Flynn

RL43 - 25 VIG - 13 MND - 17 END - 24 STR - 14 DEX - 12 INT - 10 FTH - 7 ARC

Resa

RL43 - 13 VIG - 15 MND - 10 END - 12 STR - 23 DEX - 9 INT - 31 FTH - 9 ARC

Resa

I walked over towards the woman by the fireplace as Flynn splintered off from me. It was good to see her here - to see her safe. There was a look of recognition on her face as I approached her, though she almost immediately returned to that distant, downtrodden look, staring absentmindedly at the ground. She didn't make eye contact with me when I stopped moving, only a few feet from her.

"I'm…Roderika. I should have mentioned that sooner, I suppose. It's good to see you again, Resa."

"I'm glad you're safe Roderika. I take it you made it here safely?"

She nodded. "Yes…the Roundtable is so warm, so impressive. It's a good reminder of our roots, as Tarnished…but it's all a bit much for me."

I cocked my head. "Why's that?"

"Well…all these legendary warriors and great heroes that walk these halls…and then, there's me. I still don't know my purpose…I'm just here."

I placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "Roderika…a purpose doesn't find you, you find it. There's quite a few people around here that seem to have found theirs - Corhyn is a practitioner of faith. Hewg is an accomplished blacksmith. Gideon is, well…Gideon. I can't give you much advice on how to find a purpose, unfortunately…I've stumbled into mine, more or less. But perhaps they can."

"I spoke with Corhyn briefly…he seems nice, but I'm not one for miracles, sadly. Where is Hewg?"

"He's down this way. Come, follow me. He's a bit rough around the edges, but I think he's got a good heart." I took her hand, guiding her over and around towards Hewg.

To nobody's surprise he was sitting there, working away with his hammer - I did notice Flynn's axe propped up against the wall. He looked up as he approached, not stopping from his work. "Hold out your arms…I'll get to smithing."

"Actually Hewg, that's not why I'm here. This is Roderika…she arrived here not long ago."

Hewg actually stopped his work to look up. Roderika simply stood near me completely clammed up, barely even raising a hand in a wave. "And? Hardly looks like a fighter. I've seen many people in my time. If I can't smith their blades, I'm no use to 'em."

"She's…" I should have realized talking about 'purpose' and 'a calling' might be lost on someone like Hewg…he seemed too single-minded to think about more than the anvil in front of him. "She's looking for something she can do to help. And you…well, you've helped us."

"I serve because I'm forced to serve…though I don't mind it anymore." Hewg's gaze shifted back to Roderika, squinting. "The girl's got a gift for spirit tuning though. I've seen only one before, but they had those same eyes."

"Spirit tuning?" It was Roderika that spoke this time, though the question wasn't far from my tongue as well. "What is it?"

Hewg stared angrily at his hammer, as if realizing how long he'd set it down, and now coming to the conclusion he might not pick it up as soon as he'd hoped. "It gives strength to the spirits of the dead. I don't know much."

"Can you teach me?" Roderika finally made eye contact with Hewg, looking over his scaled, blemished form. "I…I've lost many people close to me. I want to carry on their memories."

Hewg grunted in an initial response. "I only know the basics, girl, and I'm kept busy. I'm not - "

"Please?" Roderika sounded almost insistent…or perhaps desperate. "I'd really like it if you did. I'm a quick learner, I promise I won't bother you for long."

"You're fine with me being your teacher, girl?" I could see skepticism in Hewg's eyes. "I'm not a friend to many here. You're better off learning elsewhere."

"Oh, I don't mind so long as you don't."

"Fine." There was a sense of defeat in Hewg's voice as he said it - as if he didn't want this to be the outcome, but couldn't bring himself to change it. "I've got two swords to finish, but then I can teach you. Don't go far."

"Okay, I guess I'll just…sit over here until you're ready." Roderika walked to the other side of the hall towards the doorway, taking a seat beneath a display of spears and shields. She turned her attention to me, and I was actually surprised to see a smile creeping into the corners of her mouth. "Thank you Resa, I really mean it. Here…you should have this." She pulled out a golden seed from a small satchel offering it to me. "I know these can be quite useful. And here, I suppose I won't need this anymore." She reached back and unclasped the crimson cloak around her neck, offering it to me. "If you want it."

I shook my head. "It looks very important…I'm not sure I should take that from you."

"Oh, it's not much…it just keeps me warm, really. But it's so warm in here, and I don't think I'll need to be traveling as much. I noticed you don't wear a hood, so I thought you might want it to stay warm."

