The gates of the Gardens greeted me back. Three days after my second meeting with Alaphan, I stopped by my new house to see how the renovations were progressing. Evie recommended this hole-in-the-wall decorator in the First District, but so far they had treated me like royalty.
One of the workers flagged me down as I arrived.
“Hey Marina, this just came for you about an hour ago.”
“Ooh~ thank you so much.”
She handed me a sealed letter accompanied by a sack that made a wonderful noise. The sack held an assortment of silver, dark blue, and green coins each stamped with a small, rhombus-shaped sapphire in the center.
“Hehheheee~”
I swiped my finger along the seal of the letter and began to read.
The following document is a request from the Library of Alindra to Marina Elysera.
Begin record:
We have received news from a potential benefactor that some assistance is needed in Druidale concerning an increasing number of canceled appointments for eye exams. They can be found at a shop that’s primary commodity is eyewear.
Funding allotted: 10sc, 15mc, 35ac.
End record.
ARC ALI 2000.065-0941:R1:VK
Sincerely, Alaphan Brightwater
The date was Week 2 Day 2 of Late Spring in the Age of Uncertainty when I set out for Druidale. I didn’t know it at the time, but the journey I was about to embark on would forever change my life.
…
But because I lacked future sight my glee from receiving the bag of coins dissolved into disappointment.
“Is this a joke?”
Maybe I’ll just ignore this one and say it never made it to me.
Those letters from Alaphan might sound boring on the surface, but in truth they always turned out interesting.
…
I’ll need to be out of the house a few more days while the renovations happen anyway. On the other hand I could just keep rooming with Evie and pocket the money- but what if they drop by her house again and see me there? Alaphan did say they were just recommendations.
…
What if this is a test? Would they shoot down my own ideas for expeditions if I don’t go on this one? They wouldn’t hold that much of a grudge, right? But- what if that benefactor guy is expecting me?
…
An Inn around the First District or the Dwarven District would be about 45ac for three nights. That’s probably like the worst case scenario.
I shifted around the front of the house several times, moving out of the way of the construction crew. The sparse spattering of clouds sailing across the sky stretched with the minutes that passed by. I sat off to the side when boredom crept in.
…
“Bleck- It’ll be best if I just go.”
I pulled the purple runestone from the pocket of my cloak. Its smooth, elongated surface glided across my thumb with a cathartic texture around the edges of its interlaced facets. I may have fiddled with it longer than I’d like to admit.
I removed my old sapphire runestone from the tie on my cloak and fixed its replacement into place. Through a deep breath, I cleared my mind. Anxious thoughts poked through.
I winced when a puff of air raced into my eyes. A long, wooden staff that curled into a spiral at the end fell from a glow of blue light into my hand.
Dash Dancing
ᚾ+6 | +4(🜁,ᛉ) | ᚺ+2 | ᛈ
ᚾ . 2🜁 . 3ᛉ . 4ᚾ . 5ᚺ . 6ᚾ . 7ᛈ . 8:i3(ᚾ,🜁,ᛉ) . 17ᚺ
The successor to my previous spell that shall not be named. This time, my dear friends, this time - I have added momentum canceling shields! And I gave it a more appealing name, but it still uses teleportation at its core, because teleportation is so cool. I am off to conquer time travel, please, please, hold your applause for my next great feat of magical interpretation.
“Imagine dots along a path. Skip to them, but do not imagine the time between skips. Be one with those dots as you push against the gusting winds of the north.”
Founded by Kaz Philian
3-2 Mid Spring Year 12: Age of Magic
The staff lifted and my hand hovered below it. When the paranoia of my staff plonking against the pavement subsided I slapped my cheeks.
Eyhh- too rough.
My face stung, but with my staff continuing to float, I skipped backwards onto it. The back of my cloak flared and swirled. The hem of my skirt flared and twirled. My nostrils flared and my legs kicked back and forth in deliberate delay.
I drew in another deep breath and cut through the air. The clouds beckoned my approach, but the shrinking world under my feet held my attention. The dazzling reflections below shone like specks of frosty glitter in the sunlight. When my enraptured gray eyes met the full expanse of Eyngard’s north east side the churning knot in my stomach turned into a rush of warmth in my cheeks.
