The City of New Revolon was impressive in and of its own right, sprawling out from the feet of the Gray Spine mountains and reaching out into the ocean with tendrils of docks and shipping channels. Towers, chapels and manors broke free from the flatter rooftops that concealed a tangle of streets below. The unending city stretched out to the horizon to the north and south in the cradle of the mountains. Situated directly in the city's heart was its crowning jewel, the Silver Path School of Adventuring.
The School had taken over an old castle, with large, ornate buildings set against open green fields, small forests, and arenas. Students milled about between buildings and tents that lined the paths, put up by organizations and clubs recruiting for newcomers to the school to join their ranks. The young lady in the train could’ve sworn a circus was in town with all the activity and colors she could see from her seat on the train.
She looked back down at the folder in her lap, tucking her silvery hair behind her ear with a sigh. Her delicate fingers flipped through its contents while she tried to memorize their order. A stack of papers sat folded neatly in the left pocket. Directions to Amelia’s old home in the city, two sets of identity papers, and a stack of legal certificates she wasn’t sure how to handle. Two stamped envelopes sat neatly tucked in the right pocket. The first envelope was a simple and plain thing that was handmade by her grandfather Josephi, tied off with twine, stamped with his family crest. The other was a bit more elegant, made from an ebony black paper trimmed in silverleaf, stamped by Amelia’s raven crest. In silvery ink, her signature read ‘Amelia Silvercrest, Sorceress to the Throne of Shadow’.
These two letters held her future, letters of recommendation from both Josephi and Amelia who had encouraged her to attend the school years ago. Thalia needed to bring the originals to the school to be filed away with her application. A gentle finger brushed over the family crest on her grandfather's letter, still struggling to believe that Josephi was gone now. It had been a solid three years since he passed, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever come to terms with that.
The homestead, the feet of snow perpetually coating the ground in a powdery blanket, his laugh. It was all gone now. With Amelia’s help, they burned it to the ground together just a few weeks ago as a symbol of moving forward in life. They went their separate ways at the port in New Foundswick when Thalia boarded to journey back to the Old World, with Amelia just needing time to explore the world and find herself again after staying sedentary for so long.
The train groaned against the track as it sped along the curve of the mountain. Thalia could feel a shift in her stomach as the train started its spiraling descent into the city. She leaned forward to peer out the window, watching the buildings and people of the city fly past in a dizzying blur. Ships out on the water carefully danced around each other as they were coming and going from the port. She tried to keep a few mental notes of interesting shops and eateries but struggled to tell them apart in the chaos. A low screech resonated through the train car as the brakes grabbed the tracks, jolting her back into the present and she braced herself against the seat in front of her. She clutched her folder tight to her chest as the train eased to a halt at the station.
Thalia lugged her trunk from its stowage and traced the sigil carved onto its black leather covering. A faint glow illuminated the trace, and the trunk hovered a few inches from the ground. It followed her a foot behind as she shuffled into the aisle. The car had quite a diverse cast, mostly families seeing their now-adult children off to the College mixed with a few well-dressed merchants who packed light, likely just coming home from a day trip on some business out of town.
She stood out from the crowd, standing a full head above most of the rest. She was always tall, but to her it seemed excessive and felt like it brought all eyes on her. Unlike the loud and bright colors worn be the rest of the passengers, she had a pristine black robe that easily hid her slender figure. Her long, silvery hair contrasted well with the robes, and she hid her face and gray-blue eyes behind the brim of her wide, pointed black hat.
Another passenger caught her attention. They were a strange-looking elf, whose ears were longer than usual. They had a sack thrown over their shoulder and wore their hair roughly cropped. It was almost to the skin on the sides of their head, giving them almost a kind of mohawk that made them easy to spot against the more prim and proper people in the car.
As the doors of the train slid open, the platform outside burst to life with excitement. Passengers spilled out into the concourse with an eagerness that charged the air with excitement. Loved ones embraced each other in warm welcomes and flooded the station with a murmur of joyous reunions. With all the chatting, yelling, and general merriment, Thalia found herself quickly overwhelmed by the activity.
In a desperate rush, Thalia pushed through the sea of townsfolk, emerging into an open square just outside the station. The city’s map, proudly mounted on the wall outside, caught her eye. She studied it intently, trying to recall Amelia’s verbal direction to help guide her through the urban labyrinth. All the noise of the surrounding city kept thoughts from being too clear in her mind, however.
