Turns out the distance professional rangers can travel in an afternoon takes an old man somewhat longer.

Saravren was feeling a little annoyed at the pace, but it was nice to be able to chat with Elder Yim as they traveled. He was knowledgeable on many subjects and his mind was full of stories. Last night he had told as much of the story as he could remember about the Legend of Midwinter but added in a bunch of commentary and opinions that she had never heard before.

Most children knew the Legend of Midwinter; when the darkness was fought back by the gods and spirits of light. Every winter the tale was told about how the gods had sacrificed themselves to seal away the darkness, so that the lesser spirits and peoples could live once more with the sun. The gods and great spirits had sacrificed everything for us, even their names. Only their bodies remained - lighting up the night sky as the moon where they could be seen, but never touched.

According to Elder Yim, it was a story that had different flavors in each tribe or culture but the broad strokes were all the same. There were also lesser known writings, mostly etched in old clay or stone tablets, that not only supported that the legend may be true but also hinted that there might be more to it.

That was the way with legends, he said; they changed over time. While some things were added, others were lost. He spoke of one of the tablets that was lost in their exodus upon which it was written that people also took part in the battle, and that it happened near mountains which were frozen even in summer.

His theory was that they may be treading into the land of legends. He kept asking to take detours to look at landmarks and pointing out things that even the rangers had missed. The more Saravren saw of the strange features of the landscape the more she started thinking he might be onto something, but she was still skeptical.

The third day of their trek was dawned, and they knew that they were close. Last evening Richard, or at least they assumed it was him as it felt the same as before in the FIeld, had popped out of his hidden spot and stayed in one place for a while. It was only a half hour walk or so from where they were. Ethren and Elder Yim had decided that he probably meant it as a signal for where to meet.

The party was small with just Ethren, Elder Yim, Olena, Deilos and herself. According to the diplomatic lessons that Elder Yim had decided they all needed, when one party vastly outnumbered the other, it could set the wrong tone for the meeting. That was one reason for the gifts and for the lessons on etiquette. Though she was pretty sure it went over most of the heads of the rangers, Olena was absorbing it all like a sponge.

Unfortunately, the smaller party meant they didn’t have anyone to carry all of the extra weight for the gifts and such so Saravren was carrying more than she would have liked. Elder Yim had tried to argue for more in his pack but he was the one slowing them down and the oldest, so Ethren had only given him a single bottle of wine and the seed gifts to carry along with his waterskin.

Everyone had changed into fresh clothes for the meeting today so they would look nice and Saravren took a moment remembering how silly the elder looked in his traveling gear. A floppy wide-brimmed hat, a walking stick about shoulder height, light clothing, and sturdy boots made him look less dignified than normal, especially with the sweat dripping down his face at times.

As she packed her stuff up, she was chatting with Olena.

“So, any luck figuring out how to cast that spell? I saw you concentrating when we went to bed last night and I didn’t want to disturb you by asking.” She queried.

Olena sighed and replied, “None. It was part of my training, but Master Sellex hadn’t had a chance to teach me enough before he died. I’m sure I’ll figure it out eventually, but it also wasn’t really meant to be used with other people, just spirits.” She shook her head sadly and stood up, pulling her pack onto her back.

“I did cast an augury and check the spiritual plane. As far as I could tell, we will have nice weather today, but there’s something strange happening across the veils here. I’m hoping I can figure it out.” She added with a smile.

Saravren also stood with her pack. “Oh, good. These are my nicer clothes, I don’t want to get them all muddy wandering around the woods in the rain. Shall we?” she asked, moving towards the group. Olena followed her as they moved to where Ethren and Elder Yim were conversing.

The elder was back in his more loose clothing with the long coat over top and bright blue sash. Ethren had only oiled and shined up his leathers and Saravren had a suspicion that he didn’t actually own anything more colorful or nice. She and Olena both had nice tunics and light vests on, with headscarves that had patterns covering their heads and their hair in intricate braids. Saravren still had her bow, quiver and dagger, but at least she tried a little to look nice.

As they got closer, she could hear Ethren saying, “If we leave now it will take about a half hour to get to where he was last night, but he isn’t there yet. Perhaps we could travel for twenty or so minutes and wait for him to show up if he hasn’t by then?”

Elder Yim nodded slowly and added with a crooked grin, “That sounds reasonable, but let’s take it slow. No need to get all sweaty trying to rush today. It’s hard to make a good first impression if you are exhausted.”

Ethren barked a little laugh and nodded before calling, “Alright, is everyone ready to go?”

