Book 1 - Chapter 1: Guiding Fire
After a short while, Elthin had fallen asleep and the rest of the night was. Uneventful for him but a couple of times he woke up in the middle of the night. Just to check in on Lucine using his magic to hide the fact he was doing so not wanting her to know. He was checking up on her when he did he found that she was sleeping peacefully or at least. The way most people slept unless people in the slums slept differently than those in the Noble section of town.
Morning came soon after and Elthin was the first to awaken. He got up out of bed and dressed in a blue silk shirt and black traveling pants. Over these Elthin had put on a dark blue robe covered with small white stairs. It wasn't the sort of clothes Elthin normally wore when he woke up in the morning as usually he'd just wear a robe but with Lucine here he didn't. Want to take any chances of her seeing him nearly naked so he dressed himself up.
After leaving his room he headed into the kitchen to make a meal for them both.
During the evening, Elthin checked up on Lucine a couple of times. Sometimes, she was sleeping as peacefully as expected but, on some occasions, she seemed a little restless, tossing, turning and whimpering in her sleep. Perhaps she was dreaming about the Incident yesterday, or, perhaps, she was dreaming about something entirely different. Either way, her sleep was interrupted by bouts of this restless behavior. While it didn't seem to be interrupting her rest that much, at present, it may be a precursor to something else.
When the morning came, the covers on Lucine's bed were thrown every way possible and looked nothing like the neatly made sleeping place it was the previous evening. Lucine slowly began to open her eyes as the light seeped in from the crack in the curtain over her window. In her sleep daze, she took one look at the mess her covers were in and groaned quietly. That'll be hard to clean up. After the haze of sleep faded, something else caught her attention. Was it cold in this room, or was it just her? Wait...how could it be cold if they're in the middle of a Desert? And was her bed...damp? Was she sweating tons in the night? If she was, why was only her lower half damp? Oh no...it can't be...
In a panic, Lucine looked under the covers of her bed and, sure enough, a small map-like patch could be seen on her sheets. This can't be happening! Her first night in a new home and she does this?! What would Elthin think? Did she even want him to find out? No way! Not happening.
Wanting to be rid of the evidence as soon as possible, Lucine quickly stripped both her bed and herself down and bundled everything up in a heap. She hefted the large mass of cloth out of her bedroom and quickly began to recount the tour of the house from the previous day. Having a good memory, she managed to find the one room she was looking for. At least, she hoped it was the right room. Leaving the mass of soiled garments and covers hidden in the room, Lucine headed back to her bedroom as quickly as she could. She didn't mind being seen naked by another, but the connotations of being found in such a state was something she didn't want to risk. Thankfully, Elthin seemed elsewhere at present, which gave Lucine just enough time to leave what she believed to be the room for cleaning clothes and stealthily make her way to the Washroom to clean herself up. That was, after making a quick stop at her bedroom to collect some clothes to change in to. Being as caught up in everything that happened as she was, Lucine's usually sharp senses were a little dulled due to panic, making her less likely to find out if someone was moving around the house near where she was.
Elthin went about his normal morning routine of making breakfast, Seeing as how he now had another mouth to feed Elthin first thought on what sort of breakfast, Would be good for the both of them to eat this morning. Going over to the cold room where Elthin kept several different types of meat that he saved. He took some dear meat and headed back into the kitchen. Where he began to heat it up followed by taking some eggs and bread. While the meat cooked Elthin began to make some scrambled eggs. The bread was the kind that had been used last night for dinner seeing as how there was a little left of it. Elthin thought it would be best to finish it off before starting on a new loaf of bread.
He set the bread upon the table with some jam this type. Being strawberry flavoured and went back to check on the meat it was cooking nicely. Soon enough he finished cooking the scrambled eggs and then got two plates for them both. Setting the eggs upon both plates he waited on the meat to finish up which took a few minutes longer than he would have liked. Ten minutes later the meat was finished and he set to slices of it upon both their plates. Setting the plates upon the table Elthin went about making himself some coffee while taking out some fresh milk for Lucine to drink.
Once everything was prepared Elthin then decided to go check in on Lucine. As it was nearing eight in the morning and he wanted to see if she was up yet or not. Walking down the hallway he had missed Lucine's little morning episode having been making breakfast at the time. He, however, did reach the door to her room as she was changing. Then there came a knock upon the door to her room coming from him.
"Lucine are you awake I've made us some breakfast?" Elthin asked.
When Lucine had pretty much 'destroyed' all the evidence of her 'incident', and feeling a little better than her earlier sticky self, Lucine was busy getting dressed when she heard a knock at her door. She silently thanked the Gods above for allowing her to clean up most of the mess she made before Elthin went to check on her. However, she was still pretty much stark naked.
"You can come in if you want. Just be warned that I'm getting dressed." Lucine called out in response. She still had yet to flip her mattress and remake her bed before she could let him in here. Hopefully, that would deter Elthin for a while.
Now, how would she break the news to him so he didn't catch her soiled bedding and garments? She'd have to think up a 'If I wanted to...' scenario to put it across.
Elthin waited a short while to see if he'd get any sort of reply. A little while later he indeed did when he heard Lucine's voice from behind the door. He wasn't really sure if he really wanted to go in and check on her that would. Just lead to something rather embarrassing so he remained outside of her room.
"No thanks" Elthin replied back.
He thought for a moment on something else to say but nothing came to mind. "I'll be in the kitchen" soon he left her door and headed back there.
Thankfully, Lucine's little distraction had worked, and Elthin soon headed off back into the kitchen, leaving her with enough time to quickly put on one of her new outfits and sort out most of her bed-making. She left it at just flipping the mattress and placing a new blanket onto the bed for now. The rest can be done later. After she was done, she left her room and followed the scent of food into the kitchen.
"You may have said 'no' earlier, but I'm sure you were dying to see my naked body once more." Lucine teased as she took a seat at the table. "The offer's still open, until I take my next bath that is."
Elthin was busy eating his meal again when Lucine entered the room. A faint blush formed on his face then left he'd need to get her back for that one.
"What about yourself I'm sure you'd like to see my naked body sometimes" Elthin countered. He was only doing saying this because of what she had said. There was a small silence between them and Elthin went back to eating.
Unexpectedly, Elthin threw back an equally questionable retort to Lucine's offer. She faltered a little before laughing.
"Ew! No way would I want to see that!" Lucine countered between laughter. "You're, like, twice as old as me!"
After the gutter humor, now came the awkward part of a 'Hypothetical, but really real' situation. After thinking through her question while eating, Lucine believe she finally had a plausible reasoning behind wanting to know about cleaning clothes the Nobel way without sounding too suspicious. After finishing off a final mouthful of food, Lucine posed her question.
"Um, as you're an adventuring type, I guess I may be left home alone sometimes while you're out doing your things. Also, I don't want to be living here, in a place like this, constantly taking but never giving. What I'm trying to say is...how should I put this...I'd like to know if I can help with housework? Starting with the easy things, like doing my own laundry and also, sometimes, making meals. For starters, what if I wanted to do my own laundry right now? All I'm used to is placing stuff in a huge pail of soapy water and rubbing the washing up against a washboard to clean it. How would I go about using the stuff in this house to do washing and things?"
Elthin listened to what Lucine had said back to him. "Sometimes maybe but you can always come with me. It would help you learn more about the world outside these city walls. I can show you how to do some small housework." Elthin says he then thought of why Lucine would want to do her laundry right now. "Why would you want to do your laundry right now?" Elthin asked.
"We, do things differently than just using a huge pail of soapy water. I for one used magic to clean your old outfit earlier but I think it would be easier to show you how. I normally do it which would let you understand."
Elthin gave his answer, and then Lucine realised just how much she'd dropped herself into it right now. She was as smooth talking as a gravel road is soft.
"I-I-I was just speaking hypo-...hyper-...hypa-...as a 'what if'. I don't mean 'right now' right now, I mean that as if I wanted to do cleaning some time in the future." Lucine stammered out. "I've got nothing to clean but underwear from yesterday right now!"
After trying, and potentially failing, to cover up her mistake, Luicne decided to take Elthin up on his offer for teaching her how to clean clothes. But right now would be even more problematic than her trying to hide the fact she'd slipped up.
"That'll be fine. It can wait until after today's lessons, though." Lucine quickly answered, trying to end the conversation relating to cleaning there and then.
Elthin could see that Lucine seemed to be embarrassed about what. He had just asked this made him want to know more about what it was. "Okay, well you can clean your underwear later I suppose" Elthin went on to say. He wondered just why she would want to clean them could something have happened to them during the night. "Did something happen to them last night?" Elthin asked.
Lucine the suggested he show her after the lessons were done. "Is there anything you would like to do today after lessons are done?" Elthin asked.
Again, Lucine's mouth moved before her mind could hide some things and, once more, she'd dropped herself even further into trouble.
"It's a perfectly normal thing, isn't it? Underwear is always changed once every day so, of course I'd have some underwear to clean. Plus, I want to get them clean as soon as possible as I'm currently a little exposed down there right now." Lucine quickly blurted out without thinking. The slight reddening of her cheeks stood testament to her current embarrassed state by this line of questioning.
Thankfully, the subject was changed, for now, to a more suitable one.
"I can't really think of anything I want to do after lessons right now." Lucine answered. "If I come up with something, I'll let you know. Unless, there's something you want me to do later?"
Elthin listened as Lucine spoke once more only to see her then blush after. What she had said plus he blushed himself for a short while as he couldn't. Help but think over what she said again and again "Um. I think that we shall talk about that later, as for your being exposed I can't help but say I should have bought you some more pairs" Elthin said.
The subject then changed.
"There's nothing I really want to do after lessons." he then got up and mentioned for her to follow.
Elthin took the blame upon himself for Lucine's currently exposed state. An admirable thing, if it wasn't his fault in the first place.
The pair soon finished their food and began to head off to begin the day's lessons.
"So, lessons then nothing?" Lucine asked, sounding a little dejected. "Isn't there anything we could do?"
While heading over to the place where lessons will be conducted, a mischievous idea popped into Lucine's head. She wanted to at least try and perform this particular idea as the results should be fun. She couldn't help but smile to herself a little at the thought of the potential outcomes of this plan.
"That's why I asked if you wanted to do anything else?" Elthin told her.
As they walked back to the training area Elthin knew. That there was things that he did indeed want to try out today but how did he know that Lucine wouldn't be bored with what was going on. "I do want to search around your home again for more clues" Elthin brought up. Once they reached the floor and walked through the door.
"Are you prepared to give it your all these lessons are going to be challenging?"
"What can I possibly do? If you walk around with me out in the open, more of those crazy Peacocks will try and off me in the streets. You may also be seen as a Pimp for Whoring little girls considering how I look and the fact that I'm as naked as the day I was born under these clothes." Lucine responded. "Not quite the image a classy guy like you wants, no?"
Elthin offered the suggestion of searching around the ruins of Lucine's home once more for clues.
"Not much you could find charred wood and stuff, really." Lucine dismissed the idea. "Though, it will allow me to get back to the slums and borrow those boys' clothes, so I guess I could come along."
The pair arrived at the door to the Lesson room.
"Can't be more challenging than trying to land a dagger into an apple on a chimney top from the streets." Lucine answered dismissively. She was certainly confident in her ability to learn.
"This time I will make sure no one knows your around me. I made the mistake of not taking matters to make sure you weren't noticed." Elthin says only to have heard just now what Lucine said and he didn't want that to happen.
"I don't want that nor need it unless its something you would enjoy being my whore after all?" Elthin tried to joke again.
Once in the lesson room he got serious.
"I'm sure this will be far more challenging than you know but before we begin. I'd like to ask you a question what do you know of magic?"
Elthin tried to play off the 'Whore' joke set forth by Lucine. Unlike the other jokes, Lucine didn't seem too keen on this one.
"Nobody enjoys being a Whore. Nobody wants to be one either. Selling yourself for money is something which no girl will ever freely do." Lucine answered, darkly serious for once. "However, some people place the prosperity of their family over their own personal virtue, A sacrifice needed for the better, but a fate far worse than torture."
Inside the lesson room, Elthin asked the first, most important question.
"All I know is that Magic is very useful and that Nobles would rather keep it to themselves. I know of the four basic elements and how they work in our daily lives. Basically, I know as much about magic as a baby in arms does." Lucine replied. "Basic stuff taught to Noble toddlers as soon as they understand language."
Elthin's joke from earlier seemed like a bad one so after Lucine had. Said her piece on the matter Elthin didn't say anything else as it wasn't worth bringing up anymore.
"Magic is very useful I know that some Nobles would like to do that. While there are four basic elements of magic there are others some which or forbidden. From seeing what you did earlier I can take it that your element would be fire magic. While I am not a fire magic user myself I am an ice magic user which falls under the water element. That is the kind of magic that I will be teaching you how to use." Elthin tells her letting it all sink in.
He knew that this was going to be hard normally it was easier. For students to learn the magic best suited for them like in Lucine's case fire. But seeing as how Elthin was a different type teaching Lucine ice magic would be a problem for the both of them.
Elthin listed off what kind of Magic he uses and how he shall be imparting the knowledge onto Lucine. While fire had been the power she was believed to have used before, she still had her doubts whether it was all her doing, or just some sheer miracle of a benevolent invader to shield her before razing the house.
"Somehow I don't think I'll be learning much about using Magic, then." Lucine sighed. "Aren't fire and water opposing elements? Wouldn't they cancel one another out?"
"Yes both fire and water are opposing elements and they would cancel each other out. But in the past their have been some Magician's who have been able to use both opposing elements. Together and not have that happening to them yet that is very rare. Maybe you might be one of those people who can use two opposing elements together?" Elthin said.
After saying that he backed away slightly from where. Lucine stood next be began to chant softly to himself as a means to show Lucine just what he can do. Moments passed and the temp within the room started to drop just a little bit and while Elthin kept on chanting the area before him. Turned into a small frozen piece of flooring as right before him was covered in ice.
"What I did just now was something small which you can see with the ice on the floor. There are other easy spells to cast such as defensive spells. That it what I shall teach you first which can help you in your match later and if someone were to attack you." Elthin told her.
Elthin explained about opposing elements and there being records of Magicians being able to use two elements rather than one.
"I think those were called 'Adepts', right? There are meant to be a lot of Adepts in the Mainland. After all, that's where the Archmage lives." Lucine answered. "However, I didn't think they were real. I only heard of them from Drunken bards in the taverns back in the Slums."
Elthin began to chant slowly and the room suddenly turned very cold, allowing ice to form throughout the space. Lucine was clearly shocked, and a little put off by the coldness, and gave her answer once Elthin had finished his explanation.
"The best defense is a good offense. Strike them before they can strike you. That's the Slum way." Lucine simply answered. "Though, I don't think that'll work against Magicians, so I'd like to lean this 'Defensive' spell you speak of."
"Yes, they are called 'Adepts'" Elthin told her after she had mentioned about where the Archmage lived Elthin had heard about the Archmage numerous times in his travels. But was never able to meet the man before.
Lucine was then surprised by the small spell that he had cast. "Defense is good to have as you learn more you will be able to strength your defense yet can also learn. To cast various other types upon yourself or others like me for example."
Lucine then was ready to learn the spell Elthin planned to teach her.
"The spell I have in mind will be able to protect you from low-level spells. To make things easier to understand think of it this way say I had a dagger in hand and cut your cheek. This spell would protect you from that cut but not something stronger like if. I were to stab you with said dagger which would be a stronger version of a spell." Elthin went on to explain hoping that he wasn't confusing Lucine on how he was explaining things.
He let her think on it for a while before speaking about.
"Also as you grow stronger the spell will grow stronger as well."
Elthin explained the spell he was about to teach Lucine. She listened carefully, taking in all the details her Mentor gave, and quietly running through the effects under her breath.
"Minor protection...gets stronger the stronger I get...basic defense..." Lucine quietly said to herself before perking up a little with a pleased look on her face. "I've got it! You're talking about the 'Barrier' spell, right? I've heard some Magicians say that it's the only thing that protects them from the foulness of the Slums. Also, doesn't it help to regulate temperature to a reasonable level and, also, prevent most non-magical things from harming the Magician when they get stronger?"
"That is correct the 'Barrier' spell does have a lot of different uses and as you. Pointed out it can do those things as you get stronger. Also, I'd like to point out that the 'Barrier' spell can also protect you from high-level magic. I"ll explain more about that, later on, I'd like to ask you this when you think of a 'Barrier' what is the first thing that comes to your mind?" Elthin asked.
Before he was going to teach Lucine how to start to learn the spell. He'd first show her how it worked. "Before I start to teach you the basics I'd like to show you how this spell works" Elthin started to chant softly once more before pointing a hand at Lucine. Unseen to Lucine a small invisible barrier started to form around her entire body. Which would protect her from harm from what he was about to do?
Elthin continued to explain the 'Barrier' spell. Lucine felt quite proud with herself for figuring out the name of something she shouldn't really know as of yet. Elthin asked what Lucine envisioned as a 'barrier'.
"i'd like to think of it as a kind of Bubble which surrounds a person. Or, like flower petals which surround a growing plant. Basically, I see it as a kind of ball which protects something from harm." Lucine answered, puzzling over her explanation a little.
Elthin informed Lucine that he was about to demonstrate how it works.
"Um..okay?" Lucine answered as she wondered just what he was doing.
"A 'Barrier' spell is sort of like a bubble which surrounds a person. They are able to move freely this way and that without having to worry about it being seen."
Next Elthin pointed his hand towards her slowly a small ball of ice began to form. Above the palm of his hand it was small in shape and looked like a small rock. Once the ball of ice was done forming Elthin cast the spell sending the ball speeding at Lucine. Only to at the last moment strike an unseen wall a few inches before her. Bouncing off towards the right side the barrier had protected Lucine from harm she wasn't hurt or anything.
"How do you feel?" Elthin asked.
He wanted to know what Lucine's thoughts were on what he had just done.
Elthin confirmed Lucine's thoughts on what a 'Barrier' was. She was catching on quick to the world of Magic.
The next thing Elthin did both shocked and amazed Lucine. Elthin created a small ball of ice and sent it hurtling towards Lucine, who reflexively flinched at the rapidly acelerating object before seeing it fly off in another direction, blocked by an unseen wall.
"I'm not sure whether you intend to kill me, or teach me after that." Lucine frankly answered once she was certain that she was safe from further projectiles. "Next time you throw stuff at me, warn me first, okay?"
"Fine, fine you will be warned next time" Elthin then lowered his hand. The barrier that was still around Lucine appeared faintly allowing her to see how far. It extended outwards from her body it was about a foot away from her and was blue in color. Elthin allowed Lucine to study it for several long moments making sure that she would take everything in. Before allowing the barrier to shatter to pieces around her.
"This is what I'd like for you to do first clear your mind. Then I want you to picture a bubble in your mind with yourself within said bubble. I want you to concentrate on that bubble try and think of it standing before your body." Elthin tells her.
Elthin agreed to warn Lucine next time he tried to assault her protected form in any way, shape or form. He then made the barrier around Lucine visible to allow her to study it closely. She stared intently at the entirety of the barrier and tried picturing similar things in her mind. The barrier soon shattered, and Elthin requested that she tried to make one of her own.
Lucine took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to feel the powers coursing through her veins and trying to bend them to her will. However...
A thin circle of magical energy began to form around a foot and a half away from where Lucine was. This barrier soon sparked to life as a giant plume of magma, stretching from floor to ceiling blasted forth seemingly from the depths of the earth itself, creating a ring of scorched tiles on the flooring around Lucine. A scream was heard from within the plume before it splattered harmlessly to the floor, leaving a rather shaky girl in the middle of a circle of charred tiles.
"That...wasn't supposed to happen..." Lucine quietly explained.
Elthin watched as Lucine studied the barrier before it went down. Followed next by her trying to do as he requested he watched her closely and could see. As a magical barrier started to form around her only to then spark to life. A giant plume of magma that blasted towards the ceiling the hidden marks on the walls and floor soon came to life. Creating a barrier once more around Lucine keeping her from any sort of harm.
He heard her scream and sent forth a cold wind which froze the magma. Before he dispelled it with a wave of his hand. Elthin could see that Lucine was clearly shaken by what had just happened to her.
"I want you to think for a moment when you were forming the barrier. What went through your mind right when the magma appeared?" Elthin asked.
Apart from being a little shaken, there was nothing visibly wrong with Lucine. Elthin asked what had gone through her mind before the magma appeared.
"Nothing, I think... I just imagined the bubble and imagined it covering me. I have no idea why it suddenly caught fire." Lucine simply answered. "I tried to feel the power inside me and bend it to my will but I don't think it liked it that much."
Elthin listened on what Lucine had to say.
"That has sometimes happened to people before maybe it would be better. To first learn about the power inside you and how to control it. Before doing something like trying to create the barrier spell I ask you this. When you had tapped into the power what did it feel like if you could describe it as an emotion what emotion would that be?"
Elthin explained about controlling the power inside Lucine before she started to try and use it.
"I guess that, when I first found it, it seemed calm and slightly wary, like a cat who's just been peacefully woken from its nap. When I tried to turn it into a 'Barrier' spell, I think it got a little angry." Lucine answered. "So, for emotions, I'd say 'Calm' upon finding it and 'Anger' upon trying to cast the spell."
Elthin nodded his head as Lucine explained things.
"I understand what you mean I still think it would be better to learn to control it. To be on the safe side just to keep things easy. For starters, I want you to try and tap into that power just to get a basic feel of it again. All I want you to do is feel what the power is like nothing more if something comes up I want you to power down."
Elthin instructed Lucine to try to tap into her powers once more but instantly sever the connection if something happened.
"O-okay." Lucine nodded as she closed her eyes once more and began to control her breathing.
A slight lull of magic energy began to seep forth from Lucine. This was common if a Magician doesn't know how to mask their powers. It just signified that she was beginning to tap into the ley-lines of magic throughout the world to try and find the one corresponding to her element.
Lucine's breathing remained calm and controlled, for a short while. A few moments later, she suddenly yelped and snapped her eyes open.
"I-it tried to attack me!" Lucine quietly mentioned. "It snapped at me."
Lucine tried once more to tap into her magical power. She seemed to be doing just fine before she yelped and mentioned it tried to attack her again.
"This is troubling indeed," Elthin said at last.
He wanted to keep going but didn't want to put Lucine in harms way.
"Some how we have to find a way that you can control your powers freely. Within these things happening" Elthin said.
Elthin suggested they stopped there for the Magic training until they could come up with alternatives.
"I think I just upset it before." Lucine answered. "It didn't seem like it wanted to hurt me. It actually felt like it was telling me to leave it alone. Maybe I should try apologising to it?"
Lucine began to reflect back on her encounter with her powers.
"When I find my powers, it looks like some sort of scaly creature sleeping in my mind. When I approach it to try and use my magic, It opens one eye, a slitted yellow eye, kind of like a cat's eye, and stares at me, asking me to state why I've approached it. Last time, when I tried to make the barrier, I didn't answer and just tried to call upon the power and then, well, you know what happened. When I tried to communicate with it again, the same thing happened, except, when I went to approach it, it turned to me and tried to bite me. It hard large, white fangs, bigger than any animal's I've seen before." Lucine explained.
Elthin couldn't help but laugh at Lucine wanting to say sorry to her power.
"I've never heard of someone wanting to do that before."
Lucine explained her encounter with her powers.
"Let's see I guess for starters you can say your sorry to the cat creature or dragon creature. Then explain to it what you wish to do with the power maybe it would allow you to use it's magic?" Elthin suggested.
Elthin laughed at Lucine's suggestion of apologising to her power. She just glared at him in response. She seemed pretty intent on doing just that. Regardless, Elthin suggested that she tried it anyway.
"R-right." Lucine answered as she began to close her eyes once more, "I'll try and make a little fire on the tip of my finger."
Once again, Lucine entered a state of deep breathing. She held out her right hand, extended her forefinger and pointed the finger upwards. After a few moments, the thrum of magic returned around Lucine and, slowly, a tiny flame appeared on the tip of her finger, dancing happily like it was perched on the wick of a candle. A smile crept onto Lucine's face as she began to slowly retract her finger. The flame flickered out and Lucine opened her eyes.
"It worked." Lucine stated, sounding amazed at herself. "It actually worked!"
Elthin ignored the look he had been given.
Lucine then went on to try what was suggested and moments later. Tried to draw on her powers again this time it worked and she was able to form a tiny flame. On the tip of her finger Lucine seemed happy about this.
"Good job why not try that again with another finger?"
Elthin was pleased with the steps Lucine had been able to take on the path to learning her Magic.
"I don't want to upset Her so I don't think I'll ask for pointless things like parlor tricks." Lucine simply answered. "She's been kind enough to tolerate me so far, even if I did go a little overboard with it all earlier, so I think She's done enough for me today."
Lucine dipped back into her magic for a little while before cutting the connection voluntarily. Before questions were asked, Lucine confimed what she was doing.
"I just thanked Her for putting up with me." Lucine informed her tutor. "Why don't you teach me a little more theory before we start dipping back into practical?"
Elthin learned that it was a Her who Lucine had said she was sorry to.
"I wouldn't call them parlor tricks this is just a means for you to start small. Getting used to controlling your power before moving onto bigger things." Lucine mentioned that Her was done enough for her today before dipping back into her power. Then cutting things off and wanting to learn more theory before moving onto the practical again.
"We can do that, how much do you currently know about theory?" Elthin asked.
Elthin insisted that these 'parlor tricks' were 'starting small' and not pointless, though Lucine didn't look convinced. He then, once again, asked her what she knew of magic.
"I answered this before. I know as much as a Noble toddler does about it." Lucine repeated. "You're not going senile, are you?"
"No, I'm not"
Elthin then started to think about how he was going to teach her more theory. "Magic or sorcery is the use of rituals, symbols, actions, gestures and language with the aim of exploiting supernatural forces." Elthin first explained as he thought more. "When casting some spell depending on what sort of spell you are casting. You may need to speak a certain language or speak a certain phrase. Sometimes a spell might also require a person may follow a certain pattern which helps them. Draw the magical energy to form the spell before them." Elthin explained letting everything sink on all before going on.
"I might have mentioned this or I may not have but there is also a vast category. Of spells for basics, you have your offense and defense type of magic. The barrier spell I'm teaching you falls into the defense category. While casting a fireball against an attacking monster would be offensive based."
The start of the explanation looked to go right over Lucine's head as Elthin reeled off complicated words. He didn't seem to remember he was talking to a girl from the Slums, whose only source of education were her parents and the environment of the Slums. Complicated and large words were likely lost on her. When the second part came up, which seemed to clarify the first, Lucine seemed to understand what Elthin was talking about, if only a little. In the break of communcation, Lucine started to make mental notes of the explanation. Elthin then continued on with the initial talk about what types of magic there were.
"I think I get it?" Lucine answered, sounding a little unsure of herself. "One thing, though, please don't use those big words. All the words I know came from my family, the other people in the Slums, and some passing merchants and travelers, and they weren't exactly Scholars or Elders."
Lucine seemed to get what he had said but she also seemed confused. "Is there anything that you don't understand about what I just mentioned. I can go over it again trying to make things more easier to understand?" Elthin asked.
Teaching Lucine magic was a lot harder than Elthin thought it would be. Maybe he should have tried weapon-play with her first.
"So, drawing things can also be a form of Magic?" Lucine asked. "And doing certain hand movements and stuff? Magic's more complicated that I thought. I just thought it was saying a word like 'Explosion!' and things would go 'BOOM!'."
"Yes. as it can help channel the magic powers. You are able to use to form the sort of spell you'd like to cast" Elthin explained. "Yes it's all complicated but as you learn more about it things should become easier. Also reading books is another form of learning magic as knowledge can be gained that way too." Elthin pointed out.
Elthin elaborated more on the gestures and shapes used for casting magic and then, once again, forgot about Lucine's limited learning capabilities.
"Reading is probably nice but, I think I've already told you this, I don't know how to read." Lucine sighed. "I'd hate to become this forgetful when I'm older. If that's the way it'll be, then I'd like to stay young forever."
"I know you have I was just pointed out other methods of learning magic." Elthin went onto say. He then put a hand to his head "what can we do to make things easier?" Elthin asked. He had so much to teach her and not all the time in the world to get what he wanted taught across.
Elthin puzzled over ways of teaching Lucine all she needed to know to learn Magic. Things were never going to be easy for a single tutor trying to do the job of a whole Guild of Learned individuals. Lucine decided that a compromise was necessary.
"How about this: You teach me all the basic stuff, like reading and writing, and, once I've got that down and the very basics of magic, you could enroll me at the Guild as a new student. Wait, wasn't that our original plan?" Lucine suggested, confused by her own lapse of memory. "Anyway, you teach me basic stuff, and the Guild teaches me the rest. We can do the learning while doing other things, like you could teach me to read by showing me a Magic book aimed at kids while also teaching me the origins of Magic with it."
Lucine explained on how she wanted to be taught.
"Well it was but didn't you also say you wished to learn to read and write later?" Elthin asked. As Lucine had mentioned that she wanted that to happen later. So he had been trying to teach her how to do magic without the reading part of it added it. Which just made things a lot harder "we can do that so I believe we should then head to the library teach you to read. Sorry for things being so confusing and hard."
Elthin then mentioned for Lucine to follow him.
Elthin was in agreement for Lucine's educational proposition, but he didn't seem too keen on the reading and writing being included so soon.
"Without reading and writing, I won't be able to learn at the Guild, as musty old books are the only way those old guys can teach. Learning the basics of Noble Living will make everything much easier as it'll open up so many ways to learn. I could also do what they call 'private study' then and not take up too much of your time." Lucine replied. "If Slums had schools, then this would be so much easier. Mainland doesn't have Slums, so they must all be really smart there. That's probably why only the wisest of Elders and the smartest of Scholars go there."
Elthin informed Lucine of something called a 'Library'.
"is that the place where all the Scholars go to do stuff?" Lucine asked, sounding a little bored."They just spend all their times with their noses in books it's no wonder that they're the easiest to pickpocket."
Lucine followed on behind Elthin before stopping for a moment.
"Hey, um...wouldn't it be better if I, you know, covered up a little 'down there' before I go wandering around the Noble's quarter?" Lucine suggested. "We've already made a bad enough image."
"You do know I can also teach you to read and write do you think. That'd be easier than going to the Guild or do you still wish to do that?" Elthin asked. He thought over everything else that Lucine had to say. "After what you say me teaching you can be called 'private study' plus I don't mind teaching you" Elthin added. He then went on to say something else "you're not taking up too much of my time it's actually nice having you around as it's been a bit quiet here lately."
Lucine then asked about the 'Library'
"Yes must Scholars do that stuff there" Lucine then stopped and asked about covering up. "Why would we be going around the Noble's quarter I was going to take you to my library. Unless you'd rather go to the Guild's one after you're done cleaning up?" Elthin asked.
"That's what I meant, dummy!" Lucine chuckled. "You'll teach me to read and write so I can then go and learn the rest at the Guild. I won't be able to learn at the Guild unless I know how to read and write."
Elthin seemed to appreciate Lucine's time with him, which came as quite the surprise to the young girl.
"U-um...thanks." Lucine answered with a blush. "I like spending time with you as well. You know so much about the world that I don't know."
Elthin confirmed that Scholars did, indeed, spend nearly all their time at the Library. Much to Lucine's surprise, Elthin decided to not take her to the Local library but, rather his own private Library.
"I guess that can work as well." Lucine replied, quite confused by the offer. "Don't you need to enroll me at the Guild before I can start going there? I guess that, if you're offering to take me to the Guild, we can get the enrollment and the first look around done at the same time. After I've been taught how to do laundry, of course. Firstly, though, we'll need to get me some boy's clothes."
"Could have made things easier to understand silly" Elthin sighed. "Also while at the Guild please try and not cause a whole lot of trouble" Elthin added.
Lucine also seemed to enjoy her time with him as well.
"Your welcome" Elthin told her.
Lucine was confusing him again but he didn't let it show. "Yes I still need to do that this it what we will do. First we will get you cleaned up then we will need to make you look more like a boy. To help go along with the clothes we will pick up after we finished up at the Guild. Once all that is done we will come back here where I'll teach you how to read and write does that sound like a plan?" Elthin asked.
He then started to lead Lucine towards the laundry.
Elthin, once again, inadvertently accused Lucine of being a trouble maker.
"I'm not the one who causes trouble. Trouble's the one who finds me." Lucine countered.
Confusing conversations began to look like a common occurrence between the pair now.
"This is getting us nowhere." Lucine sighed as she tried to process what events they were actually doing and in what order. "I'll just follow your lead. That sounds like a much better plan."
As proposed previously, Lucine just followed Elthin's lead, until realisation hit her. He was going to help her with laundry, and not just teach her how to do it.
Oh no...
"Well, if it does it does" Elthin said back.
Elthin then led Lucine to the laundry room and they both walked inside. Inside the room was also different from the basics that Lucine would have known in the Slums. There was washing machine and a dryer it was a new model that had recently just been invented. About a year ago and Elthin had decided to pick up two for a lot of money.
Elthin led Lucine into a room which she'd only frantically blitzed through earlier. Now that she was a little more composed, the true wonders of the room set in. There were two strange metal objects with some kind of supple, yet super strong, material covering a cylinder of ridged and bumped metal. The cylinder had a glass door on the front of it. It was, in short, a wonder of something which Lucine had never even heard of before. How could metal be formed in such a way? And what was the strange material covering the metal, and how did they turn glass into a door?! Just what were these alien things?! Lucine was evidently amazed and confused about all of this.
Lucine was amazed at what she saw when they entered the room. In the corner of the room was a pile of dirty clothes that Elthin had not washed yet. Having been far too busy and forgot about it walking over her picked up his dirty clothes. And took them over to the washing machine and placed them inside. "First thing you would want to do is place your clothes inside this machine. But before doing them you'd want to sperate them into colors as not to create a use mess." Elthin said.
He knew Lucine would be confused by what he just said. "I will explain further at another time seeing as how my clothes as just some shirts. It's okay next we want to add in some bleach and other items to help make our clothes clean."
Elthin began to explain the basics of clothes washing to Lucine.
"I know how to do it, just not how to use these...things?" Lucine answered, indicating the two strange objects. "Separate darks from lights and colours from shades."
Lucine began to look over the two strange devices a little more closely.
"So, these things do all the work? What'll I do, then? How do they work? What are they?" Lucine asked as tons of questions popped into her mind.
"These things work on using water magic elemental stones. You'll have to wait for a certain about of time like thirty minutes for the washing machine. The dryer machine uses fire elemental stones and you'd have to wait forty minutes. But don't worry about the stones doing any harm these are made to be used in doing this sort of thing." Elthin explained.
He went over and picked up some elemental stones of water. From a cub board nearby and placed them into the washing machine. After placing the bleach on his clothes soon enough the stones began to do their work.
Elthin's explanation cleared most questions up, but they didn't say just how they worked. Once the machine began to do its job, Lucine stared in amazement at the small glass window before the drum of the machine.
"Wow..." Lucine quietly breathed in marvel as she continued to stare, like a cat at a circular ball, at the drum of the machine.
Elthin then forgot that he had not told her how they worked. "These machine work like how we used to do laundry in the old days but the do a much quicker job and don't take all day." Elthin mentioned again.
As they waited for Elthin's clothes to finish washing they made small talk. About the day ahead and things in the future soon enough Elthin's clothes were done. And he placed them in the dryer to dry and quickly they were done as well. Leaving it now Lucine's turn to do her own laundry "are you okay with working these machines alone or do you want some help in using them?" Elthin asked after taking out his clothes.
Elthin tried to make small talk with Lucine, but it was kind of hard with her one-word answers as she was captivated by the things going on inside of the machine. Eventually, the clothes were cleaned and she was snapped back to reality.
"Oh..um...just show me what stuff to use and I can do the rest myself." Lucine quickly answered. "You can get back to prepping the rest of the stuff for today. I'll be fine alone, really."
"Okay I'll show you again," Elthin said noticing that Lucine seemed to be hiding something again. He didn't push it so he showed her once more on what stuff to use going slow. So that she would know what to use and soon enough he was finished.
"I'll get things ready for the day" Elthin the let Lucine be alone.
Thankfully, Elthin bought the obvious lie and just ran through what to use once more and what measurements to use them in. Afterwards, he left Lucine to her own devices, much to her delight.
Once she was certain that Elthin was not in the room, and that he wasn't going to be coming back in any time soon, Lucine removed her soiled bedding and clothing from its hiding place and threw them all in the machine. They were all pretty much the same colour, and linen's natural colouring didn't run, so they'd all be fine going in the same wash. She inserted the amount of Elemental Stones she was told to use and let the machine do its work.
During the time Lucine was doing her laundry Elthin was busy making plans. For the rest of the day he was also making sure everything would all go right. The first thing he did was go to his room and opened an old chest. With some old clothes of his after placing his laundry on his bed. He took some of his clothes out and looked them over. Looking to see what sort of clothes he could give to Lucine to use.
For when they went out later as it would be a good idea. To have her looking like a noble to help avoid some more trouble. He knew he'd need to use some magic to shrink the clothes into her size but wasn't sure which clothes would look good on her. So he picked out a black shirt and trousers for her to wear. Then used some magic to shrink the clothes into her size and went about going to her room to place them there.
The machine took its time to clean through the articles of clothing inside of it. During this time, Lucine silently prayed to any Deity that would listen, and more so to the 'Deity of Laundry', if there was such a thing, that the stuff inside wouldn't be stained when it came out. Stained washing was the last thing she wanted to have to explain. Thankfully, the offending thing which caused the problem in the first place was mostly diluted, as was normal in a hot place like the desert, so it shouldn't have caused that much trouble. Still, nothing could be left to chance when a girl's dignity was on the line.
After he had put some of the new clothes in Lucine's room he took. A pair that he had been holding onto and walked back to the laundry room to give them to Lucine to wear. "I'm given something of mine to you to wear when we go out. It should be in your size as I did a small change to it." Elthin told her as he handed her the clothes to get changed into. As he left the room to do a few more things.
Thankfully, just before Elthin entered the Laundry room, the wash was done and Lucine had quickly thrown the important things into the other machine to be dried. She acted a little suspicious at first.
"Oh, uh, I didn't know you'd be back so soon. Come to check on me to make sure I haven't wrecked the place?" Lucine quickly commented as she stood directly in front of the window on the dryer. "Clothes, huh? I guess it'd be better if I did look more Noble-like when I'm out walking around. I'll get changed into them before we go out."
After the quick surprise visit, Lucine exhaled the breath she'd been unintentionally holding during the visit. That was far too close.
