Sylvanbrook; The Ashen Vanguard Guild- Early morning - Aquisol 4th day

Ealdred woke up early, as usual, to open the guild for the morning. It was an adjustment for the first few days without Lyra’s assistance, but he was managing. Not to mention someone who helped from time to time.

Like clockwork, she stood at the doorway waiting for him as she did every other day since Lyra had left with Eamon and Sly.

“Edie, you don’t have to keep coming out here? If it pains you to force yourself to keep–”

She shook her head. Her gaze was sharp as she glared at him. “With all respect, Ealdred, as I told you before that… Well, this was what my daughter loved, and I was too busy in my head to see that. So I come here every day, yes, to be closer to her but to understand why being a Locksmith is so important to her… to both of them.”

They both knew she was referring to Arcemedus.

He hummed and nodded. “Very well. I will stop asking until you tell me otherwise.”

The relief washed over her brown features, similar to Lyra’s complexion.

“Thank you, Ealdred. That is all I ask. So, what are we doing today?”

With that, Ealdred busied her with tasks he would have given Lyra. Like mother and daughter, they were persistent and never stopped until the task was complete.

Once she finished painting over the wooden wall Lyra had smashed, she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand, paint in the other hand. Both hands on her hips.

“That girl. I swear she has an excitable temper… but I guess she got that from her father, huh?” She laughed until a soft brush caressed her cheek and whispered, ‘She has a little of both of us.’

Edie’s heart dropped in her chest. She whirled around and splattered paint all over the floor. Students who saw her stopped their training momentarily to look at her.

She smiled awkwardly with an even awkward wave, darting her eyes around to see where the voice she heard was. It would be impossible to hear him. She had not heard or felt him since he passed, so… why now?

Maybe it’s because you blocked out any thoughts–happy or sad–of him from your head. She thought solemnly to herself. She sighed. I am exhausted. I don't know how Lyra kept up with all this, but…

“I get it.” She voiced aloud this time.

“Hmm? Get what? I didn’t think we were getting a full remodeling.”

Edie looked to see Ealdred’s grinning face as if he knew exactly what had happened.

“Did you happen to figure out something?”

Edie pressed her lips together. Shrugging. “I believe so, though I think it’s a long way to go before it… comes back.”

Ealdred nodded. He did not want to push the issue if she didn’t want to discuss it. Edie would speak when she was ready. He had seen him, and so did Lyra. It was only a matter of opening up completely.

“I need to run out to the market and get some things. Mind watching over the students for a bit?” Handing her the keys.

“Wh-What?” Edie’s face flushed as she fumbled with the keys he had given her. “Shouldn’t I go instead? I don’t think I’m equipped to–”

“Edie,” Ealdred whispered, looking at his daughter-in-law with assurance that relaxed her shoulders. “You’ll be fine. I promise. Just let it completely go, and it’ll come to you naturally.”

Leaving it at that, Ealdred left for the markets. He picked up his usuals and talked with a few townsfolk not just as a Locksmith but because Sylvanbrook was his home, as were the people in it.

He was returning to the guild when he spotted a strange figure out of the corner of his eye.

He hummed curiously but did not react as he watched the hooded figure walk through the central town’s area quickly and purposefully. It would not have been out of place except that he was expertly moving at speeds that would not attract much attention, but Ealdred could tell without even putting in much effort.

The hooded figure never noticed him, which gave Ealdred the perfect chance to follow him out of the town and toward the forest. He kept an even distance, seeing him heading toward the old warehouse where Lyra and Ealdred encountered the Rift and a member of the Children of Deimos.

Once he finally reached the entrance of the trees, the figure was standing in the middle of the open field.

“Why are you here?” a male voice asked. The man did not turn around to Ealdred.

Ealdred let out a soft gruff. “Hmm, I can say the same to you. You acted very suspiciously, trying to blend in while not being noticed. Bravo.”

“Heh,” the young man chuckled. “Even when I’m not using magic, you still saw right through me. Guess that would make you Ealdred, the Sentinel Riftbreaker.”

Ealdred shifted the brown bags of groceries in his arm. “That I am. May I know who you are?”

