I approach the gate in the short wall surrounding the grounds of the orphanage. My hands push the unlocked gate open easily and walk the short cobblestone path to the door, knocking nervously, not sure what I intend to say upon the opening of said door.
"Calm yourselves now, there be someone at the door. You bes' be hopin' they stay long enough for me be forgettin' you hittin' 'im Stacy!" a woman yells from the other side of the door before it swings open about a foot, a beautiful woman in a dark dress blocking the gap with her body so none of the troublemakers behind her make a run for it. "Hello there, can I help you?" Her accent was vaguely southern, maybe a British undercurrent driving the drawl of half finished words falling from full lips.
"I. . . I don't know how to say this, but I tell stories. I figured these kids could use some imagination," I told her, stumbling over my words a bit as my brain scrambled for how to explain while reading her mononym, almost going ignored. I wasn't even sure how to pronounce Nyah.
"The kids don't need more imagination, they's creative enough in makin' my life hell as it is. They don't play, they be fightin' wars," she said seriously, eyes reflecting past experiences of the "creative" tactics the kids have used on each other. I shivered at that look.
"The kids just don't know what to play, all they can think of is who has what and how to get it for themselves. They just need shape for that creativity." I had no idea if this was true, but it couldn't be too far off.
"Guess it can't make 'em worse," she said, pushing children out of the way and opening the door to admit me, which I took quickly before anyone could escape. The door was quickly closed behind me. "The first room to your left'll be best. Plenty of room and seats. I'll go get the childer'." That was an abbreviation I hadn't heard before.
My feet found their way to a room with a large fire place, wood sitting unlit inside. One of the simple tricks I had learned while figuring out the basics of magic was to create a simple spark, barely enough to create a flash of light before dying out, but it was enough to light the wood in the fireplace, and I took the chair closest to the flame. Kids started filtering in, eyeing me hesitantly and filling in at the back of the room before some were forced to get closer to me by the bigger kids.
When the woman in the dark dress returned she motioned for me to get on with it. "Kids, I came in here to tell you about my story, the adventures of Sigurd." I started. "I lived a normal life, going to work every day and going to bed early so I can wake up and go back to work every day. Nothing changed, nothing got better, nothing was interesting. Then, one day, I woke up somewhere strange, in a forest I had never seen before. I had been transported to a foreign land, completely naked with no idea what to do. So I started walking. I walked and walked, no idea where to go, so I went to the biggest tree in the forest. I thought, 'maybe I can get my bearings at the top of that tall tree', but when I get there I see something terrible," I pull out my cane, pointing out the large spider at the top. The kids seemed interested now, scooting closer and leaning in to hear every word.
"I saw this great beast and pulled my sword, saying 'I will defeat you and I will go back to my life', and there was a great battle. I ran long the invisible webs big enough to catch an elephant and cut deep into the great spider, which tried to eat me as hard as it could. I slayed that beast, cutting it down and taking it's body as spoils, making this cane from one of it's many large legs." I said, waving the cane in front of the kids faces who went wide with wonder at the sheer size the spider must have been. The older kids clearly thought I was spinning lies like so many webs, but the blue eyes of the lone adult in the building were almost as interested in the story as the children were, perhaps sensing the truth in my words.
"I go to the tree, looking for a way up when I notice that the spider had laid many eggs inside of the tree, which I found was hollow. I burned the tree, knowing that the spiders would kill many more adventurers that would take this path. The fire burned and I left the tree, still not sure where I was going, but walking away with the great body of the spider on my strong shoulders. I was found soon, by people I had never met. Strangers that took me in and helped me heal. I never got back home, instead wandering the world and trying to find new stories to tell, the excitement of my adventure still burning in my mind," I finish. It wasn't as long a story as I thought it would be, at least when you take out the cowardly pieces.
"Why are you here then?" asked one of the kids. The question was unexpected but was clearly echoed across the faces of the rest of the kids.
Honesty is the best policy, I suppose. "I met a man, strong and honorable, keen to getting into interesting situations. I am following him as he rides through this city, the first stop on our journey, as it happens." The kids, eyes grow wide with wonder. "Is it true then? You actually killed the spider?" asked a young girl, her bright hair and dark eyes seeming unnatural at a glance.
"Indeed I did. Anyone can be great if you try hard enough. The secret is kindness, to everyone you meet." Apparently the sentiment wasn't overgrown like it was in my world, so some took it to heart. Some of the older kids even seemed to take in the story, although one scarred girl seemed angry at the story.
"Do you have any more? Stories I mean," asked a little boy close to the middle of the room.
"What kind of story teller would I be without more stories? Would you like to hear one?"