Elthin wasn't able to answer Lucine again since he had already left the room. While Lucine was busy changing and doing her own things Elthin. Went to the library of his and searched for a magic book that would make things. Easier for Lucine to learn to do magic along with having a better chance of her learning to read at a easier pace. After a time of searching he was able to find a dusty tome that would suit them nicely. Blowing the dust off the book then wiping it down with a cloth.
Elthin set the book down on the table along with a feathered pin and some paper. If things went nicely he'd also try and teach her how to write as well. With everything in place he left the room and moved back to the weapons room.
Once the dryer was done, Lucine collected up her washing and took them, along with her new change of clothes, back to her bedroom to remake her bed and get changed. Firstly, she placed her panties back on, as she was certain that male clothing wouldn't be as suitable for going commando in as some female clothing is.
Afterwards, she went about quickly making her bed to further hide any indications that something a little more than she was letting on had happened. Once the bed was made, Lucine went about changing into the male clothing she was given. It was hard figuring out how some of the clothes were put on, as all Slum girls tended to wear were their brown linen dresses, and trousers were reserved for only adult males as a sign of maturity. She wasn't sure if people would buy the fact that she was, indeed a Noble Boy if she was wearing something which only adults should wear. However, she trusted Elthin's judgement and went about putting all the clothes on.
Once she was changed, she looked herself over in the mirror. She didn't look too much like a girl any more. The only real give-away to her true gender were her slightly wider and more curvaceous hips and her long hair. Her face could easily be mistaken for a pretty-boy's face, so it wasn't that much of an issue at present. Upon doing a little bit of moving around in her clothes, she also noticed that she didn't carry herself like a boy did. She'd always learned from her mother, so it wasn't a surprise that she was way too feminine in grace, posture and movement. She'd probably have to be taught how to walk more masculine from Elthin. For now, her long hair could be hidden by wearing a flat-cap, like some Noble Boys wore. All in all, she could easily pass as a boy if people didn't look too much into it. When she started blooming into Womanhood, though, all the lies will be unraveled.
Following on from her quick appraisal of herself, Lucine went off to go an find Elthin to show him the change that had come over her.
In the weapons room once again Elthin took a dagger from the wall. It was one of the daggers he had shown Lucine early. He'd have her wear it on the side while also keeping the weapon she already had hidden on her person. He next took his own sword from his room and would wear that himself. Leaving the room Elthin then went to the washroom to get the stuff needed to trim Lucine's hair to make it look more like boys.
He got some scissors, a towel, and a few other things and walked back, To the laundry room where Lucine had finished dressing herself. "I was thinking of cutting your hair a little to make it look more like boys or do you wish to keep your hair as is?" Elthin asked her. As he set things up upon on of the counters in the room. As he looked at he could see that she indeed could pass for a Noble Boy but would still need a small amount of training. Such as walking and acting for one thing and posture would be another.
Instead of Lucine finding Elthin, Elthin had found her. He offered to cut her hair to make her look more like a boy.
"While I'm quite fond of my hair, I guess I couldn't always go around wearing a hat, so, sadly, I'm afraid it'll have to go." Lucine answered, sounding a little downtrodden. "Please don't cut too much of it off."
Elthin could tell that Lucine seemed a little downtrodden. At the thought of getting her hair cut so he offered another idea. "Well you can wear a hat most of the time if you really want to. We could always do the cutting some other time?" Elthin said.
He even took a moment to look her up and down.
"Those clothes suit you nicely" Elthin commented her.
Elthin offered the alternative of cutting Lucine's hair at a later date.
"I guess it could work out for most of the time, but, still, it'd look a little weird if I kept wearing hats indoors." Lucine answered. "I'll keep it long, for now, but, eventually, it'll have to be chopped off either way."
Elthin made what Lucine interpreted as a snide comment, saying that boys clothes suited her.
"Are you saying I'm more like a boy than a girl?" Lucine questioned. "I'll have you know I'm more girl that you'll ever get."
"Then its decided then."
Lucine next made a comment about her being more of a girl than he'd ever know.
"N-No I'm just saying that you looked nice in them." Elthin finally said he had something. Else he had wanted to say but it died in his throat. "Before we head out for the day there is one thing I need to take care of." Elthin walked over to her and placed a hand upon her forehead. Muttering a small phrase magical energy filled the room and flowed over Lucine. It covered her entire being doing no such harm but shielding her from the eyes of other mages.
"What I've just done is shield your presence from the eyes of other Magicians. That is if you stay close to me at all times as I believe we need to be on the safe side."
Elthin drew into some more magic as he shielded Lucine's presence from other Magicians.
"So, you mean that they won't be able to see me? Or does that do something else? It'd be cool to be invisible." Lucine questioned. "Still, I have a feeling that there's something we really should get sorted before you start taking me out in public posing as a boy. Like, what'll my 'boy' name be?"
"It means that they won't see you unless you stray too far away. So in some ways you will be invisible and other ways you won't." Elthin pointed out. Lucine then wanted to know what sort of boy name she would be using.
"I was thinking we could use the name Lucius is that okay?" Elthin asked.
"So I can still be 'seen' seen, but not traced?" Lucine asked, still confused by the explanation. "Will they be able to tell that I can burn things?"
Elthin suggested that the name Lucine should be known by in this guise would be 'Lucius'. It didn't sound too far from her name, and she kind of liked the sound of it.
"I kind of like that name, so let's take it." Lucine agreed.
"Something like that yes" Elthin said slowly letting Lucine get the understanding of it. "Not unless you cast any sort of magic" Elthin added in.
Lucine seemed to like the name 'Lucius'.
"Also we will be using my last name for you saying that you're my younger brother. There may come a point in time that someone may ask you about my homeland or even family. I'll have to teach you a few things about them to help them."
"Good thing I don't know how to do that yet." Lucine answered jokingly.
Elthin proposed the idea of Lucine posing as his younger brother when they are outside in the City.
"As long as I don't get found out by anyone, I'm up for anything." Lucine agreed with a shrug.
"You shouldn't need to worry about that there will only be one other person. Who will know who you truly are we shall meet them at the Guild."
Elthin then started to leave the room and Lucine followed after him. Yet he stopped for just one more moment.
"I'd like you to keep a close eye on how I work and how I act. Around other Nobles let alone other people this should help you in learning how to act more like a Noble. Even the things that I say to other people can also help you out."
Elthin informed Lucine that only one other person knows the truth about her, however, that wasn't exactly the case.
"What about those fluffed birds yesterday? Don't they know about me as well?" Lucine asked. "They called me a 'Witch' and all that."
Elthin led Lucine out of the room, but stopped to warn her of one more thing.
"Learn through example. Got it." Lucine affirmed with a nod. "Should I keep my mouth shut, or shouldn't I?"
"Those two from yesterday yes would know you. But they don't know your name or what you can do. Though the boy's master maybe another story altogether." Elthin said.
They then both started walking again and soon enough walked outside. But not before Elthin gave Lucine the dagger he had taken to place on her person.
"The dagger will be for show it'd be best to keep two weapons on your being. This and the one I'm sure is still hidden, as for keeping quiet or not for starters I'd keep quiet you can say hello and tell someone your name. But until fully learning more you should remain quiet unless I ask you something."
Elthin led Lucine outside and handed her another dagger, which he said would just be for show.
"Of course I have the other one on me. However, it's a little uncomfortable right now, considering I don't have the hidden pocket in these clothes. Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. It's just hidden elsewhere and not where you might think." Lucine replied with a grin. "I'll keep this one tucked into my belt. Snatching it from me won't be easy, I can promise you. I know all the tricks people might use."
Elthin informed Lucine to keep to just simple conversation until she's had more practice talking like a Noble.
"I'm not good at being quiet, but I'll try." Lucine simple replied.
"I just would like to take things easy for right now. You could always try talking more if you'd like I'm sure you must have been taught some manners. In the Slums, you can try to add those into how you act but do so in a nice way."
The pair started walking towards the center of the town. Which is where the Guild was located on the way they passed by other people Elthin said hello to them. Or nodded his head in greeting making sure to study the surrounding area. Also with keeping Lucine close by at all times in case someone could be searching for her. Elthin then decided to test Lucine on her name to see if she would respond to it.
"Lucius, how are you enjoying the weather today?" Elthin asked.
Elthin, trying to come to a compromise, suggested that Lucine could still talk if she wanted, as long as she used manners, which he believed she would have been taught in the Slums. Lucine couldn't help but laugh at this outrageous suggestion. Manners, taught in the Slums?! Typical Noble ignorance.
"Really, you think we get taught Manners in the place where all the worst of the worst live?!" Lucine said between laughs. "You really don't know nothing about Slum life. Manners to Slum Dwellers is not knifing someone in the back while they're on the shitter."
Elthin really had no clue about Slum life if he truly believed that.
While walking along, Elthin decided to test Lucine on her new name with the most generic of conversation starters. It took her a second or two to figure out that she was the target of the conversation.
"Just an average day here, I'd say. Heat, heat and more heat." Lucine simply answered. What else could she say about the weather? They were in the middle of a Desert, after all. Sun and heat were the only things they got.
Lucine thought it was funny that Elthin she was taught manners in the Slums. "The thought crossed my mind, " Elthin said. They kept walking and then passed a corner store they both went inside the store and Elthin looked around for a hat. He was going to buy it for Lucine to wear since the thought of Arundal finding her out. So Elthin picked out a small travelers hat for Lucine it was just a simple thing really. He paid for it and they both left the story shortly after.
"I should have given you a hat to wear before we left. Here wear this for right now at least until we get home." He handed the small hat to her.
When they were walking again he had tested her. Lucine had passed his test he'd need to test her again at a later time. After ten more minutes of walking, they both arrived at the Magician's Guild it was a large type of desert castle that'd you see in desert areas. However, this one was a lot bigger than the others Elthin had been to. They arrived at a large set of wooden doors which led inside three stories up were towers upon the four corners of the castle.
"We are here for your second test I'd like you to watch everything that goes on inside of this place," Elthin told her before they were to go inside.
Elthin, during the walk to the Magician's Guild, popped into a Hat Shop to pick something up. Lucine did mention that she may need a hat before they even left the house but, as normal, forgetfulness came into play. After the quick stop, and the donning of the Hat by Lucine, they continued to the Magician's Guild.
Upon arrival, Elthin gave his second test to Lucine. requesting her to watch interaction between Magicians.
"Whatever you say." Lucine shrugged as she took in the sheer size of the Magician's Guild.
Elthin walked up to the set of doors and opened them. He let Lucine inside first and then followed after shutting the door behind him. Inside the Magician's Guild was several other Magician's at the moments walking this way and that. Two were having a deep talk about who knows what off in the corner of the room was a desk. With a person behind it and in the middle of the room was the statue of the Arch Mage Yassen.
The inside of the Guild looked even more confusing and larger than the outside. Lucine had no idea just what route led to what, and she couldn't even begin to understand some of the Magical marvels going on inside of the place. There were a couple of Magicians chatting around one of the displays of an uncovered relic, which looked kind of like a large disc with some curved blades attached. However, the blades didn't look all that sharp. There was some caption about the object at the bottom of the display case but she had no idea what it was noting.
In the middle of the large open entrance hall was a equally large statue of some Old magician in much more vibrant and flamboyant robes than all of the others. He must have been a figure of importance. What disturbed Lucine most was the fact that all the people inside of the guild were all males. She hoped that the rumors were not true, but it turns out that the Old Ways still stick.
Letting Lucine have her look around the Guild entrance for a time longer. He then led her towards the desk where another Magician had joined the other one. This was a help desk where people could go to get help in certain Magician matters.
"Excuse me I'd like to sign up my younger brother Lucius here to enter the guild?" Elthin
Elthin requested to sign up Lucine at the main help-desk. The Magician behind the counter, like most of the others, looked around middle age. He passed over a registration form to Elthin and a quill with an inkwell.
"Please fill this in." The Magician simple instructed, it was clear that new applicants were quite common if his lack of enthusiasm for yet another new student was anything to go by.
The registration form included everything which most registration forms included: Name, age, emergency contacts, known medical issues, the usual. This one also included what power they were known to use out of the four elements, how they came across knowing they had this power, what kind of spells they already knew (if any), whether they were better at offensive, defensive or supportive Magic and any known problem areas for Magical Learning.
There was also a section for the applicant to sign and date. Oh...
Elthin was handed a registration form to fill out with an inkwell.
He then led Lucine away so they could sit down on some chairs. As he read over the form to her slowly. "This is going to be a small pain as I'll need to ask you if you have any medical issues that I don't know about. As for the others, it should be easy to fill in." Elthin then started to fill out the form the best that he could. When he got to the section on what she was best at he looked at it for a while then asked Lucine something.
"In this section, I need to list which you'd be good at. What sounds best to you offensive, defensive or support magic?" Elthin asked.
Elthin asked Lucine a few questions in regards to the registration form.
"Medical issues?" Lucine questioned. "What're they?"
Elthin also asked about what kind of Magic she'd be good at.
"What do you think I'd be good at? I've only really just known this power for little over a day. I've no idea what I can do." Lucine replied.
"Medical issues would be things that are wrong with your body." Elthin tried to explain the best that he could.
"Fron what I know I'd say you were good at offensive magic" Elthin tells her after she asked. Him what he thought she was good at.
Elthin tried to explain medical issues to Lucine.
"Nothing's wrong with my body as far as I can tell." Lucine simply answered.
Elthin decided to put down that Lucine was good at Offensive Magic.
"Whatever you think." Lucine shrugged.
Lucine mentioned there was nothing wrong with her body.
"Well, since I'm not sure what your issues are I will list none"
He filled out the section for her issues. "Then we will go for offensive then, but I'll teach you everything" He filled out that section as well.
Both parties came to an agreement on the idea that there was nothing wrong with Lucine in the medical department. They also agreed that offensive magic was the way to go for Magical Aptitude. And now came the final page of the registration form:
'Please could the Parent/Guardian of the applicant in question sign their consent for a medical examination to take place to determine fitness levels for combat lessons.'
Well...
Elthin once was done came to the final page of the form he read it over. "It says I'm suppose to sign this for a medical examination, What this means is they are going to exam you this can be a problem as they might find out that your a girl and not a boy this can lead to problems." Elthin told her.
He wanted to fill it out but wasn't sure if he wanted to risk Lucine being found out.
Elthin informed Lucine of the mandatory medical examination. She didn't seem too pleased to hear it.
"It'd be done by a Doctor, wouldn't it? Aren't Doctors made to promise not to tell others about the people under their care?" Lucine asked, hoping that this was true. "Hopefully, they won't tell anybody, but, they may not want to keep me on after they find out. What should we do?!"
"Yes it would be done by a Doctor and they are made to promise that. But sometimes they might tell someone something." Elthin thought over what they should do if they went through with it they could be found out. If not Elthin would be teaching Lucine everything himself and she would be an outlawed Magician.
"I want to go through with it but the risk it too high with the chance of them finding. Out the true about you which doesn't sit well with me. What do you want to do should we go through with it or not?" Elthin asked.
Elthin tried to explain the 'Patient Confidentiality' with Lucine.
"Then it's not a promise if they don't stick to it." She answered, a little angry at the dismissal of a promise.
Eventually, they were stuck between a rock and a hard place for this decision.
"I'd say we better risk it. Better to try and fail than to not try at all." Lucine sighed.
Lucine decided that she wanted to go through with it.
"Then it's a risk we will have to take" Elthin then filled out the last page before. Signing his name and date to the form. They both go up and walked back over to the desk and handed the form back to the Magician.
"I've filled it out here you go"
Elthin filled out the last part of the Registration form and handed it back to the clerk. They looked over the documents and were about to stamp on the seal of approval until they noticed something.
"Your brother hasn't signed this document yet." The clerk informed Elthin as he handed the document back. "We just need a little signature here and a date."
The clerk pointed to the part of the form which needed signing by the applicant. It was a simple declaration of understanding of the registration process and an approval of accuracy for the information submitted.
Lucine, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible, did a little 'Signature squiggle' in the needed place before handing it back. The clerk simply shrugged at the looping lines on the paper.
"Good enough." He said as he stamped the document. "The registration process takes two to three days, workflow dependent, before being finalised. The medical examination will be booked after the process is done for the next working day. The Medical examination will take a full day to be completed and it will be held at the local Apothecary building."
Elthin had thought that he was the only one who needed to sign it. Not having Lucine sign it but it turned out he was wrong. "Oh, sorry about that" Elthin handed the form over to Lucine to sign she signed it the best she could and the clerk was fine with it.
"Okay, that's nice to know about, I'd also like to make a request to speak with Elder who took part in the investigation in the disturbance in the Slums yesterday is possible?" Elthin asked.
Elthin requested to speak to The Elder. The clerk raised an eyebrow inquisitively at this.
"Do you have an appointment? The Elder is a very busy person. We can't just have people aimlessly converse with him." The Clerk asked. "The Elder is presently in a meeting about the current situation. Alongside the fire breaking out in the Slums yesterday, we also have an unexpected visit from some very important people in the next few days. We really only heard that they'd landed here today."
The clerk asked if Elthin had an appointment with the Elder who he wished to speak to.
"Well, no I don't but can I set up an appointment and I'd like to sign myself. And my student here up to do battle against Lord Arundal and his student Frantz?" Elthin asked. He then heard that the Elder was in a meeting this made things harder. He also learned they were getting an unexpected visit from some important people in a few days.
"Just who are these important people coming by?"
Elthin explained the situation to the Clerk.
"Lord Arundal and Young Master Frantz have already issued a formal request for a duel. Their opponents are Lord Elthin of House Veldhar and some Slum girl who's of no consequence." The Clerk answered. "However, while I do know that you, most certainly, are the challenged party, what does your 'Younger Brother' have to do with fighting for a dreg from the Slums?"
Lucine was clearly fighting back anger in regards to how this Magician was insulting her to her face.
"Maybe this 'Slum Girl' has asked me to be her fighter for the coming battle?" Lucine suggested, suppressing her Slum Dialect. "After all, wouldn't two fighters from House Veldhar be more suited to a Magician's duel than a Slum Girl?"
Elthin asked about the important visitors.
"Haven't you heard? A Inquisition Airship from the Mainland has docked at the Argenta Military Blockade today and is requisitioning one of their 'Steel Calvary' to reach here by the latest of two day's time." The Clerk answered.
Elthin learned that Arundal and Frantz had already issued a formal request for a duel. The clerk then spoke about Lucine fighting for herself being that Slum girl. He was about to respond when Lucine then spoke up he turned to her. He could clearly see the anger in her eyes and spoke up before something happened.
"Yes the 'Slum Girl' did ask for him to be her fighter and I thought it would. Be a good idea as it would give Lucius here some much-needed experience. And two fighters from House Veldhar is must better than one."
The clerk told Elthin about the important visitors.
"Sorry, but this is the first I've heard I've been fairly busy as of late. Why would they wish to come here?" Elthin asked.
Elthin gave his reasoning behind Lucine fighting as 'Lucius' for the coming battle.
"Really." The clerk huffed. "Even if it does give him some needed combat conditioning, why would we agree to fight for a Slum Dweller?"
Elthin was insitent on allowing 'Lucius' to fight in the duel.
"Very well." The Clerk sighed, giving in to the opposing side. "You just need to sign the Challenge letter and we can get things set up."
The clerk pulled forth two very haughtily written documents. They appeared to be on the basic challenge request template, but the content was much more like a rant of 'Honor' and 'Justice' rather than a formal combat request. The second document, clearly written by Fratz, was potentially the most down to earth one of the pair, simply stating 'I wish to fight the stupid girl who called me stupid'.
As for the reasoning behind the Inquisition's visit:
"Apparently, that fire in the Slums yesterday was caused by a Witch. They've come here to 'eradicate' that menace before it can cause more destruction." The Clerk answered. "That's really all that's publicly known at present. The workings of the Inquisition are of utmost secrecy."
"Because he didn't like what was happening to her nor did I," Elthin said.
The Clerk then mentioned for him to sign the form letter. The Clerk then gave them two documents that were much later than what he got before. He read them over and then signed the letter and gave Frantz letter to Lucine to sign as well.
He then learned of the Inquisition's visit.
"So, that's why they are here," Elthin said quietly as he thought things over. This made things a lot harder now to deal with he didn't want to deal with the Inquisition at all. "Oh, have you heard anything from the Artaria Continent at all. I haven't been able to get any up to date news from there for several weeks."
Lucine, again, gave her 'Signature Squiggle' to the paper presented to her and handed it back to the Clerk.
"Processing these will take roughly a day, setting up the arena can take a few days depending on how booked out it is and actually getting the publicity out to make it an Event is quite time consuming. You can expect it to be at least a week before the actual duel goes forward." The Clerk informed the pair. This guy really sounded like he hated his job.
Elthin requested if the Guild had heard anything from the Artaria branch recently.
"Our most recent conferences are recorded in the Communication Matrix in our information room. You can find it through the hallway to the right and in the main Library." The Clerk informed Elthin. "I really don't understand Argentian inventions, but they do make our Scribes' lives easier."
The Clerk explained how long things would need to take to set up. Before the duel was to take place.
"That's okay with me."
The Clerk then spoke about how things were recorded on the Communication Matrix. Elthin then thanked the Clerk and mentioned for Lucine to follow him as he. Went over to the invention Elthin pointed out where the Library was to Lucine. As he set up the invention to learn about what was going on in his homeland.
Elthin led Lucine to the Library.
"More dusty books?" She sighed as she complied with the request.
The communication matrix looked as complicated to make as it was to operate. It appeared to be loads of overlapping pieces of Magical scripture on papers wrapping around a globe-like object like an orbiting Solar System. There was no evident 'on' switch, so the Librarian on duty activated to device with some complicated chants, dousing of Magical Oils and some weird prayer like hand gestures before pushing the globe and causing it to spin. The object grew bigger to nearly fill the whole dome-like place it was kept in before making some sounds like gears grinding into action before an image of the Elder at the Artarian branch appeared inside of the dome, orbited by the magical scriptures, which had just begun to glow.
"Whoa..." Lucine sighed as she watched the whole display go forth.
The Elder in the image began to give routine updates on the Artarian branch, like movement of new entrants, latest discoveries in the Alchemy labs, drunken reported sightings of Silver Dragons in the snows, what new kind of 'Inspiration' they were getting from their latest Alchemical experimental 'Mind Expanding' herbs. The usual kind of things.
"That's what libraries are nothing more than dusty books"
Lucine didn't seem all that impressed with the display that was just set up. Elthin listened to the Elder of his home branch speak up about the latest things. Elthin was able to learn quite a few things he learned for starters that. A new set of ruins had been discovered twenty miles away from his hometown. They appeared to have found some sort of ancient weapon and treasure buried there. He also learned about how there seemed to be some more sights of silver dragons even going as far to say. There had been a sighting of a white dragon in the area around the southeastern coast, This excited Elthin and he wished to learn more but there was nothing more to say. It was just taken as a drunken report. Nothing else was new and Elthin then shut off the display.
"I want to check out those ruins near home."
Elthin regaled the report with interest while Lucine was too busy fixated on trying to find out how some scraps of metal and old parchments can create such wonders. When he learned everything he wanted to, Elthin forcibly shut off the console, much to its own protests of screeching gears and grinding metal. Perhaps Argentian technology has some very strict operating procedures, if the Librarian's panicked reactions of dousing the machine with more sacred oils and profusely apologising through prayer to the Machine, were anything to go by.
Once the display had ended, Lucine was snapped back to reality.
"Oh, what did you say? I wasn't listening." Lucine quickly answered.
"I said I wanted to check out some ruins near home if given a chance. Anyway the duel with Frantz will take either a view days to a week at most before it happens." Elthin reminded her. As he started to leave the Guild he was feeling hungry and wanted to check something out as well.
"I've got a question for you before all the crazy stuff happened. Did you notice anything odd before then like you might have been being watched or someone strange visited your home. Often saying they were a friend anything like that happen?"
"This is why you'll never find a wife." Lucine sighed. "Putting ruins before girls."
"Yeah, I know that. I was there with you when the bored guy said so, remember." Lucine answered.
Elthin asked a question in regards to the previous incident.
"Nope. Nothing at all. It was just a normal day, like any other." Lucine replied. "I only knew that stuff was going down when I got up to use the pot in the middle of the night and heard shouting and lots of noise."
"I believe I already found myself a wife that being you." Elthin countered.
Lucine knew again about what was to come. Then she answered his question to her.
"Do, you remember what the shouting was saying?" Elthin asked.
"Ew, no way!" Lucine laughed back. "You sound like a creeper! Stranger danger!"
"I can't really say. All I heard were raised voices and the other noises overpowered them. Then, you know the rest. I went down to check and ended up getting a lantern blast to the side and fainting."
"You know you want a piece of the good stuff" Elthin laughed back at her. He got serious for a few moments in regards to her answer.
"Want to go down to your house and check things out for yourself. Maybe we can find something new down there that hasn't been discovered yet?" Elthin asked.
"If searching through charred wood will help you, then be my guest. I wanna go check out what's going on down there as well." Lucine replied.
"We will check out what's down there then head to lunch." Elthin started walking towards the Slums but in the middle of his walk he stopped and looked towards the west. Where the gates to the city were located part of him longed to travel outside those walls. But he had other matters to attend to and kept on his way.
Unlike earlier, when Elthin was walking through town, it appeared to be deserted at present. There were the usual peddlers on their stalls in the trade district, but they weren't barking their wares at passers by. Everyone acted like silence was a new law which had to be followed, and nobody lingered for too long outside of their own homes. Even the Noble children, who were often out showing off whatever new parlor trick they had learned. were nowhere to be seen. Only one person seemed to ignore the strange goings on and continued with their daily routine. Outside of the local Apothecary was a small humaniod figure picking herbs from window baskets before placing them into another basket and taking the clippings back into the main building.
Elthin arrived at the Slums and the usual smell of human waste and other unpleasant things assault through the shield he had up before it kicked in the filter.
"Smells like home." Was all Lucine said as she began to lead the way into the Slums.
When Elthin and Lucine were walking through town he could see how deserted it was. It was like everything was so quiet for a reason maybe what happened in the Slums. Had the people scared or it could have been another matter. He watched the people going about their business before entering the Slums where he was greeted by the smell of human waste.
"How fun" Elthin followed after Lucine.
While the pair was walking through the slums, they were closely being watched by numerous waifs and suspected pickpockets. Being two rich-looking people in such a place probably attracted the wrong sort of attention.
A small child, while running through the streets, bashed into Elthin's side and shouted back.
"Watch it, powder-poof!"
The kind charged onwards until, in one swift motion, Lucine gently extended her leg to the side the child was running on, who didn't notice the movement and tripped over. Lucine's hand quickly moved to grab something from the air before heading back to Elthin and handed the item to him. It was, actually, his money pouch.
"Better keep a tight grip of everything while you're here." Lucine cautioned with a wink. "Everybody's got sticky fingers, in more ways than one."
While walking Elthin could tell they were being watched. He looked back at the various people watching him then was bumped into by someone from behind. Elthin staggered forward before regaining his balance.
A moment later he saw Lucine extend her leg and the boy tripped over. Lucine appeared to catch something which turned out to be his money pouch. "Thanks for the warning" Elthin said watching as the kind ran off.
"Not many Nobles come down here, so we're all really on edge when we see some. Some of us, though, like the kid who just ran off, like to try our skills out on 'simple' targets." Lucine informed Elthin as they continued one. "Most of the time, when a Noble comes down to the Slums, it only means bad things. Lots of Dwellers have been taken off to slave ships at Port Ralent, or sold in the brothels in the Noble's district, despite how many Summers they have to their name."
Lucine evidently didn't like talking about the fates of Slum Dwellers when Nobles were concerned.
After a short while of walking, the pair arrived at the remains of Lucine's home.
"Here we are. Sorry for the mess." Lucine joked as she pointed to the charred wood on the floor where the foundations of a house once stood.
Lucine pointed out not much Nobles usually came down here. And how some of the kids here liked to try out their skills on targets. "Then I take it us being here in their eyes means trouble?" Lucine pointed out some other things about where they were sold to. Soon they arrived at Lucine's home or what was left of it.
Elthin walked up to the mess that was her home and started looking around.
"You think?" Lucine asked rhetorically. "I'd say we do what we must do and get out of here before the Taverns start to open."
Elthin began to look around the burned down Home while Lucine kept a watchful eye out for any kind of 'Dweller Greetings' coming their way.
During Elthin's search he looked for anything odd that shouldn't belong in a persons home. Maybe something from the Noble's area was here. Or part of the outfit the person was wearing when they came down here the night before he tried to search for these things.
Elthin searched for evidence, though his search bore no results. Anything that may have been incriminating evidence was either too charred to be recognised or just a pile of ash on the floor, A few supporting beams of the House were collapsed over one another near the back of the remains, but moving them, even in this state, would still take a few people to do, or a lot of prep time for a Magician to prepare a spell.
Elthin didn't find anything in what he was looking for he saw the fallen beams. In the back of the house maybe something was hidden under them. But seeing as how they would take time to move with either people or a spell would take some time. He currently did have the man power of prep time to move them.
"Damn it"
"Everything okay back there?" Lucine asked upon hearing the exclamation. "Want me to come help?"
While abandoning her post wasn't a very good idea, things seem quiet at present, so she could offer a few moments of her time.
"No there is a bunch of fallen beams back here that I'd like to search under. But they need some time to move and I don't have the time to move them on my own." Elthin told her. Lucine then wanted to help out. "No, stay where you are we don't know if anyone is watching us at present. Best to keep an eye out on if anyone is?" Elthin called back.
He moved away from the fallen beams. He closed his eyes and tried to search for any faint traces of magic. Trying to look for any of the three other elements other than fire?
Elthin insisted that Lucine stayed where she was, explaining that the reason behind the exclamation was the fact that there were beams blocking the back of the ruins.
"Okay, if you're sure." Lucine answered, sounding a little unsure herself.
Elthin tried to find traces of Magic in the air aside from fire. There was Water and Wind remnants, possibly from the Magicians extinguishing the fire with these two and Earth from the wooden beams and the flooring of the ruins. There was also some traces of an unknown Magical source, which seemed closer to what Alchemists used in their Alchemical compounds, but it seemed very close to just being something from a nearby tavern caught on the wind.
As Elthin felt for any other traces of magic he was able to pick. Up both Water and Wind remnants, he thought on these for a while and came to the conclusion they. Had been used to place the fire out then he felt some sort of unknown Magical source, this seemed like something an Alchemist might use he was familiar with them but didn't really interact with them much.
Yet Elthin couldn't tell if it was truly something they would use. Or just something from the nearby tavern a short distance from them. "From where you are do you see anything that seems out of place and doesn't belong here?" Elthin called out to Lucine.
Elthin asked if Lucine noticed anything out of place.
"Nope. Everything is how I remember it, overflowing gutters and all." Lucine answered. "I wouldn't know what to look out for in the ways of Magic even if something was off."
"Why not try searching with your eyes perhaps something was also used that wasn't magic?" Elthin asked. He started to search around the back of the ruins for any sort of thing that didn't belong say like a weapon or a piece of an elemental stone.
"What else am I going to search with? My feet? There's nothing out of place. The barrels of rotten food are all in the right place, the overflowing gutters are a little more overflowing than before, there are a few more trenches for crapping in, but that's expected. Nothing is different." Lucine retorted.
Elthin continued to search the ruins. As before, there was nothing but broken glass, charred wood and pebbles in the ruins. A few pieces of the glass had a bit of dried blood on, probably from the lamp explosion, but, without an Alchemist's or Physician's help, it was impossible to determine who the blood came from, or how old the blood was. There was a few glints of light through the cracks between the fallen beams near the back of the house, but that could just be glass under them as well. Wait...those glints aren't as bright as the ones from the glass, like they're reflecting off something metal.
"You can search with your mouth instead?" Elthin joked for a mere moment.
He went back to searching the ruins but as before he was unable to find something at first. But he did find a few pieces of glass with dried blood on them, He picked these up and placed them into a small pouch on his person. It would be worth to study them further or take them to an Alchemist or Physician for help. It was only moments later than Elthin noticed the light through the cracks between the fallen beams. He had thought these were from the glass but they seemed to be relfecting off something metal. Elthin quickly made his way over to the fallen beams "I think I found something."
Elthin then tried to get a better look at if there was indeed metal there.
"Only you would come up with something like that." Lucine giggled. "Searching with a mouth is done, but not for this kind of searching."
Elthin noticed the glints of light from underneath the fallen beams.
"What have you found?" Lucine asked. "Anything good?"
Elthin began to closely examine underneath the beams through the gaps and cracks in the wood. There were only slight indications that something was under there, but the space was too confined to make it. Whatever it was looked to be made of either brass or copper, and oddly shaped for a weapon. Perhaps it was not a weapon at all, but something more incriminating?
Lucine wanted to know what he had found.
"I think so, but it's hard to tell just what it is." Elthin told her.
He tried to examine things underneath the beams more closely. He was able to that something was indeed under them but space was too confined to make it. Elthin couldn't tell what he saw was either made out of brass or copper and it was oddly shaped. He then called Lucine over to him so, she could have a look at what he found.
"I want to get what's under these beams out of there. But the question that comes to mind is how I mentioned earlier that it'd take more manpower or time. To cast a spell to move these beams and that's time we don't have. I would suggest we leave and contact the Magician's Guild for help but how do we know that if we leave. Someone wouldn't come by here and take what we've found from under the beams?" Elthin asked her.
He looked at the fallen beams as if trying to think of the best course of action to take.
Elthin called Lucine over and talked her through his plans.
"I may have an idea. It'll be dangerous and not very sneaky, but it should work. We'll need to move back as far away as we can from the beams, though." Lucine suggested. "Perhaps my Magic could work?"
Lucine wanted to try and use her magic to see if it would help move the beams. "How do we know that your Magic might not burn through the what's underneath?" Elthin asked. He wasn't against going through with her idea just wanting to be on the safe side.
"I don't know, but I trust it. I trust Her." Lucine answered, "She wouldn't want to destroy our only chance at finding out the truth. What I intend to do is ask for a small explosion to happen in the cracks. Hopefully, that'll move the beams off the top and allow us to get to what's underneath. However, I'm not sure how strong this explosion would be, so I think we should keep clear of the House before I do it."
Elthin listened to what Lucine had to say and nodded his head.
"Okay, we can try your idea but I want you to take it easy. In case something does happen I'll create a barrier which shall protect us." Elthin chanted softly to himself as he started to call on his Magic forming unseen barrier around the pair this one. Was much stronger than the one he had used on Lucine the other day. Elthin also went on to place barriers around the remains of the home not wanting the explosion damage anything else.
"When you are ready you can begin."
Elthin placed barriers over Lucine, himself and the remains of the house in case the explosion was a little too hard to control. Once all was present and accounted for, Lucine backed off to the wall opposite the house and closed her eyes. She looked to be almost in prayer as swirls of red and brown magical energy surrounded her, causing her clothing to flutter a little in a spectral breeze created by the energy, Red Magical particles condensed in between the cracks of the fallen beams and formed a small dome with a dark orange core. Seconds later, a large explosion was heard as the beams blasted off against the back of the house and the surrounding stone walls before shattering into tiny shrapnel pieces and splintering off in all directions. The explosion attracted some attention, as expected, but no Dweller even tried to contest the cause of the explosions. Once the after effects of the explosion wore off, the way to the place under the beams was freed. Lucine finished her casting, a few seconds later and opened her eyes to look upon the carnage she had wrought.
"That was a little more powerful than I expected..." Lucine commented, looking rather shocked at what she just did.
Elthin backed away from Lucine to let her do her thing. He kept a close watch on her and the barriers around the house. Making sure everything would go smoothly he also called forth a small blue ice bird he formed out of Magic. Sending it into the skies overhead to keep watch on the area in case anyone was watching the two of them at work. Elthin then could see red magical particles condense around the cracks of the fallen beams. Before forming a large explosion blasting the beams off the thing it was covering. The barriers held which was a good thing and Elthin looked around to see some people looking their way.
"You did a good job there," Elthin told her with a smile.
He kept the barriers up just in case and walked towards where the beams had. Once been he mentioned Lucine over with a hand. Kneeling down on the ground he took a closer look at what it was that was underneath.
"Thanks, I guess?" Lucine answered to the praise, still a little amazed at her own work. "Breaking things has always been what I'm good at."
Elthin and Lucine went to check out what they'd just unearthed. Now that the beams were gone, it was clear what was being hidden by them. A copper mask lay on the ground. The details of the mask carried a chalky white face crying tears of blood. The outer rim of the mask carried a strange spiked motif. It looked very ritualistic, more so than expected, and perhaps carried some inclination as to what may have led the attack on the house. Perhaps a more knowledgeable person could shed some light on this discovery?
"I'm sure in time you will be good at other things to like Magic?" Elthin told her.
What both of them found was a copper mask the mask carried a chalky white face. That looked to be crying tears of blood the outer rim of the mask. Had a strange spiked motif and looked very ritualistic. "I've never seen a mask like this before" Elthin picked it up and held it in his hands before handing it to Lucine to look at.
"I also found some glass with blood on it. I'm not sure if the blood could have been a member of your family or from the attacker."
Elthin went to hand the mask over to Lucine, but she declined.
"No thanks. I don't wanna even touch that. It gives me the creeps." Lucine answered as she shook her head and hands in dismissal. "I'll rather take the bloodied glass than that thing."
Elthin reached into his pocket and took out the case. Which held the glass with the blood on them and handed it to her. "You can take one out, to look at it closer just turn the top." Elthin pointed out. The bird he had summoned found no traces of anyone watching them. Who might not appear who they should be he dismissed the bird with a wave of his hand.
"We've got two clues here we need answers to but I'm glad we found something."
"I've had enough bad experiences with glass over the last few days, so I'll just carry them instead." Lucine answered. "No good asking me for answers. maybe we should try that old guy at the Guild? He's said to know a lot of stuff."
"That's a good idea."
They then both left the remains of her home and started back to the Guild. "What are your thoughts on what we have found?" Elthin asked.
On the way back to the Guild, Elthin asked Lucine what her thoughts on the clues were.
"I think we might be dealing with, what're they called, a cult?" Lucine suggested. "That mask is just plain creepy, so it'd fit a weird gathering of crazy people."
Lucine considered the bloody glass shards as well.
"They could be covered in my blood, if they are the ones which hit me." She proposed. "I'm not having no needle jabbed into me to check, though. Those blood-suckers can keep their pointy things to themselves."
Elthin listened in on Lucine thoughts.
