I can’t believe that I’m going to another nation, let alone so that I can go to the most prominent scholar center of all of Amelioru! I mean it’s kind of sudden but I’m still excited about it. Mom told us a few days ago that we’d be going soon, but I don’t think I’m close to ready. Sure I’m packed and we’re about to set out in the wagon, but you know, it feels weird to leave behind my home. I’ve never even been in one of the cities in this province, let alone another nation!
“Sweetie. Mind checking our food supplies? Melody is worried that the month’s worth of rations she packed will last us.” Mom rolls her eyes as she walks around from the front of the wagon.
Apparently, Mr. Teafle used this back when he still lived in the city. It’s nice, very simple, wooden wheels and fabric covering the back to keep the weather out. Though it definitely has seen some wear and tear.
“Sure thing.” I jump into the back of the wagon and start rummaging through our little crate full of food. Everything is fresh, from the produce to the hardtack, we should have way more than enough. We’re only going to be traveling about two and a half weeks since we live on the border of the two countries. “We’ll be good even if we get lost for a bit with what we have.”
“See? I told you we’ll be fine. Just relax Mel, I know it’s a little overwhelming for you to send your daughter away. Especially when you always feel like you need to be by her side to make up for all those years before moving here…” I hop back out of the wagon and spot Mom hugging Charlie’s mom. I feel a little bad for her, she’s sending her daughter away. I don’t know everything about Charlie’s past, but I do know that something made them move out here and away from the city.
“Yes, yes. You’re right, Venna. I worry too much sometimes.” She wipes away a small tear that had formed in the corner of her eye. “Did your sister send you a reply yet?”
“Right here. Please Mel, I know that you don’t feel right doing this but it’s best to let them grow up sometimes on their own.”
I feel like I should probably go find Charlie, so I back away and dash off into her house. “Hey Charlie? Where are you? It’s almost time to go.” A small crash can be heard from her bedroom.
“Don’t come in!” More sounds, that might be some things being thrown around, come from inside her room. “I’ll be out in a sec! Umm, can you find my father please? I want to ask him if he knows where my hat is.”
“Okay. Just making sure you were ready to leave.” I jog outside, passing our moms, and loop around to the otherside of the wagon to look for Mr. Teafle.
Immediately I almost crash into the towering man as I turn the corner. He’s carrying a large sack, which jingles as he steps. “Whoa there Kid. Slow down a bit. I get you’re excited, though I can’t really see why, to go to college but you need to wait a little longer.” He sets the bag down and ruffles my hair with his one hand.
“Sorry. I was actually going to go looking for you, though what’s in the bag?”
“Just some money I had lying around, should help Charcoal get what she needs for school. Plus a little extra in case Venna needed a bit for your school supplies as well.”
A little?! That sack is like the size of a small child! Man, being wealthy must be great if you can just throw your money around like that.
“Now what were you looking for me for?”
“Oh right! Charlie was wondering where her hat was.”
“Tell her to check the coat closet, if it’s not in the top right drawer of her wardrobe.”
“Will do.” I turn back and run into the house again. “Charlie! Your dad said to look in the top right drawer of your wardrobe or if it’s not there to check the coat closet!”
“Thank you!” Something falls over and she yelps in alarm. “That was nothing! Just a… a toy or something.”
Again, I feel like she just cannot lie to save her skin. Way to forward about these kinds of things, or at least very clumsy about hiding stuff.
“Okay, I’ll be outside with our parents whenever you’re ready to leave,” I call back into the house, walking out the door.
The sun is high in the sky and the wind is starting to pick up a little bit, causing a pleasant breeze. Weird how fast people started putting things back together. I know that this isn’t the first time that we’ve had parts of town wrecked but this is definitely worse than last time. Mom got everyone back in town and the mayor got straight to work on the rebuilding. I'm always impressed at how organized they are.
Just then I hear some barking from where the wagon is. Turns out that those Thistle Wolves are actually really friendly, even if you’ve fought them! Whoever that lady was, she had some kind of mind control over them and was making them more aggressive than they should have been. So Mrs. Teafle patched them up from the fight and the younger ones were more than happy to stick around, I’m guessing that Charlie’s feeding them didn’t help either. She named them too.
I walk over and the two larger than average, but still smaller than that one big one who left yesterday, wolves are nipping at Mr. Teafle as he tries to get them harnessed to the wagon. I’m surprised at how well they’ve taken to being domesticated since they were just under the control of that lady. Maybe they’re just like this normally or they were tame from before? I dunno, but they’re mostly sweet as far as wolves that were trying to eat me go.
