Flynn

RL62 - 29 VIG - 14 MND - 24 END - 26 STR - 14 DEX - 18 INT - 9 FTH - 7 ARC

Resa

RL62 - 18 VIG - 17 MND - 12 END - 12 STR - 30 DEX - 9 INT - 34 FTH - 9 ARC

Flynn

I was still reconciling with the events that had transpired at the Academy…how, for the most part, we'd been temporarily banned from returning. That only made my training with Sellen all the more important - even if things were smoothed over in the long run, I doubted Rennala herself would deign to teach a freshman sorcerer such as myself, and Moongrum…I had a feeling he wanted to keep me at a distance. But Sellen…Sellen had been exiled from the Academy, making us kindred spirits in a sense.

To that extent, I had an idea - or at least, I hoped I did…a way to show my appreciation for the past, present, and future work I'd be doing with Sellen. I looked to Resa, my sister still reconciling in her own way. "Follow me…I think you should see this."

I led the two of us into the chamber at the rear of the Hold…the chamber where the literal Two Fingers sat. More importantly though, it was where Enia sat…and the Finger Reader was who I wished to speak to.

"Ah, welcome back, you have…no…you have not."

I cocked my head to the side, confused. "Care to explain?"

"The Two Fingers tell me you have encountered a second Shardbearer…and yet, I sense only one Great Rune. You have done something…unusual."

I was…actually a little surprised. Surprised that she knew so much from so little information. The word couldn't have been spread, we only just got here…could Enia actually sense the presence of Great Runes? "We had an…unexpected encounter with Rennala, yes. She keeps her life, as well as her Great Rune."

"I see…you walk a path few would walk with you. I sensed a fragment of Rennala's power lingering within you…and yet you showed compassion. I can spin that fragment into a vestige of her power, should it suit you."

"That's…why I'm here, actually." I looked to Resa, gesturing. "You remember Ludleth and the Transposing Kiln, yes?"

Resa nodded, eyes lighting up as the memory hit her. "You mean that she can…"

"From what I gather…it is similar." I turned my attention back to Enia. "We had an ally that could do something similar, long ago. In our past we could gather the souls of powerful foes that we'd overcome - he could convert those souls into items that pertained to them. He only got glimpses and guesses as to what he could create, however…how much information do you have?"

"The Fingers guide me through this process…their knowledge is great, but not omniscient. I can grant you the Queen of Caria's staff, or a spell symbolizing her connection to the Full Moon. You may only choose one, however…the memory of her that you carry is not strong enough for both."

A staff…or a spell. I knew what the spell would be just from that description alone - Rennala turning into a full moon is evidenced enough. However, this wasn't for me - I hadn't the slightest chance of utilizing either of these at this point, or likely ever…I couldn't even fathom how advanced they would be for someone of my skillset. No…this was for Sellen. What would she want? I had a hunch…no reason not to follow it.

"The sorcery, please." Sellen had been exiled from the Academy…seeing the staff would likely only trigger pained memories. However, a spell…we'd met several sorcerers in our travels, and almost all of them thirsted for knowledge that they lacked. A spell known only to the Queen of Caria…I'm sure Sellen would appreciate it.

"As you wish, Flynn." Enia extended a hand - as she did, a small wisp of gold started to flow from myself as well as Resa, trailing towards Enia's outstretched hand. As more and more of it gathered, it began to take shape - the shape of bound vellum, a scroll whose blue-hued pages were laced with glintstone. Enia extended it to me gingerly, and I graciously accepted it.

"Thank you…this will be used well, I am sure."

"It is through your might that you possess this, Flynn…I merely serve to…'transpose', in your words. Seek more great foes, and you will bear more memories. I can aid you in fabricating them, as I have now…but it must begin with you."

"I understand. Thank you, Enia."

"And you…" Enia's gaze turned to Resa, her sunken eyes squinting. "You are related to this one, I see it. I am Enia, a Finger Reader…and an interpreter of the Two Fingers."

Resa nodded, her eyes still flitting back to the Fingers on occasion. "Yes…well met, my name is Resa. My brother told me about the Fingers…but to see them with my own eyes is…different."

"They are impressive, yes. Should you seek their guidance, I can interpret their words for you. They tell me that the two of you walk a special path."

"I'm…I think for now I know my path, but should I seek guidance I know where I can find you. Thank you, Enia."

"And thank you, Resa. Safe travels to the both of you."

