Chapter 8 - Graves

Lilly's morning began with her usual routine of meditation, a practice that helped her center her thoughts and prepare for the day ahead. The calmness and focus it brought were especially welcome this morning, as she awaited Eolande's visit for a conversation she knew would be both important and difficult.

As she sat cross-legged, her mind gradually cleared of the clutter of thoughts, leaving a serene space for introspection. The soft morning light filtered through her window, casting a gentle glow over the room. It was in this tranquil setting that Eolande arrived.

"Hi, Lilly. I heard from Eldrin you wanted to talk," Eolande said as she entered, her voice carrying a slight nervousness despite her years.

After a brief moment of silence, Lilly unfolded from her meditation pose. "Yes, I feel like we need to clear things up a bit. Will you join me for a walk?" Lilly asked, a slightly somber expression on her face.

Eolande nodded, and together they stepped out into the fresh morning air. The streets of the town were just beginning to stir with activity, the hustle of early risers and the distant sounds of the marketplace gradually filling the air.

The morning air, crisp and fresh, did little to dispel the awkward silence that settled between them. Their steps were in sync, but the usual ease that accompanied their interactions was conspicuously absent.

After walking for a while, Eolande found the silence to be a bit too uncomfortable. "I'm... nervous about this talk, Lilly. Did... Should I have been less..."

"Don't worry, we'll talk about it," Lilly interjected, her tone gentle but firm.

Eolande's mood shifted as she realized where they were headed. The sight of the town graveyard loomed ahead, its quiet solemnity a stark contrast to the lively streets they had just left. "Lilly, please don't bring me there," she said, a note of sadness creeping into her voice.

"What do you mean? It's just a graveyard," Lilly replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Eolande's eyes were filled with a deep, unspoken pain. "... Do you know how many names I recognize on those stones, Lilly?"

Lilly paused, the gravity of Eolande's words sinking in. "... Oh. I understand. We can stop here if you want."

"... No, it's fine. I get where you want to take me."

They entered the graveyard, a place where memories and echoes of the past resided. Eolande kept her gaze forward, avoiding the familiar names that whispered stories of lives once lived.

"Here we are," Lilly said as they reached a relatively new gravestone. A piece of bread lay on a plate beside it, left by an old baker before she woke up today. The names Arthur Fahrset and Kathleen Baker were etched into the stone, each letter a testament to the lives and love they represented.

Lilly's emotions threatened to overwhelm her, but she fought to keep her tears at bay. She had cried enough here, in the shadow of her parents' final resting place.

"Eolande..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Lilly?" Eolande responded, her own voice tinged with emotion.

"I very much appreciate what you're trying to do. There is a... hole, in my heart. It's not something that can be filled completely. And if I'm going to let you try, even a little bit... I need to know that you won't... Disappear one day. I need to know that you'll stick around, and never abandon me." Lilly's words were choked by sobs, her vulnerability laid bare in the presence of her parents' memory. "I couldn't... Take it, if... If that were to happen again."

Eolande, deeply moved by Lilly's vulnerability, stepped forward, closing the space between them. Her arms enveloped Lilly in a hug, a gesture that was both protective and reassuring. "I promise, Lilly, I'll never leave you alone! I'll stay chained to your wrist if you want me to, for the rest of my life!" Her voice, thick with emotion, resonated with the earnestness of her pledge.

Lilly, still nestled in the hug, let out a light laugh through her tears. "I don't need you to go that far. Just stay close, in the city is good enough. I couldn't ask you to move in, that would be such a big change... Unless you need a place to stay?"

"Do you want me to move in? I'd leave that loser Eldrin in a heartbeat and sleep next to you if that's what you want," Eolande offered earnestly.

"No, no, just... I don't know, this is all so new to me," Lilly replied, a mix of confusion and amusement in her voice.

Eolande pondered for a moment. "I don't see you enough right now. What if I buy a house next to yours?"

Lilly was taken aback. "What? Are you crazy? How much money do you have to just throw around?"

"Much more than you might think. Don't worry about it," Eolande reassured her. "Would that be okay with you?"

"I'd love it, but... I don't think anyone is moving out nearby. There's a restaurant close to us that's not doing too well, but it's not really a place to live, I think."

"I'll find a way, Lilly. Nothing can keep me from my new... Godchild, I suppose?" Eolande said, a hopeful tone in her voice.

Lilly felt a warmth in her heart at the word. "Well, 'godmother' sounds a lot better than..." She trailed off, unable to bring herself to say the other word. "Do you have a nickname I could use? Elly? Eola?"

"Elly sounds good. It's like Lilly," Eolande said with a smile, a sense of resolve in her eyes.

As they stood beside the gravestone, a gentle breeze whispered through the graveyard, stirring the leaves and carrying with it a sense of peacefulness. Lilly gazed at the names of her parents etched in stone, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions. In the silence of her heart, she had a quiet conversation with them.