"Perhaps we are dealing with one but why a Cult though as I've not dealt with many before." Elthin said. It just led to more questions he needed answers to.
"They could be yours or maybe the attackers who knows. But don't you already have your own pointy things on you?" Elthin said the last part as a joke. The pair soon reached the Guild and went inside.
"I don't know. I just thought that it looked Cult-y." Lucine shrugged.
Elthin joked about the 'pointy thing' comment from Lucine.
"Sure, I've got my own, but I don't go sticking them into people for laughs." Lucine answered.
They then reached the Guild and headed inside. The same bored Clerk Magician was at the help desk, looking quite confused as to why the strange pair from earlier had come back so soon.
The pair walked up the Clerk Magician who was surprised to see them. "I know, I know I haven't set up an appointment but can we please speak with the Elder. I requested earlier as I believe he would like to know about something important." Elthin told the Clerk.
The Clerk magician had to do a double take to ensure that he wasn't seeing things as the very same pair from earlier came back requesting the very same thing.
"The Elder has just finished his meeting. What could possibly be of such dire importance that you must see him right now?" The Clerk asked again.
The Clerk magician told them that the Elder had just finished his meeting and asked why. They wanted to see him right now. "We have found somethings of importance that he might want to know about. It's things that have to deal with the current investigation about what happened in the Slums yesterday."
Elthin explained why he just had to see the Elder right this moment.
"You and your Slums." The Clerk sighed. "If you like them so much, you might as well just move there. Anyway, you are not a member of the Inquisition so you should just leave suspected Cultist cases to them and go about your merry way."
The Clerk didn't seem convinced to let them see the Elder right now.
The Clerk still wouldn't let them see the Elder.
"This is getting us nowhere damn it" Elthin snapped. He knew the Clerk was just doing his job but it was still upsetting that they had finally found something. Only to be denied seeking out the answers for it. "Is there any way we can see right now?" Elthin asked one last time.
Elthin let his anger take control for a moment.
"If you continue to take that tone, I may have to ask you to leave." The Clerk cautioned. "Unless the Elder specifically asks for you, or if you have an appointment with him, only then can you go and see him."
"Please, Mister, let us see the Elder." Lucine begged, trying to look as cute as she could in her current attire. "My brother only wants to protect the innocent from being hurt any more. Please, let us see the Elder so we can let him know what we found."
The Clerk didn't seem too impressed by Lucine's attempted seduction.
"While he may be trying to 'protect the innocent' Slum Dwellers, it still violates Rule 24, Paragraph 36, Subsection 89 of the 'Guild Conduct and Command' legislation. That rule clearly states that nobody of a lower standing in the Guild's chain of command can see the Elder without a prebooked appointment or unless they are requested." The Clerk countered.
"While that rule may need to be upheld, it does not prevent one from seeking guidance for an ongoing investigation if they have evidence which may prevent further assaults from arising." The Elder cut in as he entered the Entrance hall. "If this young man does, indeed, have evidence which may aid in resolving this case, then, by all means, would I request a meeting with him."
"The last time I was here I had asked to set up an appointment with the Elder. But nothing came of it you ignored me on that" Elthin told him. Lucine then tried her hand at letting them see the Elder yet it didn't seem to work. As the Clerk spoke out about the rules Elthin was about to counter against this when he heard the Elder voice speak.
"I'm sorry for interupting your time Elder but my student Lucius here and I have. Found some clues that we would like you to take a look at perhaps we can speak in private?" Elthin asked. He turned to Lucine and gave her a wink for helping out.
"I was setting up an appointment. There's a lot of paperwork which must be done to do so and also some running between interested parties to find a time suitable." The Clerk retorted. "You are just too impatient to let the customary procedures run their course."
The argument was about to get much more heated until the Elder stepped in. The Clerk had not counter to the Elder's statement.
"Run along now and leave me to my business. You have your meeting, now let me finish my work." The Clerk informed Elthin.
The Elder regarded 'Lucius' and a glint of realisation appeared in his aged eyes. Even under all of the disguise, Lucine's vibrant ember-coloured hair stood out the most.
"You may bring the young Master with you. we have much to discuss, I do believe." The Elder answered. "Come, we can talk in my office."
The Elder began to slowly lead the way towards his office.
Lucine simply smiled in response to the wink from Elthin. Her feminine charm may not have worked in this outfit, but it still felt good to try and use it again.
The Clerk had been setting up the appointment. Before the argument with the Clerk went on things calmed down. Elthin and Lucine moved away from the Clerk and the Elder seemed to know that 'Lucius' was Lucine he didn't mention anything on it though.
"Thank you for allowing us to see you Elder" Elthin and Lucine followed the Elder towards his office. Where Elthin was trying to think over about what to tell him about.
"It is no trouble to see a future student and their Guardian." The Elder answered. "If you had not requested the meeting, I would have when I had the chance."
After moving through some more confusing corridors of the Guild, the Elder's office came into view.
"My office is warded against all forms of intrusion so we shall be safe in there to discuss the future of Young Master Lucius." The Elder continued. "It will be nice to see some progress being made on this case."
The Elder mentioned that he would have set up his own meeting.
They soon came to the Elder's office which he was told was warded.
"That is good we wouldn't want others overhearing in what is about to be discussed. "I've taken some liberties in speeding along Lucius progress but it will take time."
The Elder and his followers entered the Office as he closed the door behind them.
"You may remove your hat, Young Miss. Flames do not like to be contained, after all." The Elder informed Lucine, who just looked shocked that her foolproof disguise was seen through so easily. "Worry not, young one, I am not as misguided as the masses. Magic, after all, in some beliefs, was a gift to Mankind from the Dragons, and we all know that Dragons may also, indeed, be female."
Unsure of how to take this radically different belief, Lucine looked to Elthin for guidance.
"How is she taking on to Magic?" The Elder asked Elthin as he took a seat on the large ornate chair by the desk in the middle of the room. "Has she learned that it does not like to be commanded?"
They entered into the office and the door closed behind them.
The Elder asked for Lucine to remove her hat which surprised her. Seeing as he knew who she was Elthin turned to her. "You can trust him, Lucine, he won't do anything to betray you at all he's a friend," Elthin told her trying to help her begin to trust the Elder. And mentioning for her to take off her hat. The Elder then asked how her taking to Magic was working out.
"For starters, it didn't go so well, as we had some hard times. But Lucine here has learned that it doesn't like to be commanded. She recently cast her own spell to remove some fallen beams at her home. I've also agreed to teach her to learn to read which shall help in her process. I can see that she has potential to become a great Magician one day."
Elthin seemed to agree to the idea that Lucine could trust this particular person. She took off her hat and shook out her long hair, letting the scarlet locks fall into place once more down her back.
"Such a radiant colour should be seen by all. Not hidden away." The Elder commented. "A perfect match to your gift, and such a rarity in Youth these days."
"Um, thank you." Lucine quietly answered. "My mother has hair like this, so I'd like to keep it shown."
Elthin explained how Lucine had taken on to Magic and what kind of additional help she may need.
"She is a quick learner." The Elder replied. "Most Apprentice's do not believe that Magic has a will of its own, and will often demand things of it, resulting in it retaliating."
"Yeah. She tried snapping at me when I tried to force her to cast things for me." Lucine added in, resulting in an intrigued look from the Elder.
"She?" He asked. "Tell me, child, what did you see when you first found your Gift?"
Lucine explained her case to the Elder, who took in all the information.
"It appears that my beliefs have some ground." The Elder mused. "If that is, indeed, what you saw, then, maybe, that could lead on to the return of the Dragons. Perhaps these drunken sightings are not to be scoffed at?"
"I'm sorry, Sir, I don't know what you mean." Lucine replied.
The Elder took a moment to look at Lucine and then spoke to her. Elthin in the meantime listened in on what was said. Lucine seemed to kinda quiet about things and Elthin thought she might just be nervous. The Elder spoke some more and learned some things when Lucine spoke up about 'She'.
"Lucine did mention the same thing to me when I was teaching. While I'm not sure what this truly means maybe her Magic is mixed in with that of a dragon's power. I also think that perhaps Lucine here can be an 'Adept' someone who can control more than one form of magic at once" Elthin pointed out.
He let this sink in.
"Maybe there is more to the sightings I recently heard that there was a sighting. Of a white dragon in my homeland"
Elthin explained that Lucine mentioned the same thing to him during her lessons, even going as far as to suggest that she may be an 'Adept'. The Elder looked a little worried about the idea of Lucine being an Adept.
"For her own safety, in these dire times, I sincerely hope that she does not show the traits of an Adept to soon, if she is one." The Elder answered. "We do not want her to attract undue attention to herself, even more so with the Inquisition coming here soon."
Lucine looked a little scared about this sudden change in tone.
"Um, what is this 'Inquisition'?" Lucine asked. "I keep hearing of them but nobody told me any more about them."
The Elder seemed worried about Lucine maybe being an Adept.
"She hasn't yet but there is always the chance. I have had the Inquisition speak with me a few times in the past. I wouldn't want anything to happen to Lucine here I would give my life to protect her." Elthin stated.
Lucine seemed worried and asked about the Inquisition.
"They are a special group of people who work for the Arch-Mage. They handle very special cases and often use more force then needed in getting what they want. They are like Magician's in a way but also a police force." Elthin tried to tell Lucine. He let this settle in before speaking again "They also like to work in secret."
"With that determination, they may just take you up on that offer." The Elder answered. "Not all are too forceful, so we may be having a more 'people friendly' unit come, I do hope."
Elthin explained what he knew of the Inquisition to Lucine,
"So, they're, like, super powerful Magicians?" Lucine asked. "I wouldn't want to meet them alone."
"I'd rather stay away from them but if things get bad. I may have to deal with them which isn't a good thing."
Lucine then spoke up again.
"They are like that yes and you won't meet them alone." Elthin told her. "I would also like to say that we should allow Lucine here to pick her own path in what she wants. While she is learning to be a Magician she may not want to truly follow this path when everything is all. Taken care of I believe she should choose her own path to follow."
He didn't want to force Lucine down a Magician's path but wanted more. Things opened to her so she can pick what she wanted in the future.
"Elder I wish to know if you have seen anything like this before?" Elthin asked. As he placed the mask they had found on his desk.
"I pray that we will not have to protect Lucine from harm when they arrive." The Elder answered.
Elthin explained that he wanted Lucine to choose her own path rather than be forced into becoming a Magician.
"Through Magic, many paths can be opened." The Elder began. "Depending on what specialty she has, she may choose to become a teacher of Magic or something else entirely. Magic is not a straight path to follow, it has many branches, and even branches off those branches."
Now came the talk about the recent findings. Elthin placed the Mask he found at the remains of Lucine's home on the table. The Elder looked at it and simply replied.
"Where did you find this?"
Whatever this mask represented, it was clear that it was not something good.
"We still have some time before they arrive but if things get messy. I may choose to return to Artaria with Lucine but I would like to set things up just in case this ever happens." Elthin told the Elder.
The Elder spoke up again about what path Lucine should choose for herself. He then turned to her "I'd like you to think this over and come up with your own answer is what you'd like to do." Elthin told Lucine.
The Elder then asked where they had found the mask.
"We found it beneath some fallen beams and Lucine's house. From what I can see of the mask, it looks like it belongs to some form or cult. But what would a cult be doing here and why would one want Lucine?" Elthin asked.
Elthin suggested that he could take Lucine back to his homeland if things got out of hand.
"They can take what they please from any force in this world with just a flash of their emblem. Even moving her to someplace as remote and dangerous as the Gott peninsula will not stop them. When they set their sights on something, they do all they can to achieve their goal." The Elder informed Elthin. "They can trace her, regardless of what kind of protections she may have on her. They have the majority of technology from the Lost Generation."
Elthin asked Lucine to consider what path she wanted to take.
"One step at a time." Lucine sighed. "This is all too much to take in. I can't plan my future when I don't even know what'll happen to me two days from now."
Elthin explained about the origins of the mask.
"The Sanguinus Sect." The Elder simply answered. "A cult of Witches who believe that blood holds a Magician's power, and use blood in Alchemical recipes and scrying. Even if they have a drop of her blood, they can know exactly where she is and what she is doing, regardless of how strong the protection we put on her is. They were one of the Cults who attacked this City many years ago, and they are also the one who posed the most trouble. Wounds mean nothing to them, even if they are missing limbs. They continue to fight with savage ferocity, even going as far as drinking their own blood to prevent bleeding out."
"But I don't thing they would really want to do something like that. It would be taken as an act of invasion if they were to enter any other area of the world to do that. While I can understand they would want to further their goals is there anything we can do ahead of time to stop them. Maybe set up some traps or something?" Elthin asked.
Lucine said taking things a step at a time.
"Sorry, I just want what's best for you." Elthin told her.
The Elder spoke up about the mask and named the cult the Sanguinus Sect. Elthin had never heard of the kind of Cult before.
"We have found some blood on some glass which could be theirs. Or a member of Lucine's family we are not sure on that yet." Elthin then asked Lucine to show the Elder the container with the glass shards in them. "Is this Cult still active to this day and do they have any areas around this land where they could be hiding?"
"The Inquisition are outside of any laws present in any continent. The only one who commands them and can direct them is the Archmage Himself. No other ruling body even dares to stand in their way for fear of Exodus." The Elder continued.
The Sanguinus Sect did indeed sound like a formidable enemy.
The idea of finding blood on anything at the remains of a engagement with the Sanguinus Sect did not sit well with anyone.
"Then I fear they may try to strike again." The Elder answered. "If they. too, had something with Lucine's blood on, then we can do nothing to hide her. I beg that they are no longer functioning, and that this was just an act of a Devout zealot because, if they are, indeed, still in full power, then they may attempt to take her again. They were using one of the nearby ruins as a base of operations, but we know nothing more than that. All the Scouts we sent out never returned and, in their stead, came their travel pack and waterskins filled with their blood."
"But there has to be something we can do? and what is this Exodus I don't think I've heard of it before?" Elthin asked.
The Sanguinus Sect would be a formidable foe.
"I wish to request that you send me and Lucine out to these nearby ruins. That would allow us to be out of the city when the Inquisition arrives. Maybe we can find some clues to what the cultists are truly up to. There can also be the chance that maybe they have taken some prisoners hostage. If they have and we can return with one we can learn a whole great deal more about them?" Elthin told the Elder.
He let everything sink in for a while before speaking once more.
"This might sound like a pretty far fetched idea but about standing up. Against the Archmage and Inquisition could we always request aid from the Fae Folk. Or even going as far as to search for the dragons and seek their aid in these matters?" Elthin asked.
"If a city or Continent defies the ruling of the Inquisition, then they are within their own right to brand them as traitors to the Archmage and destroy the city or continent." The Elder explained. "That is this 'Exodus'. They hold the majority of uncovered artifacts from the Lost Generation, and we have seen what they can do with the crater that was the Gott Kingdom."
Elthin requested to scout out the nearby ruins for any trace of the Sanguinus Sect.
"I am afraid I cannot condone any actions which will put young lives at risk. Either option carries its own inherent risk but trying to take on a Cult of Witches is by far the most dangerous one." The Elder answered. "If the entire Military force of the City could barely push them back, I fear that the two of you will be nothing more than carrion food if you try, at that is the kinder alternative."
Elthin continued on his line of ludicrous plans.
"You wish to stand against the entire ruling Council of the Five continents?!" The Elder questioned in disbelief. "The Fey refuse to take part in Human Politics so they will not consider even listening to your request. Their tenants prevent them from directly interacting or influencing any venture outside of Fey Society. We do not even know if the Dragons are returning and, even if we did, I strongly believe that they will answer just the same as the Fey."
Lucine had enough of hearing several potential suicide plans.
"Why don't we just talk to the Inquisitor they send to us?" Lucine suggested. "If we go around acting like everyone wants to kill us then we'd never get anywhere. What harm can just hearing them out do?"
Elthin listened as the Elder explained what 'Exodus' was. "That isn't good we don't need more death and destruction" Elthin finally said. For a moment, he had a dark look in his eyes like he was remembering something happening from long ago. The look finally faded and he heard that the Elder wouldn't let them go to the ruins which would be seen as an act against them.
"If we can't scout out the nearby ruins then what would be the best course of action. That we can take I don't want to start anything bad just want to find clues out?" Elthin asked.
The Elder then questioned his last sort of ludicrous plans.
"No, I don't want that I just wanted to know if we could have gotten some help. But as things are turning out we already have two forces against us the Inquisition and this Cult. Also is there anything we can do to say like be one step ahead. Of them and what about finding allies who could help us out if things go bad?" Elthin asked.
Lucine then spoke up.
"Never thought of trying that this idea can work maybe we can find out something?"
"Indeed we do not." The Elder simply agreed.
Elthin wasn't too supportive of the idea of sitting around and doing nothing while Cults were plying their dark rites.
"We can prepare for another imminent attack or, though this is not a good plan, use a decoy to attract their attention in this City and capture an informant for the Cults and extract information from them." The Elder suggested. "The Decoy plan will have to put young Lucine in danger, so I do not wish for us to do it unless we have no other options, and only with her permission."
Elthin pleaded for another option to help support in this mounting conflict.
"In the way of allies we have the Duchy of Argenta we could request aid from, though that would put us in an even more compromising position with the Mainland, as they were not on the best of terms last Council meeting. The Mainland also has allies within the Church of Quaan, who operate on the Western Continent of Drakmar, and the Church is the worst rival of Argenta as they consider their technological advancements to be Heresy, even more after the Duke's personal Guard at the last Council meeting. However, the Animalia tribes who are a little further north on the Drakmar continent are not on the best of terms with the Church, so we may gain them as allies as well." The Elder explained.
Elthin seemed to support Lucine's plan.
"Talking never hurt anyone, and, who knows, they may send us a nice Inquisitor." Lucine replied.
"Maybe it'd be better to take things slow and prepare ourselves for another attack. I wouldn't want to risk someone else getting hurt. But things would have to be done so in secret as they may have agents within the city who could learn about what we are doing. And while the decoy plan has some merit I don't want to put Lucine here in harms way."
The Elder explained about how they could get some allies.
"We, can try out maybe set up a meeting with both sides first to discuss things. To see how things go and then if they go well we can move forward from there?" Elthin says.
Elthin turned to Lucine.
"Never heard of a nice Inquisitor but who knows."
"It will be unusual to have another attack so soon after the previous one, so I believe we may have some time, unless they are adamant about getting Lucine quickly." The Elder mused. "I believe that we may have more enemies in the city than allies, at present."
Elthin seemed to be in agreement with the idea of allies.
"The Animalia tribe do not with to get involved in conflicts outside of their own struggle, so we may need to convince Argenta to join with us if we wish to get their support. The Duke of Argenta is against needless bloodshed, which is a first for the line of Argentian Dukedom, but we may be able to convince him otherwise, if we portray a convincing argument." The Elder explained. "It may be better to learn more about our potential allies then just jump to request their aid. There is a recording of the last Continental Council meeting in the restricted section of the Library, though I may be able to gain you access to their if you swear that no word of the meeting leaves that room. It it but a short segment of the opening of the meeting, but that should earn you enough information to make a decision."
"Having more enemies than allies is never a good thing. Though I've got a question I'm not pointing him out or anything but do you trust Lord Arundal?" asked Elthin.
He listened to more.
"I will use the Guild Library in my search for information about our allies. I promise that no word shall ever be mentioned on what I heard or even saw in the recording." Elthin thought for some time. "Is there anywhere in the city where someone can get a good view of the surrounding landscape around here?" Elthin asked.
Elthin voiced his suspicions of Lord Arundal.
"Lord Arundal is from a venerable family who have been loyal supporters of the Church of Quaan's views. He bares no respect for the Slum Dwellers and believes that they should be exiled from the City, but he is not one who would dirty his own hands with blood, or do something which may bring dishonor to his family name. In my honest opinion, he was not the mastermind behind the attack on the Slums. After all, he has his own Apprentice now, and would not wish to lose his position in the Guild." The Elder answered.
Elthin wished to view the recording and asked about points in the city which allow a good view.
"Just say to the Librarian that I gave you permission to view the recording and you shall be allowed. They will contact me beforehand, but it will not take more than a few moments." The Elder replied. "The best view of the city comes from the Guild's Bell tower above the main building. You shall be able to access there with no difficulties."
Elthin listened as the Elder spoke of Lord Arundal.
"Would it be okay if I were to keep tabs on him. I don't want to do anything bad or anything just to see for myself is all?" Elthin asked.
The Elder pointed out more things.
"I thank you for all the help you have given us in our meeting today. I see you as an ally but to be on the safe side I'd like matters to be discussed between us secretly. For once the Inquisitor comes things might get hairy and I wouldn't want something bad happening. So unless there is anything else we need to discuss Lucine and I shall be taken our leave?"
Elthin asked if keeping tabs on Lord Arundal would be possible.
"If it is within your power, and if it will not be used invasively, then I cannot condone it, but I also cannot prevent it. Matters among Mentors is for their own discretion." The Elder answered.
Elthin wished for the matters discussed in this meeting to be kept secret.
"Naturally, knowledge is power, in both the Magician's world and in the world as a whole." The Elder agreed. "One final point before you take your leave, you need not fret about Lucine's examination before being accepted as a Student. All of those requests go through myself, and I have my own trusted confidants for these matters. The test shall be carried out with a skilled Physician matching Lucine's true gender, one which she shall feel comfortable with, and the Examination results also reach myself before anyone else. I shall see that her secret is kept safe. She has a bright future ahead of her, and I do not wish to prevent her from knowing it."
Elthin listened as the Elder explained things.
"That is some good news indeed as it's something to look forward to. Lucine does have a bright future ahead of her hopefully in time people's views on Slum Dwellers will chance As everyone has a chance to be something in this world even Magicians." Elthin shook the elders hand and then bid goodbye to him.
The first stop Elthin made with Lucine was walking towards the Guilds Bell tower. "So, what are your thoughts on all that was discussed. I know some of the things might have sounded rather odd and strange to you."
"Maybe someday that dream will be realised." The Elder finished as he gave a parting handshake to Elthin. "I bid you both good tidings in your ventures."
"See you again, soon." Lucine bid her own farewell to the Elder, who nodded a goodbye in response.
Elthin and Lucine left the Elder's office and headed for the Bell tower.
"I didn't know there was so much conflict in the world." Lucine answered, sounding a little down. "I thought my life was hard."
The pair started to walk up the stairs going up to the next level.
"A lot of places in the world have lots of conflicts it's never a good thing. Even my own homeland isn't safe but there are times when areas of the world have peace. Maybe in time, the whole world will come together and conflict can be ended." Elthin told her trying to cheer her up.
They reached the second level and had to walk a short distance to the bell tower. Followed by walking up several more cases of stairs before they arrived on the roof just below. The bell itself Elthin looked out over the city around them.
"I hope things get easier for us soon."
"Maybe so, but that might just be wishful thinking." Lucine replied. "We all have something we want to hurt others for, and we're too stuck on believing that it's the only way to get our point across."
The pair reached the top of the bell tower and Elthin looked over the city.
The entirety of the city's border was surrounded by a large stone wall. The main entrance, and the exits from the four main districts, all had large iron-bound fortress like doors with a drawbridge like mechanism allowing them to be opened only from the inside. Each of the doors had guard-posts at either end on the inside, possibly for opening the doors and alerting of potential invasions. The main entrance had turrets on either side of the gate, with ballistas mounted in the upper opening as a defense line. The only gate which wasn't as heavily fortified as the others was the exit from the Slums, which was actually a rickety rotting wooden shell of a door, with patched up walls around it probably from the full assault from the Cultists a few years ago. That was the obvious weak-point to this city, and the invading forces knew it.
"One doesn't always have to hurt others but must of the time. People do get hurt its sadly a way of life." Elthin says.
He took in the sight before him.
"How would you like to see the outside of the city today. We can walk out the main gate to the north of here?" Elthin pointed out. Pointing to the main entrance of the city.
"Yeah..." Lucine quietly answered.
Elthin then asked if she would like to leave the city. At first, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Soon enough, curiosity overcame her and she answered.
"But, didn't you say I needed to work more on my magic before I could leave? Didn't I need to master that Barrier spell?" Lucine asked.
Lucine seemed confused on what Elthin had said he must not have worded it right.
"I did say those things and we still need to do those. What I meant to say was we'd just exit through the main entrance and look around the area. I'd just be showing you what the outside area is like. Which is this we walk out the gate look at the landscape of the land much as how we are looking out over the city now and then return inside."
Elthin tried to clarify his wording a little better.
"Why should we do that? We'll only be giving the poor guys at the gates a hard time just to take two steps out and head back in." Lucine answered. "I don't see why we should do that when I can see the outside fine from here."
"Just thinking you'd like to see what is outside is all." Elthin said.
As he was still looking out over the city his eyes traveled beyond the gates. Scanning the skies for any sort of flying creature like a dragon which would be a long shot. Yet also looking for any signs of movement coming towards the city.
"If I wanna do that, I wanna do it without being stuck to just two feet outside." Lucine replied.
Elthin then began scanning the skies for any form of avian life. Not much circled the desert apart from a few carrion birds and the odd migratory bird. However, Elthin couldn't really look that far into the distance because of the glare from the sun. On the very distant Horizon, around the direction towards the Agenta Military Blockade, there was a tiny speck of black moving ever so slowly in the direction of the city. It still looked pretty far away but, if it was at visible distance, it wouldn't be long until it arrived at the city gates.
"Hopefully, that will happen soon" Elthin responded.
When he searched the sky he didn't spot much but a tiny speck moving. Closer towards the city he mentioned for Lucine to come over and pointed it out. "I bet that's the airship with the Inquisitor upon it best it ready to meet them soon." They both looked at it for a while before Elthin and Lucine headed back downstairs going over towards the Guild's Library.
Elthin informed Lucine of the speck of movement heading towards the City.
"We've no Airship ports here, so I think that the 'Steel Cavalry' which they were talking about." Lucine answered. "I'd say we've got, at the very least, half a day until they reach hailing distance. After that, they'll practically be here."
Elthin and Lucine headed back down the stairs from the bell tower and began to go to the Guild Library.
"Well, that still gives us plenty of time to come up with some plans ahead of time."
They walked back down the stairs and entered the doors of the Guild's Library. The library looked much like Elthin's but it was far larger many, shelves contained various books. Several tables were set up throughout the room with small lamps set up for being used for reading. A few magicians were sitting down at the tables reading. Elthin spotted the Librarian at their desk in the middle of the room. He walked over to her "I'd like to view the last Continental Council meeting please The Elder has given me permission to view it?" Elthin asked.
Elthin and Lucine entered the Library once more. Elthin then headed over to the Librarian's desk to request for permission to view the Continental Council meeting.
"Please wait while I confirm this." The Librarian answered as he headed over to a Communication Orb behind the desk. After checking over with The Elder about the request, they closed the communication and left the desk. "I don't know why the Elder's given you permission to view such a Sensitive recording like that. I trust you know what's expected of you? We don't want any conflicts arising from loose lips now, do we?"
"My lips are sealed." Lucine confirmed with a nod.
The Librarian led the pair into one of the side rooms of the Library, into a hall which looked remarkably less flamboyant than the rest of the Guild's decor. Inside one of the locked rooms to the sides of the hall was a smaller version of the technological marvel which included the Guild's status updates in the main Library. The door appeared to be locked tightly, with no indication of any handle or keyhole on it at all. The Librarian went over to the door and, after a few taps on the door itself, it slowly began to slide upwards, opening the way to a darkened office-like room with a few chairs around the table with the device on.
"I know what is expected of me and my own lips are sealed" Elthin told her.
They were led into one of the side rooms of the Library and walked into. One of the locked rooms soon enough they entered into it and a office-like room with a few chairs was present. Both the party took their seats at the table with the device on wasn't sure what he was about to see upon the video and hoped it'd be worth it.
When Elthin and Lucine were comfortably seated in the room, and the door was locked behind them, Lucine tried to boot up the device in the center of the room using what little knowledge she had on it from her earlier witnessing. After a few tires in trying to find the right place to press after tapping a few segments of it, the device began to activate to show a scene which appeared to be recorded from one of the overhead recording Crystals in some of the meeting rooms.
The recording opened up onto a scene which looked to take place in the Archmage's own palace. There was an elaborately decorated table, housing the insignia of the Inquisition and the Archmage's own crest as the focal point, with around ten glasses, one in front of each of the ten seats around the table, a few bottles of beverages from the people present, and a few appetizers also. Eight of the ten chairs were currently filled, with the Archmage sitting at the head of the table in the most gaudy chair imaginable, but perfectly suited to the surrounding environment. Seated to the Archmage's left was a female dressed in silver and white Priest Robes with a scaly looking individual of unknown gender sitting next to her. This scaly person looked like an amalgamation between a large lizard and a human, however, they appeared to hold quite a fair amount of intelligence if they were present at such an important meeting. Whether the religious looking person next to them were their translator, or if they were the personal guard of the former, was unknown. After the unlikely pair came a rather big-bodied male wearing a piece of cloth around their head with a large purple jewel in the middle. They appeared to be dressed in desert appropriate gear, thin cloth waistcoat over a simple linen shirt and a set of linen trousers. Lucine could identify this particular person as the Sultan of Port Ralence, also known as a 'Pirate King' and a world renowned slave trader. Next to the Sultan were a pair of empty chairs at present, which were directly opposite the Archmage on the table. Past these chairs were a set of rather tribal looking young girls. There was one with tiger ears poking out from her short blond hair, wearing tiger print chest wrap and a tiger print groin wrap. These wraps looked to be almost real, perhaps they were. Next to this young looking girl was one of equal youth with black puma ears poking out from her long black hair, dressed in a puma version of the previous girl's attire. It was clear, just from the look in the Religious Woman's eyes that she didn't approve of this youthful pair. Rounding up the circular table were two mages from neighboring Guilds. One of them was the Elder from the Brascus Guild and the other was a rather young looking man dressed in black and gold Magician's Robes, who appeared to eye up the other patrons, seemingly sizing up their worth and what value they may hold in this discussion.
There were the usual pre-meeting conversations going on as the meeting members waited for the last two to arrive.
Lucine started up the device after a few tries and the overhead recording Crystals. Started to play the pair watched as the scene opened up into the Archmages palace. This was the first time Elthin had seen the Archmage as he'd only seen pictures of him before. Elthin pointed out to Lucine who the Archmage was by whispering to her. Then saw the female dressed on the Archmages left he didn't know who she was. Next, he saw a large lizard and a large male entered the room. Elthin looked at the Sultan. A few others entered the room he saw a few girls who looked to be like tigers. He spotted the Elder who he just talked with. Elthin was surprised he was a member of the group and last saw the young man in black and gold Magician's Robes. Elthin had seen this man before as he had visited his hometown several times in the past.
There were two more members who had yet to arrive.
After a few rounds of general chatter, the final two members of this gathering entered. One of them was possibly the most drably dressed person present, next to the tribal-clothes clad girls, as he only wore a simple white shirt, black cargo pants and a set of brown steel-toed shoes. His wild dark brown hair wasn't fashioned and organised like the other patrons, and his smudged glasses looked to be on the verge of being replaced. However, his companion was probably the most curious of them all. The man had with him a small girl, who looked a little older than Lucine, dressed in a fine navy-blue, red and gold checked dress. This dress had a hypnotizing pattern on it with small cog-wheels on the shoulders and the waist of the dress, which seemed to rotate and move like cogs should while she moved, but appeared to be still and silent when she didn't. They didn't look like they were actual cogs sewn onto the dress, but rather exquisite patterning which just seemed to evoke the idea of a machine in motion. If knowledge of the Continents were to go by, these two clearly hailed from Argenta. The girl, as expected of someone her age, was clearly nervous of the present meeting, constantly checking to see if her dress was neat and not crumpled, and mostly hiding behind her companion.
As the pair took their seats at the table, with the younger party being closer to the tribal girls than the greasy looking Sultan, the Archmage began the meeting.
"With the arrival of Duke Trent and his...personal guard, we may now begin this Council meeting." The Archmage announced, clearly undermining the idea that such a young girl could be counted as a 'Personal Guard'. The child in question just looked down at the table nervously and tried not to make eye contact with the others.
"I see Argenta are still performing their Heresy." The religious looking woman stated with disgust. "Has your honor dropped so much that you are now claiming children as being 'Worthy foes' for your coming of age?"
"With all due respect, Archbishop Henn, I've personally banned that since becoming Duke." Duke Trent calmly answered. "I just did what I had to to save someone who's become a victim of Terrorism."
The Tiger Girl looked over at the Puma girl. The two of them continued to look at one another until the Puma girl spoke up, in rough Common Tongue.
"All lives are gifts from the Earth Mother, despite what their origins may be. However one chooses to preserve them is up to one's own beliefs. So says Pack Mother Ti." The Puma girl cut in. "It is the way of the Animalia to ensure the Cycle continues, so long as one eventually returns to the Earth, they may do as they wish, as long as they do not shun the Earth Mother's blessing."
Considering that the pair only looked at one another for a few moments, they must have some kind of animal telepathy going on to say that much.
"Heretics supporting Heretics." Archbishop Henn countered. "I am amazed that the Archmage even allowed you a seat on the Council."
"We can save these disputes for later. We have more important matters to discuss." The Archmage interjected. "The Duke's tardiness has already set us back."
The final two members entered into the room. One was a man who had a young girl no older than Lucine with him while the other was the girl seemed to be nervous. And both members took their seats and the meeting began. Elthin learned that one of the members was named Trent and the religous woman clearly seemed to dislike him. Trent gave his answer back and soon another the Puma girl spoke next.
Elthin then learned the pack leader name was Ti and the Archbishops name was Henn. The real meeting was about to begin.
The actual meeting, once it got started, included discussions on the recent discovery that the Miasma surrounding the Gott Kingdom's ruins was beginning to slowly dissipate as strong unseasonal winds were wracking the peninsula. All the members present took a great interest in this discovery, as it may allow for much needed research to be carried out in regards to the fall of the Gott Kingdom. However, at the present rate of ventilation, it may still be a few months, maybe even a year or so, before the miasma dissipates to a level which will allow investigations to be carried out. The scaly looking person just seemed to mostly listen, nodding in appropriate places, unlike the other members, who were more onto debating who has rights to explore there first when the miasma clears. Duke Trent wanted dibs on exploration as it may house important technology from years gone by which could be rediscovered and recreated in today's society. The Archbishop insisted that it may hold information on the Dragons, and that it was their strong belief that a Dragon was the one allowing for the miasma to be cleared. The Sultan didn't have much interest in the situation as he couldn't see much profit being held from it and didn't want to pay for explorers to go in there and, potentially, bring back things worth selling, if there were any. The Animalia representatives didn't have any say in it as they have no holds on the Perriseth continent so, therefore, would have to send a search party halfway across the world to potentially find some trinkets. The Elder also didn't have much of an opinion on the matter, and neither did the other Magician, though the other Magician did seem to be taking quite an interest in the Scaly person and the young girl with the Duke.
The Second point of note was the recent outbreak in Cultist attacks on certain guilds in the Southern Continents, including Perriseth and segments of the Duchy of Argenta. The Girl with the Duke tried to take her attention away from the conversation by looking at the amount of food and drinks on display. The strong smelling alcoholic beverages by the Sultan seemed to send her away to the sweet fruit smelling liquors by the Animalia. The Archbishop merely said that the assaults on the Duchy of Argenta were justice for the years of Heresy they practiced, and that they also wanted a similar uprising to happen in the Animalia Pride Lands. Her personal views were quickly pushed aside by the Archmage again, stating that personal grudges did not belong in a Courtroom. The Duke brushed aside the comments, possibly because he was use to the accusations, and the Animalia just took interest in the Duke's companion, who was trying to figure out what the fruit liquors were. The Black and Gold Magician had no interest in the blathering of a religious zealot and took an interest more in the Elder's recounting of the recent assaults from the Cults against Brascus.
The discussion the pair heard was about the Miasma surrounding the Gott Kingdom. Of how it was dissipating due to unseasonal winds. Elthin himself took great interest in this and started to make mental notes of what was talked about. He wanted to be a part of the team who would go there to study the ruins. But still had a few months to a year before something like that could happen. Each member there wanted to go there for their own reasons and Duke Trent wanted dibs on the exploration. A few other members didn't have much to say on it but Elthin could see that the other Magician was paying close attention to the Scaly person and the young girl with the Duke.
The second note that was talked about was the outbreak. In Cultist attacks which seemed to take place on the Southern Continents, he could see the girl was looking at the amount of food. Elthin wasn't sure why this was maybe the girl was either hungry or thirsty. Even the Animalia people took an interest in the girl. "What is with her?" Elthin whispered to himself as he watched the girl more closely.
The recounting about the attacks from The Elder just raised more questions, as, according to witness reports, both assaults, the one on Brascus and the one on an outlying village in the Duchy, happened near enough simultaneously. It appeared more like a targeted joint attack than just a crazed pointless assault for the sake of one. However, the reasoning behind such attacks had yet to be discovered. The damage reports were far from minimal. Brascus managed to funnel the attack to the Slums and defend the majority of residents there, whereas, the village attacked in the Duchy was razed to the ground with not a single survivor being reported. By now, the Duke's 'personal guard' was hitting the Animalia liquor quite hard. Hopefully, the variant of beverage they bought along to this meeting was not the one with aphrodisiac effects.
Most of the Council members, except the Duke, the Animalia, the Archbishop and her scaly consort were all looking quite shocked at the fact that a minor was clearly drinking an alcoholic beverage, downing it, even, though the idea of the equally youthful looking Animalia doing the same thing didn't quite strike them as odd. The Animalia translator was even pointing out the perfect fruit accompaniments to the drinks the Girl was drinking. They seemed to be bonding quite well.
After the display of underage drinking, the Council continued discussing the next few points, which were quite uninteresting. They were mostly trade pacts propositions and attempts at opening new trade routes across certain uncharted parts of the seas which surround the Continents. During this time, the Duke's little companion was seemingly getting quite bored of all the bartering and began to sway a little on the chair with the momentum of gently kicking her feet underneath the table. Typical children's anti-boredom techniques. She looked up at the crystal on the ceiling, the one recording the events going on, and seemingly silently appraised it, judging what kind of dated technology the Archmage was still using. From this distance, a slight tint of a pale-blue glow could be seen in her cyan coloured eyes. Whether that was just the light's reflection off the crystal, or her eyes, couldn't really be determined from the distance the crystal was at. Even while looking at the crystal, her other anti-boredom plan wasn't halted.
