Paul Wayland [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ADCreHcqi0DOThjCnwHVL6P39P0qhJ4VAKbtP7rHvMN3_8ZRy685G2CHGUr0y3zCauOXhjApi-4b_VMN2MOd4QcbWf-LT9f1FzSb6b88g3JCz9hv0cimAPWUidc09mCNCqVT9vggYlaaDlmBCKAXFKEFQ2fJ=w621-h931-s-no?authuser=0]
Phoenix stared at the man for a few awkward moments as she tried to come up with a suitable answer that wouldn’t result in her getting captured or killed… again. The golden man didn’t interrupt her thoughts as he simply crossed his arms and continued to stare down at her unperturbed.
She slowly stood up and tried to make herself look slightly more presentable before admitting, “I, uh… got lost in the woods?”
He didn’t so much as move a muscle as he continued to watch and wait for her to continue. The armored man was intimidating for sure, her head only coming up to his sternum, and he was as shiny as a holy knight of light. He didn’t seem to be carrying a weapon but, much like herself, she thought he could probably conjure one in a moment, or just blast her to bits with that massive light beam of instant death.
The stranger didn’t seem to be hostile, though. The fact that he had asked her a question instead of just annihilating her like the ostrich-monster meant that he wasn’t inclined to harm her… probably.
After a few more moments of awkward silence she offered a bit more information since he obviously already knew she was a Wayfarer, “I only arrived in this world a few days ago… and have been wandering through the forest since then… I, uh… C-could you maybe point me towards a town?”
His gold eyes roamed her up and down, taking in her appearance as though assessing her; judging her. She realized that his appearance was immaculate with a neatly trimmed beard that matched his blonde swept back hair and not a speck of dirt on his warm tan skin or polished armor which she noticed had white as well as gold coloring it. She, on the other hand, was mostly dirt with some bits of fabric covering her stained and blood smeared skin.
The golden knight seemed to be contemplating something but Phoenix found herself interrupting his thoughts with another question triggered by her own curiosity, “How did you know I was a Wayfarer?”
“Your aura,” he replied simply.
Phoenix hadn’t realized auras would indicate someone’s species but she supposed that made sense. She wondered what else he could make out about her from just her aura since she could feel so much more power coming off him than the Crystal Caster she had escaped from almost a week ago.
Despite the vast power difference she could feel between them, her desire for additional information pushed her to ask more. Perhaps she could figure out what his Caste actually was and just how hopeless her situation might be. Trying to stay as small as possible in case he too desired to kidnap her, she meekly inquired, “What else does my aura tell you?”
He locked his golden eyes on her pale green ones as he seemed to carefully measure his words, “It’s like a moonless night.”
The redhead frowned slightly, “Like that it’s hard to see?”
The large man shook his head slightly and said with almost a tinge of sadness, “You’ve started down a dark path, young one.”
“Oh,” she said, a bit taken aback by both his words and demeanor. She hadn’t really thought about potential consequences of taking in the Aspects that she had gotten. Now the Wayfarer was unsure if she had made the right choice but she was fairly certain that she would have died even more if she hadn’t and would most likely still be in the clutches of that overbearing and single-minded researcher.
The blonde closed his eyes for a moment then nodded once to himself before commanding, “Follow,” as he started to walk off.
She hesitated and steeled her nerves to ask before going with the stoic stranger, “Follow where?”
“To clean,” his gruff voice replied without him bothering to look back. She knew that he could sense if she tried to run or not, just like Miles had. Getting clean didn’t sound so bad though, and if she was lucky maybe he knew where food was, or could share the meat from the monster he had killed with whatever spell that had been.
With a sigh, she obediently followed behind the man that she knew could easily force her to comply. She’d rather avoid that since she didn’t want to get hurt again and maybe she’d get a chance to escape via portal later if she needed to. Phoenix hoped not everyone in this world was as terrible as the man she had already escaped but she wasn’t going to bet on it.
