“Traxia stands as the first line of mankind’s defense against the elven menace to the north, the barbarians of the Starhollow, and the heretics from the Sultanate. Our legions are mighty, and our spirits remain unwavering against the oncoming threats. For we are Traxians, we are the defenders of peace and order. Sign up now and join the reformed 19th “Stonewall” Legion! Heroes of the Bresmir Campaign, conquerors of the Sand and Salt! Join and bring peace to our borders! Report to your local recruitment office and we will supply you everything you need on your tour of glory!
Be a hero today!”
- Traxian Legion Recruitment Poster, Poster Board Outside Fallmire Military Barracks - Eighth District
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The siblings apologised for the awkwardness of their previous outing and the duo forgave them easily enough, just relieved that Tristan’s arrival had indeed been completely unexpected and not some nefarious plot. Much to Sophie’s surprise, the siblings had already outlined a plan by themselves to both celebrate and to make up for the ruined outing. It involved a group sortie to what Sophie could only assume was a restaurant far out of her normal price range, before they volunteered to drop the duo back off at the library, having contacted Researcher Nix and obtaining his interest in meeting Sophie. Though, that last part involved Sophie alone, meaning that Aryana would have to simply wait in the library once more. This elicited a frown from the redhead that did not go unnoticed by Sophie. Still, without vocal objections, their plan had quickly gone underway after Professor Montroi’s extended speech had finished.
So it was that the unlikely group made their way past the Noscali Gates once more, and to a restaurant owned by a trading house that partnered with a few elven nobles. The House of Kinship, as it was called, was staffed mostly by humans but with a smattering of elven chefs and service staff amongst them. Within it, the sight of gaudily dressed nobles, elegant aristocrats, and ostentatious merchants wined and dined on delicacies not often available to the average person. Even more rare was the fact that most dishes came straight from elven recipe books, dragging down the number of human consumers to the small influential handful that operated within the city, and that were allowed in. Aryana seemed ready to fight at the luxuriousness on display; the royal dark green beautifully lacquered walls, noticeable but not attention seeking silken curtains, furniture made of elven heartwood, and delicately crafted tableware. Sophie was more aware of the glances thrown their way, the judgment in the eyes of the few who turned their attention to the newcomers and sighted a peasant girl and a warrior invading their sanctuary of indulgence. Their gazes only softened slightly when they noticed the two elven siblings behind them, Maylesa and Thalnor remaining almost unaffected by the gazes of their compatriots being directed at them.
Sophie unfortunately found herself being asked to leave her sword with the receptionist, a ‘no weapons allowed’ policy being strictly enforced. To everyone’s relief, the meal went off without a hitch. So much so that Sophie had tried to commit the dishes to memory only to be distracted by the nuances within their flavors that drew her focus back to just enjoying food. Thinly sliced meats shipped straight from the Adornar and wrapped with vegetables and leaves, boiled fruits sprinkled over little cubes of venison, and an entirely plant based dish that involved strange looking patties served atop a bed of leafy plants. It all tasted just a little familiar, yet different and unique enough that the end of the meal only left Sophie craving more. The meats were all slightly leaner, yet cut thinly and fine enough that it added a little bit of contrasting texture to the strange flora in the dish. The fruits had that same fruity undertone of raspberries or even strawberries, but far fresher and releasing an almost minty like puff afterwards.
All in all, if she were to judge by the satisfied smile on Aryana’s face, then this was a most delightful meal. For Sophie, it was almost perfect, minus the small feeling that was conjured up within her, a minuscule bubble of nostalgia that flowed from somewhere primal. A reminder of something she couldn’t quite fathom. In turn, that had unnerved her slightly, leaving Sophie mildly disturbed at the sensation and ruining the taste of dessert as her mind was occupied on being introspective to no avail.
Still, the meal had ended remarkably well and soon the party headed back towards the Grand Library, their bellies flush with good food and hearty cheer. It was there that they had once more split up, the siblings having to attend a party hosted by their peers back in the elven quarters, but not before they passed on a note to help them secure an audience with the scholar. Thus, Sophie found herself heading deep into the recesses of the north wing by herself, whilst Aryana had begrudgingly remained back at the cafe and said that she’d end up elsewhere in the west wing perusing the books. Sophie managed a slight chuckle as she climbed the stairs up to the second floor of the north wing, the irritated frown on Aryana’s face looking almost cute in a way, like a puppy trying to be vicious.
