They had gotten ready early, eager to start the day’s training. Archard wouldn't be back for a few hours, so they had no excuse for slacking. They headed for their training room, however instead of their teachers they found a note waiting for them
“Leon and I are heading off to deal with some things in the south. We'll be back in a few days or weeks, train with the garrison commander and keep up with your reading. But TAKE TIME OFF.
- A”
“P.S. If I come back and you haven't taken a break I'm going to kill you - L"
“Jesus, they're pushy." Darren folded the note and stuck it in his pocket. "So training alone today?"
"Well he said he'd kill you, and we can't have that." Silvia threw her hands up "We've just got no choice. We'll have to go to town. Or else." she had a mischievous look on her face.
"Ah, I see. Well when you put it that way I can't see any other option." he smiled.
They grabbed Silvia's satchel and headed off to the garage. Darren checked in with the workers there and took one of the smaller family carriages out for the day. They chugged slowly to town enjoying the blue sky and windy day. They watched as freight from the docks at the bottom of the cliffs were hoisted carefully by the great cranes along the top of the ridge. Darren and Silvia let their minds stay blank as they rolled across the cobblestone road that led to town, unsure what they would do once they got there. They rolled slowly through the busy streets passing crowds and carriages both horsedrawn and mana powered.
Darren pulled over into an empty slot next to some other carriages on the side of a lively street. “Can I even park here? I don’t know the rules.”
“Yes, this is fine. No one here will bother any vehicles from the keep anyway.” Silvia said as she threw her bag over her shoulder.
They stepped out and Darren took it all in. People passing this way and that, stall owners yelling trying to draw people in. At a corner up ahead he could see two men performing acrobatic maneuvers, flipping and rolling across the stone street with ease. A small crowd had gathered to watch them.
“Well you know this place better than me. Lead the way.” Darren pointed up the street.
“I hadn’t thought about it, most of the time when I came to town it was always with someone else for their business.” Silvia said, she crossed her arms and put a finger on her lips as she thought.
“Well we can always just start walking and see what we find.”
“That sounds nice.” she replied.
They wandered the streets, ducking into stalls and looking at trinkets of various kinds made by local jewelers. Silvia had to have some fresh baked pastry she smelled as they passed a bakery. The baker gave it to them for free when he realized who they were, even as Silvia tried to pay the man anyways. As they stepped out of the shop a small girl was running by, just ahead of her parents. She fell and scuffed her knees on the rough sidewalk. Her father picked her up as she began to cry.
“Oh no! Would you like that to feel better?” Darren asked the little girl as she pouted.
“Oh hello, sir, miss.” the father nodded to them both. “She’ll be alright.” he said with a smile.
“But she could be alright faster, sir.” Silvia handed Darren her treat and selected Heal from her Index. “Is it okay?” she asked the father.
“Of course, m’lady.” excitement in his eyes as he watched her Index floating in front of him.
Silvia charged her hands and created a small orb. “This will hurt a little, but just for a moment.” she told the girl. She held the orb out near the girl’s knees. She closed her eyes and tendrils from the orb slid over and into the girl’s skin.
The girl let out a little yelp and shoved her face in her father’s shoulder as the skin grew in under the little dots of blood that had formed on top.
Darren leaned forward and wiped the blood off of the new skin with his rolled up sleeve. “There, easy enough.”
The girl looked at her knees, amazed. She beamed a smile at her father “Am I magic now?” she asked excitedly.
The man laughed “Sorry dear, no you aren’t. Do you feel better?”
She nodded enthusiastically, her father set her down and she ran off ahead as her mother nodded to them with a smile and went off after her.
“Thank you both, that’s very kind of you.”
“Oh no worries at all, man. Y’all have a good day.” Darren replied as he handed Silvia her food.
“Anything I can do to help.” Silvia said as she took it and couldn’t resist another bite.
The man turned to go after his family, jogging to catch up.
“You’re good with children.” Silvia said as they watched the family walking.
“I can’t stand ‘em.” Darren laughed, “But I do know how to deal with them.”
Silvia looked aghast “How can anyone not like kids?” she turned to keep walking down the street.