Anyways, the one with the cut from Mr. Teafle has darker fur and Charlie named them Nico. The other one has one ear that kinda droops down, they’re named Chev. I don’t know why or where those names really came from. I’m not going to question it though, this is Charlie after all. She is a little out there at times, I think it’s because she never really let loose growing up so she’s getting it all out now. Still concerning how fast we managed to get these wolves under control.
“Okay I think you’ve got everything put together here, though I feel like I’m forgetting something…” Charlie’s dad hops out of the back of the wagon, one sack of coin lighter. “Hmm, what was it?”
“Garrison, dear, really?” His wife walks over and scowls.
“Umm… was it something for the kids?”
“Yes. We gave Charlie hers this morning, you were supposed to pick up Oliver’s while you went to the post office to grab the coin for their supplies while they’re in Golosumna.”
He snaps his fingers and turns to head back the way he came, breaking into a run. “Sorry! I forgot!”
“Something for me?” I ask Mrs. Teafle.
“Yes, we have a little gift for the both of you. Charlie got hers a little early, we were going to only make a set for her originally but I managed to find a little extra material for it and decided you need something made from it just as much.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see soon. You know I love my husband, but sometimes he just doesn’t have a thought in his head.” She sighs and watches as the sound of feet on cobble rapidly approaches us. “Speaking of, here he is.”
“Sorry Kid. I was supposed to pick this up from the tailor, we had it made on a rush order so I hope it works out for you.” He says while handing me a small package.
I open it up and pull out what looks like a blanket with a hole in it. “What is it?” I ask again.
“It’s called a poncho, supposed to be rather good travel wear. We had it made out of copperwool so it should also be able to patch itself up without any help.”
“Whoa. That’s really neat. But isn’t it a little warm for wool? Summer isn’t ending for another few months.”
“Trust us. It’s better than you think.”
I look over the poncho again. When I heard copper I thought it might look more, well coppery, but it’s actually a nice dark gray color. It has a light metallic sheen to it, like the sunlight was reflecting off and a hood on the back. Something is compelling me to ask Mom to add some colored embroidery though, like it’s lacking something…
“I might have to have some things added, but otherwise I like the look of it,” I say as I put it on. I don’t want to be rude.
But I’m surprised at how cool it feels on top of my tunic. This doesn’t even feel like wool anymore, it’s way softer than that. Like a cloud wrapped around my body! I can freely move around in it and after a few minutes, I also notice that I haven’t warmed up despite the sun beating down.
“This thing is amazing! I don’t feel hot at all. And I’m not restricted at all. I love it, thank you!”
“Glad to hear Kiddo, getting copperwool is a bit of a tricky thing but people say that it’s some of the best stuff you can get to make clothes and if we’re being honest we wanted to get something made for you too.”
Mom comes up behind me and gives me a hug. “You look like a wanderer, just like your father. But this is looking a little plain. I’ll help give it a touch of color later, unless you’d like to do that yourself.” Then she pats me on the shoulder and spins me around towards the wagon. “However, we’ve got a schedule to keep so as soon as Charlie gets out here we’ll be off.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Speaking of, the girl in question runs out of the house. She’s dressed in a nice white button down blouse and a simple dark orange shoulder cape with yellow trim. Along with a matching skirt, she has light brown pants and boots on. Charlie’s bright blonde hair is tied back into two matching buns to keep any stray strands from falling in front of her eyes. She also has a small satchel on her side, which looks similar to mine.
As she runs to us, she strikes a pose and comes to a stop before the wagon. “Charlie’s geared up and ready to go!” She boldly proclaims as I notice that her boot laces are untied. I don’t think I’ll say anything and just hope she trips later, just for fun.
“Lovely. Tie your shoelaces and jump into the back of the wagon. Did you make sure that you packed everything?” Her mom asks, ruining the surprise for later in the process.
“Huh?” Charlie looks down and blushes as she crouches to tie her shoes up. “Yes Mother, I made sure to grab everything and I checked twice.”
“Okay. I just want to make sure you aren’t going to be out on the road and suddenly realize that you’ve forgotten to bring something along.”
Mom clears her throat and pushes me towards the wagon, which I climb up into the back of. She looks over at Charlie and motions for her to do the same. Charlie takes a moment, maybe to process the fact we’re going away from home, before climbing up and sitting down a little distance across from me. There’s a few things between us so we can have a little privacy.
“We’ll be setting off now. Don’t worry, I’ll send a message back as soon as we reach the capital.” With that, Mom moves to the front and cracks the reins that are attached to the wolves’ harnesses. The wagon jolts forwards and begins to roll smoothly, me and Charlie watch as her parents wave as we leave.