The square around her was alive with activity. Crowds of people passing or leaving the station, a cacophony of carriage drivers vying for the attention of anyone who’d give up their coin for a ride, and tour guides demanding attention and offering unmatched value for their service all echoed off the dense urban buildings. Thalia weighed her options. The carriage ride seemed convenient, tempting even, but after hearing the prices, she couldn’t help but scoff at the idea. The trolley, a far more economical choice, found itself delayed and wouldn’t be due for quite some time. With little other idea, she dove right into the wonders of New Revolon. A quick walk couldn’t hurt, and she needed to stretch her legs.
Her trunk hovered behind her like a faithful pet, a silent witness to the new chapter quickly unfolding before Thalia. The commotion of the main thoroughfare enveloped her. A cacophony of vendors hawking their wares with fiery enthusiasm blended with the song of customers engaged in the age old knife fight of haggling. To Thalia, who’d never seen more than a village faire, the spectacle was mesmerizing; a living tapestry of commerce and community.
A particular commotion stole her attention. A crowd gathered along a storefront, eagerly listening to a rather animated man above them pitch the virtues of some new kitchen device. The passion in his voice, the fervor of his pitch, and the eagerness of the crowd to listen, stood as a testament to the city’s love for innovation. But it also reminded Thalia of her days as a youth in the Church of Sol, with passionate preachers instilling their virtue and penance on a receptive audience.
Thalia quickly lowered the brim of her hat, beginning to feel the weight of a thousand unseen eyes. The tight streets and enclosing buildings of the urban landscape were a strong departure from the wide open skies of her rural upbringing. Her heart pounded from the cocktail of excitement and anxiety welling up inside. She turned down a quieter street, hoping for a moment of silence and peace to gather her thoughts and reread Amelia’s directions. Her fingers trembled with anxiety as she fumbled with the folder, trying to get the note from it.
A gentle breeze carried through the side street as a cool reminder of the impending winter. Just being in the quiet side street gave her a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfare. The sound of the city felt muted, which gave the young witch time to stop and think. Cautious fingers ran over her aunt’s words, making sure she’s on the right track. Every step she took in the right direction, every click of her heavy boots on the cobblestone, echoed in her ears as a tangible reminder of the journey ahead of her.
Thalia’s eyes darted around with amazement on the slower streets heading towards the school. The sunlight filtering through the leaves of overhanging trees panted a cascade of shadows across the storefronts and homes that followed the path of the street. Another gentle breeze carried with it the faintest hints of magic, slowly drawing the smell of fresh baked bread to the forefront of her mind. Down one side street, and through an alley, she quickly found resisting its allure to be a futile task. Something in the smell of yeast and dough drew out memories of Amelia at the oven, making some wonderful treat.
Turning one last corner, Thalia found a quiet little cafe with a collection of tables and chairs warming in the afternoon sun. She must’ve found her way to the edge of town — or at least the edge of a park — because across from the cafe stood a thick forest, dense with old growth and flowering underbrush that was deceptively well kept. Her stomach growled, reminding her of her small quest. The cafe was slow, with only one or two other folk sitting about the porch. It had a small little window with a countertop for ordering, and Thalia rapped her knuckles gently against it.
One of the two patrons, a half dragon, excused himself from the table. He stretched his wings across the porch with a bored yawn, laughing to the other across the table from him.
“Looks like I’ve got to cut our chat short, Aldric.”
His hips carried him between the tables as he slunk over to lean on the wall next to Thalia. He had long white hair that was neatly layered and a littler wavy that was swept mostly across one side. His purple scales glittered with every movement, looking just as value as the piles of gold jewelry he wore. His claws drew a small notebook from his skirt, before he leaned against the wall next to Thalia. His words shook her from a slight fugue state as he asked, “So honey, what can I get for you?”
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It had a low resonance to it, but carried with a sing-song melody to it. It was rich, and androgynous, carrying the subtle undertones of a growl. The young witch shrunk back, not used to looking up to make eye contact. She fumbled over her reply,
“Oh! I’m… I’m quite hungry, honestly, and was hoping to get a quick lunch?”
The dragonkin rolled his eyes with a sly grin across his black-painted lips. He answered her not-quite-question, “Well, I’d say you’re in just the right place, then, hmm? Take a seat, let me get you a menu.”
She sat with little a fuss, and the friendly server gave her a stout sheet of parchment. The menu was eclectic, with an array of treats and pastries from every country on Ance, and even a few traditional treats from Novateria. Her hungry eyes settled on an old favorite of hers, Hafni Cakes, from where she grew up in Solaria, well before she moved in with Josephi.
“I’ll have these, please! Oh! And do you have any mocha?”
She looked up halfway threw her sentence to the dragonkin to be met with him staring back at her with the most curious expression.
