PART II - DOES THIS MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?
“Your Majesty,” Captain Huvaen said by way of greeting as Vanis left the Commandant's office building. He had been waiting. “Any problems?”
His mind still drifting through the conversation he’d just had with the officers, it took Vanis a moment to realize he’d been addressed. “What? No. No issues, Captain. They just wished for my evaluations of the other recruits in a more-informal setting. My duties to the mission should be concluded.”
“You’ll have to forgive me,” Huvaen said. “I’m still having difficulty believing what that Gnome was able to do. And the Pixie for that matter. If I hadn’t been here to hear the reports directly, I may have thought you mad.”
“Oh believe it, Captain. Pixyl in particular is a force to be reckoned with.”
“I hate to press the issue, but do we have some time to discuss my orders?”
Vanis nodded. “Yes. Let’s find some privacy. We can return to my cabin; the rest will be out and about for Homeday.” They began to walk. “Thank you again for indulging my duties here. I know you rode hard and were eager to deliver your message.”
“Of course, Sire. Honestly, it was quite informative to see this place rally to the fight against the Elementals. Despite my initial … impressions, the Legate and Commandant seem to have this camp running well. The lack of rigid discipline seemed odd at first, but getting a Pixie Bladeweaver to Silver in only four weeks … simply incredible. All the recruits seem amazingly motivated to succeed together.”
“I may even reach Silver this next week as well, Captain,” Vanis advised with a smirk. “If not, certainly the week after. Everyone leaves here at least Silver. Pixyl, and several others, will reach Gold.”
“So fast?”
“Amazing trainers, and having the Symbiotes help, too, as you are well aware.”
“That’s true, but still …” Huvaen repeated. “And you? Will you reach Gold?”
Vanis was about to answer no, but then the previous discussion with the officers came back to him. “There is an extended four-week term after the initial training concludes, for select recruits. I believe I will be chosen to remain, so very likely I’ll reach Gold during that time.”
“Then allow me to be the first to congratulate you in advance, Your Highness.”
Together, Vanis and Huvaen walked the camp towards the recruit cabins, Vanis filling in any details regarding the fight and the past four weeks that the captain asked about. Passing the medical tent, Vanis also explained the strange, twisting tree, which they all now knew was another Heartwood tree, this one much smaller than the one in Juniper’s grove.
“Speaking of her, I … uh … heard a rumor about you and the Dryad,” Huvaen said as they left the Heartwood tree behind them. “Any truth to it?”
Vanis frowned and then slightly glowered at the Captain. He knew anything he’d say would quickly find his way back to his mother. She wouldn’t disapprove, but would love to inquire for details. She tended to be a little nosy for gossip. “Some,” he sighed. “It’s … complicated. We enjoy each other’s company, but I don’t know if more can come of it. She is locked here, as she is bonded to her Heartwood tree in the forest, and won’t survive long if separated from it. Also, there are magic-related concerns. I use Nether magic. She’s of Nature magic. They do not … mingle well.”
“Ah, I see the complexities. As long as you are sure you aren’t being beguiled …”
“She has no charm over me, except perhaps her smile, Captain. I’ll be off to the front in four or eight weeks anyway, so anything that may happen here is of little consequence.”
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“Vanis!” a voice called out, and the two Elves turned to see Lena jogging towards them.
“Lena, good morning. I missed you at breakfast,” Vanis said with a smile.
“Yeah, I was tied up,” Lena said, slightly winded. Then added, “Oh, shut up,” when Vanis raised his eyebrow speculatively. The Warlock knew where she’d been all night, and with whom.
“How may I help,” Vanis said, quickly interrupting Huvaen, who was probably about to chastise the Bladedancer for being disrespectful.
“Just saying ‘hello’. I’m on my way back to Ogre House to grab something.”
“We’re going that way as well. Would you care to walk with us?”
Lena fell in step with Vanis and the Captain. “You haven’t seen Pixyl, have you?” she asked idly.
“Not since our meeting with the Commandant ended. That was less than an hour ago. Is there a problem?”
Lena shook her head. “Trainer Olin was looking for her, that’s all. I think he wants to try out some of her new Silver skills before the bunkerball game this afternoon. I heard him talking and he’s quite excited about that ‘Homing Blast’ melded skill she received. He was also going on about how she now has Flashstep. I hope she doesn’t crash into something learning how to control it. When I first received the skill, I crashed into things ... a lot. It hurts … a lot!”
“I believe the Major is planning to work with her directly.”
“Ahh, that will help quite a bit then. Injuries among the other Bladedancer recruits were fairly minimal with her assistance. I’ll be happy to help, too, of course. In the meantime, if you see Pixyl, let her know to find Olin.”
They passed through the garden area, which was surprisingly empty. With it being Homeday, Vanis had expected to see at least a few people lazing about. “Where is everyone?”
“About twenty people decided they wanted to go on a hike in the woods for some reason,” Lena shrugged. “I think people are feeling a little fenced in. Trainers Maugra and Rowani agreed to lead a little expedition out to some lookout rock with a great view. They should be back by gametime.”
“It is indeed a lovely day,” Vanis said, looking up at the nearly cloudless blue sky. “I almost wish I had been able to join them. Perhaps another time.”
As the three approached Ogre House, Lena got a perplexed look on her face. “What is that?”
“Strange,” Vanis said. “It appears to be a sock, tied to the door handle. Does this mean anything to you?”
Lena shook her head, and then shrugged. She chose to open the larger, Ogre-sized door so they could all walk in together, and was immediately met by flashes of pink, blue and an awful lot of skin. The two horrified faces attached to the flesh were momentarily stunned, before they quickly disappeared down behind Callie’s bunk, to the sounds of heavy falling and scrambling.
“What the …” Captain Huvaen started to say.
Callie’s face popped up from behind her bed, shoulders exposed, hair untied and mussed, and righteous irritation on her face. “Hey! Didn’t you see there’s a sock on the door!”
“What the hell does that mean?” Lena asked as she looked at the door handle.
Pixyl’s face popped up next to Callie’s, and she quickly wiped it off with the blanket, her eyes saucer-wide in stark terror. In almost a blur, a Pixie-sized hand reached up, grabbing a couple pieces of clothing that were on the bed, before she disappeared out of sight.
“It means people are inside getting freaky!” Callie growled.
The three newcomers looked at each other, still not really sure what was happening.
“Get out!”
Finally, the situation clicked nearly simultaneously with all three.
“Uh …” Lena said, momentarily unsure what to do. “I’ll ... um … just grab this quick,” she whispered loudly, stretching as far as she could and snatching a forgotten waterskin off her footlocker. Turning, she shooed the others out in front of her and started to close the door, briefly calling back, “Olin’s looking for you, Pixyl.”
“Th-Th-Thank you,” came the muffled, quivering reply as the door latched.
“It appears,” Vanis said, carefully clearing his throat, “that the cabin is currently indisposed.”
“When did that happen?” Lena whispered to Vanis as the trio backed slowly and awkwardly away from the door.
“Pixyl finally made a move after the fight yesterday.”
Lena rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
“Coincidentally, Commandant Xera and Master Healer Tasi said essentially the same thing.”
That caused Lena to laugh. “Well, I got what I came for at least. I think I’ll just …” She trailed off, glancing at the huge Ogre House door and then back to the other two. “Yeah, I’m just going to go. This is already feeling weird.”