HoloJourneys

by vanderblast

A fateful encounter with a fluffy sheep inside a castle dungeon, begins a journey that will change the world. In a world of magic, swords, magical spirits and endless possibilities, Anon, sets forth on a journey with his friend Watame to see everything this world has to offer and to find their origins. The journey won't always be easy, but together, they can always make it through.

2. A new journey's beginning

Your eyes open to the familiar sight of your room. The light of the morning sun creeps in through the window as you begin to fully awake. When did you get here? The last thing you remember was talking to your dad on the beach.

The memories of your adventure in the black castle start to play back in your head as your muscles begin to tell you just how strained and sore they are. It definitely feels like you were in battles that pushed you to your physical limits. If that wasn't enough, the white bandages wrapped around your arm, your chest, and your legs help drive the point home.

Did all that other stuff really happen though? It all feels real when I try to remember it, but it's almost unbelievable. Elemental spirits? Possession? Water coming from my hands?

Footsteps click against the wooden floor of your home and toward your room. You expect to watch your dad walk in, but who you are met with, assures you that what happened yesterday was very much real. The face of the sheep you remember so vividly now, your first real friend, looks at you awash with surprise and relief. You are feeling pretty surprised yourself, it was as if that sweet fluffy girl was completely transformed since you saw her last.

Years of unwashed dungeon life are gone without a trace, as her golden wavy hair shines in the sunlight. The rags she wore have been replaced with an outfit that would certainly remind you she was a sheep, if the horns were not already a dead giveaway. A white sleeveless dress with an underlying black skirt that hangs just above her knees now covers her hourglass frame. Black arm warmers can be seen underneath white wooly vambraces, from her elbows to her shoulders are covered by a frilly oversleeve . A fluffy collar with a bright red bow tied in front of it leads to a cloak lined with pink that runs past her knees along with black boots that now cover her feet past her calves. Almost all her clothing is trimmed with fluffy cotton.

"Anon you're awake!" Watame says rushing to your bedside and pulling you into a hug. It was even fluffier than the previous hugs. Could it be the outfit? After a tight squeeze that only gives you a minor twinge of pain through your body, she pulls back and looks at you again with those wide purple eyes searchingly.

"Yup. I'm awake now, Watame." You say to hopefully give her the confirmation she had been looking for. She smiles as her eyes begin to water.

"I was getting really worried. You just kept sleeping and sleeping. Your dad said you would wake up eventually but I couldn't help but be scared." She sniffles as she wipes her eyes.

"Hey hey, it's alright Watame. See? I'm awake now…I couldn't have been sleeping for that long could I?"

"Two days." Watame says, wiping her eyes again.

You can see why she was upset. Two days without waking up would concern anyone. It certainly didn't feel like that to you though, you don't think you even dreamed.

"Sorry I worried you Watame, I'll try not to oversleep anymore okay?" You say with a reassuring smile.

"Yeah! No more oversleeping! Get sheepy, not sleepy is what I always say!" The sheep perks up.

"Oh yeah? Since when?" You can't help but chuckle at the wordplay.

"Since right now! I think it's catchy."

"Not exactly sure how sheepy I can get as a human, but I can give it a try. By the way, where did you get those clothes? I've never seen anything like them before, so I doubt it was just a spare lying around."

"Oh this?" Watame backs up and does a twirl to show the entire thing to you. It certainly looks great from front to back. "Your dad and a nice lady from your village helped make this for me! They just finished it yesterday. I really like it!"

"So my dad is branching out into tailoring, it was bound to happen sooner or later. They did a very good job though. It really suits you."

"Thanks Anon!" Watame chirps. Her eyes continue to search yours for something as that bright expression she wears slowly dims down. "Anon? I just want to say…thank you so much for what you did. I never thought I would get to be free ever again, and I don't know if I can ever repay you, but if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know."

"Are you going to set out to find your homeland Watame? To find that nice place where you can sing every night?" You ask, remembering one of your first conversations with the sheep in a darkened dungeon.

Watame nodded with conviction through welling tears. You get out of your bed and walk over the window and look at the glistening sunlight over the ocean's horizon.

"If you'll let me, I'd like to come with you then." You say resolute.

"But Anon, I know you said you would help me find my home but it's fine." Watame says nervously as she waves both her hands in front of her. "I don't want to take you away from your dad and uncle. Even some of the people from the village said they wanted to see you again after you woke up. You don't have to leave just for me."

"The truth is, I've thought about leaving a lot in the past. I want to see all the different places and people in this world. I just never went through with it, since if I did, I might be truly alone. I used to think things like, 'what if the rest of the world thinks I'm a bad omen or wouldn't accept me?'" You begin, almost a little embarrassed over what held you back for so long.

"But I'm not afraid of that anymore. You're my friend Watame, and you inspired me to be proud that I exist. I want to travel the world with my friend. I want to find out who I truly am. Where I came from. I also have to fulfill a promise to another friend too. I need to summon Undine again. So let's go see the world together Watame, I'm sure the answers we want to find are somewhere out there."

"Of course you can come with me!" Watame cries. "I also want to thank Undine too, so I'll do whatever I can to help you."

"Then let's set out today! I just need to pack some things and we'll just start walking." You exclaim turning back to her.

"A-Are you sure Anon? You just woke back up, do you need more time to rest?"

"I'm a little sore, sure, but I'm good to go. We've been waiting our whole lives for this, I don't wanna waste one more day." You say giving a slight flex of your arm to show you are more than ready, while hiding the fact that your arm still feels ten pounds heavier.

"Surely you could spare just a few more moments for your old man right?" Your dad's voice comes from the other room to stop you in your tracks.

You were so caught up in the excitement of finally living out your dream to travel with a friend, that you forgot what the hardest part of leaving would be. Saying goodbye to the man who raised you.

"Sorry for eavesdropping, but I just came back to check up on ya and well, it's not a big house you know." Your dad continues from his leaning position against your room's door frame.

"Dad I…" You start, not really prepared for this conversation so suddenly.

"You don't have to explain anything Anon. I heard that little speech you made." Your dad says, walking into your room and taking a seat on your bed. "I always knew this day would come. I just never imagined it would have been with such a sendoff. Watame was kind enough to tell me all about what went on in that crazy castle. After fighting an evil dark wizard and his monsters all on your own, freeing the village and a bunch of other people. Not to mention you got controlled or something by an elemental water spirit? You lived an adventure in just one day that most people won't come close to in their lifetime. I'd actually be mad at you if you wanted to stay. You're meant for so much more than trying to appease a bunch of close minded idiots. My boy is a hero. A magical one at that! The boys at the trading post won't believe it!"

