Mahnstin and Foxen lingered in the forests of Arcanum avoiding each other-but still staying in sight.
Mahnstin tried to heal his jaw but failed.
Foxen sitting under a crooked trunk-looked away and threw a stone towards him.
Foxen: You are doing it wrong.
First channel your CE through that stone then into your jaw-it will do the job.
Mahnstin raised an eyebrow,skeptical.
Mahnstin: And how do you know about this ?
Foxen: Just saw in a memory.Try it.
Mahnstin still skeptical-channeled his CE through the stone then aimed it towards his jaw-there was a small spark,his jaw heated a little and fixed.The pain was dulled but still sore.
Mahnstin: Oh this really worked.
Foxen: Told you noble bingo.Give it a week and you will call me a sage.
Foxen turned the eye in his hand-it shimmered faintly.
Mahnstin finally decided to question it.
Mahnstin: Are you going to destroy it ?
Foxen: No.
Mahnstin: Why ?
Foxen: With this around....I feel seen.
Mahnstin looked at him-concerned
Mahnstin: You want to be seen! Didn't expect that from you.
Foxen: Don't expect anything from me.
Mahnstin: Poor guy.
Foxen: Says the guy who can't even fix his jaw.
Mahnstin: Same goes for you-you can't heal your mental wounds.
Foxen looked at him-nodded and looked away.
Mahnstin smiled-still rubbing his jaw.
Foxen stood up.
Foxen: Do you like to walk or should I bring your noble magma fueled carrier.
Mahnstin: No need walking is fine by me.
Both of them walked deep inside the dense forest still poking each other.
Mahnstin: So do you always act like a depressed teenager ?
Foxen: Do you always act like shredded philosopher ?
Mahnstin: You are just jealous of my abs.
Foxen: I am more shredded.....by trauma at least.
Both shared a laugh-half hearted.
Foxen: Do you always act like a moral superior spine ?
Mahnstin: At least, I dont carry eyes as trophies.
Foxen: At least I admit it.
Mahnstin: Admit what ?
Foxen: That I am broken.You just pretend to be whole.
Mahnstin didn't answer-for the first time, he felt someone saw right through him.
Their silence was interrupted by a rustle in the bushes.A small, stubby creature with a single large eye blinked at them.
Mahnstin knelt down and gently pet it.The creature nuzzled into his palm.
Foxen: Another eye huh. You collecting them now ?
Mahnstin: It's just a little thing.
Foxen: Little things hurt the most.
Mahnstin: Ah you seem to have the experience.
Foxen: Told you I am a sage.... no a monk.
The creature sensed something and ran away in the bushes.
Foxen chuckled.
Foxen: No one likes you dwarfy.
Mahnstin: It must have gotten sick of your silly jokes.
Foxen: Hey,don't call them silly.
Mahnstin: Ah right,you use sarcasm to cope with things that hurt you.
Foxen didn't answer.He clenched his jaw and changed the topic.
Foxen: So...you a wielder too ?
Mahnstin: Yes..more like a forced one.
Foxen: Same.Weird huh ? seems like a start of bad joke.
Mahnstin: At least better than your jokes.
Suddenly the ground of Arcanum began to tremor.The trees shivered and thunderclouds gathered in the sky.
Mahnstin tried to sense-but failed.
Foxen tried to teleport-but failed
Foxen: What's wrong.I can't focus the CE in my pulse.
Mahnstin: Neither can I.What's going on ?
Foxen: Arcanum hates you.
Mahnstin: The hell are you talking about ?
Suddenly there was spark where they stood.Both of them sensed something.
Both: What the-
And vanished,teleported against their will.
End of chapter 8.