Clear skies accompanied a sense of relief at Asphodel's norther gate now that Christoph was finally about to leave this place. Having gone ahead after briefly relaying the King's requested information and discreetly leaving the money for his room and board at the inn, Christoph was looking forward to getting on with his journey once more. He had wheeled his bike over carefully once he carefully filled up its battery at the local chronomill.

"Hey, big guy!"

Turning around, he saw Synthia atop the same roof she had been taunting Iggy on just the previous day. Jumping off, her body flipped forward once and she landed, cat-like, on the ground.

"Impressive. Most people would have their legs broken if they did that."

Christoph couldn't help but notice the way Synthia began playing with her hair. Now that she was all showered, it looked far smoother, especially in the sun...

"So Christoph, I've been wondering."

Snapping out of his trance, Christoph cleared his throat. "Yeah?"

"How old are you?"

"18, last time I checked."

Her face lighting up with a satisfied smile, Synthia nodded. "Good."

After explaining what had happened back in the square, Synthia waited with Christoph for Wilvur. She kept stealing furtive glances at him which, in all honesty, he was beginning to find a little uncomfortable. Just before he was about to tell her to stop, he saw some familiar faces approaching from up ahead.

"Iggy? What are you doing here?"

Rolling up with her pink metal suitcase, Iggy leaned against the handle. "What do you think? I'm coming with you."

Synthia's soft smile turned into another of her normal smirks. "Only one full size suitcase?"

"Shut your trap or I'll shut it for you."

"Oh, boy," Christoph said, feeling a headache coming on. "Now there are two of them."

Wilvur burst with laughter. "Oh, I don't envy you."

"But I haven't even agreed to take her along."

Iggy slammed a fist atop her suitcase. "I did not stress all night on what to bring just to be turned away without a second thought. You hear me? I'm not taking no for an answer."

Pulling at the sleeves of his shirt, Christoph stood up straight. "Look, this isn't some day trip. We go after these keystones, that means danger. Not just from trying to find them but from whoever gets in our way. Trust me, you're better off staying here."

"I can't. Not with a man like my uncle." She sighed. "I guess I could stay at the inn or somewhere else, but... After last night, I guess the prospect of going on an adventure is appealing to me. More than staying here."

Iggy and Christoph continued their stand-off, Synthia beside them with her grin spread wide at what Iggy had just said. The King gave a small chuckle. Christoph turned to him.

"What's so funny? Find it ironic the info you wanted ended up irrelevant because of Mrs. Kelvin coming in to save the day?"

Taking off his glasses and wiping them on his shirt, the King replied, "That, and a little trick you learn as you grow older is that there's nothing more resolute than a stubborn woman."

Approaching Christoph, Iggy stretched her arms out. "I'm not so great at pulling things toward me as you saw yesterday but pushing them away... that's a different story. Maybe that'll convince you I'm worth bringing along."

Cocking his head, Christoph accepted. "Alright then. Throw me back at least ten feet and I'll consider it."

Synthia gave him a look of pity before taking several steps back. In fact, everybody did.

Looking down at Iggy's triumphant grin, Christoph realized his mistake too late.

"Uh oh."

Fwoosh!

A gust of wind that felt like it came from a hurricane blasted him back, well beyond ten feet. Landing flat on his back in much the same position as Iggy had been yesterday, he could tell he had flown almost all the way to the gate.

"... You're in," he forced out.

...

A bike was too small for all three of them to travel, so Iggy and Penelope had gone over to the Asphodel mansion to find any cars they could use. With Mayor Asphodel's arrest, they would be seized by the town anyway and may as well yield some use for the moment. They decided against horses as they would be too tiresome to care for.

Wilvur took this time to approach Christoph. "A moment?"

Christoph acquiesced. They stood off to the side. Synthia took the time to say farewell to the King.

"That's a troublemaker you're taking along."

Picking at some dirt left on his robes from Iggy's demonstration, Christoph nodded. "Oh yeah. I've seen for myself."

Scratching the back of his head, Wilvur pondered what to say next. After a little while, he continued.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"She's not... a normal girl. And I don't mean the eyes or her mixed blood, that's not what makes her different. Well, I guess it's partly why, but not, um... because of just that, you know?"

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"Me, Gren and Penelope did our best to make sure she'd have a decent life here. To move on from whatever pain still gripped her. We did what we could, but there's a part of her we could never reach."

He squinted at a passing cloud, trying to find more words to articulate his thoughts.

"She's the bravest person I've ever met. And the most foolish. She won't always be happy. She won't always be okay. And I've accepted she won't ever keep herself truly safe. So all I ask of you is that you make sure she gets through this adventure of yours."

"I'll do what I can, but..."

Christoph trailed off as he saw Wilvur's determined expression.

"I need you to understand; I'm entrusting you with this. With her. I need you to promise me that, within the limits of your power, no harm befalls her. And if any comes from you, I will find out about it. We've agreed to keep in touch."

Not one ounce of hesitation seeped into his voice. Christoph understood the magnitude of this request. "I promise."

Relaxing, Wilvur flashed him a warm smile. "Good. And it seems the ladies are finally back."

Iggy and Penelope rolled up in a black convertible, top down. It was somewhat boxlike, with large headlights and a silver angel hood ornament. They exited it.

"Not a bad ride," Christoph remarked.

"I'm gonna call it the Silver Falcon," Synthia said, jumping up and down.

"But it's black," Wilvur pointed out.

"And it doesn't fly," the King added.

"No names, please," Iggy said, exasperated. "This is just a normal, super expensive car we're appropriating from Mayor Aspho— uh, former Mayor Asphodel."

Kicking at the ground, Synthia muttered. "Still Mayor Asshole in my book."

