Wyn bit down on a grape, piercing the skin with a satisfying pop as he surveyed the map set out over the table in front of him. The library was empty—it was still morning—save for the three friends all gathered there in the main room.
“So, leaving the plateau,” Khaeli said, “Are you guys going south or east?”
He and Corrin responded at the same time, “South.”
“You’ll cross the grass sea then? That’ll be the hardest part of the journey for you two, it’s not going to be cheap. Unlike the rest of the way you can’t just walk.”
“Well obviously,” Corrin said, “But it’s really a no brainer. The Grass Sea is way cooler, I mean it’s faster too, but that’s secondary.”
Wyn chuckled, “Let’s not discount speed Corrin. We do have a deadline after all. But yeah, the Grass Sea is our best bet, and we should have a few months to spare anyways. Originally the plan was for Corrin to leave just after the winter solstice, but admittedly that was cutting it a bit close.”
“I’d like to make it as far as we can before winter comes. It’s supposed to be harder if not impossible to travel then. I was going to just tough it out when we didn’t have the time, but if we do, then we should leave earlier,” Corrin said.
“I agree,” Wyn nodded, “Assuming everything goes well later today, I think we should aim to leave at the end of summer, so about a month.”
“So soon…” Khaeli muttered, and Wyn saw her glance up at Corrin sadly.
Ah, I guess she only heard about this yesterday. We never told anyone Corrin was already planning on leaving. Even though she knew in the past, she also knew we’d stopped talking about it. Now that we’re leaving again…it must be sinking in.
Wyn wasn’t even sure if it had really sunk in for him yet either. One month, then they’d leave it all behind. The thought scared him frankly, but he’d already made up his mind: after taking care of their affairs over the next few weeks, he and Corrin would begin their new life. As much as that scared him, he felt an ever-present excitement in his stomach, and though he wanted to push off leaving as long as possible, some part of him wished they were leaving the very next day.
Khaeli stood up, her face hidden, “E-Excuse me, I forgot I had to take care of something for Eldress Ornum. I’ll see you guys later!” After the declaration, she walked quickly to the study of the library and closed the door behind her.
Corrin got up to follow, “Khaeli wait,” but Wyn grabbed his arm, shaking his head.
“It’s fine Corrin, she just needs some time to work through it. I think you should talk to her, but not right now.” Khaeli wasn’t the type that would let it get her down for too long.
“Fine, you’re right,” Corrin sighed.
“Besides, we have other things to take care of today, don’t we? Let’s finish the planning later.”
“It’s time then?”
“Yeah, let’s get some answers.”
***
Thus, they found themselves here, standing at the edge of the spirit glades. Even in the morning, the summer sun still basked the country in its warm embrace. In the bright light of day, the glades seemed far less imposing than they had before. If he didn’t know any better, Wyn would’ve sworn it was just another normal forest. Well, that may have been true before, but now, he could feel differently. Something about the way his skin tingled ever so faintly, and he thought he might be able to hear just the faintest melody of the spirit song. One way or another, despite what his eyes said, he could tell.
There were too many things they still didn’t know about who or what this Azoth was, or what kind of powers either of them held. Wyn had tried asking Eia, but she claimed she didn’t know much either. If anyone could give them the answers they were seeking, it was the Great Spirit.
Wyn stepped past the threshold of the forest, and the atmosphere changed once again. Unlike the last time, when the forest had glowed with the light of a thousand light spirits, the overpowering brightness of the sun made it seem far more mundane. Still, the way the beams of light trickled in through the canopy did somehow seem different from normal, though he couldn’t place his finger on why.
“Do you still remember how to get there?” Corrin asked.
“I think so, but I’ve got an idea…Hey Eia, are you there?” He called out. A few moments later, Eia came into his vision, lazily flying in loops throughout the air.
“What is it?”
“Thank you for coming, I was wondering if you knew the path to that pond where Iillia is.”
