Another day went by as Twist continued to heal. He would continue to let the slimes heal him, thinking deeply.
Delphine continued to keep an eye on him, still claiming that Tenacia had forgotten to move her.
As breakfast, Tenacia brought Twist some slimes for him to eat.
“Thank you Tenacia! I’ve gotten quite fond of these little things” Twist said, holding a batch of the food slimes and licking his lips.
“Glad you have, I still don’t like how they feel…” Tenacia sighed, patting her belly which squirmed with its slimy inhabitants.
“Heh that is very fair, it Is unusual food, even by the standards of the noctav”
Twist had his breakfast, then Tenacia sat next to him.
“So, can I know more about that city of yours now?”
“Yes you may”
“Hmm I understand… Wait, you will?!” Tenacia exclaimed, doing a double-take.
Twist smiled at her “Yes indeed. You are right, we are friends. And I will be honest, the journey I am on is difficult and I need all the help I can get. I will tell you everything you need to know, but be warned: It is going to be a loooong story!”
“I think we got time” Tenacia replied, smiling.
Twist took a deep breath and began.
Deep within the many giant caves of Lethes is a huge city. This city is known as Minvaco, its spiraling buildings were built from the numerous odd metals and stones in the cave and whole parts of the city were carved into stalagmites as big as mountains. Roads through Minvaco spiral around through the monolithic towns and down to smaller districts that lie on the flat cavern floor, surrounding clouded lakes of water kept filled from the drips of colossal stalactites above them. If you were in the city though this would all be hard to see, the only light within Minvaco comes from the various lamps and lampposts filled with not fire but a mystic moss that glows a pale green. This is because the inhabitants of Minvaco don’t need much light to see; they are my race and we call ourselves the noctav. We are a tall and lanky people who, as you might have noticed, resemble bats; complete with strong wings that come out of our arms and faces that have flat noses with sharp oddly shaped nostrils, and big eyes that tend to glow. We are covered in fur and will often let the fur on our heads grow longer to arrange in fashions not unlike that of humans. From what I have been told we used to live on the surface, but fled underground long ago since before even the Divine Conflict and established out cities beneath the surface of Fiahn. Minvaco is but one of these cities, we are seeking another after all, though it is easily one of the largest.
On the outskirts of my city are the walls of the colossal cavern we live in, which by the way is big enough to have its own climate. There are various forests throughout and even a few rivers. Random tunnels as tall as castles dotting the sides of the cave’s walls. Down in one of these passages is a great cavern filled with mushrooms, many that grew larger than trees. We called this area the Mushroom Forest… Not terribly creative, but certainly descriptive. I would often come here to examine the mushrooms and especially the wildlife. One day I was right on top of one of these mushrooms, no more than seven years old… And just so you know noctav age similarly to humans, we are not long lived like elves or dwarves. I was writing on a blank book with a big pencil. I don’t mean to brag but my writing was swift and precise! I dedicated my full attention to my writing on my surroundings and anything that might have changed since last time I was there. Every couple of minutes I would pull out a glass lens form my pocket and look through it, observing something far away. If there was something dangerous, I would flee with help from my air magic or time magic.
“Wow, even back then you knew time magic?” Tenacia asked in wonder.
“Indeed! I had been taught from a young age” Twist chuckled.
“You know, lady asked you about why Minvaco is frozen in time, not your life story!” Delphine grumbled.
“Heh that is fair, but there are details I am going to need to divulge for things to make sense.”
“And I don’t mind, chill you ya old hat!” Tenacia snapped.
Twist cleared his throat and went back to explaining.
Between the Mushroom Forest and the city was a great metal gate. There was always the guard of the gate, noctav with a black helmet and a long staff that ended in a pointed sapphire. I have never found out the name of this guard, but we story of became friends overtime with how often I would go to the Mushroom Forest.
“Greetings again child, have you collected the information you sought?” the guard would always ask.
“Yes I did” I would reply.
“Is information you intend to share to others, keep for private matters, or simply to learn for leisure?” He would then ask.
“Share to others” would always be my next reply.
The guard had a notebook of his own and he would write down when I came to the forest and for what purpose I went there, then he would reach out to a random rock in the tunnel’s wall. The rock was a secret button that would open the gate… Ahh but I am bogged down in the details, let me move forward a bit.
When I reached the city proper where the craggy floor of the cave met the smooth cobblestone of the city’s roads, there would always be a tall adult noctav was there to meet me. This was my father, Cadenza.
My father would often click his tongue in disapproval, saying something along the lines of “You are late my son! You lingered in the Mushroom Caverns for far too long”
“I wanted to make sure I got what I needed father” I would often reply reproachfully.
In my defense, I often had to return home slowly but stealthily due to a pack of drekavac entering the caverns… Oh by the way, drekavacs are nasty rat-like things that attack with a sonic scream.