Instead of answering him, the young man turned around to reveal his features. The sides of his hair shaved, and his thick, dark brown locks trailed behind his back. His eyes were dark, blending well with his mahogany complexion. He had the look, the pose, and the expression, even down to his loose-fitting clothing and flat shoes. He had unreadable tattoos that Ealdred knew were magical insignias.

Ealdred raised a brow. “A Strega? No, perhaps a witch? There haven’t been witches around since the Primal Chaos era.”

The young man’s eyes widened slightly, surprised he could tell quickly without much to go on.

“You’re also forgetting Ex-Custodian, but those are all correct. A double S rank is certainly no joke. Now… if I could–”

Ealdred held up his hand. “You realize I can’t just let you go and do whatever you want, right?”

He sighed. “I knew this would happen. Did you plan this, Master?” he mumbled to himself, but Ealdred was more than capable of hearing his soft-spoken speech. “What if I told you I’m here to do exactly what Locksmith have been doing for ages?”

“I’d say to explain yourself because if that were the case, you wouldn’t need to walk by incognito.”

The young man smiled. “Touché. Fine. This will not work if you are going to stop me. I’ll have to tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The look in his eyes darkened, making even Ealdred brace himself just in case. “The Children of Deimos have come back.”

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Mid-Morning - headed for Troér.

The group continued their destination from Ledel and Gearford since that was the last recent place the Magycte Beast had appeared from the Ethereal Rift.

They were puzzled by Aurora's display of power and where she came from.

“Denarius, for your thoughts?” Sly asked as she strolled beside Lyra.

“Just thinking, that's all,” Lyra said with a shrug.

“About what just happened with Aurora?”

They looked to Aurora, who happily giggled as Eamon gave her a piggyback ride. She had warmed up to him and regarded him, like Sly, quite fondly now. She distinguished them as ‘nice’ people.

Lyra sighed. “It was just so… it felt Ancient, almost Sly. Then I think these strange images I saw are Aurora's memories.”

Sly furrowed her brows. “Memories? Like what?”

Before she could divulge further, Eamon spoke, “Looks like we have trouble up ahead.”

They saw the military men in a faraway carriage but were not alone.

“Oh, my Lumos. They're at it again! Now they're bothering someone else.” Lyra exclaimed, but not surprised.

Ahead, they could see military men surrounding a figure, a man in bright, colorful clothing and laughing.

“We have to do something,” Eamon said, putting down Aurora from his back. He stood next to Lyra.

“Are you sure about this?” Cassandra asked. “Intervening in Empire business, regardless of what they do, is–”

Sly smirked. “No worries. They've had plenty of run-ins with them already, and they're old friends now.”

Lyra and Eamon walked forward to confront them. All the while, Aurora clasped her hands together, a worried expression filling her red eyes.

“W-where are they going?”

“Don't worry, Aurora,” Sly said, holding her shoulder. “They'll be back.”

The noise of the military men got louder as they approached, but only when an army person caught sight of them coming and alerted the others.

“Ah, thank Lumos, I've been saved! And by Locksmiths, no less. You military lot will regret badgering me,” The bard said in the middle of the circle that the military soldiers had formed around him.

One of them narrowed their eyes at Lyra, grinding his teeth together.

“You!” He shouted and pushed past his men to meet Lyra and Eamon halfway.

Lyra rolled her eyes. “Oh, joy. It's you. You must really want that black eye, huh? Now, don't make me look like a liar.”

Julian Ashcroft sucked his teeth. It had been a few weeks since they had seen the soldier at the General Store in Elmsworth.

“And I believe I said you'd taste my blade–”

“Or Pistol, whatever comes first.” She mocked him by drawing out her words slowly and illiterate.

The soldiers in the back snickered at her mocking, making Julian's face as red as a tomato. He quickly pulled his sword from his sheath and pointed it at them. Eamon had already drawn his Escrima sticks, using his body as a half shield.

“You will rue the day you mock an Ashcroft!”

Lyra wrinkled her nose. “Rue?”

“Lyra, I don't think you're helping the situation,” Eamon whispered. “Look, you're scaring Aurora.”

For a brief moment, Lyra's walls dropped, and she turned to see Aurora's scared eyes.

Julian smirked. “Yeah, you best run along now. Don't want to upset the little girl.”

Lyra gritted her teeth. She gripped the handle of her sword tightly.

“I won't fight you, Julian; your pettiness makes you a spineless Fiend.”

