"So where exactly are we going?"
"Well we used to need to go out past the taint barrier to find tainted creatures, but it seems some are getting past it."
"Yeah, like those bones you were fighting when I stumbled onto you."
The three where still walking eastwards. They had left the forest behind and were now walking across grass plains, fields and hills. They meet the odd traveler and went through the uncommon small village but not much happened whilst they traveled. After a week of walking they could see the taint barrier on the horizon but it took them another two days to get to its base.
As they approached the the East gate, the smallest of the 5 gates since the 'River crossing' happens to be slightly south however since boat was the easiest way to transport goods that gate took most the traffic from the East gate, they noticed a large group of red clothed people standing around. As the party approached they soon saw why. Most of group where Kings mages accompanied by their Knights. All of them were still serving their first year, this is easy to tell by first just how clean and neat there robes where, the neater the newer they were, and perhaps the easier was that for every year in service there was a purple stripe on the left shoulder. As they approached, a few guards and mages broke off from the group and walked to meet them.
"Sorry but this gate is currently closed." The Mage stopped in the middle of the road, hands on his hips. The two guards stopped behind him, with there hands resting on their weapons.
The party stopped just in front of them. They glanced around. As far as Markus could tell, the other guards were doing stuff all but standing around.
"You have to turn around and leave now."
Swords were beginning to be drawn and the Mage was raising his hands. Markus raised an eyebrow but stayed where he stood.
"What exactly is happening here which stops us from going though and requires so many of you?"
The Mage looked slightly taken aback and the guards glanced at each other, Markus realised that very few questioned what a King's Mage told them.
"Well there are err works, and also" the mage's confidence was quickly returning, "I'm telling you so. If you don't go now, we will use force."
Markus was begging to get a bit annoyed, he knew exactly what they were allowed and meant to do, and it wasn't this. This was abuse of power. He took a step forward as Julia turned to go.
"No, we won't go and you won't use force. Now if you know what's good for you I suggest you tell us why we can't go past and if it's a fair reason, we will leave."
The guards were glancing at each other more now. Obviously they had manage or where used to intimidating most people. The Mage how ever was beginning to grow angry.
"By what right, do you tell me what to do! You know nothing of my authority or power! I could crush you and I am allowed to do so!"
With that the Mage threw his hands up and green magical energy crackled between his fingers. However before he could take a step towards them, Markus grabbed the silver chain which hung around his neck and pulled. The chain lifted up and on the end of it was a golden ring, the top of which was flat and had a black stone set in it. There was an engraving on the stone which was also golden and in the shape of his family's seal. He hated using the damn thing as leverage or even showing it at all. Markus held the ring and showed it to the Mage. As he saw the ring, colour drained from the mage's face. His arms fell back to his sides. A moment passed before the Mage spoke again. This time it was in a dejected tone.
"The archmage is currently inspecting the this gate and section of wall."
With that the Mage and knights headed back over to there group near the gates. Markus quickly stuffed the chain and ring back under his clothes and armour. Garry raised an eyebrow. The three went and found a spot to sit down and waited until they could go through the gate. Garry still had an eyebrow raised and turned to Julia.
"So what was that all about? You know the ring and things."
Markus focused on fiddling with the grass in front of him and ignored what the other two were saying. Julia dropped her voice as she went to answer garry.
"His parents are basically, well in charge of commanding and training the Kings Mages and guards. They also advise the king. He doesn't like bringing it up, wants to make his own path without using his name and the power which comes with it."
Garry nodded his head and dropped that conversation. They started to chat about where they would find the other 4 ingredients needed for Julia to complete the quest. Garry happened to know where they could find the petal and they were sure to find a tainted creature on there way there or back. They weren't so sure on the berries but they were sure they could find them somewhere. The last item was something Julia had to figure out and not something the other two could help with. They did throw a few suggestions out but nothing that would really helped.
As it hit midday, the group of people around the gate suddenly became very excited and there voice raised. The three glanced around to look at the gate. There was a small parting of people in front of the archmage as he walked. He seemed somewhat flustered and kept waving people away without so much as a word. He suddenly spotted the three sat further away from the gate and started to walk over. Garry glanced at Julia and Markus and noticed that they also had looks of surprise on their faces as well.
The group of mages seemed to follow him as he walked towards the group. With a wave of his hand and a few sharp words the group dispersed and headed back towards the East gate. A few moments later Arinath reached the group and stood there hands in pockets, his glowing green eyes scanning over them.
