All Chapters of Foundling: Chapter 51 - Chapter 53

Hunter fled, the Magi’s first rule clear and resounding in the cavern of his mind: “A Magi, on pain of death, cannot use ki to harm, except to defend, and that only sparingly.”He fled in shadow and silence, hidden from searching minds. His mind a tumult, body a mess. Cramps would assail him, still him in his flight as he worked through the knots of pain. Forgotten memories, put aside duties overshadowed by the communal the School offered, had resurfaced. Jumbled andAnother cramp took him, bent him double as it clutched at his lower back. The mirage faltered, and, for moment, his harsh breath could be heard, the silhouette of a shape seen.He slowed his breathing; silence was clothed. He uncurled the hinge of pain that clasped his muscles tight; he stood tall; He continued; the mirage steadied.If he knew who to pray to, he would have prayed. He wanted no harm, no wrong done to his friends, but it might come to that if he could not escape before encountering them. But something else

Looking down at her, despair and hopelessness dimming the light of her eyes, Poe wanted to wrap her tight in an embrace to ease the pain. Instead, he sent a calming wave of ki to bolster her and flinched when he sensed the despair she held in check.“What did he do?”Her lips tightened. “He touched a memory and feeling of fear to push everything else aside. There were no wards for such a thing.”“Sorcery?” This from Maggie.Kim shook her head. “I cannot say. Maybe, but there were no tokens or talismans . . . that I saw. Concentrating on healing someone else’s pain and injuries helped to distract from the fear.”She sat down beside the now slumbering man. “I look at the pain and wounds. . . .” Her head dropped. She took a deep breath, then lifted her gaze to meet those of Maggie and Poe. “The sorrow the loss, the anger the guilt, is there no hope? Am I wrong for wanting to hope?”Maggie’s and Poe’s returning gazes held different answers.Poe’s smile was consoling. “We will do what we m