"Dad, knock it off." You groan, but you still can't help but feel happy at how proud you made the man. "But are you really sure? I know you always said I could leave whenever I wanted, but I didn't really give you time to prepare like you asked."

"It's a good thing I was always prepared then. Come, I got something for you." Your dad says, getting up and walking out of your room, gesturing for you and Watame to follow. He walks to his room next, and he comes back holding a stack of clothes with a sheathed sword at the top. "I had all this made after you were done growing. I figured I would send you off with the best I could get when the time came."

You take the sheathed broadsword into your hands first. It's the perfect size and weight for you. A gentle pull from its sheath reveals a sharp shining blade. You hold it upwards and marvel at how natural it feels to be in your hand. One of the first lessons you remember about swordplay is how you should treat your weapon as an extension of yourself, and how it can become a part of you. It feels a little silly to think, but you can already feel a faint connection with this blade.

"Now that was smithed by the hands of yours truly, with a little magical enchantment from a guy I know. It will take a hell of a lot of punishment to dull or shatter that blade, that's for sure. The perfect tool for a long journey. The clothes should be just your style as well, lightweight but sturdy. Go, see how they fit." Your dad says pridefully.

You do as your dad asks and head back into your room. After shutting the door behind you, you disrobe from the simple sleeping clothes that you were likely put into while you were still sleeping, and remove some of the bandages that cover your skin before placing on your new attire. The new outfit is a smooth fit. The tunic feels sturdy but not restrictive, the pants are breathable, and the boots are the perfect size. He even included a simple traveling cloak which drops just above your knees. You come out to show off your new look, which is met with approving smiles. As your dad admires his own gift to you, his eyes flash as he suddenly seems to remember something.

"Oh wait! Anon I almost forgot!" He says as he runs back to his room and comes back a second later with a basket. "Do you remember what this is?" He then asks, but you can only stare at it confused, it looks just like a regular wicker basket. "It's the basket I found you in Anon. The one you were just floating along the sea on."

"Dad!" You gasp as your face goes red. "Why do you still even have that thing?! Why are you showing it to me now!?"

"Just never got rid of it I suppose. And I'm glad I didn't. Ya see, two nights ago, shortly before the end of that big battle you had, I got woken up by a light. It was as if a star itself was right in my bedroom. That's how bright it was. It was shining through under a bunch of old things I had stashed in my closet. Here, it might be easier if I just show you…" Your dad stops himself from rambling as he fishes inside the basket and pulls out a large thick book that was covered with unrecognizable symbols.

You take the book tentatively as you begin to inspect it. The book's color reminds you of starlight as you run your fingers over its cover.

"What is it though?" You ask as you flip through its pages; all the text printed on the pages is of a light blue, and does not contain a single recognizable word or even letter. It mostly looks like a bunch of made up shapes. "What language is this anyway?"

"Nobody knows, Anon. I asked everyone I could think of when I found it with you as a baby. Since it wasn't in any known language, I kinda wrote it off as maybe just a keepsake, and just forgot about it when I started to raise ya." Your dad shrugs. "It never did a thing until the other night though. It's like it woke me up because something was wrong with ya. So that's when I headed for the village and met your uncle as he was coming to get me."

Watame looks over your shoulder curiously. "Do you think it could lead to where you're from Anon?"

"It's the only clue we got so far, which is more than we had, so I'll take it. Thanks Dad. This is really okay though? Me leaving on a journey to who knows where?" You say, forcing yourself to pry your eyes from the only possible connection to your birthplace to look at your father.

"It's more than okay Anon, you've grown into such a fine young man, and I'm proud to call you my son." Your dad starts as he places his hands on your shoulders, his smile could not be wider. "There's a great big world out there that probably needs you more than we need you here. And besides, you can finally get out there and find all those stories you wanted to hear."

Tears start to form at the bottoms of your eyes. It's hard to keep yourself from crying, not only from the overwhelming sense of joy you feel from earning such powerful and genuine words from your adoptive father, but also from the fact that this might be the last time you'll see him for quite some time. Men don't cry when they say goodbye to their dads right? You are a man right? You've fought evil wizards and monsters for the sake of protecting others! You are definitely a man now, so no crying! You're going to do great things and find your own great stories, just like he said.

In an effort to distract yourself from audibly letting out your emotions like a running faucet, you open the book up again and begin flipping through more pages. A line of silver-white lettering for some of its symbols instead of blue catches your eye almost immediately.

"Wait a second. I can read this part" You say in disbelief.

"What's it say, Anon? What's it say?" Watame asks as her excitement starts to build.

"The first spell, Stellar." You say aloud. As the words leave your lips, the book starts to glow like starlight. You feel something strange stirring within you. Your right arm lifts up, as if by reflex and your palm opens. A bright light starts to form and gather until a beam of starlight fires from your hand straight into your home's front door, blowing the simple wooden door to pieces.

Everyone just stares in shock, no one really sure what exactly just happened. .

"Well I don't even think your uncle is gonna believe that one." Your father says slack jawed. "Usually spell books can be read and used by anyone, you just need the magical ability and all that. I didn't even know you had the mana to pack a spell like that Anon."

"I don't think I actually do." You remark as you still try to make sense of what just happened. "Back at the castle with Undine, I did feel what it was like to use my mana. This feels different somehow. I don't really know how to explain it."

"Let me see that book again Anon." You dad asks as you hand the open tome over to him.

He looks at the page containing the only part you could understand. While he still cannot make sense of the line himself, he tries to utter the spell just as you have. Nothing happens. He urges Watame to try as well, perhaps the inherent mana of a demi-human could bring the spell out, but it was the same for her.

"Well that just might settle it for now. Anon, this spell book is just for you." Your dad says, satisfied with exhausting all the options, but a little disappointed he couldn't fire a beam of magic from his own hands. "My best guess is that it's somehow bound to you. It's easily your best bet for finding out where you come from, since I've never seen one like it. Which makes me glad I was also prepared and made this."

Your dad shows you a leather waist strap with a pouch for your new book to rest in. He happily helps with securing it to your waist, much to your embarrassment as Watame watches. You also take the opportunity to secure your sword to your waist as well, and with a spell book strapped to your right side, and a sword on your left, you have the look of an actual adventurer.

