D elphinia was a gregarious tabby, her eyes sparkling,her warm smile always ready to say hello. Looking at her, you would see an attractive Feline, her muscles moving tightly under her fur, her trim waist encompassed by a leather belt, her brightly colored baldric holding her sword, cheerful garments for a cheerful personality. She was happy on this bright summer day, having been accepted as a student in the small school of magic in her little town Mehlan. Her books in a satchel, she stepped lightly on the path to school, she always looked forward to a day of learning the ways of healing and helping.

The little school was the pride of the town, a master magician named Kimral had started it years ago, teaching the ways of the wise, and always a gentle word or helping hand when anyone ever approached him. He was accepted by the community because of his gentle ways, and healing skills he brought with him.

The school was nestled into a copse of evergreens, with flowers and hedges all around to complete the peaceful scene. Master Kimral loved blooming plants and planted more whenever he could, or the students did as a favor to him. The wise old feline could always be seen puttering in his herb garden or just wandering the town as the mood struck him. Delphinia always loved the way he smiled and the whispering voice that was never raised in anger, to his students he was a gentle feline, to others he was a wise man to be respected.

Delphinia opened the large door to the school and peered inside, Master Kimral was at his desk writing furiously in one of the many large tomes he always kept. The shelves being lined with the by the hundreds, they represented a vast store of knowledge of the healing arts. Master Kimral added new knowledge daily to help his students become better healers.

She walked quietly in and sat down, “Master Kimral?”

He looked up and the gray muzzle wrinkled as he smiled endearingly, “My child, how are you today? Come to see an old Feline at his work?”

She smiled back,”No Master, you said you wished to see me today.”

He thought for a second, “OH! Yes yes, Delphinia correct? Yes, I do wish to talk to you, your studies are going well I hope?”

“Yes, they are Master, I enjoy every day here.”

“That is wonderful to hear, but Delphinia, there is something we must talk about seriously.” He looked at her and his face took a slightly grim look.

“Master, what is wrong? Have I done something wrong in my studies? Have I angered you in some way, if so I am sorry, please do not expel me.” Her face looked stricken and worried.

“No no no, my child, do not fear, I am not going to expel you.” He smiled warmly, “There is something I have seen about you, you have some power inside you I cannot readily identify, it is there, I can feel it in your aura and deep in your soul.”

“Is it something evil Master? I have never done anyone any wrong?” Her smile was gone as she frantically thought of things in her past.

He came around the desk and put a tiny paw under her chin and looked at her, “My child, there is nothing you have done or said wrong, there comes a time when some few of those with magical ability develop something stronger and more powerful. This is one of those times, there is nothing to fear, it can be a wondrous thing. In very, very few cases it something that is flawed and twisted, and then we must beware and try to stop it before it harms. But those are very rare, so don’t worry pretty Delphinia, it is not something twisted inside of you, but it is something dreadfully powerful.” He smiled as he patted her shoulder.

She sat there mulling over what she had been told, worry showed on her face as she thought of the dreadful stories she had heard of the Folk who had walked the path of evil because of their powers taking them over.

Kimral looked at her quizzically, “My child I see that my words have done more harm than good, we shall pick up your studies at a faster pace now, your talent should not be wasted, alright?”

Delphinia brightened, faster pace? She could hardly contain herself, she could learn all the higher healing spells now and help Master Kimral in his works, “Thank you Master Kimral, oh thank you!”

“Now this does not mean you will be able to slack off now,” he smiled and waggled his paw at her, “You will have to work a bit harder than everyone else.”

She grinned broadly, “I will work very hard Master, oh I will!”

He laughed, “There is one more thing, for your power, whatever that may be, to emerge fully, there is usually has to be a trial or you are placed under great stress to bring it out, a bad injury to another, whatever it may be. Be prepared to come to me when it does emerge so we can figure out what path you must take. Is that agreeable to you?”

She nodded lightly, “I will come to you immediately I sense something Master, I promise.”

He bowed, “I think you my child, will become something special, something wonderful.”

She blushed and looked at her desk, “I am just your student Master, just your student.”

He patted her shoulder again as the other students began to come in, the teaching was to begin for another day. She pushed herself to study harder and pay attention to every word, every nuance.

On her way home, she thought about what he had said and hoped she was not one of those rare, twisted folk, unable to comfort herself by remembering Master Kimral’s words. She had a hard time finishing her late meal, because she worried too much.