“They’re little insane people, their brains aren’t developed and it shows.”
“Your brain isn’t developed.” she bumped him with her hip as she popped the last bite in her mouth.
As they walked Darren could feel her thoughts darken but couldn’t tell what they were revolving around.
“Well, what is it?” he asked, straight to the point. He felt her thoughts shift around violently.
“We get to have fun.” she stopped and leaned against the wall of a building they were passing. “It just doesn’t feel right. After seeing what happens out there. I’ve lived in that keep and this city my entire life. It’s mostly safe and people are generally happy. But out there, girls younger than me deal with horrors I couldn’t even imagine. People work their whole lives just to have it snatched away by some unpredictable thing in an instant. The world is quite a bit bigger and more terrifying than I had always realized.”
Darren turned to face her. “I know what you mean. Honestly I feel a little bad staying in the keep in general. I’ve never lived somewhere so nice, servants change my sheets, a tailor makes my clothes, I have run of the kitchen and training grounds and tools and stuff I never imagined existed. But there’s still people out there just, like, farming every damn day.”
“Why do we get to be so lucky? I used to hate my life cause I didn’t have magic or purpose, but I still got to do whatever I wanted all the time. It just seems so childish now, after seeing how you lived, how people outside of the city live.” She furrowed her brow as she thought back to spats with her mother and other girls making fun of her being the worst things she’d ever experienced, besides her father’s death when she was barely old enough to remember.
“Everybody gets dealt a random hand. We don’t choose where we’re born, who we’re born to, or how we die. All we get is a little bit of control through the middle, and a good chunk of that is random too.”
Silvia crossed her arms over the guilty feeling in her chest, his voice vibrated through her mind.
Look at me.
She brought her eyes up to his face.
“We get a little more control than almost everybody else now, and we get to decide what we do with that little bit of extra freedom. I think risking our lives to help others makes up for a little bit of our day to day prosperity. Plus, look at how happy you made that girl.” They could still see her running around her parents up the street as they looked in a shop window. “We’ve had some days where I felt less than lucky, and I expect more of those to keep on comin’. But today, well shit, today doesn't seem that bad. And I think it’s okay for us to enjoy what we can, when we can.”
Silvia did feel less guilty, even if the change was only slight. “I think I want to go back and train more.”
“Well then that’s what we’ll do.” he put his arm around her and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
“Bastards!” a voice called out from behind Darren.
Startled, they turned to see an angry older man holding a sign in both hands. It read ‘Dozens can’t think for Thousands’
“You live in your fancy castle while the rest of us suffer. You don’t get to decide how I live my life!” the old man yelled at them. “Mages aren’t people like the rest of us and you shouldn’t be in charge of us!”
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about, old man?” Darren asked, confused.
“You know damn well what I’m talkin’ about!” the old man yelled back. “Mages shouldn’t be in government! Keep our leaders faithful to the gods and to the normal folks like us!” he yelled at passing people around them, who mostly turned away and ignored him.
“We don’t rule anything, we just assist the leadership, sir.” Silvia tried to sound respectful.
He stepped closer and yelled in her face. “You’re just a child, what do you know! You think we haven’t figured out how you all control them with your magics!”
Darren put a hand on his chest and moved him back. “I’m sorry if you’re frustrated but you need to back up, friend.” he said through gritted teeth.
Silvia could feel his anger rising quickly, his fist clenching, Behave, we have to set an example.
The old man looked down at Darren’s hand on his chest and back up at his face. “How dare you touch me, imposin’ your will like you have a right! Just go back to your perfect life while we suffer down here in the dirt!”
“We were just leavin’ actually.” Darren put a hand on Silvia’s arm and walked her around the man keeping himself between them.
“Fuckin’ cowards! Go hide in your castle!” the man yelled as they walked away.
As they were heading up the street Darren looked back and saw three angry looking men walk from a tavern patio and approach the old man with the sign. He smiled and felt Silvia disapprove.
We can’t let them hurt him. That’s illegal and we enforce the law. She sent.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
What if we don’t see it? Darren put his hand over his eyes mockingly.