"Alright, I think you are finally ready to go Anon. I always hoped you would blow down the doors of the world some day. I do wish it wasn't my door though." Your dad chuckles.

"I'm sorry." You said red faced. "I can fix it if you want, I did kinda break it after all."

"I'm only teasing. The door can wait. I got a mountain of repairs to make at the village anyway, not to mention help with some brand new houses."

"What do you mean new houses? I know that lunatic wizard trashed a few of them a bit, but none of them were fully demolished." You remark as you try to recall just how bad the damage to the village was.

"Well all the new residents need somewhere to live." Your dad says matter of factly. "There's more than enough land up there, and some of the people you helped save are just gonna stay here. The place could do with some new faces if you ask me."

On top of stopping a madman from holding people prisoner and using their mana for who knows what, you feel incredibly proud that you somehow had a hand in bringing people from different places together. That's how the world should be right? Different people coexisting and helping one another.

Just then, a knock comes from the door frame, where your uncle stands looking around at the broken door fragments. "Just figured I'd stop by to see how you were doing Anon my boy. If this latest renovation was done by you, I would say you are doing much better."

Your dad scoffs at your uncle and motions him back outside as you and Watame follow. You are met by a group of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Prisoners of the castle came to make sure they got to thank you in person for their freedom. It's rather uncomfortable to be the sole target of their praise, since you by no means did it all on your own, but it would be far too complicated and time consuming to try and make them see otherwise.

It is such a strange feeling to you, being recognized as someone worthwhile by strangers. You are not sure how to properly process or respond to it, so the most you can manage to say is "you're welcome" and "glad I could help".

"Anon, are you actually leaving?" Your uncle once he can finally get your attention to himself. Just like with your dad, it's becoming hard to tell someone who helped raise you goodbye. You turn your head over in Watame's direction; she's also being praised and thanked for her bravery. A few people appear to have even met her before. The sight of the sheep's smile puts a smile on your own face, as well as hardens your faith in your decision.

"I am Uncle Gunther. Watame and I are gonna see the world. We're gonna find where we both came from." You reply confidently.

"It's about damn time." Your uncle says as he clasps your shoulders. "Your father and I both know you are meant for much bigger things than this little corner of the kingdom. And all it took was us all almost forced into eternal servitude to a magical madman to make you take that first step."

"That definitely helped, but the courage and inspiration of my friend is what really did it." You say as your uncle follows your gaze over to Watame.

"She is a true friend for sure." Your dad says joining you both. "Some of the new faces would talk about how she used to make the days a little less hard with her songs. You keep that one safe Anon."

You nod to your dad as Watame comes skipping over to you with a beautiful harp in her hands.

"Anon can you believe it!? The villagers said they found the harp I've had since I was a little sheep in the castle rubble when they were looking for things. I thought I would never see it again" Watame squeals as she is overcome with joy, causing her to practically hug the stringed instrument.

"That's awesome Watame! It looks all in one piece too, can you play it?" You ask, eager to see if your first traveling companion can actually bring the life of music into your travels.

"Mhmm!" Watame nods as she gives the harps strings a testing pluck. She then begins to strum simple chords, followed by notes made by her own voice. You never actually got to hear her sing until now, it is a soothing and wonderful sound. You could feel joy welling up in your heart as she continues, it's like your thoughts are filled with bright, fluffy clouds. When she finishes her impromptu performance, everyone claps for her, which she returns with a short curtsy.

After the visiting villagers begin their return trip back to further help with the repairs to their homes and the building of new ones, you enjoy a small breakfast made by your dad. You were so caught up in finally starting your adventure that you forgot you haven't eaten in over two days. The second a plate of eggs and toast was placed in front of you, your stomach gave you a very painful reminder of how empty it was.

After scarfing down your food and feeling energized, you look over at the ocean from your seat at the simple outdoor table you all sit at. The midmorning sun shines brilliant over the azure sea. You are reminded of the promise you made to someone who has helped you more than she could ever know. The answers to how to fulfill that promise won't just come to you, it was time to go.

With your drawstring travel pack filled with supplies and food slung over your shoulder, you are finally ready to begin your travels. There is just one last thing to do.

"Dad, Uncle Gunther, thank you for everything." You say to the two retired soldiers who stand in front of you with bittersweet smiles.

Your dad doesn't say anything before pulling you into a big hug. "Go see everything you can in this big world of ours Anon. No matter what happens, I'll always be proud to call you my son."

"And I couldn't have asked for a better nephew. And I would be neglecting my duties as your uncle if I didn't send you off with some direction. You should head for the kingdom's capital to the north west, there you should be able to secure some form of passage to the elven kingdom. Maybe someone there has some idea of where either of you are from. Now for a word of caution." Your uncle's tone grew more serious as he directed that toward Watame as well. "Tensions between the governments all over the world have been tenuous at best. You two should do your best not to draw too much attention to yourselves. Don't give anyone any reason to suspect you of anything. It takes all too little to fuel one's own prejudices."

"And one more thing." Your dad interjects. "Be careful out there. With the various kingdoms and countries keeping things mostly to themselves, that also presents an opportunity. Opportunity for people like that dark wizard to enact whatever loathsome plans they have. You've proven you're strong Anon, but there will be fights you can't win alone."

"He won't have to fight alone anymore." Watame says cheerfully. "He's got me to support him now. I'm gonna become a combat sheep. Now that I get to keep my mana, I can use magic again."

"That's awesome Watame!" You say excited. "What kind of magic can you use?"

"Music is my magic!" She chirps with a wink. "I'm going to play you the best songs, so you can feel like you can take on anything! I can also use my mana to make the sounds from my harp fly and hit things. That's why I'll be your combat sheep!"

"See Dad? Watame is a magical bard. As long as we watch each other's backs we'll be fine."

"Then I guess I'll trust my son to you, Watame." Your dad says with a growing smirk on his face. "Looks like you're leaving home with a nice girl like I knew you would Anon."

You want to hide your face in your cloak as you see your dad snicker along with your uncle who was always quick to pick up on what he was teasing you about. Thankfully Watame looked like she didn't fully understand what your dad was insinuating, and just smiled politely.

"Sorry Anon." Your dad says patting you on the shoulder. "Just had to tease you one last time. Now it's about time you got going. Can't stand here saying goodbye all day, the capital is a three day's walk from here. You got ground to cover if you're gonna find your birthplaces."

Putting aside your embarrassment you give your dad a tight hug. "I'll miss you dad, but I'll try to send you updates of our journey when I can. Thanks for everything again. I know I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you."

