Zalia sat watching the starlit wolf as members of its pack appeared and disappeared amongst the nearby trees. Aylie had finally untensed yet sat still, hands shaking ever so slightly.
“A question you’ll answer?” Zalia asked.
“If only it were so simple. Guidance is not about answers, it is about showing someone the path they might take to find those answers themselves,” the wolf explained.
“So you are here to help lead me in the right direction, then,” Zalia stated.
“Lead you in the right direction? No, that is not the way I would describe it. Rather, I wish to help you see the paths so that you might choose one for yourself. I fear that if you do not, you will be put on a path not of your choosing but by the powers around you,” the wolf further explained.
“And who is to say that you are not one of those very powers trying to put me on a path you would prefer me to take?” Zalia asked.
“Of course I am. I would see you travel a path that would save this world from those invading it. Nateysta, if they are still as I remember them, would see you travel a path that would save his world. Your human friends would see you travel a path that preserves the kingdom and the demons would see you travel a path that leads to death. What path would you travel, Zalia?” the wolf asked.
Zalia frowned.
“I don’t really know yet. I want to rid both worlds of the demons and their corruption, that is for sure. To do that, I will need to grow strong enough to combat the creatures that spread that corruption yet reaching that seems so far from where I am now. I want to return the favour given to me by Ro-ak… Nateysta and save him just as he saved me. I want to see my friends safe and those friends who have been harmed avenged. I think, above all that, I want the wild places of the worlds to stay that way. I want nature to keep its beauty and its freedom,” Zalia explained, trying to put her jumbled thoughts into words.
“Then you already know where you wish to end up, it is only the path there that you must find. As is my duty as the spirit of the stars, my guidance is yours. You will find the beginning of what you look for in the north, where heat meets stone meets ice,” the wolf told her, standing from its settled position.
Zalia knew better by now than to ask what exactly the wolf meant by ‘find the beginning of what you look for’. She was more than used to the crypticness from dealing with Delphi.
The wolf turned to Aylie.
“I am sorry for your hardships young one, and while I cannot promise the future holds any less pain than the past, I can give you the means to light your own path. Do you accept this blessing? I seek nothing in return for this gift,” they said.
The wolf leaned down closer to Aylie and she turned to Zalia.
“It’s up to you Aylie, I have accepted a blessing like this myself,” Zalia told her.
Aylie turned back to the wolf whose muzzle was now only a few feet from the girl and nodded nervously. The starlight wolf touched its nose to Aylie’s forehead and there was a bright flash of light. Once it faded, there was no sign of the wolf or its pack, the forest lit only by the crackling fire and the stars above once more.
Zalia turned away as Aylie stared wide-eyed into the distance. She turned her attention inwards and for the first time in a long time, read through the notifications of her level ups. She had been ignoring them ever since… that day.
Congratulations! Kill shot has gained two levels reaching Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Hunter’s mark has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Fight or Flight has reached Bronze 2.
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Congratulations! Hunter’s sight has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Survivalist and associated skills have gained two levels reaching Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Hunter class has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Preparation has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Druid’s Grove has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Herbal magic has gained two levels reaching Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Healing presence has gained two levels reaching Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Aura observation has gained eight levels reaching Iron 15.
Congratulations! Low light vision has gained four levels reaching Iron 13
Congratulations! Mobility has reached Bronze 2
Congratulations! Teaching has gained two levels reaching Iron 9.
Congratulations! Flight has gained seven levels reaching Iron 12.
Congratulations! Weapon proficiency - Bow has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Weapon proficiency - Sword has reached Bronze 2.
Previously, having gone almost a week of ignoring level ups, especially over the course of such a fight filled time, would have resulted in a large amount of level ups. She didn’t know if the reduction in levelling speed was a result of being in the Bronze rank or if it was because she had been right about the theory of catch-up experience due to taking a class so late in life but it was definitely slowed.
Aura observation had gained a large amount of levels though, a result of being bombarded by godlike being’s auras she thought, so hopefully that would reach Bronze soon too.
“You alright?” Zalia asked Aylie.
The girl jumped, as if she had forgotten Zalia was there. She gave a quick nod and Zalia turned her head to see Boreal looking grumpy.
‘What?” Zalia asked.
Boreal let out a low… grumble, and turned her head away.
Zalia stood up, rolling her eyes. She walked over and tapped Boreal on the head.
“Come on, out with it,” she urged.
“Blessing,” Boreal said.
“What, you want one too?” Zalia asked.
“Blessing!” Boreal yelled.
She turned in a flash, launching a surprise attack and whacking her nose right into Zalia’s forehead, a mirror to the starlight wolf’s own blessing. Zalia fell backwards, Boreal following after, landing and knocking the wind out of her.
“Ow,” Zalia complained, letting out a half wheeze, half laugh.
Boreal rolled off of her, giving her a gentle bap to the side of the head on her way out. Zalia rolled over and launched her own attack, using her strength and a little bit of wind magic thanks to a Zephyr ritual to throw herself onto Boreal’s back. Boreal gave a surprised yowl and Zalia wrestled her to the ground, avoiding the soft swiping paws. Boreal used some of her own magic to freeze Zalia’s arms to the ground and managed to escape but Zalia’s own control of the element allowed her to break free quickly. She stood up, giving a light laugh before a little missile latched onto Boreal’s side. Aylie had tried to knock Boreal over with her top speed but Boreal barely seemed to notice.
Zalia wasn’t quite sure what caused her to stop and turn around. It might have been an instinct or her brain subconsciously reading the vibrations now easily visible to her. As she turned and stared into the dark forest beyond the halo of the campfire’s light, she didn't see anything at first. Then, as she could see just fine in the dark, she saw a little bird come flying towards her, landing right on her shoulder. She turned her head to look at it, and it looked right back at her.
“Um, hello?” she said in its mind.
The message that came back was not words but more akin to how Boreal first communicated with her. It was a sense of a concept, and this concept was danger.
“Danger where?” she asked out loud.
Boreal was looking at the bird like it was a flying snack but Zalia gave her a warning look. This bird was friend not food.
Danger, the concept came again and the bird flew off. Zalia extinguished the campfire with her abilities, lifted Aylie onto Boreal and ran after the bird.
“Get Aylie to the Grove, into one of the treetop homes and come find me,” Zalia communicated to Boreal.
Boreal sprinted off towards the Grove entrance and Zalia continued following the little bird, flying at speed through the forest. She idly remembered the part of the Grove’s description that said animals in and near the Grove would sometimes provide aid, and wondered if this was a result of that.
“Fly little bird, fly,” Zalia thought.