We turned around, heading into the main room. I scanned the circular chamber, looking for anything else we needed to catch up on - my eyes landed on D…we had secured a deathroot in that catacomb a little while ago. Now that I had no use for them, I saw no reason not to turn them over to D. "Give me just a moment…then we can get going."

Resa nodded. "I want to catch up with Roderika as well…she might be interested to know that Rennala summoned spirits. I'll meet you back here soon."

We momentarily parted ways as I walked over to D, the familiar gold-and-silver armored man sitting in a chair, looking down the hallway towards Gideon. "Ah Flynn, well met. How goes your hunt?"

"Quite well, thankfully. We managed to find another piece of deathroot…like before, I'm happy to hand it over."

"And while I would protest, you've already convinced me. I'm grateful for your generosity, friend." D extended a gracious hand as I handed the deathroot. "Even from a distance, you are a great asset to Gurranq."

"It's not a problem." My mind drifted to Fia…about how, in a sense, she and D, and to a greater extent she and Gurranq, opposed each other. One looked to uplift the undead, the other looked to put an end to it. The fact that I was distancing myself from both sides, even if I remained closer to Gurranq's…it bothered me.

"Something troubling you, Flynn?"

I hesitated, thinking how much I wanted to divulge in the moment. "Nothing much. Just thinking about the road ahead."

"Do you know where that road leads?"

"Underground. We're looking for a city down there"

I saw D shift just the slightest amount - as if the mention stirred a bad memory that he pushed away. "I've heard tales of what's underground, but I've never seen it with my own eyes. Stay vigilant, friend. Those Who Live in Death are not constrained to just the catacombs."

"Thank you for the warning…I'll keep my guard up." I saw Resa coming back from down the hallway, our eyes momentarily locking as I gave her a nod. "Alright…looks like my other half's here, best be on our way. Stay safe, D…let me know if I can help with anything."

D still held the deathroot in his hands, glancing down at it for a brief moment. "You're helping me far more than I could ask for, Flynn, but I will keep your offer in mind. Safe travels."

I bid D farewell and turned to Resa. "Sellen's?"

"Sure."

We took a seat at the table, looking up at the towering grace at its center. From there, we were whisked away to a familiar room in Limgrave…where hopefully, Sellen still remained. When we arrived the room was dark, a surprising lack of light filtering in from the outside - must have turned to night while we were in the Hold. From the grace where we arrived, I could see Sellen seated behind her desk in the hidden backroom where we'd initially found her. It was time…the last time we'd been here, we'd only just set foot into Liurnia. And now…now, it would be a while before we could do so again. I stood up from the ground, hurriedly walking over towards the open doorway - I couldn't contain the excitement.

"Sellen?" I stepped in, seeing her studiously writing on a piece of parchment. At even the briefest interruption from that singular word the pen slipped in her grasp, a dark line of ink now marring the page. The stone helm she wore masked any sort of physical expression of discomfort - but a brief clenching of her hand told me that I'd just cost her some time.

"Ah, my dear apprentice. I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't return, but I am pleased to be mistaken. Tell me, have you come to continue your training?"

I nodded, reaching into my belongings. "Yes…I have. We've found a number of scrolls during our travels, but I…I can't read them. I was hoping that you would be able to interpret them for me, and try to teach them to me if I'm able."

"Ah…the endless pursuit of knowledge. Yes, I can educate you on how the scrolls are written. Though it flatters me, you needn't seek out my wisdom to continue your education. You and your sister are adventurers, not scholars. To return to me after every scroll would quickly prove…tedious."

Resa couldn't help but let out a bit of a chuckle. "Well…that's why it's been so long. We aren't disrupting anything, are we? There's a lot to go through."

Sellen forlornly looked back at the scroll that she'd been writing. "Nothing that can't be delayed. Tell me…what have you found?"

I extended the pile of scrolls that we'd accrued during our travels - four individual scrolls, the collection we'd found inside the Academy, as well as Rennala's sorcery. I intentionally kept the latter beneath all the rest, at least for now. "As Resa said…quite a bit."

"My…that is quite a collection you've found. I'm afraid I don't have another chair for you at the moment, but…" Sellen looked around, her eyes finding a crate that once contained glintstone - but now, only a few shards were still in there. She started shifting its contents to another such crate, emptying it out."

"Sellen it's fine, I can - "

"Spoken as an apprentice that has not yet read his first scroll. I will teach you how to read, but it will take time. You will wish to take a seat." With the crate now empty she flipped it over, providing a secondary seat beside her own chair. "Come. Let us begin."