"I'll miss you too Anon, now please get out of here before you make your uncle cry. You have no idea how painful it is for me to see that." Your dad says making a grimace at your uncle.

"Like seeing one of my own soldiers come to tears is any better." Your uncle huffs as he crosses his arms.

On a pleasant note, you and Watame wave your goodbyes and begin to take the first steps on what you hope is a grand adventure. Watame skips happily in front of you as you make your way through the countryside. She points out every single thing her eye catches as pretty as you walk. Flowers, trees, birds, even grass. This fluffy sheep is enamored by all of it.

It warms your heart to see her happy, to be able to enjoy and embrace the freedom she deserves. It makes you appreciate your own freedom and the splendor of nature even more.

After a couple hours, you both find a spot under a big shady tree a little off of the dirt path to break for lunch. You hand Watame a sandwich that is specifically just a collection of greens between two slices of bread from the stash of food your dad had packed for the trip, and take one that has some actual meat in it for yourself.

"This is so fun Anon." Watame says between bites. "Just walking under the bright sun wherever we want to go. I can still hardly believe it."

"I made a promise to you, didn't I? When I make a promise, I'll do whatever it takes to see it through." You say happily to your friend. "I'm really glad you're with me though. Even though I've seen most of this countryside before, it's like I'm seeing it for the first time again. I've never had a real friend to travel with before, I'm looking forward to every new step we take."

"Then let's get going!" Watame cheers as she scarfs down the rest of her sandwich and rockets upward to a stand.

"Hey hold on a sec! My legs are nowhere near as strong as yours." You panic slightly. You know you sounded eager, but your body is still a little tired from sleeping for over two days. "I still need a few moments to rest. Plus I want to look at my book a little more."

"Oh yeah! Do you think you'll be able to read more of it soon?" The sheep chirps as she kneels back to the soft grass on her closed fists and knees.

"That's a good question." You say taking your spell book from its straps and opening it up in front of you. You flip to the page that contains the only readable line and see that none of the other letters have changed to silver-white. "I still can only read that one part. This really doesn't make sense."

"Maybe you need to just keep reading that part then? Just like with normal reading you might need to practice."

"Practicing reading this might be a little dangerous though. Remember what it did to the door of my house? And that was by accident." You say, a little afraid of the power you now hold in your hands. If the first thing you could read from this could blow up a door accidentally, why could happen if you read more from it? People might end up getting hurt. Is that worth your own curiosity? Is that even worth finding your birthplace?

"What if you just point your hand up at the sky? That way when the light beam comes out of your hand, it won't break anything." Watame suggests.

"It's worth a shot" You say after thinking it over for a second. After finishing the remainder of your sandwich, you get up and walk to an open spot on the nearby road. You look up and point your open hand towards the sky. "Here goes, the first spell, Stellar!"

Nothing happens. Confused, you try chanting the spell again, still nothing happens.

"Try getting louder!" Watame suggests.

You take a deep breath and yell the spell as loud as you can. Still nothing happens.

"Try singing it!" The sheep urges you next.

Although you are very reluctant to try, you take a deep breath and mentally prepare yourself for what you are about to try. Watame does know more about magic than you as far as you know. Her advice is potentially better than nothing.

"Stellarrrrr~ Stellarrrr~" You force your vocal cords to vibrate a rather off tune and horrendous sound into the air. Still nothing happens. So on top of embarrassing yourself, you got nothing out of it…great.

"That was uhh…good?" Watame forces herself to say, clearly trying to find the words to not utterly insult the wrenching you tried to call singing. "I'm sure if you keep practicing you'll get better!"

"That's alright Watame." You sigh as you close the book between your hands. "I had a feeling that wasn't really going to work. How strange though. I'm sure I'm pronouncing the spell just like I did before."

"You said you didn't think the spell used your mana, could you be all out of whatever it was that makes the spell work?" The sheep proposes.

"I don't think so? I felt a small pull from inside me when I cast the spell for the first time, but that feeling went away pretty quickly. I should have whatever it needs for the spell to come out again. Hopefully we meet someone who knows more about this book than we do."

"I'm sure we will Anon, are you rested enough to keep going? I can't wait to see more of this world." Watame says, barely able to keep herself still.

"Yeah, let's keep going. The world's not gonna come to us after all." You say with a smile. The spells of this book might still be a mystery, but they can't stay that way forever.

You gather your things and continue to make the trek towards the capital city of the human kingdom. You've traveled these roads before with your dad, but with Watame, every mile feels brand new. The way she smiles and giggles as a new landscape comes into view from over a hill or past the trees, is so uplifting. As the sun starts to go down, you find a small clearing not too far from the road to set up camp.

"You're really good at this Anon." Watame says as she watches you finish lighting the campfire.

"My dad taught me a lot about how to survive and travel, he said you never know how handy it is until you need it." You say as you dust your hands off and stretch yourself to a stand. "Once we get to new places we should try to find inns to stay at instead of camping out. I'm not sure what kind of things make their homes in the wilds of other lands, but it's pretty safe around here."

With the fire set, you begin to prepare a simple dinner for the two of you. A small pot, a little water, some rice grains, some seasoning mixed in with a special liquid concoction add a little heat, and presto: a plate of hearty rice, flavorful rice.

"What was it like, Anon?" Watame asks you as you both begin to eat. "When Undine possessed you?"

Now there's a question. Honestly, you aren't sure how you can explain it. You're honestly surprised you haven't been asked this already by your uncle or dad when they had the chance. They were always the type to just accept things for what they are sometimes…maybe that's where you get some of that from.

"I guess if I really had to describe what it felt like." You begin, deep in thought, trying to find the right words as you recollect the events from that point onward in your battle with Hector. "You ever have one of those dreams where you don't really feel like you're moving? But you still go from place to place? Kinda like that. I could see and hear everything that was going on through my own eyes, but I couldn't actually do anything about it."

"Mhmm! I think I understand!" Watame nods. "Wasn't it amazing to watch Undine make all that water! She was so cool!"

"She sure was!" You beam, the realization that you met and formed a pact with an ancient guardian of the waters starts to solidify within you. "When we get to the capital, they have this really big library there. I bet we can find a book or two that talks about Undine. I can start increasing my understanding of her there, and then I should be one step closer to summoning her back!"

"Yeah! I'll help you read all the books we can find until we learn more!" Watame beams back.

