They arrive in a small transport village. Tranmere intersects with different roads leading to different cities. The group walks the hill to one of the entrances.

Lyrian, Faylin, and Aleena walk through the small, stone walled village of Tranmere. Houses and shops that line the dirt streets are observed by them. There are several wagons and stalls, along with crates and barrels full of supplies. The town is not too far from the edge of the woods as they just get done riding out on their horses.

"I'll ask the townsfolk about the whereabouts of Serrill. Stay put and meet me here at this well in the center," she says and then rides to a nearby vendor. She dismounts and goes to a local farmer to ask about Serrill.

"Excuse me, do you know a traveler named Serrill? A black mage with black hair?" Faylin asks. "This is serious, I must speak with him."

"I'm not sure," the lady explains, she's short, with brown short curly hair. She wears a small yellow shawl and carries a large bag full of goods stocking up her display crates. "Maybe try the inn, I think there was a gentleman who stayed last night," the old lady walks off carrying her veggies, and turns a street corner.

Faylin walks to the inn with seriousness written on her face. She fast walks to the inn and barges through. Anger is fills her determination to find him and she holds her fists to her side.

"Welcome," the bartender says, "what can I do you for, miss?"

"I need to find Serrill and ask him some questions. Do you have information?" Faylin asks. "This is serious, I need to see him now."

The bartender points to two hooded figures in the back of the room, and the rest are other travelers and merchants, who are gambling.

She approaches alone, "Serrill! What the hell!" Faylin yells and slams her fist on the table. Luminitsa jumps in fear at the sudden bang of Faylin's fist and gets teary eyed.

"Oh, Faylin, hello again." Serrill smiles and places some chips on a board game. He sits relaxed in his seat and takes in a smell of tea.

"Cut the crap Serrill. Why did you lie to us? I thought you had changed?" she glares to the two.

"You act like I'm involved in whatever your job is. I was trying to help but I don't know anything about any necromancer!" Serrill emphasizes. He clenches his fist and his tea rattles a bit. His sister gulps down her drink trying not to pay attention. Serrill points to her chest, "and my sister has not predicted anything either. You found a mage up there didn't you?"

"Nothing but a deranged hermit worshipping an old goddess that doesn't exist."

"Well that was my best lead for you. Wasn't your guy. Cry me a river Fay."

"Serrill, I need you to tell me everything you do know. Or else-"

Serrill jolts to his feet, pushing up against the table with hard slamming fists and yells, "or else what?"

Luminitsa squeaks in the corner of their seat. She takes another drink and her brother looks at her.

"Please, I really need to know, Serrill," she begs in an angry and serious voice. She glares at him and keeps standing at his face.

"I don't want to get involved anymore than I already have been. You're on the wrong path, Faylin. I'm telling you the truth when I say, I don't know anything."

"How much money will it cost to get to you talk?" She asks. Faylin puts a small amount of gold pieces in his hands, and he looks at her and pushes her away, disgusted.

"Faylin, it isn't money I'm after, and frankly, you wouldn't have the money in Acrine to get me to talk. So do me a favor, and let me finish this game in peace," he demands. "I'm trying to spend some quality time with my sister. I'm nothing but a damn traveling salesmen." Serrill pulls out a fine crafted dagger, "look, I sell weapons now. I don't make them, I just sell them. It's nothing illegal."

Liquid shines along the dagger when Faylin notices the steel blade, "why is that dagger wet? Is that poison?"

"Yes," Serrill explains, "but it's not illegal is it?"

He sighs with disappointment at her treatment towards him, "Look, what we have in the past is something you need to let go. Even if you did want to rehire me, I wouldn't accept."

Serrill faces away from Faylin, trying not to look into her eyes, but she has a stern and commanding gaze. He walks up to Faylin in a slow and intimidating manner that slowly fades away. "Look Faylin. I'm sorry, and, I forgive you. Okay?"

Faylin's head slumps down. He hugs her and Faylin accepts the heartfelt gesture that tears her apart inside. It takes all she had in her to keep a straight face, not to breakdown and sob, and she looks up at his warm eyes.

"Now, can I go back to play my game now, please? I'm waiting for a customer."

"Serrill," she whispers.

"Yes?" He questions.

Faylin shakes her head and runs away in tears. "I'm sorry, I'm an idiot."

He tries to stop her, but Faylin runs to Lyrian and Aleena waiting with the horses. They are at the well in the center of the town. Lyrian notices Faylin's hurry and her eyes are watery. He stops leaning on the stone and waits for her to talk.