The yes was resounding, vibrating the fire even as it raged. Snow white would do just fine.
It was a much longer story, stretching deeper into the night as I took control of the magic around me even as it bled from the Aether. It continued to bleed from me, but I directed some of the bleeding into the flames, causing them to take the shapes of seven dwarves, a young woman, and acts out the story even as I tell it. It was a simple trick, one that most people wouldn't have thought of, taking more stock in the powerful spells rather than perfecting simple control.
I breathe, letting my magic grow and cycle throughout my body, uncontrolled but exactly as it was supposed to, according to my teacher. I let it flow and hoped my capacity would increase like the strength in a worked muscle, though it seemed like a strange thing to just breathe extra deeply and let it run for growth.
My story finished, conveying the greatness of true love and the power of righteousness.
The children clapped and I felt good, a different good than my nights at the tavern with raucous cheering, but more fulfilling in a way. "Another story! Another story!" the kids beg.
"I'm sorry, but it's a late night. I will write more stories, I will give them to you and you can learn to read them," I promised.
"Right so, off to bed with ya," piped up Nyah as she seemed to shake off a trance. They seemed sad, and many complained, but didn't fight too hard. Deep down they understood how tired they really were. Even the scarred girl seemed interested in the story by the end, and went up the narrow steps along with the rest of the orphans. "You did good here."
"You think so?" I responded.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"I do. I liked your stories as much as the kids did. Original, and the cane was a nice touch. How expensive was it for just one prop for one story?" she asked.
"Oh, it's real. I didn't lie, at least about the broad strokes. I did kill the spider, and this was made for me out of it's leg. I will admit though, I tried to run instead of fight. I was backed into a corner so to speak," I confessed.
"And Snow White? Is that one real too?" she asked, a bit amused by my clear fiction.
"Oh, no. That's an old story from my old home. Fantastical and with a good moral it stayed around long enough to be common knowledge."
Now she seemed to be taking stock of me. "You do look strong, like you could fight off a beast with a sword perhaps. Under the right circumstances. I can't believe until I see the blade that killed the beast. I'm sure it got lost along the way," she said playfully, but a little bit hopefully, hoping I could prove her childlike fantasy real as she drew closer to me.
I simply had to give her what she wanted. The quill appeared in my hand and a green blade of energy sprung from the feather, a thin thing since I preferred a less violent weapon with more thrusting and less senseless hacking. She stepped back, a hand covering her mouth as she took in the sword.
"It's all true. . ." she muttered, meeting my eyes and biting her bottom lip. It was a rather attractive image, but I tried not to draw attention to it.
"It wasn't rhetoric when I said it was late I'm afraid. I do have things to do tomorrow, and I really should be going," I said, looking around nervously.
"You could stay the night, I wouldn't mind," she said, stepping closer as if to grab me, though her fingers seemed to be picking at her nails rather than trying to trap me, her eyes focused on the inane task her fingers had set out on. She seemed almost as nervous as I was.
"I'm not sure," I said, unware of what to do.
"You don't have to, but it wouldn't be a problem." This was getting drawn out.
"Why not, I can make a bit of a longer walk in the morning," I conceded.
Her smile could have lit the night. So I slept in a room separate from the large room the children all had beds in and still separate from Nyah's room. I wasn't sure why she had decided she wanted me to stay, but it felt good to be wanted.
Over the next week Zerrious payed off his debt to the barkeep and started learning magic, starting with the more simple evocation since he had heard I was learning abjuration. It took another month for me to finally learn a spell, Reject Toxins and Disease. It took two more to finally become Named, getting four Names for Mana control, Mana purification, Mana storage, and then finally abjuration. Zerrious was having trouble with the ethereal nature of magic and practiced often, but he was far from being Named in any magic skills without my knowledge granted by Aetherwalk and my travelers Name.
I spent a lot of time at the orphanage, moving my things in and writing books for the kids and spending time with Nyah, eventually a relationship taking hold. When I wasn't with Zerrious, or Nyah, or telling stories, I was learning enchantment. I already had a firm foundation, and learning how to make things stronger seemed like a useful skill, plus, I was flashy enough without fireballs and ice storms.
I earned my enchantment Name. The school of magic was different from the craft, although they went hand in hand most of the time. Enchantment spells were temporary versions of permanent enchantments, and some spells work on people. After gaining this Name, I got back to the orphanage and set my things down, Zerrious was away working on illusion magic, something I would learn from him eventually. There was a nice dinner set up, no children to be seen and Nyah working on finishing the last things for the meal.
"Sigurd! You're home!" I had started to view this place as home. I was happy here, but already getting a little restless. "I've been thinking."