That night before going to bed, she looked up into the night sky and asked the powers above to not let her become an evil thing, to let her help as she had done before. Blowing the candle out it was a while before peace overcame her.

Dawn was breaking when she was awoken by the sounds of steel clashing and the screams of townspeople, grabbing her sword she ran to the door to be confronted by an axe bearing hyooman. Ducking and running him through she dove outside to see buildings in flames and a hyooman raiding party in full swing, the town militia trying vainly to stop the fires and fight off the hyoomans. Taking her blade, she swung full force with a couple of wolves from the town militia, swinging and cutting their way through the hyooman’s. One of her companion’s was cut down when they were caught unawares, trapped between burning buildings by a group of hyoomans, no where to run or escape, they faced their doom stoicly.

Her stomach tightened as the hyooman troops closed in on them, a rage built up inside her as she felt a warmth flow from her midsection to encompass her whole body, her eyes flashed as she dropped her blade and howled in pain at the overwhelming feeling. Her head throbbed with pain as she strove to bring herself back to the present, colors came and went as her body hummed with unrestrained power. Her companion watched with horror as she glowed brighter than the flames around them, more terrified of her than the approaching hyoomans, his jaw went slack as he saw her head snap back and her body arch from something that seemed to be tearing her apart. He backed away as far as he could and watched with wide eyes at Delphinia as she changed, became something else before him.

The pain lessened as she opened her eyes and saw the approaching hyoomans, her paws snapped out and bright, flaring light shot from them and burned the enemy down where they stood, the smoking remains not even recognizable as something that used to be alive.

She turned to see a wolf just staring and watching her,”Come on! We’ve got to help!”

He recovered himself and raised his blade, “Delphinia, I don’t know what just happened, but as long as you’re on our side, we’re gonna be okay.”

She stared at him for a second as the power welled up again, she fought for control as they ran through the streets looking for Folk that needed their help.

Turning a corner they spotted children being rounded up by hyooman troops, for the slave trade in the north most likely she thought, her right paw snapped out and clenched, a hyooman went down with his chest crushed. Her paws snapped out again and again as the power kept feeding her, hyooman troops lay about crushed and torn with nothing more than a thought, the Folk around her just watching this slight, attractive feline kill with no more than a gesture. They saw troops from the garrison arrive and take over from the militia, hyooman’s were hunted for miles so that none escaped to tell of the town’s survival, lessening the chance of another raid when their troops did not show back to their encampment, they cut the hyooman’s down without mercy.

The fires still burned in the embers of some buildings, the day began to dawn as she searched frantically for her teacher and friend. In the town square, she saw him giving comfort and using his healing skills to the fullest, she grabbed him and forced him to take a break seeing how haggard he looked. She brought him a cup of water to cool him and sooth his weary body, she wiped his face clean of the black from the fires and washed his eyes out. He sputtered and protested, but knew it was no good, she was going to keep him there to rest.

She waited until he had regained himself and looked into his face, tears rolling down her muzzle as she felt ashamed,”Master...I..I killed, against all of your teachings I killed without mercy. A power like nothing I ever felt came upon me, and I slaughtered the hyoomans where they stood, no compassion, nothing, I just killed them.”

He swept her into his thin arms, “Oh my child..my precious child. You did what you had to do, your trial came and there is much to learn.” He held her tightly as she sobbed on his chest, “The Gods have given you a special gift my precious one, you are one of a very, very few Folk who have ever inherited this power.”

She peered at him through swollen eyes, “But I don’t want this power! I don’t want to harm anything, I want to heal and be a teacher like you Master. I want to just love life..not take it away!”

“My child, the Gods balance everything they do, you will be come a healer, oh, probably a great healer. But at the same time, you must understand what it is you have become, I have only seen this happen with one other in my lifetime, but he was a strong young Canine and became a wonderful magician.”

She sniffed and wiped her muzzle, drinking water offered to her by Kimral, “What...what have I become? Some monster to be tormented day and night? Some twisted evil thing that kills at a whim?”

“You ask the same questions that the young Canine asked, it is all confusing I am sure, but together we can work and harness the awesome strength you have in you. He was unsure as you are, but he became a wondrous magician, though you wouldn’t know it by looking at him as he is somewhat of a trickster.”

“So what am I Master? Please at least tell me I won’t turn into some evil thing.”

He smiled and hugged her tightly, “There is no evil in you Delphinia, your heart is as pure as spring water and your soul is clear. I do not think the Gods would choose a black soul to carry such power, never fear Delphinia, for your path is bright.”