“I was incorrect, foolish even in my moment of weakness. The home of the birds and clouds is not my enemy. It is in fact the rock domain below that is the true evil. After four long years the queen of the skies has returned to her throne! Weeeheee~”
I shifted toward the north west. The dark depths of the chasm below hugged the base of the mountain. Long, extravagant bridges arched over the void, plotted with dots moving to and from the city. Pulled toward the chasm’s outer edge, beyond geysers that reached into the darkness: homes, farmlands, and hamlets blotched the grassy landscape in browns and whites. I squinted as hard as I could, but its bottom still eluded me.
Under me, one of Eyngard’s four railways stretched across the abyss. The horn of an incoming train steamed the air. It lifted and flew above another taking its leave. I waved to the people inside, but I doubt they could see me from that distance.
A voice rang out in my head.
“This is Captain Chika Reistrong. On the authority of the Knights of Alindra I command you to land immediately or we will force you to.”
“Ah, yeah oops - sorry about that Captain.”
“Marina?”
“Hehe.”
“Don’t hehe me. You just used magic within a restricted zone of the capital city. There’s a reason we’ve invested so much in high quality metals for construction over the last decade.”
“Ugh, I know. It’s such a pain to figure out where the blind spots are to do more than magically tie your shoe.”
“Blind spots?!”
“Huh? What’s that? I’m going through an anti-transcendence field, you- kch breaking- kch up- kch.”
“Marina!”
The city of Eyngard folded toward the horizon. Balls of puff fluttered around me with coos as sweet as a lullaby. When they puttered past, the shrinking city froze in place. That surreal stasis lasted only a moment before the horizon welcomed me back.
“Oyoyo- birdie, move - stop it.”
I spiraled and spun to a near vertical descent, avoiding my avian adversary. The downward draft lifted my golden locks along with my heart. The ground grew closer, slinking like a dropped chain. I pitched up and screamed through the air. Happy and free.
Hills rolled, rivers ran, and forests frolicked below my half day journey to the small village of Druidale. The settlement peeked over the edge of the world. Its walls, not walls of stone and brick, but walls of wood and sticks. Makeshift may describe it, but would be better suited for the wooden stage perched outside the eastern gate. An audience was gathered none-the-less and the chatter of two dozen grew with my approach.
I kicked my leg and straddled my staff. My feet dug into the dirt, scraping to a stop. A gnome with frazzled hair and crescent shaped glasses dangling off the edge of her strained, scrunched up nose stood at the podium.
“Adventurers. The Heroes Guild welcomes you to your coronation. We are in dire need of your expertise throughout the lands of Arcanus. When I call your name, step forward to meet with your fellow adventuring party.”
Half her heart rehearsed and half delivered, but neither in full. I actually have no idea what that means. I should have picked up some correction fluid from Monty’s too. Why don’t I just use magic to erase it? Ehh- forget it.
Eeh-. Seems more like they put on this show to sucker in desperate adventurers more than they’re in desperate need themselves.
Among the crowd a few caught my eye, so I crossed my legs and fell into the grass to do some people watching. Some notable ones were a man with curly hair that for whatever reason only hopped backwards, a woman with slime-like skin that shifted all colors of the rainbow as she stepped, and a woman with cyan, crystalline antlers that arched down from her forehead and nearly touched the ground.
Thirty minutes into the ceremony the crowd funneled from dozens to a few. I rose to my feet and swiped away loose blades of grass stuck to my leggings. The touch of the imprints my boots left on my calves distracted me while the gnome wrapped up the ceremony.
“And this concludes today’s inauguration, I wish you all-”
“Ey! What about us?”
The gnome lurched over the podium, peering down toward the guttural voice that interrupted her.
A stout orc with ruby red skin curled toward the stage. His bold stance of intimidation impeded by his infantile stature. A bald head shone with the sun down to a black beard. His ears, like his beard, fashioned to a simple point. Nothing more than a cloth dangled from his belt that fanned out at his waist.
A woman stood beside him, her ears sharpened to a point. Blue tights covered her body and ended along a gray nose. Her fingers pinched her furled brow, brushed against strands of hair like silver. Silver and dark blue metal guards, heated by the sun, highlighted her form.
Humanlike, but a dragon by any measure, coated in scales like onyx crouched behind them. A flowing, dark brown robe draped across him. Multitudes of turquoise, gold, and lime linen belts fastened at the waist. Sections of his large tail looked stone-like as it flicked a melodic tone at the joints. He ran his fingers through the grass and brought it to rest on a ceremonial pole decorated in black and red paint.
