With each machine and every spire,
They scarred my land, fueled by desire,
-Thoubose
THEO
“I don’t know man. After what that guy said in Dracus, you want to choose the spot in the journey that makes my bones itch, to camp for the night?" Clyde questioned, tightening his grip on the reins.
Once the silver was all loaded up, we left as quick as I could convince Clyde. Now, we were getting close to where Gerald had stayed, and the essence pressure hummed again heavily. With how dreary Dracus was, it didn’t take a whole lot of convincing, and we were off moments after the final shovel of silver poured into the wagon. I absolutely didn’t want to stick around longer. As amazing as it was to see an actual gnome in the flesh, whatever happened couldn’t be good and I was hoping we could make some distance before we garnered any additional attention. I was hopeful it wasn’t going to be a thing. A thing I would need to tell Grandfather or Gerald about.
“I feel like if we have to stay anywhere for the night, this might be the safest to actually get sleep. This is the highest vantage point on the trip, as we noticed, and we should have a good ability to see danger coming from a good distance.” I noted the vantage from our position as I could see the cogs in Clyde’s head turning. I could tell the details the man in Dracus relayed troubled him deeply. Many times, along the way back so far, he seemed paranoid or needed reassurance we were ok. He was right, as a couple blacksmith without much combat training, in his mind at least, there was absolutely a lot to fear.
“I guess you are right. Not that I am going to be able to sleep a wink tonight.” Clyde visibly shivered. “What do you think got the couriers?”
“I am not going to sugar coat it Clyde, I bet they are what Grandfather and I encountered on the first day coming to Riverside.” I replied solemnly. “There hasn’t been a trace of them since and they might have been a hunting party from farther off. Maybe from this region. Only thing that comes to mind that could make quick work of people the way it’s been described.”
“Then we got extremely lucky we made it to Dracus in the first place.” Clyde bellowed; his fists clenched. “Screw that guy for not cautioning us in the letter!”
“All I know, is those things like to hunt and trap, like they tried with Charles and his crew. I believe we are probably just about as far if not farther than most the Dracus coureur’s made it, judging by the timing the man said they were found based on when they set off.” I lied to reassure Clyde. I had no idea where they found the coureurs, but I was hopeful Clyde didn’t suspect it. The shop keeper had come to comp us some feed for the horses while Clyde was relieving himself, but he didn’t need to know we didn’t discuss more than him apologizing further and hoping our business relationship could continue. “We haven’t heard their hunting cries yet.” I tried to point out the positive in the situation.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I guess if that’s what you two were chatting about.” He eased his posture. “I’m probably worried about nothing. Anyways, I don’t want to be the guy pissing his pants in terror.” He looked at me with an expectant look. “I have to ask, was that true? Darren tries to be such a hard ass in town.”
I laughed for a few seconds before composing myself. “Grandfather wouldn’t like me confirming that.”
“Ah!” Clyde roared in laughter, which I couldn’t help but return.
I looked at Clyde with a serious expression. “We will be ok, don’t worry. I promise we will get back without any issues.”
“Why does that somehow make me feel really reassured Theo?” there was no hint of joke in his response as he looked at me with reverence.
“Seasoned confidence. I will at least know how to run them off if we cross paths.” I lied confidently through my teeth.
The worry seemed to totally evaporate from Clyde as he pulled the cart to a halt. “Alright, fine. But I like your idea. I want to have a vantage if anything. I would rather we aren’t stuck watching our backs at every shadow in the dense wood.” Clyde began grabbing some supplies to setup camp for the night after finding a decent location.
“We have a few hours of day left. We can at least use the time to relax.” I agreed as I pitched in setting up camp.
