"Th-Thank you! Thank you!" a mother tells me tearfully as she holds her formerly gravely injured son. Smiling at her, I wave at the confused little boy as he holds his head as a mild headache passes through it. Turning away from them, I leave them be as Lightning returns to me.
"H-Hey..." the little boy calls out as I recreate my pair of wings. Facing him, my smile grows as his cheeks flush a little.
"Yes?" I ask with a tone sweetened by the divine entity.
"What's your name?"
"Einervaene Bosphama!" I answer giddily before I go back into the sky, breaking apart the clouds once again.
"You are enjoying answering this question." Lightning comments as one of my gloved hands run along the soft and volatile sky.
"It just... Feels so nice to be able to say it without being so ashamed of it!"
"You hate your name?" Lightning asks, making me slow down.
"N-No... I..." I struggle to explain as Lightning comes out purely to nod at me.
"I understand." he answers.
"Did you just read my mind!?" I accuse him of and he sparks away from me with a coy shimmer.
"Brewbrt is walking in the countryside after us." Lightning changes the topic to and I blink in confusion. Has he been following us? I suppose I am quite easily to trail with what I am now...
"Well, let's go speak to him." I say as I dive down in the direction Lightning gestures towards in his own special way. Folding my wings in, I shoot towards the ground, against the rushing wind. Opening them up again, I rise up with a jolt and the crack of thunder as I flap them once more. Flying like this is so enjoyable!
I am proud of what I have accomplished with my first spell, but, flying this way... I know why it is such a loved and desired goal for all witches. Past the convenience of it, past the mark of pride that comes with the attainment of such power. The joy I feel with each bristling feather is something so...
So...!
Giggling, I pick up on my friend's silvered-emerald magic and my wings adjust. Making one final flap, they vanish and I soar across the sky, the land zooming past me. Holding my heels out, I smile knowingly as I meet my graceful landing head-on. Coming to a tapping stop before I have a little fun with a quick gesture as Brewbrt follows my slowing down.
"Someone's happy." he huffs as his armour scrapes together as he crosses his arms.
"I've plenty of reason to be." I say, grinning as he ruffles my hair after moving closer. Laughing as I fight his hand off, I follow after him as we start to walk on the cobblestone path.
"What have you been up to, Einervaene? This is quite far from Farmer Sanoukou's property." he asks as he blows off some magic towards a passing bird on a bomber's intent. Its payload splatters within viewing distance but far enough away that, that is all we see of it.
"I felt like travelling around." I shrug out as we come to a stop by an occupied field. Staticwool lambs graze on the rare spots of plant life and many rub together as they seek the ecstasy of their existence.
"Listen, about Eratheen..." he starts off with, slowly.
"You've heard something!?" I demand to know as I step towards him. He nods and I grab a piece of his armour firmly, jolting him forward, much to his surprise. I loosen my abrupt grip and look away as I rub an arm.
"There is a senatorial meeting happening regarding her, soon."
"Oh, that is good, then." I sigh as my worked-up nerves continue to continue to leave me out of it and unfocused.
"Really?"
I start to nod, "Yes, if it's just a senate meeting, it means they haven't gotten anywhere with it since I left all that time ago."
"Are you certain, Einervaene? You have been gone from your homeland for some time." he questions as he leans on a wooden post.
Gulping, some uncertainty makes itself clear to me in my mind, "I spent a lot of time reading up on the law regarding the problems I have caused Mother... If it's still up for debate with the Senate, there is nothing to worry about. Of course, the sooner we solve this, the better, but, we have time... I still have time..."
"I see, well, it's up to you, but, Farmer Sanoukou has offered us a place to stay for the time being. If that is something you are interested in." Brewbrt explains and I get rid of my saddened expression for something more joyful. Placing my hands together, my cheeks beam with it and he quietly snorts some positivity.
"I'd be glad to spend some time there. There's nothing better than homemade food at a farm! All fresh ingredients with so much of it just cleverly set aside from everyone else so that they can all enjoy it to their heart's content!" I recall as a few memories eating fresh farm produce come to mind.
"Shall we?" my friend asks as he holds up an armoured arm, moving away from the post.
"We shall indeed." I chirp as we walk alongside each other down the rain-afflicted road. Brewbrt's golden foot splashes into a puddle and I glance down at the wet patches on my high-heeled boots.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"You are quite dry for someone who's been in such a freak rainstorm." he comments as I watch a few drops gather on his armour before they slip off. Shattering into a dozen smaller droplets which then spread themselves thin. Invisible to the eye now that they are on the wet ground.
"I've been flying around a lot." I smile as my wings quickly come back just to ruffle right next to him. Breathing a laugh, he whacks it out of the way and snatches a feather from me.
"Ow." I let out reasonably quiet.
Waving the golden quill-to-be about, he wiggles it near my nose, "You've been quite busy, haven't you?"
"Maybe." I answer innocently as I wave back towards some children that are playing in a nearby field. A small group that I had helped not too long ago with a leg injury one had sustained. Ideally, I should tell them to stop playing around in the mud, but, they were more than happy to forget what happened.
"Your mother will be very proud of you." he smiles as he gently yanks on one of my braids, pulling my head in before he rubs my top.
"I hope my name can reach her." I ponder as I come to a stop by a small, flower-surrounded shrine in the middle of the road. Brewbrt initially walks past me and backtracks his way towards me when he notices.
"You've been letting people know who you are?" he asks as he moves close to the shrine to fiddle with some of its decorations. I lean forward and gently slap his hand away with a ringing tap. My eyes meet his concerned gaze and I start to frown.
