“I-” Zerine barely got the word out before a vine covered her mouth. Her gaze flattened as she didn’t quite glare at the nature spirit that had emerged from the massive tree. Her instincts weren’t quite screaming danger, but they weren’t exactly being silent either. A constant itch at the back of her mind made certain she knew that there was danger.
Varino sharply chimed and drifted forward on one of her clouds. She stood and waved a hand behind her, and Kimi drifted to float next to her on another cloud.
At this point, the figure that had been rising from the pool of water was revealed to be a water elemental. They were tall with a light blue, nearly transparent body. The spirit was far more water-like than Varino’s. Smooth features rippled and moved like water as the spirit moved. The sharpest features of the spirt were its eyes. Light blue eyes looked over their group.
The nature spirit moved to stand next to the water elemental. This nature spirit didn’t have a flower coming out of its head. Instead, it had dark green vines that flowed over its shoulders like hair. Its dark green eyes looked disapproving at Zerine for a moment, while its gaze softened when it saw Varino.
“Why have you three come here?” the water spirit thought to them.
Zerine’s eyes went wide. She hadn’t expected to meet a spirit strong enough to do mental magic. This possibly menat they were C-rank or higher. Granted, that was a guess more than anything. Zerine wasn’t sure why Varino hadn’t been able to use mental magic, so guessed that it was a rank thing. Although, knowing Varino, she probably would keep speaking just because she enjoyed people not knowing what she was saying. Plus, it was cute, and Varino liked cute things and coming across as adorable.
If they are C-rank, then they are probably the ones protecting this place. But that begs the question of how and why? she thought.
Varino whistled and waved cheerfully, interrupting Zerine’s thoughts.
Why do I feel like I am on trial and it’s down to Varino and Kimi to help me get out of trouble? Zerine thought.
Zerine had read a romance novel that involved the courts in Esteron and was based on a true story from what she heard. The story was the classic tale of a powerful person interfering and having an eye for someone who was already in love with someone else. The book was interesting for Zerine as it gave details about how Esteron’s court system worked and made her look into the Heartstone kingdom’s own court system. This had led to her learning that her parents had worked to expel or in prison several judges and other corrupt officials to help them get the region back on track and prepare for the ley line intersection.
I really hope they won’t expel us from the island. I would hate to fail the test like this, she thought. Then glanced to the Varino who was trilling, whistling, and burbling about their group. If this was like the story, then the roles would be reversed. I would stand pleading my case to free my love. Although, I don’t I have a lover; she thought. Strangely, an image of Neil, then one of the gorgeous Lucy, drifted through her mind. Hmm, strange. I haven’t really even given romance a chance or even really thought about it. Zerine refocused, mentally tossing those strange thoughts to a dark corner of her mind to hopefully be forgotten. I don’t have time to get distracted and…I don’t even know where to start or with who, really. I am I even thinking about this?
She knew why. It wasn't like she could do anything with her mouth covered and the vines holding in place. She let out a sigh through her nose and focused on Varino and Kimi.
Varino gestured to Zerine and trilled her name. The spirit was saying something along the lines of, “we are doing a test. Zerine and I are practically sisters and Kimi is a friend. Oh, and we have no plans to attack you or this place.”
The two spirits glanced at one another. Zerine assumed they were discussing mentally, as their expressions would shift slightly, hinting to an unheard conversation. After a moment, Varino titled her head. She tapped her cheek, clearly think about something, then nodded.
Varino, please be careful. We don’t know these spirits, and this could be just another test or something, she thought, wishing she could deal with the vines gagging her with ambient magic. But it would probably come across as an aggressive action and Zerine’s instincts were shouting at her to not make these spirit enemies.
***
Varino was excited. She had met other elemental spirits, but it was her first-time meeting those around her own rank. These two were certainly C-rank. From what she could tell from her senses, they were probably early C-rank.
A nudge on her metal defenses made her tilt her head. Like many spirits, she had instincts when interacting with intelligent beings. It told her if they were dangerous, trustworthy, or like Zerine, someone worth staying with. She still wanted to bond with Zerine, but it was nice to have a family again, and she looked forward to their adventures.
Speaking of their adventures, Varino focused on their current one. She took a breath and listened to her instincts, focusing on the two spirits before her. What she felt from her instincts was that these spirits were on edge, suspicious, and wanted to talk to her without the others hearing, so she accepted the metal connection.
“She is young,” one spirit thought to her.
“Very young. Probably not much older than ten years old,” the other thought.
Varino wasn’t sure which mental voice was which. Mental magic being her weakest, but something she was certain would get better once she was older.
“She cannot communicate properly this way.”
“Hmm, and yet this spirit is early D-rank. The blood born’s must have given her a natural treasure. Probably to either prepare her to be forced into a bond or some other twisted purpose.”
Varino rejected their words. Her anger shot across the telepathic connection. She shoved her memories of Zerine and her family. Memories of her playing with Zerine and Estel. Training and learning to use her magic with Ava. Curled up in Ava’s lap as she read one of her favorite books to her. She kept sending more memories. Sh3e wanted them to understand that Zerine and the others were part of her family.