More info on the attacks was spoken of by the elder which raised more questions. It seemed like one of the outlying villages was the target. One such village had been wiped out and the Duke's 'personal guard' was going after the liquor which wouldn't really end well at all. As the girl drank her fill the rest of the members were shocked by it. Elthin was surprised by this and wondered if Lucine did this or had done anything like it before.
The Council went back to talking again and the young girl was growing bored. Soon enough the girl was looking up at the recording crystal and had a pale-blue glow in her eyes. Elthin wasn't sure if it was coming from her or the crystal but kept looking at her.
While the boring trade talks were continuing, the Duke's companion reached up her left hand and pointed her palm at the recording crystal. Something flashed a little before the recording went on the fritz and began to become pixilated, however, around two second after the pixilation hit its worse, the recording returned with an even clearer picture and more crisp sound. She smiled a little at her handiwork and began to return her attention to the talks. The Duke noticed the girl's actions and simply mouthed 'Show off' to her. The rest of the patrons, particularly the Sultan, were all heavily involved in the trade talks. The Duke, the Animalia, The Elder and the Black and Gold Magician didn't seem to want to get involved in the talks, leaving the other end of the table in a heated discussion between one another.
The Duke's Companion turned to him for a moment as the talks were continuing and seemed to be holding some form of conversation with him but, as the crystal was too far away and the noise on the other end of the table too great, the speakers of the crystal couldn't pick up this little discussion. The Duke gave his reply to the girl and patted her on her head with his gloved right hand, ruffling her auburn hair a little, like a older brother would do to their younger sibling. She didn't look too pleased by the answer she got and returned her attention to the table once more.
As Elthin watched the girl she soon rose her left hand and pointed at the crystal. Before something flashed and the recording went on the fritz and messed up. Before the recording came back on much clearer than before. The Duke finally took notice of the girl and spoke up while the rest were too busy talking amongst themselves to have to have noticed what went on. As the talks went on the girl was talking with the duke what was being said couldn't be heard.
But large the duke padded her on the head and she seemed none too pleased. "What is going on between them?" Elthin whispered to Lucine, Maybe she had an answer or something.
Elthin asked Luicne what she thought had been the exchange between the Duke and his 'Guard'.
"Maybe she's just saying how boring these trade talks are. She is, after all, just a kid like me, and I'd be bored out of my brain if I had to endure the wafflings of a bunch of old geezers and their plans for making money." Luicne suggested. "If not that, then...she did just down six cups of liquor. Don't even ask what the results of that would be, perv. Girls like their privacy."
The recording auto-fast fowarded the trade talks as they were for the privacy of the people included in them. If general people knew of trade arrangements, then they could stage an assault on trade shipments and sell the stuff themselves. Throughout the fast-forward, around another hour was added on to the already hour long meeting. During this time, the Girl began to do several different attention dividing techniques, like examining the plants and looking at the architecture, to name a few. She was also very slightly moving around on her seat but, as the recording was moving faster, the movements of her dress's cogs could be recognisable, indicating that she was, indeed, making some quite large movements in whole. The Animalia translator was the first to possibly notice the girl's unease and simply smiled to herself before engaging in Animal-talk (potential telepathy through body language, facial expression and eye movements) with her representative, who just pretty much did the same thing. A few minutes later, the scaly individual lost interest in the trade talks and turned their attention to the rather suddenly animated girl. She quickly stopped moving around upon noticing that she was attracting quite the audience and instead kept her movements strictly below the table.
"Poor girl." Lucine sighed sympathetically. "Stuck between a two problems."
Nearing the end of the hour fast-forward, the recording began to return to normal speed, indicating that, indeed, this girl could do with some private time. As if she was in a lesson at school she quietly raised her hand and waited for someone to notice her predicament, keeping her other hand firmly locked below the table. Eventually, the Archmage noticed the strange gesture from this individual.
"Please explain why you have your arm raised." The Archmage asked the girl.
"W-well, Mister Archmage, sir, we're told to do this at school if we want someone's attention during important talks." The girl answered a little nervously, though very politely, taking her hand down to meet with her other.
"She's always been the model student for the rest of the class." The Duke commented. "She's not one to disturb anything without a really good reason."
"Well then, child, care to explain the reason?"
"U-um, I-I was just wondering if I may be excused for a few moments."
"Excused from what?"
"T-This meeting, Mister Archmage, sir. I'd like to be excused to...um..."
She let out a little whimper as if to accentuate her need. The Animalia representative handed her a little berry-like fruit while the translator explained something to the girl through whispering. The girl ate the offered berry in one bite and she seemed to be able to recollect herself a little more.
"I-I'd like to be allowed to...er...go to the bathroom?" She quietly added on the end.
"What a pointless waste of time." The Archbishop cut in. "Stopping a meeting for a child's own lack of self control."
"Actually, she's tried hard to make it this far." The Duke countered. "Granted, if she didn't drink all that liquor she probably would have made it until we call it for the first break. As I said before, she's not one to stop something important for no valid reason."
"Let her go, she has no need to listen to these adult conversations." The Sultan commented in a heavily accented common tongue, even worse than Lucine's.
"Children will be children, after all." The Elder added in with a nod. The other Magician just shrugged, having no comment on this.
Debates were held between the Duke and the Archbishop, leaving the poor girl to endure for a little longer until the Animalia translator cut in quite forcibly.
"If we continue to debate this, we are further wasting time. I suggest that we call the first break here, considering how heated our heads are getting. We need time to cool off." The Translator instructed, breaking the ruling for translators, which the Archbishop did not fail to reprimand.
"Your master hasn't given you the order to talk, so stay out of this, mongrel!" The Archbishop shot back. "A good pet knows when to heed its master's commands."
Before a full on Animalia brawl was about to break out, the Archmage decided to go along with the Animalia's suggestion.
"While she may have broken the law of translators in Council meetings, she does have a point. We are only wasting more time. We shall adjourn this meeting here and allow for the first break to happen." The Archmage ordered.
"Thank you very much, Mister Archmage, sir." The girl gleefully replied before racing off out of the meeting room.
The recording came to an end with the first part of the meeting being concluded.
Lucine gave her view on what was going on between the duke and the girl. "Don't call me a prev, there's just something about her that seems off and it's not that."
He went back to watching the recording and is fast-forwarded and the girl. Began to change looking at various parts of the room and the cogs on her dress. Began to move faster as she was doing these things some of the other members took notice of her. Lucine seemed to pick up on what was going on with the girl and took Elthin a while to notice himself. Soon the girl stopped moving around since she had a lot of people looking at her. As the meeting was nearing its end the girl soon rose her hand and the Archmage noticed her.
There was the small talk between them and the duke spoke up.
There was more small talk and soon things turned heated before the archmage called. For a break and the recording ended Elthin sat there for a few moments in silence. He wanted to know more about this girl and the stuff she had done earlier. He also wanted to meet The Duke in person for more reasons. But to gain access to meeting with both The Duke and the girl would only cause questions asked. He could always request travel to Argenta to just visit the city and take Lucine along with him.
But that would also take a time to do there was one way he could get. Access to travel there much faster but did he really want to do that to announce that he was a member of the royal court of Glacialis just to travel somewhere he didn't want to do that either.
As the recording came to an end, Lucine only had one thing to say.
"That Religious woman was a bitch." Lucine exclaimed, not caring about the language she was using. "The poor girl could have embarrassed herself so much because of her."
After pushing herself up from her seat, Lucine had a little more to say.
"I wanna meet those animal girls, and that cog-girl. They seemed kind of nice." Lucine commented. "Didn't think I'd see the geezer from this Guild there. Guess he must be quite important, huh?"
Elthin was still thinking on things when Lucine spoke up.
"O-Oh, yeah some of those types are like that." Elthin finally said. He got up too and they both left the room and headed out of the Guild Library.
Lucine then wanted to meet the animal girls and the cog-girl. Before mentioning that the elder much be quite important.
"If you truly would like to meet them we could always request travel to Argrenta?" Elthin told her. He thought about the elder for a while. "He must be alright." They left the Guild and started to head towards the travel guild.
Elthin suggested that they request travel to Argenta to meet with at least one of the people Lucine took a liking to.
"On foot, if we walk from sunrise to sunset, it'll take a week, give or take a day or two. If we take horses that'll cut the time down by a few days. Our best choice would be stealing that thing the Inquisitor is coming on. Ever ridden one before?" Lucine explained to Elthin as they headed towards the Traveller's Guild.
"That'd take to long and in this heat wouldn't be wise."
Lucine mentioned about stealing the ship the Inquisitor was coming in.
"True, but should we really steal it? I've never ridden one before" Elthin pointed out. As they arrived at the Traveller's Guild and walked inside.
Elthin said that he had never ridden in a military grade vehicle before.
"Good, that makes two of us, then. I guess we could wing it and hope for the best. How hard can it be? Probably the Inquisition lot are as equally as clueless about Argenta stuff, so they probably forced some poor goon to drive them around." Lucine suggested as the pair entered the Traveller's Guild.
"I'm sure it'd be really hard the only way I can think of would be to sneak on it. Or try some other underhanded methods. But if they find out it was us then the entire Inquisition would be after us?" Elthin said.
When they entered into the Traveller's Guild it was a large opened roomed building. With various maps of the world upon the walls. Several members of the Guild were busy talking with town's folk who were planning trips to other parts of the continent and both Elthin and Lucine walked to a line and waited to be seen.
"It's not even their property in the first place. They more than likely forced Argenta to supply one for their trip." Lucine answered. "If we took it, we'd probably be doing them a favour."
The Traveller's Guild was as busy as normal, with Nobles planning grandiose trips across the Continents. Lucine and Elthin took their place in line and waited to be called upon.
"So, how does this whole travel lark work anyway?" Lucine asked. "Do we just say where we want to go and they give us a pass, or something?"
"Maybe but how would we fly the thing I'm sure neither of us knows how to do that?" Elthin said.
As they both waited in line Elthin thought over what he was going to say. To the Guild members as Lucine spoke up again.
"We, request where we'd like to go and fill out some paperwork. We also need travel papers to come with us so we can. Show at the border between nations wouldn't want to enter a country without those since it'd cause nothing but trouble." After waiting a while longer. Both Elthin and Lucine were called upon.
They walked up to a young twenty something or other female with green hair and yellow eyes. She seemed to rather busy today. "How, can I help you two today?" she asked.
"I'd like to request travel to Argenta please?" Elthin asked.
"Why, would you like to travel to Argenta sir?" the female asked.
"I'd like to see the sites and show my younger brother here around the town.." Elthin said before adding. "I'd also like to visit family there as well as Lady Yasmir Veldhar lives there." Elthin sighed he didn't really want to visit his older sister. As he'd then have to deal with even more hardships which wouldn't be good on him.
At the mention of the Veldhar name the females, eyes went wide. As that was the current ruling families name in Glacialis. Was Elthin a member of the royal family?
Elthin explained how getting travel passes worked while the pair waited in line.
"So we need permission to cross borders then? That sounds complicated." Lucine answered.
The pair were soon called upon and Elthin went about bargaining to get passes for travel. He said something about a female with the same House name as him, but Lucine didn't seem to show interest in that point. If they were visiting his family, it didn't really bother her that much just as long as she got to go there.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want to cause problems" Elthin explained.
Elthin and the female talked a little more about traveling to Argentia. This took a few minutes longer than normal as Elthin had to fill out some paperwork. It was also known to him that'd it'd take a few days time to get the documents needed completed since. The Guild was super busy during this time of year. So, in the end, Elthin and Lucine would need to head back here in three days. They then bed farewell and left the Traveller's Guild.
"Were heading home"
Elthin spent a good while discussing things with the Guild representative to get permission to cross borders. During this time, Lucine was mostly looking at the globes on display in the room and the maps of the Continents and their archipelagos. She was, naturally, acting like a bored child in a store, trying everything she can to keep her occupied. Thankfully, all the administration was done and they were told to return in three days, when all the processing was done.
"Good, 'cause I kinda need to fill the pot, if you get me." Lucine answered, blushing slightly. "Sitting through long meetings and lines does that."
"You could have asked to use the bathroom?" Elthin whispered.
Once outside they made a beeline for Elthin's home making small talk. Along the way during this time Elthin was looking around the town making sure. They weren't being followed by anyone and keeping an eye on Lucine.
"Well, yeah, but, remember? I'm meant to be a boy and I can't exactly mark trees like them as I lack the hose needed." Lucine elaborated, still looking quite embarrassed. "Also, how am I meant to waltz into a boy's Can and do my business in that grotty place? I'd rather hold it for as long as needed than use those places."
Elthin kept watch for any suspicious activity while Lucine contended with her own current problems. Through some of the streets, Elthin could just pick out the movement of a rather quick figure very briefly before it disappeared behind the street stalls and the odd occasional Camel wandering around. There was also slight glints of light from some angles but what caused them was unclear, as there was a lot of shiny trinkets out around the town which could easily reflect light. If they were, indeed, being followed, it was by someone, or something, which knows what they're doing.
"I know that but, something going to have to be done. Wouldn't want you to have an accident like last night." Elthin whispered.
As Elthin looked around the streets he caught sight of a quick figure. For a second before they dashed off again. He wondered on this person and saw all the lights from the trinkets on display. He kept looking around for a while longer before they reached his home.
Elthin proposed a not so outrageous alternative to this predicament and why Lucine should promptly take care of such needs. A yelp of surprise followed by some stammering was all that left Lucine's lips after a stifled 'how did you-'.
"NO! I'd never ever ever ever do that kind of thing! I'm a big girl, not a baby! I'd never do that. Never ever!" Lucine quickly blurted out as her blush deepened. "Never ever ever! Got it?! NEVER!"
Despite the adamant protests, there was just something about the look in Lucine's eyes that betrayed her mouth. She looked embarrassed, ashamed, angry but, most of all, upset at the accusation.
On the rest of the way home, the potential stalkers managed to elude Elthin's gaze, only briefly flashing into a corner-of-the-eye view before disappearing into nothingness. How long they were being stalked for was a mystery, much like their pursuers.
"Okay, okay just make sure to take care of that thing ahead of time" Elthin said. He could see that Lucine was embarrassed and didn't press the matter further. He did see the person from before appearing in and out of his line of sight. He took this in as them being stalked and before the door of his home. He turned around to completely face any stalkers.
"Show yourself?" Elthin called out.
After the little 'lover's spat' between the pair, Elthin had enough of their potential stalker and demanded for them to show themselves. However, unlike what would normally happen, nobody came into view, not even a chicken wandering around, like what was normal when the City was quiet.
"What're you stalling for?" Lucine asked, sounding a little impatient. "Do you want me to wash your porch, or something?"
No one came into view when Elthin called them out. Lucine then spoke up once more "Someone is following us" he then turned around and let Lucine inside to take care of her needs. Elthin however remained outside his home. Whoever was following them would be hardpressed on trying to enter inside. Since the barrier around his home was activated as soon as Lucine walked inside.
Elthin informed Lucine of the delay. She just let out a small laugh about it.
"Heh, I'm ever so popular now, aren't I?" Lucine commented with sarcasm.
Elthin then let Lucine in to take care of her pressing desire for a prithee. She didn't waste any time heading in and was down the hallway quite quickly. Elthin, however, remained outside to continue to scan for any pursuers. Like before, nothing happened. Whether it was just a trick of the light earlier or if, indeed, these tailers are skilled in their trade, was still undecided.
While still outside Elthin sent a cold wind blowing across the open ground. It was nothing more than a harmless breeze but he wanted to make sure if anyone was there. As he was sure someone was out there spying on him.
After Elthin sent out the cold breeze, some form of response came in the sound of a startled yelp at the chill. It started off normal volume, but quickly dimmed down to a muffled sound near instantly. There was, definitely, someone out there. Judging by the pitch of the yelp, they were probably a young female.
Elthin shout the door to his home and locked the door. He then heard the startled yelp which sounded female. Looking around Elthin went in the direction of where the yelp came from looking for any signs of the female person who had caused it. Just to make sure he sent another blast of cold wind again in every direction.
Elthin began to head towards the source of the sound, sending another blast of cold wind that way. No noise came this time, however, when he reached a little more than ten feet away from the source, a girl in a Midnight Blue traveller's cape, with a large hood covering the majority of her face and only showing the lower half, quickly stepped out from behind her cover of a merchant's wagon. In one swift barely perceptible movement, she quickly threw down two small cylinders of metal. Once they hit the ground, one exploded out on a flash of blinding light and the other let out a loud hissing sound, like mist escaping from a sealed container. Once the light dissipated, all that was left was a large ten feet in diameter cloud of thick white smoke, covering any traces of where the potential spy might have gone.
The second blast of cold wind didn't get a sound heard. He did, however, see a girl in a Midnight Blue traveler's cape, Who came out of her hiding spot behind a wagon a moment later she drew two small cylinders and threw them down to the ground. The first one blinded Elthin who wasn't expecting that he covered her eyes as the second one struck the ground. As he regained his sight he saw that thick white smoke covered the area. Not letting him see where the spy escaped to he walked forward into the smoke and moved forward hoping the girl went in the direction he was running in.
Elthin decided to continue to pursue the potential spy, turning this little game of cat and mouse on its head. Traversing the smoke cloud wasn't easy, but it didn't cause any breathing problems due to the Shield. The composition of the smoke, as Elthin could just make out on the inside of it, was mostly just cold water mixed with a very tiny amount of Liquid Nitrogen, not enough to freeze anything warm, but enough to create smoke in the air. Overall, it was just a harmless mix of chemicals which could easily be thrown together by an Alchemist worth a quarter of their name.
After passing the smoke cloud, the tail of a Midnight Blue cape just flapped around a corner a little further down the street. They'd covered a lot of ground in such a short space of time, so, potentially, they'd be a little slower due to exertion happening a little too soon.
The smoke that Elthin had traveled through was pretty annoying. The cold water that was mixed with the Liquid Nitrogen didn't bother Elthin all that much. As he left the smoke cloud he caught the tail end of the Midnight Blue cape girl. As she moved around a corner Elthin jogged after her hoping to catch up. As he then turned the corner she had moved down he cast a spell creating a small slippery patch of ice upon the ground in the area in front of her or was trying to.
The escapee was a good deal along the alleyway before Elthin reached it. When he did so, he attempted to slow her down by making the floor difficult terrain to travel across. At first, she stumbled a little before regaining her footing, however, she then began to vault between the walls, kicking off one and onto the other while pushing herself forward down the alleyway, her escape was made marginally slower by this exercise, but she was still quite fast and dexterous for someone who looked so young. She also seemed to have unnatural stamina for someone of her build, which allowed her to move at such a pace without stopping for breath. Either she was fatiguing, but good at hiding it, or she didn't feel the least bit tired.
His trap didn't have the effects he had wanted at first the girl stumbled a bit. Before regaining her footing and vault between the walls her escape was growing slower. As was Elthin's own trying to catch her he was growing tired from running after her. He soon stopped in his tracks and decided on on final gambit. Thrusting out both hands Elthin began to chant a much larger spell she was trying to create giant walls of ice which would block the girl into a box. But completing the spell would take time and did Elthin have enough time to complete it.
Elthin tried one final last-ditch effort in catching this elusive free-runner. It didn't seem that he'd have time to finish it, however, due to the ice already on the ground, a simple redirection of the solidity of it was all that was needed, creating a large wall of solid ice in front of the girl. She bashed into the wall, focusing more on her footing than where she was going, and fell to the ground on her rear. Still trying to collect herself from the surprise barrier that had appeared, she just sat there rubbing away at her sore rump, while also analyzing for another escape strategy.
At first, Elthin feared the girl would escape him as his spell took the time to finish. That was before the girl crashed head-on into the wall and falling to the ground. Not wanting to lose her in the time he was given Elthin started to run forward again trying close the distance between the pair of them. As he slowly moved forward he called out to her,
"Who are you and why were you following me?"
Elthin had caught the cat in its own trap and was soon closing in on her, asking her to identify herself and give her reasons for the actions she was committing. The girl tried to make a move, seemingly looking like she was about to punch the wall of ice down, before simply curling up into a ball and spouting some Lucine-like comments.
"Please don't violate my young body, you wicked, wicked man! I'm too young to become a used item!" The girl answered back, sounding quite scared. She spoke with an accent that wasn't from around these parts. It sounded ever so familiar to the accent of the Duke in the recording, except a little less well-spoken and more run-of-the-mill. "I've yet to develop so it won't be that fun, unless you like unripe fruit, you class-A pervert!"
Elthin caught up with the girl who was about to punch his ice wall down. Before she curled up into a ball and spoke like Lucine does sometimes.
"I'm not going to do anything too you." Elthin told her. He caught the accent from the girl knowing she wasn't from these parts. "I said stop it with that, and what is your business with me?" Elthin asked.
Elthin, once more, was plastered with the 'Sexual Deviant' label. However, his actions did kind of summarise what a Sexual deviant would do. He insisted that he was not going to deflower such a young bud, and reiterated his previous question. However, the girl was still fixated on the former.
"Don't come any closer! I-I know self defence! I have a whistle! I can scream real loud!" The girl continued to blather on.
Elthin remained what he was as the girl spoke up again.
"You can get up you know," Elthin told her.
This wasn't getting him anywhere so he held up his hands in a surrendering motion. "What will it take for you to not be afraid of me?"
Elthin, once more, insisted that he was not going to violate a budding flower in any way, shape or form. He then began to show surrender by staying a fair distance away and keeping his hands visible.
"So, you're not gonna make me your pleasure toy?" The girl asked, sounding a little more relaxed, but still a little defensive. "I want you to identify yourself first and tell me why you cornered me like this. It's rude to ask a lady for her name without giving your own."
Sure enough the girl seemed to calm down a little more, but was still clearly wary. She got up from her crouched position and turned towards Elthin. At this distance, it was noticeable that she was just a little bit bigger than Lucine, but that could be down to the raised heel midnight blue shoes she was wearing. She then began to pull the hood of her cloak down, revealing a head of black illustriously soft looking hair, and then looking up at Elthin, staring into his eyes with her cyan coloured eyes. They seemed to house an evident lighter blue glow to them, unnaturally so. She certainly looked familiar. Wait, those eyes could only belong to one person which looked like that...
..Elthin was, undoubtedly. in the presence of Duke Trent's personal guard. The young girl from the meeting.
"Well, aren't you going to introduce yourself, Master Veldhar?" The girl asked, indicating she knew a little about Elthin already.
"I'm not going to do that so stop with that already?" Elthin told her. The girl then wanted him to identify himself and tell her why he had cornered her. Soon enough the girl had calmed down some and got up turning to Elthin. She then pulled her hood down and Elthin saw that the girl was the same girl from the meeting he'd watched. What she was doing here was a mystery to him and for a moment, Elthin was surprised. When the girl seemed to know just who Elthin was when she mentioned his last name.
The surprise faded soon enough.
"So, you know about me? my name is Elthin Veldhar" Elthin said. He didn't know how much the girl knew about him. He wasn't about to mention that he was a part of Glacialis' Palace Honor Guard. So he kept that hidden from her. "As for why I cornered you that was because I thought you were spying on me as I sensed someone was," Elthin explained to the girl. Next, Elthin decided to try and surprise the girl some.
"Now, why not tell me your name as I'd like to know why the personal guard to Duke Trent has business with me?"
The mysterious Argentian Royal smirked a little when Elthin fully introduced himself and explained his reasoning behind stalking her into a alleyway and trapping her there. The girl's hands were, apparently, folded behind her back, hidden among the folds of her slightly open Midnight Blue Traveller's cloak. Through the slight opening, it was apparent that she was wearing an equally coloured steampunk-esque goth-loli like dress, with a slightly puffed out skirt and lots of intricate patterning, including a large cog-wheel shaped belt buckle around her waist. The outfit was complete with mid-calf high fashionable boots, which actually looked quite hard wearing as well.
"I know enough about you. You're a long way from home, totting a young girl to boot as well. Are you positive you're not a deviant?" The girl asked, going on the defensive once more by covering her chest with her arms. "Are you eloping? Engaging in a forbidden relationship with a girl from the Slums?! That'd make an AWESOME love comic!"
After the slight strange defensive movements, the Girl now had her arms folded behind her back once more.
"As for me, I'm nothing more than a simple girl on an errand for a family member." She answered, both evading and answering the question. "However, considering you believe you've got me at your mercy..."
In one swift movement, the girl drew forth another small steel canister from under her cloak and threw it down, creating yet another cloud of smoke. However, this smoke felt, and tasted, more like flour than the previous bomb she'd used. In the chaos of the fogging, the sound of Ice shattering echoed through the enclosed space as the signature thud of a kick preceded it. Once the smoke cleared, the girl was already on one of the rooftops doing what could only be likened to a Hero pose from a children's book. She let out a clearly childish evil laugh before nearly falling over after leaning back a little to far to gloat. Once she'd regained her footing, she shouted down to Elthin.
"You nearly had me there, Elthin of House Veldhar! However, no evil villain can stop the Heroine of Justice, Azure Princess Z!" The self-proclaimed 'Heroine of Justice' posed once more before laughing again. "So long as there's evil in the world threatening the lives of innocents, the Heroine of Justice shall continue to fight! Know this, Elthin of House Veldhar, you are now my arch-nemesis! None can escape the Hand of Justice!" After posing once more, 'Azure Princess Z' threw something down, which clinked against the floor a few feet away from Elthin. "We shall meet again, arch-nemesis!"
Azure Princess Z then took off, jumping from rooftop to rooftop.
Elthin stayed on his guard just in case the girl before she tried anything. He still didn't fully trust her having just met her a moment ago. The girl still seemed to know a lot about him which he'd like to know how much she knew. "What does it matter what I do?" Elthin asked. The girl then dodged his question before sending out another cylinder of smoke. Elthin was blinded for a few moments before he could see her again.
"She's a weird one alright," Elthin said after he listened to her speech and dash away. Walking over he picked up the thing she had threw down a few feet. From him taking a few moments he scanned it over and then headed for home.
Elthin, once the strange 'Heroine of Justice' had fled the scene, went over to see what she'd thrown down to him. The actual object landed a few inches away from the metal canister which had expelled the smoke. It looked to be a small cogwheel shaped bit of blue metal. Perhaps it was this girl's 'calling card', like most children's heroes have? Strangely, next the canister was also a small scrap of paper which appeared to have a list of some sort written on it. Passing up a good piece of evidence would be rather bad, so Elthin took this as well before heading back home.
His spell he'd cast was now shattered and returned from where it came from. As Elthin looked over the small cogwheel he saw the small scrap of paper. Trying to read what was on it made it to be some sort of list. When he reached his home he opened the door and walked inside the stuff he'd taken was in his pocket. Walking into the kitchen he sat down at the table and placed the stuff upon it.
Before getting back up and going to find Lucine.
Once Elthin got back home, he placed the strange trinkets from the meeting with the hyper girl in Blue on the table before going to find Lucine, who was actually the one to find him. She'd changed back into her female clothes, possibly because they were more comfortable and natural to her,
"You sure took your time." Lucine commented as she went over to Elthin and began to sniff the air around him. "And you smell of another girl! Are you two-timing me, mister?!"
Lucine's questionable behaviour sure hadn't been stopped.
In his search for Lucine it appeared she had found him instead. "I had a rather interesting meeting with Duke Trent's personal guard" Elthin told Lucine. He then led her into the kitchen where he showed her the strange trinkets he had gotten from Z.
"I'm not two-timing or anything of the sort but the girl is here for a reason" Elthin says. Before he told Lucine fully what had happened between him and Z.
Elthin explained why he was late turning up.
"Did that little vixen try to seduce you?" She asked, continuing along the line of 'Angry partner'. "I thought I was the only girl for you."
Elthin tried to defend himself once more before showing the things he'd picked up from his encounter with the 'Heroine of Justice'. Lucine ignored the cogwheel and looked straight at the list before starting to giggle a little.
"So much for 'Heroine of Justice'." Lucine snickered. "She's got a list of ingredients for a home remedy to help with potty training overnight! Little girl must still miss the pot until morning and wake up all sodden!"
"Just what is with you anyway are you jealous or something?" Elthin asked.
Lucine ignored the cogwheel and looked at the list and explained what it was about. "Then it's too bad for her then" He then sat down once more.
"Jealous? O-oh, no. No way am I jealous!." Lucine quickly shot back, sounding a little too unconvincing.
Elthin just shrugged aside the noting on the scrap of paper.
"Perfect..." Lucine mischievously chuckled as she pocketed the scrap. "Ammunition, get!"
Lucine then decided to question how a single girl could outwit, outmaneuver and outrun a trained Magician.
"So, how did this little bedwetter manage to escape you? Surely you can't be beaten by a lone girl who can't even keep her own body in check overnight?"
Lucine did appear jealous.
"You are jealous, now why is that?" Elthin asked.
Lucine pocketed the paper and then asked how the girl escaped him.
"She was using some cylinders of smoke and other things. She's also well trained for someone her age I'd know since I've done similar training back home."
"I-I'm not jealous at all!" Lucine insisted, still sounding slightly unconvincing.
Elthin explained how a young girl could outwit him. Lucine appeared to be very interested, and also confused, at the idea of using canisters of smoke.
"So she can control the weather?" Lucine asked, sounding very interested. "Just what kind of Magician is she?! Not even the old guy at the Guild can make mist appear from nowhere."
The ideas of 'smoke bombs' and 'flash bombs' seems to float right over this poor backwater girl's head.
"Enough" Elthin demanded ending the talk there with that.
"She can't control the weather, I believe what she was using was made some how. I know it sounds rather confusing" Elthin says.
He left the room for a moment and returned with a small book. "A newbies guild to Learning Magic" 'This book here should explain somethings about that. I'll help you learn to read the book right now if you'd like?"
The jealousy talk was ended quite abruptly.
Elthin then went on to explain that Azure Princess was just using some kind of invention to produce the smoke, but this didn't clear anything up for Lucine at all. He then went off to retrieve 'The Origins of Magic for Budding Magicians', which was basically a child's guide to learning Magic. He offered to read it for Lucine.
"I'll give it a go." Lucine simply shrugged as she took a seat next to Elthin and moved her chair close enough so she could see the pages as well. The proximity between the two was now quite close.
The pair were now sitting side by side. Elthin opened up the book to the first page and started to read to it to Lucine slowly. Making sure to stop at places so that everything she heard would sink into her mind. When she was confused over something Elthin reread it again before trying to explain what it meant.
The first few pages of the book were the basic introduction to Magic for beginners. It covered what magic was about, the four main elements of magic being fire, water, earth and air. Along with a few different types of magic such as offense and defense based spells. During the time spent reading Elthin tried to help Lucine learn to read he took this slowly. Not wanting to overwhelm the girl too quickly he started with the first sentence on the very first page. Rereading it several times and trying to get Lucine to sound out the word so she could say it.
During the reading session, Elthin allowed Lucine to try out a few sentences on her own. As expected of someone who was still learning to read, she stumbled on them quite a few times before getting some words down, albeit with the wrong pronunciation. Eventually, her side position for reading became a little problematic when the pages were moving on, so she pushed herself closer and closer to the centre of the book to try and make it so she could easily see both pages. This, ultimately, placed her pretty much side to side with Elthin.
As the reading went on, Lucine's ability to pick up basic words and phrases became more pronounced and she was quickly learning the art of reading, but she was still far from knowing enough to fully call herself a competent reader.
Elthin helped out Lucine anyway that he could. He could still see that she had a harder time learning and stumbled a few times. Yet with how slow Elthin was going was a good thing he wasn't about to go faster at all. Soon enough Lucine placed herself closer towards Elthin who had placed the book flat upon the table. As the reading went on Lucine seemed to be able to pick up words and phrases. But she still had a long why to go so they worked on reading for a little while longer before Elthin decided to stop for a late lunch.
By the time Lunch rolled around, Lucine was able to read some of the simpler, shorter, sentences mostly by herself, only needing help on a few more confusingly ambiguous words. She was a fast learner, but even at her speed it'll take a good while before she's at the level she'd be expected to be at upon starting at the Guild. While Elthin's tutoring was effective, it still seemed like Lucine was not reaching her full potential.
Elthin did understand that Lucine was a fast learner much like. How she had done with magic practice earlier that day yet there was something that. Was holding Lucine back from fully learning more as to what that was he couldn't say.
"Anything you want to do for the rest of the day?" Elthin asked.
As he was busy preparing lunch for the two of them.
While Elthin was preparing lunch for the both of them, Lucine was silently practicing her reading still. Her reading was momentarily put on hold when Elthin asked a question.
"I'd like some more Girl's clothes, if that's okay. I mean underwear and things like that, as I really only have one set of panties." Lucine requested, "I'll do all the awkward picking of clothes this time, all you need to do is pay. Also, I wouldn't want you picking out my delicate clothes, because then you could do all kinds of things to me in your mind."
"That's okay, I wouldn't want you going out on your own anyway." Elthin tells her. He had made them some salad and ham sandwichs he placed them on the table. "I'm not going to do anything with you like that unless you secretly want me to"
Elthin accepted the request, bringing a small smile to Lucine's face. Lunch was then served up.
"If I'm just too adorable for you to resit, then there's nothing I can do about it. Your beastly side may just come out and try to eat me whole. Or, you may want me to eat you..." Lucine mischievously answered. "Oh, the shame!"
Elthin blushed at Lucine's act of wanting to have her eat him. "What about me eating you?" Elthin countered. He sat down and started to eat his lunch he stopped for a moment after eating some and before Lucine starting eating he leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Which was out of character for himself then pulled back and went on eating again.
Elthin countered Lucine's questionable taunt with one of his own.
"I may be unripe and still growing, but the sweetest fruits are always the budding ones." Lucine retaliated, sounding excessively innocent. "Do you want to eat my cherry?"
Just before Lucine began to start on her food, Elthin, strangely kissed her directly on the lips. She dropped her fork onto her plate with a loud clattering before sitting there, mouth agape, as her face went a deep shade of crimson. She tried to make words, but all that came out of her mouth were unintelligible squeaks.
Elthin didn't say anything else he was crimson himself as just went on eating. He wasn't sure as to why he'd done what he did maybe as a way to get back at Lucine for her. Games she's always playing on him or he did it for other reasons. He got up and went to go get some milk to drink trying to clear his mind.
After being locked in a daze for a few moments, Lucine's mind finally processed everything that happened. However, instead of her usual backbiting retaliations, she just silently looked down at her plate and started eating.
Elthin then ate some more and finally finished eating he got up. Placing his dishes into the sink before leaving the room for a while to make things easier on them both,
Elthin was the first to finish and, after doing so, promptly left the room, leaving Lucine alone. The lack of proximity between the two made it slightly easier for Lucine, but she was still reeling from the unexpected action.
Elthin gave time for Lucine to finish up with her meal as he got the money needed. For later out of the a secret vault he had in his home later he went back into the kitchen to check on Lucine. "Do you still need more time or can we go shopping?"
By the time Elthin got back to the Kitchen, Lucine had finished her food as well.
"Oh, e-erm, we can go now." Lucine responded, sounding still out of sorts a little.
It was then time for them to go they both left Elthin's home and headed for the Noble's shopping distract. There wasn't much conversation between the pair as Elthin really didn't have much to say after some time walking they arrived there.
Unlike the last outing, Lucine headed out of the house still in her female attire. However, as she looked far more Noble-esque, she didn't attract any attention from the minuscule amount of people braving the arrival of the Inquisition. One curious pair of eyes, from a Humanoid like person near the Apothecary, was the only one evidently interested in the change of partner Elthin had on him at the time. Small black panther ears popped up from the Humanoid's head as the pair passed by. It was strange to find an Animalia in a big city like this, especially one who looked so familiar.
Elthin had been thinking about what had happened between them. He didn't seem to notice the Humanoid that was looking at them he as he passed by them without. So much as a glance the thoughts in his mind soon left him and he returned to normal.
Oblivious to the curious onlooker, Elthin continued on the way to the tailor to pick up some more clothes for Lucine. Lucine's silence was the only accompaniment to the sound of both of their steps. What happened must have shocked her so much that she's still processing it.
The pair arrived at the tailor and Lucine was the first to head in, losing herself among the rows of neatly hung clothing.
Elthin followed Lucine inside the tailor's shop and followed behind her. Letting her look through the various rows of clothes to see just what she would pick out. That is if her mind was still on that sort of thing.
Elthin decided to supervise Lucine's shopping, making sure she was getting all she needed without costing too much. To begin with, Lucine was looking amongst the 'Adult' lingerie, picking up various string-like excuses for underwear, until the Clerk intervened and informed her that those particular articles of clothing are not for Young Ladies. With a deep blush, she hurriedly placed them back onto the rails as she was lead to the Children's section. It didn't appear that her reasoning behind choosing the restricted stringy underwear was due to her crude sense of humour, but rather due to her current addled state.
Lucine looked through the rows of cute clothing on display and picked out matching sets of silky smooth underwear, ensuring that she had at least one set of underwear for each of the weekdays. While the written word may not be her strong point, she appeared to have a good understanding of basic addition and numeracy. Each of the sets she picked also matched the varying outfits Elthin had purchased the day before, but with lighter colours, like purples and deep blues. Eventually she'd shopped herself out and returned to Elthin with her arms full of clothing.
Elthin followed behind Lucine silently using this time to study what sort. Of clothes she would pick out for herself and also keeping an eye out for Z if she had decided to show herself again. Soon enough Lucine returned to Elthin her arms filled with clothes. They walked up to the tailor and Elthin paid for everything that Lucine had picked out and they then left the store.
After the clothing was paid for, Lucine offered to carry the baggage as, after all, they were her clothes. On the way back to the house, Elthin decided to keep a close watch to see if the strange self-proclaimed 'Heroine of Justice' would show herself. All seemed silent, until a sudden exclamation cut through the open square.
"There you are, Villain!"
The source of the noise was a young girl clad in a deep blue traveller's robe. It was, indeed, the Heroine of Justice herself, Azure Princess Z.
"Give it back, thief!" The angry pint-sized Heroine ordered as she approached Elthin, completely oblivious of Lucine.
Just like before Elthin heard the same voice again as Z appeared once again. "So you show yourself once more" Elthin sighed. He leaned over towards Lucine. "The girl from before is here the one I told you about."
Elthin turned to look at Z.
"Whatever do you mean?" Elthin asked playing the confused person.
Elthin informed Lucine that the angry little girl approaching them was the girl from before. Suddenly, Lucine seemed to snap out of her addled state.
"You mean the little harlot who tried to take you away?" Lucine questioned, sounding a mixture of angry and smug. "If she tries anything, I'll stop her."
Elthin tried to pull the confused card on Azure Princess Z.
"You know what I mean! My thing! You stole it from me!" The riled up petite Heroine countered. "You took it from me when you knocked me down with your poles!"