After the man retrieved the monster he had killed, and about a half hour of walking with her wounded feet slowing her down quite a bit, they finally reached a small campsite near the river that Phoenix had been following downstream.
“Sit,” the rough voice said as the golden man pointed toward a large log of bleached driftwood next to the fire pit before he disappeared into the single tent. She carefully sat on the log and waited patiently.
The large warrior returned a moment later with a satchel that he stuck his hand into then pulled out two glass bottles, one filled with a glowing red liquid that he handed to her with an order, “Drink.”
“What is it?” She asked hesitantly as she narrowed her eyes at the overtly magical liquid that could easily be some sort of evil poison.
“Healing potion.”
She wanted to argue that she wasn’t injured but saw his gaze looking at the many cuts and gashes on her legs and down to her swollen ankle that had only gotten worse over the last couple days of forcing herself to walk on it. With a tentative drink of the sweet liquid, the feeling of healing power going to work on her numerous lacerations filled her with a weird tingling sensation.
The other vial the man had retrieved was filled with a sparkling golden concoction that looked like liquified glitter. “Stay still,” he commanded once more and unstoppered the bottle.
Before she could ask why, the man tipped the bottle’s contents over her head to spill onto her. Phoenix then experienced the oddest sensation of her, admittedly short and sheltered, life. The liquid flowed not just down but all across her body, as if the magical glitter had a goal of its own and that goal was to remove every ounce of grime and filth from her skin and clothes. It couldn’t mend the tears in her outfit but when it was done she was in the cleanest state she could ever remember being in.
“What was that?” she couldn’t help but ask in awe.
“Golden Shower,” came the blunt answer as he returned the now empty bottles into his bag.
“What? Ew,” she responded at the reminder to the first and only sexual slang she had ever looked up at her friend’s prompting, refusing to ever look up another one after that, “Why is it called that?”
“The Purifier likes gold,” the stranger said with a shrug, as though that explained everything, then pulled out a slightly smaller bag from his satchel, which made her realize that the main one had to be a dimensional space, like the bag Miles had, to fit both it and the potions in, as he handed it to her with another command, “Eat.”
Phoenix cautiously took the smaller bag and glanced into it, at the sight of the strips of dried meat she forgot all reservations she had and hungrily shoved a strip into her mouth, chewing on the flavorful snack. He then handed her a fruit that she didn’t recognize but looked like a mix between a cherry and plum. She gratefully took it and bit into it, moaning a bit at the sweet tartness. She devoured it in an instant and looked up at her savior with her best puppy eyes.
The Wayfarer thought she saw the barest twitch at the corners of the golden warrior’s mouth but he shook his head and said, “Pace yourself.”
She nodded, knowing he was right. It was the same advice the doctors would give to someone recovering after not being able to eat much properly. He handed her a metal canteen and ordered, “Slowly.”
Phoenix nodded again, taking the item and drinking the clean water inside it. He sat down across from her then, carefully watching as she quietly ate, drank, and recovered. She in turn observed him observing her.
He seemed like he was a human in his mid thirties but she didn’t know if that was accurate at all. Technically, she wasn’t even human anymore so maybe he was something else as well? Maybe that would explain the odd metal plate embedded on his forehead.
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She had many questions for the stranger but decided to start with proper introductions. After all, he had healed, cleaned and fed her. Phoenix put on her best manners as she said politely, “My name’s Phoenix Fraser. What may I call you?”
His eyes always felt like they were looking into her instead of at her. Like they could see straight into her soul whenever her gaze met his and she felt an involuntary shiver as she felt a pressure against her aura and a feeling of incredible scrutiny in that moment as he said, “Paul Wayland.”
Phoenix hoped that he would give a little more information but she seemed to catch on that the man was more of the observing type, giving as little information as possible while taking in as much as he could, “And… What are you doing all the way out here?”
He gave a slight frown and she hastily added, “If it’s not too, um, forward of me to ask. I, uh… I’m not sure where we are exactly and I’ve been wandering the forest for the past week. Are we near a town?”