After dinner, you take a moment to gaze up at the night sky from your seat by the fire. The stars shine as far as the eye can see. You used to look up at the vast skyline and make wishes upon these stars. You would wish for an end to your loneliness, an end to the almost empty feeling you had deep inside. Whether it was actually the work of the stars, you can never know, but you definitely know one thing for certain. You finally have a real friend, someone who understands the same loneliness as you did.

You look over at the fluffy sheep who smiles at you happily, challenging the radiance of the stars themselves. As long as you have each other, you'll never have to feel that loneliness ever again. Together, you're going to finally see all the different places and people this world has to offer. It won't always be safe or easy, but you would protect your new friend with everything you had. Your mind then drifts back to Undine. She is definitely someone you want to consider your friend as well. You can't wait to tell her that in person.

With a full stomach and sleepy eyes, Watame yawns as she lays herself down on the soft grass.

"Good night, Anon." She says as she begins to drift off.

You are pretty tired yourself, the excitement of starting your journey pushed you along more than you realized. You lay down on your back, more content than you could remember being in a long while. You let sleep take you, eager to start the next day of your journey.

A panicked scream breaks you from your slumber as you sit up to attention. You quickly look around you to find that Watame is gone. Her scream comes again. You pick up your sword and run in the direction her voice was coming from.

As you dash toward the sound of the sheep's voice, she begins to come into view thanks to the moonlight, along with a pack of wolves in hot pursuit behind her.

"I'm right here Watame! Run to me!" You yell as you pick up your speed to meet her.

"Anon!? Help! They're gonna eat me!" Watame cries, but she then trips over her own feet and falls to the ground, an opportunity one of the wolves is too eager to take as it leaps toward its prey.

Crap! I'm not gonna make it! I only got one chance. But what if it doesn't work again? There has to be some secret to making the spell work. Maybe I can't just cast spells for no reason at all. I need to focus on something, like that wolf who wants to make a snack out of my friend! Please come out, please come out starlight. I need your power to protect Watame, blast away that wolf and save my friend!

You quickly unstrap your spell book from your waist and open it to the first spell. You focus on your target and hold your hand up as you run closer.

"This better work this time! The first spell, Stellar!"

The book shines brightly in the night as the beam of starlight leaves your hand and hits the wolf dead on, knocking it away with a yelp. The wolves that follow, stop their advance when they see what is likely the pack leader falling behind them. You reach the frightened sheep and stand in front of her.

A pack of hungry wolves and just one of me. Just great…Get a grip Anon! Now's not the time to be a chicken. You said earlier that you would protect your friend no matter what. Was that all talk!? You've fought scarier things than this already, and this time, you got a magic spell book that works! The spell came out when I had a clear purpose for it and really wanted it. Maybe that's how it works!

You grip the book tightly in your hand again, you try to focus your thoughts and feelings onto it.

You think about how you wanted these wolves to go away, to stop scaring your friend. The book begins to shine again as you bring these feelings to the surface.

"You want to get to my friend!? You're gonna have to get through this first! Stellar!"

Another beam of starlight leaves your hand and acts as a warning shot in the middle of the wolf pack. The explosion of your spell meeting the earth causes them to panic and flee. You close the book and breathe a sigh of relief. You kneel down to Watame and give her a reassuring smile and help her to stand.

"Are you okay Watame? What happened?"

"I'm sorry Anon." Watame answers downtrodden. "I had to use the little sheep's room and when I was coming back all those scary wolves surrounded me. I'm supposed to be your combat sheep, but I just got so scared. I'm sorry."

"You are a sheep after all. I don't blame you for getting scared." You say warmly as you give her blond head a small pat. "I honestly didn't think there would be wolves this close to the main roads, so that's my bad too. But there is a bright side to all this."

"Eh?" Watame looks at you with surprise.

"I was able to make the spell work again. Twice." You grin. "I think I understand how to make it work when I need to now."

"Y-You do?!" Watame's eyes light up.

"I think so, the book seems to respond to my strong emotions. I'm not really sure how else to explain it. I think I can get the hang of reading it now. Two spells back to back was a little tiring though, so how about we get a little more sleep before the sun comes up?"

Watame nods happily after hearing the progress you made because she was almost wolf chow. You really can't keep that girl down for long can you? You both return to camp where you decide to keep watch for the wolves as Watame goes back to sleep. After you are satisfied that you and Watame were going to remain alone for the rest of the night, you go back to sleep yourself.

Another day came and went as you both made your way to the human kingdom capital. Watame was still sorry for the wolf situation the night before, but she quickly bounced back saying she was not going to cower again. At first you want to tell her that it's okay to be scared of fighting, but you remember having a similar sense of conviction when you stared down Hector in the castle dungeon. You knew first hand the courage that could almost magically appear when you had something to fight for, and it makes you feel great that you inspire that kind of passion in someone else.

The closer you got to the capital the more different things there were to see. It was always amazing how plant life could be so different in just a two days walk from your old home. Streams and rivers become more of a common occurrence the further you get from the coast. The two of you take a happy break on one point to splash your bare feet in the cool waters. The steadily flowing current feels amazing on your soles. You have no idea how Watame can just keep going, and going, and going. Are demi-humans really just built that differently? Is it because she's a sheep specifically? You wonder what other races are like. Hopefully you can meet and befriend some.

After the relaxing break and soak, the two of you begin your hike once more until the sun goes down. The night thankfully passes without incident. No late night wolf encounters, just a peaceful night of rest under the stars. Your final trek towards the capital had you both walking with a spring in your steps. It was your next step toward finding some answers, it was hard to keep yourself from running.

"Hey Anon?" Watame asks. "I know your uncle said something about securing passage to the elven kingdom, how do we do that?"

"I'm actually not too sure. I only ever traveled places with my dad, and we had a horse pulled cart. Maybe they have carriages that will take you there?" You say as you wrestle with the problem in your head.

"A ride in a carriage?! That sounds fun!" The sheep chirps as her skips become even higher.

You already have a habit of getting this girl's hopes up. It seems like now you would have to find a carriage to take you to the elven kingdom, you'll probably need to pay for it, but since you didn't exactly buy things for yourself you had a decent amount of coins saved up from your share of jobs you helped your dad with.

"What are we waiting for Anon!? Let's go faster!" Watame says to you as she begins to pick up her pace with a little song.

Before you can ask her to slow down your legs begin to quicken to match her pace without your instruction. After an hour at this brisk speed, the capital of the human kingdom comes into view. Wooden and stone buildings litter its landscape with the royal castle in the center of it all. It was much better to see a castle when you were actually expecting it this time.