"All of that's behind you." Placing a hand on Synthia's shoulder, Wilvur gave her a tender look. "And hopefully the rest too. Before I send you out there, I need you to promise me that you won't go looking for a fight, anywhere, no matter what."

Grumbling, Synthia avoided looking into his eyes.

"This is important. Synthia, the world isn't going to welcome for who you are. So prove to the people in it that you're better than what some might say you are. Not for me, but for you. Understand?"

Taking a deep breath, Synthia nodded. Smiling, Wilvur drew her close. "That's my girl. That's my girl."

Looking at this exchange, Iggy felt a strong pang of longing bubble up within her chest as she tried to wedge her suitcase into the car's trunk with Christoph. She hadn't felt it in a long time. So long she thought it had disappeared altogether.

"Apeiros, this thing is big," Christoph grunted beside her. "And super heavy! You fit half your bedroom into this?"

"Oh quit whining, it'll go in with one more push. Now put your back into it!"

With one last effort from both of them, the suitcase finally slid inside the trunk. Iggy rubbed her hands together to get some feeling back into them.

"Now we're all set!"

Turning to the King, she gave a curtsy before breaking out of it and doing a more subdued bow of her head. "Not that we really know each other, but it's nice to have somebody to see me off."

The King was surprised. "Nobody else is coming?"

Iggy snorted. "I told them not to. Not after what I learned."

"And that's why you have trouble making friends," came a voice.

It was now Iggy's turn to be surprised. "Aunt Mel! And... Will, and Phil, and Bill!"

"It's Dill!"

"Oh, sorry."

Her aunt and the trio of nobody officers approached the group. Mel handed over a hairbrush.

"Oh no! I knew I forgot something!"

"Lucky you have me then."

Mel looked conflicted, in between wanting her niece to stay and respecting her wishes. "Your fool of an uncle decided to go to town hall, hoping to retain his spot on the new council. I tried to convince him to come, but he's a coward at heart. Couldn't face you after you blew up at him."

Iggy shook her head. "That's not your fault, Aunt Mel. I didn't expect him to come, and after what he did I don't want him to. But I do hope he learns from his mistakes."

"And so should you." Mel put her hand in Iggy's. "I trust you know this isn't afternoon stroll with some boyfriend. You'll need to keep your wits about you. If you ever want to come home, you need only turn right back around and retrace your steps. Our door is always open for you."

Smiling, Iggy clenched her aunt's fingers tighter. "That's good to know."

They shared a tight embrace and then parted.

"Hey, Ms. Iggy," spoke up Will.

"We're thinking of heading out on an adventure of our own," said Dill.

"Trust us, in no time you'll be hearing tales of the most heroic trio to ever walk the face of Nelen!" Phil seemed especially enthusiastic.

Not wanting to sour their parting by seeming skeptical, Iggy kept a straight face. "I'm sure I will. Hopefully we meet each other again somewhere."

They all grinned. "It's a promise," they shouted in unison. Synthia and Christoph suppressed the urge to giggle.

Now it was Penelope's turn. "It seems this day has been a long time coming. You ready? Both of you?"

Iggy and Synthia answered "Yes," in sync, giving each other a glance; one caustic, the other cheerful.

"What you're looking for are no mere trinkets. They are keystones of power and ought to be respected. Should you find them, it may have global ramifications. Keep that in mind. All of you."

That last sentence was followed by a brief flicker of her eyes in Christoph's direction. It was only for half a second; so brief that Christoph wondered if he was just been imagining things. But once he blinked he saw her still focused on the girls in front of her.

"Take care then."

They turned to leave, Synthia seeing a brief nod of acknowledgement from the King which she returned, and with that he turned on his heel back into town.

"Oh, and Synthia?"

She turned after hearing her name. Penelope had one last thing to say

"I know Gren meant the world to you... So do what you can to carry out his love of adventure, okay? He'd be honoured if you could do that. I know it. And keep the books he gave you close on hand. You do that, then he'll always be with you in a way."

Synthia smiled. "Okay. Absolutely."

Christoph shouted to her atop his zeitcycle. "Come on, let's get going. The world isn't waiting for us."

"Good luck," Aunt Mel called out. Iggy waved at her.

Trotting over to Wilvur, Synthia gave him the tightest hug she could.

"Argh, you're about to break my ribs!"

Giggling, Synthia gave him a kiss on the cheek, right against his prickly stubble. "You're the best, Wilvur. Believe it."

Smirking, Wilvur rubbed his side. "I do. It's you who'd better believe it."

Looking up, Synthia saw the pyramidal tip of the northern gate.

"Hold it! There's one more thing I wanna do. See things from a different perspective."

Ignoring the others' looks and exclamations of surprise, she drew out her grappling gun and fired it at the top of the gate. Shooting up, she landed with a solid thud against the tiles, grabbing the weathervane to balance herself. Looking around, she could see that this was the easily the tallest place in all of Asphodel, beaten only by the church spire.

At the south end was her home. Her old home now, she guessed. Decrepit, rotting and uninviting, it had served as the perfect hiding spot. She went over how she traced the lines she'd made on her map, imagining where she'd go first when she eventually left this place.

Pulling it out, she took in the region they were in at the moment. Styx. A smaller part of a country named Viveld, in itself a medium sized part of the world's second largest continent Edretica. One small part of a big world.

She remembered the attic she had been living in. It was the refuge where she'd been left to imagine her adventures. Dancing atop the mattress, stomping the floorboards, imagining she was swinging a sword and being the greatest villain who'd ever lived. Her moment had arrived.

She turned to look out, far beyond the confines of Asphodel's walls. With the sun shining overhead and the mountains in the distance, she let the sea wind wash over her. This was the first step. The first real chapter. Her first actual journey.

"Time for a real adventure."