The man gave a nod of understanding and said, as though regretting having to use so many words, “We are in wildlands. The nearest major city is Blomstra but we’re both heading in the opposite direction and I don’t plan to visit. I’m here on a mission.”
“Mission?”
“I’m a member of the Alliance of Adventurers, technically.”
“Technically?” He simply nodded but didn’t elaborate further until she asked, “Are you like a part-timer? Or some kind of contractor that only does odd jobs?”
“Clergy members usually take fewer missions due to their split duties,” he begrudgingly explained.
“You're a priest?” Phoenix asked curiously.
“I’m a former Paladin of the Purifier,” he muttered as though wanting to drop the subject.
“Former?” she asked in confusion before taking another bite of jerky.
He stared up at her coldly and said in a voice equally icy, “Yes.”
She finally got the hint that it was a touchy topic and asked instead, “What exactly is the Alliance of Adventurers?”
Paul took a moment before saying succinctly, “A group of people dedicated to defending the innocent from monsters.”
“I see,” she said lamely but was pleased by the description. The fact that Miles had spoken disparagingly of the group actually made her more inclined to hope they were the “good guys” in this world since the Magi had obviously not been.
Then the paladin asked her his first question, “You have Aspects. Is that two auras I sense?” She simply nodded in response and he followed up with, “What abilities?”
She hesitated a moment and then recognized that he noticed her hesitation as his eyes narrowed at her. He gave her a single warning that made her shudder at whatever retribution might await her should she disobey, “Don’t lie. I’ll know.”
Phoenix was beginning to hate not having any way to hide her aura from the obviously powerful Caster or have any kind of poker face as she muttered, “I have a portal and a dagger.”
He tilted his head again in understanding then asked pointedly, the odd feeling of scrutiny returning in full force as it felt like her aura was forcibly pushed back into herself and felt like it was being held in a vice grip, “What do you plan to do in this world?”
Phoenix shivered again, unsure of what the man kept doing to her as she answered, “I, uh… I’m not sure? I’ve just been trying to survive. I don’t really have a specific goal or purpose now that I’m here. I didn’t leave anything behind and there wasn’t anyone who needed me. I, uh… I wasn’t really that useful back there…” she trailed off, realizing the truth of her words.
“Portals are useful,” he stated matter-of-factly, which caught her off guard. Was he trying to comfort her?
She shrugged, “Sure but I just got that a few days ago when I arrived here. My world didn’t have any magic… at least not that I knew of,” she explained then hesitated, not really wanting to bring up her tragic memories, or the confusion of whatever magic had brought her here, “Bad things always happened back on my world. Like, really bad things. Most of the people I knew died and I…” her voice broke a bit as she admitted, “I couldn’t do anything to save them. I was always useless. Barely able to walk let alone try to heal or protect anyone else.”
The mental wounds of losing her mother, friends, and home were threatening to reopen but she was saved from slipping further when Paul reworded his question, “Do you plan to become more useful?”
The Wayfarer met his eyes once more and thought about the things that had happened since arriving here. The feelings of limitless potential she had felt at times, despite having been attacked constantly. She had survived technically and gained magic powers. She could revive and get stronger now. Like he pointed out, she had the capability to become more useful now.
Phoenix nodded with slightly renewed resolve, “I have powers now that give me a way forward. I’m hoping to gain the strength that I couldn’t before so that next time I will be able to save people.”
They stared at each other in silence again for a few moments before the feeling of scrutiny and pressure on her aura subsided and Paul nodded to her, “Very well. You’ll join me.”
It wasn’t a request. Like most of the things he said to her. She wasn’t sure if he was intending to be controlling or if he just wasn’t a very good people-person or if maybe it was just something he was used to doing as someone with his power level.
She wondered what his role in the Alliance of Adventurers he had mentioned was. Maybe it was just his job to give orders and expected compliance. No matter the reason though, this time it rubbed her the wrong way.