I sat down next to her, doffing my weapons and getting comfortable. "Where do we begin?"

"With the basics. Sorcery scrolls are equal parts interpretive as they are scientific. I will show you the lexicon soon, but know that it is only a starting point, not a dictionary. Depending on the sorcerer, their speciality, and their influence, scrolls can seem nearly incomprehensible at first. As you become more practiced in the dialect, it will make sense. Here…study this."

Sellen pulled out several sheafs of paper, handing them to me. On it was, well…to call it a translation guide would be a stretch. On one side were the letters I understood, and on the other were many of the symbols I'd started recognizing from glancing at the scrolls. However, the mapping was far from one-to-one. Some symbols mapped to multiple, some had multiple mapped to them…some connected to each other in ways I couldn't even begin to comprehend.

"This is the language - and yes, unfortunately it is as complicated as it looks. Sorcery comes from the stars, my dear apprentice - and when multiple astrologers study the cosmic bodies with the intensity that they do, be thankful it is only this complicated."

I shook my head, still bewildered at what I was looking at…it was like a spider's web of language. "How do I…use it."

"Let us start with a scroll that I know…one that you have not learned yet. You recall the sheaf of scrolls we fetched when you last visited me?"

"You said they were Carian in nature, yes?"

"Indeed. That they are Carian gives us, and you, an edge. The Carians were more militant than your average sorcerer…as a result, their scripts are less interpretive. It will be something that interests you, as well as be a good starting point for this lesson. Here." She splayed the scroll out over all the others, pointing to the first line. "This is known as Carian Slicer - it is a sorcery all knights of Caria learn early in their training. Knowing the name, can you see how to read it?"

I pulled the lexicon over to the scroll - given that I knew the name, having both sides of the formula mapped out meant that all I needed to do was find the connections. I started with 'C', as well as the first symbol on the scroll…no line connected them. "I…could use some pointers."

A soft chuckle came from Sellen's helm as she placed her hands over mine, guiding me. "And that is what I'm here for. Try looking at it from…this way."

Thus began the process of learning…a process that had my brain feeling numb by the end of it, so much so that at multiple points I simply nodded in feigned understanding as Sellen explained some obscure concept. By the end of it, however, she'd successfully walked me through the spell. One spell.

"Sellen…" I placed my hands on my head, groaning in frustration. "I think I'd rather continue coming to you for this. There's…there's no way I'm going to have time to continue practicing this enough to learn it."

Sellen let out a sigh. "That is possible…and for the meantime, I permit you to come to me for this reason. I expect to see progress, however. Should you present me with a scroll, I wish to see that you've attempted to translate it first. Is that agreeable?"

"Yes."

"Good. I shall go through the rest of these, then. Given that I do not know them, it would take me some time to digest them until I use them as a teaching opportunity for you. Give me a few moments. While I read these, I think it'd be wise of you to practice Carian Slicer…with your staff." Sellen stood up, walking to a drawer. From it she retrieved the staff that I'd left with her. She extended it to me and I graciously took the implement. "I believe you are ready to wield it."

"I…yes, I hope so." I'd nearly forgotten about the staff…I'd been so focused on the sorceries, I'd forgotten that I'd left this with her.

"Practice in the outer chamber for now - as you can see, reading scrolls requires some modicum of concentration. I will call for you when I am ready."

I walked outside, seeing Resa reclining by the grace. She raised her eyebrows with a knowing look. "You've been busy...having fun yet?"

"It's a lot…a whole lot. I'm doing what I can though…but this is what makes it worth it." Thankfully, the act of reading the scroll did have its benefits…as opposed to the very 'fake it until you make it' approach from before, the scroll detailed specifically what to visualize, what to do, and how to perform it.

I held my staff out in my hand, envisioning a blade coming from the end of it. The details in the transcription were meticulous - the length, the thickness, the angle of the blade, the shape of the crossguard…Sellen explained it away as a feature of Carian sorceries, but I envisioned the precise weapon, manufacturing every detail in my mind…it had to be perfect. Once the vision in my mind was solid I extended the staff forward and swung. A blade - the blade materialized in the expected glintstone hues, the staff looking almost like a spear but with a much longer blade. As I swung, a trail of blue energy lagged behind the swing, making a sort of graceful arc as I went. I swung again, bringing the staff back across my body. The blade didn't disappear - this spell was able to remain active so long as the user had the reserves to fuel it. I slashed back across a third and a fourth time, somewhat mesmerized by just how…intuitive it was.

