It’d been a few hours since the group had begun their journey to Anweon’s capital of Merla, the shining beacon in a sea of forest and farmland. It’d take a few days minimum, and more so depending on if they’d have any ‘company’ on the way there. This notion is what made Gregor turn around for the hundredth time within an hour, watching the forest behind them as they silently made their way towards civilization.
“Looking behind again won’t make the trees spring from the ground and attack.” Hellebore said under his breath, still sour about them taking the stranger with them. Knox knew what this was about, and silently retorted. “Before his ass showed up, YOU woulda been the one we’d be questioning, especially since they locked you up inside solitary. Besides, if we ditch him we’d be glad to take your funds for an inn room or four.”
Alice’s attention was fixed on Daniel, who was leading the back with a look in his eyes that said he knew exactly where they were going. “So, what does your spell do exactly?” She asked, trying to break the bored silence. “Are you just a walking navigation book? You just know where Merla is automatically?”
“Well, I’m more looking for a person than Merla itself. When I fix my mind on someone I automatically know where they are, distance, direction and everything in between, but it only works when I know someone’s name.” he wagged his finger in the air with that last bit of info.
The group all glanced at him. “Well, that’s creepy.” Knox said. Daniel moved to defend himself. “I got this spell AFTER I Joined the Royal Detective Agency, so I guess my body gave me the power to help me be the best in the business…”
“Who’re you tracking then?” Lockheed’s voice escaped him silently. Daniel eyed the treeline before turning back. “Why, my lovely wife of course.” He seemed to have a look of victory on his face. “She’s gotta be worried sick right now. It’s been a few days and normally I would’ve called her, but my holo-disc was destroyed by someone punching a damn hole through it.” he eyed Knox, who merely shrugged it off. “Hey, I got all of ya out of there to begin with.”
The holo-disc was a Bogan invention a few years after the First Bogan war, while they were confined to their continent by phobia and anger. It spread like wildfire, and now was the norm. Not only could it be used for calls, but it was a mobile hologram as well as a music player and form of portable television. The small coaster-like shape allowed for mobility and easy storage. The Bogan’s invention was stolen by a company that now acts as a monopoly for it, Style and Styles inc., with its headquarters residing, ironically, in Merla.
“You know you can just use someone else’s disc, right?” Gregor pulled his own from behind his back, seemingly from his Private Isle. Daniel cringed slightly as he looked away. “Nah, I think I’ll just leave it for now. She’s a great person, but she will definitely rip me a new one for not calling sooner. Whether or not it’s actually my fault is irrelevant to her. She worries a lot.” His tone grew quieter as he continued, now mostly to himself. “She didn’t have it very good in her early days, so I guess I was one of her only escapes… I think the day that I don’t call back, or don’t turn up again, is the day that she’ll give up on herself. It’s a possibility, with my kind of work, and we both know it. But I took an oath to protect the people of Merla, and the royal family, with my life, so that’s exactly what I’m gonna do!”
“Boy, I love foreshadowing.” Knox mumbled under his breath, before retracting his statement. “Ah, no, you’re gonna be fine.” Alice averted her eyes, feeling guilty that if something happened on this trek home, that it’d be her fault for being born into nobility. How could you feel guilty of what you have no control over? “I… thank you, Danny.” Alice produced a soft smile. “I’ll make sure that the Queen knows what you’re doing, what all of you are doing for me.”
The group fell silent, most taking in that they’d get recognition from the Queen herself. They walked silently for a few more minutes before Gregor glanced behind him again, Hellebore shaking his fist at him in anger. “For the last time, there’s nothing back there!”
“If you don’t like it, then stand behind him and look yourself!” Cymia had grown fed up with both of them. “By the Gods, it’s like you’re looking for things to be pissy about with him!”
“You should listen to her, Porcelain, after all, she could get ya axed by The Prophet, considering she knows him…” Knox said as most of the walking drew to a halt. Cymia seemed insulted. “What did you say?” she asked, her voice now spiced with anger as all eyes locked on her. Knox began pacing around her in a circle as he explained.