I smiled…I didn't wear a hood because I preferred my vision unclouded, in truth. But Roderika's intention was so innocent, so pure…I'm not sure I had it in me to deny her. "I…guess I do, from time to time. Thank you, Roderika." I swung the crimson cloth around my neck, feeling the silky smoothness of it - despite what Roderika had said, I could tell it was an exceptionally fine piece of sewing, but that was behind me. I brought the clasp up and fastened it - not yet willing to raise the hood up, instead letting it sit behind me.

"I think it suits you…I hope it keeps you warm. Anyways, please come back soon…I can't think of a better spirit to tune than Aurelia. Has she been good to you?"

I nodded. "She saved us against a particularly nasty foe in some ruins, yes. Thank you for giving her to us…and I agree, it would be a good first spirit."

"Well…hopefully Hewg isn't too busy then. But I won't keep you, I know you want to get back to your brother. Stay safe, Resa."

"And you as well, Roderika." With our farewells said I walked back to the entrance, finding Flynn walking out of the opposing hallway. "Any news from Gideon?"

He nodded. "Yes…but not here. Somewhere quieter."

I nodded, somewhat puzzled. "Let's go back to the castle, then…if we're heading north to Liurnia, it's our closest starting point."

He nodded, the two of us taking a seat at the large grace at the center of the table, whisking ourselves away towards Stormveil's inner graveyard. We walked in silence towards the chamber near the back, previously unexplored. Flynn pushed open the doors, revealing the inside. A lone throne sat in the distance, regal and in solitude. As we entered, I looked to Flynn. "Is this private enough?"

He nodded. "Gideon…how do I condense this. Godrick's great rune is sort of like a key, I guess. A key to the royal capital at the foot of the Erdtree. From what he explained, that's where the throne of the Elden Lord is. Gideon, well…he wants the throne. And he suspects others do as well."

"Okay…well that puts us in a difficult position. Melina?" I spoke her name, hoping that she would appear near us as she did before. However, only silence came. "Let's search for another grace. If she wants us to deliver her to the foot of the Erdtree…I think we need to ask some questions."

"Agreed. Let's see what else is back here."

We wandered around the chambers behind the throne, winding our way through several passages and corridors. Eventually, we found our way outside after travelling down a ladder and out one final corridor.

As we exited, I found myself staring out at an almost idyllic landscape. Directly ahead of us was a castle of white stone, several towering spires stretching up into the sky. To its left, a plateau jutted from a mist-shrouded forest below, and I could see a large cathedral at its top. The plateau seemed to be some sort of overhang as well - I noticed a large rock pillar supporting it, with only emptiness underneath. To the castle's right, I saw a large cragged mountain stretching into the clouds, but my eyes were moreso drawn towards the Divine Tower stretching off to our right, in the direction of the Erdtree. I could see two other smaller Erdtrees as well - one to the left behind the plateau, and the other towards the crags on the right.

Flynn walked up beside me, equally admiring the view. "So this must be…Liurnia. Which probably makes that castle Raya Lucaria academy."

I nodded. "Yes…it's a rather enchanting sight." I scanned our immediate surroundings though, finally wrenching my vision from the landscape before us. There was a grace not far to our left, and I could see a church of Marika just behind it. I walked towards the grace, taking a seat. "Melina? Can you hear me?"

As I expected, the woman shimmered into existence near the grace, pulling back her hood and taking a seat near us. "I can hear you, yes. Do you have questions for me?"

Flynn sat down beside me, both of us looking across the grace at her. "Gideon told us what is required to reach the foot of the Erdtree. Why didn't you tell us that when we made our agreement?"

"Ah." Melina's expression remained largely neutral, looking at Flynn through her single open eye. "Would you have accepted had I told you of the challenges that needed to be overcome?"

I shook my head. "No."

"And yet, you have benefitted from our accord, yes? You are much stronger than you were at our first meeting."

"Whether we benefitted or not isn't the problem. You deceived us. We've agreed to this arrangement, and I'd rather it be mutually beneficial. If we're to aid you in this journey, I want answers."

"Very well…you have earned them." I was surprised that she, at least on the surface, was ready to actually communicate with us. "My goal is to install a new Elden Lord - a Tarnished. To do that, I must reach the Erdtree's base, where the throne sits."

"But why?" Flynn spoke, a tone of frustration in his voice. "I've heard about this Elden Lord. People want to become it, people want to support those becoming it…why?"

Melina's expression went somber, looking at the ground. "The Great Rune you carry from Godrick is part of the Elden Ring…but the Elden Ring used to be whole."

"And why isn't it now?"

"The Shattering…" Melina's voice trailed off. She breathed a heavy sigh, nodded, and continued. "Marika the Eternal doubted the Greater Will and its intentions - and to that effect, the Golden Order. And so, her final act as Queen was to shatter the Elden Ring, thus causing the Shattering."

