You stared at Lukas with awe as he fought the snake with his magic. Those mystical ribbons shipping the snake, freezing the lightning somehow without getting affected by the fire. The rest of the ribbons went straight in as it dispersed into a silver mist that started to kill the fire in it.

"(Y/n)! Nick!" You snapped out of the trance and found Matthias nearing the both of you.

"Matthias, what's going on?" You hugged Nick closer to your chest.

"I'll explain everything, but we've got to get out of here first." You both turned your heads towards Nick who was still coughing.

Matthias placed his hand against Nick's forehead. Despite being incredibly warm for a human person, she shivered as if she was naked in the snow. When Nick opened her eyes, the black that once filled her eyeballs began to crawl back into the sides until they hid themselves (probably) behind her eyeballs. Tiny clouds came out from her mouth every ten seconds as if the temperature she was in was below zero degrees, which was probably not a good sign.

"Can you walk?" You asked, but Nick was still shivering. "Nick?"

Her lips began to pale. Dark circles under her eyes began to deepen as she chattered her teeth.

"She's too drained." Matthias felt her pulse. "I'll have to carry her across the ice, but no one's going to cover for us while we make a run for it."

"Ice? What ice?" You turned to the lake that has been completely frozen.

You raised your eyebrows, astonished by whoever managed to make a frozen lake for people to skate on in the middle of autumn. What puzzled you more was how on earth did the lake freeze so fast? You haven't noticed that Matthias has taken Nick's camera bag on his back before taking her away from your arms.

"What about Lukas?" You gathered your things and looked at the sorcerer.

There wasn't much action left, the snake was now wading away with its entire body starting to static. It hissed and whined uncontrollably at the numerous elements Lukas started to conjure out of thin air, which made a huge backlash on your thoughts from Fullmetal Alchemist—you were pretty sure that Lukas had to trade in something for those things, especially with that giant block of tar that came out of nowhere. From that, you're pretty sure that he'll be fine; but it still worries you. You feared that the worst might inflict itself on Lukas.

Matthias called your name twice. You looked at him while he motioned to start running across the lake. You took one last look Lukas who was still fighting. The expression on his face was calm, but you couldn't tell if he was truly calm with those glowing eyes. The colors of winter's twilight swirled in them like the clearest stone shining against the sun or when the light hits the waters. That was new to you, his eyes looking like the twilight. Even though the warmth of his magic felt familiar, those colors were so new to you.

"He's got himself covered." Matthias' assurance wasn't enough, but it calmed you a bit. "After all, he is the best sorcerer in the world."

"The best sorcerer in the world..." You repeated his words in awe.

A warm feeling grew in your chest. The thought made you worry less and feel a lot safer, but that thought didn't hold you back.

You didn't want to run away and leave him alone. It felt wrong to leave Lukas behind.

It really felt wrong to leave Lukas behind.

"Go on ahead, I'll stay with Lukas." The sudden outburst of you announcement shocked Matthias.

"Are you crazy?!"

"Bitch," You turned back at Matthias as you took your backpack off, "I was born crazy."

Matthias didn't reply. Instead he rose an eyebrow before smiling with pride at you. It weirded you out at first, but you realized something that you haven't noticed since you've been in the field as a photojournalist and photographer. You didn't really give a shit if the situation was dangerous, it was a requirement for all in your field to survive; and you're using that trait of yours off the job.

"Please take care of my babies." You handed your backpack to Matthias.

He nodded. Somehow he managed to carry two camera bags on his back while carrying Nick in his arms.

"I'll be back, I promise."

Your words somehow struck you oddly, as if you said them to the wrong person.

Everything was set for the two to go. Nick was still in his arms, half-conscious and presumably sleeping at this point. There was no way you were letting someone get that drained today, especially not the person who's been covering the three of you for a good fifteen minutes. Using that much power is possibly dangerous for magicians, even for powerful ones like Lukas. You have no idea how powerful Nick exactly is, but you weren't going to take your chances on the contrast of powers you've just seen now; no way you'd let that man fall now.

It was time for some support to come into the lane to defeat the monster.

You turned back at the fight scene. You couldn't tell if Lukas was tiring out or not, but like your thoughts earlier, there was no way in hell you were letting him down.

You scanned the area for something you can use—a weapon, something to help Lukas, or perhaps the weak spot of the monster. You definitely didn't think this through, but you had to try. Your instincts told you so.

My instincts suck ass!

You silently sobbed, but you were here now. There was no turning back, and you didn't need your instincts to tell you what to do now. Once there's a goal, there's got to be a way.

And perhaps that way was too convenient and too weird for you to take in when it appeared.

The glowing thing on your chest earlier was back, but it didn't give you any visions this time. Whatever pain it has inflicted on you before was replaced by a cozy feeling. It reminded you of a bon fire in the middle of the cold while someone cuddles close with you; like warm chocolate with marshmallows on top, but with a scent of coffee somewhere around. You knew that those things made you feel loved whenever you were down or just out in the air.

You placed your hand against your chest. Your heart beat began to pick up the pace as the light on your chest grew brighter.

You felt something coming out of your chest. There was neither pain nor a stinging, just a warm feeling coming out. It made you feel brave. It made you feel calm, but you looked at it with such passion and amazement. The next step of this phenomenon came a leather hilt.

You held the hilt that stuck out of your chest.

It's meant to be.

Everything that's happening now is no coincidence, and you're sure that whatever you were taking out of your chest was given to you for a reason—a reason that has yet to unfold. Whatever it was, it's going to start now.

You pulled the hilt and out came the sword that was stuck in your chest.

"Huh?"

You didn't really expect a sword to come out. In fact, you were pretty sure that it was not supposed to be a sword. You did expect a weapon, but not a sword.