With a heavy sigh Sophie marched forward, her hand nervously stroking the hilt of the blade. She felt anxious, afraid almost. Yet, it wasn’t the primal fear of something dangerous, or even the fear of a monster that lurked in a shadow. It was the fear of doing things alone, the strange dreadful feeling of tackling a new situation by herself. Despite the past four months spent fighting horrors that scratched at one’s sanity, she had realized one strange fact. She had rarely been alone. Aside from the ruins within the Mistveil, throughout her journey she had always tackled problems with someone by her side, be it Annalise, Taurox, Aryana, Mila or even the entity in her nightmares within the void. She had always been watched over, and the sudden emptiness by her side added an uneasy feeling of vulnerability that Sophie wasn’t so sure she liked, even if she was just in a library.
Alone, she could once again feel the stares, the veiled judgements shot at the strange half elf who dressed like a warrior. Here, for once, she found no joy or comfort at the sight of countless rows of bookshelves, just the eerie sensation of being watched that emanated from within every darkened shadow between the shelves. She shook off the uneasy sensation and pushed forward, reaching the edge of the history section and towards an annex that jutted off by its lonesome.
Her boot steps echoed almost monotonously in the new hall, the ambient hum of the library having morphed into the uncomfortable silent nothingness. She could hear her staggered breaths, the pulsing of her veins as her nerves buzzed with tension, the soft clack of her arms and armor as she moved. A door creaked in the distance and Sophie spied a man clad in armour marching out of a doorway. The soldier was clad from head to toe in scratched up looking armour made of rounded metal strips and a rounded helmet that sprouted a menacing dark red plume on the top of his head. His face was blocked by a face mask that hid his features besides for his eyes. A dull grey cloak was fastened to his pauldrons and cloaked his form with an air of mystery. Below his waist he sported a chainmail skirt that protruded out like a weapon. In his hand he wielded a massive halberd that stood taller than her by a head, the heavy blade looked hungry for a fresh victim.
Sophie felt a chill run down her spine as the man turned his attention to her, his piercing hawk-like gaze turned directly at her blade. She heard his gauntleted fists tighten on his halberd and the bottom of the polearm tapped in anticipation against the ground. Sophie cautiously held up her hands and held out her note. The man seemed to pause, almost disappointed at the sight of some potential documentation. Sophie gulped down her fear and took tiny steps forward, keeping her own eyes trained on the halberd, making sure it wasn’t being outstretched against her. Easy now, he looks like a mercenary, certainly no Redcloak or Trinite, let’s just hope he isn’t aggressive.
The man just stared her down for another few moments before his meaty gauntlets thumped against the door. Heavy metallic thumping was followed by the wooden groans as the door swung back open. Revealing a man dressed in delicate light blue robes and a small side cap perched on his head. His straightened back and haughty posture screamed to Sophie of a former noble or of someone raised with regal or sophisticated bearing and she almost instinctively dropped to a bow.
“Visitor.” The armoured man growled menacingly.
The scholar adjusted the monocle on his face, turning his attention to bear on the visitor. He gave off an air of professionalism that was buoyed by his almost regal appearance. Sophie noticed that his bushy beard, despite its scraggly appearance, was remarkably well trimmed. His creases and wrinkles spoke of someone who was old yet not old enough to give up his profession, but still an enigma nonetheless as his expression gave nothing away.
“I didn’t think that I’d have anything scheduled for now. Who are you, elf?” The man’s eyes narrowed at her before dropping into a scowl, “Or should I say, half elf?” His voice grew more hostile.
“Uh-umm,” Sophie nervously held out the paper and bowed, “I was told that it would… be alright to meet with you. Honored sir.”
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“Huh, at least you have manners. But, who would say that? To tell you about here, of all places?” The man huffed and snatched the paper from her hands, one eye scanning the words and one eye trained on her.