Flynn interjected. "While interesting, that doesn't answer the question. Marika had doubts about this 'Greater Will', but that doesn't explain why people desire the title of Elden Lord."

"Because it has cast doubt upon Marika and her kin. Her actions plunged the Lands Between into chaos. Many seek a new Lord, one that has diverged from Marika's lineage."

"I see." I still wasn't completely satisfied though. "So then, if you do not seek to become Elden Lord yourself, what purpose do you have at the Erdtree?"

Marika frowned. "I must apologize, but that is a difficult subject to answer without lengthy explanation. My intentions are genuine, I assure you."

"Melina, we're trying to trust you." Flynn clasped his hands together, tapping his forefingers. "But when we agreed to this, you didn't mention that it involved slaying demigods. If there's anything that you're hiding from us that puts us in danger, we need to know that now. Not later."

"I understand, Flynn. You understand why I did not inform you of the details of our accord…but I assure you, I know of no other complications. Seek demigods and gather Great Runes. Bring me to the Erdtree, and our accord will be completed. I cannot promise that there will be complications in that task…but I assure you that there are no additional secrets."

"And if there are?"

"Then I will free you of your accord." Melina's tone was plain and forthright. "But I know that it will not come to that."

"Very well then. So if we must seek Great Runes to reach the Erdtree, I take it that an entrance to Raya Lucaria is in our immediate future, then? Gideon mentioned that it was something in Rennala's possession that carried the Rune, not her herself."

Melina shook her head. "You need not gather all Great Runes to reach the capital. Two, perhaps three, will do. That will be enough to reform most of the Elden Ring. I know not Rennala's current state, but I have no reason to distrust Gideon's information. That said, if you wish to leave Rennala alone, that is an option you can take."

Flynn then shook his head. "No…I'd at least like to enter the Academy, at the very least, and perhaps learn something of Carian magic while we're there. Perhaps we can seek an audience with Rennala and see if she would part with it. If Radagon left her…perhaps she would share in our duty of opposing Marika's lineage."

Melina's expression turned to a wry grin. "A clever observation, Flynn. Very well…it seems you have more to discuss, and I needn't intrude any longer. You know how to speak with me if it is needed."

"Melina - " I blurted out the words as the shower of sparks started to form, though they came to a stop.

"Yes, Resa?"

"Thank you for telling us this. It has not gone unappreciated."

"My goal was never to lose your trust, but I understood that it may come to that. If you ever seek clarification or information, I am capable of providing it. Until next time." She disappeared then into a shower of sparks, leaving the two of us alone.

"So…Raya Lucaria?" I looked at Flynn, then let my gaze drift towards the picturesque castle in the mist-shrouded lake. "If you want to dabble in magic, I think it's the only place to start."

"Sure…we can go there. However, I noticed a couple other things." He led me over to the cliff with the scenic view from before. "First…an Evergaol, over to the left." He pointed it out. It wasn't too far in the grand scheme of things, just down the path we were currently on. However, the large stone disk was on a raised ridge…perhaps there'd be another way around. "And second, I'm feeling this tugging to the right…I can't sense exactly where as of yet, but somewhere in that direction." He pointed towards the Divine Tower. "I imagine there's Deathroot here, as well."

"You think you'll still support Gurranq, even if you don't use his gifts?"

My brother nodded. "It's still fighting against undead forces, and I think that's something both of us can get behind. Plus, we found something for you both times earlier - that little turtle charm and your katana. Who knows what we might find."

I smiled, my hand idly rubbing the turtle charm at my hip…it was silly, but I liked it. "Alright. Well, that puts us going multiple different directions. Let's head to the Academy first though…if we can speak with Rennala and make an arrangement, I'd feel a lot safer roaming her territory afterwards."

"Agreed."

I turned around, seeing the ruins of the church still unexplored…those were always worth investigating. We walked down the path and entered. Inside was another statue of Marika, hewn in the same fashion as before. It wasn't until I was nearly in front of the statue that I noticed a man sitting on a bench off to the side, his posture reading of dejection. Slumped shoulders, head hung forwards…it was the look of someone that had seen better times.

He wore almost identical clothes to Sellen, a navy cloak with strips of red hanging down both sides laden with gold embroidery. He was bald, a well trimmed beard and mustache on his face. As I walked towards him I kneeled down, getting on his level. It was then that he finally noticed me, raising his head slightly to look at me.

"Oh…hello there. Can you spare some runes, by chance. I'm a bit…down on my luck, as it seems."

Flynn walked over pulling out some runes. What seems to be the matter?" He took a knee beside me.