Lastly, a human. What appeared to be human. A light blue chin, squared into a sunburst beard rose to his short trimmed hair. What didn’t were his large forearms with hands to match. His hips met the cobalt fringe of a weathered vest flanked by sheets of metal plates grazed by the grass from which he conversed with the dragon in a hushed tone.
The gnome adjusted her glasses with a strain of annoyance infecting her eyes.
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“Oh, yes - you four. I don’t have anyone else written down here, what are your names?”
The orc stepped forward. “I’m Sugma of the Dikk tribe”
“That’s uh. Well-”
The dragon was next to step forward. “I am Ligmas Ak, a pleasure.”
“-Of course you are.”
The woman crossed her arms, snapping at the gnome. “I’m BD.”
“Oh thank goodness. A normal person.”
The woman smirked. “It stands for balls deep.”
Cheers from the other three contrasted the gnome’s discontent. “Why am I not surprised?”
The man with the large forearms knelt forward and stretched out his hands. “And I’m-”
The gnome pulled back, defeated and done with the day.
“Alright, we could always use more adventurers.”
“Wait, you didn’t get my name-”
“By the power invested in me by the Heroes Guild I decree those before me officially a party. We entrust you to uphold the values and goals of the Guild. Go forth as fellow representatives, et cetera, et cetera- I need a drink.”
With the podium abandoned and only four remaining, the orc raised his fist in the air.
“You heard the lady, let’s celebrate.”
Seriously? They’re excited to be adventurers? In this day and age?
I clapped my hands together in a meaningless gesture of prayer.
Ah, you poor souls, you have my condolences, may whatever god you pray to grant you blessings of luck so that you don’t starve.
I spun and found myself mystified by the dominance of the mountains reaching toward the sky behind the village. Something struck my thigh, breaking my spellbound gaze.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going.”
The orc stopped in his tracks.
“Huh? You looking for a fight moron?”
Huh? Moron? Me? The one he ran into? I’m the moron?
“Well bring it on. MAK-”
Mak?
“RO-”
Huh? What is this?
“GAH!”
The orc struck my thigh again, my leg buckling against the force. I shook off the confusion and crossed my arms in a defensive stance. The orc taunted me with a grunt.
“Alright, your turn.”
“HUH?”
“It’s your turn, try and hit me.”
“I don’t think I’m the moron here.”
“Look buddy, you agreed to Mak-ro-Gah. The challenge has been declared. So fight.”
“I didn’t agree to any-”
Before I could finish, a flash of red scraped the edge of my vision. A crushing pain radiated from my stomach.
“Too slow, you lose your turn. Now. Hit me.”
I swung past the orc’s shifting head, an annoying smirk slapped across his face. My blood boiled. Folded by my other hand, my elbow bounced off his red nose and I tumbled forward. A sharp shock swept through my arms while I scraped against the dirt road.
I flopped back over and wiped bits of gravel and sand from my skin.
“Nice move. Here’s something in return.”
His face was stoic with the exception of his eyes. It wasn’t hatred. Maybe pride? A low growl wrapped around his fist.
I shut my eyes and tensed up, but a soft tap relaxed my muscles. The orc extended his hand to help me up. His smile wasn’t as annoying anymore.
“Final score is 3 to 1. Looks like I win, thanks for the game.”
“Uh sorry, game? Mak-Ro-Gah’s a game?”
I took his hand and was jerked to my feet with bent knees. The orc ran his hand across the top of his head and laughed into the sky.
“You got guts. Not a lot who got no idea what Mak-ro-gah is come back swinging. Most run off screaming.”
Seriously? And he still does this to people?
“What’s your name brother?”
“Brother?- My name’s Marina.”
“Well Marinara, I’m Sugma, that lizard thing over there is Legpus.”
“A pleasure to meet you Miss Marina, however that is not my name.”
“The one with the arms doesn’t have a name.”
“Hey there, I’m Loric. Just glad I get a chance to be included.”
“And Beepy there is depressed.”
BD tapped my staff against my arm.
“Ah- Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Her voice shifted from dispassionate to cold as she scolded Sugma.
“And I’m not depressed. I just don’t like people.”