Lucine seemed to respond to him when he mentioned the girl. "Yes that is the one" Elthin whispered.
Z still spoke of Elthin taking her stuff.
"I still have no idea what you're talking about is why not tell me what it is?"
"Poles?" Lucine asked Elthin, sounding like anger was rising inside of her. "You told me you did nothing to this girl? Are you lying to me, Mister?!"
Elthin now had two troublesome children accusing him of things he did not commit.
"I dropped something very important when you thrust your pole onto me. A girl can't reveal all her secrets, especially to no good Villains like yourself." Azure Princess Z countered. Her face was turning a light shade of pink as she explained herself more.
"Walls of Ice I had created through magic to trap her" Elthin told Lucine. "I did nothing to this young girl okay!"
He looked to Z.
"Oh, so you dropped something that wouldn't happen to have been a list. About ingredients for a home remedy in potty training would it?" Elthin asked.
"Oh, really?" Lucine asked, sounding unconvinced.
Elthin used his Ace to silence the accusatory girl. The expected result came as the angry girl gasped in shock as silence fell between the pair. Tears appeared to be welling up in the corners of her eyes as she whimpered in stunned silence.
"So you read it?" Azure Princess Z quietly announced, mostly to herself. The floodgates opened as tears began to stream down her face as she crumpled to the floor and began to sob quite loudly.
"Poor baby still wakes up wet." Lucine mocked. "What a joke for a Heroine of Justice!"
"Believe what you want to" Elthin told her.
Z gasped in shock when Elthin used his ace and then started to cry.
"I didn't have to read it" Elthin said.
He looked down at her feeling a tad sorry for her but that was all. So decided for a brief moment to have fun with the girl he cast a small ice spell that blew a freezing wind between her legs.
In the depths of her sorrow, Azure Princess Z didn't notice the spell Elthin had cast on her as she continued to bawl. Lucine kept up her mocking of her potential opponent.
"What are you, four?!" Lucine laughed. "How do you expect to fight crime if you can't even keep your own piss in control?!"
Azure Princess Z's crying just got more intense as Lucine kept up her barrage of insults. The small amount of people who were in the surrounding area, and even some of the shopkeepers, all turned their attention to Elthin with distasteful glares.
A crowd was starting to gather around them and this wasn't something Elthin wanted. Walking over he picked up Z in his arms and walked with her towards his home in a hurry. Not wanting the people watching to see this anymore. He opened the House with Lucine behind him clearly mad that Elthin had picked the girl up. He took Z into the basement training room of his home and set her on the ground.
In a desperate bid to reduce the amount of disapproving onlooker, Elthin grabbed the distraught girl and carried her back to his home.
"Hey, wait a minute! Wot the hell are y'doin'?!" Lucine exclaimed, slipping back into slum Dialect. "Bring tha' girl right back 'ere this instant!"
Lucine then bolted off after Elthin, angered by his actions, while also feeling quite prideful that her judgement was correct in Elthin's personality. The crowd of onlookers watched in a mixture of shock and confusion as Elthin abducted a crying girl and legged it back to his house. This will certainly get around quickly...
Back in Elthin's basement, he placed the girl, whom was now crying even louder, on the floor.
Elthin ignored Lucine at first.
The girl was still crying in his basement this time louder.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Elthin snapped at the girl.
Elthin snapped at the crying girl, trying to order her to shut up. However, the anger only made her cry more. Consoling this bawling wreck will take time and effort.
"What...you...me...take...inity...!" The girl bawled incomprehensibly.
The girl just kept on crying more.
"To get you away from that crowd of onlookers" this wasn't getting him anywhere. Lucine was also her in the basement he turned to her.
"You deal with her," Elthin told her.
"Finally got ya!" Lucine exclaimed as she came barging into the basement. "Why ya nick 'er from tha' square? Wanna git ya rocks off'on 'er or somethin'?!"
Lucine, with the addition of the hard to translate Slum Dialect, was making about as much sense as the bawling baby on the floor.
"Such a noisy pair." A strangely familiar young exotic sounding female voice echoed through the basement. "One is in need of consoling, and the other is as hard to understand as a rampaging boar."
From the shadows behind the still open door to the basement, a young Panther-skin clad girl appeared. She had black hair, black panther ears and a black panther tail. It appeared to be the translator for the Animalia from the Council meeting. Just what was such a high-profile Animalia doing in such a place?
"Care to explain whether you wish to fornicate with the Young Miss, or do you have other instinct driven ideals?" The Animalia questioned. "Of course, it is inexcusable what you've done. This may be counted as a personal attack on the Duke, if he wasn't such a carefree individual. However, you will still need to explain your reasoning to him, as he sees the Young Miss as somewhat of a pack member."
The Animalia began to make her way over to the crying wreck on the floor. She knelt down next to her and began to hug her closely while stroking her head.
Elthin needed to calm down as this was all getting out of hand. Lucine spoke to the girl and then they heard an unfamiliar voice speak to them.
"How, did you enter here?" Elthin asked.
He had turned to face the sound of the voice to see. A young panther-skin clad girl step out of the shadows. "I took her here to get away from that damned crowd of people nothing is going to happen to her. Take her away if you want as this is all out of hand" Elthin sighed once more.
Upon the addition of another intruder, Elthin began to give up on trying to calm the girl down and, instead, questioned the newest addition to this rag-tag band of people.
"A simple barrier spell is easily tricked." The Animalia explained. "We've been trained in the jungles of Drakmar. A makeshift attempt at a blockade set up by a tail-less Stone Jungle inhabitant is easily passed."
After the Animalia began to show some form of motherly affection to the distraught prisoner, she seemed to be calming down somewhat as she buried her face in the skins covering the young Animalia's smooth chest. Elthin began to explain his reasoning to the Animalia.
"Why not attempt to quieten her down in the Square? Or is your image too much of a hindrance to your caring side?" The Animalia challenged. "I do not intend to move her until the Duke arrives. I cannot have a kidnapper roaming free in the company of a Young Witch. Did you drag that poor girl with you back to your house in the same manner, or was her abduction more carefully planned out?"
The Animalia girl explained things.
"Ah, Drakmar been a long while since I last visited there. Too bad I was never able to study in the Magician's Guild there as I was called back home. For other important matters that need not be discussed here."
"Because there was already too much of this problem already going on. I didn't kidnap her only moved here to get away from those people. As for her it was nothing of the sort she was injured and needed help. So I took here so that I could treat her wounds nothing more than that."
"You mean those misguided fools who deface the Earth Mother's gifts?" The Animalia questioned. "They destroyed our lands with their Stone Dens and their constant cutting down of our Dens."
Elthin tried once more to explain that he was only trying to move the girl away from the onlookers.
"So your image, indeed, hindered your kindness. Tailless ones have lost the nurturing instinct of the Earth Mother." The Animalia sighed. "Could you not have taken her to the Witch Doctor's hut? Would that not have made a wiser choice? Are you trained in salve-making?"
The crying Azure Princess finally started to calm down some more, reducing her once frantic tears down to small sniffles and sobs.
"Yes, those misguided fools if I ever had the chance I would have gladly studied under your kind, While they may have destroyed your lands that has nothing to do with me. As I was never a part of that at all."
"I could have, and it would have been a wiser choice but there are certain matters. Which we are facing together at the moment that need to be taken care of. As for salve-making I've got a little training in that yes. But enough about me what about you how come you are in this city?" Elthin asked.
The Animalia smiled and chuckled slightly at Elthin's remark of studying under their kind.
"The Animalia do not accept tailless ones into their Pride Lands. However, some of the more adventurous ones tend to head out in mating season to try and conceive a Male Animalia." The Animala answered. "None have been successful, but the spot of Alpha Male is still waiting to be filled by the first Male Animalia since our race began."
Elthin tried to avoid answering too much about Lucine, but it seemed like Animalia were not easily tricked.
"I know she is a Witch. I can sense the Earth Mother's blessing inside of her. She bears, not one, but two gifts. However, she has only discovered one of them. With time, she will find the other and, eventually, fulfil her role in the weaved threads left for her in the grand tapestry of the Earth Mother." The Animalia informed Elthin, leading to quite a shocked look from Lucine.
Elthin questioned why an Animalia would be so far from the pack.
"I am nothing more than a simple Shaman. You tailless ones call them 'Physicians', if I am correct. I serve under the Guild's ruling, but my allegiances lie with my Clan and another. I am merely plying my trade, attempting to earn a living in this Stone Jungle, where hunting for food is impossible." The Animalia explained. "You tailless ones have named me 'Freya', but my true name is not so."
"Then that's all nice for you as I'm sure the mating season is all fun and dandy. But I have no desire to be your Alpha Male if you even try that on me."
The Animalia spoke about Lucine.
"Who is the Earth Mother that you speak of and what is this second gift?" Elthin asked. He looked over at Lucine for a mere moment then back at the girl. "Care to tell me what her role is?" Elthin asked once more.
She spoke further.
"Ah, I see than 'Freya' why not tell me about this Z girl here. She has clearly taken an interest in me after having followed me around yesterday and is Z even her name or something else?"
"You misunderstand, tailless one. The Alpha Male has to be conceived and born as a Male Animalia. A tailless one like yourself will never be given the honor of leading the Animalia Clans." Freya explained. "The Male used in the conception will be treated like an Animalia and given a place in the Pride Lands, but will never be in charge of any Clan."
Elthin asked about the Earth Mother.
"The Earth Mother is the land itself. She provides sustenance, shelter, cures and life for us. She exists in every one of her children, leading them down their threads in the weaving of the Grand Tapestry. She is in every grain of sand, every blade of grass and every droplet of water." Freya informed Elthin.
Elthin questioned what gifts Lucine has and what her role is.
"That is not my place to say. I am not a Farseer or Earthspeaker. I cannot fathom to understand the Earth Mother's willing for another. I am but a simple Shaman, a caretaker for my Clan. Healing the sick and curing the wounded are what the Earth Mother has chosen for me, and that is the thread I shall continue to weave." Freya answered.
Elthin then asked about 'Azure Princess Z'.
"The Child you speak of is the Duke of Argenta's personal guard. She is a...complicated child. I am not at liberty to talk of her without the Duke's permission. I am merely her Guardian while she is in this Stone Jungle, and not her home of the Steel Jungle." Freya replied. "This name she has given herself is one of her own choosing. Her actual name is Zena."
"No I understand what you had said before I was just stating my thoughts on the matter nothing more," Elthin explained.
Freya explained about the Earth Mother.
"Is she an apart of me to or just a select number of people?" Elthin asked.
Freya spoke of Lucine.
"If I wished to speak with a Farseer of Earthspeaker about Lucine here. Who would be the one that I speak to the head of your clan or entire race?"
Freya explained about Z.
"So, her name is Zena then she is a complicated one. Anyway, I still don't know why Zena here has taken an interest in me all I know is she wants to play games. With heroes and villains and sees me as some sort of villain here."
Elthin asked more about the Earth Mother.
"As I said before, she is inside everything in this World. She has breathed life in each of us and placed a seed of herself inside us to keep us alive. Any living creature has the Earth Mother inside them. Any natural material or Element also has the Earth Mother inside of it. The only things she does not grace are the steel things your tailless ones create." Freya reiterated.
Elthin requested an audience with the Farseer or Earthspeaker.
"Tailless ones are not allowed inside the Pride Lands, and both the Farseer and Earthspeaker reside in them. They do not rule the Clans, but they do advise the Pack Mother with their visions and predictions. If you can earn the favour of the Pack Mother, then she may request that you are allowed to see them." Freya informed Elthin. "However, the Animalia do not take kindly to tailless ones, so you may not be able to earn her favour so easily."
Elthin asked more about Zena. Particularly about her hobby with Heroines of Justice and Villains.
"That, again, should be explained by the Duke. All I can say on the matter is that it is her way of forming bonds with people. She cannot openly express herself, so she relies on trickery and different names to do so." Freya answered.
"Then I guess I'll never be able to seek out the questions I would ask them. Seeing as how know of us Tailless ones that you speak of are allowed into your lands. How would I earn favour with the Pack Mother?" Elthin asked.
Freya spoke more on Zena.
"I wouldn't call that forming a bond with me. Both her and this girl here see me as nothing more than a villian" Elthin sighed.
"Earning her favour is own to her own requests. I cannot speak for the Pack Mother, and to do so would be like declaring myself as the Pack Mother, and that is normally met with a trial by Combat." Freya explained. "You may, at the borders of the Pride Lands, request to speak with the Pack Mother, and, if she heeds your request, she will come and see you."
Elthin wasn't sure how calling someone a villain and stalking them would be considering 'bonding'.
"Each child of the Earth Mother is different. While some may seek to court their potential mates through shows of strength, others may choose displays of cunning. Nature's diversity is what truly brings us the Earth Mother's blessing. If we were all the same, then we will never progress." Freya answered.
"Hey, I don't call you a villain! You're a perv, they're two totally different things! Pervs are pervs, and villains are villains." Lucine retorted. "All this talk of this bawling sleep-pissing baby is really getting on my nerves."
"Don't call me that..." Zena quietly retaliated. "...I don't do it on purpose,,,"
"Why so quick to brand another, when you, yourself, are, as you so eloquently put it, also a 'sleep-pissing baby'." Freya countered, causing Lucine to falter.
"I-I am NOT!"
"Then why do you still hold the list Zena dropped?"
Freya spoke once more.
"How interesting does she normally take requests or does she decide on which one she takes?" Elthin asked.
Elthin learned more.
"Nice ways of trying things out can a Mate be chosen from other methods. Rather than just those two?"
Lucine and Zera argued with one another.
"You, both call me a prev and Zera here calls me a villain. I don't like being called either as its annoying." Elthin laughed when Freya pointed out that Lucine herself had wet the bed earlier which he had already known about. "She has her reasons for still holding onto that."
"The Pack Mother chooses who she wishes to speak to. The messengers give a brief description of who is requesting her presence, and for what reasons they may be doing so." Freya answered.
Elthin asked about courting potential mates.
"Each creature has their own way of doing so. Some birds, like the peacock, choose to flaunt their plumes. This may be known as a display of Charisma, as only the best plumage gains the attention of a Mate. Rabbits decide to box one another as a show of how well they could defend their Mate, Octopi simply remove their insemination organs and thrown them to whom they wish to impregnate. Each creature is unique, not all ways of mating or courting are known." Freya explained. "Do you have someone in mind you wish to court, with a question like that?"
Elthin managed to get his revenge on Lucine in a way only he knew about. Due to Freya's curt explanation, Lucine had no counter to Elthin's statement. Now, instead of only having Zena be the butt of jokes, she'd also got some revenge of her own.
"Really, I only rarely do it. If you need it more than me then, by all means, ask Freya to whip it up for you." Zena countered.
"I do not piss the bed!" Lucine exclaimed, her voice cracking a little.
"You have a poor way of disguising your feelings, child." Freya interjected in response to Lucine's breaking voice and deep crimson face. "I have enough materials to make several draughts of it, so both of you can get what you need."
"Can we please stop with all this talk of fighting amongst the two of you?" Elthin asked.
He was growing tired of their arguing with one another.
"I have no one at present,regards" Elthin regards to Freya's own question.
"Then keep that in mind for when you do." Freya replied with a slight smile. "Your luck may come sooner than expected. You are not much older in Summers compared to your young Charge. She may bloom into quite the rose."
Elthin wanted the arguing to stop between the bickering children, but they seemed fixated in their own argument to even catch what Elthin had said. However, the slightly faltering of the magical barrier around the House certainly caused them to keep quiet for a moment. Lucine, even with her lacking Magical Aptitude, did catch the fluctuation in the elemental powers binding the barrier together. Freya simply nodded her head slightly at Zena.
"Big Bro?" Zena asked Freya, just above a whisper.
"What a noisy place." A recognisable male voice sounded from the hallways as the sound of steel-toed construction boots clunked against the flooring. Soon enough, a rather shabbily dressed mountain of a man stepped through the doorway to the basement, ducking a bit to avoid the top of the door. He looked easily to be 6 and a half feet tall, which possibly required him to duck to pass through the 6ft tall door. When he came into full view, it was instantly noticeable that this was, indeed, the Duke of Argenta, albeit a little oil smeared and soot stained. He turned to regard the only other adult in the room and, with a slight adjustment of his glasses, asked the problematic question. "So, what are three beautiful flowers doing in a dark, dank, basement of a single man's home?"
"Big bro!" Zena gleefully exclaimed as she ran to dive onto the tall man and hug him.
"You seem to be alright." He chuckled a little as he crouched down to hug the smaller girl.
"Good to see you, Duke." Freya greeted him with a slight curtsy as she stood up.
"This guy's a Duke?!" Lucine questioned in surprise.
At the thought of Lucine being someone that Elthin might go for later. Was met with just silence since he had nothing to say on that matter. Plus his request for the bickering between Lucine and Zena went unanswered. After a while Elthin noticed that the faltering of the magical barrier around his house meant someone was trying to enter into it and had just done so.
"He's here" Elthin whispered.
He turned to the sound of the male voice who had arrived. Elthin took several moments to study the Duke he seemed like any other normal man. Yet he could be hiding something under that or others in fact.
"We, meet sooner than expected Duke of Argenta I apologize for taking Zena here against. Her will and causing any sort of trouble that I did." Elthin tells the Duke.
Elthin first greeted the Duke by hastily explaining his case.
"Is that how you normally get people's attention? Kidnapping young girls until they come to rescue them? You're just like those villains in the books Zena reads." Duke Trent chuckled a little as he picked Zena up and held her like a father would with their child.
"These guys are bullying me." Zena cut in with indications to Elthin and Lucine. She sounded more childish now than in her Superheroine guise.
"Before we make accusations of bullying, we must get their side of the story, remember?" Duke Trent reminded Zena.
Freya also headed over to the Duke, giving Elthin a slight wink on the way. Lucine was still trying to figure out how a man who looked as dirty as Duke Trent could be anyone of high standing.
"Anyway, I heard you wanted to speak to me. Well, here I am." Duke Trent finished in regards to Elthin. "Please, if you could, explain how Argenta works to the fly trap in the corner. If her jaw was any lower, she'll become a mole." Duke Trent indicated Lucine with a look and a nod.
"No, one normally doesn't but there were other problems. I'm sure Zena here has already told you about me" Elthin told Trent.
Elthin saw the wink that Freya had given him and looked away embarrassed. He then looked back at Duke Trent after Zena spoke with him.
Duke Trent wished to know things. So Elthin explained matters as best her could by telling the Duke of how he had come into contact with Lucine, of how he had taken her under his wing as a student. Basically he told him everything hoping to make things easier for the Duke to understand.
"I'm sure you have some questions as to the things I just told you"
"I'm...aware of most of what happened. That's why I'm not blowing up in your face about taking hostages." Duke Trent simply answered. "All I got was the panic signal and a little clip of what went on. From that, I've decided that it was mildly reasonable for you to run off with a minor."
Elthin explained everything of what went on the past day and a half. Duke Trent nodded when required and seemed to understand most of what went on.
"That would explain why the Inquisition wanted to commandeer one of my transports. She's a high priority target, it seems, if the Inquisition want to get their hands on her." Duke Trent explained. "I'd steer clear of explaining too much to them when they come. From the look of the Inquisitor in charge, they're not a violent unit. The commander seems to keep them mostly in check but, in retrospect, also seems to be at their mercy as well. I can't really tell from just the quick fifteen minute bartering that went on."
Duke Trent nodded at parts to what Elthin had told him about Lucine.
"We had thought of going to Agrenta to meet with you before all this had happened. Since I have family there it would have been much easier. As for explaining things too them I;ll just give them a small version as to what's been going on. I'd rather not have to deal with them too much since it can lead to further problems."
"If you go to Argenta, they'll just come back and still hunt you down to talk to you. They're like a bad copper." Duke Trent answered.
"They're scary and mean and bullies." Zena interjected.
"It seems like they still fear the Animalia, as they've yet to even try to set foot on our lands." Freya added in. "But, as I've already said, we don't take refugees or visitors."
Lucine decided that her silence was long overdue to be broken.
"Just wait a minute!" Lucine cut in. "Just what has this gotta do with me?! I'm just a normal Slummer who's got some weird crazy burning power that I know nothing about, and now, suddenly some over-hyped Law Enforcement bunch are now trying to hunt me! Just what the hell is all of this?! Why the hell am I so important?!"
"I've already had a talk about this with The Elder, I've also thought of taking her home with me to Artaria but they would just follow us there as well. Those in Artaria don't really care much for the Inquisition. If things do turn bad we might have to go to Drakmar and ask for help from the Animalia." Elthin said.
"While I know you don't take either of those can I make a request to the Pack Mother?" Elthin asked Freya.
Lucine spoke up about matters.
"That we don't know about, while I'm not sure why the Inquisition is after you. It might have to do with this power inside of you. As there is something about it that makes you so important. All I can say about this is there are my questions that we still don't have the answers to. Freya's people have people who can help us out with the answers we need. But we would need to make the request for aid."
Elthin explained his intentions of avoiding unnecessary Inquisitional contact.
"Best to just face them head on and hope they don't demand too much." Duke Trent answered. "With any luck, they may just want to check if she's Adept material or not. Worst case scenario is that they've come to kill her for being a Witch, though that would be like coal calling soot black, as their commander was also a Witch, kind of."
"Only if you successfully bore one of the Animalia a male offspring would you be allowed in our Pride Lands. Not even the Pack Mother would allow an outsider tailless one to live in the Pride Lands." Freya explained. "We prefer to keep our lands clean from the corruption of tailless ones."
Elthin's explanation for Lucine's outburst did not really provide the answers she needs.
"But why me?!" Lucine insisted. "Why have I been cursed with things I don't even want? Why can't I just be normal again?"
Duke Trent explained his thoughts on the matter and Freya then spoke up.
"I don't want to force Lucine into anything that may cause her harm. We have agreed to meet with them nothing more to see for ourselves of what they want. If it ever comes down to that I'll protect her with my life she doesn't deserve that at all. Freya you're tell me if I wish to live in your lands I'd need to bore a male offspring that's way more than I needed to know" Elthin says.
Lucine asked more questions.
"I don't know and I can't tell you why you've been cursed. Maybe it isn't a curse and more of a blessing maybe those who gave you these powers. Wish for you to do good with them to lead the world in a better direction"
Elthin gave his answers to the statements from the others.
"Force her or not, the Inquisition won't give up until they've talked to her." Duke Trent answered. "They're more persistent than rust on metal."
"That is the way of the Animalia." Freya simply replied with a sly smile. "The option is there, and I may be a willing suitor if you wish to take up on it."
"Freya, don't talk like that in front of the kids." Duke Trent sighed.
"It's not my fault, mating season is close, after all."
"What's 'Mating Season'?" Zena asked.
"Something you'll learn when you're older." Duke Trent quickly cut in before Freya could explain the ins and outs of connecting bodies in an intimate way.
"Well, they could've given me a choice in it all." Lucine finished.
Duke Trent spoke more as did Freya.
"I don't think I want to go that route just yet" Elthin tells Freya when he sees her sly smile. He looked back over at Lucine.
"Its up to you on what sort of action you take"
Elthin decline the route of courtship.
"I'd rather just go back to my old life, not like that's every gonna happen." Lucine answered, sounding quite annoyed.
Lucine still seemed annoyed.
"I'm sorry but that isn't going to be happening. Your life has changed for better or worse its up to you on what you do with it." Elthin said.
Elthin instructed Lucine to make the most of the cards dealt to her. She didn't look pleased with that confirmation, but said no more on the topic.
"So, did you only want to see me to ask those questions, or is there more you want? I'm quite a busy person." Duke Trent informed Elthin. "It'd be a pretty boring conversation if that's all you wanted to talk about."
Lucine spoke no more and Duke Trent spoke up.
"No, these are not all I had planned on asking. There is indeed more I'd like to know for starters just what is Zena here. I know she is human from the looks of things. But I have recently seen her do somethings which seems to add more questions?"
Elthin questioned about Zena and just what she is. Duke Trent seemed unwilling to answer and simply posed a question instead.
"How much do you know of Argenta?" Duke Trent asked. "Also, what are your views on our past heritage?"
"It's rude to ask about a girl's secrets." Zena intruded, sounding very angry.
"Getting straight to the point, are you?" Freya smiled. "I like it when people are direct,"
Elthin ignored Freya and Zena as Duke Trent spoke again.
"I know of what I've researched I know that Argenta is well known for its technological production of various marvels. Such as the steel ships and other such things, I also know that your country has had some hardships. Such as being called heretics for dark things that you guys have done in the past. Such as what used to be done when one wanted to become 'Duke'" Elthin explained.
He spoke up again after thinking some.
"As for your past heritage, I'm not one to question the ways of someone's country. I only ask why were these things done I'm sure the people doing them had their motives. But my question is what does one gain in doing those things what was the purpose?"
Elthin explained his knowledge on Ancient Argentan customs.
"You're well read, I must say." Duke Trent said approvingly. "The main reason behind the old coming of age tradition was kind of along the lines of age-old fear inducing tactics. Some ancient rulers placed the heads of their enemies on spikes outside of their palaces to deter people from rising against them for fear of meeting the same grisly end. This tradition was along those lines."
Duke Trent then elaborated a little more on the tradition.
"I can understand why it was done, but I don't approve of it at all. Enslaving someone against their will, whether ally or enemy, is just disgusting. They didn't choose to stand against Argenta. They were probably forced by their bloodthirsty commanders to do so. They are not the ones to blame and they should not be punished for doing so."
Duke Trent then asked another question. One which would probably determine Elthin's allegiance.
"What are your thoughts on the Church of Scales?" Duke Trent asked. "Do you agree with their teachings, or disagree with them, or, maybe, are you indifferent?"
"I like to research things its a hobby of mine," Elthin said. As he then listened to the rest of what Duke Trent had to say.
"Yet still, while every country has their own traditions I still find it odd. That people would do such a thing in my travels across the world I have seen. Weird traditions but have never witnessed something like this before. I can only say that I am glad that you've changed matters for the better" Elthin told him.
Duke Trent asked for his thoughts on the Church of Scales.
"I'm sorry to say I'm not much into religion while people have their own opinions on them. I can only say that I would neither agree or disagree with their teachings." Elthin explained. He wasn't really much into religion nor really studied it.
Elthin was pleased by the sudden change in tradition in Argenta.
"If it wasn't for this little pest, I wouldn't have gathered enough of a backing to overthrow that tradition." Duke Trent answered as he placed Zena back on the floor and patted her on the shoulder. "She didn't directly help matters, but she did have a big impact on the general populace's opinion on the tradition."
Elthin answered that he wasn't a religious person and didn't really care much for the teaching of Pastors or Archbishops. Duke Trent seemed to understand the direction behind it, but he still wasn't going to give away the information that easily.
"Even if you aren't religious, some things are best kept unknown. Until I know that you're not about to Crusade against Argenta if you hear something mildly Heretical, I can't exactly tell you about Zena." Duke Trent explained. "While I don't accuse you of being a bloodthirsty monster, I still have to think of Zena's safety, and knowing about her could put that in jeopardy."
"If it's not to much of a problem can I learn what sort of big impact she had on the populace?" Elthin asked.
Duke Trent still seemed uncertain about Elthin.
"I would do nothing of the sort I'm not one of those people. Who just after hearing something would want to Crusade and rid the world of whatever that is." Elthin stated. Duke Trent was still thinking of Zena's safety which Elthin could understand.
"Its up to you whenever you decide to let me learn more about her. Perhaps I can do something for you in exchange for that information. Call it a trade if you will as we would both be getting something out of this deal?"
Elthin asked what impact Zena had on the votes to abolish the slave-like tradition.
"She helped them understand just what sort of effect doing something like it may have on those not involved directly. Each war has its own costs, not only for the losing side. Every life lost in war is one which may have people depending on them for survival. They realised that it was a brutish way of using such an advancement in technology, which allows someone who may be dying a second chance at life" Elthin explained.
Elthin proposed a trade of information. This piqued the Duke's interest.
"What kind of information are you willing to trade?" Duke Trent asked.
Duke Trent told Elthin what he wished to know.
"That does indeed sound like a better way to take things. It also allows loved ones to stay around longer than possible." Elthin seemed to think what was stated by Duke Trent like a nice idea.
The Duke was interested in Elthin's idea.
"Something of equal value which is only fair. I'm sure there are something that you may or may not know about. If I know what it is that you may be looking for or know information about said thing. I'll be willing to trade it but like I said if its something you're looking for it will take some time to gather the needed information. Is there anything that you currently wish to know more of or are wanting to find out about?' Elthin asked.
Elthin suggested any one topic the Duke was interested in as an information exchange.
"I've always wanted to know what kind of secrets the ruins in this area have in relation to the Lost Generation. I've heard that a Cult is occupying one of those particular ruins and that there's been talk of a Dragon roaming the desert. I'd like for, if you managed to infiltrate those ruins, you to share some of what you find in there with me. I've heard that the Lost Generation had some pretty amazing technology. The cut I'm thinking of is 60/40. 60% of the findings for yourself, and 40% for Argenta." proposed. "If you find anything out on the Dragon rumour, then that can help work the deal in your favour more, if we can, perhaps, get a sample of Alchemical reagents from the Dragon to trade with the Animalia. Of course, I don't want you to take them if the Dragon's not willing."
The Duke picked the topic he wished to know more about.
"I've heard from The Elder that The Sanguinus Sect maybe hiding in the ruins. When I had asked him to send me and Lucine there he was against the idea." Elthin pointed out. He wasn't against the idea of not trying to gather the information he was just stating what the elder had mentioned. "I believe this would be a fair trade I only ask that you allow Lucine a few days to prepare for this event. As I don't wish to enter the ruins unprepared, and if I can find anything out on this Dragon rumour I'll be sure to let you know first hand."
Elthin was in agreement with the proposed trade.
"If you don't want to go into the ruins and risk a lot, you could just try to squash the Dragon rumour. However, if it is indeed a real Dragon, the reagents will pay for the information traded. The Animalia pay a good deal for Dragon Reagents, and so do general Alchemists, as Dragons are not commonly seen." Duke Trent agreed. "There's no set deadline, but you won't get anything about Zena until you keep up your end of the bargain."
"I'd like to go to the ruins" Elthin stated. As he had been wanting to go to them since arriving in this area. "I believe I'll do the Dragon rumor first and at a later time move onto the ruins. Is there any place we can meet to exchange information for information. As it would be rather weird to have the masses outside seeing the Duke of Argenta coming to a Noble's home?" Elthin asked.
Elthin, despite the warning, still seemed adamant about going to the ruins.
"If you're that fixated on them, then I guess I can't stop you." Duke Trent answered with a smile. "As for a meeting place, how does the Guild sound? I got here through the Guild Portal in Argenta. Only people with permission can use the Portals, but I can come through if you give me some advance warning."
Duke Trent then seemed to discuss something with Freya. He was speaking too quietly for Elthin or Lucine to pick up on at present. Once the discussion was over, he then turned back to Elthin.
"Freya's got some messengers with Portal Permission, so go and see her at her Apothecary if you get anything."
Duke Trent then mentioned on the Guild being the meeting place. That they could all meet up at later by using the Guild Portal. Elthin had heard of these before but had never seen one before. "That sounds like a good place for us to meet at. Is it also okay if I share any of the information I find with The Elder to we can trust him as he's a well-versed man? And has helped me out some already?" Elthin asked.
Duke Trent then went to Freya and began to speak. Quietly with her during this time Elthin moved over to Lucine. "Are you okay with all of this?" Elthin asked quietly to her. Wishing to know what Lucine was thinking about at present about everything that was being discussed. "You also have a say in matters as well I don't want you thinking that we are all doing this without your say so," Elthin added.
He moved away from Lucine and walked over to Zena and knelt down beside her. He then gave her a pat on the head and leaned closer to her. "She's jealous of you" Elthin whispered to Zena before moving away from her and regaining Lucine.
"I'll make sure to do so, is there anything else you wish to discuss before we end this meeting?" Elthin asked.
Elthin was in agreement with the idea of the Guild being the meeting place and also requested if the Guild's Elder could be a recipient of the information as well.
"He seems like a nice guy, so, just as long as you don't say too much about everything, you can pass the info to him as well." Duke Trent answered.
Elthin then asked Lucine if she was in agreement with the idea.
"I don't know. I don't exactly trust them. That kid's clearly not all normal. She's got something about her that is just so strange, and the way they act to one another is also quite fishy. She was all ego a few minutes ago and then suddenly turned to a blubbering baby." Lucine commented. "I'm not one to foolishly hunt my own death but, if it gets us some nice stuff, then I guess the price is right."
Elthin then went over to Zena and suggested that Lucine was jealous of her. Zena puffed out her chest in pride and confidently stated:
"She just wishes she could be as cool as me. But, I guess she's still just a kid, after all, and that's expected of kids."
Before the meeting was drawn to a close, Elthin asked if there was anything more which needed to be discussed.
"One more thing: You said that Lucine's house got burned down and you found something at the scene of the arson. A golden mask, was it? I'd like to see the mask, if that's possible." Duke Trent requested.
It was agreed that The Elder could still be trusted. Then Lucine spoke up on her thoughts on matters.
"She is a strange one alright maybe when we learn more about her. It will help clear up matters and questions about her?" Elthin tells her. Having then remembered what Zena had told him about Lucine he said nothing back about it.
Duke Trent then wanted to see the mask they had found.
"Yes we had found the mask under some rubble here as you can see." Elthin left the room for a moment and then returned. With the mask in hand and handed it over to Duke Trent "is there anything else special about this mask that we don't already know about?"
Elthin bought the mask back for Duke Trent to look at. Duke Trent carefully looked over the mask, examining every little detail the mask had about it.
"Base of solidified clay painted with Gold-Dust paint and sprinkled with melted glass. The blood trail from the eyes have a strangely metallic look to it. It doesn't seem to be any form of paint I recognise." Duke Trent appraised. "Clay of this quality is hard to come by in the Desert, so it must have either been imported from overseas or mined from Argenta. The craftsmanship also looks to be more skilled than a regular make."
"Bloodberry mixture." Freya interjected. "The pigmentation of the red paint comes from Bloodberries. Bloodberry pigment contains more iron than normal pigments for paint, and that's why it looks more metallic. Bloodberries only grown near the Animalia Pride Lands."
The mask seemed to carry qualities from both Argenta and Drakmar. How did the makers get hold of such materials?`
"This mask is intriguing indeed." Duke Trent informed Elthin. "I'd like to examine it further but I'd have to take it back to my Forge to do so."
Elthin watched as both Duke Trent and Freya studied the mask.
"You can hold onto the mask if you wish, I only ask if you find anything else about it. To let me know?" Elthin asked.
He thought over what the two had spoken about.
"Could someone of shipped a box of Bloodberries here?" Elthin asked.
Elthin agreed to allow Duke Trent to study the mask more thoroughly on the condition that, if he finds anything out, he inform Elthin.
"Thanks for the opportunity. I'll be sure to let you know what I find out." Duke Trent agreed.
Elthin then asked about the Bloodberries.
"The Animalia do not trade with anyone, and we would definitely not trade something as dangerous as Bloodberries. Bloodberries are extreme hallucinogens if their aroma is inhaled once they've been crushed. They're mostly used as a more potent Opium alternative for life-threatening operations and diseases. However, they are only ingested in that way, as then only the patient is inflicted with the hallucinations." Freya explained. "However, while we do not export our trade, the other inhabitants of the continent do. Perhaps, they managed to get one of their scouts close enough to harvest Bloodberries without alerting us."
Duke Trent agreed to share anymore information about the mask once her found it.
Elthin listened as Freya explained about the Bloodberries.
"Somehow they have gotten her maybe someone stole a batch of them. Or someone in one of your Clans is working for the enemy. I've seen something like this happen before but it's been a while." Elthin says,
"That could have also happened" Elthin added later.
Elthin gave his views on the Bloodberry import.
"The Animalia only stay true to the Earth Mother and their Pack. They would never betray their Pack for an enemy, no matter what they may gain from it. Doing so results in, at the very least, exile to the Bone Crags outside of the Pride Lands. At the worst, it is punishable by death in Honorable Combat with the Pack Mother herself. In that situation, the Earth Mother will judge who was in the right." Freya answered. "It is more probable that those tailless ones on the Continent stole them from our lands and sent them over."
"Maybe the tailless ones you speak of did do something like that or not. The only way to finding out the truth is searching for the answers."
Elthin thought over about anything else.
"I'd like to start my investigation into the Dragon rumors so I'll be calling this meeting to a close"
Elthin decided to call the meeting there. No one had any objections, except Zena piping up,
"I gotta pee, where's your toilet?" Zena asked Elthin quite frankly.
"That's not the way you're taught to request things as guests now, is it?" Duke Trent mildly reprimanded Zena.
"Oh, sorry. May I go pee? Where's your toilet?" Zena tried again.
"Close enough, I guess." Duke Trent sighed.
Suddenly, Lucine chipped in quite unexpectedly.
"I'll show our 'Guest' to the toilet." Lucine suggested to Elthin. "May I?"
For volunteering to show a former rival around the house, Lucine more than likely had a plan within a plan.
Zena wished to use the bathroom.
"I guess so" Elthin said.
Lucine then wished to show Zena where the toilet was.
"You can show her where it is" Elthin told her.
Elthin agreed to let Lucine chaperone Zena to the facilities in the house.
"Please, follow me." Lucine requested of Zena as politely as she could.
"I don't really trust you..." Zena quietly informed Lucine. "What're you planning?
Lucine simply gave a polite smile and led Zena out of the basement.
A little while later, Lucine returned to inform the waiting individuals.
"Shall I show our guests to the door?" Lucine asked Elthin, trying to play the perfect hostess.
Elthin watched Lucine lead Zena out of then room. He wondered if she was planning anything and for a moment thought nothing of it. Lucine then returned later and asked about showing the others to the door.
"We can both do that" Elthin informed her. As he started to leave the basement with the others behind him.
After the pair led the guests to the door, Zena moved closer to Freya as she waited for Duke Trent to leave.
"Thanks for having us, despite how I may have potentially forced an entry to your home. I apologise for that, but I was worried for Zena." Duke Trent thanked Elthin. "Also, thanks for letting me look at this mask once more. I'll be sure to keep you updated on my findings."
He then said something to Elthin for only him to hear.
"Despite how they seem at each other's throats all the time, I think Zena's taken quite the shine to Lucine. I'd be happy if she could spend some time with her when she's next in town." Duke Trent requested.