"Oh bless you…both of you. I'm Thops, by the way…I suppose I should introduce myself before begging to strangers. I'm, well, I supposed I used to be a sorcerer at Raya Lucaria, if you couldn't tell. But it seems I've lost my way."

"Why's that?"

Thops sighed, forlornly looking at the entrance to the church, towards the Academy. "The Academy's gates have been sealed for some time now - they refused to interfere with the Shattering and sealed off their entrances. To enter now, you need a Glintstone key now. I had popped out when the shutdown was initiated…I've no hope of returning now."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Are there any keys outside the Academy?"

"I've heard rumors, sure, but…I am only a fledgeling sorcerer. I've no chance of finding a key."

"Well…perhaps you're in luck." Flynn let the words linger, then continued. "We're seeking entrance to the Academy as well, but I don't believe we'll have to stay for long. If we find what we're looking for, you can have our key afterwards."

At that, Thops' eyes lit up. "Are you sure? If - if I could enter the Academy again, I could continue my studies. I'd be ever grateful."

"We have to find one first…and a small key in a land this large isn't going to be easy to find. But hang in there, Thops…it's possible there are clearer skies ahead." I tried to make the words sound encouraging, but it was a struggle - I wasn't sure if we'd ever find a glintstone key.

"I am ever thankful that you would even try. Please, I can teach you some sorceries, as thanks. It is not much…I know only the very basics. But perhaps you may find use in them anyways."

"We're…not one for sorceries. At least, not yet." I glanced at Flynn…not yet.

"Then…what business do you have in the Academy?"

"It's…complicated. Just need to speak with some people, that's all." Flynn was quick to brush the question away.

"I'm sorry, I should not have prodded. That you would offer to grant me re-entrance to the Academy is a gift enough. I will remain here, for the time being. I'm safe within Marika's walls." Thops leaned back, looking at that statue. That look of hopelessness seemed to have left him - though I couldn't quite say that hope had filled the void.

"Alright Resa, let's go." I followed Flynn out of the church, seeing that picturesque castle off in the distance. "I think it's still worth our while to head for the Academy. If we see those gates it might at least give us a sense of what a key might look like…right now, we've got no idea."

"Agreed. Let's give Torrent a chance to stretch his legs though…been a while since we've called on him." I blew the whistle, our trusty steed appearing once again. The two of us saddled up, and I started to lead Torrent down the trail.

"Actually…there's a graveyard to our right. Least we can do is put down any restless spirits, right?" I looked over, noting the graveyard. It was about as large as the one we first met D in…and much smaller than the one in Stormveil.

I dismounted Torrent, unsheathing my weapons. "Why not."

Flynn followed me, the two of us entering the graves. To neither of our surprises bones started to form, but they were far within our skill sets to deal with. There were only a few, skeletons clad in ragged robes, each wielding a grim scythe…but before long, the graves were quiet.

"Wait…there's something back here." Flynn walked towards the furthest-most grave, far larger and more ornate than any of the others, though it was surrounded by a copse of gravestones. My brother knelt down, lifting something up, walking back to me. It appeared to be a scroll, though made of expensive blue vellum. There was script written upon it, as well as a very ornate crest in the center. "Is this an incantation book? Can you read it?"

I shook my head, my eyes unable to make heads or tails of the script. "No…given where we are, it's likely a sorcery. Sellen may be able to decipher it…or perhaps Thops, if you'd prefer."

"Sellen…but no sense in coming back until I find a staff…somewhere."

"We can always just go back to Limgrave and find one. We saw several sorcerers walking the road. I'm sure you could always grab one."

"True…let's at least make it to the Academy and see. I'm not expecting to just be handed a staff, but…if they've really shut the gates, maybe one was discarded."

"Alright." We headed back to Torrent, worming our way down through a shadowed patch of forest before it opened up yet again. Just ahead of us was a small military outpost - sharpened logs erected as an outer wall, and three or four small tents lining the inside. I could see a guard at the front gate…presumably, several more were inside.

"Well…welcome to Liurnia, I guess." Flynn dismounted Torrent, drawing the behemoth of a halberd from his back. "This lends credit to the idea that they've closed their doors."

I dismounted Torrent as well, drawing my katana and scimitar. "Sure, but you and I both know we don't have an option. Time to carve a path."

"We always do." I followed Flynn forward as we approached the first guard. Surprisingly it didn't sound a horn or any other sort of alarm - and because of that, one strike from Flynn was nearly enough to flatten it. I came up from the side and sunk my blades into his sides, and the guard passed quietly.