After she sent more memories, she focused more on how she saw Zerine. The young girl barely getting a tiny pebble to float, but never giving up. To now levitating books and other willpower techniques. That same girl struggling to keep up with her siblings and Varino, but still trying her best. Zerine reading books, to Zerine telling Varino about her day in class, and them just living life. As the memories kept going, Varino felt the spirits become more confused than anything.
“A strange child and family.”
“No magic and no bond. Yet, karmic threads bind them.”
“This young one has much to learn from her own kind, but the blood born have done well. Why come here, though?”
Varino sighed. This would not be easy to convey through memories, but she would try. Vaiano concentrated and tried to think back to Ava’s explanations and their first day.
“A test?”
“Maybe the child isn’t the only one strange.”
“What about the spiderling?”
Varino sent memories of her finding Kimi. Through the connection, Varino felt surprise emanate from the spirits.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“I am starting to believe they are just a strange group. But their appearance explains the powerful gazes that have passed over the island.”
“There is also the fact that fate feels…off or strange with this group. Do you sense it?”
“Hmm, agreed, but it’s clouded like it has been these days. But they are just looking for a place to stay. They could help.”
“Yes, help…with the added monsters, any hands willing to leave the wards safely would be appreciated.”
“So, we have come to a decision, then?”
“I believe so, but we should talk to the spiderling and see what they think.”
The connection faded, and Varino looked around. She saw that Zerine was still bound by vines, but nature and water spirits had appeared around her, looking Zerine over curiously.
Varino chimed at them to leave Zerine alone. Zerine wasn’t something to poke and prod.
She got responses in the form of rustling leaves from the nature spirits and burbling from the water spirits. They said they were just curious. They hadn’t met a being like Zerine before. Then they made comments about some strange sense they got from Zerine. Varino didn’t know what they were talking about. Zerine was just Zerine.
Sure, Zerine really only had friends that were fairies and dragons, with most friends of hers being spirits and creatures like Varino. Which, now she thought about it, was rather strange. During that fairy and dragon party, most of the household tried to act casual, but at times they just gawked at the fairies and dragons. Zerine, on the other hand, acted like this was just a normal thing and even opened up making friends actually around her own age. Now that she was thinking of the party, she remembered several of the familiars she had played with had made similar comments about Zerine being kind of strange.
Was there something odd about Zerine? Nah, Zerine gets along with pretty much everyone. Her odd instinct-like thing is unique, but strange? Not really. Everyone is a bit strange, Varino thought.
Varino was certain the strangeness was just the others not accustomed to Zerine’s lack of magic and flickering presence. Many people found it off-putting when someone’s presence flickered like a candle. And when they found out Zerine had no crest, they understood. She suspected it would take some time and lots of reminders from her till the spirits would understand what they were feeling was just her not having magic yet.
Varino glanced towards Kimi, who shifted occasionally or tapped a leg. The spirits were still having conversation with them, so Varino drifted towards Zerine.
Zerine raised an eyebrow to Varino.
She whistled reassuringly, saying it will be fine, and the spirits were about to come to a decision.
Zerine raised both eyebrows, glancing to the spirits arrayed around her. One tiny blue spirit was climbing up the vines. Varino didn’t know what to say about the spirit’s curiosity, so just shrugged, then chimed.
Zerine let out a sigh through her nose. Varino burbled out a laugh. Then laughed harder as a tiny water elemental stood on Zerine’s right shoulder. It curiously poked her cheek. The little blue spirit was very young. Its features weren’t very defined yet, and it was barely larger than part of Zerine’s hand.
Varino drifted closer and chirped at the water elemental, who titled its head, then held its arms out to her. With a gentle gust of air, Varino made the little spirit fly to her cloud. It landed lightly, then went to all fours, inspecting the cloud. It burbled in awe as it stuck its hand in out of the cloud.
Varino talked to the other spirits while Zerine remained locked in place. She gave brief rides on her cloud for the spirits, which was fun. She was about to start playing a game when Kimi’s clicks made Varino look their way.
***
Zerine waited, trying to keep her patients, when Kimi’s clicks made her look toward the spider. The two spirits were making their way towards her. From what her instincts were saying, Kimi had said that they were all set. At the last click, the vines that had been binding her vanished.
Zerine sighed and stretched a little. As stretched her arms, she felt a pressure on her mind and let the mental connection form.
“Welcome Zerine,” the Water spirit thought to her.
“Yes, welcome to our home,” the nature spirit added.
“Thank you, and I must say it's a wonderful place compared to the rest of the island.”
The spirits smiled.
“Varino has said your group was looking for a place to stay and we believe our home would be perfect,” the nature spirit said.
“But we will ask you to help deal with monsters that attempt to come to this place,” the water spirit added.
“We will gladly help. But we can’t handle C-ranks, and Varino said there was a ward or something around this place, so I’m not certain what we can actually do,” Zerine thought back. Having a base camp would help them have a safe place to relax. Then there was that feeling that this place probably would help the others recover their magic faster.