After the private discussion between Guardians of minors, Duke Trent led his little group back into town, waving goodbye as he did so. Lucine returned the gesture with a pleasant smile and a slight look at Zena, who was talking with Freya at present.
Elthin and the others were soon joined by Zena. Who seemed to move closer to Freya he looked at her and wondered if something was done against her in the time Lucine was with her.
"You are welcome as I found this to be an honor. I understand your feelings on Zena and again I am sorry for what I've done,"
Duke Trent then spoke to him quietly.
"She might of only time will tell in how she truly thinks of her" Elthin told him.
The others then left and Elthin waved goodbye to the others. Which then left him alone with Lucine he turned to face her. "Did you do anything to Zena while alone with her?" Elthin asked.
After the guests were seen off, Elthin started to grill Lucine on what she did. She looked mildly upset by the accusation.
"Do you think I'm a bad girl or something?" Lucine questioned. "Why would I do something bad to a guest? All I did was talk to her a little. Is talking a crime?"
"Am just wondering is all" Elthin asked her.
He wasn't sure whether to believe Lucine or not but wasn't going to press matters at the moment.
Elthin still bore suspicion in the ways of Lucine's testimony but decided not to push further.
"Anyway, now that that's all over with, I'm starving." Lucine stated. "Is lunch still on the schedule?"
They went back into the house and Lucine asked about lunch.
"Yes, it's still on the schedule," He said.
Leading Lucine into the kitchen he went about making the pair a late lunch. Seeing as how he had some leftovers from a couple nights ago. Elthin went about using those for their lunch it was a simple salad and rabbit mix with the salad being on one side and the rabbit on the other.
"I was thinking of checking out the taverns later for rumors about any dragon sightings. Is there any sort of tavern that gets more information about random things more than others. That I should try out first?" Elthin asked.
Elthin led Lucine into the kitchen and began preparing lunch for the pair. He asked about any taverns which may include information about the Dragon rumours circulating around.
"Best to try the ones nearest the gates as they get the most travellers. Also, it's better to only turn up with the essentials, as taverns are a hotspot for pickpockets, and you've already proven that you're not that observant around thieves. Don't take anything from strange merchants who don't show their faces as it's more than likely stolen or a fake item to extort money of dense rich people. All in all, just go in, get what you need done and clear out before getting roped into anything. There're a lot of prossies in taverns as well, so don't take any offers from over perfumed half naked women." Lucine explained.
While Elthin was still heating up the rabbit he listened to Lucine.
"Should I take you along for backup just in case something but were to happy?" Elthin asked. While running over everything she had told him in his mind. "Seems simple enough yet more like a cheap way of doing things but I guess that's what some people enjoy doing." Elthin finished cooking up the rabbit after a few minutes. Only to then cut slices of so that they both could have a little of it.
Elthin suggested the idea of taking Lucine along as backup.
"Kids aren't allowed in taverns, so I won't be able to come in with you. After all, taverns are a place where adults go to get pissed and complain about their lives, of course kids will only be a problem to them." Lucine added on. "To some people, extorting money and pickpocketing are the only ways they can survive. Not everyone can be blessed with lots of money. It's either steal or starve in that world, and starving isn't on the top of anyone's list."
"Then what can you do in the meantime, as I'm sure you don't want to me here all alone?" Elthin asked. He placed both rabbit slices onto their plates and got a couple of glasses for them both pouring apple juice into them both. He set them on the table along with their lunch and silverware before starting to eat.
"I don't really know. I'm not against being home alone, though it may be really boring. You don't exactly have much I can do here alone." Lucine answered as lunch was placed on the table. "Guess we could ask that cat-eared girl if she'll be willing to look after me while you're out."
Most of the food she'd been getting while living here had included copious amounts of greenery, despite how she wasn't took keen on it, and how she made that obvious. Although, she'd always been taught to never waste food, as it was really hard to come by in her old life. Lucine first started on the meat part of the lunch, leaving the salad until later.
"That's something we can do, just no doing anything else mean to Zena if Freya agrees to watch you ok?"
Elthin ate his meal in peace taking a moment to look at Lucine, Thoughts of what Freya had told him earlier entered his mind and he quickly pushed them away. That wasn't the sort of thing he wanted to be thinkng of at the moment.
"Who's to say that the bedwetter would even be there?" Lucine questioned, sounding mildly cross with the second accusation from Elthin. "And why do you keep thinking that I'm gonna mess with the baby?! Do you really think I'm that bad?"
Lucine, after giving her answer, continued to eat her lunch. She was unaware that Elthin was thinking lewd thoughts of her.
"Because you know things about her that can but used to your advantage" Elthin pointed out. He went back to eating his lunch. The lewd thoughts left his mind and Elthin finished his meal placing the dishes into the sink.
"Yeah, I do. But, they're no use to me if everyone I'm with knows that she soaks the sheets." Lucine countered. "That kind of information will only benefit me if it can break her down. Also, she accused me of it as well, even though it was clearly a false accusation."
Lucine finished her food, taking a little longer than normal eating the salad, and placed her cutlery in the sink.
"That wasn't a false accusation and just make sure that doesn't happen again" Elthin tells her with a wink.
After they both had finished lunch they headed outside again. First heading towards where Elthin knew Freya would be.
After Lucine had safely put the cutlery and plate into the sink, Elthin gave out a little piece of information which she believed he didn't know about. If she was still holding anything, she would have dropped it there and then as she just stared in disbelief at the announcement from Elthin. She tried to voice an answer, but only little squeaks and gasps came out of her mouth.
Lucine went quiet and Elthin didn't push the matter forward. They walked in silence for a while longer until they reached a large square with a crowd of people going about their everyday business.
Despite the silence of his travelling companion, Elthin continued to head over to the Apothecary to request Freya to babysit Lucine while he gathered information. The square was a little more busy than earlier, but still lacking in its usual vibrant personality. The threat of an imminent Inquisition visit was possibly ignored for now, as the news that they may still be a day's travel away reached the general populace.
Before heading on towards the Apothecary Elthin took a short time to work. Around the square just taking his time. What he was doing was walking slowly listening in on some people's conversations by just walking past them. What he was trying was to learn anything on any new sort of dragon sights that might have been seen in the area. The was a rather long shot but he hoped to learn something before moving on.
During the walk to the Apothecary, Elthin tried to listen in to people's conversations to pick up on any hints regarding the Dragon rumours. Most of the people in the square were traders who were more intent on insisting that their good were 'the best money can buy'. Some of the conversing groups of Noblemen did have some interesting tidbits of information, though. Apparently, at the 'Desert Rose' Tavern, which was the one by the main gate to the city, a travelling merchant was trying to pawn off some ochre scales, claiming that they had come from an Ochre Dragon, which the merchant just happened to catch a mirage of before finding the scales in the sands.
Elthin in is walk was able to pick up some interesting tidbits of information. He learned that at the 'Desert Rose' Tavern. That a merchant was trying to sell some scales claiming they belonged to an Ochre Dragon, Elthin decided he'd check this rumor out first once he was alone. Soon he rejoined Lucine and walked towards the Apothecary they arrived at the doors to the place. Yet before heading in Elthin spoke to Lucine.
"I have an assignment for you I'd like for you to try and befriend Freya." Elthin says.
Upon arrival at the entrance to the Apothecary, Elthin made a request of Lucine.
"That shouldn't be too hard. She seems like a nice panther-girl...thing..." Lucine answered. "Why ask something even a baby could do? Can't you give me a harder task?"
"So you'd like something harder now would you?" Elthin asked.
He thought on something harder that Lucine could do. "How about also trying to find out as much Freya as you can see if she's hiding anything from us."
Elthin reconsidered the task he'd set for Lucine and offered a slightly more challenging one.
"That sounds more like it." Lucine agreed with a smile. "I'll see what I can do.
Upon the task being decided, the pair entered the Apothecary. The first thing which greeted them when they entered was a overpowering scent of a multitude of herbs, tinctures, salves and medical supplies. It wasn't a bad smell, it was, however, incredibly more potent due to the heat of the desert entering the store. The inside of the Apothecary looked like a typical herbalists store: row upon row of planters and incubating trays filled to the brim with innumerable herbs positioned on a hardwood desk by the window, numerous herbs tied to the ceiling to dry and become fermented, lots of different vials and containers filling a cabinet opposite the window, and several different planters located in the middle of the room on a kind of makeshift natural patch of mud and grass inside of a glass table-like container.
Aside from the usual expected things to see inside of a Pharmacist's workplace, there were two small girls a little further in, one was seated on an empty workspace kicking her legs gently back and forth, and the other was on a stool next to a desk opposite the empty workspace.
The girl on the desk was dressed in a fine expensive looking silver sleeveless dress with black lace hems and flowers stitched onto the garment. She had her platinum hair tied up in twintails with dark grey bows holding them in place on the sides of her head. Her eyes looked decidedly grey from this distance, yet so full of life. She looked to be a little younger than Lucine, but the topics she was talking about sounded far too complex for someone of such a young age. On her feet she had silver sandle-like footwear fastened by a grey flower-like clip on the inside of each ankle.
The other young girl, the one positioned on the desk opposite the first girl, looked to be roughly the same age, but carried a completely different look to her. This girl had pale green hair not styled in any particular way and left to just descend down her back to its full length. Her eyes were a deep emerald colour. She had a black gown-like dress with dark green flower-shaped buttons fastening the back of the dress and plain green slip-ons on her feet. This girl was decidedly quieter than the other.
They were engaged in some form of conversation, which could only faintly be heard from this distance. They seemed like they had yet to notice Elthin's arrival.
"That's good as an added bonus if she's there try to find out. A little more about Zena try asking her some questions if she isn't here then forget about it," Elthin spoke.
They soon entered into the Apothecary they were greeted by an overpowering scent. Of herbs, tinctures, salves and other things. Looking around it appeared the place was rather small and also had alot of planters with various herbs in them around the room. Elthin spotted two girls further inside and saw them seated next to the empty workspace, He took a few moments to look at them seeing as how they looked around Lucine's age if not a little younger.
Seeing as how they were talking among themselves Elthin and Lucine walked. Up to the pair when there was a break in their talking. "Excuse me perhaps you could help me?" Elthin asked.
Elthin added one more clause onto what he was requesting.
"Guess I'll have to, if she's present, that is." Lucine answered, sounding a little against the idea of trying to get to know Zena better.
Upon receiving no service upon entrance, Elthin decided to take matters into his own hand and request for some help from the only other present. When Elthin voiced his request, both girls jumped in surprise a little. The Green haired one of the pair quickly got up from her seat to stand a little away from the 'customers', and the Platinum haired one just quickly ducked behind the Green haired girl to hide. However, it wasn't really a great hiding spot, as the girl's twintails gave away her position. Both of the girls were clearly startled and nervous about receiving guests. The Platinum haired girl just quietly whimpered in fear behind the Green haired girl, who was left to do the talking.
"U-um, a-are you a patient? Or, p-perhaps a c-customer?" The Green haired girl stammered.
Upon closer inspection, both of the girls were a good deal shorter than Lucine was. The poor speaker had to look up to see Elthin.
The Green haired girl was the first to speak up and she seemed to stammer in reply.
"I'd be neither of those sorry but if it's possible can I please see Freya. You can tell her that Elthin Veldhar wishes to ask her for a favor?" Elthin asked.
He took notice that the other girl seemed scared of him. This seemed rather odd to him were all of them here going to be scared of him.
Elthin informed the young duo that he was neither a customer nor a patient and that he wished to see Freya.
"Okay, please wait a moment." The green haired girl replied as the Platinum haired girl peeked around her to see Elthin and Lucine. Before the Green haired girl could move, the Platinum haired girl quickly took off past the piece of cloth draped over the doorway leading to the back room of the Apothecary, leaving her poor companion to entertain the guests. The poor girl didn't know what to do, so she just stood in awkward silence and stared at the floor. Thankfully, she was saved by Freya a little while later.
Freya exited from behind the cloth drape with the Platinum haired girl hiding behind her.
"Oh, have you decided to take me up on my offer?" Freya asked with a slight smile. "Or, perhaps, you wish for your young companion to be initiated in the ways of procreation?"
The green haired girl went off to get Freya. But it was actually the Platinum haired one who was the first to move. A while later Freya arrived to greet the pair.
"Um maybe some other time" Elthin replied with a slight blush,
He regained himself and spoke once more. "I was wondering if you could look after Lucine her for a little while. As I've got some personal business to attend to?" Elthin asked.
Elthin passed on the offer from Freya, but voiced an equally innuendo ridden answer as to why he arrived there.
"Going hunting for mates so you need me to watch your child? Syl and Willow need to work more on their social skills, so I guess I can watch her for you. How long will you be?" Freya asked. "Also, if you score, just let me know and I can prepare a bed for her here."
"I'm not doing anything of the sort" Elthin told her.
He just seemed to lose his cool as Freya wanted to know how long he'd be. And if he scored to let her know about it.
"I shall be gone for about two hours maybe less depending on how things go. And once more I'm not hunting for mates unless you'd like to be mine that is?" Elthin asked.
Elthin just dropped himself even further into Freya's mind games.
"Is this reverse psychology? I've been offering a chance since I met you, and now you're offering me a chance? Shall we go now? I can lock the door to the bedroom, if that's what you want. Lucine can keep the girls occupied while we work on getting to know each other better." Freya answered, looking to be quite seductive in the way she did so.
"What he's trying to say, but failing miserably at, is that he wishes to go down the tavern and get started on what the Duke asked of him." Lucine quickly cut in, sounding rather angry at Elthin's lack of clarity. "He's not looking for mates, and he's not going to score."
After Lucine clarified things, Freya's behaviour returned to more manageable levels.
"Well, he should've been more clear." Freya replied with a shrug. "I can watch her while you go out asking your questions. Like I said, it'll do Syl and Willow good to have someone else to talk to rather than each other and myself."
Elthin dropped himself more into the games Freya was playing.
Elthin only blushed further and was at a loss for words. It was Lucine who spoke up for him which seemed to turn things around. He looked at Lucine for a moment to see if she was jealous of him at all then looked away when he was back to himself again.
"Sorry, I had thought it wouldn't have been wise to mention what was talked about. Around others here so I'll be heading off then" Elthin said as he mentioned to Syl and Willow at first. He gave a hug to Lucine and then a pat on Syl's head before leaving the place.
Thankfully, Lucine cleared up all the misunderstandings between Freya and Elthin, allowing Elthin to take his leave. Before going, Elthin checked to see if Lucine was jealous of the attention Elthin was getting. She did seem a little put off by how close Freya was trying to get to him, but that could just be childish envy, as Lucine was kind of ignored in comparison to the amount of attention he was giving others. Elthin gave Lucine a quick hug and patted the Platinum haired girl behind Freya on the head. Syl just trembled a little before seemingly relaxing upon the head-pat. WIllow, the green haired girl, seemed to be kind of jealous of the attention the more cowardly of the duo was getting.
"Don't be too long, and don't get too drunk." Freya cautioned as Elthin left the Apothecary, leaving Lucine to try and bond with the strange duo of Platinum and Green.
"I won't" Elthin replied before leaving the building.
Once he was gone Elthin made his way towards the Tavern he had heard. About from the group of people earlier. In his mind he was trying to think of the best ways he could. Get the information he needed without drawing too much attention to himself. After a short walk and time to gather his thoughts he arrived at the tavern,
After a few minutes walk, Elthin arrived at the 'Desert Rose' Tavern. Like all taverns in this area, it was mostly made from wood and mortar, with a large sign hung up outside featuring a landscape view of a desert with a large beautiful rose taking up the forefront. According to local sources, the Desert Rose was a popular watering hole for most merchants coming into the town, and also some nobles came down her to mingle with the lesser groups and also check out what wares the travelling merchants bring.
Elthin entered the tavern and was greeted by the potent aroma of tobacco, alcohol and sweat. It was pretty packed at present, despite it still being late afternoon. There were a few tables going spare, but none of them were alone in secluded corners, as most people who were traders took up those spaces to fence their wares safely and away from prying eyes. It was a very large tavern, possibly the biggest in all of Brascus, and spanned two whole floors of drinking areas and a further two floors as an Inn for traders. There were a few rather scantily clad exotic women milling around the tables and performing lap dances for anyone willing to throw a few copper of silver their way. If people offered gold, the girls went under the tables, followed by the sounds of zippers being pulled down and the sound of contented sighs from the patrons offering the gold. Only one's imagination could concoct what those women may be doing.
Elthin entered into the 'Desert Rose' and was greeted my the aroma, Of tobacco and alcohol the place was pretty packed at the moment. With little tables to spare when he walked around inside he made his way to one of the empty tables. Taking a seat he waited for one of the exotic clad women to come over to him. Soon enough one did and asked him for an order which Elthin responded with wanting a beer. As the girl went off to get him his drink Elthin looked around the place. Trying to find out just where this merchant could be hiding among everyone here.
Upon taking a seat and giving his drink order, Elthin began to look around the Tavern for any indication of the supposed Dragon Scale merchant. The most common haunt of seedy merchants were the corner seats or seats near walls where no one could sneak up on them. There were a few individuals who fit the description of the Merchant Elthin was looking for, but finding just the right one would be difficult. There were around four Merchants Elthin could see from his current position.
The first Merchant wore clothing hailing from Port Ralence, due to the flamboyant silken garments and a turban on his head. He was peddling, at first glance, little charms which are hung in front of windows to ward off evil spirits. They looked to be cloth bound around a wooden frame, with silken threads spun around the middle in the shape of a spider web. Dangling down from the charm were strands of silk ending in feathers from local birds.
The second Merchant looked more technological than the first and was clearly from Argenta. This merchant was selling mostly weaponry, all clad in scabbards and bound properly. Of course, there was a Tavern bouncer guarding this particular individual due to the nature of the good they were selling.
The third Merchant looked like a Magician. This one was selling scrolls in cases and books of an Arcane origin. Apparently, according to this merchant's claims, the scrolls they sell work better than Elemental Stones, and the books can grant magical knowledge to anyone, despite if they were born with the Gift or not.
The fourth and final Merchant was clad all in black and wearing a bandanna over their face so only their amber eyes could be seen. They didn't appear to have any good on display, but people were still flocking over to them and asking them what they were selling.
Elthin spotted four Merchants who could be the person who he was looking for. He took his time to study all four of them and decided he'd try out the first Merchant who was dressed all flamboyant. he took his drink which he was later given and walked over to the man. As he got closer Elthin took this time to look over what the man was selling and then asked.
"Would you perhaps have anything rare for sale maybe something. One normally doesn't see everyday?" Elthin asked.
Elthin decided to try his luck with the Port Ralence merchant first. The merchant spoke in heavily accented tones, reminiscent of the Sultan's speedy banter.
"Oh, my good sir. I carry only the rarest of all rare goods. The real deal, I tell you! No other Merchant can compare to the goods I stock." The Merchant began his usual selling jargon. He lifted up one of his goods and showed it to Elthin. "These little charms protect your home from any evil spirit which may try to enter while you sleep. Just hang them up in front of your window, and the charm will work its magic while you sleep, trapping any evil spirit in its web of blessed silk until the spirit disappears in the morning sunlight. For only ten silver pieces, you can protect your home from all evils. Never again will you have to search for something you're sure you've placed down somewhere before but it's not there anymore. All of your fine garments will remain crease free and dustless! I promise you that this works 100% if the time. For only ten silver pieces, it's a steal!"
Elthin took a seat beside the Merchant he then listened to what the Merchant had to say. Who then went into his usual selling jargon. As he lifted up one of his goods to show to Elthin and began to explain just what it did.
"Do, you sell anything else other then charms?" Elthin asked. He didn't want to give away what he was looking for.
Elthin asked if the Merchant sold anything other than charms.
"Ah, a more discerning customer, are you?" The Merchant asked with a smile as he reached into his pack and pulled out a cask of bottles filled with an alcoholic beverage. "Dragon Fire Whisky. You shake it up before drinking and it colours to a look similar to a Dragon's fire. Once you drink it, you'd best take it slow, as it lives up to its name. If you can handle the heat, then you are truly a strong person. Some say it feels like a Dragon has breathed down their throat if the drink it too quickly. A cask of four bottles for only five silver. It's the best deal you'll find."
"Yes" Elthin replied.
The Merchant reached into his pack and pulled out a cask of bottles. He noticed one of the bottles was labeled. 'Dragon Fire Whisky' he took a moment to look at it as he sipped his beer. "Is this the only dragon item you have you wouldn't happen to have anything else for sale. Related to dragons now would you?" Elthin asked as he declined the alcoholic beverage with a shake of his head.
The Merchants wares, coupled with his salesperson patter, were having no effect on this difficult customer.
"Dragons, you say?" The merchant replied with a slight chuckle. "I have Dragon statues, dragon shaped charms and Dragon candelabras, but that is all. Dragons are mythical creatures borne of drunkards delusions, after all."
The Merchant listed the types of Dragon things that he had.
"Would you be carrying say by chance maybe something off a dragon perhaps. Maybe like a scale or a small tooth?"
Elthin went right ahead with what he was asking for, provoking a hearty laugh from the Merchant.
"Have you been down in the cups before coming to me?" The Merchant asked, still laughing a little. "I already said that Dragons are mythical creatures from Drunkards' addled minds, they do not exist. Now then, if you seek myths and legends, my store is not the place for you."
The Merchant laughed at him.
"They can be as real as you or I even from Drunkards tales. People have seen them before and sorry for wasting your time" Elthin got up from the table and made his way over to the masked Merchant.
Elthin tried to defend his case in regards to Dragon Culture. The merchant just simply nodded absently and, soon enough, Elthin swapped merchants. The Masked Merchant was possibly the most popular out of all the merchants present due to the fact that they were not openly displaying their ware. This popularity could be down to curiosity of the buyers, or it may be down to something else. There were a lot of people waiting to speak to the merchant, held at bay by a rather bulky looking individual, equally as concealed as the vendor. Neither of them seemed to speak, despite the customers hawking at them to reveal their wares. They just simply regarded their customers with calculating looks before either sending them away or the vendor speaking in hushed tones to them.
When Elthin arrived a large crowd was around the Merchant. He took a moment to look to just what he might have in for wares. But was stopped from moving forward due to a rather bulky person. Taking his place in line Elthin watched the merchant.
Elthin tried to catch a glimpse of the ware the Enigmatic merchant may have for sale, but could find no trace. Every attempt at reaching the merchant before the line was stopped by the bulky bodyguard. The bodyguard caused no immediate distress in anyone, and simply ushered them away as gentlemanly as possible.
Despite the length of the line, it was moving quite quickly. Out of the twenty or so gathered waiting for the merchant, only two of them so far have been accepted to be spoken to by the Merchant. Soon enough, Elthin's turn came around and the Merchant looked him up and down, not moving from their position. With a slight nod of the merchant's head to the Bodyguard, Elthin was allowed into the small booth which the merchant had set up to keep all forms of prying eyes, both magical and non-magical away from them. As soon as Elthin entered, he felt like a block had been placed on the magic coursing through his body. This was similar to being struck by an anti-magic spell, or entering a zone which had been warded against Magicians. It gave no physical discomfort, but the very thought of being stripped of their powers may send some would-be buyers away.
The line moved fairly quickly and soon his turn came around. But as he came closer to the merchant he felt as if a block. Had been placed upon his powers much like some unseen spell had been cast. He was annoyed by this outcome as he had happened to him before but knew that the merchant was just taking steps to protect himself and his wares. When he was in the small booth Elthin thought of what was soon to go down.
Elthin remained by the door of the booth upon finding the warding against his powers had taken effect. The merchant simply nodded knowingly and gave their reasoning. The Merchant's accent sounded quite foreign and not from any of the Continents Elthin knew about. It sounded like a mixture between Drakmar dialect with a Mainland twang and a slight hint of Brascus's accent. The merchant was clearly well travelled to have adopted so many different accents and dialects.
"A simple precaution to ensure that we are on even terms. I am no magic user, so I have to work around that." The Merchant explained. "Come, take a seat. I trust you are looking for some rare goods, if your talk with the misinformed portly charlatan are anything to go by?"
Elthin walked forward and took a seat as the Merchant explained himself.
"Oh, I understand and yes I am looking for some rare goods." Elthin stated. The Merchant seemed to know about his chant with the last Merchant. "He I'm afriad didn't have what I was looking for perhaps you might if I may ask may I take a look at your wares?" Elthin asked.
Elthin took a seat opposite the Merchant and explained his case.
"That entirely depends on what you are looking for and what you intend to use it for." The Merchant replied. "The other sought fame and fortune from my work, maybe you are different?"
"I seek knowledge and perhaps certain items I have heard rumors about. I care nothing of fame and fortune my friend." Elthin says. Thinking over next what he was about to say to the man.
"I can see that you are well travelled and perhaps you can help me. I've heard a rumor that a Dragon might live in or has been seen around our surrounding area. While most Dragon sightings are nothing more that Drunkard tales and are not to be believed, I ask you, friend, if perhaps you might have encountered one in your travels across the desert?"
Elthin stated that he was there for knowledge and not personal gain. He then gave his request to the Merchant, who calculated the overall cost silently.
"If it is knowledge you seek, then knowledge you will have to give. To gain the knowledge you desire, you will need to sate my curiosity as well." The Merchant began. "The price of the information you seek will be as follows: During my time in this establishment, I have learned of some interesting things which have happened not too soon before I arrived. In addition, the Inquisition are making there way here at a rapid pace. What I would like to know is what may have sparked their advancement onto such a quaint city like this?"
It seemed that the merchant was willing to make a trade. Knowledge for knowledge was how things were going to turn out. He then spoke about learning things that have happened in the city as he arrived and also knew about the Inquisition. He wanted to know just what had brought them to this city and Elthin had to think about how he wanted to answer this question.
"All I really know is they maybe they are looking for someone or something. That hasn't been known to have ever shown itself here before. They are coming here to find out the truth of this very matter with their own eyes." Elthin stated at first. He didn't know how much the merchant knew but was playing it safe for right now.
Elthin decided to take up the trade and gave off limited information. The Merchant took in the information and offered up information of an equal value in regards to what Elthin was looking for.
"I have heard the rumors of dragons and I saw what I believed to be a silhouette of a Dragon on my way here. However, it was quite a distance away and in the middle of a sandstorm, so it may have just been a large lizard indigenous to the area." The Merchant answered. "If you want to know more, you know the price."
The merchant gave off as much information that Elthin gave in his answer.
Elthin needed to know more about what the merchant had seen. He knew how to get it but didn't want to risk revealing to the merchant about Lucine. Who might have either known about her or not "there is a rumor going around that what they are searching for may have the command of two. Of the elemental powers though this is just a rumor after all."
Elthin decided to offer a little more information on the topic, however, it was brief at best. The merchant simply gave another answer of equal value.
"One rumour in this city is that someone may have found some interesting items while traversing the desert in a Sandstorm, though that is just a rumour, after all." The Merchant answered
This was getting him no where quickly and Elthin wasn't sure how much. Time left with the merchant he had before the next person's turn came up.
"There was a recent explosion in the Slums that a bunch of Magicians, Were recently investigating I've heard that someone caused the explosion yet also that a certain artifact was found within the ruins of the Slum dwelling."
Elthin tried once more to squeeze as much information out of the Merchant as possible.
"My sources tell me that Dragons have a thing for ruins built on Strong Magical Leylines. They tend to make such places their lair and that is also where they stash their hoard. However, it is not unheard of for Dragons to leave their lair if they are searching for something. What they have lost is as much a Mystery as their existence." The Merchant answered.
Elthin listened as the merchant spoke once again.
"I've heard rumors of a certain cult making their home in a set of ruins. Not far from the city a certain item was found the other day that may belong to them. Rumor has it that this cult is also searching for this person for their own reasons. As to what these reasons are I do not know."
The mind game between Elthin and the Merchant continued, with the Merchant currently winning on information gained.
"Some people have reported seeing a young copper haired girl wandering around the desert searching for something, or someone. Soon after the girl departs, people have reported sightings of Dragon prints appearing in the sand and sudden Sandstorms whipping up where the girl was."
What the merchant just reveal to Elthin caught his interest more then the other. Things he had heard the merchant speak of before.
"A girl has is who the Inquisition is searching for the same could be said about this cult. I haven't been able to learn the name of this girl as of yet."
The information trading was getting more heated now as interesting information was offered by both sides.
"Some people believe that this copper haired wandering girl is a hatchling Dragon who's been born in human form. Conjecture may dictate, due to the closeness of the two sightings, that both the girl and the Dragon may be looking for one another, or they may be one and the same person."
Elthin was just about to reveal more but decided against it. While everything the merchant said could be either true of just a rumor. He decided to play it safe for right now "I believe that's all the information that I shall be revealing."
Elthin decided to call it there for the information trade.
"Then I will call this business deal to a close, unless you want something more. It's been a pleasure doing business with you." The Merchant answered.
"Maybe another time" Elthin simplely answered.
He got up and soon headed out of the tavern going back to where he had left Lucine.
"Then I may see you again, or I may not. Good fortune in your hunt." The Merchant replied as Elthin left the booth and headed back towards the Apothecary.
Around an hour had passed since he'd entered the Tavern, so he was a little early for pick-up.
Elthin arrived back at the Apothecary with an hour to spare. He was rather early and as he walked inside he made his way up to the two girls.
"May I please see Freya again?" Elthin asked.
Elthin just headed straight back to the Apothecary without doing anything else on the way. Upon his arrival, he noticed that Lucine had gelled quite well with Syl and Willow, as they were engaged in usual girl-to-girl conversations. Syl didn't seem so shy or reserved around Lucine any more, and Willow was also a little more talkative.
Elthin announced his presence, causing Syl to duck behind Willow once more, and for Lucine to look over at Elthin with a surprised look on her face.
"You're really early." She informed Elthin. "Info gathering not go well, or something?"
"I gathered some information but decided to cut things off early. Let's just say that I decided to stop gathering info as I may have had to reveal somethings I wouldn't have wanted to do. The person I spoke with seemed well informed and knows that the Inquisition is coming here." Elthin tells Lucine.
He saw that Syl ducked behind Willow once more.
"Am I really that scary to you?" Elthin asked.
He walked over to Syl and gently took her hand.
Elthin gave a rundown of what he'd gathered from his findings.
"New travels fast in such a small city like this." Lucine agreed with a shrug.
Elthin then took a great interest in Syl's shyness and tried to hold her hand. However, Syl then quickly moved over to behind Lucine, leaving Willow in the social situation once more.
"Syl's just really shy, that's all." Lucine explained, trying to draw some attention off her newfound friends. "She was like that with me when I first tried to talk to her. Eventually, she warmed up to me and we started talking. It took the best part of the hour to do so, though."
Lucine explained about Syl.
"Guess I should try and speak with her but sadly don't have an hour to spend doing that" Elthin pointed out.
"I'm not that bad a guy once you get to know the real me" Elthin spoke to Syl then. Turned to Lucine again "how were things here did you enjoy your stay here?" Elthin asked,
Elthin tried to convince Syl to not be too jumpy around him, but all he got in response was a stifled whimper as Syl tried to hide behind Lucine even more, Turing his attention away from the scared little kitten of a girl, Elthin asked if Lucine enjoyed her time at the Apothecary.
"From only being here an hour, I've not really had much of a time to soak in this place enough. I'd say, from what I know at present, that I did have a nice time here, and I also made some new friends." Lucine answered.
The commotion of conversation drew Freya from the back room.
"You're earlier than expected. I take it things didn't go too well?" Freya questioned as she left the back room. "It took your little friend there a good deal of time to coax Syl out of her shell, and it might take you a good deal longer. Syl's still very shy around strangers, even more so around males."
Freya returned a litte while later.
"Well, as we talk about things that I've learned Lucine hear can interact more with Syl. In my freetime I can always come here and try the same as well. Anyway on the topic at hand I did learn some things but while they can be only rumors I'd like to hear your thoughts on what I have to tell you?"
Elthin proposed an opportunity to bond with Syl.
"If you can, that would be well received. Syl needs more practice at talking to people as she'll soon take on messenger duties to help Willow out." Freya answered. "Talking to Lucine is also good practice, but most messages go to adults, and Lucine is still a peer to Syl and doesn't quite fit the description of most of the recipients of our messages."
Elthin explained that he had learned a few things from his information gathering,
"If you are fine with having an audience of four, then we can talk here. If you'd rather have a more private talk, then my room should suffice." Freya informed Elthin. "Though, that would make strange pillow talk."
"Why don't we use the Lab instead?" Lucine suggested, trying to sound as civil as possible. "That's private, isn't it?"
"I'd rather things be private, but I'm not falling for your games again. So things will be best talked about in the Lab as Lucine pointed out." Elthin says.
He took a moment to walk over to Syl.
"How, long have you been working here?" Elthin asked.
Elthin took Lucine's advice and brushed aside the comment about 'pillow talk'.
"That's a shame. I guess the Lab will have to suffice." Freya sighed. "I normally don't let customers into the lab unless they're patients, but I guess we can use it for this."
Elthin tried once more to communicate with the shy girl, but was once again met with scared whimpers.
"She's only been here for a little over a month." Lucine explained. "However, that's not why she's so shy, I think. I couldn't really get much out of her about that."
Elthin tried to think up someway to make Syl overcome her shyness.
"What if we invited her over to the Manor could that help?" Elthin asked.
After getting his answer.
Elthin followed Freya towards the Lab.
"That'll only scare the poor girl even more." Freya answered, "Are you trying to make abducting young girls a habit, or something? Is that what you're in to?"
After the answer was given, Freya led Elthin into the Alchemy Lab. It was decked out like most standard Magician Alchemy Laboratories, with workdesks lined across each wall and a few in the middle in a domino-four setup. Each desk had varying alchemical components on. However, one thing in this particular laboratory was not like the ones in any Magician's laboratory. There was a person-sized cylinder of strange metal near the back of the Laboratory. It had frosted glass on the door, creating an impenetrable viewing angle as to what was inside. It appeared sealed now, but why it was sealed and what was sealed inside was unknown.
"Please try not to touch anything." Freya cautioned Elthin as they headed to the middle of the room. Freya then turned to Elthin. "What did you find out? And why do you think I could help with it?"
"How about I take you back home for your so called 'pillow talk'?" Elthin said not caring how Freya would take it.
He followed her into the lab and looked around it was a lot different. Then what he was normally used to he then turned Freya.
"This is what I learned," Elthin told her.
So, he explained everything that had happened between himself and the two merchants. Who he had talked with while at the same time trying to watch what Freya's mood might be. When he told her about the rumors the two merchants had told him about.
Elthin offered for the 'pillow talk' to happen at home. Freya simply giggled seductively and Lucine began to mouth off some obscenities to Elthin while poor Willow had to cover both her ears and Syl's.
In the slightly calmer Alchemy Lab, Elthin explained what he had found out. Freya's expressions seemed mostly neutral and calculating, but they turned slightly more to concerned when Elthin explained just how much information he'd exchanged about Lucine for the Dragon rumours.
"That was a rather poor tradeoff, in my opinion." Freya answered. "You offered up truths for potential lies. Are you an experienced barterer, or is there no bartering in your line of work?"
"This could be potential lies or they could be true, unless someone investigates this. We will never know on what the true outcome for this really is" Elthin said.
"Sorry but I don't go to bars all that often."
"Even so, you gave definite truths for potential truths." Freya insisted. "You can investigate them yourself to test their credibility if you wish to, but try to keep as much information withheld about Lucine as possible."
Elthin then seemed to mistake the definition of 'bartering'.
"Bartering can happen in any form of trading work, be them in taverns, Guilds or the marketplace." Freya explained. "It is the simple act of trying to squeeze as much out of your opponent while you give as little as you can."
"Then I'll just have to do that on my own then. I can't have Lucine getting involved further with things then she already is."
Freya talked or bartering.
"I'll just have to work on that in the future."
Elthin decided that he'd investigate the rumors on his own.
"Leaving Lucine alone right now is possibly not the best option. The Inquisition's looking for her, after all and now a trader knows a little about her. It'll probably be best to keep her as close as possible." Freya cautioned. "By all means, leave her with me while you search, but don't think she'll take it well if you keep hoisting her off on someone else."
"Then how can I go about searching these rumors out without. Letting Lucine know the truth on the matter maybe make a camping trip in the desert with you and both Willow and Syl. This would give me time to search for things and chances for further bonding between the girls?"
His idea was a rather odd one for searching the desert for rumors,
Elthin suggested a 'camping trip' in the desert to keep Lucine safe, to search for the rumours and to also improve bonding between himself and the girls.
"Seems a bit over the top for some simple rumour confirmation." Freya shrugged. "Though, if it was just us then..."
Freya let Elthin's mind run wild with whatever interpretation he might draw from that statement. Afterwards, she decided to propose an alternative.
"If Lucine already knows about what you're looking for, then I see no need in keeping her out of it. She was there when the deal was made, after all. Think of it as field testing for her newfound abilities when she's learned some. You can only learn so much in the classroom, after all, the rest has to be done in practice." Freya suggested.
"Well if this idea is too far out there what would you suggest just taking Lucine with me. And letting her learn even more of what I'm searching for?" Elthin asked.
He thought over what Freya had said.
"Trying to mate with me alone and from the eyes of the youngsters?"
Elthin caught on to the subtle hint from Freya.
"I don't mind how we do it. We can do it alone, in the middle of the marketplace during trading hours, or even in the Guild. Back in the Pride Lands, when the urge takes us, we just go with it." Freya explained. "Is that what you want? We can do it here and now if you're craving it as well."
Elthin decided to play Freya's game a little bit.
"If that's what you really want, let's do it here and now." Elthin stated.
He wanted to see just how far this would go to make her stop teasing him about it.
Elthin decided to play along with Freya's little game, much to his own detriment.
"I had a feeling you were holding back because of Lucine." Freya answered with a seductive grin. "The children aren't watching. We adults can do what we please."
Freya then began to strip off her tribal garments and was soon standing naked in front of Elthin. Her lithe form was just like the panther her ears and tail represented. She moved with a feline grace as she began to stalk towards Elthin, moving on just her hands and knees, and she began to raise her head towards Elthin's crotch before taking the zip of his fly in her teeth.
"Are you fgoing to fmake me fdo all the fwork?" Freya asked, her words mumbled by the zipper in her teeth. She then began to slowly lower her head, accompanied by the sound of a zipper undoing.
Elthin at first thought Freya would stop but soon enough she started to strip. Which means that his plan had backfired.
"If this will make you stop teasing me then yes."
She had a rather cute form and Elthin decided not to back out. Started to strip off his own clothes so that both them could have their fun.