"Okay, now this is just some cliché K-drama shit right here." You mumbled.

You looked up and saw the monster roaring. The damage has been done, but it wasn't enough to put it down.

Lukas was fast, but the regeneration of the monster was fast as well. Whatever damaged Lukas did, it healed up quickly; and whatever damaged it did to Lukas, it came back at it thrice as harder than its own hit. Lukas was powerful, but he had a limited field of vision. You saw the opening he couldn't see, or perhaps only you can see.

The snake's heart (probably) was moving all throughout its body, literally. It zoomed back and forth like a bullet train, quite fast. But it wasn't fast enough to hide from your sight.

You breathed in and out. You finally had a plan.

You gripped the sword tight in your hands. The blade was surprisingly light, despite its size. The grip was right and the fluidity when you raised it to your chest was too smooth; as if this sword was meant for you.

It's meant to be.

You started to run towards a giant boulder that was behind the snake. It stood a good distance, but it was there—a chance.

You climbed the jagged boulder with the sword jammed between your belt and pants. It wasn't a simple and easy climb, but it wasn't too difficult to stop you from climbing it. Hell, you'd climb it anyways if there were spikes, someone was in trouble!

Your drive to help this man shocked you, for every moment you only had him in thought. Yet there was a thrill that excited you as well.

You reached the top, a smoothened slope. It was perfect for you to stand on. The boulder was just the right height to make a jump on to it's head.

"Mom, if you're really up there, please don't let me fuck this up." You prayed silently.

You unsheathed the sword from your makeshift holster of a belt. The satisfying sound of it's unsheathing calmed you a bit as you felt the heat and cold fight over dominance in the air. You took a few steps back.

You were so letting the cold win today.

You ran towards the edge of the boulder and took that leap of faith, raising your sword up your head.

The snake realized its fate too late.

Your blade pierced through it's head. Immediately, it cried aloud from the sudden strike. The adrenaline in you rushed through your veins like the moving heart inside of it. You let out a cry as you pulled your sword down like a lever with all your weight.

A tear began to rip through it's fiery body, letting embers out into the open. The electricity it had around it as a skeleton began to disperse into the fire as it continued to scream.

You had your eyes shut close to prevent the ashes and embers from your eyes, but you didn't feel a thing coming at your face; despite the closure you had between the snake.

Once your feet touched the ground, you opened your eyes and continued to drag your sword through the remaining length. The tip of your sword was right behind the moving heart. You picked up the pace until you managed to tear it through.

You pulled your sword back to you with more force than you expected. You staggered backwards before catching your balance with it.

I-I did it? You huffed and gasped, your right hand on your knee.

You straightened up and turned back to where the snake once stood. There was nothing, but a small ring of ashes and dying embers.

And in the middle of that ring if fire was Lukas, looking at you with awe.

"Hey..." You locked your gaze on his.

"Why didn't you run?" His eyes were back to normal.

Your breath hitched as you started to march towards him, dragging your sword along with you. It didn't matter what was going to happen next or what the consequences were.

"Lukas," He shivered at your call, "Lukas, Lukas..."

You stopped right in front of him. Your eyes looking into his with a curious look that he misses so much. The warmth of your (e/c) eyes looking into his made him feel weak, but he didn't dare show it.

You were older and more experienced now, he could see it. The windows of your soul made him breathless as he could tell that you have gone through things that he has encountered and things he hasn't yet. He knew that you've changed to a much stronger version of yourself after all those years, and you were already strong to begin with. It mystified him. It brought him relief that you could handle yourself even better than before, and against a supernatural too!

"You're crying..." You raised your hand and gently cupped his face.

Lukas' eyes softened as you wiped a tear from his cheeks. His heart softened, that cold demeanor broke. All of his emotions swelled up as the tears continued to run down his cheeks.

You dropped your sword and began to wipe the tears away. It broke your heart—a man you've just met broke your heart by crying in front of you without a reason.

"Who are you, really?" This time a tear rolled down your cheek.

"I'm Lukas," He managed to answer, "I'm Lulas Bondevik."

"Tell me who you really are, Bondevik." You breathed. "Tell me."

Somehow you already knew the answer. This man was out of this world, beyond the things normal people see. He was a part of the world you can see, but you never dared to interfere with; and you can see it through those bright panes of lavender that protected his soul. You knew that he knew, and he knew that you knew. You just couldn't remember how, where, and when. It was killing you.

"Tell me, please." Your eyes grew stern.

"Fine." He said with ease. "I believe I do owe you an explanation, Ms. (Last Name)."

"Who are you, Bondevik—or what are you, perhaps?" You readied yourself.

"What am I?" He rose an eyebrow.

You nodded. Lukas couldn't resist the curiosity of those eyes. It lulled him like a siren calling out to him—something he has encountered before and you had to save him from, and my oh my, how the tables have turned. No one can rescue Lukas now.

It's now or never.

"I am a troll hunter and I am ordered to protect you, (Y/n)."

"Protect me?" You raised an eyebrow. "From what?"

"Not 'what,' but 'who.'"

"From who then?"

"Your uncle, Ms. (Last Name)." Your eyes widened at his statement.

"Your Uncle Jared is finally coming out to get you, and this is his first warning."

Well hello family drama.

AIGHT! I apologize for the delay, but I finally got it done. Sorry if it kinda sucked, I was trying my best to describe shit but it ended up looking like a mess :(((

Also, if you guys haven't noticed (well of course you've noticed) that this book has no cover or whatsoever. I'm trying to look for something else rather than fan art because I fear the copyright thing and I don't want to be issued with art theft, and that also means that I might change the cover for The Troll Hunter as well. I don't have enough money to request a commission, so I'm going to try my best (with my photography skills) to take a photo of whatever screams book cover.

Auf Wiedersehen for now!

-Pumpkin