Silvia stopped in her tracks and angrily shrugged his hand from her arm. She stared him down before turning to walk back to the commotion.
Darren let out a long sigh and caught up with her. Just to be clear, I’m doing this under protest.
Noted She replied.
The men had circled the protester and shoved him back into the wall, he looked terrified. A few people stopped to watch, but after witnessing him berating the young mage they seemed more interested in letting it play out.
“Everyone stop.” Silvia said loudly as she stepped in the middle of the circle.
The angry men lowered their heads slightly, the largest one spoke. “But miss, the way he spoke at you. He needs a lesson in respectin’ his betters.”
“He does need a lesson in respecting others, but not like this. As rude as he is, he’s allowed to speak his mind like anyone else.” Silvia looked the man right in his eyes.
He averted his gaze and stared at the scared old man behind her. “You still think mages shouldn’t be able to tell us what to do?”
“You better be gone before she is!” shouted a voice from across the street.
Darren stepped up to the older man with a smile and patted him a little too heavily on the shoulder. “I think you best listen to ‘em, friend.”
“Fuckin’ brainwashed idiots.” he muttered as he hurriedly walked off down the street.
The men watched him go before turning back to Silvia. “We’re sorry, miss. But your family has always done right by this city and the fact that he would speak to you that way just about sets my blood boiling.”
“I can understand that.” Darren shook the man’s hand. “We appreciate your concern.”
“We can’t stoop to the level of people like that.” Silvia said.
“Even when it would be fun.” Darren held up a finger at the men.
They let out a small chuckle, “You’re both right. We’ll let you get back to your day.” They bowed before heading back to their seats.
“This place is fun.” Darren said as he smacked Silvia on the back. He could feel her adrenaline from the confrontation, and the shaking in her hands.
“We have to uphold certain standards when we’re around citizens. You can’t be so cavalier about people wanting to beat a man, even if it’s how you feel.”
“Come on, that guy was asking for it.” he replied
“That doesn’t matter.” she let out in a hoarse whisper, trying not to draw attention. We have to be better than we are. Everything we do reflects on the family, and the other mages. She began walking back towards the carriage.
He could feel her ire shifting towards him. “Hey, I didn’t yell at random strangers in the street.”
It doesn’t matter who starts it! We have to rise above it, someone else’s actions aren’t an excuse to act as idiotic as them. She shot back, her voice booming in his mind so hard a headache pulsed in time with her words.
They walked in silence for a block.
I’ll try to be more controlled. It wasn’t an apology from him, but he got where she was coming from.
“You can be angry, I was angry, he was an idiot. But, you cannot act on it. We’re a symbol for our family, and for people to look up to. My uncle is a hero here, people see us and think of what could be rather than what is. They need that.” she was still a few steps ahead of him, but she slowed slightly.
“I get that, you’re right.” he said as he caught up to her. “So are we alright?”
“We never weren’t alright.”
Good. She could feel his relief as she heard him.
The carriage came into sight and they both sped up a bit without thinking. Ready to be back in the keep and out of the noisy and fast paced city. Crowds still wandered up and down the streets, people yelling and arguing, and raucous laughter burst out from random directions. They both thought of how such a busy place was best in small doses.
They looked up and saw The Monderrer sweep over the town a little ways off. Large banners battened down on the sides with the family crest. People in the crowd looked up and pointed as it went by.
“Well I guess we get to see what we’re up to next.” Darren hopped into the carriage and pulled the lever, bringing it to life.
Silvia sat next to him and just laid her head back on the seat.
Darren pulled out into the street and took them back the way they came. They rocked along watching the people and buildings become fewer and farther between as they left the final gates before the long driveway up to the keep. They rolled through the checkpoints, waving to the soldiers at each one. The Monderrer docked at the top of the castle as they were approaching. Each felt their hearts pounding as they thought about seeing Archard and getting a new task, equal parts petrified and exhilarated. It was a fine line they did their best to walk, as focused as they could be on the good their work wrought, rather than the risk of failure.
They dropped the carriage off at the garage and made their way to the lift, taking it all the way up to Archard’s floor. They stepped off and silently approached his office.
“Alright, round two.” Darren excitedly knocked on the door.