…
The light of the day had long faded. We nestled the wagon against a boulder that jetted out of the ground near the negated trail, where we initially stopped. It blocked our sight from the overlook, for the better. We wanted to make sure our small fire wasn’t a beacon at this point and the horses were shielded, if it helped at all against the unknown. The wagon had a defensive rune built in, a courtesy of the rental for those that could actually use it. But it only allowed us a basic sound dampening, not an overall cloaking. Clyde was able to activate it with all the earthen practice he had gotten lately, which made him happy. It would dampen the noise leaving the camp, while amplifying things coming from outside the area of affect. It affected a few meters in each direction around its fitting to the cart. I had Breezy circle our position, to keep our scent from scattering to the distant, which was at least a precaution I knew would benefit us most against elite wolves.
“Dang Theo.” Clyde looked at me with mock sadness. “You really suck at cards don’t you.”
“Wasn’t something Grandfather and I did to pass time.” I replied honestly. “So, yeah. I am pretty new to the strategy aspect of cards.” We had been playing for some time, keeping a running track through various games as some got too monotonous, but once Clyde suggested raising stakes with a wager, I had steadily started making bigger mistakes.
“Well, best of ten ended a few minutes ago. And loser needs to find water and fill up!” he boasted. “Your dilly dallying!”
“Yeah, I know the bet.” I said in mock scorn as I got up from my place next to the fire, pretending to stretch kinks out of my back.
“So…” he paused. “whatcha waiting for then? Get to it!” he bellowed a chuckle. He definitely got that from his father.
“Krom man, alright?” I replied as I began gathering up the various canteens from the wagon, along with my spear. “Cut off the rune and scream like a little Percy if you are in danger and I will be back in a flash.” I gave him a wicked grin as I set off.
“Haha, very funny.” Clyde replied dully over my shoulder.
…
I trekked about halfway to the place I had met up with Gerald earlier when I felt the tell-tale sign of a ward being woven around myself and the area I was in. Silence surrounded me as Gerald appeared from behind the trunk of one of the few trees this high up in the valley.
“Master Theo! I’m glad to see yous got that essence silver. Made great timin too! Yous must not have stayed long.” Gerald proclaimed as he stepped in for a tight hug. “Roman would have killed me if he knew I left yous off to your own accord, lets keep that between us, ok?” he flashed a pleading look.
“Of course, Ger! When ever did you leave me.” I added sarcastically.
“I wasn’t followin you this whole time, we talked about this.”
“Uh, never mind.” I replied as he flashed me a knowing smile, which gave me a chuckle. “Did you find anything out while we were away?”
“Aye, found plenty I did then.” He looked at me more sternly. “Nine worgs in total.”
“Nine! I exclaimed!” looking back towards camp before remembering we were in a sound dampening rune. “Where exactly are they?”
“If yous could focus vision more with passive essence, yous would be able to see a small cave about three fourths of the way up the mountain the pulse is coming from. In that cave is their den I suppose. I was able to peer in pretty much the whole structure, but I had to get pretty close to the entrance to do so. After seeing the slumberin beasts, I didn’t want to press my luck. I think the underground spring inside could be where the gem is leaching essence. That would explain the mutation and they seem to understand the need to guard it.” He relayed his findings.
“What do you think we should do?” I asked, not knowing the best route to the problem at hand but sure it wasn’t leaving the abominations to feed on travelers at will.
“Master Theo” Gerald looked at me earnestly. “Yous gonna have to exterminate them all. We can’t leave them to spawn. I don’t think I am fit to tangle with the size of those things, and I would just complicate any plan if I join you.”
“How do we know they don’t have a bunch out hunting as we speak.” I asked, trying to cover my grounds before going head strong into it at the first suggestion. Grandfather’s teachings rubbing off more than Alfred’s at the moment.
“I’ve been monitorin the entrance from afar since I backed out, seems like none have come or gone so it hopefully this is the full lot.” Gerald pointed where the cave entrance was but I couldn’t see without pulling in and using essence, so I just had to mentally mark the location.
“So, what’s the plan?” I looked to Gerald.
