By the time they reached the fire fae, Alistair had leveled up and received two Attribute Cards, one for STR and the other for CON. With his level, he had increased Mistmeld on Ghost’s recommendation that it would be helpful in the future.
That remained to be seen.
The coteries had been divided into groups of four, and given different assignments. Alistiar’s assignment had been to discover an abandoned temple in the mountains alongside Finnian, Juno, and Zola, an abandoned temple dedicated to an old fire god that was no longer worshiped.
Compared to some of the things that they had done in the past, it seemed rather easy.
Alistair suspected this was because Professor Vale was more interested in the Fledglings operating in different kinds of environments over doing something that would prove difficult to accomplish or dangerous.
Even so, there’d been a few tough fights along the way, Alistair glad for his enhanced endurance and the combined powers of his companions. It made all of this easier.
It continued to be a good excursion the further they traveled, yet dealing with the suit of water was an equally interesting prospect. All of his steps felt squishy, and while the fine layer of mist kept him cool, it was also humid, Alistair absolutely drenched in sweat. He noticed that the last time he lifted his wand, how it nearly slipped out of his hand.
Alistair would have to be extra careful.
He was glad to be joined by his friends, both for the company and because operating in a volcanic landscape seemed incredibly risky. For hours now, the four had explored the area, avoiding lava geysers, random bursts of flames, crackling stones, and fire monsters. In their down time, if it could be called that, their conversations drifted from what they expected for the next week to the rumors about Professor Lysander.
“If it’s true, Lysander is a total piece of shit,” Zola said. “What’s wrong with giving orphans a chance? We are proving ourselves, aren’t we? We’re not entirely worthless.”
“I think you are,” Juno said. “Wait, that came out wrong. I meant to say I think you all are proving yourself, not that you’re worthless.”
“Same,” said Finnian. “You two are doing great!”
“If it’s true, fuck him is what I’m trying to say,” Juno added.
They also discussed the upcoming trials for the Waldrus Fledgling Tournament.
“I want to compete,” Zola said. “I’m training for it already. I’ve been asking Lorcan for tips, books that could help.”
“I’m honestly more interested in seeing others compete so I can come back later and really kick ass,” had been Juno’s response. “You know, gather the data I need, and then strike.”
“That’s smart of you,” Finnian told Juno.
“No smartness involved, I’ve just been to enough of these tournaments to know that there are going to be plenty more. No rush, believe me, guys. So. Many. Damn. Tournaments. Alistair? Any thoughts about competing? You ready to Mage Solo your way to infamy? Bro packs a punch!” Juno told the others.
“I honestly haven’t even thought about it.”
“See? We’re more alike than you think.”
“Is that what you took from that?” Zola asked Juno.
The four fought more lava monsters, traversed narrow bands of stone that crossed over ponds of lava, and now, as they neared the destination given to them by Professor Vale, it looked like they would have to battle fire fae as well.
“For Smol!” Several of the fae shouted. They formed a plume-y perimeter around the four Fledglings, and produced spears of fire.
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“State your name and purpose,” one female fire fae said. Like the others, her outfit consisted of clothing that looked like it was currently burning. Her wings were made of flames as well, and her eyes glowed with an orange intensity.
Noctarii fluttered forward. He cleared his throat, and shook his head at the fire fae: “Ahem. Noctarii Shadeveer, Darkwhisperer of Silent Haven, Keeper of the Veiled Crescent. We are merely passing through toward a destination rumored to be in these mountains. Make way, or face the consequences. Alistair, rather than have us deal with whatever is set to happen here, just get the slime out.”
“Smol?” one of the fae asked, this one with a burly voice.
“All hail, Smol!”
“You are with Smol?” the lead fae asked. “How could it be? Show us!”
“All hail, Smol!”
Alistair summoned Ziggy, who hopped onto the ground, and bounced once he saw how hot it was. The slime eventually settled, but to do so, Ziggy had to grow a pair of long legs to keep his body off the ground. Curious as always, he observed the hovering fire fae and made a more inquisitive sound. Squish?
The fire fae all swarmed toward Ziggy.
Ghost: Stop them—!
By the time that assassin could finish shouting in Alistair’s head, the fae had formed a tight ring of fire around Ziggy. They dropped down one at a time, all bowing to him.
“What’s going on again?” Juno asked, wand drawn, his eyes twitching left and right as he prepared to fire at the fae.
“Yay, you have met your creator,” Noctarii said, not as enthused. “Congratulations. Now, can we get on with it?”
“All hail, Smol!”
Ghost: That’s right, they worship a slime. Easy Enough. Use their faith to your advantage. Find out where the abandoned temple is and let’s be done with this. We have more training to do back at the Academy. Next weekend we’re going to Solaria, Marrowstone from there, and we’re going with money.
Alistair: We’re not seriously going to bring it all, are we?
Ghost: We’ll bring some of it. Plus, there are things we can buy in Solaria that may help us. Now that I see more of what we’re capable of, I believe we could utilize our partnership in an even smarter way.
“All hail, Smol!” the fae shouted in unison as they all bowed toward Ziggy again.
Squish!
Noctarii turned Alistair and shook his head. “Don’t look at me. Some fae are stupider than others. Tell them what you want because they are ignoring me.”
Alistair stepped up. “Hello to all of you. I speak for Smol.”
“All hail, Smol!”
“Correct, all hail Smol. We have been tasked, ugh, by Smol with reaching the abandoned temple. Are we on the right path to reach it? Also, Smol says you shouldn’t come with us. This is a...”
Ghost: Rite of passage.
“A rite of passage.”
“You are close,” the female fae said. “Ahead, you will come to a natural arch, after which the path splits in three. The first path will lead to Rolbag the fire spirit. The middle is a dead end, and the right path to the temple.”
“Is there anything else we should know?”
“All hail, Smol!” a few of the fae shouted.
The lead fae spoke again. “No, there is not. But please stay for a bit longer, let us look onto Smol and get its blessings.”
“Sure,” Alistair told her. “Ziggy, bless each of the fae.”
The fire fae formed into a line. They came forward one at a time and bowed at Ziggy, who squished with exuberance, as if he were pontificating privately to each of the fairies.
Squish. Squish. Squish.
And so on.
Later, as they climbed the steps to the abandoned temple, all of them out of breath aside from Alastair, he took a moment to simply take the view in, the mountains beyond, many with red veins tracing down their peaks. The sun was nearly set, casting an orange glow over the peaks and valleys. It was the kind of view he would have never thought possible, and while it had been a strange day, for once, there had been no real surprises.
At least not the type he was slowly growing used to.
Finnian placed his hands on his hips. “Look at that view. Is it worth feeling like I’m trapped in my own personal sauna? Maybe, no, it’s definitely worth it.”
Juno didn’t seem as enthused. “Ugh. We came all the way up here and we didn’t even get a reward card for our troubles? I call bullshit.”
“It’s not always about a card,” Zola told him.
“We’re literally battledeck mage. It is always about a card.”
“Battledeck-mages-in-training. And we got Attribute Cards.” A portal fizzled into existence. Zola gestured to it. “And who knows, maybe we will get lucky this time and be the first back to the Academy.”
Juno blinked twice. “That’s right! Professor Vale said there would be a reward for the first group to complete the challenge.Well, what are we waiting for?” His face filled with excitement and then a sudden flash of mischief. “Unless… the three of you think we should go back down to where the path splits and fight Rolbag the fire spirit. Wait, that’s not what you’re thinking, is it?”