Faylin's head turns away from everyone and she sniffles as she dries her eyes and Aleena comforts her.

"Whoa whoa, Fay, are you alright?" Aleena asks.

"No!" Faylin snaps, still hiding her teary face, not wanting to see their reaction."

"Hey, what happened?" Lyrian asks.

"It doesn't matter," she says, still looking down. Her hands are still wet and her cheeks are rosey and her eyes puffed.

"We're here for you," Lyrian smiles.

"I messed everything up! My life. My shop." Faylin starts to tear again. "It's all ruined. I'm ruining my life while Serrill has such a successful traveling business. He's doing so much better than I ever could, and I keep blaming him for stuff he didn't do."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Hey, he was a jerk, remember?" she chuckles.

"But still. I messed my life up." she cries.

"I think you should sleep this off Fay. Maybe tomorrow will be different." Aleena offers and gives a comforting smile to the distraught woman.

"Serrill is not telling us something. I really don't like it Fay. I think we should all try talking to him. So Fay, don't believe him when he shows his flashy business around. He's still a criminal. Let's go get a room and get some rest."

***

The bartender is polishing a beautiful wood carving over it the racks of bottles. Smell of bar alcohol hits Faylin as she sits down. "Can I get some water?" she says rubbing her head from the stress yesterday as morning sun hits the windows.

"You got coin?" The bartender says.

"I don't. I just want water. Please?" she begs.

"Alright." The man slides a mug to her, "what you in town for?"

"I don't know anymore," she says back and sips her water.

"Here to look for work?" he questions.

"Yeah, or a mine. Or anything." She says. Faylin stares down into the wooden cup.

Aleena comes downstairs, her long blonde hair shines, and she is in casual clothes as well.

"Morning Aleena. Sleep okay?" she says. Aleena's face is soft as always, but with sternness.

"Yes, thank you," she replies in a soft and delicate tone. She puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. Faylin brings the mug to her mouth once more.

"Can I get a honey milk please? Warm," Aleena requests. The man brews and makes a drink for Aleena and hands to her.

Aleena thanks him and hands some gold to the man and she walks over to a nearby window not far from Faylin. She gazes at the outside, leaning at the window, and watches a mother walk by with their children and husband, walking to the bakery, getting some bread. They smile and hold each other's hands. She looks at her drink thinking to herself.

"That was some show yesterday Faylin," Serrill smiles. Luminista and Serrill come walking in, Serrill leans against the wall, folding his arms.

Faylin's heart starts racing as she looks up. She is ready for an insult. Insecurity overrides her usual attitude when she's around him now. Luminista and Serrill look happy, like a new light shined upon them.

"Yeah," Faylin nods. "I'm sorry. Really."

"No, I'm sorry. Anyway, Luminitsa wanted to stay another day. She wanted to help you and so she meditated last night."

"Luminista," Faylin says. She takes another drink, "I appreciate the help but you don't have too."

Aleena looks over from the window to watch and listens to what Luminitsa has to say. "What have you found?" Aleena is eager for any type of help over Faylin's lack of confidence.

Serrill nods and gestures to Luminitsa.

Luminitsa nods at her with a serious look that isn't usually seen on her. She starts, "There are two magic auras. A green and a red. They're intertwined with each other."

"Do they look familiar? Or is there any sign?" Aleena asks her.

Luminitsa sighs, and smiles at the group, "it is familiar. It's in the village of Mosswick."

"Are there any creatures there?" Aleena asks. She takes some of the honey milk tea and sips some more, then looks back at the window.

"That I do not know. Only, that there is an elf and a human. And there is no sign of dark magic with what you seek," Luminista explains to the best of her ability and tries not to mislead. Her focus is hard.

"Are you saying there is no necromancer?" Faylin asks, surprised. Serrill is still leaning on the bar, watching his sister work. She smiles and her long light gray hair flows over the bar as everyone's attention is locked to Luminista's next sentence.

"I see nothing, unfortunately."

"That's ridiculous!" Aleena comments, and Serrill frowns as she walks closer. "I need to know," Aleena demands. "How else did the dinosaurs come back?"

"Sorry. If you know a better fortuneteller I'd like to meet them," Serrill says to Aleena. His hands clench and his eyebrows furrow.

"You could at least help us," she replies, glaring back to his reaction, not afraid to speak her mind. "What other magic would bring a dead species back to life? Necromancy is the only conclusion.'

"I did help you. My sister already said, it's at Mosswick, but she can't help anymore," he says to her, not breaking the eye contact and they keep a stare.