“We’re goin to knock out your companion, so we don’t create any additional issues, then you’re goin to kill them all without essence, cuz I won’t be breakin two promises to Roman in one day.”
“Aren’t they just going to scatter once I run a few threw?” I asked curiously.
“Oh, absolutely not. That is their den, and the two pregnant ones will be what they defend to their last breath.” His reply nonchalant.
“Ah Krom Ger! I need to kill pregnant ones!” horror donning on my face as I tried to find a way to justify the thought internally.
“At least yous don’t have to individually kill any pups, because yous would have had to do that Master Theo. They aren’t tamable creatures; they will never be right in the head with that essence poisonin. They are dang near decomposin as is. What worse will they become?” Gerald sternly confirmed.
“I see your point.” I reluctantly replied. “How do we knock Clyde out?” I asked, before clarifying. “Without doing anything harmful!”
“What kind of savage do yous take me for. We are going to dust him!” His eyes lit up maniacally as he pulled out a glass vial filled with powder, stopper securely in place. “Just go up there, put this powder in your hand, and blow it in his face! The more that gets in his nose, the longer he will be out! It’s usually tricky to deal with because of its potency, but it doesn’t work on you so no need for caution on your end.”
“Krom Ger, I don’t want to comatose my best friend!” I said in horror.
“Ah don’t worry, the body can only take so much and that would be a solid ten to twelve hours max. It probably won’t be that long.” he gave me a wry smile...
“You sure?” I hesitated. “And why do you even have this?”
“How often have I steered yous in the wrong direction?” he gave me a wide, gap filled smile which I returned with a blank stare. “Right, well trust me! And, I had to bring it as a contingency yous know. Always be prepared!” he tried to reassure as he cut off the effect of the noise dampening rune and pushed me back towards my camp, not giving me the chance to argue further. “See yous in ten minutes Master Theo! You can do it!” he whispered excitedly, goofy grin as wide as ever.
“Curses Ger.” I mumbled as I trekked back to deliver Clyde his… medicine.
…
The first stage of the plan actually went off without a hitch. I just had Breezy blow the powder into Clyde’s face, which was a very simple task for it. I didn’t even need to get spotted back at camp which would have caused me to need to make up some story tomorrow when he’s groggy and that was his last memory. I am sure that is what Gerald meant, no way he expected me to just go up there and say “oh hey Clyde, oops!” as I dump a bunch of powder in his face, him waking up mid-day after that. I did however tuck him in and snuff out the fire in case a stray ember found itself crawling around, because stray embers can kill! Given Gerald’s comments, I would imagine that type of powder would keep him knocked out while aflame too.
“So, why are yous in your undies Master Theo?” Gerald stifled a laugh as I finished folding my clothes near the cave entrance next to my boots, before donning my spear. We were back under the guise of Gerald’s dampening spell, Breeze’s scent deterrence allowing us to get relatively close without fear of losing the surprise.
“I am not sure how it will look if I wake up next to Clyde looking like half my clothes have been nibbled on during the night.” I said as I gingerly peered into the expansive one room chamber from cover. I could see three of the horse sized worgs lazily lounging close bye, while others were spread out deeper in the cavern. Not getting a good look at distinct features of the remaining hunting worg from Riverside, it was hard to confirm if it was here or not by glance. Breezy had seemed to confirm as much when I mentally probed its memory, which gave me some relief.
“Good point.” Gerald nodded. “Alright my sir, this is where I be leavin yous.” Gerald said sternly before giving my shoulder a tight squeeze with his hand. He pushed my sheathed short sword and belt into my open hand. He had brought it along with his gear, I guess in case this very moment. By now, I was quite fond of the night black, simple double-edged broad sword. I finally gave it a name not long back, Shade.
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“Thank’s for the help Ger!” I said as he turned back to get some distance before I started the assault in case things went wrong. I strapped my belt on, tightening it as best I could against my skin.