He held her pretty face between wizened hands, “You my precious one, are a WarMage.”

The days passed by quickly as Delphinia studied with Kimral to help harness and use the power which had sprung up inside her. They sat for hours talking and puttering in his garden when the sessions became too long, “Master, what is a WarMage and why do the Gods pick Folk like me?”

Kimral sat back on his haunches,”That story is a good one Delphinia, let us get out of the summer sun and into the cool of the house, I will tell you the tale over a cold drink.”

Settling down in chairs Kimral lit up his pipe and looked thoughtful for a moment, “Long ago before our age, the Folk of that time were peaceful as we are now, but threatening them was a great darkness from the edges of the World. The Gods in their wisdom had long ago decided not to bring themselves to interfere in the affairs of mortals, but that did not mean they couldn’t give a helping hand ocasionally. Unto the world came a messenger who sought out the pure of heart, the bright spirits that stood out from among the others, only one in a great many was chosen and brought to a Sacred Grove lost long ages ago.”

“Out of all the lands, only thirty Folk stood in that ancient circle, looking around them as night began to fall, a bright spear of light shone from the ground and cast a shield around the grove protecting them all. A tall figure, handsome and bedecked in garments of pure light walked out from the spear and approached the group, recognizing that this was obviously a Prime, they fell to their knees in obeisance and bowed their heads.”

“The wondrous being smiled and greeted them warmly, bidding them to rise, “No, my children, do not bow before me, I am nothing to be worshiped, please, rise my friends.”

“The assembled group rose and stood nervously, never before had they seen such a sight, light shone from the beings’ clothes and warmth surrounded them that stood in its shadow.

One of the Folk asked of the being, “My Lord, you are obviously a being of power, why would you need such ones as we? Have we not served the Gods whenever they asked a boon of us, we have done nothing wrong.”

“My children, no wrongs have you committed, for we have come here to grant you help in your War against the great Darkness that is sweeping down from the edges of the World. But you must take it of your own free will, we can only ask, not command. The burden upon you will be great, but we believe that Folk such as you will use what we give you for the good of all.”

“Will you accept this gift to help turn the tide against the evil ones?”

“As one they bow their heads in acceptance of the gift, the being walked down the line of them and lay his huge paw on each of their shoulders, as he embraced them, light surged into their bodies and many lay wracked in pain as the light sunk into them. The being waited until the group had recovered and stood once more in front of him.”

“I give to you the power of endless light, use it wisely in defense of others or to protect your homelands, turn it to evil purpose and become that which you fear the most. I leave the rest to you my WarMages, go and help turn the terror around.”

“In a flash he was gone, and the Mages swore an oath on that very ground to protect those in need, to pass this wisdom on to their heirs and families that Folk might not forget. With that, they strode off into legend, turning the tide of darkness back until it was no longer a threat.”

Kimral puffed on his pipe as Delphinia thought about what he had said, “Master, will I have to be a hero? I don’t wish to fight or be in battles, though I have been before I just don’t like it very much.”

The smile returned to Kimral’s face, “My child, you are already a hero for saving those people during the raid. You have it in you.”

Delphinia left her town after Master Kimral had deemed her ready, she was tearful as she left him standing on his porch, she waved and strode off into the forests. Kimral stood there with tears in his eyes, wondering if he would ever see the precious Feline again.

War had already begun when the Hyooman forces invaded deep into Folk territory, it was to last for long, bloody years before ending.

But during that time, rumors and stories filtered out of the war zones about soldiers who were backed against a wall facing their doom , when a beautiful Feline walked out of flames to save them, or a town that was saved by the angry might of a slight figure that faced hyooman troops without fear.

How troops would see a lithe figure enter their camp and share their fire and food, then walk off into the night. The next day the scouts finding scenes of devastation that could only have been the angel.

Tales of a pretty feline with bluegreen eyes that had her routing hyooman forces with the might of Elementals, or the burning flame at her beck and call, the soldiers and families who spoke of the angel who came and saved them in their direst hour.

Kimral kept writing the rumors and tales down because he knew that out there somewhere, his precious Delphinia was being true to the gift, that the sad, tearful young feline he had once comforted was a bright flame, bringing hope and light where there once was only darkness.

He went to the porch and stood looking at the night sky, a tear rolling down the gray muzzle as he whispered to the night sky, “Be well my little angel, be well.”