Much to Freya's surprise, Elthin didn't back out. The seductive grin turned into a genuine smile as Elthin began to strip as well. Freya stood up from her fly-unzipping position, giving Elthin a full view of her naked form.
While Freya might not have been gifted in height or bust, she still carried a unique charm like no other. Her petite form was as graceful and elegant as a panther's sleek coat, matching the 'poetry in motion' belief for a cat's movement and form. Her B-cup breasts were perky and full of life, with slightly hardened nipples from the arousal of nakedness. Her exotic beauty even extended down to her quivering lower lips, which looked sleek and already lubricated from her excitement. They looked like a perfect peach, symmetrical in size and folds, seeping their nectar to readily accept the key which Elthin held, which would unlock the doors to Euphoria and paradise for the pair.
"I thought you'd never accept. I'm glad that you've chosen to be my Mate for this season." Freya gratefully mentioned. "Are you experienced, or shall I take the lead? Your body seems ready and willing to accept, but is your mind open for the experience?"
While part of Elthin did want to back out. He thought of doing so might upset Freya or insult her. So he kept things going as he would go the whole way.
He looked upon her nude form and walked closer. His own naked form was both muscular and had a few scars on his arms and legs. He built handsomely and looked to be enjoying Freya's body from down below as he was becoming aroused. When he was close enough he ran his hands across her fur stopping at her breasts which he cupped gently and fondled slowly.
"I'm experienced, just been some time since I last did this. You seem ready for this as well and I will say it's a first for me in mating with your kind."
Elthin began the foreplay by gently caressing Freya's ears. Going by animal anatomy, cat's ears are very sensitive to touch. It appeared that Animalia anatomy seemed to work the same, as Freya began to moan softly in response and her breathing began to quicken slightly. After touching up her ears, Elthin moved down to being to stimulate Freya's breasts. Her moans of pleasure became a little more pronounced as Elthin stimulated the erogenous zone of her breasts. Smaller breasts seemed more sensitive to stimulation than larger ones, as the nerve endings are closer to the surface.
Through the breaths of pleasure and ecstasy, Freya answered Elthin's statement.
"Mating with an Animalia is no different than mating with a human. We all share the same organs under the surface. Animalia just have a lower chance at bearing children from human seed, but the results can be quite excellent." Freya began to explain. "Teasing me so much before finally committing. I have to say, I have high hopes for you and your 'experience'."
While Elthin was stimulating Freya's hardened nipples, she began to kneel down once more, taking Elthin's erect penis in her hand before gently pulling back the foreskin, revealing the solid muscle underneath, and placing her lips around it. She then began to gently move her tongue around the rock-solid insemination organ, licking the opening to the urethra and sucking.
"Itsh sho mush better with a human." Freya mumbled through her blowjob.
Elthin wasn't about to rush things he was going to give. Freya all that she wanted he teased her ears and licked them with his tongue. Hearing her moan ment she liked it and as he fondled her breasts he leaned in. Licking both her nipples before placing his mouth over one breast and sucking it before moving to the other.
"I have enough kids in my life already that being Lucine and your friend. I don't need another one right now." Elthin said between breaths.
Feeling Freya lick his shaft Elthin could only moan in delight. He moaned a little louder then one should but he'd let her have her full. Pulling away for a moment Elthin laid down and mentioned for Freya to lay on top of him. With her private near his mouth Elthin went to work licking at the wet folds of Freya's moist pussy.
Elthin licked the velvety soft ears of Freya. They tasted faintly of sweet vanilla and strawberries. Perhaps her childish appearance bore more substance than her mature behaviour. Freya's body began to quiver with arousal as Elthin started to lick and suck on her erect nipples. They bounced playfully after every lick and seemed to wish to be drawn into Elthin's mouth when being sucked. Freya's carnal lust had overtaken all her rationality as she began to moan even louder in her euphoric state.
"Children are a handful, but they're worth the hassle." Freya answered when the teasing calmed down a little.
After Elthin had enough oral stimulation to his shaft, he decided to return the favour by partaking in cunnilingus. Freya didn't need a double offer, she quickly crawled over to Elthin's face and placed her nectar covered labia over his mouth. With each lick, and with each gasp of pleasure from Freya, her pussy got even wetter as more ejaculate covered her lips. Her body quivered in delight even more as the stimulation continued.
"You're...as good...as you...make out to be..." Freya panted.
"One has to be good at this one never knows when this will come up." Elthin said between breaths and moans of pleasure.
He brought his mouth over Freya's entire pussy and sucked on it like a lollipop. Before pushing his tongue in between the folds if her lips. Licking the insides like an ice cream he wanted them both to enjoy this.
As the oral stimulation continued, Freya's vulva opened out a little more, readily anticipating an connecting of the bodies, and her body became hotter. She was undoubtedly close to climaxing as her body convulsed slightly with every lick, suck and rimming of Elthin's tongue. Her tail and ears began to stand on end, preparing for the oncoming ejaculation.
"I can't...I'm gonna...I'm...ah!" Freya panted out as her vagina got hotter and hotter before gently pulsating with the stimulation. "If you...ah...you'd...better...ah!"
With one final moan of pure ecstasy, Freya's labia parted as a gush of pussy juices squirted out of her entrance, all over Elthin's face and his stimulating tongue. Two more squirts blasted out of her with a pair of accompanying gasps of pleasure before Freya's body went weak and she bent over slightly, panting from the triple orgasm.
Freya's juices licked onto Elthin's face as he pulled back for a moment to catch his breath. With all over Freya's own licking and sucking Elthin could only. Groan in delight as he felt himself drawing closer and closer to the edge.
"W-we a-are b-both!" Elthin gasped.
With a small grunt and a moan of ecstasy, Elthin had his own orgasm that was mixed. When Freya had hers drenching his face in her fluids. He shot his own load upon her face and into her mouth. If that was something she was into. He lay there panting trying to recatch his breath.
With both participants exhausted from their dual pleasuring, they simply just remained where they were to catch their breath. Freya had rolled herself off of Elthin to lie by his side as she cleaned the semen from her face and playfully flicked Elthin's retracting penis. When she'd caught her breath enough, Freya decided to engage in after-sex pillow talk.
"This should be enough to keep me rational for the next half-moon. I'm very grateful for you taking the risk of being caught just to sooth my own urges." Freya began. "I'm not one for being selfish so, if you ever need anything, just come and find me and I'll try and provide."
After a few more moments of silence, Freya began to voice her concern for Lucine.
"Lucine's requested the draught I prepare for Zena. I take it you know of her little nighttime plight?" Freya asked. "I think she's actually more insecure with this all than she's letting on. Doing something like that shortly after experiencing what she did is not uncommon. She's trying to put on a brave face to not worry you, I can tell. Girls are complicated. She's never openly voice her concerns, no matter how close you get to her. She doesn't want to seem too needy or demanding."
A few more quiet moments passed and Elthin caught his breath. He was able to move again just slowly at this time. "So, what does this make us now am I your mate or just someone you'd want to sleep with from time to time?" Elthin asked.
Silence came again before Freya spoke of Lucine.
"Yes, I know of it I just hope that this can help her. Seeing as how I don't know anything about her medical history I'm not sure on how things will really turn out."
Elthin asked what his relationship with Freya now was.
"You can be my Mate if you want. Most of the time, Animalia clear their heat urges by seeking out suitable animal Mates in the Pride Lands. We emit the same pheromones as the natural beasts we bear traits of during heat, so we attract animals as well as tailless ones. We can sooth our urges on both, but tailless ones keep them at bay for longer." Freya explained. "If we don't manage to find a suitable Mate, we can sooth our own urges for a day or two by engaging in self-pleasuring. For last ditch efforts, when self-pleasuring fails, we can try to engage in sexual activity with other Animalia. I remember one Mating Season when I tried to Mate with the Pack Mother. Thankfully, she was also seeking relief from the urges so she obliged."
Elthin voiced his own concerns for Lucine.
"It doesn't prevent the sensation, it just makes it a little more pronounced early enough for the signals to reach her mind and force her awake. Zena's had a few nights where she's even slept through the warning being sent from the draught. The idea of it is to wake the patient up an allow them enough time to reach somewhere to go before it all comes gushing out." Freya elaborated. "I'm actually the contact for the Elder. I've received his request for a new student physical examination and booked her in for two days time. You'll get a copy of the results as you're her legal guardian. There doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with her, I think the problem lies with her emotional state."
Freya explained what this now made them both.
"I guess it couldn't hurt to be your mate does this come with any advantages?" Elthin asked. He was still thinking over what Freya had said.
He next listened as she spoke on Lucine.
"Well, she was scared of everything that had happened to her the other day. Plus along with all that she has learned and witnessed so far that could also help with hurting her emotional state. Yet if there is more to it then just those things I'll need to learn them as soon as possible."
Elthin seemed fine with being classed as Freya's 'Mate' and asked what kind of perks it might bring. Freya looked pleased with Elthin's acceptance.
"Being my Mate means that, during this Mating season, you'll be better favoured among the Animalia as you're assisting with he most problematic time for us. You'll also get unrestricted access to my delightful body and can also request that I help you when your own urges strike. I'm very experienced with tail masturbation and breast-jobs. They might be small, but they feel divine against a rock hard penis. I'm also no stranger to experimentation. I like the idea of coming up with new ways to engage in the joining of body for sexual pleasure." Freya explained.
More concerns about Lucine were voiced. They sounded just like a couple worrying about their child.
"She's also at a difficult time in her life. She's neither a child nor a teenager. She might be an early bloomer for all we know. She could already be experiencing the confusion and frustration that comes with hormonal imbalance and puberty." Freya suggested. "Mine are still quite young so I can't really use them for reference."
"Well, that's good as it cuts down on some of the work." Elthin said before Freya explained just what sort of things she was into. "At a later time I will see how you handle those things." Elthin said at last he got up and helped Freya up. "Anywhere we can clean up before rejoining the others?"
Freya spoke on Lucine again.
"You don't mean that Willow and Syl are your childern or are they related to you by other means?" Elthin asked.
Elthin sounded more than willing to test out Freya's claims. She simply giggled seductively as she licked the tip of Elthin's penis one final time to ingest the last few drops of semen.
"Man milk is good for developing bodies." Freya commented.
While they could lick one another clean with a good few hours, Elthin decided to rush the process along by asking for a place where he could clean up as he helped Freya to her feet.
"The bathroom's the first door you see on your right when you leave the Laboratory. It's close to Syl and Willow's bedroom, so don't go through the door one down from it." Freya explained. "Want to bathe together, or shall we go separately?"
Elthin was a little surprised by the terminology Freya used to describe Syl and Willow.
"I see them as my children and, on the genetic level, they are. They're not exactly what most would call 'Children', though." Freya vaguely explained. "What do you know of Animalian Alchemy Practices?"
As Freya licked his penis one last time Elthin kneeled down and used his fingers. To play with Freya's still moist pussy taking some of the juices. Now on his fingers he brought them to his mouth and licked them. "Tasty"
Freya then told him where te bathroom was. She then mentioned about bathing together. "Together for now." Elthin took her hand and they both entered the bathroom. Where while cleaning each other down they engaged in one more fun act of lewd sex before finally finishing things up and washing themselves down.
"I'm not very familiar with Animalian Alchemy Practices"
During the time when the pair was meant to be cooling down, things heated up a little more as both of them still had some juice waiting to be expelled. As Freya was huddled between Elthin's legs in the bath, her back pressing against his gradually flaccid privates, the pair continued their conversation from earlier, which was momentarily forgotten about due to lustful intentions.
"In order for us to create some of the Potions and Salves we can, we need something more attuned to nature to assist in mixing the reagents. Tailless ones and Animalia, while they are still children of the Earth Mother, have been gradually desensitised from the delicate anatomy of nature as technology and stoneworking became more popular." Freya began. "So, before any Shaman can be dubbed a Witch Doctor, they need to make their own being of living nature. The process requires a great deal of materials, each one linking up with what is present inside the human body, each in their exact amounts as they are found inside the body. Your Alchemists dub this forbidden art of Alchemy as 'Homunculi Construction'. The Tailless ones on Animalia see this as Heresy as we are artificially creating a life when only their so called Gods can do so."
After allowing the rundown to sink in, Freya explained just what Syl and Willow were.
"Syl and Willow are my Homunculi, borne from the base materials and a vial of my own blood, making them genetically locked to myself. I see them as my own children as I technically breathed life into them and they also share the same coding as myself from being made from my blood." Freya continued. "That large cylindrical device in the Alchemy Lab is what I used to create them in."
Elthin listened as Freya explained things.
"It all sounds rather far fetched if you ask me. I understand that everyone is trying to create life. But sometimes wouldn't that be going too far 'Homunculi Construction' When you think about it has it's uses but what if something were to go wrong. Like it being used for evil or someone trying to cheat death and transfer their soul into an immortal shell?" Elthin asked.
Freya then explained about Willow and Syl.
"Then you created them both through the means you mentioned earlier. And not through the normal everyday birthing means. How long does it normall take to make someone?"
Elthin gave his own opinion on Homunculi creation.
"It is needed for the most potent Animalia remedies. If we did not use the Earth Mother's gifts to create a completely natural being, free from the corruptions of development and selfishness, we would not be able to even begin to save as many people as we do with our Salves." Freya insisted. "The Animalia are not like some tailless ones. We do not seek to pervert the gifts provided for us by the Earth Mother. People cannot transfer their souls into a Homunculus, as each one is unique, with its own personalities, likes and dislikes. Two souls cannot live in the same body at the same time. They are like natural conceived children. They are, by no means, immortal. They can feel pain, suffering, joy, happiness...everything we can feel. They may live much longer than normal people, but they are still returned to the Earth Mother when their time is done."
Elthin asked about Syl and Willow and how long it takes to make a Homunculus.
"They are, indeed, created by myself, and not born to me naturally." Freya answered. "It takes a full cycle of the moon to prepare the Cylinder for use with all the materials in, and then it takes a further two moons to create the Homunculus."
"How many people have you saved so far?" Elthin asked.
Freya explained on how different the Animalia and the Tailess ones were. They were trying to save the lives of everyone they could and she explained her thoughts on matters.
"There have been some cases in a small transfer of the soul in a Homunculus body. But those are all forbidden and locked away in Vaults in the Capital."
Lucine explained about Syl and Willow.
"Are you trying to create any others at the moment?" Elthin asked.
"Countless people. Whole villages of people." Freya answered in regards to her triage acts.
Elthin explained that, in some extremely rare occasions, people have managed to transfer parts of their soul into Homunculus bodies.
"Then they have even perverted a wholly natural being." Freya quietly answered, sounding quite angry at the destruction of the Earth Mother's gifts.
After the awkward talk about Homunculi, Elthin asked if Freya was making any more at the moment.
"Syl and Willow are enough for me. I don't need any more, and I won't make any more. Willow was just lonely when I was working, so I created her a playmate. Now that they have Lucine, everyone will not be lonely again," Freya answered.
While Elthin would have gladly talked to Freya more about Homunculus's he decided. To change the subject after starting to dry himself off.
"But what about yourself sure you've got both of them. But have you ever felt lonely say for someone your own age?" Elthin asked.
As the pair began to dry themselves off after a good soak, Elthin asked if Freya ever felt lonely.
"With how needy little Syl is, and how inquisitive Willow is, I've not had the time to feel lonely as I've always had something to do." Freya answered. "Though, you've more than likely filled any pang of loneliness I may feel in the future."
Freya then went over to Elthin and gave him a hug, resting her damp head over his chest.
"Lucine needs some friends as well. Why don't we spend some more time together later?"
Freya told him about her needs.
She then came over and gave him a hug which was surprising him. He gave her a hug back in return.
"If you want to I have no problem with that."
After hugging for a few more moments Elthin let Freya go and started to redress himself.
After the embrace between the young lovers(?), the pair began to get dressed once more after drying off. Freya's outfit was on in a flash, pretty much how fast it came off as well, and she didn't appear to have any form of underwear on underneath the loin wrap she had. Going commando was probably an Animalian thing. Freya then began to head out of the bathroom, stopping by the door to say one last thing.
"We've been 'talking' for quite some time. Don't you think the others will get a little curious?" Freya posed with a sly smile. "You better have a cover story ready, or you might face a feisty preteen's wrath."
Freya then left Elthin to finish up. It was probably her plan to make it seem less like they were doing some explicit.
Once fully dressed again Elthin followed Freya out of the bathroom. "I'm sure they will ask us something I can think of something which shouldn't let them know what we did." Elthin says.
He took the time when alone to come up with a plan. After some time something popped into her mind and he rejoined Freya and the others.
Upon the arrival of the pair from the back room, Lucine was the first to chip in with wanting an explanation.
"Took your time." Lucine started as she gave an accusatory look at Elthin. "I was beginning to think you'd taken Freya up on her bedroom services."
"P-Please excuse me!" Sly quickly cut in as she began to quickly run out of the room with a hand pressed against the lower half of her skirt.
"You were both in the bathroom." Lucine continued. "Syl tried to go earlier but the door was locked and she couldn't find either of you. Mind explaining what you were doing?"
"We were just talking about what I had learned at the taverns nothing more," Elthin tells her. He then sees as Syl run past with a hand between her legs. "I was helping in cleaning the bathroom as Freya wanted some help sorry we took so long."
Lucine was not buying it.
"Oh sure." She answered sarcastically. "It took ya nearly an hour ta 'talk' an' another half hour ta 'clean'."
Lucine's slum dialect was slipping in once more, indicating that her cool composure was cracking.
"I had him help me a little with your special request." Freya cut in with a smile. "He was very curious of all the items on the list turning up, even after Zena had gone home."
Freya's interjection caused a stifled gasp from Lucine, shutting her up there and then.
Lucine didn't seem to buy it.
Freya then spoke up which caused Lucine to shut up.
"Yeah, we worked long and hard on it. Hopefully this time things will work out better for you."
Lucine just simply looked down, face deep red with embarrassment, and simply nodded, letting out a small confirmation sound while doing so.
"You've really got to hide things better." Freya informed Lucine. "He's known, and I've known, since we first saw you today. Maybe Syl can teach you some tricks?"
"Sis!" Willow cut in. "Don't embarrass Syl just 'cause she's not here."
"I'm sorry, Willow, but Lucine needs to understand that it's not something to be that embarrassed about." Freya answered.
"Zena can also help in matters try talking with her as well" Elthin said.
He then could see Lucine's embarrassment and didn't speak of her matter any more. "How about we all get something to eat?" Elthin suggested.
"However, getting a straight word out of her and not 'Azure Princess' will be difficult." Freya interjected with a nod.
As Lucine's embarrassment was just mounting, Elthin decided to change the subject and offer for some food. Syl just returned from the back room, with a contented look on her face.
"Just made it..." She quietly whispered to herself. She then noticed Elthin and ducked behind Willow once more.
"Is that offer for all of us?" Freya asked. "I know of a good eatery in the Merchant's quarters."
Freya wanted to know if the food offer was for them all.
"Yeah, it is" Elthin told them.
He saw as Syl run behind Willow again.
"Anything that you'd like to eat?" Elthin asked her.
"Then I propose we all get to know one another better." Freya concluded.
Seeing as how Syl was still like a frightened doe in the presence of Elthin, he asked her if she had anything she wanted to eat. Silence followed a little as the small silver folds of her dress shuffled from side to side before the petite girl peered out from behind Willow.
"Tomato and Basil soup, with croutons and Pasta." Syl answered before ducking behind Willow once more. It may have only been a food order, but it was a start.
This would give everyone time to get to know each other better. Syl this time spoke up about what she wanted to eat.
"Then let's get you that" Elthin smiled at her.
He looked over at Lucine "did you have fun with the girl's while we were gone?" Elthin asked.
Elthin confirmed the food order, which prompted a smile from Syl. She also let out a happy quiet giggle, like the kind young children do when they're praised.
Elthin then asked if Lucine had fun with the girls.
"We talked a little more, yeah. And I also learned quite a lot about Syl's likes and dislikes." Lucine answered, she then moved in closer to Elthin to whisper something to him. "What she just asked for is her absolute favourite food. Provide what she wants and she'll like you more."
"What else does she like?" E;thin whispered back.
He looked to Syl.
"Anything you want as something sweet after?" He asked.
"Why not ask and find out." Lucine chuckled quietly.
Elthin then asked if Syl wanted something sweet after the starter. The usual pattern from before ensued.
"Raspberry Tarte, with white chocolate curls and sprinkles." Syl answered before hiding once more.
"Why're you asking Syl what she wants and not me?" Willow asked with a pout.
"Someone's getting jealous." Freya countered with a smile.
"Am not." Willow shot back, pouting some more.
Elthin took Lucine's advice and Syl spoke up more on food.
"Just making small talk about what do you want to eat?" Elthin asked Willow.
He laughed a little at Freya's remark.
Upon getting the attention for once, Willow was left to give into her 'tsun' side as she blushed slightly and turned a little to the side from Elthin before softly giving her order.
"Continental salad, with a fruit salad for dessert. Extra mangoes and cherries. With whipped cream on the top." Willow answered.
"Then those are what you shall have" Elthin told her.
The group soon left and headed out to eat. Just to be on the fun side Elthin looked over to Lucine and pinched her rear and then pinched Freya's as well.
Elthin decided to agree to Willow's food order without considering how difficult it would be to get fruits like she requested, and the things in the Salad, in the middle of a desert. Potentially, both of the girl's orders were on the pricey side due to the kind of ingredients needed to make them, but...
After food orders were decided, Elthin headed out to the Eatery Freya mentioned. On the way, he decided to have a little perverted fun with both Lucine and Freya. The rear pinching was not well received by Lucine, who turned her head towards Elthin with a rather sour look on her face and mouthed 'Perv'. Freya on the other hand, simply returned the favor by squeezing Elthin's flaccid member a little.
Lucine didn't seem to enjoy Elthin's pinching at all and gave him a sour look. Freya seemed to enjoy it and touched his member which responded to her touch. Becoming slightly aroused he cupped Freya's own mound to return the favor.
When the lewd fun was over, Elthin for a small while pictured what it would be like to have a family he had never really given it much thought before. And while he didn't want any sort of kids yet in his life he wondered if it would be a good choice to make one day.
After the afterplay, Elthin's thoughts turned to a more family oriented direction. While he was picturing a future which he'd never really given much thought to before, he had a curious onlooker peering out from the side of Lucine. Syl had dropped back a little from her slight lead with Willow and turned her attention to something that had been bothering her since the encounter after the 'Secret Fun'. All she was doing at present was looking curiously at Elthin and occasionally sniffling a little, like a baby animal picking up on a familiar scent.
Elthin thought on a family life for a short while longer. He thought if Freya would make a good wife, would she have a boy or a girl if she gave birth to someone. Or would she rather create another being like Willow or Syl. These were all questions he didn't have the answers for. His thoughts returned to the present and the group. Seemed to be the center of attention with everyone looking at him.
"What is it?" Elthin asked.
Elthin was pulled from his daydreaming by Syl's curious gaze.
"You smell like Sis." Syl answered as she pulled a little closer to Elthin and began to sniff him like she was picking up a scent. "You didn't smell like Sis before. You didn't walk with Sis before. What did you do with Sis?"
For once, Syl was not hiding whole talking to Ethin. She had now dropped back to his position and began her grilling.
Syl started to sniff Elthin.
Elthin was at a loss for words at the moment as Syl wanted to know what he and Freya did. While they were alone together.
"Don't you remember what we were doing it was all explained before?" Elthin asked.
Elthin tried once more to blag his way out of the indication of elicit and explicit material. However, Syl had a sharp mind and wasn't really falling for it. After all, she was partially created from the blood of a person with animalistic qualities. Her sense of smell was possibly second only to the real animal.
"That wouldn't make you smell of Sis. You'd smell of herbs and stuff. Sis doesn't smell like herbs. Sis smells different." Syl retorted. "You'd only smell like Sis if she rubbed her scent on you."
Syl had a sharp mind and didn't seem to believe what Elthin told her.
"Well we did bump against each other while working. So of course Freya's scent would get upon me as we did bump arms against each other a couple of times."
Elthin tried to change his story to fit along the girl's probing ability to literally sniff out lies. Despite the slight change, Syl still didn't believe Elthin.
"You lie a lot, Mister." Syl answered with an accusatory look. "Bumping up against Sis isn't the same as Sis rubbing her scent on you. Sis rubbed her scent on you a lot and that's why you smell like Sis. Lying is bad, Mister, you shouldn't lie."
Syl still didn't believe Elthin.
While he didn't want to tell everyone what he had done with Freya. He looked over at her "some help please?" Elthin asked.
Elthin was at a loss for how to explain the acts of carnal desire he performed on such a young girl's primary care giver. He turned to Freya and asked for assistance. Thankfully, Freya had an answer.
"We just hugged, that's all." Freya answered. She then crouched down to hug Syl as an example. "Hugs make everyone feel better and it's a sign of friendship as well. Hugs mean that we need to get close to one another to do them, and push our scents onto each other as well. That's why he smells like me."
Syl understood Freya's explanation well and hugged her in return with a smile on her face. Once the hug was done, Syl still hadn't finished with Elthin.
"Why'd you lie about a hug, Mister?" Syl asked Elthin. "Hugs aren't bad. Don't you like hugs? Don't you like Sis?"
Freya went on to help Elthin who didn't know how to handle things.
"Not really sure I didn't think of ever mentioning that we hugged," Elthin said seeing Freya move over and hug Syl. "Everyone likes hugs, as for liking your Sis I would say I'm warming up to her so, liking her, yes I do like her."
He then went over and hugged Freya.
Elthin tried to use Freya's prompt as grounds to work off to get Syl off his back, even go as far as hugging Freya to show that it was something he would do. of course, Freya returned the gesture to add further credibility to their statements. Syl's curiosity seemed sated, for now.
"Zena told me boys don't like talking about hugs." Syl answered. "Is that why you didn't talk about it?"
Syl was still questioned him about hugs.
"It's not something that I normally talk about as I don't do it often," Elthin said. As he wasn't really much of a hugger but things could always change. He went over and hugged Syl then Willow and last Lucine.
Elthin explained his reasoning and gave unexpected hugs to the other girls present. Syl flinched a little, and so did Willow, when the initial contact was made but, due to Freya's scent being on Elthin, they didn't try to pull away. Lucine, on the other hand, was a little more interested in food.
"Not to break up this little hug fest, but I'm really hungry. Can we, I don't know, get some food already?" Lucine commented, while being hugged. "Also, being hugged randomly like this out in the open is a little creepy."
"Okay, okay let's get your food" Elthin told her.
He had all but stopped hugging everyone and started walking towards the restaurant once more.
Thankfully, Lucine's intervention restored the original goal of the outing.
The group made their way into the section of the Merchant's District closest to the Noble's district. The usual street vendors were all but present in this section as fancy buildings lined the streets. Elthin and Lucine were both familiar with this section, as this is where the Clothes shop Elthin visited was located. Going a little further in, they came across a large exquisite restaurant, with row upon row of fancy tables outside of it. It had a corner dedicated to it and it alone as no other shop could fit in due to the sheer size of the place. Any meal here would obviously be as expensive as the decor looked, and that was saying something.
"This is the place." Freya commented.
"Whoa..." Lucine sighed in amazement.
The group reached the Merchant's District and this was an area which Elthin. Was familiar with as he and Lucine had been here before as they were walking towards the large exquisite restaurant. Elthin did a sweep of the area with his eyes. Just scanning everyone there to see if they weren't being watched or followed. He didn't want Zena running out in the open again and having another episode with her. After he was done looking around they reached the area.
"This will be expensive."
Elthin let his paranoia show again when they reached the Restaurant. However, it was just a false alarm. All that was around, aside from the usual hustle and bustle, were a few chickens and camels milling about.
Elthin could probably feel his money slipping away as he looked upon the grand place.
"Perfect place for a first date." Freya answered with a wink so only Elthin could hear.
"Too many people." Syl commented as she returned to hiding behind Willow, whom was now hiding behind Lucine.
"Guess Big Sis has to lead the flock." Lucine sighed. "Compared to the Slums, this is just a light Market day."
Everything was calm so he gave up looking around.
"We will have to talk about that later" He whispered back to Freya.
Syl and Willow hid behind Lucine.
"Let's all go in?" Elthin started walking forwards.
Elthin decided that waiting around will get them nowhere so he lead the charge into the Restaurant, with the others following behind.
The inside looked as extravagant as the outside did, with gilded gold leaf tables, inset with small uncharged elemental stones, and golden chandeliers on the ceiling, filled with only the highest quality fire Elemental stones to provide the perfect level of ambient light and heat for the customers. The inside was not as busy as the outside, probably because the weather was good, so there were a few seats available.
Following the red carpet draped across the floor, Elthin reached the counter, where a well dressed and extremely well groomed Waiter stood.
"Welcome to 'The Master's Treasure Trove' diner." The Waiter began, sounding just as pretentious as the decor. "What shall your order be?"
The group walked inside of the Restaurant and looked around at everything inside. Before they reached the counter and a well groomed Waiter stood.
Elthin was the first to speak telling the Waiter both Willow's and Syl's orders. He wasn't sure on what Freya or Lucine wanted letting alone himself. "What would you recommend to a first timer here?" Elthin asked.
Elthin explained the orders from Willow and Syl and requested what would be recommended for a first timer.
"Menus are at the table. We don't offer recommendations as that is not our service. Customer come here knowing what they want, normally." The Waiter answered.
"Where's the menu?!" Lucine cut in, practically begging for the food to be given to her now.
"Menus are on the table." The Waiter repeated, sounding a little put off by having to do so. "Orders are also given at the tables. I'm nothing more than the face of the business."
"May you please lead us to a free table?" Freya requested, sounding use to coming here.
"Right this way, Sir, Madams." The Waiter answered as he led them to a free table near the entrance to the establishment. "Please peruse the foods on offer and raise your hand when you have all decided."
The group took their seats at one of the near-by tables and Elthin picked up a Menu. Elthin opened the Menu and took a look at what was listed inside. He was at a loss on what he wanted to eat he read over everything slowly several times as Freya and Lucine. Looked over their Menu's Lucine seemed to have a hard time picking something out since she couldn't read what was written.
"What would be good for Lucine here?" Elthin asked.
After assuring that all the customers were seated, the Waiter went back to the front desk, leaving the group to ponder their own choices.
Despite Lucine's lack of reading ability, she was still slightly drooling over the pretty pictures inside the menu, going more on the appearance of the meal than the information written about it. Freya was slowly perusing the stuff on offer, making out to be indecisive but mostly focusing on the 'Spicy' section. Syl and Willow were looking the the desserts with Lucine and talking about their favourites.
"It depends on what kind of food she likes." Freya answered. "If she likes spicy things, then I recommend the 'Dragonfire Chilies' platter. However, that is the spiciest thing on the menu. They always serve a bucket of water with it. Though, I don't really think it's that hot."
"If she likes the more sublime tastes, then the Garlic and Lemongrass Korma would be more for her. It's a mixture of mild heat, tangy lemon flavour and the cooling taste of Garlic. If she's basic in tastes, then you can't go wrong with a Pizza. They've a lot of options, including a Dragonfire chilli' Pizza, though it's just as hot as the platter."
"As for desserts, I think the girls are helping her decide."
Elthin looked around at the group seeing what everyone was doing before Freya spoke up.
"Lucine what is it that you would like to try?" Elthin asked. Seeing as how she was drooling over what she was seeing. Elthin had already picked out what he wanted. He would try the 'Dragonfire Chilies' platter which was sure to be both tasty and hot.
"All of it." Lucine answered vaguely. "I wanna try everything. It all looks so nice!"
"You'd never eat everything here. The Dragonfire stuff is far too hot for anyone but a Dragon to eat." Willow cut in.
"Dragonfire stuff is too hot. I like the Korma." Syl interjected.
"Spices are for adults, after all. Sweets are more child-friendly." Freya commented, acting like a parent once more.
Just by looking at the prices in the menu, Elthin was probably going to have to burn through most of his active money to afford the stuff. The prices were as ludicrous as the decor. It would be not too far from the truth to think that the golden decor is made from real gold coins melted down.
Lucine wished to try everything and if she did that would bankrupt Elthin.
"Let her try whatever she likes and go from there just as long as it's not a whole lot." Elthin added in. He was overlooking the prices for the meals and everything was 'INDEED' expensive all his pocket money would be spent.
"Then I'll go for the Garlic and Lemongrass Korma." Lucine decided. "Syl says its a nice tasting dish and Willow also agrees."
"It's tasty and has a nice aroma." Willow answered with a confirming nod.
"The chicken is so very tender and the Lemongrass helps keep you healthy." Syl commented.
Everyone seemed decided on their meals.
"I think we're all ready to order mains. We just need to decide dessert and drinks." Freya informed the group. "Children, stay away from the wines menu."
The meals were all decided on and it was now time for desserts and drinks.
"We already know what Willow and Syl wanted for dessert, that just leaves me, Lucine and you to pick out what we want. As for drinks one of the wines would be nice."
Adding the prices of all of the segments of the meal together would result in a very sad wallet. Thankfully, they had some promotional offers on for family dining. The deal included a full 3 course meal for a family of five, unlimited drinks for children and a bottle of Wine to share between the parents. It'll cost a little more than buying the meals and drinks separately, but it's overall much cheaper if a full meal is what people are going for. Also, it won't break the bank, which is also a plus. The only downside is that it's meant for lovers with their children.
"I want a Cherry and Vanilla parfait!" Lucine interjected. "For drinks, I'll just have the same as the others."
"If we're going for the deal, we may as well pick a dessert to share." Freya suggested to Elthin. "Let the children have their singles and we'll share a bowl of something."
As things went Elthin would have a sad wallet in the future. But seeing as how there were promotional offers going on. Elthin decided on going for the full 3-course meal as it fit with the number of people on hand in their small group.
"The deal is what sounds like the best, as what we can share how about some chocolate pudding?" Elthin asked.
Elthin possibly didn't read the fine print of the Meal offer.
"It's meant for Lovers, and chocolate pudding is a single dessert." Freya answered with a slight smile. "We'll need to look in another Menu to find the desserts suited to this deal."
Freya pulled out another menu which, while looking as bland as the others, bore some suggestive pictures and font text. It was clearly meant to people on their dinner dates due to the kinds of things inside.
"We could go for the Banana Boat Sundae." Freya suggested. "A whole banana cut in half down the middle length wise and filled with ice cream, chocolate sauce and cherries."
Freya pulled out another menu that looked as bland as the others. It looked to be a rather suggestive one due to the pictures on it. He then listened on what Freya suggested,
"Sounds like something we can both enjoy."
"In more ways than just food." Freya adds with a suggestive wink. "I think that's a definite one, then. As for Wines, are you more of a Red or White kind of person?"
"I prefer both actually so we can do both unless you'd only want to try to White kind?" Elthin asked.
"We get one bottle. White's a little stronger than Red." Freya answered. "'I've still got some work to do when we're done so I don't want something too strong."
"Then Red it will be than" Elthin replied. Once everything with drinks and desserts were all finished. They placed their orders and waited on the meals to arrive.
Meals, drinks and desserts were decided. The universal starter, which Freya picked out, were Garlic Bread slices with cheese topping. At present, food orders will take around 15-20 minutes to prepare, leaving a good deal of time to talk or do other things. The wine Bottle was provided, along with a pair of wine glasses, a little after the order was placed. Small children's drink glasses were given to the younger diners as Willow was the first to offer to do drinks rounds for the trio, leaving Lucine and Syl at the table for now.
During the time it would take for the meals to arrive Elthin used this time. To try and bond with the girls he asked some everyday questions like likes and dislikes. How they were enjoying the town they lived in a present and teased Lucine asked if she ever had a crush on anyone before. Or at least tried to tease her.
The usual dinner conversations went around, leaving Willow to join in when she returned with three glasses of a bubbly drink for the younger trio. Lucine, in response to Elthin's potential tease, was actually quite calculated in her response. Slum life probably forced people to grow up quicker. Lucine neither agreed nor denied the query,
As expected, Syl was mostly reserved with her conversations, only answering when talked to directly and giving as little answer as possible. Willow, while being a little more talkative, was still quite quiet. Freya just engaged in conversation where appropriate, asking if Elthin had any hobbies other than ruins exploration and what his lesson plans were for Lucine.
Elthin answered Freya's questions to him with the best of his ability.
He told her that he liked to study history and studied at the school 'Ezodora' that specializes in the teaching of ancient history and knowledge of the planet. He also told her that he liked to travel not just because of ruins exploration but also. As a means of seeing the world he had already traveled mostly on Artaria but wished to further his travels on Perriseth along with visiting Elenveir. He also mentioned that he was a collecter and liked to collect various things on his travels like art for one.
Freya and the others listened intently as Elthin explained his hobbies, prompting a similar response from Willow, whom the Bubbly drink was probably affecting slightly.
Willow's hobbies consisted of Flower collecting and studying insects and their effects on the plant economy. She mentioned that she has a small Ladybird farm in her bedroom near the window. She explained that she collects Ladybirds who look a little lost in the window boxes around the City and takes them home to a nice greenery filled home in her bedroom. Her study of Ladybirds has actually come across really well, and they also help with cultivating the herbs as they keep Aphids off them.
Elthin listened intently as Willow explained her hobbies.
As he was listened he thought on something to ask her. He asked if given the chance if she'd be willing to travel with him along with Freya and Syl, Lucine included to one of the many desert osais located around the city. It would give her a chance to look for any new Ladybirds if she had not found any new ones yet.
Elthin offered the opportunity for Willow to travel with him and see the outside world. As expected, Willow was tentative for such a grand venture. However, the thought of finding new and interesting insects had taken her interest. Freya was a little against it due to the dangers involved in the idea, not only from the residents of the desert. Syl was against it. Perhaps she wasn't close enough with Elthin to agree such a thing?
Willow was all for going on the grand venture. But Freya and Syl were both against the idea. Freya gave her reasons due to the dangers involved around the area. So Elthin in the end decided against the venture and instead asked if Willow would allow him to see some of her Ladybirds. He then turned to Syl and asked what she liked to do?
Elthin decided against taking the younger children out on his excursions due to the dangers involved and the cautioning from Freya. His next request was to see Willow's bug collection. She dithered on the idea a little before agreeing, if only for a quick peek.
Elthin then began to grill Syl for her likes, but didn't get very far. She mainly kept quiet and answered with non-verbal cues, like shaking her head or nodding it. Elthin wasn't going to get an answer unless he posed the question and it could be answered by a simple shake or nod of the head.
Willow agreed to let Elthin see her bug collection if only for a few moments. As for Syl when he question her she was mostly quiet he had to try a different method of getting. Answers out of her so he tried something like this.