Eia came to a hover just in front of his face, “Hmm, if you go deeper in and you’re trying to reach it, you should arrive there. Directions don’t really work here other than that.”
“So it’s weird magic stuff?”
She giggled, “Yep, weird magic stuff!”
“Great,” Wyn sighed, “I’ll just keep walking then.”
“Just keep walking!” Eia cheered, but then she paused, “Oh but wait…”
“What is it?”
She pointed to Corrin, who was peering into the empty air, trying to see her. So far, he hadn’t managed to see her as anything more than a normal light spirit. “He shouldn’t come with us.”
“Wait, why can’t he come?” Wyn asked.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“I can’t?”
Eia rolled her eyes, “It’s not that he can’t, but he really shouldn’t. You’re an emissary with the blessing of spirit fire, you have safe passage here. He’s different though, if he comes, he could attract any manner of spirit beast. I’m not going to stop him from coming, but surely you remember how that went last time? If anything, it’d probably be worse now. Even dangerous spirits will usually go easier on children. Plus…” She flew closer to Corrin and inhaled, “He stinks.”
“What’s she saying?” Corrin asked.
“She’s saying you stink.”
“Huh?” Corrin raised an arm and gave himself a sniff, before looking back in confusion. “Do I? Check me.”
“No thanks. It’s probably a spirit thing, you were rubbing elbows with a demon not too long ago right?”
“I guess.”
“Anyways, the more important thing is that Eia says you should stay outside the glade.”
Corrin’s face fell, “Wait why?”
Wyn explained what Eia had told him, and after a brief discussion about unnecessary risk, he managed to convince Corrin to wait for him outside the forest.
“Stupid spirits,” Corrin mumbled as he walked out, “Ruining my fun…”
Wyn chuckled and turned back towards the depths. “Alright, just keep walking right?” He pictured the pool of water in his mind, thinking of it as his destination. Then he began to walk forward—still following the path he’d taken before as best as he could. He wasn’t yet sure how much he trusted “weird magic stuff” yet.
Just as last time, he was able to walk through the glades unaccosted by any malicious spirits or beasts. Though most spirits didn’t bother humans, a rare few would play tricks on them, or even attack in some circumstances. Places like the spirit glades were known for having plenty of spirits like that, but even since the first time he’d come here, they’d left him alone. It should’ve been before he’d gotten the blessing of spirit fire, and Corrin had been with him. He and Corrin really had been lucky the first time they’d come.
Going deeper and deeper into the woods he passed a variety of spirits and creatures, each one weirder than the last, from a silvery fox with nine tails which dashed into the underbrush as he got near, to a large golden boar, six feet tall grazing on a berry bush. It didn’t seem to mind his presence at all, simply ignoring him while he walked past. Easily the weirdest thing he saw was a flat, black spirit, in the shape of a curved X. In the middle of its body was a hole, floating in which was a large, red eye. As Wyn approached, the eye stared directly at him for several long seconds, before the spirit flew away, body spinning though the air.
When he asked Eia about that one, she said she had no idea either. The spirit glades were a big place, with thousands of different types of spirits, and she hadn’t even been truly conscious until he’d awoken his fire.
Finally, without the thickening fog this time, they arrived at the familiar pool, which sparkled in the sunlight. Wyn approached it cautiously, getting down onto his knees at the water’s edge. He bowed his head as he began to speak.
“First, I should thank you for your help, Miss Iillia. Without the power you granted me, I wouldn’t have survived that battle. Though I doubt someone of my meager skill can be of much help to you, I will try to repay you however I can. But… I have so many questions to ask, so much I don’t know. So, I must ask: would you please tell me more about this world? What are these powers? What happened to Corrin? Please… I still don’t know anything.”
The water’s surface remained still as glass, no glowing lights or spirits appeared. But Wyn felt a soft touch on his mind, followed by a Iillia’s voice, distant and quiet. “Wyn, my favored child. I truly wish I had the time to answer all your questions. Manifesting physically is taxing though, and after our last conversation I expended most of my power greatly to warn my siblings of the coming dangers. The stretching of our pact cost me much. It will be some time before I recover enough to manifest again. For now, this brief connection is the best I can manage from this place.”