“Say, haven’t I met you before?” His words carried intrigue and familiarity, and for a moment Thalia thought she had.
“No… Not that I’m aware of?” Thalia shrunk back into her robes, anxious that this could take a turn for the worst. The dragonkin tilted his head to the other side, and bit his lower lip in thought.
“No no, You look an awful lot like an old friend. You’ve been staying with that old coot, Joey, right?”
Thalia grew more nervous. Maybe it was just a coincidence?
“Do you mean Joesephi..?” Her voice held the tightness in her chest and the anxiety built up.
“Yes! That’s the guy! Tall, gruff, way too hairy, like his mocha black? Moved to Novateria, was somehow a hero of the realms?” His voice as so casual, as if the “hero of the realms” bit was the least memorable part of it. That was Joesephi, though. Hero through and through, though, he never talked of it, and Thalia never cared to ask. He was her hero, regardless, having rescued her from more peril than she thought possible to be in.
“That’s… That’s him. But I don’t think we’ve met at all..?”
“Nonsense! You still have that house, just down the way, right? Maybe something’s happened to your head, Am.”
“Am? No no, I think… I think you’re mistaken, Amelia’s my…” It took Thalia a second to really parse who she was to her. Mentor, for sure, but they were closer than that. Mother? While her own mom was gone, Amelia was the closest thing she had. Her server’s excitement threw from the rails her brief train of thought.
“Hells above and Gods around, Amelia had a daughter?!”
He clapped his hands in front of his wide smile.
“Hafni cakes and a mocha, on the house.”
“No no, I can pay f-”
He cut her off again, raising a sassy finger. “Pay in stories, catch me up on the life of ol’ Ams and Joey. Tell me about who you are.”
Before Thalia could insist, he disappeared into the cafe humming just the most jovial tune. She waved nervously at the other patron, who only sipped from his drink with a raised eyebrow. The gray streaks through the side of his dark black hair came to a bed of white at the top of his head, slicked back presumably to keep it out of his glasses. The pastry on his plate was just one or two bites from completion, unrecognizable from its original form. Deep purple irises met her gaze before he smirked, giving her an awkward little wave. His attention turned over to the woods as he drew a thin cigarette and lit it with a snap.
A few moments of awkward silence were punctuated by the dragonkin’s return. He carried a tray with two cups, and two Hafni cakes on plates. He sat across from Thalia with a powerful fall, somehow not distressing the drinks or cakes. The cup he passed to Thalia held her favorite light brown drink, filled nearly to the brim. The cakes themselves seemed delightfully fresh, steaming in the cool autumn air. The dragonkin took a long sip from his mocha, before leaning on the palm of his right hand with a friendly smile. He asked her, “Alright, spice, I’m Armond, your lovely local dragon, and let me start of by askin’ for your name. Amelia’s great at naming.”
“It’s… It’s Thalia, and I picked it myself. She just… helped, in a way.” Her eyes darted down and to the left with her reply, trying to avoid his bright, pink eyes.
“Mmm… A lovely name indeed. So, what brings you out here to our neck of the woods? Last I head Ams was settled down out in Novateria, sharing a house with that old coot Josephi. Anything fun, exciting?”
“Amelia told me about the er- the school here in town. She said it’d be good for me to get a better grasp on…” She shouldn’t say exactly what she’s getting a grasp on. She barely understood what it even was to begin with, anyway. Amelia warned her not to be to blase about her “gift.”
“A better grasp on magic, and maybe using it to earn some coin and make a living.”
“Aww, mom and gramps kicked you out the nest? Told you it’s time to fly? Don’t wo-” He interrupted himself this time, seeing the Thalia wince over his apparently off-base guess.
“Oh. Oh my. By the Hells Above, I’m sorry… I didn’t- I didn’t know-”
“No no, it’s fine! He uh… He passed in his sleep comfortably, two years ago. It’s… Healing’s hard, and time gives you the space to heal. Right?” Thalia didn’t want him to feel guilty - how could he have known? Not everyone’s privy to everything.
“Amelia though, how’s she? Still on her whole ‘save the world’ schtick?”
“I think so, we parted ways a few months ago, I’m not too sure on what she’s up to, but she said she’d find a way to keep in touch.”
A flew disappointed clicks of the tongue came from across the table.
“Classic Ams, always carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, never letting anyone help. Why, I remember, back when she was rooting out a group of old cultists here in New Revolon, she came here every day…” He trailed off, recounting a story to Thalia that she actually hadn’t heard. She guessed Amelia must’ve been a storied adventurer, but the tales of swordplay and intrigue felt like she was discovering a new side of her mentor. The brief break in back and forth to listen to the story gave Thalia a chance to actually try her cake, lifting it carefully and taking a small bite.