As we exit the village along the dirt road that heads towards the border, I take in the fresh air. Something in it feels different, the scent of change is there and I’m not quite sure how to even describe that. All I know is that whatever is waiting for me out there, I’m going to face it with determination. Mostly because I’d rather my world not end and whatnot, which now that I think about it, I need some context to this whole battle for the fate of everything. Hopefully I’ll get some answers soon, whenever I meet that lady in green again.
Eventually, night falls over us as we stop to set up camp. It’s pretty uneventful and I drift off to sleep after a little while.
…
“Oliver.” Something shakes me. “Oliver. Wake up. It’s time we talked.”
I rub my eyes, expecting the campsite but instead I’m back in that same blue mist filled place. However the surrounding is quite different. Sure there’s still the mist and endless expansive white void around us, but now there’s also furniture. Two sofas with a short table is nearby, shelves filled with what look like books and colorful boxes are across from a sofa, a wooden table with cushioned chairs is a little further back in an area that resembles a kitchen but there are strange objects I don’t recognize, and a expertly crafted door with intricate carving sprawling across it behind me.
“What? I’m back?” I ask in a daze as I look around for the voice.
Standing by one of the sofas is the lady in green, a tentacle outstretched pulling back from me. “Hello. It’s time for me to give you some answers. Although I have,” she pauses, “a few questions. We don’t have to start with mine, but I’d like to ask one anyways if you don’t mind.”
“Umm, sure? Sorry I just need to get a little oriented.” I stand up from the floor and dust myself off.
“Do you mind if I change into something less, ah what’s the word, stuffy?” A tentacle waves at me like it was greeting me, which she quickly grabs and combs it back.
“Of course. I appreciate you asking me, even though you obviously don’t need to listen to me.”
She gives me a sad smile before turning and waving her hand. A tear forms and she steps into it and vanishes. Minutes pass and she still hasn’t returned, so I go over to inspect the shelves. All of the books have odd looking symbols on them, before they shift and form letters from the Arcish alphabet and I can read the titles on their spines. Most of it makes no sense, something about rebirth as a monster or one that’s about drawing, but one does catch my attention as it’s called ‘History of The Perennial War And Its Aftermath - By: Novella Ella Inkwell’.
“Oh! You noticed the bookshelf. That’s great, you’re welcome to read anything here if you want to.”
I turn around to face the lady in green, except she’s not really in green anymore. Well she is, it’s just now she looks way different. In place of her elegant evening gown, she has on a deep forest green sweater and gray pants that look very comfortable. She also has a pair of fuzzy slippers that kind of look like cats on.
I don’t know how to feel about this. This is giving me some kind of whiplash, I’m not sure what kind but I’m definitely feeling it. As I gawk at her sudden wardrobe change, she walks over to where the kitchen is and starts opening cupboards. She pulls out a tall glass pitcher and places it into a metal tub with a small curved pipe that begins to pour water into it. Then she pulls out a few colorful boxes with pictures of leaves on them and more of that language I couldn’t read, this time though the words do not change.
“What kind of tea would you like, Oliver? Ollie? Can I call you that or is that too informal?” The lady looks over at me as the water stops and she lifts the pitcher with one of her tentacles. She lowers it onto a flat, black countertop which glows a low orange light.
“Umm, I don’t mind you calling me by my nickname. But I’m a little confused right now.”
“About the tea? Well we have some stuff from your world if you’d rather not try something from another place.”
“Oh, no, not about the tea. I’ll have whatever you have. No, I’m confused by your sudden change in I guess everything. You’ve suddenly become much more relaxed and aren’t speaking really formally with me anymore.”
The water in the pitcher starts to boil and a tentacle reaches for it, only to stop and reach into a drawer and pull out a mitten, then lift it up and place it onto a stone slab that rests on the table. She pulls out two chairs and two cups and a small bowl with something sticking out of it and places them onto the table, next to the pitcher of water.
“Ah, yes. I guess that this would be a little odd. I’ll explain as soon as I grab some tea.” She grabs a box off of the counter, with her hand this time, and walks over to the table to take a seat. Then she motions for me to do the same in a friendly manner. “I’ve picked something from a place not in your world, it’s a peppermint tea and I’m rather fond of its flavor.”
“Pepper…mint? I’ve never heard of a mint,” I say as I take the seat across from her.