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“I knew there was a reason you were being taken to The Rind rather than a normal prison camp. Cymia, was it? Funny how the beginning of that name sounds awfully similar to Cyber. And, from what I recall in my history class, the first part of a Bogan’s name is what royal house their family pledged allegiance to. That means your family lived in Cyber’s domain, even before his conquest!”
Cymia grew silent as the others glanced at each other. Her voice now seemed tame. “The house of Cy owned the largest region of Jaago. Just because it’s my name doesn’t mean I know him.”
“Then why did he send you off with us rather than throwing you into Jaago’s prison system?” Knox grew more questioning as Lockheed took a step forward. Hellebore also sought to take a step, but he was stopped by Alice putting an arm in front of him. “Anyone starts something right now, and we will leave you behind!” Alice took control of the situation. “I’m not here to fight, I just want to know why!” Knox’s pacing grew closer to Cymia as he circled her. Lockhhed crossed his arms, awaiting a response.
“Nationalism. The same reason why you Scalsans are so willing to die on a whim if it means your country lives. The same reason why Shadowmane and the Noctin are at each other’s throats while being from the same ancestry.” Cymia’s defense stood strong through forced-to-be-calm breaths as Knox ran his hand through his head feathers. Gregor and Hellebore ever so slightly eyed each other and nodded at her statement regarding Shadowmane, confirming it true. “I. I…” Cymia’s tone was mixed with confusion, as she was sure her defense was valid, but the lizard’s gaze remained locked on to her. A silence ensued, Knox and Cymia exchanging death stares as Alice moved forward to prevent an altercation.
Just as a fight was about to boil over, Knox conceded. “...Fair enough.” Knox shrugged as Alice was about to reach him. “I knew you weren’t on Cyber’s side. You wouldn’t have been imprisoned if you were.” Utter confusion filled everyone in the vicinity as he began walking again. “Wh… what?” Even Cymia was confused. “Why even bother bringing that up if you knew that!?” She asked, her anger quickly evolving from the confusion.
Knox tapped the side of his head. “Just wanted to see your reaction. If you had been stumbling or sounded frightened I woulda been suspicious. I’d be pissed too if I was falsely tied to a homicidal maniac. You didn’t seem nervous at all, like you woulda been if you were lying.”
Alice sighed, irritated at their road bump. “If we could please continue, I want to get home before we get attacked again.” she said as most of them began to walk again. “Sure thing, Princess.” he shared a smug look with Cymia, who was seething with bottled rage. Most of the group moved on quickly, the one outlier being Lockheed, who merely exchanged a few words as he walked past her, “I’m watching you, Bogan.”
Another few minutes of relative silence followed, broken by the occasional burst of conversation between new comrades. Daniel explains his wife’s job as a lawyer to Alice, Knox describing the Scalsan military to an unenthused Cymia and Hellebore telling Lockheed how much he hates half the people walking alongside them. Gregor walked alone for a minute, a soft breeze following him before he turned his head yet again. This time he stopped for a second.
Hellebore grumbled as Alice noticed from the front. This time she was the one to ease him. “There’s nothing there, you’re gonna strain your neck if you keep doing that.”
“No. There’s something here.” He said. After a couple more seconds, he put a hand out with a ‘shush’ gesture. Daniel was still rambling as the others fell quiet before Gregor hissed, “Shut up!” under his breath. Daniel paused as his pace slowed down.
The birds continued to chirp as the slow breeze caused the trees to creak slightly. But something else was out there. “I don’t hear Jack.” Knox said, the others beginning to stroll again as if Gregor was a loon. Alice was the last to keep walking, glancing back as Gregor stared out into the forest.
Gregor was the only one to hear it. Not only that, but the wind around him picked up, signifying that his friend knew something he didn’t. There was no doubt what he heard. There were no leaves on the trail, but he could hear someone stepping on them as they walked...
Soul Spell: Warrant
Spell Type: Aura
Spellcaster: Daniel McKnight
Shard Color: Green
Shard Stats:
-Offense [3/10]
-Defense [5/10]
-Range [10/10]
-Spread [1/10]
-Utility [6/10]