It swung open and Erol stood in front of them, his large bear pelt draped around his shoulders. Silvia let out a quiet chuckle at the sight of it.
“Come in you two, I’ve been expecting you.” Archard called out. “To be honest I’m surprised it took you this long to drop by, I thought you’d be waiting outside my office.”
“We were down in town when you flew over.” Silvia said sheepishly, still feeling it was somehow wrong to do anything other than work.
“Ah that’s good, I’m glad this wasn’t all that was on your minds.” Archard replied. He stared at the two of them, seeing how long it would take them to ask it. Erol let out a small grunt, amused at the silence.
“So do you have an assignment for us?” Silvia asked after a moment.
“Oh an assignment, well I might have something.” Archard smirked. “We’ve had a visitor waiting for my return, a patron of a small village a day's trip from here. He’s having some issues with a beast that has moved in and been slaughtering livestock around the town. They’re a farming village, their livestock is their livelihood.”
“So we’re avenging some dead cows then?” Darren asked sarcastically.
“Among others,” Archard replied pointedly. “A man and his son caught the creature mauling a horse and tried to fend it off. It killed the two of them and dragged the father off to its cave. This is no ordinary creature. The patron brought a mold of its prints, and some remains of a cow it attacked. I believe it may be a vylox, dangerous carnivorous creatures that prefer dark, dank places to call home.”
“Vylox typically live alone, guarding territory relentlessly when not in heat. Only consume meat, have impressive low light vision but don’t do well with brightness or sunlight. Quadrupedal, large claws and teeth, sharp spines along the back that they can raise and lower to defend against attacks from behind.” Silvia spouted the words like a waterfall.
“Very nice, dear. Clearly those years reading and studying the bestiary paid off.” Archard looked impressed.
“Okay, that sounds a little more intense. I’m gettin’ goosebumps.” Darren nodded. He sent Silvia a little nudge in her mind, impressed as well.
“I thought you might like to see it.” Archard raised an eyebrow at Darren. “You’ll be riding back to the village with the patron tomorrow morning. Take your time, learn your quarry, formulate a plan, and execute it. Afterwards, take some time to relax in the village, then come back when you’re ready. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” They called back in unison.
“Very well, prepare, rest, and sleep well tonight,” Archard nodded to them with a smile.
Erol walked them to the door and patted them both on the shoulder as they passed him on their way out.
They walked away from the door silently, Darren could feel her practically shaking in her boots.
So, a rare and deadly beast eh? He thought.
Silvia had her hands clenched over her mouth as they walked, her mind racing. A very dangerous kind, left alone it could slaughter everyone in that village, given time. And, it has a taste for men now.
Taste for men? So I should look out for it seducing me? Darren chuckled.
You are a giant child. She rubbed her temples as they reached the lift. How do I put up with you?
No choice, little lady. Stuck with me no matter what. He gave her a big dumb grin.
Silvia smiled, despite his stupidity. They rode the lift to the level their rooms were on. As they entered the training room Silvia went to her suite and came back with a thick tome on beasts. She thumbed through the pages, passed creatures of every kind, small handwritten notes marked the edges of every entry. Added by family members throughout the years as they learned more from dealing with the creatures firsthand. She found the entry on the vylox and set the book down on the workbench. Silvia read through the entry, sending every bit to Darren as he loosely threw some punches at one of the straw filled dummies against the back wall.
The notes in the margins say they refuse to give up territory, even when death seems sure. They won’t give up until they die completely. Apparently they give off a pheromone that increases anxiety and fear in their prey. It looks like females can also exude a black mist that shrouds the area around it in darkness. It and other vylox can see through the fog, but nothing else can. Apparently light eats away at the fog making it dissipate. Hence the nighttime hunting. Her thoughts had a distinct tone of excitement.
Let’s hope it’s male then, that fog sounds pretty fuckin’ nuts. Darren launched a combo, pounding dust from the dummy into the air.
There isn’t much more on it besides that. They aren’t seen often and usually seem to avoid claiming territory in areas with people. Silvia turned to watch Darren as he sped up, hitting the dummy harder. Might want to practice with the sword. I’m not sure you’ll be able to pound this beast out.
