After the Rain Stops

Martial Artist Chò

As Kara walked around the school, she stopped at a bench and  sighed quietly.
This was the third time this month a stupid Minion had done this. And the twelfth time she's gotten detention.

As she was secretly loathing herself, a girl with black hair walked up with a leather backpack on her shoulder. She sat it down, then flopped onto the bench.
"Whoo, what a hike! You Mages and your mountains. No wonder you don't get many visitors!' She says, chewing on a piece of Elkwood, a small root with a gummy texture and the faint taste of wine.

Kara raised her eyebrow at the girl.
"Who are you?" She asks, scooting away subtly from the girl.
The girl smiles and jerks her thumb to herself.
"I'm Chò, Martial Artist and future Battle Master! Nice to meet ya!" Chò says, her whole attitude yelling Optimistic.
Kara was wary of this girl. What was she doing at a Mage colledge?

"So... What're you doing here?" She asks, pulling her bag to herself like a shield.
Chò smiles. "I'm here to hire a wizard!"
Kara's curiosity peaked. The Mage's college hadn't done that in years...
"You know we don't do that anymore, right?"

Chò pops the Elkwood bubble. "Yup."
"Well... Why come and hire someone knowing that?"
She shrugged. "Thought I could make a difference? I dunno."
Kara looked around. No one was looking at them, or even paying attention to them.
"Well, what about a travel buddy?" Kara asks, siezing the chance to escape her personal prison.

Chò pops another bubble and thinks about it.
"Sure, why not? Its better than talking to this old piece of wood." She says, jerking her thumb to a wooden staff at her side.
Kara's face went blank.
"You talk to... A staff."
Chò nods. "Yup. It was my grandpas. Its magic."

Kara highly doubted it was magic, but she let it go for now.  
Chò hopped up and smiled. "This is gonna be an awesome journey!" She says, grabbing her staff and leather bag.
Kara stands up too. "I just need a few scrolls." She states, walking to her living quarters.
Mia was there, sitting on her bed, waiting for her.

"Where were you? Did you forget we have a magic test in Apostle Jake's class tomorrow?" Mia asks, standing up.
Kara walks passed her, ignoring her question as she grabs some scrolls.
"Kara, what's going on?" Mia asks, stopping her friend in her tracks.

Kara looks her friend in the eye.
"I'm leaving, Mia. The College doesn't want me here, we all know it. Besides, I need to go explore. I'm dying here, Mia."
Her best friend looked at her, then walked passed her and picked out a few of her own tomes.
"If you die, I'll kill you myself." Mia says, hugging Kara.
Kara hugged back, then left quickly.

She was never good at goodbyes.
Which is why she cried when she ran away.