'Hey, Mom and Dad. It's been a little while, I'm sorry. I got a bit carried away and followed in your footsteps for a while. But Eolande here, or Elly as I'm going to call her now, helped me see how that was not the best path for me. I'm learning magic now, right here in the city, and I'm training to be an enchantress. It's really fun, and for the first time in a long time, I'm excited about what the future holds. I still miss you both a bit too much... But... No, I still miss you too much... I'll be back soon.' Her fingers gently caressed the cold, hard surface of the gravestone, a silent farewell for now.

Eolande, who had been giving Lilly her space, spoke up softly. "Could you tell me a bit about them?" she asked, noticing Lilly's readiness to share.

Lilly nodded, a small smile appearing through her melancholy. "Sure. They were adventurers. Mom was a mage, and Dad was a warrior. They weren't the strongest out there, but to me, they were invincible. Dad had kind eyes, which people say I inherited, and Mom gave me this red hair. They were the best."

“It sure sounds like…” Eolande's expression shifted from a comforting smile to one of worry. "... Did your dad call your mom Kath?"

"Yeah, he did. Did you meet them?" Lilly asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Eolande seemed suddenly overwhelmed by emotion, kneeling down beside the gravestone. "I told you not to die, you idiots..." she murmured, her voice breaking.

"Elly... When did you last see them?" Lilly's heart ached with a mix of sadness and curiosity.

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Eolande took a moment, collecting her thoughts. "I don't remember exactly, but the red-haired mage and her kind protector were hard to forget. They were pretty good at what they did. We met a few times in the forest, and, ah..." She paused, as if a forgotten memory had just surfaced. "They told me about their little daughter. Damn it."

Lilly reached out, placing her hand on Eolande's shoulder. "I'm happy you knew them, Elly. I always wondered if you might have crossed paths, but I didn't dare to ask."

Eolande knelt there in silence for a bit longer, making Lilly worry a bit.

"Elly, are you okay?" Lilly asked, her concern for Eolande growing.

"I'm getting used to it, I think. But there are so many familiar names here. Now two more..." Eolande's voice trailed off, her gaze distant.

"I... Can't even imagine, Elly. Let's get out of here," Lilly said softly, understanding the depth of Eolande's sorrow.

"Please," Eolande replied, almost whispering.

Together, they walked back towards the bakery, the familiarity of the town offering a gentle reprieve from the intensity of their graveyard visit. Lilly was headed home, while Eolande had her mind set on inquiring about the houses nearby.

"I could put in a good word if you need, Elly. Going around asking to buy houses might seem a bit odd, I think," Lilly offered, trying to be helpful.

Eolande gave a small smile. "Hmm, I should be fine. Most things can be bought for the right price, and I'm pretty good at finding that price. But thank you."

Lilly, pointing towards a nearby building, warned, "Okay, but please don't bother the blacksmith over there; my friend lives there."

Eolande perked up, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. "Well then, I must certainly visit there. I can’t just let anyone be your friend, after all."

“First of all she's a girl, named Mia. Second of all, don't bother her. She's my future personal blacksmith for when I establish an... Enchantery? Enchanterium?" Lilly's tone was half-joking, half-serious.

Eolande chuckled lightly. "It's enchantery, I believe. And if she's a girl, that's fine... But I still insist on meeting her someday," she replied, her mood visibly brightening.

"Oh, she'll be around. You focus on getting a house first," Lilly replied with a chuckle.

"Right," Eolande agreed.

Before parting ways, Eolande gave Lilly a big, heartfelt hug. Lilly reciprocated with a warm smile, feeling a sense of comfort and connection in the embrace. Then Eolande turned and headed towards the first house she saw, her steps more determined now.

Lilly watched her for a moment before heading home, her thoughts a mix of the day's emotional journey and the prospect of what the future held.

Once back at home, Lilly found Gramps busy with his usual routine. She shared with him the events of the day, explaining the deepening bond between her and Eolande.

"So she took a liking to you during that trip to the forest, and it grew stronger once I told her about your parents?" Gramps asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Yep, she really cares a lot. She even met Mom and Dad a few times when they were out adventuring. She didn't know it was them until we talked earlier today," Lilly explained, a tinge of nostalgia in her voice.

"Hmm, well, it makes sense if she was exploring around these parts," Gramps mused, nodding thoughtfully.

"Yeah... Now she's sort of a godmother to me, and she's decided to move into the neighborhood somehow," Lilly said, a sense of wonder in her voice.

Gramps chuckled. "Hah, well, she's certainly welcome. I reckon the stealing around here will pretty much stop if someone like her is keeping an eye on the neighborhood. But I don’t think there are many places for sale though."

"She said not to worry about it, so I guess I won't," Lilly replied, trusting Eolande's judgment.

Later, as Lilly sat in her room, her thoughts turned to her enchanting practice. She planned a trip to Aether's Echo to purchase some materials for her enchantments. The book had sparked her interest in a few specific enchantments, particularly the warding and fire-resistant ones. She briefly considered asking Eolande if the group still had any parts from the drake they had encountered, but she dismissed the idea as unlikely.

