5. North Western Stormica, Vallath Imperial State

"No Azarian this is too much." , Nancy said. 

"You took me in when I had no where to go.", Azarian said, "It's the least I can do." 

Azarian opened his satchel and removed the bundle of money. He put the money on the table. Nancy was worried and Azarian could tell by the way she looked at the table. 

"Where did you get the money from?", she asked. 

Malak woke up from his slumber and walked into the living room. 

"Mummy what's going on?", he rubbed his eyes and yawned. 

Nancy slid the money underneath the table. She got off her seat and rushed to Malak. She squatted to his height. 

"Nothing.", she held him in her arms, "Mummy is just talking to uncle Azai about stuff.", Nancy said, "Grown up stuff. Come on go back to sleep." 

"But I don't want to sleep.", Malak said, "I want to play."

"It's night time you can't go pl-" 

"Sure we can go play.", Azarian said, "I will find you outside." 

The little boy rushed up to Azarian and hugged his legs. He then ran outside the door as quickly as his little legs could take him. 

"Azarian it's late. He can't be up this late he has school tomorrow." 

"You need to relax.", Azarian said, "I know he can be a handful sometimes. You focus on paying the State Officer." 

Azarian walked out of the house. 

The moon was out and the sky was filled with a sea of stars. Azarian heard Malak hearty giggle behind a shrub. He walked up to shrub, he towered over it and saw Malak unaware of Azarian. 

"Found you.", Azarian said. 

Malak turned and screamed in laughter. He got up on his feet and ran as fast he could. Azarian chased after him and they ran around the whole front yard. Azarian leaped forward and pinned him to the ground. Malak was hysterical and couldn't stop laughing. Azarian loved to hear his innocent laugh, it always brought back memories of his childhood. 

"Ah you caught me again.", Malak tried catching his breath, "You are so fast. Why are you so fast. You shouldn't be that fast." 

"I'm like three times your size little man." 

"One day I hope I became big as you.", the boy said. 

"You don't want to be like me. Trust me." 

"Why wouldn't I?", the boy said, "I tell my friends about you all the time." 

Azarian pulled him up and he smiled at the boy.

 "You've been practicing your magic?", he asked.

Malak raised his hand over the ground. He conjured a rabbit made out of blue pure magical energy. The rabbit was nearly life like. It hopped like an ordinary rabbit, it looked like one too. 

The rabbit hopped into Azarian arms, he was startled. The boy giggled, he then reached out his other arm and twiddled his fingers. 

"Good evening good sir.", The rabbit said. 

Azarian dropped the rabbit and it's face broke it's fall. The boy fell to the ground and burst in laughter. The rabbit got up and stood on it's two feet. 

"That is very rude of you sir.", The rabbit said, "I'm not going to tolerate this absurd behaviour." 

"Malak.", Azarian said, "I think you can stop it with the magic trick now." 

Malak got up on his feet and did his stance. Beaming blue lights came out of his hands, he pointed it at the rabbit. The light lifted the creature off the ground.

"Please don't send me back.", the rabbit cried. 

Malak's blue magic stopped working and the rabbit fell back to the ground.

 "What happened?", Azarian asked. 

Malak tried using his magic again to get rid of the rabbit. The rabbit transcended in the air but was dragged back down. 

"I don't know.", the boy said, "Its like I can't get rid of him." 

"I guess we have to keep him until we find a way to get rid of him."

"Can we name him?", the boy asked. 

"Name me?", the rabbit said, "I am not some pet. I'm royalty where I come from." 

"I like the name Humphrey.", Azarian said. 

"He is definitely a Humphrey." , the boy said. 

Humphrey folded his arms. He then threw the hat to the ground. He stomped and stomped on it, he tossed mud over it and screamed in a rage of fury. 

Azarian heard a horses prancing around at the front of the house and he knew it was the State Officer. 

"Malak grab Humphrey", Azarian said, "Let's go inside." 

Malak grabbed Humphrey and they bolted into the house. Humphrey faught and clawed trying to escape but Malak had a strong he said. 

"Let me go child.", he said, "I will have you killed tiny one.". 

They entered the house and heard a deep ominous voice coming all the way from the dining room. They reached the dining room and saw the state Officer with two Imperial Enforcers by his side and a chest at their feet. 

"Thank you for being ever so compliant.", he said, "Your Emperor thanks you for carrying out your civil duty." 

"I wish you well on your travels.", Nancy said.

The State Officer folded his arms together and bowed at Nancy and Nancy bowed right back. The Imperial Officers grabbed the chest and were on their way out. 

Humphrey bit Malak and yelled in agony. He conjured a metal plate and screwed it onto his mouth. The State Officer and Imperial Enforcers watched the entire thing in marvel. 

"You are a powerful mage for your age.", the State Officer said. 

Malak was intimidated by the man's short but menacing structure. He smiled at the Officer and the Officer smiled right back at him. His smile was unnatural, his face ached when smiling at the boy. 

The State Officer and The Imperial Enforcers left and the sound of the horses faded away into the night. 

"It's time for bed.", Nancy said. 

Malak ran to his room with Humphrey in his arms. 

"I don't even want to ask about the rabbit." 

Nancy went to her room, she was exhausted and needed some shut eye. Azarian gathered his beddings and slept in the living room. 

The sun had come out and Azarian had woken up to the sounds of the birds singing by the window. He got up and put some water outside on the fire. He knocked at Malak's door and got no response. He knocked again and still got nothing.

"He's probably still sleeping.", he thought to himself. 

He opened the door and saw his room a wreck. His window was broken and everything scattered. Humphrey was unconscious and his leg wounded. His blue fur was stained in his blood. Malak's bed was empty.