"There's so many buildings there, Anon!" Watame looks with awe. "Are they all people's houses?"

"Some are, some are shops too. I've been here a few times with my dad growing up. It can be easy to get lost, so make sure you stay close to me okay? Oh we should put our hoods up now too. Humans aren't too used to seeing demi-humans, so it might be better to not draw attention to ourselves for now." You say as you don the hood of your traveling cloak.

Watame nods happily as she pulls the hood of her cloak over her head, to no surprise it was also lined with a fluffy wool. The city itself is pretty much how you remember it, expertly constructed buildings of wood and stone all spanning at least two stories tall. A large populace of people all busy with their day to day lives. It was really meant to be the crown jewel of your kingdom, an example of how it could thrive and progress.

While you would like to take your time and visit some of the shops you never had time to in the past, you need to find the library first. It would also likely be less crowded there anyway. Watame seems too preoccupied with looking at all the sights to notice that you two are getting a lot of stares from various passerbys. Were the two of you really that suspicious? You would think people would have better things to do than to stare at two perfectly normal travelers.

Using your best recollection, you walk through the busy streets of the city with the fluffy sheep closeby. The feeling of unsure eyes upon you both begins to eat away at you. You take a sharp turn down a side street with Watame in tow, who still doesn't seem to notice or mind the attention from strangers. It takes a little longer, but the less populated route you take does wonders for your nerves, hopefully things are a little easier in the elven kingdom.

You eventually arrive at the steps leading up to the royal library, a massive building of white stone and marble.

"It's so pretty!" Watame gasps. "And this place is just for books?"

"That's right. It's probably the biggest library in the entire kingdom!" You say with a little excitement. "I gotta wonder if the elves have an even bigger one though. We'll have to go and see won't we?"

"Mhmm! But learning about Undine comes first!" Watame chirps as she begins to skip up the smooth white stone steps.

You follow your friend until getting to the top where you open the large wooden door and let Watame and yourself inside. The almost overwhelming scent of old books hits your nostrils as soon as you step foot inside. Shelves upon shelves of books that almost reach as high as the ceiling of the first floor can be seen in all directions. You and Watame walk up to the small reception desk in front of you where a small woman sits sorting even more books.

"Umm, excuse me." You say to try and get her attention. A woman with straight parted hair of a dull brown looks up at you with strained eyes from behind her rectangular spectacles.

"Do you know where I can find books about elemental spirits?" You say trying to get straight to the point.

"Spirits? Can you be more specific?" She asks with slight annoyance as she presses a large stamp to the inside of the book she has open.

"Elemental spirits, like magical spirits that created things like water in our world. What about anything on Undine?" You offer, trying to be more specific like she asked. You thought it was a rather straight forward request. There can't be much overlap or vagueness with the topic can there?

"Sorry, never heard of it. We have books about the magical elements, but they are restricted. You'll need special permission to access them." The receptionist says dully, clearly hoping this information sends you away.

"How do I get permission then? Those books might be helpful to me too." You ask. It may not be what you came for, but you do need to learn about magic in general anyway. A book might be the best way to start.

"You need written permission from someone high up in the mage's school. Since you are asking, I assume you don't have that." She then answers snidely.

"What about the oldest books you have that I don't need special permission to read? Where can I find those?" You say, switching up your tactics.

"Top floor in the back, take the stairs behind me and keep going until you can't anymore. Simple enough, so that you won't need me to guide you right? I'm very busy."

"Yup, thanks. Let's go, Watame." You say quickly, probably just as happy to be rid of the woman's company as she is to be rid of yours.

You and Watame take the spiraling staircase the librarian pointed to all the way to the top floor. Every floor you passed was filled to its capacity with shelves, tables, chairs, and books left anywhere that had a flat surface.

"Why do you think you need special permission to learn about magic?" Watame asks as you climb the staircase.

"No idea. I guess that's why you don't see many people doing magic out in the open here." You shrug. "If you need special permission to learn, not a lot of people are gonna know how. Although I'm not sure what harm just reading about it could do, you probably need someone to teach you how to do magic properly. How did you learn how to use your magic anyway, Watame?"

"Hmmm. I was always so happy when I played music and my happiness must just spill over into the notes I play and become magic. I never really thought about how I do it. I just think about what I want my music to do and it happens. That's just my special sheep magic." Watame beams.

That's right, Hector raved about how Watame had a lot more mana naturally than your typical human. Maybe being a demi-human allows magic to come more easily to her. Hopefully we can meet more demi-humans soon, they might have a clue as to where Watame is from, and they might be able to show me how to do magic. I'm still not even sure how to use my mana, so how to make it stronger is a complete mystery.

Once you finally reach the end of the increasingly dusty and cluttered library on the top floor, you both begin to look through any and all books you can reach. With a collection of books this old that have gone untouched for so long, there just had to be something on the elemental spirits.

After a while of nothing but irrelevant titles, and texts so worn you can barely make out what they say, you both are about ready to give up. You decide to try one last book from the back of the shelf as you blow the dust off it. "The Book of Elementia" the cover reads. You place it on the table and sit down next to Watame. You flip through its pages and scan the contents. This book catalogs creatures believed to have strong affinities for different magical elements. While that is certainly interesting, it was not really what you are hoping to find. You are about to give up when a specific passage jumps out at you.

"It is believed that a lot of the creatures with high magical affinities are the direct creations, or servants of what are known as the primal elemental spirits. These powerful beings are believed to have created the elements as we now know them." You read aloud, hope rising in your voice.

"Piecing together ancient records has allowed the discovery of the names of a few of these spirits. Celsius, the spirit of ice, Sylph, the spirit of wind, Ifrit, the spirit of fire, Undine, the spirit of water, and Gaia, the spirit of earth. Although there is no evidence to support their existence, it is also believed by some cultures that spirits that governed the sun, moon, lightning, and various other elements also played a part in shaping the world as we know it."

"You found something Anon! Keep reading, what else do they say about Undine?"

You flip through the pages with excitement, but quickly realize that was the only passage that said anything about the spirits.

"I'm afraid that's it, Watame, there's nothing else." You sigh.

"We were so close too." Watame says looking disappointed. You hate to see her lose her smile like that.

"Hey it's alright!" You say putting cheer back in your voice. "Now I know the names of some of the other spirits too. That alone puts me a step closer at being a better summoner. Maybe I will be able to call out to these other spirits like I did to Undine, someday."