'The Aether's Echo it is then,' Lilly thought, excitement bubbling within her. She hadn’t been there since the visit before the trip to the forest. She looked forward to seeing the place with new eyes as an aspiring enchantress.

Lilly's journey to The Aether's Echo was filled with anticipation. Her mind was abuzz with thoughts about the materials she needed, especially for the warding enchantment she was keen on practicing. She knew that finding a suitable material for such a spell might be challenging, as it wasn't commonly found in beast-derived materials. 'Gallus will know,' she thought confidently.

Approaching the emporium, Lilly couldn't help but marvel once more at its whimsical structure, with its towers defying gravity and logic. Inside, the magic of the place enveloped her immediately – scrolls, trinkets, and potions with mysterious effects surrounded her. With a clearer purpose this time, she made her way straight to the counter where Gallus, the old gnome, was waiting.

"Hey Gallus, it's been a while," Lilly greeted him with a smile.

"Oh, Miss Lilly, a pleasure to see you again," Gallus responded, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles.

"Thank you for your advice last time; I really needed companions on the trip to the forest," Lilly said, recalling her previous visit.

"Don't mention it, dearie. It’s a lot easier to sell things to the living, after all," Gallus replied with a wry chuckle.

"Well, I’m certainly glad you see it that way.” Lilly said, not entirely sure if the gnome was joking. “Anyways, I've been practicing enchanting since I was here last time. Do you have any materials that could be good for that?" Lilly inquired.

"Oh, absolutely, Lilly. There's no better place in the whole town for enchanting materials. Did you have any particular enchantments in mind?" Gallus asked, his interest piqued.

"Well, I'm still practicing, so I'm looking for something more affordable. I'm thinking about warding and fire-resistant enchantments. Do you have anything that could work for those?" Lilly asked, hoping to find something within her budget.

"The fire-resistant enchantment is rather common, so we have plenty to choose from. But the warding one is a bit rarer. The cheapest would cost you about 40 gold per piece," Gallus informed her.

Lilly winced at the price. "Oh, that's a bit more than I can spend at the moment. What about the cheapest fire-resistant material?"

"This fiery mole claw is the cheapest, I think. But there's also the volcano rose. We have more of those, but they're a bit more expensive due to stronger magical energies. Each claw is 4 gold, while the rose is about 6 per flower," Gallus explained.

Lilly pondered for a moment before deciding, "Give me 6 flowers then. Oh, and would you be interested in buying back the ironskin potion? I won't be needing it anytime soon."

"Adventuring didn't pan out as you thought, eh? I'll buy it back at 80% of the price, 24 gold coins," Gallus offered, his expression understanding.

Lilly nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of accomplishment as she was making her first purchase as an enchantress-in-training.

"Oh, do you have any engraving tools here, for carving runes and such?" she inquired, only now remembering the tool she would need to have.

"Only enchanted ones, I'm afraid, and the cheapest one is around 1200 gold," Gallus informed her, his tone apologetic.

"That much?" Lilly was taken aback by the price.

"Yes, well, engraving is typically a task for enchanters, and they often make their own tools. The ones we sell here are quite advanced and are beyond the capabilities of most enchanters, to make sure they have value for our customers. But I can direct you to a blacksmith if you'd like to try making one yourself," Gallus offered helpfully.

"Oh, of course. Don't worry, I know just the place.” Lilly said, thinking of a certain tall girl that would be more than happy to help. “What kind of enchantments are best for engraving tools?"

"Hmm, I'm no expert in that area, Lilly. But generally, they enhance precision and control, and of course, they're sharp enough to carve into most materials. I can sell you some sharpening material if you want to make a basic tool," Gallus suggested.

"That would be perfect, Gallus. What’s the price?" Lilly’s eyes lit up at the prospect.

"These direwolf fangs are quite affordable at 7 gold each, and they should give you a good effect. Or, if you want something more robust, you could opt for a griffon claw at 18 gold each," Gallus explained, showing her the options.

"I'm just working on my second enchantment, Gallus, robust is far above my level. I’ll take the fangs, six of them," Lilly decided, keeping her budget and skill level in mind.

"Perfectly fine, Lilly. That will be a total of 54 gold coins," Gallus calculated, his demeanor indicating he was pleased to assist an up-and-coming enchanter.

Lilly handed over the gold, a sense of accomplishment and excitement building within her. With the enchanting materials and the direwolf fangs for her future engraving tool safely in her possession, she felt a step closer to realizing her dreams.

"Thank you, Gallus. I expect you'll be seeing a lot more of me in the future," she said, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and anticipation.

"I certainly look forward to it, Lilly, take care," Gallus replied, his smile seemingly a bit warmer and more genuine than the usual service smile he offered to customers.

As Lilly stepped out of The Aether's Echo, the door closing softly behind her, she took a deep breath, savoring the moment. ‘That’s another step forward. Now to pay a visit to Mia.’ she thought to herself, eager to get her hand on a proper engraving tool.