The dough was the perfect mid point between soft and flaky, somehow not breaking into a thousand little crumbs like she remembered they did when she was about eight. The lemon creme oozed out like an open wound from the middle, giving it the perfect ratio of sweet to offset the lemon’s bitter flavor to let that delightful citrus taste shine through each bite. The young witch found it hard to pay attention to the story with how distracting every facet of the pastry’s flavor was. She washed it down with a few sips of the mocha, relishing in the creamy, rich taste. It had a sweetness to it that clung to her tongue with every sip, taking her back to her days travelling across the continent with her grandfather, stopping well off the beaten trail for all manner of delights. And mocha was always her favorite.
“But yeah, despite my warnings, she still rushed right in there, stopping the whole thing from happening. I was just barely behind her when I saw the whole portal in the room, and before I could even make out what was crawling out of it, she shut it closed and covered the whole room in some kinda sickly green flame to clean it up. I was so curious! And she still had the gall to not tell me what it was!”
Thalia let out a small giggle under her breath. Despite not knowing her as Amelia the Adventurous, the story certainly felt like it was about the Amelia she knew. Before she could get another word out, Armond spoke up.
“Was she nearly as wild and adventurous once she had you? Figured a wild soul like hers would’ve gone mad long before her kid reached adulthood. Can’t ever picture that woman winding down.”
Another sip of her coffee to wet her throat before she gave an answer, “I can’t really say she was, for the most part, but I only knew her for the last eight years or so, after she convinced gramps to take me in. She had a passion for teaching me, though, and we spent so many nights diving into old books and practicing out in the clearing near the homestead.”
She surprised herself with how quickly she warmed up to Armond. None of the anxiety she felt the entire day was bearing down on her chest. Talking to him just felt like talking to an old friend, and they both talked for some time. Mostly stories about Josephi; Armond recounting tales of his heroism around the world and Thalia reliving her favorite moments of her youth. Her favorite story, actually, where Amelia and Josephi got in a playful debate after Thalia had cut her thumb trying to follow his instructions on skinning an elk.
The sun threatened to fall behind the trees after some time, signaling the transition from midafternoon to late. The other patron at the cafe was long gone, and Thalia and Armond had shared their fair share of mochas together. As the shadows stretched the opposite direction across the street, Thalia got a little nervous. Walking around in a strange city at night felt like a recipe for disaster, and she still needed to find Amelia’s old home to stay in.
“Hey, Armond? I’ve really got to get going before it’s too dark, I still need to find Amelia’s old home before it gets dark,” she said, “And this has been lovely! I just… You wouldn’t happen to know where it is, would you?”
Armond pouted and crossed his arms. Leaning back in his chair, he looked up at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky. The disappointment in his voice was tangible as he answered, “Of course I do, and I suppose you’re right… Not that this part of town is all that to worry about, I’d just hate for a pretty new friend to get lost and need to pay for a room.”
He stood up slowly, motioning her to follow him. She tapped the rune on her trunk again, bringing it to a hover, as she did so. He leaned over the fence of his porch and pointed, giving her the directions.
“So, you’ll go straight down this street, and after three or four lefts, you’ll see it on the right, tucked up in the woods. Lovely place, I’m sure you’ll really get feeling at home there.” He nudged her with a cheeky smile, adding, “And remember, if you throw any parties, invite old Armond, I really know how to have fun. Also, if you need anything, I’m a yell or a stone’s throw away. I live up above, in the second story here.”
He hugged her tight, and Thalia caught a whiff of his perfume. A familiar scent that must’ve been made from one of the berry families in Novateria Norte. Thalia hugged him back, with a knowing smile.
“Don’t worry, Amelia made sure I could handle myself. I might stop by in the morning to ask where I can get groceries from, still… Not sure how all this works, not growing and butchering things myself.”
Armond gave her a wide, toothy grin.
“Spice, of course, do not be a stranger.”
He waved her off as she left, going back to tend to their dishes and clean up around the cafe. Thalia stayed closer to the woods on the edge of the road, curious to what it was and dreaming up the possibilities of what it could hold. Three lefts to go, and there it was, up ahead on the right. A proper brick home, that easily could’ve outdated most of the stonework homes of the city. It stood tall at three stories, with a quaint tower on its eastern wall that poked up well above the tree line. She fumbled around in her satchel for the keys, giving the silver metal a once over before making her way up to the front door. With every step, though, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.