"It's like wielding a sword, isn't it?"

I turned back to look at my sister, nodding. "Yeah…I think that's what drew me to Carian magic in the first place. I can already think of what to do with this." I slashed the staff once more before bringing my cleaver down into the ground, running through possible ways that I could wield this new power in conjunction with my physical weapons.

After a while, Resa and I began to spar - Sellen was still deep within her understanding of the sorceries we'd provided. I was getting the hang of what few sorceries I'd learned, and having an agile training partner like my sister taught me quite a bit about gaps in my defenses, but also how to use my innate - and worn - resiliency to my advantage. It reminded me of my duel with the Knight of the Crucible within the Evergaol - some of the memories I'd gained in that fight had started to fall off, and this refresher was imperative to keep me at the top of my game.

After we'd sparred for so long that my limbs were sore and my breathing was heavy, I heard a call from the other room. "Dear apprentice, can you come here for a moment?"

I set down my cleaver, walking in. I saw Sellen looking over a spell - Rennala's spell. The parchment was an unmistakable hue that showed its power as well as its importance. Sellen's finger was on the first couple lines, running through a couple of words. "What is it?"

"This sorcery…where did you acquire it? I'm afraid in all my studies I've never read a dialect quite like it. It is quite cryptic and archaic - I'm afraid I won't be able to translate it without far more study on my own time."

"It's…Rennala's"

Sellen's face snapped to look at me. "You…were in the Academy? You spoke with Rennala? Rennala provided you a sorcery? Please, apprentice - I require details."

I went through the story - about why we entered, the red wolf, Moongrum, and finally Rennala. The entire time Sellen sat attentively and listened, absorbing the information as I passed it on. When I finished she intertwined her hands together, thinking. "So…you have knowledge of the Academy, but you ought not enter it for the time being. What a fascinating predicament you've found yourself in."

"It's…not ideal, I suppose."

"I would say the opposite." Sellen's hands rested on the table and she began to tap it somewhat nervously. "Apprentice…no, Flynn. I seek to return to the Academy. As you know I am exiled, but the Academy you describe is far from the one that banished me. That you merely have a foothold within the Academy is impressive enough. Perhaps I will discuss more when you next come to visit me…but be aware that I may have a request for you in the future."

I nodded. "I can do what I can to help. You're doing plenty for me…I'm happy to owe a favor in return."

"Give me time to think on it, you needn't trouble yourself now. As far as this spell goes, if it is part of Rennala's personal repertoire then I fear this may be a stretch for even my capabilities. I mean this with no disrespect, but this would be far beyond your current understanding. The others you have found are of a…varying level of difficulty. I think that a few will be within your capabilities, others you will need to practice. I heard you training with your sister outside, I take it you feel comfortable in Carian sorceries?"

I nodded. "It feels like swinging a blade…it's very intuitive."

"Well, then you'll be quite pleased to know that you have several other sorceries that you may take an interest in. Come, follow me…I will show you what you've acquired."

I followed Rennala the few steps it took into the outer chamber. Resa sat against the wall, legs extended and folded at the ankles, as if watching me struggle and fail at these new sorceries would be a source of amusement for her…which, in fairness, it might be.

"We will start with the basics…Shatter Earth. It is an Academy Sorcery, though it is mostly used in the process of mining glintstone. I've only seen this sorcery cast a handful of times…many of the Academy sorcerers believed it to be 'beneath them'"

"Because it's used by miners?" I pressed.

"Indeed…many sorcerers elevate themselves above others. It is the way of things, sometimes. Anyways…allow me to demonstrate."

Sellen took her staff in both hands as if it were some sort of mining pick. As she raised it above her head, a dense spiral of glintstone swirled up from the tip, turning the bottom of her staff into a sharp point. She thrust it into the ground, holding it there for a brief second. As she lifted the staff back up again, a pulse erupted from the ground around her, the magic suffusing itself with the ground and emanating up in a slight radius. "Given your proclivity for Carian magic, this may supplement your arsenal quite well. Give it a try."