“Yous be the one that’s helping! This be our first little Acolyte step! My little world saver!” he said proudly, me rolling my eyes in retort before I left the range of his ward as he moved, him giving me a non-necessary knowing look to not say another word before it lifted from me.
I hid in silence a few minutes after strapping my sword to my waste, till I saw a brief light in the distance signifying Gerald made it to his position. He planned to perch on the highest tree he could find, giving him a vantage of the battle from afar, while also allowing him to backtrack and protect the defenseless Clyde if necessary. Letting out a deep breath, I pushed into the open mouth of the cave, in full view of the lazy worgs manning the entrance and sprinted to the back wall. Doing my best to control the flow by taking one of the pregnant ones first and ensuring the other didn’t escape, I threw my spear hard before they had a chance to react. It hit true, skewering the first female through the skull and embedding the shaft halfway through the cave wall as I barreled mid-way through the circular chamber to pin down the second female from having a clean exit, should she want to flee.
A nice, natural gladiator pit, I thought as I stood within the center, best not disappoint Ger. I drew my blade as the horse sized beasts began to shake off the shock of surprise. Vicious snarling and yipping cascaded from the startled worgs as they began circling me with a fury. Drool oozed profusely from each of them as they scrutinized me, their decaying canines easily the size of my forearm.
And then, without any fanfare, it was on. Two leaped from behind, overconfident their opening was due to my inexperience and being overwhelmed, not my disregard for protection. Both slammed into me with the force of a rampaging bull, me standing my ground as one broke its jaw on the back of my neck, teeth shattering from the tough composition of my skin and the sheer force of its bite. The other bounced off the middle of my back with a wicked sounding crunch. With both my feet planted firmly on the ground, there wasn’t much on Thoubose that could move me when I was in a stance and focused. I didn’t give the second a chance to react as I plunged my blade deep into its eye socket from its vulnerable position. Its body went limp as I pulled my blade out, slashing the next one’s head clean off in the same motion with my enhanced agility, as it reared for its counterattack.
Three more foul-smelling worgs, fur laden with signs of decay, barreled into me before having a chance to see how their brethren faired. I seized their reaction to my unyielding immortality as an opportunity to swiftly twirl like a cyclone at the quickest speed my passive skills allowed. I think I will call this move Blade Dance, I thought with a smile. My steel cutting everything in its path before I came to a stop, ribboned worg parts strewn all over from the three latest victims. My body now coated in worg viscera, barely a glimpse of clean flesh could be seen on me at this point.
The remaining three displayed no inclination to retreat; fury evidently had taken complete control. As two went for my legs, the other tried to cut me in half at the torso. Their attempts in vain as I backhanded one of the massive creatures to the wall with my free hand and in a swift change of motion, ran my blade through another’s open maw with my sword hand. The third crumpled to the ground as it met my immovable torso, so I used the opportunity to finish it with a vicious stomp that collapsed its skull, innards grossly oozing out onto my bare foot.
Not wanting to waste a moment thinking about that nasty factoid and feeling, I sprinted over to the final remaining worg, battered but not fully out of the fight. My sprint was more of a blink step in sheer passive speed, something I typically hold back, but not now as I kicked the life out of the remaining monstrosity at full speed. Its body spraying into a mist where the colossal impact struck true. The whole thing over without anything to it.
I signed half in relief, half disappointment. What did I expect on my first ever solo battle I guess, when they couldn’t even get through my skin or fortitude. But Krom, I thought as I looked down at my hands in amazement. I had no idea I could simply backhand a creature of that size, with that effect, before today. Even without dipping into my ocean of essence, my passive abilities might be able to down entire armies. I guess if I didn’t have to worry about the essence stealing runic projectiles Erik had; they evened the odds significantly now that every soldier in his army kept bags of them at their ready.