"Do you think they're all family?" Watame asks with the sunshine returning to her voice.

"They might be, we should ask Undine when we get to talk to her again. Thanks for helping me look through all these books Watame. This would have taken forever without you."

The praise seemed to go far with Watame, as she wore a sudden smug pride on her face. You remember your dad teasing you for similar expressions whenever he would mention how you helped in some way. You know you shared a similar desire to help Watame in any way you can, this must be what having a true friendship is like.

The heavy sound of armored footsteps draws your attention to a lady knight coming directly toward you both. She stands at the end of the table you sit at with a wide stance, seemingly intent on blocking your exit should you choose to try and leave. Her silver white hair that falls just to her neckline compliments those light green eyes that shine with purpose, but also a glint of suspicion you are all too familiar with.

What looks to be a navy collared shirt ends at her shoulders as well as halfway down her breasts, quickly makes you avert your eyes to the black armored shoulder pad she wears accompanied with black armored gauntlets on both her arms that cover up to her elbows. A white and navy woman's tunic attempts to cover more of her body, but stops just below her waist where a white stretch of fabric showing what you assume to be her knight order's emblem covers exactly where you shouldn't be looking. Strong uncovered legs of someone who clearly had physical training begin, which finally meet with stockings just above her knees and are covered by her armored legplates. A white skirt that reaches just above her ankles which is left open in the middle, encircles her body at her waist, which then brings your eyes to the large flanged mace she wears strapped to her hip.

"I heard a report of two unfamiliar people asking for books on magic and other suspicious topics." She begins, her voice sounds soft, but it was heavy with authority. "Who are both of you, and what are you doing here?"

You motion for Watame to stay put, as you get up out of your chair and drop your hood. Somehow you drew enough attention to yourselves to make an actual knight come after you, hopefully you will be able to just talk this over.

"My name's Anon. My friend Watame and I came from a village to the south east. It's kinda a long story, but we are both on a journey to find our birth places. The only clues we have that might lead to mine, is that there might be some connection with elemental spirits and this book that was found with me as a baby." You say, not looking to divulge the entire truth just yet.

You imagine it would be hard for an actual knight to believe some boy from the coast ended up defeating a magical wizard who could move his own castle, and not to mention the entire concept of your pact with Undine. Without any real proof to show for it, all anyone would get is yours and Watame's word.

"And what's your name? You know, from one warrior to another." You say shifting your body to show the sword at your hip. Possibly a really dumb move, as you go through with the motion, but surely there had to be mutual respect among fighters.

"I am Noel Shirogane. A knight that is sworn to protect the people of this kingdom, and you come seemingly out of nowhere, armed and seeking private knowledge. I will ask you again, what are you doing in my city?" Noel says, obliging your request but clearly still annoyed that you are trying to dodge her questions.

You scramble to think of something that could help verify your story, and would convince this knight that you and Watame are not up to anything dastardly. There's only one thing you can physically show from your story is your book…it's worth a shot. You unstrap your spell book slowly as you notice one of the knight's hands hover over the handle of her mace.

"Everything I told you is true. This book was found with me, but I don't really know anything about it. I was hoping I could find out something about it in one of the really old books here. That's also why I asked for books about magic, this book might be magical too." You explain as you hold both ends of the tome open so that it can be seen that it is clearly written in some unusual language.

The knight approaches you and takes the book from your hands before flipping through its pages. Her eyes dart back between its contents and you, as if trying to find some tangible connection or is simply making sure you don't try and make a run for it.

"Since you could very well be making all of this up. You two are going to come with me." The knight commands as she closes your book before holding it under her arm. "This all looks like chicken scratch to me, but a friend of mine might know more. If she does, I just might believe your story. If you're lying, you'll be sorry."

You can only nod in agreement as Noel turns and motions for you to follow her. You look down at Watame who looks a little nervous, but there is also a strange smirk on her face. You did happen to catch how the sheep couldn't keep her eyes off the knight during the entire conversation. You admit there were parts of her you had to struggle to not let your eyes wander to, but you were also a little preoccupied with trying to get yourself out of this mess, which you might be failing.

"It'll be alright Watame" You whisper to her as she gets up behind you. "We didn't do anything wrong, so it's all gonna be okay."

This seemed to bring more of her smile back, which helps restore your own. As instructed, you both follow the lady knight down the stairs and out of the library. Now with an official escort, you might be getting more attention than before as you walk through the busy city streets. The suspicious stares from the roaming populace are short lived when they take notice of the knight leading you. Then, it's suddenly all smiles and waves to her. Most people you pass seem to know her, could she really be that big of a deal? She can't be older than you are, her last name sounds familiar though, but you can't quite place from where.

Soon after you leave the trade district of the country's capital, you find yourself in a very high end residential part of the city. Gated estates line the street accompanied with people who were clearly upper class and excited to show it. Still, they seemed to be very respectful of Noel, in addition to being happy to see her. A short walk further and you stop at the gates of the estate at the end of the street. Noel opens the barred gate and commands you both to follow her inside.

The house on the other side is certainly the largest you've ever seen up close. Four stories tall, and made with what you had to assume was the best kind of wood and brick money could buy. At the same time, it looks more welcoming than the other houses you passed, it was higher class, but practical looking too. Noel looks around and suddenly her expression brightens as she spots someone practicing archery in the courtyard alongside the house.

"Hey Flare!" Noel says as he waves her one hand in the air, her voice still soft, but the command and authority in her voice was gone, traded in for pure affection.

A girl with dark yellow hair that was tied into a long ponytail with a blue bow hears the knight's greeting and turns to run toward you all. The skirt of her white dress that rests above her thighs flourishes with her swift movement. She waves happily to Noel, with her bow still still in her other hand. When she gets closer to greet her friend, you immediately notice the tan pointy ears coming out of the thick locks of hair that cover the side of her head. Her dress was mostly white save for the neck, which was a pleasant blue with white stripes that also holds a small red bow. The same blue striped pattern accents the frill of the skirt, as well as a bow that is tied around her waist whose ribbons trailed down to the back of her knees. Big spacious white sleeves with golden cuffs trail down her arms and up into larger blue cuffs that sit just below her bare shoulders. White stockings ran all the way up her legs and seemed to be held by a garter belt, which makes your eyes go as fast as they could downward, to her blue shoes.

"Noel. Good Afternoon." She says as she takes Noel's free hand in an endearing hello. "Are you done with your patrolling already? It seems early. Who did you bring with you? Are they new recruits or something?"