“The younger siblings of House Calnodel, sir. Maylesa and Thalnor.” Sophie stated.
“Hmpf… Calnodel… Calnodel… ah! I do remember the brats saying someone might interest me.” He sighed, disappointed almost, “I suppose they meant you? They said a ‘researcher on the mysteries of the Myndiri Arneathians’. Don’t look much like a researcher.”
“I-I’ve read a lot about them and I-”
“Aren’t a supremacist are you? I refuse outright to work out any deal with you if you’re the type to think that we should return to Arneathian rule or seek to glorify them.” The scholar interrupted.
“Huh?” Sophie was taken aback by the direct accusation, but more confused on what she did that might’ve prompted such a reaction. Still, she shook her head, “N-no? I have no such intentions, honored sir.”
“Oh? Then what do you seek here?”
“I… I just want to know what happened to them, what they’ve left behind.”
“What they left behind?”
“The… towers? The Myndiri towers that dot that land and the strange crystals that rest atop them. Sir.”
“Huh. Anything else?”
“And… uhh… well the connection between the Myndiri and the… First Kingdom? If anything, just something about the Griffin knights.” Sophie managed to say.
The man pulled back and traded a dark glance with his guard, the two giving each other the faintest of nods before he turned back to Sophie. “Well, well. I guess they did have a reason to send you here.” He grumbled to himself.
The scholar tapped his chin a few times before he let out a small scoff and shook his head. “See to it that we aren’t disturbed.” He grumbled at his guard before stepping back into his room.
The armoured man nodded and silently gestured for Sophie to follow, his gaze never leaving her or her weapon. Sophie took a moment to register what was happening before she followed along, shuffling past the guard and into what looked to be a massive study. Books, notes, papers, diagrams and blueprints were scattered all over the place. Some were attached to boards on the walls, others in messy piles over the coffee table and a few even sat where guests were meant to sit. The scholar strutted uncaringly past the mess and headed for his desk, an ornate wooden piece that was also covered by countless books and papers. The walls of the room were surrounded by bookshelves and the sheer density of them muffled any outside sound. It was almost as if Sophie had walked into somewhere completely different entirely and the low buzzing of the grand library had faded into complete nothingness.
Before she could pose a comment or question however, the door to the room clicked shut behind her and Sophie unwittingly flinched. The scholar pointed to a chair in front of his desk as he swept some notes callously off the desk, planting himself firmly down behind it with an annoyed groan. Sophie quickly followed the suggestion and she plopped herself down onto the worn out guest chair. The scholar fished out something from a drawer on his desk and pushed the documents at Sophie, giving a commanding tilt of his head.
Wordlessly, Sophie reached out and took the documents, her eyes struggling to understand the scrawled script. Try as she might, she found herself panicking as recognition and understanding seemed to escape her. Yet, when she looked back up at the man, he only nodded to himself.
“Fair enough, I’ll explain in a moment.” He pointed at the paper, “So, about your questions, word them precisely and word them once. My time is not to be wasted.”
Taken aback, Sophie fumbled around for words until she managed to simmer down and have a quick think, scouring her mind for an appropriate answer.
“Umm… I… uhh… I want to… I wanted to learn about the Myndiri towers and what they might have to do with the… err… end? The end of the Myndir, that is. I’d also want to find out what I can about their interactions between the First Kingdom and their Griffin Knights? I read about them in a book.” Sophie stated.
“Hmm… fair enough.” The scholar noted, “So?”
“S-so?”
“So just who are you?”
“O-oh, my name is Sophie. I’m a knight and maid.”
“A knight and maid?” The scholar scoffed, “And do you have a family name?”
“That’s… not that I know of, sir.”
“Mmm… I suppose with your introduction you’d know who I am. But, for etiquette sake, I am a scholar from the Verrian School of history, Hollaneus Nix. A pleasure… I suppose, nice to meet you.” He sighed before clasping his hands together, “Very well then, let’s skip the pleasantries. I can provide you with the basic answers now, should you please. Then if you seem… not like an idiot, I shall entertain further discussion with you hmm?”
