Mae and Skylar were sat on an iron bench, talking, laughing. The warm breeze blowing through the light green blades of grass. The skies where a patchy sapphire blue as the bright sun shone dimly through the grey clouds, Poppies and daisies dotted around the paths. The streets were empty, it felt eerie, no sound other than the wind and the occasional parrybo or pudgion squawk.
"So, what magic do you know?" The sorcerer asked raising a brow.
"Well... I can make objects float and move... most of my other spells require herbs though."
"Any element-based magic?" Mae shook her head...
"Not even fire?!" Skylar stared in shock at the brunette.
"Want me to show you some magic of mine?" The sorcerer stood up with a smirk.
"I mean... if you're so confident then why not?" Skylar closed her eyes and raised her hand, exhaling, a large light blue circle with runes glowed at her feet. Upon snapping her fingers, a ball of fire appeared in her hands... Mae watched in astonishment, there were practically stars in her eyes.
"You have to teach me this!" The sorcerer sighed as the ball of fire disappeared into thin air, lowering her hand.
"You have a lot to learn..."
The smell of old books filled the large room, towering shelves packed with pages of knowledge. Laila ran her pale-tan fingers along the old, dusty books and scrolls. She wanted something to take her mind off of the previous events... the cold library air against her skin gave her a strange feeling of relaxation... The gardener's hand landed on a small book, removing it from the shelf she opened the book, a cloud of dust bursting from the old pages. It was leather-bound, most likely made from scraps that turn up on the shore, threads seemed to hold not only the pages together but also the grey, water-worn leather cover, she skimmed over the pages, some words barely visible while others were missing entirely, the paper was warped, edges creased and folded...
"Snow falls, on cold ground, skies grey, no longer clear. Don't draw near as there is a cave here... those who try, their heart turns cold. Patterns of pink and gold, a ferocious beast with wings outstretched, many have thought but could never fetch. None can flee as it breaks doors, walls and floors with its sharp claws. Get caught in its grasp, don't try to gasp as it crushes you to a pulp, this is your fault. Consumer of all, it stands tall, its jaws agape, hungry for a taste of its victims once more..." Laila raised her eyebrows.
'That description... is awfully familiar...' She thought to herself.
'Could it possibly... no, it couldn't be... but they were meant to be just a legend...' The gardener walked out from the row of book shelves over to a small desk.
"Hello ma'am how may I help you?" The librarian asked as they yawned, trying to make it not appear so, their black hair spiraled into a messy bun with a couple locks hanging down over their face in which they would occasionally blow out of the way.
"I'd like to buy this book please" Laila said as she placed to book carefully onto the wooden desk. The sleep-deprived librarian looked at Laila, then down at the book and back at Laila as if they were to say something however, no words were spoken.
"5CC" they said, breaking what felt like dense silence. Laila reached into her pocket, feeling around until she felt the cold, smooth texture of a round, yet flat object, pulling it out of her pocket she placed it down onto the table. The librarian slid the book over the desk to the pale-tan gardener, she clutched the book tightly but doing her best not to damage it. Laila thanked the librarian and made her way out...
"Uh... hello?" Laila called as she nervously walked through the doorway, pinata nets and tranquilizers rested against the wall next to both large and small cages... She parted the bead curtains and ducked under, walking past them.
"Ah! Hello."
"What brings you here, Laila?" Asked a tall woman in a comically tall mask, the eyes of the mask had swirls, obscuring her eyes, a fishing rod-like stem holding a joy sweet dangled from the top of the mask acting as some sort of lure, it was a light green with large magenta painted lips. She appeared to have 4 arms, her other 2 stemming from her back, made from cloth, they seemed to have a mind of their own, occasionally tapping her on the shoulder while her own pale arms hung down by her sides.
"I have heard that a dragonache resides in a cave in the Pinarctic."
"Aren't they just stories and myths?" Asked the huntress with a tone of disbelief.
"I thought the same until I found this book." She handed over the leather-bound book, she began flicking through the pages.
"There isn't any way... this is real..." The tall woman chuckled nervously looking at the book, she looked at the gardener, closing the book with one hand.
"You're the only one who I think could catch a dragonache, let alone confront one!"
"I know I don't normally question my client's intention but what are you planning to do with said dragonache, if it exists that is..." Laila sighed.
"I feel that it may help in stopping Pester, a creature like that will help even more in achieving that goal." The tall woman stopped, as if in deep contemplation...
"I'll help you with this but you'll owe me." The gardener nodded
"Thank you, Gretchen."