I nodded, turning my attention towards the ground in front of me. I held my staff up, above my hands, envisioning a pointed force of glintstone forming at its tip. It took…time. Compared to reading the scroll itself, acting simply off instinct was a far more tedious process. Several times the tip would start to swirl with magic only to sputter out. Sellen offered guidance, shaping the spell for me as I repeated my attempts. Soon, it came - a raging torrent of magic that I thrust into the ground. From there - the spell did the work. A residual burst of magic erupted a half-second later as I raised the tip of the staff, admiring my work.

Sellen clapped, walking over to me. "Splendid, you picked that up far better than the sorceries I taught you earlier, and this one is far more involved. Let us move to the next one…a Carian magic."

At that my interest piqued. "What sort?"

"You actually found this last time you were with me - but I suspect it will be the next sorcery you may be able to master. It is a good step more difficult than the others you have worked with - fret not if you struggle with it. It is known as the Glintblade Phalanx - observe."

I didn't even need to see Sellen cast it, the name alone harkening back to our fight against Lorreta. With a motion of Sellen's staff, five blades of pure glintstone formed in the air around her, covering her in a defensive arch that was ready to strike at anything that got too close. "This is a staple of Carian magic, and there are several more robust versions of the sorcery that I have heard of though. It affords them the ability to defend themselves from all angles whilst preparing to cast another spell. Do not see it as a tool of aggression, my apprentice. See it is a defense beyond your armor and weapons. Also be mindful of them…glintstone fabricated in this way is fragile." Sellen stepped towards a wall of the chamber, two blades colliding against the surface. Almost instantly they shattered, leaving her with only a half-arch over her head. "Give it a try.

I raised my staff, emulating the motion that Sellen had performed. Whereas before when the Carian magic came effortlessly…this time, nothing was produced. I tried a few more times with Sellen's guidance, mimicking her motions to an uncanny degree. At one point I got a singular sword to form - but it was so brittle that it shattered in the air from just a shift in the breeze. My hand tightened its grip around the staff…this was Carian magic. I was supposed to get this. Why…wasn't I?

"I can sense your frustration, Flynn. I told you...sorceries require knowledge, understanding, and practice. Do not be discouraged if the two sorceries you've learned today are all you leave here with."

"But…I have been training and practicing. It just feels like I'm not seeing results."

"Of course you are. You wield a staff that you previously could not. You wield a school of magic previously inaccessible to you. And you have done so in…two weeks? Two months? I do struggle with time from this lair. In any case, it has not been long, and I know many an aspiring sorcerer that would be elated at such progress."

"Flynn…I've watched you grow too. You're still developing your style and what works for you. When you - when you first started to practice pyromancies, it took you some time. When you had to practice them again, it took even more time. You're doing great. Trust me." Resa stood up, walking over to the two of us.

"Why is it then that you seem to effortlessly pick up every incantation that you find?"

"I…Flynn, I was raised a cleric. I spent my life learning how to commune with the Gods. You're more of a hands-on learner, I'm more of a…well, perhaps 'bookish' isn't the word, but you understand the point. It's not fair to compare yourself to me."

"I…fine."

Sellen drew my attention, placing a hand on my shoulder. "These things take time, and you have only just begun. Even the greatest sorcerers of the Lands Between cannot cast everything there is to know. Some sorceries here indeed require an understanding of the divine - even if I may possess the knowledge to understand them, I assure you I lack the conviction to call them forth."

That helped put things in perspective…though it did raise a question as to what sort of sorceries she was speaking of. "Fine…I suppose the only way I can improve is to continue practicing then. If it isn't too much to ask, can you show me some of the other sorceries you were speaking of. Something to look forward to, I suppose."

Sellen nodded. "Indeed…I'm sure it would serve as some motivation. I'll start with one that ought to look familiar to you - Star Shower. Think of it as an improvement over the Glintstone Stars you currently know." She demonstrated the spell - whereas Glintstone stars produced three homing darts, Star Shower produced six, each one carrying slightly more power to them.

"Next…Carian Piercer. Designed to be effective at fighting singular targets and mounted warriors" I watched intently as Sellen performed it - she stepped into a deep lunge as she thrust her staff forward horizontally. As she did, a blue sword formed at the tip, one that was thinner and longer than the one summoned by the Slicer. It existed for only a moment before she retracted the staff, standing upright again.

"Now, Loretta's Greatbow. I'm afraid I am unfamiliar with the person in question…but it does seem a most unique sorcery." This one I of course recognized instantly - as Sellen stepped backwards into a deep stance, her staff formed into a glintstone greatbow, an arrow of pure magic resting at its center that she pulled back with her other hand. When she let the arrow go it flew forward, colliding into the far wall with enough force to knock several bricks loose.