"You misled us already! Why should we believe you this time?" Aleena snaps.

"I'm telling the truth. I only said the first thing that popped in my mind, I didn't want to be interrogated," he defends. Lyrian comes downstairs in the background, rubbing his eyes and stretching. He is wearing some new clothes, a new tunic, pants, shoes, and the dinosaur book.

Faylin speaks up, "please, we need your help. I'm sorry I snapped, Serrill. This is information we really need. If Luminitsa can find anything else, we need to know."

Luminitsa creates a purple magic orb in her hands and closes her eyes to focus.

Lyrian watches from behind to see the commotion.

Luminitsa focuses, "as you know, there is no dark magic, there are elves, a human, and there is a red and green magic aura, and..." She focuses deeper and a small purple aura glows next to her forehead. "And someone is," Luminitsa's breathing skips and her heart beats fast as the glow brightens, "oh no, a- an elf is, she's, Aleena is dead!" Luminitsa collapses to a chair and the magic fades. "I'm so drained," her voice wavers and airs out as she falls unconscious. Aleena flares her nostrils in anger at the idea.

"Aleena! That's not possible! And who, what, and why these auras?" Faylin says and she walks over to her. "Please, wake up," she begs with her hands on Luminitsa in growing desire.

Serrill pushes Faylin away from his unconscious sister. "No! Lumi! I need a healer!" Serrill screams, holding the unconscious Luminitsa. Her hair and head dangle, and he checks for a pulse and her temperature over her forehead.

Lyrian runs over, "what happened?"

Aleena looks on in frustration and heads outside the tavern, "I'm not going to sit here and listen to how I die."

Faylin is frozen from shock, her heart pounds faster, her skin is white. Her face is covered with stress as she stares at the wall of the inn and bar. Aleena has a glare to the morning dawn. Her blonde long hair waves in the wind. Her pale and smooth skin and soft cheekbones show no reaction but anger. Her green eyes show nothing but frustration as her mind paces about the topic.

Serrill picks his sister up in his hands, and carries her upstairs. Lyrian opens the door to their room for Serrill to carry her into bed.

Serrill turns to Faylin, "listen, no offense, I'm glad we could help you. But you seem like you're in a rough spot right now and it's seriously effecting me now. I really think this should be the last time we see each other. I have customers, some of them very private, so I really don't need you barging into our business."

Faylin can't move, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," he says and shuts the door.

"Dammit!" She slams her fist into a nearby pillar. On her way downstairs and she grabs a piece of cloth and sits on the steps with a pounding head.

Faylin's mind flashes images of her shop dark, and empty. Lyrian places a hand on her shoulder and comforts her.

"It's gonna be okay, Fay," he tells her.

"Okay isn't going to bring in money, okay isn't going to save Aleena from fate" she explains to Lyrian. She closes her eyes and tears start forming.

"She'll be safe, okay?" Lyrian assures her, and they head to meet with Aleena outside. The sun is getting high and they walk outside to the water well where they met. Aleena is leaning on the cobblestone rim of the well. She is staring at the distance. Lyrian and Faylin approach her. They sit at the rim with her, the dirt path leading from the inn to the rest of the town. "Hey Aleena," Lyrian says. He turns to her and Faylin is right beside her.

"You guys ready to go?"

"I think we need a moment," Lyrian replies. Faylin keeps still, her face and eyes locked to the inn, not wanting to leave Serrill behind, or her shop, or her dreams.

"I guess we could use the time to figure out our plan then," Aleena explains. "We go north from this road to the next. And then we'll head to a swamp and reach Mosswick, the swamp village."

"Great, I guess. You'll lead us to the place?" Faylin asks.

"Yes, I will."

"Alright then," she replies not wanting to trigger any emotions in Aleena.

"It'll be okay. Don't be upset, Fay. And I'll make sure I live. Don't worry about me either," Aleena tries to say.

"But it's dangerous and," she whines.

"And nothing. It is my choice. Besides, do you really believe fortune tellers?"

Lyrian explains, "fortune tellers are close to the god of fate Aleena."

"And I'm forced to believe in your gods, human?" Aleena asks.

"I don't care what your race believes, this is true, so please stay alive, okay?" Faylin asks.

"Yeah Aleena," Lyrian adds on.

Aleena stands up to the two, "we only just met. But I appreciate your concern. I'll be fine. I promise."

Faylin sighs with a bit of relief but still can't shake the worry.

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Luminitsa's magic

image [https://i.imgur.com/hZtwsws.png]