“Fair enough” my dad would usually chuckle in reply as well, generally an easy-going sort. His fur was a dark grey and on his head is a tall black top hat (“Sounds familiar” chuckled Tenacia). In one hand he held a staff made of ebony with an emerald on its tip. He would be my escort back to the city.
One day on one of our return trips, we made our way towards a part of the city where several other noctav gathered, here there were numerous buildings with glowing signs above their doors written in our language. This place is the Physical Market, where noctav can get a variety of items. Some of these shops include “Exotic Foods”, “Mining Equipment”, “Books On World History”, and “Really Funny Hats”.
Me and my father walked into one with the words “Magic Artifacts” written above, we came up to the counter and my father tipped his hat to an old grey furred noctav behind it. Behind the old noctav lied several old and dusty chests and shelves with numerous unusual items.
“Hello there Cadenza” the grey noctav said jovially, “Been a while since I saw you here!
My father nodded, “Indeed I have Eroico, we have been saving up to get that Thaumic Detector of yours”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“A what?” Tenacia asked.
“A Thaumic Detector is a rare device that is mixture of technology and magic, it was made during the Divine Conflict and no one has been able to figure out how to make them again. It lights up when it senses magic being casted nearby.” Delphine explained crossly “It can even change color depending on the type of magic used. Now stop interrupting Twist’s story!”
Eroico, leaned forward to look at me, I hid behind my father nervously. I was a shy lad at the time.
“I thought as much!” Eroico jovially said “Been seeing you eye it for a while. Though It is expensive you know, it is a valuable artifact from a time long gone… And I might add It was exceedingly difficult to get a hold of it. I nearly lost one of my legs finding it!”
My father chuckled “Oh we am aware, you’ve told us that numerous times! But my boy needs it you see”
Eroico folded his arms “Very well then! Give me your offer”
My father leaned on his staff and his already broad smile widened as he me, I stepped forward and said “I got some information on a new species of monster that has migrated up from the Underworld!”
Eroico whistled “Hmm! Now that is something I could use, go ahead and tell me”
Eroico then raised one of his arms, unfurled the wing of said arm, and let out a distinct low pitched squeak. All the other noctav in the shop nodded and covered their ears. This was known as the ‘Privacy Squeak’, a sound we noctav let out when exchanging valuable with other that should not be heard by everyone else. Used most commonly for information transactions.
I cleared my throat and gave my information “Down in the Underworld there is a creature known as a drekavac” I explained, “It looks like a rat that walks on two hind legs, it is about the size of a large mastiff. It is a ferocious hunter and can let out a horrible shriek that can shatter stone! Its teeth are also powerful and it can easily bite through bone”
Eroico stroked his beard “Ahh, a terrible creature indeed… Any idea on the best way to fight it?”
“Yes!” I said, getting out my journal and quickly reading it over “They are able to track their prey by feeling their movements through stone, this is a potent way to track but it is also the ONLY method of tracking the drekavac has since it has bad eyesight and has no nose! You can throw a rock to trick it into thinking it is something else, then either run away or attack while it investigates. But if you do fight it be careful, since it will not stop until either you or itself is dead. Fortunately, the drekacav numbers have been decreasing, they seem to be migrating to higher layers”
“Very useful… Do you know why the drekavacs are leaving Lethes?”
“From what I have seen, monsters like the eurynomos from Acheros are moving up too and forcing the drekavacs out of the lands here. No idea why they are moving upwards though”
“No worries! That would be optional information, what you gave me is most valuable and definitely worth a Thaumic Detector” Eroico said with a broad smile, nodding approvingly.
My eyes brightened up and a wide smile spread across my face.
My father tipped his hat to Eroico “Thank you kindly Eroi!”
“Yes, thank you Sir of the House of Survival!” I said gratefully.
“No, thank you little Sir of the House of Fate!” Eroico chuckled as he got out a key ring with numerous keys “You know I get all my wares from the ruins deep in the Underworld, it ain’t easy getting stuff with all the monsters around and you just helped give me an edge over a new enemy whilst knowing about a new one!” Eroico found the key he seeked and used it to open a chest. Out of the chest he pulled out a device that looked like an oil lamp crossed with a typewriter. The Thaumic Detector.
He handed the Thaumic Detector to me and raised his arm, unfurled his wing, and let out an incredibly high shrill squeak. Now this squeak was the ‘All Clear Squeak’, we use it to let all nearby noctav know they can go about their business again without worrying about hearing something that is meant for someone else. Indeed, all the noctav that had covered their ears now uncovered them and went about their business. My father tipped his hat to Eroico.
“I would love to chat more my friend, but we have a meeting to attend to at our House!” he said as we left the shop.
“Oh! I should explain” Twist said when he noticed how confused Tenacia looked “We noctav have a very different view on wealth. We don’t mine for valuable minerals, we don’t focus on creating goods, and all farming they do is meant for eating. The resource all noctav strive for the most Is knowledge!”