"And finally, Comet. Many describe it as the pinnacle of Karalos' teaching in the Academy. I would not disagree." This one was simple - it simply required a gesture from her staff. What formed resembled a glintstone pebble in shape - but only if that pebble was an order of magnitude larger, and surrounded by a dense stream of blue magic. It launched forward and hit the same location as the previous spell, knocking far, far more bricks loose as they were scattered across the floor.

"That is what you have to look forward to…sorceries are a door that leads many directions. It is up to you which path you choose to walk. I can return to you the scrolls, if you so choose. I overheard you saying you found it easier to produce their effects if you understood their structure."

"Yes…it's certainly seeming that way. Can I have the Carian sorceries, as well as Loretta's? I think that will give me enough to work on for the short term."

"I would agree. Loretta's sorcery seems to share many traits of Carian magic - it is the only reason I was able to translate it so readily. I suspect that as one comes to you, the others will in quick succession. These three will serve as a good test of your aptitude both in your application of sorcery, as well as your interpretation of the written text."

Sellen returned to her chamber, gathering the scrolls in question and returning to deliver them to me. I gingerly took them, rolling each one up individually before putting them back into my belongings. "Thank you Sellen, I truly appreciate it."

"And I appreciate having an apprentice to teach. You are showing great promise, whether you choose to believe so or not. I expect the next time we meet you will have progressed much further in your studies. Where are your travels taking you next?"

"We're headed to the Mistwoods to explore the Siofra well. We're working with…someone else to try and find something down there." Resa once again subverted just who our employer is…as well as what we were looking for.

Sellen's hand moved to rest on the chin of her helm. "Underground? Fascinating. I've spent some time researching what lives, and lived, down there. Should that knowledge be of use to you…you know where to find me."

"Thank you, Sellen…I'll say it again, I appreciate all the help you're giving me."

Another slight chuckle came from beneath that mask. "Such is the life of a teacher. Until next time, brave adventurers."

I looked towards Resa, the two of us nodding in unspoken agreement that it was time to move on. As Sellen returned to her inner chamber the two of us walked outside, back into the ruins outside. We kept going a little longer, standing above the hill overlooking the main road. Once again.

"The Mistwood's not far from here, I think Torrent would enjoy getting to stretch his legs for a bit. What do you say?" Resa held out Torrent's whistle as she posed the question to me.

I looked around…it had been some time since we returned to Liurnia, and I had to put the mental map of everything in my head again. She was right…swing north, follow the road, and we'd be there in no time. "Sure. Let's ride."

Torrent was called forth from the aether he resided in once again, the two of us saddling up as Resa started us down the sweeping road that would take us to the Mistwood.

"I really do mean it Flynn…it's not fair to you to compare yourself to me. Sorceries and incantations are two different things. Are you really…"

"It's fine. I…should have kept quiet."

Ahead of me Resa huffed, momentarily turning around to look at me with a scowl. "It is not, and you should not. Flynn I couldn't do any of the sorceries you could right now, not even close. I'll be honest, I don't know why I'm able to retain some fragment of my abilities, especially here. It's an entirely new set of gods and rules. I know I started with only a small portion of what I once knew…but I'm surprised that I even had that."

"When you had me pray when I was practicing Gurranq's incantations…I prayed to Quelaan. I know I don't have your experience, but I don't think it matters here whether the god exists…just that you believe in it. Anyways, it's fine, really. I was just…frustrated. We'd found all of those sorceries, and I could use only one of them."

"And as Sellen said…now, you've got something to work on and look forward to. If I'm being honest…I'm looking forward to you mastering them as well. I think they'll be an asset to us."

"You think so?"

Resa nodded. "The Phalanx and Loretta's, especially, but the others will serve their purpose I'm sure. Anyways, we're almost here…let's see if Blaidd waited for us."

We rode up to the map stele before dismounting, the entrance to the river well situated just off the road from here. As we approached, we saw the large, stone well just ahead, as well as Blaidd. The wolfman was leaning against the opened doors, the large sword in his hands this time rather than on his back. Ornate designs ran along the length of the straight blade, most prominent towards the hilt of the weapon. A blue gem set into it tipped me off of a potential Liurnian, or perhaps Carian given Ranni's location, link.

"Ah, I was starting to think you wouldn't show. Flynn, Resa, well met once again."