"Yes..." I assert with wavering confidence as I start to rub an opposing arm.
He starts to smile obnoxiously in front of my face, "What's the worst that can happen? You what, get called in to prove how shiny and golden you are?"
I huff bemusedly, "Maybe they'll pass me onto a bank and someone with a tiny glass piece will check my carat."
"Careful for what you wish for, a bank vault is no fine-dining hotel." he smirks at as I start to look beyond the shrine, towards the distant farms.
"Do you think I'd ever be able to fit back into my old life?" I ask as I take in the age of the things around me. It might not look it, but, farms tend to be projects spanning generations. The father of the father and beyond, unchanging in so many ways and always so simple.
"How do you mean? You've stayed pretty much the same in my eyes. You know your manners and your etiquette." he asks before he goes on to explain his point of view. And, while I get what he means, I can't help but acknowledge my past since this all began. I left my homeland on a ship which docked at an island before I got onto another.
Years.
I've spent a good chunk of my life now riding the waves on a ship of wood or iron. All the little things I did before then are probably forgotten now. The colour of my magic has always caused me problems, but the nature of what I am kept it beneath the surface. I was still able to put up a facade of what I was meant to be.
But now, I've done my endless months of sailing, I've spent a fair amount of time in a foreign land. Attempts were made to cling on to my past, yet, with everything being so new and different. I couldn't help but go out and try it all. Flying in the skies on airships and dancing amongst the mountain tops as the green breeze go on by.
"So..." I start to say before I lose track, looking off towards an old tower that has likely seen better days.
"Look, Einervaene, if it's any consolation... Before I left with you back then in search of Anvil-Peak and the power nestled up on its legendary, flat top. I never thought I would ever get the chance to go on another adventure like I used to. Every day it's the same, I hoped for that chance to feel the wind in my hair. The rush of adrenaline as a new scar is marked on my body. The chance to delve into old ruins and see newly freed treasures of all kinds." he tries to explain, but, I develop a hang-up as I listen.
"You joined me and have gone about this as if you never stopped..." I say as I gently caress a nearby crop.
"No, Einervaene. There's so much I've forgotten but that hasn't stopped me from getting back into it. Don't worry, anything you might've forgotten will come back to you. Gods above and below... They'll probably love you all the more for the life you have lived! People can and do forgive the small things when there is something good to explain it."
"Why can't I just stay happy? I'm finally back home... Going to have a lovely meal before sleeping in what might be a fire-warmed bedroom." I lament as my head steadily aims my gaze towards the ground. Slightly looking over towards some roots breaking out onto the road.
"You have a lot on your mind, Einervaene. It's natural to be worried, you can't help that. Just know, always remember, it's nearly all over. The you who left on that ship full of tears is back, your mother misses you, Einervaene."
"I don't want to be moping..."
"No, you should mope right now, let it all out. I will drag you off the edge of this shocking continent if I so much as catch you whining to your mother. I want you to give her all the smiles and hugs in the world when you see her again." he tells me with a firm tone after yanking my head up. Nodding against the grip he has on my chin, I start to smile as he uses my cheeks to manipulate my mouth.
"Canshyousletsgo?" I squeeze out as he starts to enjoy messing with my speech. A quiet, short laugh leaves me as his fingers depart.
"Now, let's get going to the farm again. I'm starving." he exclaims as he drums his armour-covered gut. Rain bounces off of him and the loud bangs echo out across the fields and beyond.
"Do you think we might be able to stay around here for a little longer? There are some things I would like to do before we get going again." I ask my friend as he firmly grasps a nearby wall for support on his way down a slope in the road.
"Sure..." he lets out absent-mindedly as he carefully treads down the mud-slicked path. Innocently, I cover my mouth and point a finger forward, one that just so happens to have Lightning sparking across it. Brewbrt yelps and falls with a bang, sliding down into a crash in the dip.
"Come here, now!" he demands from the puddle he is bathing in.
I zap to the other side, "No."
"Just you wait, Einervaene!" he curses as he gets back via an explosive ascension into the sky. Standing still, I watch him go as high as the clouds before he drops down, suddenly surrounded by magic.
"No... No! NO! NO! NO!" I scream with laughter as I run away from him with all I have, a bomb with a raincloud payload headed right for me.
"Should I?" Lightning asks but all I have for him is laughter and the thrum of Brewbrt's magic gets closer.
"NOW!" I go as I reappear on Brewbrt's back.
"I can work with this!" he chuckles as he throttles back into the clouds, going beyond them until we reach the open sky.
"Hey... Look at that!" I call out, amazed as shimmering light makes itself clear in the distance. The creature roars proudly as it minds its own business before it turns away with the wind.
"That was a big one, but I've killed bigger." Brewbrt chuckles as we dive back down under the clouds. It is probably for the best as well, a dragon is likely to see me as a challenge, just like Boisenmarck did.
"You mean we." I correct as I hop off a short distance away from the ground. Briefly running with rapid taps and clicks before I grab onto a branch to take the rest of the speed out of me.
Brewbrt drops down loudly, "Pretty sure it was my spell that finished it."
"And destroyed a chunk of my homeland..." I mutter under my breath.
"Shut up, you and your golden bolts only made it angry." Brewbrt dismisses with a snigger as he plays with his helmet a little.
"I wonder if dragons are going to be a frequent part of my life now..." I ponder with a finger to my chin.
"Back in Jherikra, dragons aren't typically handled by individuals."
"They are here sometimes, I am pretty sure the Imperial Heir has a reputation for hunting sea-dragons."
"You'll have plenty to talk about, then, should you meet him." Brewbrt says as we get back to walking.