Well…not quietly enough, as I heard the sounds of commotion from inside the camp. Four or five men in padded cloth came rushing at us, each wielding a shortsword. With one defensive sweep Flynn knocked several of them back. I strafed around the side, grabbing my seal and unleashing a streak of lightning across the ground. Several of them were caught in the ensuing lighting strikes, letting us finish off the rest. From there, it was simple to clean up the rest of the camp's inhabitants - soon, we were back on Torrent and headed forward.

Ahead of us was a grace, as well as the bonfire of one of the traveling merchants. We gave light to the grace before walking over. To contrast Kale's red and white, this one wore clothing of brown and yellow. "Ah…you must be new around here, haven't seen your face before. What can I do for you?"

"What do you have for sale?"

"Oh, bits and bobs, mostly. Couple stones from the mine to the north, a lantern…what are you in the market for, strangers?"

I looked up to the sky…it was starting to turn dark. "A lantern would be appreciated, as well as the stones. You don't have a sorcerer's staff by chance, do you?"

The merchant chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I do…just don't ask how I got it." He walked over to his pack mule, rummaging through a container on its back. Out emerged several stones, a lantern, and staff. "Show me the runes, and it's yours."

Flynn was quick to approach, fishing out a rather impressive fistful of runes as compensation. "Is this sufficient?"

"Plenty. How about…" The merchant scooped up no more than half of them, leaving Flynn the rest. "The lot's yours, strangers."

"Thank you." Flynn took the items, holding the staff in his left hand. Compared to the monstrous length of stone in his other, it looked like a children's toy - though the make of the staff showed that it was anything but. It was a length of rich dark wood about five feet long, with a metal point at its base. Up top was a purple orb set within a metal holder, sprouting from which were two cords that wound around the top half of the staff. Near the top the wood split into a 'T' shape, suggesting that it could also serve as a walking stick.

When Flynn offered the lantern to me, I shook my head. "There may be times when I need to be stealthy, quiet…you know, those things you struggle with." I smiled playfully as Flynn shook his head in feigned frustration. "I jest, you know that. Still, it makes more sense for you to hold onto it should I ever need to approach undetected. Hard to do that when glowing."

"Alright, that works for me." Flynn clasped the lantern to his belt. I didn't see a hatch or any way to refill it - as Flynn investigated it for a few seconds, he learned that the top could be turned to activate or deactivate the light source within. He left it on, letting a warm orange glow illuminate our surroundings.

"Alright, I'll ask again now that you've got a staff…"

"No, Resa…Sellen can wait, at least for now. I'm not dying to learn magic…and we just made it to Liurnia, I don't want to turn around and leave."

"But don't you want to find out? If you really don't I'll stop pushing, I promise. But I want you to find something that makes you happy, and I get the sense that, well…you're using Gurranq's incantations because it was pushed on you. If you want to learn sorceries, then I want you to."

Flynn let out a long sigh, his head flitting down to look at the staff. "I do, you're right. It's just - "

"No excuses, we're going to Sellen." When Flynn started to protest, I cut him off again. "Alright, I'm going. So either you can wander around Liurnia without Torrent, or you can come learn some magic."

"Resa, you are - "

"Impossible, I know. But you're being stubborn so I have to as well." I walked over to the grace just a few paces away, not yet sitting down. I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows, giving Flynn the clear ultimatum I had laid down. I stood there, perhaps in defiance, perhaps in indecision…but soon, followed. We sat down together.

"I'll get you back for this, somehow."

"And I will gladly accept it." I envisioned Sellen's small chamber, and the grace just outside. I closed my eyes and we were whisked away there. When we arrived Sellen was just where we'd last seen her, sat behind her desk pouring over several scrolls.

"Well dear apprentice, I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever return. Have you come to receive teaching in the ways of glintstone?"

Flynn nodded. "I…yes. I found a staff, and I found a scroll that I can't read. I was hoping that you could decipher it."

"Quite possibly, hand it here." Flynn extended the blue scroll, and Sellen almost greedily snatched it up. I wasn't sure quite how she read the pages given the large stone mask on her head, and yet her head bobbed back and forth as if reading it. "Yes, this takes me back to my academy days. I can teach you this, though it may be a bit beyond your understanding."

"That's alright. I'm…well, I'm hoping I'm quick to learn."

"No…I'm afraid you don't understand. This isn't like some blade, where an inexperienced swordsman clumsily wields his weapon. With glintstone, aptitude is everything. If you lack the aptitude, the sorcery fails. Aptitude takes time to build up…do not fret if you are disappointed by your initial results. We will work our way up from the very basics and see just where we reach, understood?"

Flynn nodded. "Yes."

"Pleasant. And to do that…I think a field trip is in order. I've heard whispers of another sorcery scroll not far from here. I'm always interested in knowledge, and what way to test your knowledge out than in the field?"

"That makes sense."