"Sorry, Blaidd…like we said, had some final business to attend to that took a bit longer than expected , but it's behind us now. So, Nokron then?"

"Aye, that's the goal. Legend has it as an entire city, so I have to think it'll be hard to miss. I take it then you're ready to get started."

Resa nodded. "Yes…like Flynn said, sorry for the delay. We're here to do what we can now."

"It's no matter to me. Lady Ranni may well have large plans, but the timeline needn't be rushed. You are here, I am here…that is what we agreed upon. Let us go."

Blaidd led us inside the well, once again leading to a singular lift with no chains. The three of us stepped on before activating the plate in the center, beginning its descent."

"Blaidd." My sister looked over, nearly craning her neck back to look at the wolf-man…he was just that tall. "You haven't been underground before, have you?"

He shook his head. "I have not, I've only done the reading requested of me. Why do you ask?"

Resa chuckled. "I'm not exactly sure what the texts say…but I imagine they won't prepare you for this."

As the descent began, we were in a stone cylinder, with little view of anything else. Soon, that gave way…but only to more stone walls. Metal gates lined a larger tunnel that we descended, the walls decorated in various locations.

But soon…that gave way to a sight equally as memorable as the first. Fragments of glittering white light flitted through the air in a faux night sky, more and more filling our vision as we descended further. A towering ruin appeared next - I looked over the edge of the lift and saw gthat it descended quite a ways, the ruin far taller than anything we encountered in Ainsel. As we reached further and further to the ground the fragments of light truly began to look like a brilliant starry sky once again…by the time we hit the ground, the only indication that it was anything but was the rocky ceiling illuminated by their brilliance.

"I…incredible. I'd read that the civilizations here formed their own night sky, but I never imagined it would be so…realistic. This is a marvel, you are correct. Was it like this in the Ainsel well as well?"

"Not at first…the descent in Ainsel was much shorter, and we arrived in a cave network first. Still, we encountered this starry sky at the end of our exploration there…it was breathtaking."

Blaidd nodded. "Yes…the texts do not do it justice. I saw hints of buildings on our way down, I suspect that may be our destination."

I interjected into the conversation, if only briefly. "So…I know we're searching for Nokron. What exactly are we searching for in Nokron. That seems like something we should know by now."

"I'm afraid even I can't say. Ranni only ever spoke of it as the 'hidden treasure' of the Eternal City. I suspect we will know of that treasure once we find it, but not until. Our search of the grounds will have to be thorough."

I was starting to reach the limits of holding my tongue. So much secrecy, so much deception…if this Ranni was truly trying to improve the fabric of the world for the better, you'd think she'd be doing so in an open way and not her current tactics. Still, for now, I remained silent…Resa wanted to ally with Ranni, and our agreement was that she would until we decided otherwise.

Resa looked over, noticing my frustration by the tightening of my fists and the consolidation of my stance. "Well…first, let's focus on even finding the city. We descended quite a ways…depending on how the cave network is laid out, it might be some time until we can climb that high up again. There's some ruins up ahead. That's as good of a place to start as any."

Blaidd gave another nod, swinging that behemoth of a greatsword around to rest on his shoulder. "Good point - standing here talking or admiring the view won't get us back to Lady Ranni any faster. I can tell from the look of you that you're both capable warriors. I assure you I needn't any coddling in what's to come. I have served and defended Lady Ranni for quite some time now. I can hold my own in a fight."

Looking at the towering blade on his shoulder and the ease with which he just slung it around, I could hardly disagree, and I could see a look of respect on Resa's face that suggested something similar. "Alright then. Off to Nokron."

It took me until very recently to realize that stopped sending me emails when I received a new review. Thank you all for the reviews, I do appreciate it (and hopefully I've updated my settings to be notified in the future, hopefully we shall see).

On the topic of Ranni's consort, I do have plans…but that's quite a ways away, and spoiling them now would ruin the fun :-) I tend to write the basic shell of a plot for the story and then let the actions of the characters dictate the specifics, it lets things evolve in a very organic way (such as Flynn stepping into sorcery, that was never my original intention but it just seemed to fit him quite well.) Manus Celes Cathedral is easily 10-20 chapters away, and who knows what the characters will be like at that point in time.

As far as the question of Flynn regaining his pyromancy flame, that one I'm confident will not happen. Whether or not he softens his hatred towards flame that he harbors currently, I'll keep to myself. There are a couple flame sorceries out there…so the option's on the table if he wants to return to his pyroclasmic roots.