I moved to the spear I had thrown to start the fight, it was lodged to a point that trying to remove it might snap the thing. After testing it with a decent tug, I decided not to try further. Hopefully Ger could use some type of essence to dislodge it, or I am going to need to find an excuse about losing my favorite spear. I walked over to the infected spring at the back of the cavern and began washing the blood off my body, waiting for Gerald to make his way back after the not so thrilling fight.
“Master Theo!” Gerald’s voice shrieked as he saw me washing myself in the spring. “That’s dirty water! Don’t do that!” Gerald chastised me almost like a parent to a toddler as he made his way into the cave, inspecting the dead worgs in the process. “Look what it did to these things!”
“What’s it going to do to me?” I looked at him curiously. He properly looking me over in a near offensive space invading way, earthen essence discharging from his bracer as he inspected deeper, before moving on.
“Fair point.” He shrugged in agreement, moving on to the back wall.
“What did you think?” I looked at him earnestly for feedback.
“Besides that being the most spectacular display of physical prowess I have ever seen in me entire life and might ever see,” He paused. “It was utterly beautiful lad. Sorry lost me train of thought at reliving that moment. I can’t fault yous one bit, except maybe how much earthen rune charge I am goin to need to use to pull the dang spear from the wall.” He admired as he jiggled the spear in the place it was embedded, flicking it with a bouncy dong sound reverberating through the cavern. “Little less harrumph might be ok now that yous know a little more of that strength.” He suggested with his goofy smile.
“Yeah, I was thinking about that too.” My cheeks pinkening slightly.
“Don’t waste time on that cleanup now, just dive down, get the gem thingy and hopefully the pulsing will stop. Then, I can use a clean and press on yous to get the grime all off, without that there toxic worg water.”
“That’s it?” I looked at him cautiously. “Seems too anti-climactic.”
“Suppose the gem was usin the worgs as a test for its new master, but it didn’t expect the test to be taken by an Acolyte.” Gerald suggested. “Not anti-climatic when you look at it that way.”
“Alright, well, let’s get this over with then.” I placed my sword on the bank of the spring, as I casually waded to the deeper end.
Looking and feeling for the source as the pull got more and more palpable. The water being crystal clear, outside the stream of gore dissipating behind me, I could make out a faint blue light pulsing almost like a little heartbeat as I got farther into the spring. Standing before it, upon closer inspection, I could see its intricacies. The rough edges and unpolished contours telling a tale of raw power, the eons of time that shaped the wonder. Just gazing into its beauty encapsulated the very essence of nature's enchantment. This moment, like unearthing a fragment of the universes’ artistry that concealed a celestial secret. Its untamed surface speaking of a time before Thoubose’s ancient life began. A testament to time's shaping hands. Yet, within its rugged exterior held so much hope. The very embodiment of the cosmos unveiling a majesty of raw potential. I grabbed for the blue jagged rock, it pulling now for me it seemed. The gem no bigger than a child’s fist. Once it closed between the palm of my hand, the world went white.
Blue pulses began erupting through my body in a not so pleasant sensation that left every bone in me, even my teeth, numb to their core. My body, instinctively fighting the intrusion, opened my ocean of air essence in a thoughtless reaction, which then began my internal and external battle to keep Gerald from becoming a victim of a stray power surge while essence poured out of me simultaneously. I was working my best to control the loose stains of lightning that would jet out from the gem and my connection together. I could feel the power of the internal gem hitting a threshold, while my control of the ocean began to feel slightly more tangible in this exercise of life and death for my companion. The teeth chattering feeling slowly dissipating as more of my own power pushed into the gem.
Grabbing onto that thread of success, I began pulling the control closer around the gem. I cupped it between my hand as it began to violently twirl, suspended between my palms. I pushed more and more essence into it from my open ocean of raw power. Its shape slowly removing surface imperfections as it gradually formed into a ball from the absolute velocity it was traversing. Little streaks of yellow lightning slowly beginning to accentuate the gem as I pushed further and further, becoming lost in the trance as facets formed. Too afraid to stop until I felt no more resistance, in fear of what would happen, I spared a quick look to Gerald face down in the dirt. The initial pulse must have been too much for his mind to handle, but luckily, I could tell his chest was still rising and falling. It was better he was ducked for cover in a sense. I focused back to the task at hand, getting lost in the intricacies.
