to the food. We'll start lessons tomorrow, he added.

I and Gift piled our plates with food and proceeded to find a spot at the long wooden table. 

As I ate, I noticed that the atmosphere in the dining hall was both lively and respectful. The Students were chatting and laughing, but not so loudly as to disturb others.

This place was amazing, they were just like a family here, it was so amazing to be in a place where mutants and magic users could freely be theirselves without the fear of the Hunter's, I hope the hunters don't invade this sanctuary

. "Eleftheria has been here for centuries,"We've seen wars, we've seen disasters, but we have always stood strong. This school is a safe haven for those with gifts like yours. No one will hurt you here." Thane said as if reading my thoughts 

Professor Thane sat at the edge of the table, beside him was a slim young woman whose hair was long and completely white, she sat just beside him, I wondered who she was, I thought to myself. 

Well I'm here, I guess I'll find out soon enough

After dinner, Thane led I and gift to our rooms. Gift didn't want to stay away from me, she'd been through so much in the hands of the Hunter's and all at Such a young age, at this point I was the only one she could trust, I understood her, so I let her share my bed.

The rooms were medium sized and clean, with a bed, a desk, and a window looking out into the forest. The evening breeze rustles the leaves, providing a peaceful soundtrack.

Try to get some rest," Thane said. "Tomorrow, you'll begin your studies in earnest. You'll learn about the history of our people, you'll study the art of using your powers, and you'll learn to defend yourself against those who would seek to harm you, you don't have to be afraid any longer, Arlie.