After a round of positive responses, they began to march along out of the camp to the east. The morning was cool and there was a fine layer of dew on the ground, but the forest was waking up. She could hear bird calls and animals could be seen scurrying about occasionally.

Olena spoke up from behind saying, “This forest sure is ancient. These trees are so big! There’s so much wildlife around here, it feels odd. Usually with such old places there would be more magical creatures but we’ve seen so few that it’s like they avoid this area or something. What do you think, Ethren?”

He grunted and took a moment before responding. “It could be any number of things, but I’m not sure. With so many food sources this area would be ideal for any number of creatures, but all I’ve seen are higher than average Twisted mutations. It’s something I was hoping to ask Richard about.”

Olena hummed a few notes in response, obviously hoping for more.

Saravren was silent while she pondered progressively more fanciful reasons for the strange forest when Richard’s presence bloomed in the Field ahead of them. He was close, and Ethren halted the group for a moment.

“Alright, it seems that he’s in the same place so I think we were correct in that he wished to meet us there. I’ll stay in the lead until we’re almost there, then Elder Yim will move forward first. Everyone else can line up with him a step behind, just like we practiced yesterday.”

Everyone made noises of acceptance and they continued the journey. Practicing the initial greeting had been ordered by Elder Yim along with who should accompany him with Richard. There had been some heated arguments between the elder and Ethren about it, but they eventually came up with a compromise.

After one last small stream the treeline started to thin out and their destination came into view.

As Saravren broke through the treeline, she paused in surprise.

In the middle of a freshly and even cut meadow with the dawn light streaking through the trees, it’s rays visible in the moist air, stood a soldier. To her it felt as if an ancient statue had come to life. Arms clasped behind his back and legs shoulder width apart, he exuded an air of ready competence. He stood in a perfectly circular patch of bare dirt awaiting their advance.

Standing tall, with a neutral expression on his face, the soldier had strange clothing covering his gleaming silver armor. A green tunic ran from his upper arms, over his torso and down to mid-thigh with a strange design etched on one arm and across the chest with embroidered edges. A thick black belt was around his waist held closed with a gleaming silvery buckle and a huge knife strapped on the side. Dark blue pants were tucked into sturdy polished black boots. His jaw was clear of any beard, his hair pulled tightly back into a tail.

Everyone had paused upon seeing him without realizing it. They had all seen warriors and dangerous men before, but something about his equipment coupled with the way he stood waiting whispered into their minds that he was more.

There was a certain awe inspired in the villagers by the scene, but it would have been more intimidating if not for the welcoming gleam in the soldier’s sparkling blue eyes.

He moved with smooth grace as his hands fell to his side showing the polished and fitted black gloves covering them. Bringing his right fist to his heart, he nodded and spoke a word laced with enough emotion that the meaning was clear alongside the smile, “Welcome.”

Saravren was struck still by the magical scene. It was so far removed from anything she had expected that her brain froze up until she was broken out of the moment by Elder Yim moving forward. She took a quick breath and shook her head a little before walking forward with the others.

Elder Yim stopped roughly a quarter of the way across the cleared dirt area, mirroring where Richard stood on the other side. He bowed his head slightly and said, “Hello,” before placing his hand on his chest and saying, “Elder Yim”

Richard smiled a bit wider, and placed his hand just like the elder had and said, “Richard.”

Elder Yim nodded again, then motioned while calling out names from left to right for the rest of the party. “Ethren, Olena, Saravren, Deilos.”

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Richard nodded to each as they were introduced, though he already knew two of us. I guess it is all part of the diplomatic dance? Saravren thought to herself.

Elder Yin seemed to be letting Richard make the first move, which she was sure meant something… or not… diplomacy is weird. Either way, it seemed like the right call.

Richard raised a hand in the universal ‘hold a moment’ gesture before reaching to the side with his right hand. A stick that had been hidden in the grass leapt towards his hand and he grabbed it without even looking. He began drawing something in the dirt between them, not realizing the startled jumps from people reacting to his easy use of magic.

Saravren, who was almost expecting something like that, just looked down and focused on what he was drawing.

First was a little house that looked like something a child would draw. He placed two large circles around it, and then an X off to the side. It was a crude drawing, but simple was probably for the best.

He looked up at Elder Yim and then placed the stick on the X while motioning around the meadow. He said a single word that could mean anything, but Saravren thought it was clear it meant ‘meadow’ or ‘here’ or something of that nature.

Richard looked up to see Elder Yim and myself nodding.