“Mmm, well you don’t have a mint plant where you’re from. I guess that the closest thing to it would be I dunno, have you ever tried a– no, no you wouldn’t have. Hmm. Guess you’ll have to find out. If you ever find yourself in a position to try an ice slime, you should.”
I nod as she brings the pitcher over with a tentacle and then frowns. She shakes her head and puts the tentacle back down and sends it to fetch something from the cupboards. It returns with two small net looking objects and places one in each cup. Then she opens the box in her hands and pulls out a few leaves, and tears them up as she drops them into the pitcher of water.
She smiles and an hourglass appears next to her. “Should be about five minutes or so. Sorry I was getting ahead of myself with the tea.”
“It’s okay. I don’t really know much about tea anyways.”
“Well while we wait, I’ll answer some of your questions. Ask away.” She waves a hand and a small tray of cookies appears in between us, which she takes one and begins to munch on it.
Gods. This is confusing the hells out of me. I need a moment. I take a deep breath and consider what I should ask her.
“What can you tell me about things? It just feels like if you’re as powerful as you claim to be you should be able to handle this problem without needing me. So maybe there are, like I dunno, rules or something that are stopping you.”
She gives me a surprised look. “You certainly are perceptive. Yes there are limits to what I can do and tell you. I can tell you almost anything as long as it doesn’t involve foreseeing the future or talking too much about personal secrets of various people. Otherwise you can get an answer for just about anything.”
“Oh. So can you tell me the future if there weren’t any limits to your powers?”
“Yeah I could, but that doesn’t mean I would. Time is a… difficult thing.” I notice that she twitches a little and rubs one of her shoulders, where her scars are, at the mention of time. “How about another question.”
I clear my throat. “Right. I should have asked this first but, what is your name?”
The lady laughs and the tips of her tentacle hair turns a lighter shade of green. After a moment she calms down. “Ah ha ha! That’s true, you don’t know my name do you. Well that makes sense because I don’t really have one.”
“You don’t have a name?”
“I have titles, but no name to call my own really. A family name that means nothing anymore and no identity to call my own. It’s a little odd but I don’t mind it.” She takes another cookie. “Most just call me The Dreamer, some call me other things but those don’t really seem like something you’d feel comfortable calling me. If you’d like, you could give me a nickname, like yours Ollie.”
Oh man. I’m put on the spot again. Umm… What kind of name could I even give her? I don’t even know much about her, so I can’t be thematic with it. Ugh. I can’t think of anything.
“Do you mind if we come back to that later? I’m having a little trouble thinking of something.”
“Sure, it’s fine. I’ve lived my whole life without a name. No need to rush anything.”
That’s only adding more pressure to all of this. She’s never had a name before this and now she’s asking me what my idea is, I’m not ready for this.
“Okay. Uhh next question, is there any way that you could give me something a little more offensive for my Inkling? Which does lead to more questions like, did you know those people were coming? And who was talking to me? And what was with me getting really tired?”
“I think the tea’s ready.” She turns and uses her tentacle to pour us both a hot cup of this peppermint tea. Then she takes a quick sip before pulling a spoon from the bowl and placing a white cube into her drink. “As for your questions, I’m fairly sure you have at least three offensive abilities from your Inkling. Something from me, something more based from you, and another from the person who was talking to you that time.
“But I only have two as far as I can tell.”
The lady stops stirring her tea and stares at me. “You only have two? Can you show me your hand real quick?” I hold my hand out and my Inkling reveals itself. The same two lines stretch out from the main purple color and the green dot. “That’s not right. Hold on a moment.”
She pulls out a small rectangular slate from the mist, like last time, and speaks into it in another language. Then after a moment of back and forth, she tosses it behind her shoulder into the mist. A moment later a tear forms and out steps a tall figure, maybe five ten, whose face is completely wrapped in blood red tentacles which have small barbs sticking out.
“Aiden, where is the rest of Oliver’s Inkling? I thought you were going to convince your sister to help out, not withhold yours as well.”
I give a good look over the new figure. As I mentioned before, their face is completely covered in red tentacles. He is wearing what looks like a very formal black waistcoat and red tie with dress pants. But in contrast to his formal attire, he has a large rusty glaive strapped to his back. I can see one eye glowing a deep crimson from a small split in the tentacles, which looks similar to The Dreamer’s and the other girl, as it forms a four pointed star shape.
“If the boy wants to harm, he will have to prove himself capable of being able to keep a calm head in battle. I only assisted him for the sake of apologizing for my little sister’s actions which does not mean that I favor him like you, Princess.”
And with that, the mist swirling around us turns a light red color as he pulls the glaive from his back and charges at me.