I could tell Flynn felt uncomfortable, being taught in such a formal manner like this. I sensed he didn't like the idea, but didn't know how to say no. I spoke up, hoping to offer a reprieve. "It's alright if I come too, Sellen? I won't interfere if you don't want me to."

"I was relying on it, in fact. The encampment is not lightly guarded, it will take all three of us to breach it. Now follow, both of you…and I will teach you what I know." Sellen stood up from her desk, collecting a few errant sheafs of paper as well as picking up her staff. It looked far more ornate than the one Flynn carried, a large blue gem at its peak that was intricately carved, as well as several decorative metal bands along its length. She tapped it twice on the ground. "Let's be off."

Dutifully, Flynn followed behind her as we walked out of the small chamber and up the stairs, heading outside. I slid up beside my brother speaking quietly. "You alright?"

He gave a nod. "Yeah…just nervous. I don't want to mess up."

I gave him a pat on the shoulder, letting my hand hang there for a second. "You'll be fine. Just know you're starting from scratch. Don't expect to get everything."

"I'm just hoping I'll get something."

"You will. I'm sure of it." I gave him a pat and trailed behind him, letting him catch up to Sellen as she began her tutelage. Our trail took us towards the south, in the vague direction of where I'd found my Evergoal.

"Alright my apprentice, let us start with the basics of glintstone sorceries. As you can guess, much of it is based on the manipulation and enchantment of glintstones themselves. You saw several of them in my research lab, and you can find several mining operations in Liurnia seeking them out. Now of course, there are derivatives that do not use glintstone - Carian magic, somewhat notably. However, to understand the derivatives, you must first understand the basics. Let us start with the glintstone pebble, the simplest of all magics. Observe." Sellen held up her staff, pausing for a moment as the stone at the top began to glow blue. As the words finished a small stone was sent flying from the staff, encased in blue magic. It flew off into the horizon until eventually fizzling out and disappearing. "Magic is spawned by envisioning what you seek to cast. It requires familiarity with the spell." Sellen stopped, resting her head on her hand as she looked around, seeing several peasants digging in the dirt. "Now, demonstrate on them. Eliminate one."

"O-on a person?" Flynn's voice was wracked by confusion, as was my mind. This felt…extreme.

"All Tarnished in this world rise again from grace, and we are approaching a guarded camp, Flynn. If you cannot strike down a simple beggar then perhaps we should cease your lesson early."

"A-alright." I wasn't alright with this…but I didn't want to interfere quite yet. Flynn shakily held up his staff, his elbow locked and arm held straight out, his entire body incredibly rigid. He stood there for several seconds as silence befell the three of us. More time passed, Flynn still adamantly standing there, holding his staff out…but nothing was happening.

"Your posture is too tense, relax yourself, they can't harm you." Sellen walked over, rather forcibly bending Flynn's elbow, then again at the shoulder. Flynn's stance softened but he was still stiff. "Envision the sorcery, and let it flow through you."

"I…am."

"Let me show you again." Sellen summoned the sorcery again, this time letting the stone fly towards one of the beggars. In one strike it was struck down, its limp body falling to the ground. "Just like that, you understand?"

"Sellen, I don't think this is the best way to learn sorceries." I cut in, seeing just how much this was starting to bother Flynn. "Can we go somewhere quieter, perhaps?"

"This is plenty quiet…just us and our targets, right Flynn?"

My brother was slow to respond, his hands gripped so tightly on the staff I was worried he might snap it. "...right."

"Splendid. Then try again."

I huffed, but said nothing…I hadn't imagined that Sellen would be so pushy in the way she taught, but there was no going back now. Flynn was too engrossed in trying not to disappoint her that he very well may end up doing so anyways. He stood there again as a minute passed…nothing.

"What seems to be causing you difficulty?" Thankfully, Sellen didn't say the words in an accusatory fashion…but I knew that it would still get in Flynn's head."

"I just…I'm holding the staff, I'm envisioning myself casting the spell, and it's just…nothing's happening. I don't know if I have the - "

"You have the aptitude. Everyone does. There is not a single person in the Lands incapable of this. Now slow down, steady your breathing, and try one more time."

Steady his breathing…I would be surprised if Flynn even was breathing at this point. He continued to hold the staff out, deep in concentration. He was treating this the same way he would sparring practice - legs shoulder width apart, left foot forward, shoulders centered…and yet despite all that, it was still -

A blue glow started to shine within Flynn's staff. A rock formed from it just a moment later, flying off in the direction he was facing. It wholly missed the peasant and instead flew into the chunk of ruin behind it, but that didn't matter…he'd cast a sorcery.

"Splendid, my apprentice. You did well."

"But…I missed."