“The wards make this hill confuse those we deem unwelcome get lost. With monsters, this works well as many are rather dumb and will get distracted, often fighting a local creature and dying before they ever make it here. But with the amount that manifested recently, this tactic may not work,” the water spirit thought.
Zerine nodded. “We can work with that. Thank you for letting us stay here,” she said giving the spirit a half bow.
“I will show you to a place for you to set up camp,” the nature spirit gesturing for Zerine to follow.
Kimi and Varino sat on Zerine’s shoulders as they followed the nature spirit. The other spirits watch them, but followed the water spirit when it burbled at them. Their camp area was on the far side of the massive tree opposite of where they entered.
As Zerine set up her tent, Kimi and Varino explored the area. When Zerine found them, Varino was drifting on a cloud, observing as Kimi played with some spirits. Zerine watched for the moment, but was distracted when a snapping sound made her look up at the tree.
A fruit fell towards the ground, which she moved and caught. It reminded her of an apple, but it had the skin of a pear and was bright purple.
“Can I eat this?” she asked the nature spirit who had come over. The spirit nodded, a smile growing as she saw Kimi and Varino playing with the other spirits.
When Zerine bit down on the fruit, her eyes went wide. A rush of flavor and juices filled her mouth. It was refreshing and quite tasty.
“This is great. Does it have a name?” Zerine asked the nature spirit.
“We call it a spirit manifestation fruit. It has many beneficial effects for those with magic,” the spirit thought to her.
“Varino, you have to try this!” Zerine called.
Varino curiously moved over and burbled a question.
“You can eat it. Look,” Zerine said and pointed to a small nature spirit sitting on a branch above them. The fruit was twice as big as the spirit, but it happily ate.
Varino drifted over and took a small hesitant bite from the Zerine’s fruit. She chewed for a moment then her eyes went wide, and she put a hand to check and chirped happily.
“Right, it’s great!” Zerine said excitedly.
“You and the spirit will be the only ones able to eat it. Your spider friend won’t because of the potent magic and some other effects,” the spirit thought to Zerine, who nearly choked on the fruit.
“But it's alright for me to eat?” she wondered.
“You don’t have any magic or concepts of your own yet, so the fruit won’t have any effect other than tasting good. It’s a fruit that spirit kind and some creatures can have, but most can’t.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. Have any of the other creatures on the island tried to bother you over the plants or fruits?”
“Not really. They mostly leave this place alone. But there are some rather annoying monkeys that keep trying to steal several plants that grow in the mana pool. That maybe your first task. They may believe we are distracted with the large number of monsters leaving the mana pool open for them to take what they want.”
“Hmm, are these monkeys grey with patches of blue?” Zerine wondered.
“Yes. Do you know of them?”
“They are called Waterstrider monkeys. They probably want to eat the plants, which will help with their magic. That is my best guess. I think we can come up with a plan to keep them from stealing things,” Zerine said in between bites of the delicious fruit.
“Kimi and I should go hunt for some food before it gets too dark. Varino,” Zerine said. Varino peeped and looking up from some fruit she had picked. She had bits of fruit on her cheeks. Zerine, grinning, gently wiped her face clean. “Can you stay here while Kimi and I go hunting? We will get some food for ourselves and be back before dark. Then we can start planning on our goals for the coming days.”
Varino whistled and nodded.
“Then let’s head out, Kimi,” Zerine said as she finished the fruit off. The spider skittered up Zerine’s back, then stopped, resting on her shoulder.
They squeaked, tapping Zerine’s shoulder with a foreleg.
“Hungry too, huh?”
Kimi’s forelegs waved as they chittered.
“Wise words Kimi let's get some food then."
***
"Well, they are first to find that place on the island in her age group," Lucy commented.
They had watch Zerine and her group meet the low ranked guardians of the mana pool and tree natural treasure.
"Hmm, with Varino it was only a matter of time. What I still can't believe is she ate the spirit fruit. She was lucky she didn't have a reaction," Alana said, watching another feed. This one showed a group of birds fighting several insect-like monsters.
"I...am still uncertain if a crestless could eat that fruit. I will have to check though," Lucy said.
"Oh, hey we just got a notice to go handle the monsters on the other islands," Alana said after getting mental communication. She stretched before getting up from her seat.
"I was just notified too. Let me get the emergency crystal for the test and for ourselves," Lucy said.
"Like we will need it."
"Still worth having it in case. And if Zerine needs help while we are out, this will tell us at least," Lucy said picking up a green gemstone-like crystal and putting it into her spatial storage.
"This will probably be a multi-day trip too. The sheer number of monsters is great for our retraining, but still crazy," Alana said checking her own spatial storage.
"Yeah, it will certainly be kinda a pain. I hope there will be somethings that are actually worth fighting instead of the annoying weaklings," Lucy said.
Alana grinned, "There the Lucy I've been looking for. Either way we get to stretch our legs."