“Ah. Noted.”
“Saw you fly overhead earlier. What brings you to Droopytail?”
“I’m actually here on a job to do some intelligence gathering.”
“You’re on a quest to get smart? Sounds like a dumb quest if you’re doing it here.”
The rest of the group and I sighed.
“But if you’re doing quests anyway, what do you say about joining our gang? Could always use more people willing to throw hands.”
The dragon’s tail flicked while he spoke in a calm, articulate manner. “Miss Marina, you are blightbound?”
Sugma gave Ligmas a stern look, but the inflection in his voice didn’t match it.
“Woah, no need to throw names around Logless.”
“But she lacks any pupils-”
“Look buddy, we’re all a bit different.”
Sugma extended his arm up and slapped the back of Loric’s thigh.
“Not everyone can be normal like us.”
“Yeah! What’s blightbound mean?”
Normal? Seriously? You’re three feet tall.
“Yeah, I am blightbound. I don’t remember when it happened or what events led up to it. As far back as I can remember I’ve been like this.”
Ligmas rolled his index claw between a pinch.
“If you do not mind, without channeling through your runestone, would you produce a flame from your hand?”
He held his pole out to Loric. Loric’s head sagged and his voice trailed off to a murmur. “Oh okay. I didn’t need to know what blightbound means anyway, that’s fine.”
“Like this?”
Young Feyfel Flame
🜂+3 | (ᚺ,ᛇ,ᛝ)
🜂 . 2ᚺ . 3🜂 . 4ᛇ . 5🜂 . 6ᛝ
Sometimes a tiny spark can light something truly magical.
“Imagine your hands rubbed together. The warmth and rolled-up strands of dirt gathered across them. Focus on that warmth and keep it fresh in your mind.”
Founded by Koreen Lightmare
4-1 Early Spring Year 54: Age of Transcendence
An acorn sized ball of fire flickered and churned above my hand.
“Perfect. Hold it just like that.”
Ligmas also held out his hand and a similar ball of fire appeared.
A few minutes passed. Ligmas’s face crinkled and strained when discomfort took hold.
“You are not- the least bit tired?”
“Mm. Yeah, my arm’s a little sore from having to hold it up for so long.”
“No, no. I mean. Using a spell like this for this long is not tiring?”
“Huh? No - not at all.”
Ligmas stumbled forward with a smile on his face before gasping for air.
That’s all he can do? Heh heh, score one for Marina Elysera~
“That is intriguing, I agree. We should take her with us.”
Don’t I get a say in this?
“What do you say Miss Marina, will you join us on our adventures?”
“Pass.”
Ligmas and Sugma gasped. “Huh?!”
The veins in Sugma’s hands disappeared under the stretched skin of his clenched fists.
“What do you mean pass?”
“I mean, what do I get out of it?”
“Agh- good point- didn’t think of that. Hey, you’re looking for things smart people want which is to know a lot of things right?”
“In a way, kinda.”
“You never heard of Mak-ro-gah before, so I take it you don’t know much about my people. How about this: join us and we'll swing by my homeland.”
“Seriously?!”
“Uh.”
A chance to see first hand the City of Stone nestled deep within the North and this dragon - he might be from Dragonpeak. Interesting. This could be very very interesting. Ah- I’m drooling.
I wiped my mouth and straightened my shoulders.
“Very well, I shall accompany you for the time being and then we will make our way to the City of Stone. Ah- if you wouldn’t mind, could we keep detours to a minimum?”
“Ey, we go as fast as I say we go-” Sugma’s face sagged with perplexion. “City of Bones?”
“The settlement founded exclusively by orcs in the Age of Legends. - The now sprawling metropolis deep within the North? - Hidden behind impassable routes except by those who herald from there? - Your home!”
“Ah no, no, no. My home is in the Frosthorn Highlands. The Dikk clan only has about 20 people to its name, but we make the best red stuff you’ll ever drink.”
All the excitement built up in my face eroded into a despairing amount of disappointment.
“The Frosthorn Highlands. Ah. I see. Thank you for your time. I shall be going now.”
“Seriously? Licorice say something.”
Ligmas and Loric looked at each other and called back to him in unison. “Which one of us is Licorice?”
BD rested her elbows on the shoulders of Ligmas and Loric.
“It’s not like we have anything to offer her. Maybe this is for the best.”