With a quick grin he then placed the end of the stick inside of the inner circle, but not touching the drawing of a house. He looked up at us and motioned to his mouth and then ear and then waved his fingers with sparkles coming off them like before.

He paused, focusing on them, probably to see if they needed further clarification.

After a few moments Saravren decided to speak up and said, “I think that means wherever the inside of that circle is, he can cast the spell to let us understand each other Elder Yim, but that’s just a guess.”

Elder Yim looked at her and replied, “Yes, judging from your account of the last meeting, that is my guess also.” before turning back to Richard and nodding that he understood. He motioned that they would be willing to come with him by motioning to them all and then pointing towards the house.

Richard seemed to understand, maybe, but he raised his hand in a ‘wait’ gesture and pointed the stick at the outer circle.

He used his left hand to create a glowing ball of light, which he tossed across the meadow opposite of where we had entered. It disappeared with a strange impact against some barrier that was only visible for a moment in a small area.

Everyone jumped a little at this, and Ethren cursed under his breath.

Richard looked a little startled at our reaction, then somewhat bashful as he coughed into his hand. He shrugged with a wincing smile as if to apologize, but then poked the circle in the dirt again.

He used his hand to encompass all of us, then ‘walked’ with his two fingers while drawing a line from the X through the circle. He prodded the circle a few times, then held his stomach and made a face that looked like he was sick. He raised his eyebrow and waited.

Elder Yim made a humming noise like he was thinking, but Olena chimed in, “I think that means it will make us feel bad to cross the… whatever that is. Some sort of magical field?”

Ethren spoke up, “I don’t know if this is a good idea. Whatever that thing is, we don’t know what it could do. I’ve never heard of anything like this before.”

Elder Yim hummed a little again, then turned to all of us and said, “I think Olena is right. I will be going with Richard, but if either Olena or Saravren feel uncomfortable with following, I won’t force you to. I know we decided on who was going where yesterday, but there is new information now”

Olena looked a little worried, but still determined. Ethren had a sour expression on his face, but Deilos was calm.

Deilos spoke up saying, “Why doesn’t one of us go first through and come right back? If there’s an issue then we would know, and if not they could tell us what to expect.”

Richard had dropped the stick and was waiting patiently for us to talk amongst ourselves.

Saravren caught his eye and she studied his expression and posture. He seemed worried, but she didn’t sense any deceit or aggression.

As the rest talked, she pointed at Richard then herself and then the end of the meadow, and then motioned that everyone else would stay. She raised her eyebrow at him.

Richard tilted his head trying to figure out what she had said, but seemed to understand after a moment. He nodded at her and shrugged somewhat offhandedly as if it made no difference to him.

Saravren interrupted the conversation and said, “I’ll go with him real fast, you all wait here. Deilos and Ethren are senior rangers, and you two are too important to the village.” She looked back and forth from Elder Yim and Olena.

Ethren grunted his ‘I don’t like it’ grunt before sighing and saying, “Okay. Turn back immediately if you feel like something is wrong.” He then sent the ‘I’m watching you’ half-glare towards Richard who seemed completely immune.

She walked up to Richard and gave him a quick nod. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and she had butterflies in her stomach. Magic could do all sorts of things and she was putting her trust in someone she couldn’t even talk to, but she figured he was some sort of high mage from the spells she had seen him cast thus far. She had to trust that Richard knew what he was doing.

Richard made a strange gesture with his thumb pointing up from a fist and gave her a nod, then walked ahead of her before stopping at an arbitrary point in the meadow. He turned to her and gestured ahead confidently.

Saravren paused, gathering her nerves, then pushed her shoulders back and marched quickly ahead. For a moment it was as if she was looking from underwater but it passed almost before she realized. Suddenly there was a path ahead of her where just a moment ago it had been a treeline. Her head felt a little dizzy as it caught up with the strange inconsistency and there was a slight feeling of pressure for a moment, but it didn’t last long. It did make her feel a little ill, but only lasted a few seconds.

She turned around to look back and everyone was still standing where they had been, though the rest of her party looked worried and startled. She took another deep breath and walked back towards them, but there was no strange sensation in this direction.

Richard nodded at her and took a few steps back before falling into that strange stance with his hands behind his back again while he waited.

Saravren walked back to her party and spoke over their questions. “It’s like an invisible bubble or something. It made me dizzy for a moment, but it wasn’t bad. There’s a path that’s invisible on this side of the… whatever it is, but I could still see you all. What did it look like to you?”

Ethren spoke up a little hotly, “It was as if you disappeared entirely. One moment you were walking, and the next you just faded away.”