The soldiers snickered once more. Julian glared at them as they tried to hide their smiles.

“But, I will engage in a forceful exchange for that person you're harassing.”

Now, all eyes settled on the colorful bard. Up close, he had shiny golden curls underneath the brim of his bycocket hat. His green eyes twinkled with recognition.

“Finally, my presence has been noticed!” He called out with a strum of his lyre.

Julian cucked at the reply. “As if. We weren't doing anything wrong. We just wanted to hear some pretty tunes, isn't that right, boys?”

The soldiers chimed in with nods and hums.

“Surely, a Locksmith wouldn't think that's a crime, would they?”

Lyra rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like that doesn't sound the least bit suspicious.”

“And I recall you doing the same thing back at the General Store in Elmsworth when you harassed Gregor and those customers.” Eamon pointed out to him.

Julian's eye twitched. “Why you… Men, attack!”

The military soldiers charged for them without hesitation, but Lyra and Eamon were ready for them. They broke into formation. Eamon took offense and crouched so Lyra could take a direct approach by leaping in the air and smashing her sword downward.

“Radiant Slash!” she cried out to the heavens as the power of Gaia from the Wellsprings caused a spiky earth to shoot up from the ground.

The soldiers split apart but lost their footing, giving Eamon the opening he needed to hinder them with a slight jab to their chest. He headed for Julian, who had fallen backward. He stared wide-eyed at the field his men had laid out.

Julian looked up at the base of the metal Escrima sticks and then at the dark glare of Eamon's eyes. “Do you yield?” Eamon asked him.

He gulped but remained steadfast. “I do not.”

A glimmer of silver caught light in the sun. Julian caught Lyra to his right with Riftblade just inches from his throat. “I'd rethink that if I were you.” He quivered underneath the pressure and whimpered as a warm sensation spread at the front of his pants.

“Alright, alright, that's enough. Fun is over.” Sly clapped her hands to break it up before things got too illegal. “You've made your point, you two. I think he gets what he did wrong. By holding a citizen hostage and prohibiting a Locksmith from doing their job. If you were to report him, that would tarnish his record.”

Julian's eyes revealed fear, but he did not grovel or apologize. He shakenly got to his feet and went to help his men, who were starting to get up as they held their heads.

“Tch, whatever. He was getting boring anyway.” Julian tried his best to sound confident. The fear in his eyes and the stuttering of his words proved otherwise.

With that last statement, he and the remaining soldiers hobbled into their carriage and headed toward Troér.

Lyra laughed. “Did you see he wet himself?”

Eamon could not help but laugh, too, revealing a smile. “Never thought I'd see the day Julian would cower like that. He will still be a pompous idiot, but he stopped what he was doing so he wouldn't be in trouble with Daddy.”

Lyra snorted. Shrugging her shoulders. “Hey, whatever works.”

Sly shook her head. Her arms crossed. “You kids.” However, she was smiling.

“Lyra!” Aurora's high-pitched voice rang out. They turned to see her, Cassandra, and Tierney walking toward them. Lyra bent down to Aurora, who ran into her awaiting arms before scooping her up. Aurora's face nuzzled into the side of her neck.

“I-I was so scared! I thought the bad man would win.”

Lyra smirked. She brushed her hand through her hair.

“Trust me, Rori, someone like that is nothing to Mama Lyra,” Eamon commented, rustling her hair in his hand.

Aurora sniffed with a small smile and wiped her eyes. “Is that true?”

“Oh, you bet Lumos it is!” Lyra exclaimed. “You'll never need to worry about me; I'll always return. And speaking of, Rori, huh?”

Her gaze shifted to Eamon, who widened his eyes. “It just slipped out. I don't know; I thought the nickname was cute.”

Lyra grinned. “Oh, it is. Just never thought it would come out of your mouth.”

“Oh, haha.”

“Yay! Rori! Rori! Rori! I am Aurora and Rori!” She clapped happily at her name.

The group laughed at their antics when they stopped to hear someone clearing their throat. For a moment, Lyra and Eamon forgot about the person they just saved.

“I would hate to spoil this joyous occasion, but I would humbly like to introduce myself to the Locksmiths who saved me.” He bowed. “The name is Alivier Dupree, and you may be able to help with something rather… dire, if you will.”

He had everyone's attention now.