“Uh-umm sure.”
“Excellent, then grab your notebook or whatever, I shall have much to say and will only say it once.”
Sophie scrambled to pull out her notebook, noticing the man had eyed it with a certain level of malice before the expression was wiped off his face, returning it to his disapproving neutral mask. Well… I suppose I did want some answers.
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The tea today was a bit stronger than expected, the bitterness lingering just a little too long for her liking. Aryana scrunched up her face in mild disgust before she naturally went back for more. She gulped down another swig and hummed knowingly, orange black tea is still tasty despite the bitterness. She licked her lips and let out a small sigh of satisfaction, she enjoyed sweetened drinks after all. Her eyes opened up to find herself staring back down at the book below her, Gunmar and Aurelia: Chimes of the Harbinger. It had been a pleasant read so far, the titular hero and heroine having encountered a frosty reception after they had saved the town of Carisburg from destruction, earning them the ire of the local baron who sought the town’s destruction. Their struggles were mired by unfortunate intrigues pushed upon the town by the baron’s men, the town having been signed over by the baron to a mysterious invader that threatened the Kingdom of Mithras.
She had been lucky, the librarians had directed her to where they kept books published by unknown authors and specifically fiction. She had found most of the series and could freely read them, but right now, her mind was distracted. Irritated, she lifted her head and glanced around once more, no Sophie in sight. Her eyes drifted to the windows outside and the darkness that now began covering the town. They had arrived sometime after lunch during the afternoon and her heart grew sorrowful at the onset of evening, what’s taking so long. Impatient, she grumbled her frustrations to herself and languidly closed the book, unable to focus. Few patrons remained in the library at this hour and even the cafe was beginning to close up, the portly but kind gentleman who helped run it flashed her a friendly smile, the man recognising a potential regular. Aryana bashfully waved back and moved to put the book away. She got up from her seat and headed back towards the east wing.
Along the way, she passed by the main hall and glanced over towards the north wing, spying neither hide nor hair of Sophie, or anyone besides the few stoic guardsmen still standing watch. She stood still for a moment, staring intently at the upper floor on the off chance that by looking at it long enough, her escort would miraculously appear. To her continued dismay, Sophie was still a no show. It pained her to be separated for even such moderate durations, the presence of a companion by her side acting almost like an addictive balm to her normally turbulent thoughts. Annoyed, she hurried along and chugged down the orange black tea concoction, the relaxing fruity notes soothing her nerves even as the bitterness still left a less than desirable aftertaste. She shivered when her mind began wandering, the distant cry of the mountains tugging at her to return, the faces of home, however unpleasant, striking a chord of nostalgia within her.
She had left on her own volition, having vowed to strike her own path away from the clan’s asinine prophecies. Tristan’s face snuck into her thoughts and Aryana nearly froze in her tracks, the mournful longing building to a crescendo within her. They had been close, once, best friends perhaps even something more. If only the stupid prophecy didn’t exist. He had snapped from friend to foe so quickly that she had been left shattered and alone, lost in her own devices after the death of her parents and the abandonment of her last close connection. It had hurt, and that hurt boiled her melancholy into a simmering fury, Aryana wiping the memory away with a low growl.
She only noticed something was wrong when her ears tuned themselves in to the faintest sound of metallic clashing from somewhere within the library. Concerned, she laid the book down on a nearby desk and apologised silently to any librarians who might have to put it back where it belonged before racing towards the noise. She found herself back in the main hall, staring back into the north wing where the sounds where emanating from. The guards on duty had also seemed to notice and had spared little more than a glance at the spooked arrival before focusing back at the direction of the noise.
“Step back citizen, the Legion can handle this matter. Please evacuate to a safer location.” One of the guards gruffly stated, his hands clasped firmly onto his spear and shield.
Aryana swallowed her fear and simply watched the soldiers gather up, forming a squad of five nearby guardsmen as they rushed up the north wing and onto the second floor. Sophie… it has to be. Her heart beat faster at the realisation and she steeled her nerves, taking care to not draw attention to herself as she shadowed their movements, fighting the urge to rush past them. Please be okay.