Her mind flashed to what Miles had intended for her and this guy felt so much stronger. However, she hadn’t fled through a wild mountain range and fought off a plethora of deranged rabbits and a potential slaver just so that she could let someone else decide things for her.
“What if…” she started, then had to swallow down her anxiety once more as she clutched the tattered fabric of her dress, and stared down at her lap as she asked quietly, “What if I don’t want to join you?”
Silence hung between them for a long moment before she dared to glance up at him. He looked… amused? Phoenix felt confused and began to feel her panic start to rise again as she continued in a rush, “I… I know you’re more powerful than me. I can tell you’re at least two or maybe three Castes above me but… but I… I won’t be taken prisoner.”
After another heavy moment, he let out a low chuckle, “I’m not planning to imprison you, young one. I’m planning to protect you, at least until I can drop you off at the AOA and let them deal with you.”
“Oh,” she said, slightly embarrassed but he was so hard for her to read.
“Where did you get your Aspects?” he asked suddenly.
“Huh? Oh,” she scrunched her face in thought, as she said a bit of a half truth, “I, uh, found the first one in the forest after fighting a monster on my first day here then the second one the next morning.”
“A looting talent?”
She hadn’t meant to imply that but nodded quietly knowing that she couldn’t deny it either. Realizing that it might have been an unusual power from the thoughtful look he gave her, she asked, “Is that uncommon?”
“Not for Wayfarers,” he said partially, leaving the insinuation that it was uncommon for everyone else.
Paul stood, “You were right. I am an Emerald Caster,” he said, then he began deconstructing his campsite.
Phoenix shivered at the knowledge that he was a whole three tiers above her in the Caste hierarchy and wondered if he thought that he could do whatever he wanted to her; just like Miles had believed was only natural.
After swallowing the wave of fear, she offered to help but he waved her off telling her to just eat. As she sat there, watching him work and chewing slowly on the last of the jerky, a thought crossed her mind and she asked, “Why do you even carry food rations and water if you’re Emerald Caste? I, um… I was informed that once you become a Caster you don’t need food or water or, um, toilets. That mana sources sustain you instead.”
He didn’t look away from his work as he replied as though it was obvious, “Most of the people I save are not Casters.”
Considering the situation she was currently in, she fully believed him. That alone went a long way in convincing her to trust him and his intentions, at least a tiny bit. Another question pressed at her to give it voice, “What kind of mission brings you out here in the middle of nowhere? Are you hunting a monster? That’s what you said Adventurers do right?”
Paul still didn’t look at her or even respond until he finished packing and hoisted a large backpack over his shoulder before turning to face her. “Yes, they are monsters. Located near, or inside, a nearby Reality Rift. My mission is to wipe them out.”
The golden paladin looked her over once more in that appraising way then his entire demeanor softened slightly and he asked, “Will you join me?”
Phoenix was surprised that he had actually asked her this time and then they were both surprised by her glowing [Guide Book] shimmering into existence for her to read.
New Quest: Mysterious Stranger
A mysterious man has rescued you and offered for you to join him on his quest.
Objective: Follow Paul Wayland to the Reality Rift.
Reward: Common tool.
As the Adventurer looked between her and the overtly magical book, she sighed, realizing that there was no possible way she could keep this ability a secret with it popping out whenever it felt like. She grabbed the book from the air and turned it to face him so that he could also read the message.
After a moment of processing the words, and poking around her aura a bit more, he displayed his intelligence as he asked, “The Aspects in the forest?”
She nodded, “Both were quest rewards.”
“Lucrative,” he observed simply, “So you are joining?”
She looked from him to the book then nodded her consent. Then, before she could even process what happened, she was being carried in his arms in what she knew as the “traditional damsel” style. The only words she could get out were, “Um… What?”
“You’re slow,” was the single explanation he gave before taking off in a run that felt more like she was suddenly on the highway in a convertible with the top down… at least she assumed that’s what it would feel like with the insane speed they were moving at.