"As many first sorceries do. That is the challenge of glintstone…its aim is rudimentary and difficult. There are other sorceries without such limitations, but they are more difficult."

"I want to try."

"Oh?" Sellen's interest piqued, hearing that hint of determination creep into Flynn's voice. The doubt was still there…but he was moving past it. "And why's that?"

"Well…what good is a sorcery if I can't hit anything with it? I need to - " He paused, looking at me. "I guess I don't need to defend my sister anymore, but I still want to."

"Precisely. Then I shall teach you something only slightly more advanced - perhaps it is within your aptitude as well. The sorcery of glintstone stars. Observe." Sellen held her staff out again, not quite pointing it in the direction of one of the beggars. In time, three small stones were conjured from the staff. As they began to drift forward their path deviated, veering towards one of the beggars. All three struck it, and it too fell lifeless on the ground. "The stars are trained to sense life…or unlife, should that be pertinent. They are not sentient, you will still need to aim, but there is a more generous room for error. Now, try…and yes, this time I do expect you to hit your target."

"A-alright."

"You needn't be so nervous, Flynn. This is a lesson, not an exam. Success only comes after failure has had its turn."

"Right…right." Flynn held his staff up, focusing on it again. This time, the delay was much smaller…he was improving. Three glintstone stars spawned from the tip of Flynn's staff. They arced towards the beggar, all three striking it. To my surprise the beggar stood up, starting to sprint away out of fear.

"Hmm…it is as I suspected." Sellen walked up to Flynn, looking at his staff. "The staff you hold is not designed for a beginner. You are free to use it, certainly, but recognize that results will be less than expected. Staves tap into your aptitude as well - and though lacking the aptitude to use it properly does not result in failure, it does result in a diminished effectiveness. I would advise you find a more rudimentary staff when possible."

"Understood."

Sellen's hand crept up to Flynn shoulder, her other hand following. "But that is not the point. Glintstone stars is not simple. I have seen plenty of aspiring sorcerers lack the aptitude for it when they first began. You show promise, Flynn. There is one final thing I will teach you before we continue on, one I quite imagine you'll appreciate." She turned to me, holding out a hand. "A blade, if you would be so kind."

I nodded, unsheathing my scimitar. "Here you are."

"A fine training piece. My thanks." She turned to Flynn, standing in front of him. "Observe carefully."

"I will."

Sellen held both blade and staff up in front of her, crossing them in the center. As a blue glow pulsed from her staff she dragged the staff across the blade. A blue shimmer began to coat it, the length of the blade itself almost taking on a vivid aquamarine hue. She held the weapon out, giving it an experimental twirl. "It's not one I fancy of course, but for one such as yourself I imagine it's quite practical. Scholar's armament - I can teach you scholar's shield as well, though given your tendencies I imagine it far less useful. This enhances your equipment with magic, allowing it to strike with the strength of glintstone. Against a suit of armor not unlike yourself, many find it vital for overcoming their defenses. Now, give it a try - I anticipate you will learn this quite quickly."

As soon as Sellen quit speaking Flynn held his halberd and staff up to the sky, my brother somehow finding the strength to hold such a cumbersome weapon aloft like that. It took several seconds until the blue gem of his staff began to glow and he then dragged it across, enhancing the halberd with magic. The entire thing shimmered blue, and Flynn moved his staff hand towards it, wrapping both hands around both weapon and staff. With a mighty wind up he slammed it into the ground - aiming at nothing, and yet infinitely proud nonetheless.

"Perhaps treat your staff a bit more carefully apprentice…some are known to be quite fragile.

"This is how he does things…I don't think you're going to teach him that lesson."

"Hmm…very well. So long as he doesn't break it, I suppose there's no harm. Oh, thank you for this." Sellen handed me back my scimitar.

"I'll find a spare, just in case we need one."

Sellen nodded appreciatively. "Very well…for now, there isn't much more I wish to teach you. You show great promise, Flynn…now, it is time to put that promise into action. Follow me."

Sellen continued to lead us down the path, towards the Evergaol, however, we soon veered off to the left, up a small incline. I remembered this camp - we'd thought about exploring it earlier, but decided against it. Was this where the sorceries were? At the top of the incline were some barricades, a horse and rider standing in the middle. I could see several more individuals behind it…we could certainly break through now. With Sellen's aid, it may be trivial.

"Now, show me what you've learned, Flynn. I don't expect you to strike down this camp with sorcery alone - I would be a poor teacher if I suggested you do so. All I expect is that you focus on what you've learned, and use it when it is necessary. I will aid you as well, of course. Let us go - for now, we still have the knight as cover."