"Well hello hopeful mage. Ohh Markus, I haven't seen you since you were this big." The man crouched a little and held his hand not far from the ground.
"Your parents were very proud of you. Less so when you didn't follow them into the arcane arts but still proud. I know things can be done with strength not just skill in the arcane but I prefer the latter you know. Im sure the cleric understands what I mean."
The archmage's eyes seemed to dull a little before flaring back to their normal glow as he turned towards Garry.
"Interesting, interesting. An unusual choice but I can see it works for you. Well you're still alive at least. You ever considered studying the arcane arts? Might be good at it. Although you could be terrible. Never know. What's your name?"
Garry looked a bit taken aback. Arinath did not speak that fast but rarely paused let alone let someone else speak. Garry told him his name and as soon as he had the archmage was off on his ramble again.
"Interesting name, not one you hear often, i think i've heard it one other time, strange human. Ended up falling into a forge, wasn't even a smith! Died soon after that if i remember correctly."
The archmage then turned to face julia and his smile fell slightly.
"ah. There are still parts of your life shrouded in mystery for you aren't they Julia? Take my advise, do not try and find them too quickly. In time all shall reveal itself. Oh you do have a natural gift with the arcane don't you? Dont rely on that alone as tempting as it might be. "
After those words he seemed to brighten up a fair bit more.
"I believe that you all could be of great use and achieve great things. Or you could die horrible. One or the other. I believe we shall be seeing each other again at some point. Be it here or in another realm. Here a parting gift."
Arinath reached into his bag and pulled out three gemstones. All were different in colour, one purple, one orange and one a clear blue. He then sat down, laying his umbrella by his side, and pulled his book onto his leg. He flicked part of the chain away before quickly turning to the page he needed. He ran a finger over the words as he read them before flicking to another three separate pages. He took a gem one by one into his left hand and performed a set of movements with the other, then waited a second before performing another set of hand gestures. He did this for all three gems.
Julia noticed that the first set of movements Arinath performed on each stone were the same however the second set where completely different. The whole process took about half an hour. Just before he was done, Arinath held the three gems in his hand and suddenly clenched them tightly. When he released his grasp and opened his hand again, the gems where now shaped into perfect rings of the same colour and flawless in shape. He then gave them to the party. Garry the purple, Julia the orange and Markus the clear blue.
"Put them on or not. In a time of great need crush the ring or at least break part of it. But only when you have no other option. They to only be used in last resort, also those did not come from me. Now time for us to part ways."
Arinath stood up and glanced back at the East gate. The group had decreased down to the usual guard numbers. He smiled to himself before walking away back towards Salos. He stopped and turned. The group was just passing through the barrier. What awaited them on the other side would be sure to test them. For once Arinath felt certain, they would be fine. After all, all three of them have power running through their families. Now he had another section of wall to re-enchant and other groups to watch but first to report back to the king.
Julia kept looking at the ring and turning it over in her hands. She had already tried to detect the magic cast on the gem but to no avail. She couldn't even work out what had been used to shape them let alone what other spells the archmage had put onto them. She sighed in frustration as she again failed to find any clue of what they would do. Nether Garry of Markus had put the rings on. Markus's had joined his other ring on the silver chain around his neck, which was once again hidden from view behind his clothes and armour. Garry had got string from somewhere and had tired the ring to his staff. It was tied just below the emerald which already sat in the staff. Markus ha made a comment about he would end up with every colour gem decorating it.
"Why did he give us these? Why help us? Of all the contestants, he picked us. Also what did he mean by my life being mysterious?"
Julia had already posed these questions before and stating them again got the same shrugs and don't knows from the other two. They all agreed that it was weird though.
As they continued East, towards the stormfall mountains the questions slowly vanished from their minds. The further they went the more often than ran into a tainted creature. They started off small, very few and feeble. They started appearing after another 3 days of travel. And soon Julia could tick the second item off the list as they collect teeth from all sorts of tainted beings. The towns were fine. None of the creatures dared to go near. However whilst travelling between, you had to be alert for every step.
As they traveled, they spoke and the three slowly learnt more about each other. Despite being friends for many years there were still a few things Julia and Markus learned about each other or more so about how their families.
After another day of travelling they started to approach the base of the stormfall mountains and with that, they where close to getting the petal that they needed.