…
Once I felt no more resistance, I pulled my core trying to stifle off my essence flow. The air affinity still remained out of my mental command I came to understand as I wrestled with my inner ocean of power, fearing once more for Gerald. Violently a burst of raw lightning as thick as my head burst from my chest, burrowing dozens of meters through the cave wall as I tumbled backwards, my flow finally cutting off, the gem dropping from its suspension. Swiftly, I got back to my feet, knocking the gem onto the bank. I did not want to touch it any more than I needed to, knowing that was no binding feeling because that wasn’t something Acolytes could do. I worried grabbing it again would cause round two and round one for the first time in my life made me feel a lightheaded and extremely sick. I obviously did something to it.
Curiously, I made my way towards where it had landed. I noticed it no longer looked unrefined; instead, it resembled an almost perfect blue sphere. Facets were beautifully refined and intricate, while impossibly small lightning bolts shifted subtly within its confines. A cough from the corner, startled me from my observation. I looked over to Gerald, now remembering his state. It relieved me to know Gerald’s quick incapacitation wasn’t anything more serious as I hurriedly walked over to him to check his status.
“How long was I out?” Gerald questioned as he slowly got himself up.
“I have no idea.” I said honestly, noting the position of the stars outside the mouth of the cave had shifted a bit, but not taking enough notice to be sure. Maybe an hour or more. “I guess I lost track. It didn’t seem that long in the moment.”
“Well at least it’s still dark, the powder shouldn’t have worn off.” He calmed from his initial shock. “Maybe yous shouldn’t have touched it with your bare hands Master Theo.” He said in a jest.
“You know, something is telling me that too.” I chuckled, trying to relieve the tenseness of the situation. “You should see though. It was jagged before I touched it, then I had this accidental wrestling match with it, now look at it.” I pointed and gestured him to come see the gem from its landing place.
“Extraordinary!” Gerald exclaimed as he fished his glasses out from a pouch at his side to give it a closer look, using a nearby discarded bone to prod at the gem from its position. “Not exact, but Alfred’s has a bit of peridot like inflections, similarly as you know. I guess now we know more of the mystery behind the enhancements. This one, it’s like this gem’s accented with some air essence.”
“I guess now we know why the other’s say their gems give them weary feelings when they have considered letting me investigate theirs in the past. The feeling of not being the right time, or in some cases extreme danger. That was the single most intense moment of my life.” I thought, back to times growing up when I asked if I could hold one of the three and they became instantly alerted.
“Aye, you might of fried us all when you were only four or five. You were teetering on barely having enough control now it seems.”
“I think the gem helped me or guided me. I felt like I gained some control during the struggle. At least that was the first time something didn’t go completely haywire.” I looked to Gerald enthusiastically.
“Well don’t be going off lightin up the night Master Theo.” He replied with a stern expression.
“It’s a bit late for that. I didn’t unlock my control to an Acolyte level. I think I would feel different.” I stared at the back wall, guiding his notice as I grimaced in embarrassment.
“My word! I’ll have to cave that wall in, hope no one investigates the rubble too well.” he mumbled to himself before looking back at me. “How deep does that crack even go?” he whistled for effect as he took it all in, trying to mask his wonder. “No more essence till we can practice at home!” he gave a pointed look.
“Of course!” I promised. “I actually feel a little drained to be honest.”
“Fascinatin!” he stopped examining the gem immediately and started poking and prodded at me for some time at that admittance, after which resuming to looking around the cave. “Well, I be guessin’ that was not very subtle.” He finally admitted.