Flynn walked forward, Sellen and myself behind him. Before we went too much farther Flynn re-applied his scholar's armament, this time managing to do so with only a brief delay - he was picking this up quite rapidly. He took a swig from his blue flask, revitalizing his magical reserves- frankly, I was surprised he still had some left after all the time he spent training.

As Flynn approached, so did the knight…despite the cover of knight, we were still easily seen. With a mighty blow Flynn swung into it, nearly knocking the rider of his horse. Sellen followed up with a sorcery that clearly was very, very advanced - a twin spiral of glintstone corkscrewing towards the horse. They ripped through the poor creature, sending the rider flailing to the ground. I finished it off by plunging my blades into the rider's chest - one down.

"Good. Now, the rest."

As we headed into the camp, things became far more frantic. There were two sorcerers standing atop ruins that proceeded to cast glinstones at Flynn, all while several guards were milling about below. Sellen conjured another sorcery, a spray of stones in a condensed arc that launched themselves towards the guards. I closed in on them, leaving Flynn to defend against the sorcerers.

Between blocks with his shield he conjured stars, letting the projectiles home in and fly towards his opponents. It took several casts - compared to simply swinging at them with a halberd it must have felt painfully slow, but he could also fight from the safety of range. Eventually, one noble went down, falling from its perch onto the grounds below. The staff it had been clutching clattered to the ground.

Flynn rushed over, grabbing the new staff and setting down his old one. He turned his attention to the other sorcerer, draining the rest of his flask and unleashing another round of stars against it. This one fell in much less time. It dropped something as it fell to the ground atop the ruins - a familiar sheaf of blue vellum.

I rushed toward it, leaving Sellen and Flynn to finish off the rest of the camp - a task that was nearly complete as-is. I ran around the back of the ruins, finding a rock jutting up not far away from it. I climbed atop and leaped over, my hands finding purchase on the edge of the ruins as I climbed up. I made my way across, seeing the scroll lying near the edge of the ruins. I grabbed it and made my way down. By the time I reconvened with the others the camp was silent.

"May I?" Sellen extended a hand towards me, beckoning for the scroll. I handed it over, letting her take some time to read the paper. "Ah…it seems you're in luck, my apprentice. This here contains Carian magic. Perhaps another time I will teach it to you."

"Well…why not now?" At the mention of Carian magic Flynn's voice grew excited once more.

"These are complicated spells, Flynn, not one I would expect a novice to be able to perform. For your first lesson, you have performed admirably. You have three sorceries under your belt, and I'm sure many more will follow. I do not wish to end our first lesson by you attempting to cast a sorcery that you cannot - it would blemish what has transpired today."

"Well then…when should I learn them?"

"That is the question, isn't it? Normally, one studies sorcery daily in a rather academic fashion, but I recognize your travels do not allow for such. How about this." Sellen walked over to where Flynn set his prior staff down and picked it up, returning. "I will hold onto this staff for you. When you feel confident that you can wield it again, we will have our second lesson. Agreed?"

Flynn nodded. "Agreed."

"Excellent. I will return to my abode then, unless there are any other questions you may have."

"Have you considered coming to the Roundtable Hold? There's many people there…it may be convenient."

Sellen rather profusely shook her head. "The Hold is not for me. Too many people, not enough quiet, not enough space. I am better off where I am - though not ideal, it gives me the room I need to continue my studies."

"Alright. I don't have any other questions."

"Then I'll be on my way. You are free to tag along, though I know you have other business to attend to."

Flynn shrugged, then started to follow behind Sellen, myself at his side. We walked the length back until eventually we were at the grace just outside Sellen's study.

"Well then my apprentice, this is where we part ways for now. I see a budding sorcerer in you yet…I am excited at how you will develop."

"Thank you for teaching me, Sellen…I appreciate it."

"I am glad. It has been some time since I've had an apprentice. I do quite enjoy it. Stay safe out there, Flynn…I look forward to our second lesson." With that Sellen's attention turned back to our desk, and we walked back to the grace.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Flynn promptly cut me off. "First of all…thank you for pushing me to this. I think it was needed…and I needed the push."

I smiled. "That's…a much more genuine response than I was expecting. You're welcome, Flynn. Glad I could help."

"And second, we are absolutely, under no circumstances or interruptions, going anywhere but the Academy next. This detour was great, but we need to get back on track."

I chuckled. "That was more what I was expecting. Alright…I won't oppose it any longer. To the Academy it is."

Probably my last update for the year. As always, leave a comment for any thoughts you have on the chapter or the story thus far. I always try to respond via PM (if I'm able), or I'll respond at the end of the next chapter.

Follow the story to stay up to date on when the next chapter will drop. Liurnia awaits…and there is oh-so-much to do.