The noctav are a race insatiably curious by nature, we are fascinated by the new, thrive on the unknown, and it is our mission to reveal all secrets in existence. To us wealth is measured not in gold or jewels, but in knowledge and we trade information like other races trade coin and food. If a noctav wants something from another, they must supply information that they think is worth as much as the desired item. For something simple like a cup of lager or a new hat, it can be something small and simple like a random piece of trivia or an unheard joke. For more valuable things though like sorcerous implements or a whole house, greater information is required from obscure historical facts to details on unheard monsters.
Amongst all information though, there are certain questions that rise above the others in importance and mystery; Can we travel to other worlds? Can we create other thinking beings? Can the dead be brought back to life? Finding answers to these huge questions is the job of the lords and ladies of the noctav, the Houses. Noctav families who have dedicated themselves to uncovering the greatest mysteries of the world. Each House commits themselves to each question and as they succeed their political power grows, though if their research slows they lose some rank. The combination of the Wise One’s input (a reminder that the Wise One is the closest we have to a king or queen) and the overall interest of the city’s populace in each subject also influences a house’s power, if the city is fascinated and enthused with a house’s subject it raises, if it isn’t then the house loses some power. Minor houses are those with information considered useful but not world changing, while Major houses are those with information considered invaluable. Each house is led by a patriarch or matriarch chosen by their family members to lead, they attribute resources wherever is necessary and undertake great experiments themselves.
Within my city Minvaco lie five Major houses: the House of Alchemy who seek to find the secrets of the Philospher’s Stone, the House of Gears who want to further clockwork technology, the House of Constructs who seek to create the perfect golem, the House of Restoration which seeks to further the progress of both medicine and healing magic, and, my house, the House of Fate which seeks to see into the future. The House of Fate was the ruling house of Minvaco for the longest time, for while there are several spells within the realm of Divination that allows one to see into the future, it is never totally accurate. Whether it is using a tarot cards, tea leaves, or even the legendary crystal ball, all current methods of Divination have proven to be decisively unreliable. Even great devices that combine magic with machinery have been unable to predict the future with perfect exactness. To be able to see what will be without a shadow of a doubt is something desired by all, and so the House of Fate rose above the rest in Minvaco due to our dedication to this immensely practical ability.
Cadenza, my father, was the patriarch of the House of Fate. Speaking of, we made our way back to our mansion. As we walked along, Cadenza looked at me and ruffled my hair.
“You did a great job Twist!” he chuckled, “You are getting much better at talking with others!”
“I am trying my hardest” I said sadly, “But it is still difficult really finding the right words…”
“Have no fear Twist, you’ll get the hang of it! Your researching skills are also top notch”
“Thank you father! Monsters are amazing! It is easy when it is a subject I am interested in”
“Nevertheless, you need to be sure to read up on stuff you aren’t so interested in my boy”
I sighed “Yeah I know… I need to start reading up on time magic and finding out the future huh?”
“You don’t need to yet, but it won’t hurt to get a head start. You are eight years old and in ten years you will be an adult and you will work towards helping our great house”
I sulked for a bit hearing this, Cadenza smiled at me.
“You will be amazing though! Already at such a young age you absorb information like a sponge and your magic is considerably above the norm!”
“That isn’t just because of me though…” I grumbled.
“What do you mean my dear son? It is all you!”
I just stayed silent.
“Ahh I see” my father realized, “My dear boy, I know you have heard all about that seventh child of a seventh child nonsense… But no matter how you are born, you are you!”
“I know, I know… But I don’t know if I ever can help our house, I’m not sure I even want to do that… I mean I want to help our family, but I don’t… I’m not sure I-”
“Not sure you want to spend the rest of your life doing so?” My father finished for me, “Don’t worry about that, it isn’t selfish at all to want to find what you are truly passionate about.”
I looked up at him, eyes glowing “Really?”
“Of course!” My father laughed “I think you should help the House mainly since it is steady work, but I know what your heart is really invested in my son! Why do you think I looked out for this Thaumic Detector?”
I hugged my father, who then returned the hug. We then continued our way home.
“Seventh child of a seventh child?” Tenacia asked.
“It is an unusual sort of magic” Twist explained “No one knows why it happens, but when a mother and father have seven children, the seventh child will have natural magical abilities. Even if they are a non-magical race like the dwarves, they will have the capability of being a great magician. The seventh child of a seventh child on the other hand results in someone not just naturally inclined towards magic, but is gifted a magical aptitude that is far above the average”
“What about the seventh child seventh child of a seventh child?” Tenacia inquired, quite interested.
“Ahh that results in a theurge! Someone who can manipulate magic as easily as they can move their fingers or even breath, like the gods”
“Yes yes, its interesting hearing about how ancestry and numbers influence thaumaturgy” Delphine butted in “But we have someone’s history to hear here!”
“Wow Delphine, I didn’t think you were so interested in Twist’s life story” Tenacia observed.
“Hey I got nothing better to do” Delphine defensibly rebuked.
“Right, and back to that story…” Twist chuckled, clearing his throat.