Each word which came into his mind brought with it a mixture of emotions and feelings that Wyn felt as if they were his own. Hints of sorrow, pride, dissatisfaction, and tenderness were all blended into one, and Wyn found that the emotions were directed at himself.
“So, we don’t have long then… Can’t you give me any advice, Iillia? I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.”
A little bit of humor came through the connection, “Of course you do. If you didn’t, your spirit fire would still be out of reach. If you’ve made it past that roadblock, then you’re already on the right path. Just continue forward with your goals.”
“I don’t see how going to Taravast will give me any of the answers I’m seeking.”
“No? I disagree. Follow your own path Wyn, the questions you have will find themselves answered in time.”
“Please Iillia,” Wyn bowed his head even lower, “Can’t you answer any of them now?”
“I suppose we never do grow old enough to stop needing help from others.”
Wyn thought that was a weird thing to say for a spirit clearly far older than himself.
“I can feel those thoughts you know. Stop picturing me as some old woman!”
“I wasn’t,” Wyn said, “But you’re definitely still older than me.”
There was a pause in the connection for a moment, as Wyn felt the emotions from the other side fade almost entirely, to the point he could no longer feel them through his own. Soon though, it resumed, and her voice came back to his mind.
“I will not leave you completely unguided. As your patron, it’s only right that I offer you some sort of support. First things first: your spirit fire is more than purification, and thinking of it only as such will hinder you. It is the power of bonds; pay attention to those around you on your journey and I’m sure you will find a path forward. Secondly, on your way to Taravast, visit the Spirit Tree. Should you make it there, you can contact one of my siblings, he can be a pain, but he should be able to help you in ways that I can’t right now.”
“Thank you Iillia, your guidance is appreciated. I have another question though. You told me to come back when I’ve mastered the greater flame. Is this what you meant?”
A muted sense of hope bled into his mind, “It is not. Spirit fire is not the flame I was speaking of, and on that matter, I cannot advise you. Not because I do not wish to, I simply lack the capability. However, when that time comes, you will know. That I can promise you. Good luck Wyn, have a wonderful journey. I truly hope to see you again soon.”
Wyn felt the connection fade, his emotions completely returning to normal. He leaned back into the soft dirt, letting out his breath.
Damn it, I didn't even get to ask about Corrin and mana. Wyn thought.
What was it with adults and never giving him a direct answer? All this “find yourself” crap was really starting to get on his nerves. One actual response, was that so much to ask for?
He sat up slowly, mulling over her words. Well, at least he had another goal in mind. The spirit tree: He’d read about it a few times in some of the books in the library, it had never been as interesting to him as other places like Precipice, or the Tower of Heaven, so he’d never given it much thought. With his new-found powers though, it suddenly seemed a lot more appealing. Of any place he could think of where he might be able to find some answers, it was probably the best. He’d need to check a map and see if they could spare the time. Even if they could on paper, they wouldn’t know until they were nearing it.
That’s not the right way to think, he chastised himself, we’ll make the time. If it means we have to travel faster, we will. It’s not like Corrin’s going to mind seeing another exciting place.
With his mind made up, Wyn got up to leave. The forest didn’t hamper him on his way out any more than on his way in, and the trend of odd creatures continued. With the way back to Straetum pictured in his mind though, he soon found himself back at the edge of the glades, with Corrin waiting outside.
“Well? How’d it go?” He asked.
“She couldn’t talk for long, I guess. I’ll tell you on the way.”
Corrin snorted, “Helpful then, I’m sure. Hopefully we’ll have better luck there.”
Wyn nodded. There was one other place where they thought they might be able to get answers. It was time to head back to the place where this whole mess had started—back to the Founder’s Tomb.