“Never met a beast I couldn’t pound out.” Darren said between combos. His mind flashed to the man in bronze, the cold stone floor of the temple, and the taste of his own blood spilling over his lips. He only froze for a second before launching another series of punches.
Silvia felt it, shame, anger, embarrassment, a tempest of negative emotions opened up for a moment before slamming shut. She wanted to pull his mind away from it.
“We should sleep, but I just don’t see that happening.” Darren put a hand on the dummy and turned to face her.
“You know, I never used to have trouble sleeping before you showed up.” Silvia walked over and sat down on the mat in the center of the room.
He walked to the edge of it. “I’ve never slept great. I wonder if it’s just spreading to you now.”
“No, I think it’s something good. I finally want to be awake enough that I don’t want to waste time sleeping. I could be learning, fighting, casting, doing something better than just being unconscious.” She crossed her legs and wrapped her arms around her knees.
“You probably also didn’t have as many nightmares before I showed up.”
“True, but you’re usually in them and that makes them okay.” She smiled, “Besides, we earned those nightmares by doing what others could not.”
He walked over and sat down a few inches across from her. I’m sure we’ll earn many more as we go.
There’s no other choice. We were destined to do great things and see great horrors. This is the life of a mage. The thoughts came through in a vibrant dramatic tone, and Silvia felt that she would have it no other way.
Neither would I, he agreed.
They sat there late into the night as Silvia told him stories of some of the older Chevaliers from generations past. Adventures they had, laws and treaties they helped pass. Eventually they fell asleep on the mat, as they often did, sending thoughts back and forth until they got lost in their conjoined unconscious minds. Only a few short hours of rest separated the night from the morning. They got ready and grabbed what they needed before heading down to the stable to meet the village patron who had requested their help.
The patron was a tall heavyset man, getting on in years. His head had a bald island in a sea of gray hair, with the tide getting lower. The hair he was missing from his head was made up for in the thick beard that covered the bottom half of his face. He sat atop a tall canvas covered wagon full of shelves of supplies and some bedding he used on the journey to the keep. The patron looked surprised when he saw them walking down towards him
He tried to press his wild hair down a little as they approached. “It’s an honor to meet you, my lady.” He bowed deeply before extending a hand to her. “My name is Adrock, I want to thank you for coming along to aid us.”
Silvia took his hand and shook it gently. “Of course, it is our purpose to help those in need.” Her voice sounded false and a little too proper.
Darren took the man’s hand and gave it a firm shake, looking him right in the eye. “Whatever we can do for you, we’re happy to.”
“Well please, make yourselves comfortable in the back of the wagon. I’ll drive us off and you two can just relax.” The patron seemed nervous and a little starstruck at having a mage from the arcane family in his wagon.
“Honestly, sir, we stayed up fairly late preparing for today and our task. Would it be alright if we slept some on the way?” Darren asked as he pulled some blankets from Silvia’s satchel.
We shouldn’t sleep, it seems unprofessional. She shot at him as he pulled the items out.
So is dying while fighting some monster from a lack of sleep. I can feel your eyelids trying to close, he sent back.
“That’s quite alright, it will be a long boring ride down many dirt roads.” Adrock laughed, “You all seem so mystical sometimes, it’s funny to be reminded you need sleep like the rest of us.”
Darren threw the blankets down and climbed into the back. “Man, most of the time we need more sleep than anyone. Magic takes a toll on the body, that’s for sure.” he patted the man’s arm and ducked inside the wagon
Silvia climbed in next to him, the wagon was long but narrow with Adrock’s supplies packed along the edges. On their sides, back to back, was the only way they could get comfortable. The rhythmic clopping of the horses hooves and the wheels bumping gently on the cobblestone entranced them. The canvas covering diffused the sunlight giving the inside of the wagon a dim golden glow. Knick knacks and trinkets hanging around the inside of the cart made pleasant little clinking sounds, like chimes gently blowing in the breeze. The heat from their bodies made it warm and cozy inside against the brisk morning air. It wasn’t long before they both drifted off to sleep.