Elder Yim interjected into the silence, “It seems that there was no harm. I would love to learn more about it, but I think it has been deemed safe, yes? Let’s not keep our host waiting.”

There was a little further grumbling, but it had been decided that Deilos and Ethren would both remain outside for now, while Elder Yin Olena and Saravren would all follow Richard. They moved the packs around so that they were only carrying the gifts and split up. Deilos would travel to the village to check in and then come back. The whole round trip would most likely be finished before it was dark. Ethren would wait in the meadow until Saravren could determine the situation and she would come get him if everything seemed safe and they could communicate.

Richard had been waiting patiently near the magic barrier and smiled welcomingly when he saw us moving towards him. He looked at Ethren and did the strange fist to heart head-bow thing. It seemed to put Ethren at ease a little for some reason, but she wasn’t questioning why. Probably some strange manly ritual.

Saravren walked right past the barrier, now knowing what to expect, then waited for everyone else. It only took a moment and both Elder Yim and Olena paused on the other side looking a little green.

Richard strode past, waving his hand for them to follow.

The path was well cleared and easy to follow through the beautiful forest. After walking for ten minutes or so, they came across a crude bridge over a river consisting of three trees lashed together. After crossing and noticing it was surprisingly sturdy, they continued deeper into the forest. Saravren noticed that the Field was oddly uniform and there wasn’t a single thing she could sense from either outside of the bubble or inside where they were walking.

After another ten or so minutes, the forest began to thin and the group saw themselves in a clearing after a final turn in the path.

Saravren slowed down and stood still looking forward. She knew her mouth was probably hanging open, but couldn’t help it.

There in front of them was a massive building made of stone. It was behind a mound of rock, so she couldn’t see the ground floor, but it rose for several stories into the air with two towers she could see that went higher than the rest. She had heard of two or even three story buildings in the Kailan capital of Shent, but those were wooden constructions for the most part, small and rare. This building was massive, at least three floors not counting the towers, and completely made of stone. It was longer across than the entire meadow that they had met in earlier, and who knew how far back it went. How it didn’t fall under its own weight was hard for Saravren to imagine.

Elder Yim stood next to her and said in a faint voice filled with wonder, “Well would you look at that.”

Olena was standing in surprise as well. Richard had continued moving until he reached an opening in the mound of rock. He grabbed another stick and some pebbles then turned around and waited for them.

They eventually shook themselves and walked towards Richard. He held his hand up in the ‘wait’ gesture once again, and looked a little sheepish.

They all stayed in place while he began to draw again. He drew a long line parallel to them, and three X’s and looked them all in the eye, uncharacteristically serious. He pointed at the three X’s, then drew a line towards the… building? As the new line intersected with the first one he drew, he turned and threw the pebble towards the fort.

Halfway across the mound of rubble, the pebble stopped in the air and dropped to the ground as if it had hit a wall. Richard looked back at them, and then threw the rest of his handful of pebbles much harder at the same spot. There was a sharp crack and some smoke as the pebbles were broken apart and rained back towards them..

Everyone jumped and Olena screamed for a moment before covering her mouth and turning a little red from embarrassment.

Richard mothioned with both hands that it was ok with a little wince. He communicated that he had to walk in, do something, walk back, and then they could follow. It took a little back and forth for it to be clear everyone understood then he walked towards the structure.

Saravren tensed up as he passed the invisible line where the stone broke, but he didn’t even slow down.

Elder Yim said into the stunned silence, “Well, I hope we didn’t make a mistake. Though I also hope he can explain what this is all about. I can’t deny I am almost overwhelmed with questions. Look at the size of that building! And these strange magical barriers! I’m not sure whether to be terrified or ecstatic.”

They mumbled noises of agreement, before falling into a tense silence.

After about ten years or maybe three minutes, Richard came walking back through the rubble pile. He smiled at them, and made a come forward wave while nodding encouragingly.

Saravren was a little worried, but she didn’t think that Richard would do anything to hurt them at this point. She told Olena and Elder Yim to wait, and that she would go first. She walked forward hesitantly, and when she passed the invisible line, she felt a little dizzy for a moment again before regaining her balance.

The first thing she noticed was a roiling torrent of energy that completely saturated the Field. It was almost suffocating how strong it was to her senses as it pressed on her mind.

She instinctively held her head and cried, “Great spirits! What is all of this energy?!”

She almost jumped out of her skin when Richard, who was standing right next to her, responded, “Oh… yeah. My bad, I totally forgot about that. I’ve just gotten used to it.”

She spun towards him, gawking at him with wonder.

She understood every word.