"Do, you wish to see your homeland again?"
Elthin continued to try and coax answers out of Syl. His first question, however, seemed to confuse her enough to get her to speak.
"This is my home." Syl answered, looking quite confused.
Syl seemed confused.
"I don't mean here I mean where Freya comes from her homeland?" Elthin asked.
Even after Elthin explained, Syl was still quite confused before finally catching on to what he was talking about. She giggled a little before answering.
"You're a silly person." Syl answered. "I was born here, so this is my Homeland. I've never been to Sis's Homeland."
"I wasn't trying to be a silly person Syl" Elthin says. As it took Syl a while to catch on to what Elthin had said.
"Do, you like Willow's Ladybirds?"
Deciding to not argue with a child, who'll more than likely win by default, Elthin changed his question.
"Yeah, as long as they're not crawling on me." Syl answered. "They feel all weird. I really really hate the eight-legged things she has tucked away in a separate box."
"Do, you like trying out new things like making friends with me and Lucine here?" Elthin asked.
Elthin's next question was a little personal.
"I'm not quite sure I want to answer that. I don't want to upset anybody." Syl answered, sounding a little apprehensive.
Syl didn't want to answer Elthin's next question because it might be a little personal.
"Okay, do you like day time or night time?" Elthin asked.
Elthin changed his question to a more general one.
"Day time. Willow's the opposite, though." Syl answered. "I like the sun shining on the world. Willow is more for finding all the creepiest bugs at night."
Elthin was about to ask Syl another question when the meals started to arrive. Each of the members at the table took theirs and started to dig in.
Questioning was stopped as the food finally arrived. The aromas of the meals hinted at the exceptional quality of the ingredients used to make them. The Dragonfire chilli platters looked similar to an extremely hot curry, with a deep red texture to them. They were served on a bed of fluffy white rice.
The Korma which Lucine requested bore a mild greenish tinge to it due to the Garlic and Lemongrass used in the production of the meal. It carried a pleasant soft lemon scent to it. Like the Dragonfire chillies, it was served on a bed of rice, yellow rice this time.
The soup which Syl ordered carried a enticing basil scent to it, drawing those in around to just catch a slight sniff of such a tantalising aroma. The salad that Willow had was much like most salads, plain and healthy with a slight attraction to it. The crispiness of the lettuce made it look like it was freshly picked just before the meal was served.
Elthin's own mouth was watering as the food arrived. He looked over the Dragonfire chilli and took his plate just looking at the meal before him was exciting. Using his spoon he decided to give it a try taking a small amount onto his spoon he placed some of the chilli into his mouth. Then swallowed it down only to have his mouth turn on fire. The chilli tasted great and Elthin had to drink some of the wine to try and cool his mouth down.
A burning mouth is an understatement for the effects of the Dragonfire chilies. Like the ghost peppers of the past, Dragonfire chillies not only cause mouth distress, it makes the eater's body feel like its on fire, burning away at every nerve ending but not causing enough pain to initiate the body's natural pain relief mechanisms. The fires of the chilli were only the beginning of it all.
"They give you loads of rice so you can take your time with it." Freya informed Elthin. "Take a small amount of the chillies and sauce and fill the rest of your spoon with rice. The rice will absorb most of the heat."
Freya then gave a demonstration of her explanation, taking the smallest of chilli sauce and a whole load of rice, wrapping the copper piece sized speck of sauce, before placing it in her mouth. She didn't seem to show any signs of usual chilli distress, so maybe it'll work.
Elthin thought only his mouth would feel hot. But his whole body was soon aflame with the heat the chilli gave off. He actually started to sweat then and there. "I.. I'll do that" Elthin said between gasps of air and drink. He then followed Freya's example and did as she did taking some of the chilli and mixing it with some of the rice. Elthin then placed it into his mouth and swallowed it down.
Freya's trick did help to reduce the heat of the chillies to an edible level, but the fires still burned hot. As their name suggested, these were probably the hottest chillies available. The rice helped to cool them down to a level so discomfort was not actively felt, but it would possibly be better to pace the meal. One mouthful of water after every spoonful should help.
Lucine just looked at Elthin's plight with a smile on her face.
"Hot enough for you?" Lucine asked.
Freya's trick helped out a little though things were still indeed hot. Drinking water after a bite would be the best bet. Lucine them seemed to notice Elthin's plight.
"Yes, it is want to try some?" Elthin offered.
"I'll pass." Lucine chuckled back. "I don't want my mouth to be like the Desert, after all. I like being able to taste things."
Even while drinking the water, wine and any other liquid he could fine, Elthin could still taste the burning chillies in his mouth. Thankfully, they had a rather nice taste, if then heat wasn't so powerful. They could make a nice seasoning to a hot meal if only one was used.
Lucine wanted to pass on the idea of trying the chilli.
"Oh, come on why not just give it a try, it would make me very happy?" Elthin asked.
If Lucine didn;t agree to try it out he'd try and find some sort of way. To get her to try it out just to see for himself if she liked it or not.
"No gonna happen, sorry." Lucine insisted. "After all, we've still got dessert to eat once we're done with these."
"It sounds to me like you are a chicken?" Elthin says. Laughing a little he was just trying to joke around with Lucine nothing more nor was he trying to hurt her feelings at all.
"Better to be a chicken than a torch." Lucine countered. "Both rings will burn later, mark my words."
Taunting wasn't the way to get Lucine to try the chillies. She wasn't easy enough to bait to something so obviously dangerous.
Elthin had one way to try and get Lucine to try them. But that was a last resort so, he tried a different way,
"I bet Zena loves to try these and she has them all the time."
Elthin tried the one tactic which works on mostly really young children. Lucine just looked very unimpressed by the desperate attempt at getting her to try the fires of hell in material form.
"Doubt it." Lucine monotonously replied. "Anyway, why'd you want me to eat them anyway? You're not hoping for some perverse outcome, are you? You sound as desperate as a virgin in a brothel."
"What's a Bro-" Syl started, before her mouth was covered by Freya.
"You don't need to know that." Freya quickly interjected.
"What's a Virgin?" Willow questioned.
Lucine seemed to take what Elthin had said way over her head.
"Something, not important at the moment, and where did this come from. All of a sudden you make it sound like I'd want to sleep with you at some point. Or you'd willing come to the brothel that I secretly own 'lie'.
Elthin tried to put across a counter argument, which just seemed to make Lucine's mood a lot worse.
"You're just like the others." Lucine huffed. "Act all sweet and then fuck us all over. I want to eat in peace without having you pestering me to eat something I don't want to eat. If you don't shut up soon, then you'll be eating your own words, and I hope they burn as hot as the Chillies.
"Is that all you care about is getting fucked over. Gee I try and joke around with you and you blow up like you usually do." Elthin told her. Before he went back to eating his Chillies in peace he looked around for a glass of water.
"People, please!" Freya cut in in a demanding tone. "We came her for a nice pleasant meal. We shouldn't be using such language in front of the children."
Willow and Syl were still puzzling over their unanswered questions, and Syl was a little more like her old self around Elthin after that display, trying her best to not make eye contact or communicate with him.
Elthin found the glass of water and part of him thought of throwing it at Lucine. But he didn't just went along with drinking some water after eating his food.
The once jovial meal now seemed quite tense. Everyone, instead of engaging in the conversations they were, were now eating in dead silence.
The meal time now seemed very boring since Lucine had ruined it. "So, where do we go from here?" Elthin asked. Trying to break the silence for the first time in a few minutes.
"We continue in silence." Lucine countered.
"Talking just seems to lead to arguments between you two, so by all means, continue. However, if you do, please don't ruin the meal." Freya replied.
"I don't like silence." Willow commented. "I'd rather have us talking, but Elthin's being mean to Lu."
"I didn't do anything it was her own fault for blowing up like she always does." Elthin tried to defend himself. They were both at fault Lucine and himself and they needed to work out there troubles here and now,
"You tried to get her to eat the hot things." Willow defended Lucine. "Lu didn't want to eat them, and she even said she didn't, yet you tried to get her to."
Willow wasn't lecturing Elthin, she was just doing a usual child's questioning and thought processing.
Willow was questioning in what Elthin had done.
"I wanted to see if she'd try it out nothing more, because I wanted to see how she'd. Handle to hotness from these things."
"You'd put Lu through so much just 'cos you wanna know what she'll do?" Willow asked, not quite understanding what joy could come from seeing someone else suffer. "Do you want Lu to have a stomachache for the rest of the day?"
"No I don't want to see that happen, are you not going to question here next as well?" Elthin asked.
"No." Willow answered simply. "Lu's had a hard life already. I don't wanna make it any worse. She's not a bad girl, she's actually really nice."
"Lu, is nice when she wants to me and hard at times when she wishes to be." Elthin turned to her. 'Sorry for making you try and eat something you didn't want to"
Elthin, with the pure words of a child's feelings, decided to reconcile with Lucine. At first, she simply huffed in anger and turned away, until Willow's pureness won her over.
"I guess I can accept it." Lucine answered. "But only because Willow wanted me to." She added in the end a little too quickly to be truthful.
Elthin took Lucine's apologie and said nothing more on the matter. He had now finished up with his rice and chilli. Though his mouth was still offly hot and had to drink several glasses of water to try and cool it down.
Due to the innocence and purity of a child, the argument seemed to have dissipated. The main course was swiftly finished off, and now there was another space while dessert was being prepared.
While dessert was being prepared Elthin asked the others what their plans. Were for the following day this was mainly directed towards Freya, Syl and Willow.
Small talk resumed and now it was about plans for later.
Freya, Syl and Willow still had to work on some Alchemical orders before they could close shop in the evening. Freya also pointed out that she still had to prepare the Apothecary for Lucine's medical examination, as she still had to kit the Laboratory out with the right tools and furnishings.
Small talk was in fact small talk.
At one point in the small talk Elthin turned the topic to Freya. "Have you ever visited Artaria before or wish to know anything about it?" Elthin asked.
Elthin decided to probe a very specific question to Freya.
"Animalia do not tend to travel far away from the Pride Lands. My circumstances are rather...unique for an Animalia and that's why I've set up shop here in Brascus. Animalian knowledge of the world is limited to just Drakmar, I don't know anything about any other place aside from Argenta and Brascus."
Freya was limited on what she knew about places around the world.
"That's too bad, while I can see that most Animalia don't travel far. Argenta is still a far nice place to visit, other than the snow there are many places worth visiting like Klokirq Forest for example."
Elthin explained about Artaria and the points of interest on it.
"I'm more suited to warmer places than cold ones. I'll have to wrap up in many furs to keep warm there." Freya commented. "Drakmar is quite humid due to the surrounding forests and the Pride Lands, and Perriseth is, as you know, nice and warm. Syl's also not fond of the cold, and would likely try to snuggle up under as many blankets as she could."
"I could find other ways to keep you warm." Elthin said. As he turned the conversation to a personal matter for a moment. Then changed it back just as quickly, "Are there any interesting places on Drakmar where one can visit like a city or location?" Elthin asked.
Elthin's suggestion turned the conversation a little too adult oriented for Freya's liking while the children were present.
"We'd have to be alone for that to work, though." Freya answered while Lucine shot a rather dirty look to Elthin. Both Syl and Willow were blissfully ignorant of the implied suggestion.
"The only real place of note are the Pride Lands." Freya replied. "There are the Fang Mountains behind the Pride Lands, but we do not tread there as they're believed to be Sacred Grounds. We have sent scouts there before, and they've come back with rather large bones and Egg Shells. However, those were only the lucky scouts. Most we send there never come back, so we believe the Earth Mother does not wish for us to go there."
Elthin ignored Lucine's dirty look.
"Scared Grounds, I take their is something special about that area. As this would be the first I've heard about the Fang Mountains." Elthin decided to turn the topic to another matter. "Have you ever met Arch Mage Yessan before?"
Elthin's next topic of questioning was on important people meeting.
"I have been graced with his presence before." Freya answered. "Why ask?"
Freya had met him before.
"I'm interested in learning about him, like for example what are your thoughts about him?" Elthin asked.
Elthin asked what Freya's opinions of the Archmage were.
"He seems indecisive and too hesitant." Freya answered matter of factly. "He listens to everyone's view and tries to come to a compromise regardless of what the issue might be."
Freya expressed her thought on Yessan.
"Whether it's the right issue or the wrong one he tends to go towards. What he think is best even if it will affect people badly?"
Elthin thought on things.
"Do, you think that is a good leader for the Magician's Guild?"
"That's even if he comes to a decision." Freya commented. "Normally, he says he'll 'consider' things and then we hear nothing back. I know he's a very busy person, but he could at least give us some closure on some issues we've put forward."
Elthin asked if Freya believed that Yassan was a good leader.
"He's not only the founder of the Magician's Guild, he's also the ruling council of the Five Continents. He technically rules the entire world from his throne." Freya replied. "He's possibly the best leader out of all of the other candidates for Archmage, but he's, as I said before, lacking in most qualities."
Elthin listened to Freya.
"Has he ever helped the Animalia with anything before?"
He still listened to her.
"Would you by happen to know any of these other candidates for Archmage?" Elthin asked.
"He's provided safer routes for importing goods to Animalia from Argenta, but that's about it." Freya explained. "The tailless ones tend to leave us Animalia to our own devices and hope that we do the same to them."
Elthin asked about the other Archmage Candidates.
"That's not a topic I know about. I haven't really been looking into who's who of places outside of the Pride Lands. I just know that there were other people vying to Archmage status."
Freya didn't know much about the other Archmage Candidates.
"From the tailless ones that you have interacted with what is your general. Opinion on us to you think some of us are nice or just the same as anyone else?"
"Before meeting the Duke and yourself, I used to believe that all tailless ones were as bad as those who invaded my home and tried to kill my people for some 'Holy War'." Freya explained. "You two, along with Zena, have changed my views. I now bear some hope for the future of the world if the tailless ones eventually get their way."
"Many tailless ones are indeed nice, they can change a person's views depending. On how they act or what they choose to do. Yet many are also mean and wish to do other's harm. Maybe the future will be a bright one filled with where both tailless one and animalia can get along in peace."
"At the rate the Tailless ones are destroying our homes and our Sacred Lands, we can only dream of peace." Freya replied. "Most Animalia have never left the Pride Lands so, regrettably, they may be closed minded on Tailless ones,"
"We see, we take, we destroy that basically what us Tailless ones do. Yet there are those of us who don't do those sort of things. We are also closed minded as well."
"Genetics and lineage do cause innumerable problems for many races and animals. It's the same in the wild. The Lion hunts the Antelope, the Spider eats the fly, the Mantis feasts on its partner after conceiving. It's the circle of life. One's loss is another's gain. That is the rule of nature." Freya explained.
"It's like the strong live and the weak perish" Elthin pointed out. Elthin went back to eating his dessert.
"That's the Earth Mother's will, and we cannot challenge it." Freya concluded as the group continued with their dessert.
The group ate the rest of their dessert and small talked once more. About random everyday things soon with all the dessert finished Elthin went on to pay the hefty dinner bill. Which left him little to nothing left even with the deal that he'd taken.
Once the meal was finished and everyone had filled up, it was now time to empty the wallet. After sampling the fine dining, the price, while still being outrageously expensive, seemed to fit the quality of the meals. Only the finest ingredients were used, after all, and the imported delicacies from the other continents added an exotic feel to the meal.
Once the pair was finished with everything they decided to head home. Elthin would work Freya and the others back to her home before. Taking off to his own with Lucine where who knows what would go on.
Once Elthin had escorted Freya back to the Apothecary, she bid him goodbye, thanked him for the meal and gave him a kiss on the cheek. While Elthin was couched down to allow Freya to reach his cheek, Syl and Willow also took the opportunity to, surprisingly, give him a light peck on each cheek, one girl to either one, while quietly expressing their gratitude. Both girls then quickly retreated into the Apothecary, possibly embarrassed by their actions for someone they just met.
Afterwards, Elthin took Lucine home just as late afternoon was beginning to set in.
Elthin was given three kisses on the cheek by Freya, Syl, and Willow. He thanked them for the time they spend together and was looking forward to next time. With the goodbye said Elthin and Lucine headed home.
It was already late afternoon and as they were walking along. From the shadows, it seemed like something was watching them.
The pair began on their way home, taking in the late afternoon beauty in the skies above the city. The temperature was already starting to cool down a little and would soon be quite chilly.
Unbeknownst to Lucine, seemingly, the pair were being watched once more.
The pair were still walking along, Elthin was enjoying the coolness of the weather of this time of day.
The person watching as Elthin and Lucine moved away decided they. Wanted to test them out pulling out an elemental stone from their pocket. They threw the brownstone over at the ground a short distance away, The stone soon broke apart once striking the ground causing the magic within the stone to begin its work causing the ground to shake wildly.
During the leisurely walk, a glint could be seen zooming through the air a little way in front of the pair. Lucine was too busy looking up at the setting sun to notice. However, the sudden earthquake that happened got her attention.
"An earthquake?!" Lucine gasped. "Quick, get down!"
Lucine quickly ducked under one of the stalls lining the streets and kept her body as close to the ground as possible.
"Do you wanna end up Antlion food?!" Lucine called over to Elthin. "Get under something and stay hugging the ground!"
Elthin suddenly felt the world turn upside down as the ground began to shake. Lucine dashed for cover and Elthin did the same running to one of the stalls on a side street.
"How'd this even happen?" Elthin called out.
He had not even sensed anyone maybe it was from him. Having lowered his guard when he was with Freya and the others.
Small cracks began to form on the ground. Taking out another stone they tossed it into the sky where. Strong gusts of wind began to blow across the small section of the city. With the wind blowing like crazy a loose piece of wood broke off one of the stalls. A flew towards Lucine's hiding spot Elthin saw the piece of wood flying her way.
"Look out!" Elthin yelled. He tried to raise his hand to cast a shield spell around her.
The Earthquake increased in magnitude as the ground began to crumbled and buildings began to tremble from the vibrations caused by the ground. The winds began to stir, creating a localised sandstorm as the grains on the ground got whipped up by the howling gales, reducing visibility and increasing the danger of the situation.
A stray board of wood began to home in on Lucine's hiding spot and nearly hit her until Elthin quickly threw up a shield, batting the board to shatter against a building and send splinters into the whirling vortex of sand, stone and tattered cloth.
"This isn't a normal sandstorm or earthquake." Lucine shouted over the howling gale. "That plank would've gone to the eye and not flown towards me!"
Despite her lack of book knowledge, Lucine seemed to bear a good deal of practical and world knowledge.
A large sand storm began to blow around them. Cutting off Elthin's view of Lucine and as the world shaked he tried to regain his bearings. He could feel magic was in play here not normal magic but the kind from elemental stones. He even was able to create his shield around Lucine protecting her from the plank of wood.
"No this isn't I feel that elemental stones are in play here!" Elthin yelled.
The person watching them began to move away from them. They seemed like they had been waiting for Lucine to do something.
"Elemental what?!" Lucine shouted back, not quite hearing all of what Elthin said. "Earth and wind, if the quake and sandstorm are anything to go by! You should know that!"
"Elemental Stones!" Elthin shouted again, trying to get Lucine to hear him. With the earthquake and wind storm still raging around them. Elthin tried to cast his own magic to try and counter the magical battle being waged here.
"Yes, there are a lot of stones flying around, idiot!" Lucine countered, only hearing half of the conversation again over the howling winds and shattering boards. "Can't you do something?"
"Oh, just shut up!" Elthin snapped at her. Not caring if his words were lost in the howling winds or not. Once more he tried to regain his focus as he started to cast his own spell. Elthin felt the magic build up within him and with a few magical words and phrases said. He spread out his arms and icy magic energy flowed out from him. Forming a solid wall of ice around both Elthin and Lucine. This first was protecting them from the howling winds and shaking the ground.
Elthin next began to cast another spell this one to dispell the effects. Of the elemental stone spells that had been cast. Closing his eyes and beginning to chant Elthin worked his magic and did just that using his own powers to cast his spell. It was a fairly tricky move that took some time but Elthin was able to dispell the elemental stones powers leaving the area calm yet littered with debris. The ice walls around the pair vanished and returned to nothing.
The being who had caused everything to go out of control. Was already on their way out of the area they had a report to make to the person they were working for.
In a short space of a few moments, Elthin began to work some magic on the current situation. Taking defense as a priority, he cast an ice wall to encase the pair first, before working on countering the Elemental Stone's effects. It took a good while but, eventually, the ground was calm and the winds were silent.
"Good to know you were able to do that." Lucine commented as she crawled out from her hiding spot and dusted herself down. "Next time, please try to do it quicker."
"How about next time you try it out why should I do all the work" Elthin countered. He would need to teach Lucine the spell to despell other spells.
From the way the person was going they seemed to be heading towards the Magician's Guild.
"Do you want me to burn everything in sight?!" Lucine countered. "I don't even know where to begin with all of this stuff."
As the pair was now standing in a debris littered section of the City after a freak earthquake and sandstorm, maybe now was not the best time to dither.
"No I don't you could pee on everything instead!" Elthin countered. "I'll teach you later on how to do what I just did."
The pair started to head back to home.
Elthin suggested some rather lewd alternative, which prompted a confused and embarrassed response from Lucine.
"Perv!" Lucine exclaimed, blushing bright red. "You just wanna see me pee!"
The two began to head back to Elthin's house just as dusk was setting in.
The caused Elthin to blush red.
"Take that back, and no I don't want to watch you do that unless you want me to!"
With dusk setting in the person who had attacked them reached the Mage's Guild and slipped inside.
The return home was accompanied by embarrassed and angered silence from Lucine, who simply pouted and looked the opposite way from Elthin.
When the pair arrived back, the temperature was just starting to get even colder. Cold enough to cause mild discomfort for those in thin clothing.
They returned home and walked inside both going the opposite way of one another. Wishing to both be alone for the time being.
Inside of the Mage's Guild the one person made their way unseen with some stealth and trickery. Towards the offices of one of the lesser Magicians. This one magician had been there that day when Lucine's house had been nothing but debris.
Once both had returned home, they went their separate ways. Lucine shut herself away in her room, not interacting much from a possible mix of embarrassment and anger.
For the next half an hour, nothing happened, until a rather rapid knock was heard at the door.
Withing the Mage's Guild the person entered into the offices of a fairly young man. In his late twenties they had snow white hair and crystal blue eyes. They were dressed in the clothes of a Mage from the Nobles quarter of the town and were busy. Working on several papers that were lined on the desk. Hearing a knock at the door the Magician soon spoke up.
"Enter"
Back at home Elthin did his own thing by studying. The most recent information he had gathered or was trying to put together information on why he and Lucine were just attacked. A half hour later he heard a rapid knock on the door and went to answer it.
"Yes?"
When Elthin answered the door, he was met with a rather unexpected guest. Dressed in a Green Pea coat, just showing the lower hems of her silver dress, was Syl, whom was looking a little distracted at present. She was holding a small bottle of some kind of medicine like green mixture. Her legs were locked quite close together and she was moving her hips back a forth a little. Upon hearing Elthin opening the door, Syl jumped a little, stopped swaying and began to announce why she was here.
"D-delivery for Lucine." Syl informed Elthin as she extended the Medicine like mixture towards him. Even while standing still, her hips were trembling a little and her legs were still tightly locked together, with her left knee just slightly crossing over her right knee.
When Elthin opened the door he saw that Syl was there. Holding a small bottle she then said why she was hear. "I'll tell here you're here follow me please?" Elthin asked. He knew that Syl needed to use the bathroom one was located near Lucine's room. He led Syl inside and moments later arrived at Lucine's room.
"Lucine you have a delivery it's from Syl who is standing right beside me?"
Elthin knocked on her door.
Syl nodded at the invitation to enter the house and began to follow behind Elthin, taking rather small steps to prevent her legs from opening too wide. She took a moment to stop and squeeze her legs tightly together while Elthin was calling for Lucine. She took a longing look at the room situated next to Lucine's room, pondered something in her head before blushing red and shaking her head quite quickly. She couldn't. It was too much.
Lucine opened her bedroom door to see Elthin there.
"Oh, it's you." She frowned. "I was hoping Syl was the one who knocked."
The person in question was quickly hobbling over to Lucine when she saw the door open.
"D-delivery for you." Syl informed Lucine as she passed the medicine to her.
"I didn't think Freya delivered." Lucine commented, quite surprised. "Thanks."
"W-we deliver to all our customers. It's either myself or W-Willow who carries it out. I-I'm still a trainee, but I'll do my best!"
Syl took on a determined look as she nodded her head confidently. Her body betrayed her outward confident appearance, though, as she was now a little bent over with her legs crossed.
Elthin left both girls alone not wanting to bother them anymore. He had ignored Lucine's comment to him when he had opened the door. He instead returned to his own room to once more work on what he was doing. Lucine could show Syl where the bathroom was she knew where it was anyway.
Elthin left the duo alone and went back to research. Moments later, Lucine intruded on Elthin's research for a question. Syl was not present, so she was probably taking care of something important.
"You're not a very good host." Lucine chided Elthin. "Poor Syl was on the verge of bursting. Anyway, I wanna ask you something important, so you better listen."
Elthin was busy with his research when he heard a knock. He opened the door to see Lucine standing there.
"Now, I'm the host she's here for you so, you are the host now and what it is you want me to hear?" Elthin asked.
Elthin passed the responsibility of host over to Lucine, claiming that, as Syl was her for her, she was Lucine's responsibility.
"Whatever." Lucine sighed with a shake of her head. "Still, you can't really call yourself a Gentleman if you leave a girl busting like that. She would've made quite the puddle on the floor if I hadn't seen to her."
"Anyway, I wanna ask if Syl can stay over tonight. It's really dark out and the streets aren't safe for a small girl like her. Her 'dedicates' are a little damp as you didn't take proper care of her, so we'll need to wash them."
"Maybe it'd have been better if it was 'your' puddle instead!" Elthin countered. He only said that since he was still upset with Lucine.
Lucine then wanted to ask if Syl could stay the night,
"She, can stay" Elthin said.
Lucine just glared back at Elthin.
"You're messed up." She flatly pointed out.
Elthin then agreed to let Syl stay.
"Haven't you gotta, y'know, let Freya know? We can't just abduct Syl."
"I'll let Freya know" Elthin then got up.
He gently pushed Lucine out of the room and closed the door behind him. Turning around her went over to the viewing globe used to contact people on the desk near his main one. He started to try and contact Freya.
"Good." Lucine answered with a nod. "We'll be taking our bath now. I'll go get Syl."
Lucine then left Elthin and headed off to find Syl.
Elthin went over to the communication device and used it to contact Freya. A few moments of nothing happening went off before Freya appeared in the globe.
"I take it Syl delivered what I asked her to?" Freya began. "Did anything happen to her? She left looking quite needy. She must've gotten too fired up for her first real delivery."
"Yes, she's here safe and sound, Syl did have a small accident moments ago" Elthin pointed out to Freya. Once he was able to get through to her with the communication device.
"I'm also said to say that Lucine and I were attacked by someone or something. After we left you all I can say was that elemental stones were used. To cause an earthquake and sandstorm as to why we were attacked was a mystery."
He let that sink in.
"Other than that how are you doing miss me?"
Elthin informed Freya of Syl's lack of forethought.
"Oh dear, I hope it wasn't too public." Freya answered. "Were you there to see it, or did she tell you about it?"
"So, I guess you're not safe, wherever you go. Were either of you harmed, or did it pass over before things got too bad?"
"We're doing fine over here. And, yes, I do miss your warmth."
Another voice intruded in the conversation.
"Hey, who're you talking to, Sis?" Willow cut in, still not quite in the lens of the device. "We got another order?"
"It wasn't public, Lucine was able to see to it" Elthin informed Freya, "We are okay just at odds with each other over some things. I was able to despell the effects of the stones but am trying to think on who it could have been who attacked us?"
Freya admitted to missing him and Willow spoke up.
"I miss your warmth to and tell Willow I said hi"
"That's good to know. At least she didn't have to go through it all alone. Did she make a mess, or was it contained?" Freya replied.
"Little lovers spat?" Freya joked. "Girls are complicated. It'll be good to keep that in mind, especially when she matures. She strikes me as someone who's not true to her feelings. That's the kind of feeling I get from her. Animalia are good at picking up on non-verbal cues."
"Perhaps they had something to do with what happened yesterday? It's just a thought." Freya suggested.
"You can tell her that yourself." Freya smiled as Willow tried to get in the view of the device, but only managed to look like she was peering around a corner.
"Oh, hey there." Willow greeted Elthin. "What's got you calling? Did Syl get lost on the way?"
"I'm not really sure you'd have to ask Lucine as I left them alone shortly before it happened," Elthin said.
Freya spoke on Lucine and her feelings.
"I wouldn't call us lovers, what you do say sounds just like her. She never says what she truly feels or is more like someone who says one thing then means the other."
"As for that, I can't really say maybe more people know about Lucine's little episode within. The city then we truly know about?" Elthin said in response to Freya's question.
Freya moved aside and Willow has seen again.
"Syl, arrived here safely was just calling to ask you on a date?" Elthin joked. "No, I'm really calling to tell Freya that Lucine wanted Syl to spend the night. Anyway, how are you doing?" Elthin asked.
"Hopefully it wasn't too bad. I apologise if you're left with a puddle to clean up. Syl's a little too complacent when she sets her mind on something she's determined to do." Freya answered.
Elthin had a suspicion that a fair deal of people may know about what happened the previous day.
"Maybe so. We may have to do some digging around for knowledge." Freya suggested.
"Didn't we just go on a 'Date'?" Willow questioned. "So Syl'll be sleeping with Lu? No fair! I wanna sleep over as well."
"If Syl's fine with it, then, by all means, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like for her to stay. It'll help her break out of her shell." Freya replied. "Just so you know, Syl can't sleep alone. She's got to be sleeping with someone else in order to drift off. She's normally sleeping with Willow."
"Does that mean I get to sleep with you, sis?"
"Of course it does. I can't leave you alone to sleep when you're used to company."
Willow turned back to Elthin on the device.
"You've gotta let me stay 'round sometime as well. I can't let Syl spend more time with Lu than me."
"Right now I'm trying to put together some knowledge of what I know. If I find anything new I'll let you, Duke Trent and The Elder know. If you can find anything out on your end please let me know?" Elthin asked.
Willow then spoke up.
"Syl, will be spending the night in Lu's room not sleeping with her" Elthin corrected her. Freya then wanted Syl to stay to help her break out of her shell. While Willow wished at some point to spend the night as well.
"If it wasn't already too late I'd let you tonight. How about tomorrow night does that sound fair to you?"
"I do some snooping with the customers I have tomorrow. I'll keep yourself and the others updated if I find anything." Freya agreed.
"Syl can't sleep unless she's hugging someone else. She'll have to be with Lu." Willow corrected Elthin. "I'll be holding you to that, you know."
"I'll make sure to let Lu know so no need to worry about that" Elthin told Willow. He turned to Freya for a moment and went on to ask something. "How's Duke Trent doing?" Elthin asked.
"He was helping put up a monument of some sort when I last tried to contact him. I got Zena instead, and she told me that the Duke was busy with something." Freya answered. "Did Syl get a chance to give her second message, or was she a little too...preoccupied?"
Freya mentioned that Syl had a second message.
"What second message I never was able to hear it is it something important?" Elthin asked. He also learned that Duke Trent was busy with something.
"I just wanted her to let you know that Lucine's check up is booked for three day's time." Freya informed Elthin. "Come along early in the morning and we'll get it over with. Also, if you can, have her bring along a 'sample' so I can check her O/P levels to see if she's hit puberty early or not. If she has, I'll have to change the check up a little."
Elthin learned of when Lucine's check up would be and to bring a 'sample' which would. Let her O/P levels be seen "I'll see what I can do I'm sure she'll be embarrassed about that" Elthin said. With nothing else left to talk about Elthin bid Freya and Willow goodbye. Shutting of the device he went to go break the news to Lucine.
"Every girl is when they're asked to give a sample. Just do what you can." Freya answered.
The trio then bid each other goodbye and Elthin went in search of Lucine, who still seemed to be in the bath with Syl.
"Wow, you're so soft." Lucine's muffled voice came from behind the door, "How'd you get like that?"
""T-thanks. I-I don't know. Willow says I'm soft and cuddly as well." Syl answered, also muffled by the door.
The sound of water splashing, followed by a yelp from Syl, happened next.
"D-don't squeeze there." Syl pleaded.
"I gotta check to see if you're growing right." Lucine answered. "Wow, they're softer than I imagined."
More splashing and yelping was heard, accompanied by giggling from Lucine.
"Stay still. I'm only trying to check how healthy you are." Lucine giggled.
"Do you have to squeeze in those places?!" Syl countered. "You're bullying me, aren't you?"
"Of course not! You small and cuddly and I just can't help myself."
Elthin arrived at the bathroom where he heard both girls speaking. He listened for a short while on what was being said.
It seemed like something rather interesting was going on in there. So, Elthin kept on listening for a short while longer.
Elthin decided to play the creeper and listen in to the stuff going on in the bathroom.
"B-but, you're touching me in funny places. How's that checking my health?" Syl asked.
"I'm doing a full check up. Surely you've seen Freya doing this?" Lucine replied.
"She always does it behind a curtain, so I don't kn- ah!"
Splashing and moving around in water was heard, still accompanied by giggles from Lucine and whimpers from Syl.
"You're soft all over. I'm jealous." Lucine flatly announced. "How'd you get soft down there as well?"
"I said I don't know. Please, stop touching me like that." Syl retorted.
"I'm only having some fun. You can touch me next if you want. See how shapely and irresistible I am."
Elthin blushed as he heard more of the chatter between Lucine and Syl. And in a rather strange way which he could really answer Elthin felt himself growing hard downstairs. Deciding that he didn't want to make trouble if they were to find out about his own mess. Elthin then gently knocked on the door to the bathroom.
"Lucine, I've got some news for you about your check-up" Elthin spoke.
Elthin continued to listen and was getting quite aroused by the girls' behaviour. Eventually, not wanting to seem too much like a creeper, he knocked on the door, prompting a startled yelp from Syl.
"Can it wait?" Lucine answered. "We're busy in here."
"It can wait" Elthin said.
He went on to leave both girls alone to their fun.
Elthin left the girls to their fun. Around ten minutes later, Lucine came looking for Elthin in his study.
10 minutes later Lucine arrived at Elthin's study and he let her in.
"I've been informed that in three days time your checkup will take place. I've also been told that you're to bring a 'sample' along to be checked out by Freya. It's more to check out your O/P levels" Elthin explained.
Elthin explained that Lucine had a check up in three day's time, but he lost her on the more intrinsic details.
"Sample?" Lucine questioned. "O/P levels? Speak in a way I can understand, please."
"It will have to be you know your 'pee' as the sample which is needed. As for O/P levels I'm as lost as you are medicine was never one of my strong points in studying."
Elthin explained just what sample was wanted from Lucine, and the expected response came.
"No way!" Lucine retorted as she blushed. "I'm not peeing in anything for anyone!"
The normal response came from Lucine.
"There's no choice, and you woulnd't be peeing in front of anyone. You can do that in private by yourself but the 'sample' is still needed."
Elthin tried to talk Lucine into the idea of providing the sample.
"No means no." Lucine countered. "I ain't peeing in a bottle for anyone! It's not a matter of privacy, but a matter of my dignity."
"Then we have a problem on our hands" Elthin replied.
Lucine still did not wish to provide the sample due to dignity.
"If she wants a sample, then she's going to have to force it out of me. I'm not peeing for her." Lucine finished in a huff. "Is that all you wanted? If it is, I'm going to bed now."
"I'm sure Freya wouldn't try and force it out of you" Lucine wanted to know if there was anything else.
"Why have you been so negative lately, you're all nice to Syl and the others yet. To me you give me the roit act why?" Elthin asked.
The talk of the check up was not the last Elthin wanted from Lucine,
"I'm negative 'cause you make me negative." Lucine answered. "Don't ask me why, I don't even know."
Lucine mentioned it was Elthin who made her negative,
"Well, I'm going to ask it 'Why?' is it because you're jealous of me showing attention to others. Or is it because of everything that has happened since we came into contact with one another?" Elthin asked.
"I already said I don't know." Lucine repeated, this time more forcefully. "Sometimes you make me feel so angry, and other times you make me feel all weird. I don't even know what's going on anymore or how I feel."
"Well, you better learn just what it is then and soon" Elthin replied. He then let Lucine know she was no longer needed. "That's all for now you may go to sleep now."
Elthin decided to not take into account Lucine's mixed emotions and decided to still blame her for the issues she'd caused.
"I would if I could!" Lucine countered. "Fine! Be that way, then."
Lucine then left the study in quite the bad mood.
Elthin didn't even watch as Lucine left the study. He quickly went back to work on his own problems for another hour before turning in for the night himself.
Elthin made no move to try and patch things up with Lucine and, instead, stayed researching for a little while longer until he decided to turn in for the night as well. All was silent in Lucine's room, possibly because the two residents were fast asleep. If he was quiet enough, he could check up on the pair to ensure that everything was as it should be with them.
Before Elthin turned in for the night he made his rounds. Catching around the house to see if everything was all right. So, far everything seemed okay and he soon reached Lucine's room he didn't hear anything coming from their room. And thought they were fast asleep however he decided to check up on them by slowly and quietly opening the door to peek inside.
While making his rounds, Elthin decided to check up on the pair in Lucine's room. slowly opening the door to peer in, Elthin saw that Lucine and Syl were snuggled up nice a close together, positively huddled as close as possible and sleeping soundly. It was actually quite the heartwarming sight to see. Syl was nestled in the space between Lucine's arms and her chest, resting her head sideways on Lucine's chest, and Lucine looked to be nesting her nose inside of Syl's flowing hair, which was at present not tied in her usual style. They looked like two little angels all snug together. It was nice to see Syl relaxed enough to do something like that. This almost made all the trouble Lucine put Elthin through worth it.
On the desk near the bed were two small empty glasses next to the opened bottle Syl had delivered for Lucine. Judging by this, it was clear that, maybe, Syl occasionally had issues while sleeping. At least both of them were not alien to it if the draught didn't work.
Both girl's were sleeping soundly as Elthin looked into their room. On the desk near the bed he spotted an opened bottle and two glasses. Seemed that Syl might be suffering the same sort of issues that Lucine has. Looking around one last time he slowly closed the door and headed towards his room. Once inside he changed into his night clothes, climbed into bed and went to sleep.
After ensuring that the girls were all comfy and sound asleep, Elthin went to turn in for the evening as well, gently closing the door behind him and heading into his own room.