"What about?" I ask, taking a seat as Nyah puts the dishes in the sink.
"About you. More specifically, about what happens when there is nothing else for Zerrious here." she sits down, taking a deep breath. "You have to go with him."
"What?" I'm shocked, completely lost for words.
"I'm not tryin' to get rid of you, and you will always be welcome here, but this aint it for you. I can tell there's more. There's something about you. You got to go, I can't explain it." What do I even do in this situation?
"Marry me then." What the fuck am I doing? "Marry me so I have to come back to you, and I'll bring tons of stories for the kids, and I'll always have someone who loves me safe and sound." This was rash, it was the first city of many we intended to visit. Zerrious hadn't gotten attached, why did I have to cause problems?
"Sigurd, are you proposing?" she asked playfully in response.
"I suppose so," I said.
"Yes of course, I was thinking you would leave! This is wonderful!" She stands up and runs the short distance between us. We embrace, we kiss, and when Zerrious returns, I ask him a few more favors.
Zerrious makes us rings, shiny platinum with gold scripting all around them. As long as we both wear the rings we will know if the other is alive, no matter the distance.
"Marriage is upheld my magic here. I don't know how it was in your world, but you will be bound by this covenant under penalty of death. You will both be stronger, but also more limited. Understand what you are getting into before you commit fully," Zerrious explains to both of us. Neither of us knew this, but we weren't worried about it. We both already wear the rings, holding each other close. Nyah takes it upon herself to find a venue for the ceremony while I continue to work on transcribing as many stories as I can before Zerrious leaves and I have follow.
The preparation takes as long as it needs to, Zerrious working on as many Names as he can. The plan was to marry a week before we leave, give us a honeymoon period, witch still gave us a long time, as Zerrious still struggled with magic. Nyah took the time to make this day as perfect as she could with what little money the two of us had.
I took the time to finally go to the building filled with Named bards. I rapped on the door, not as much sound as I would have expected coming from the other side.
"Come in," came the voice of someone behind the door. The gender was undefined, but it clearly meant that there was no sound proofing on the door. I walked in, expecting a sort of gathering place, or maybe a stage, but instead there sat a young. . . person. It was throwing me off that the flowing clothes and voice made the gender unidentifiable. I had heard of people that did this sort of thing back on earth, but I thought it was just a running joke in anime. "Can I help you?"
"I think so. I'm a Named bard, so I figured I should come here and see. . . what other bards are doing. I guess."
"Well, you can get registered, and then people will be able to find you when they want you. It's more reliable cash."
"Oh, that's all this is?" I ask. Expecting more was clearly my fault as little stock was put into music in this society.
"Yeah, it works for most people, although travelers don't really get anything out of it. I'm assuming you're a traveler?" he asks in return.
"I suppose so. I guess I leave then." I stood there, awkwardly fidgeting for a moment while the person shrugged. Eventually I was back on the streets, not sure where to go. I didn't need more schools of magic, the two I had served my purposes more than I really needed, and all for the cost of teaching the same spell to two people.
My feet mimic my mind, that is to say, they wander. There was nowhere specifically I needed to go, but I didn't just want to go back home. I should have left a book on how to teach music, like I left in the orphanage. I only knew guitar, and from there only treble clef, but I never understood why we needed more than one clef anyways, so I didn't bother trying to figure out the other ones. "I bet Zerrious would be willing to make a few instruments for the orphanage," I thought aloud, finally looking up from the cobblestone to find myself not four streets from home.
As before it was a dirty place, the kind that would have most people checking their pockets every few minutes to make sure they weren't pickpocketed by anyone. I wasn't worried, what few belongings I had with me were in rings, and I assumed that they couldn't be stolen from. I was wrong, of course, but I didn't know that at the time. I started wandering home, making my way around the streets and noticing the various groups of adolescent thieves. One group I passed caught my attention.
Most of the groups were barely noticed out of the corner of my eye, and gone by the time my gaze could fall on them. But this group had a boy much larger than the rest, and he clearly wasn't used to hiding in the streets. He seemed to hold himself in a familiar way, and I didn't know many people well enough to recognize their standing.
"Must be a boy from the orphanage, fresh from safety," I muttered. Nyah never wanted her kids to end up on the streets, even though they did more often then not. I figured I could help him out, take him back to safety. I started walking that direction, slowly as to not spook them. When I drew close the kids scattered, disappearing into shadows of buildings, completely undetectable. One boy was slower on the uptake, and I caught a glimpse of his forearm before he got over a short wall and disappeared like the others.
That forearm had a lot of Names on it. Names I recognized, because I had helped him earn some of them.
Zerrious had taken to the streets.