Stepping through, Norbert felt pain shoot up from his head. He dropped to the ground in instinct, not wanting to hit it again as he rubbed it, staring at the ceiling and what had caused him the pain. The wooden beam across it stared up at him, and Norbert could almost see a grin forming in the twisted, knotted wood.
Slowly getting to his feet, he did not stand up straight as he looked around, wondering where the Traveller was. He saw several crates stacked up, the Traveller sitting down on one and Obsius sitting on another, both of them staring at his action.
He walked across to a crate, plopping himself on it as he looked between the two. Unable to see the face of the Traveller behind their mask, Norbert saw Obsius visibly controlling themselves so as not to go into a burst of laughter. The bird physically vibrated around in response.
"Go on, let's get it out of your system before starting this conversation"," Norbert said to the bird.
The bird instantly fell down, any defences it had built up now crumpling down. Norbert turned over to the Traveller, seeing they were the same indifference as before.
Norbert stared at the staff, realising where he had seen it before.” You're the one that gave me this", he asked, seeing the white stuff with the runes down it. Reaching into his top, Norbert took out the sigil that was used for translating, the blue stone still there spinning around.
The Traveller kept his hand open; Norbert flicked it back and forth twice before releasing it, having enough momentum to fly to the air and land in the waiting hand. The braid around it spins around. Locking itself around the hand, it landed in.
Holding it up, Norbert watched as they flicked it around, causing it to spin in the air. Norbert saw the blue crystal grow brighter and brighter. Releasing it from their hand, Norbert watched as he was thrown towards himself. Catching it out of the air Norbert flung it around his finger before dropping it back around his neck, tucking it under his shirt, getting it back into position"
"I heard from the Drotha you wanted me for something"?" The Traveller spoke to Norbert.
Getting himself in position, Norbert nodded his head in confirmation "Movement of fifty or so people from Libitina to somewhere else"." Norbert said, trying to quickly think of a place where he could help the kids out. Only a single place that he had been before came to mind, possibly able to sway their decision with enough coin. "… Ideally to Flare-dew"." Norbert added, hoping Helga would be as kind to these kids as she was to him"
"A tall order, you ask. Too tall for myself at this current time," The Traveller told Norbert.
Nodding his head in understanding as he started to get up, the Traveller's hand appeared on his shoulder, forcing him back down again. "Though from Alasium to that quaint town is possible.” The words rushed out of their mouth, causing Norbert to shake slightly at his feet. Relief came together as half of the plan came together, the thoughts ticking in the back of his head as he knew he would need to stop by the casino again on this side, not seeing any other way of getting back to Libitina."
"And for yourself, what do you need the help of a magic-less person for ?" Norbert asked, the mysticism that shrouded the Travellers and what they did, never thinking that one being as needed as he was previously told would have time to discuss in a random airship"
"To check up on someone" The Traveller said, the words seemingly shaking around them in the storage section of the ship. The light hanging from the rafter flickered in the air as the words came out.
Norbert stared at the Traveller, his brain ticking away as cogs started spinning, thinking about who someone like them could not see—someone who could go anywhere they desired. His thinking came to a standstill as he realised not everywhere.
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"Do you know where this person is?" Norbert asked
"Grim."
Norbert scrunched his face in confusion, trying to remember what he had been told about the continent: that it was forever dark and that creatures that he associated with the night resided there after being cast out of everywhere else"
"How so?" He asked the Traveller, trying to remember but unable to find out where it was located on the globe that Vivienne had shown him. The memory is cloudy in his mind as he wasn't paying attention to it at the time and kicking his previous self for his lack of attention"
"Eventually. Just eventually"." The words coming out of the mouth were hidden behind.
Stopping Norbert’s thoughts from continuing to race around in his mind as the sorrow came out of them. Norbert just nodding his head in confirmation. A package being handed over to him, a small envelope with a single name written on it.
Norbert turned it over, not able to read the writing as he held the envelope up in the air under the light. Words were written on the inside of the paper that Norbert could only read half. Not wanting to divulge into this person's secrets, Norbert nodded as he placed it within his coat, within the pocket so it wouldn't be crumpled. He was patting it for a moment until he remembered what happened to the last coat he had.
Taking it out, Norbert moved it to his money pouch, moving the coins around and placing the envelope on the outside. He knew he would never let his little bag of glitter get cut wherever he was.
Patting it twice, confirming that it wouldn't move, Norbert turned to the Traveller. "And who is this supposed to go to?" Norbert pondered out loud. Would it be a lost lover, an old companion, a relative, or the child of someone they knew?
"Vito, as they like to go by. Down by the Swallowed Tower"
Trying to remember the location in his head, Norbert did not want to be running around an entire continent, not knowing how large it could be, looking for a single person.
The Traveller standing up, themselves bowed as they walked between two rafters, finally able to stand up fully themselves"
"How many days until the transfer?" The Traveller asked Norbert.
He was keeping track in his mind, having five, now more like four full days to move them about, with the other day as well and needing to treat them, feeling the candy grow in weight"
"Three days, Obsius here. I will contact you when I'm back"." Norbert spoke, his head thinking back to the candy that could heal. Shaking his head as he remembered the Pink Pair’s. Wondering if the Traveller might know someone better, Norbert added on" "Do you know someone who can investigate this for why it heals"?" Holding the candy out to the light.
Obsius chirped to Norbert, who nodded. Yes, the candy shop he was thinking of was there, but a second opinion would never hurt"
"Were the Drotha said is the best "?" They walked through the portal they had just produced, ending the conversation right there.
Before Norbert could move, the portal closed back around the Traveller, leaving Norbert and Obsius alone. The only way out was above them from the ship they currently resided in. Norbert turned to his bird companion, "Do they always make exits like?" confirmation made Norbert shake his head in frustration. Walking over to the bird, Norbert rubbed his palm on the top of her head. The two looked into each other"
"Its been quite some time since the two of us have been together.” Norbert said to the bird. He looks above himself and hears the steps of the people walking across the deck. Before he could say anything in protest, the entire ship lurched to the side, causing Norbert to stumble, letting go of Obsius Norbert holding himself against some of the crates, feeling them start to give way until whatever was securing them down stopped them from moving anymore.
As Norbert looked across, the bird flew over to land on his shoulder. Norbert turned around, steadily swaying, and made his way across the underside of the deck, looking for an exit from the airship.
Seeing a ladder leading upwards, Norbert swayed as he gripped it, vaulting himself up as he looked around. The deck was a flurry of activity as everyone went about, tying down ropes, preparing for wherever this vehicle intended to go, and seeing the dock grow more minor on the other side, where Norbert was standing, going up and away from its starting position.
Running to the railing, Norbert looked down, his head swimming slightly. His vision blurred from the height he was looking down on. He took a step back and breathed in, confirming he was still standing there, swaying slightly. Looking out at the crew, one of them storms straight towards him. Able to see the look on their face, Norbert knew he was going to start to get in trouble fairly soon for his sudden appearance on the vessel.