“Yeah, I am not so sure either. Luckily it was just us around, right?” I looked to Gerald for confirmation.
“Yeah, I don’t think anyone was around to feel the output based on me watch today, but never can be too sure. I didn’t have a chance to setup any kinda perimeter” Gerald grabbed another vial of powder from a compartment on his belt before handing it over to me. “I think yous should wake Clyde up and pretend yous need to make haste.”
“What’s this one do?” I asked hesitantly.
“Wakes him up of course! Yous daft boy?” he looked at me incredulously as he fished out a plain looking box, discarding a bit of pipe tobacco before gingerly flicking the sphere into the now empty box, closing it and handing it to me. “Let’s not touch it anymore ok.”
“You don’t want to bind with it?” I asked in shock, knowing the power would entice most.
“I’m old Theo, I don’t want the complications that will bring my life.” He said sincerely as he locked eyes with mine. “I have all I need, me little Acolyte. And boy was that impressive!” He smiled as he tussled my hair and moved toward the back wall, extracting my spear with a quick runic discharge from his bracer, then collapsing the scar in the back wall. “Let’s get out of here.” He threw me my spear and we both walked toward the entrance of the cave where I began to get dressed after he cleaned me thoroughly with the help of his clean and press utility rune.
“What do you think we should do about the worgs?” I asked, not wanting to leave the lot of rotting corpses behind to fester and potentially disease and change other wildlife that come in contact with the remains.
“Already got it covered.” A burst of essence came from Gerald’s runic bracer, the rune it came from depleted completely as a massive fireball entered the cave and erupted, engulfing everything in a relentless flame. “That’s a fire that only stops burning when it’s done going through everything organic. Best we don’t get any closer at this point.”
“So, how does that help our stealth situation.” I took the chance to gloat.
“Can’t have them both now can we Master Theo.” He harumphed.
“One to?”
“Don’t be startin none of that right now!”
“I bet there are plenty of slates I could find for you.” I giggled as I turned from inspecting the cave entrance, heading back up to Clyde and where we were camped. Suddenly, my attention was grabbed by five small figures, each except one wielding a miniature pike. Each subtly glowed with power hanging from their necklaces. Four of them sporting King and vassal gems belonging to the Jade empire obvious by their composition, and the remaining had a mixture of three other gems. Four clad in black, were encircled around a gnome with an ornate crown on his head and the largest of the opal gems that glittered itself in a miasma of colors. He sported a bald forehead adorned with a band of brown hair along the outside that made the crown accentuate. They all were bowing in my direction, in reverence?
“Oh Krom!” I exclaimed as I noticed the squad.
“What’s that Master Theo?” Gerald looked uncertainly at me before the gnomes decloaked and used an opal affect to brighten the auras around themselves, gaining his attention. He then gasped in disbelief.
“After that display, we now have no reservation.” The crown wearing gnome in the center of the group stated as they all finished their bow. He and his companions were ornately decorated with runic embellishments on just about everything, their belts, boots, goggles, bracers, gloves, you name it. The center one wore vibrant colored purple tapestries, while the others black to cling to the shadows.
“What reservation?” I hesitantly replied, making eye contact with the leader whose forehead rose at my question. He wore thick goggles that significantly magnified the size of his eyes and had one of the cleanest cut and waxed goatees I had seen to date.
“Lo and behold! The majestic Ventum has returned, as you. But it would be improper now to call you that, if you wouldn’t mind gracing us with your name your majesty.” The statement cut through the night and sent a shiver down my spine.
“Now hold on one moment, let’s not be hasty. What makes yous think that?” Gerald hesitantly tried to defend, his acting skills almost embarrassing in this moment as he gave me an over-the-top play along wink.
Before they had a chance to reply, they were interrupted with further company. “THERE YOU ARE! The Krom is going on Theo?” the shaky voice of Clyde boomed from a higher elevation among the clearing.
Dang, it’s definitely a thing now.