"These are two suspicious strangers I was asked to look into at the royal library. The boy here claims they are looking for their homelands. The only clue he seems to have is this book, but I can't read a word of it. Do you think it's even a real language?" Noel says, the authority and purpose back in her tone, as she hands the elf your book.

As the girl flips through the pages of your book, you admit silently that you are not too thrilled about the only possible clue to your origins being passed around like some keg of ale, but if this somehow proves your innocence and possibly leads to answers, you can live with that.

"It's no language I've ever seen." The girl shakes her head to her friend. "But I don't think anyone could even make this up just for a cover story, Noel. What were these two doing when you found them?"

"I got word that two suspicious characters were asking about the restricted books in the royal library, and when they were told they couldn't have them, they settled for whatever is in the oldest section. Something about trying to find out about elemental spirits." Noel explains as she waves off the idea of that last bit with one of her hands.

"There's actually something else we are trying to do while we're here." Watame suddenly speaks up while trying to keep the top of her head covered.

"So she has a voice after all." Noel remarks. "I thought your friend did all the talking for you."

"This is just my first time in a city this big. I've been a little nervous, so Anon has been helping me." Watame starts nervously before she looks your way slightly, until she seems to find the courage she needs to continue. "We are trying to get into the elven kingdom. We think that if we go there, we can find where our homes are. If it will make you feel better, we will leave as soon as we find a way to get there, we've done nothing wrong."

"That's right. That's where we aim to go." You join in. "I just wanted to stop in the royal library first to see if there were any clues while we were here. We really don't want to cause any trouble. Could you maybe also help us find a way to get there, since you might be from there? I promise we'll be out of your hair as soon as we can." You say looking straight at the elf girl.

"I'm afraid it might be a bit more complicated than that." A gruff man's voice comes from behind you.

A tall older man approaches you, dressed in what you recognize to be the clothing of someone who currently is or once was high ranking in the kingdom's army. A well pressed white shirt sits comfortably under a full length vest that sports the blues, whites and grays of the kingdom's colors. The beige pants that reach to the beginning of his brown leather boots look to be stitched together with the highest quality cloth. His combed back black hair along with his curled mustache and goatee combo, gives him an air of command and experience similar to that of your uncle, and your dad to a lesser extent.

"Hello Noel" He says warmly. "Brought a few guests have you?"

"Noel was told these two were acting strangely in the royal library, father." Flare says.

"So I've heard, but they claim to be just a couple of travelers bound for the elven kingdom?" The man says as he looks over to you and Watame while giving his beard a brief stroke. "I think the people may have confused a country boy and a demi-human just passing through, for an actual threat."

"A demi-human?" Noel looks at you and Watame in surprise, scanning the both of you for some obvious sign she might have missed.

"That's right! I'm a sheep." Watame chirps as she lets her hood down, showing off her pride as a sheep. She then fans herself slightly with one of her hands. "I was getting a little warm, so I'm glad I don't need to hide it anymore."

While Flare and Noel are curious to see Watame up close, you look to the man who was apparently Flare's father. He had the type of eyes that could pierce right through you. You've noticed your dad uses that same level of perception with total strangers, and not to mention you yourself. It was pointless to not tell the whole truth now. No matter how clever of a lie you tried to tell your dad or uncle, they somehow always knew where exactly to prod to make it fall apart.

"Alright." You begin which breaks Noel's and Flare's fascination with Watame, and brings their attention back to you. "I didn't exactly tell you the full story back at the library, Noel."

"I knew you were hiding something." She spits back, frowning.

"Hey, everything I did tell you is true. We are just trying to find our homes, but it didn't start out that simple." You say, before telling the tale of the black castle that suddenly appeared at your nearby village. You describe what happened with Hector and his dark magic, meeting Watame, Undine, and everything else until you left your dad and uncle. You omitted the part about how your book is actually a spell book. The fact that the thing can make a beam of starlight erupt from your hands strong enough to punch holes in doors would not make the situation any better.

While Flare and Noel listen to your story with skeptical looks on their faces, the older man keeps his expression completely unreadable until you finish.

"I don't buy it." Noel says flatley. "Flying castles, water spirits, possession?! With you, some boy who has only ever practiced and never actually fought with a sword."

"It is a pretty tall tale." Flare concurs. "But why would he try to lie about all that, Noel? I don't even know how you could make up such a story. I imagine it's not easy to describe such dangers without living through them."

"You said you had training from your adoptive father and uncle? What are their names?" The older man asks, his intrigue starting to show.

"My dad's name is Fineas Glansbourough, and my uncle is Gunther Harthwell." You say proudly.

"I see. WIth them instructing you, I can believe that you were able to survive such an ordeal." Flare's father remarks with even more interest.

"I don't think I understand, Mr. Shiranui." Noel interjects. "I don't recall ever hearing those names. Who are they? Why do they give any credit to this boy's story?"

"It is expected you would not know their names Noel. They had retired from the royal army before you were even born. I had not met Anon's father personally, but I knew Gunther from our time in the kingdom's service. All the soldiers under Gunther's wing were talented, honorable people, and he was not exactly known for going easy on them either. With them shaping this lad's sword arm, he stood a much better chance than most. I will give Anon the benefit of the doubt."

"Could we confirm their story though?" Flare asks. "Noel, why don't you send someone to see if they are telling the truth? They can also stay here meanwhile, so you don't have to worry about them running off."

"Wonderful Idea Flare." Mr. Shiranui says. "It has been a while since we had guests. Does that sound fair to you Noel?"

"It does. I'll even go confirm it myself. If your story ends up being true, we will have no more problems." Noel says before giving Flare a big hug goodbye and begins to walk before stopping to turn toward you and Watame. "You better not upset Flare while I'm gone either."

The way she says that last part was borderline threatening and sends a slight shiver down your spine, and how she points to her two eyes and then back to you sternly only cements that the threats are just for you. You've somehow only been on your own for a couple days and already earned threats on your person from a knight…lovely.

When Noel disappears from your view you feel a considerable weight lift from your shoulders. You know that you and Watamae have done nothing wrong, but it was still stressful to be viewed as guilty until proven innocent.

"Thanks for that, Mr. Shiranui was it?" You ask, offering your hand to the older man.

"That's right." He says, shaking your hand in a firm strong grip. "I suppose it is time for proper introductions. I am Hiro Shiranui."

"And I'm Flare Shiranui. It's nice to meet you both!" Flare says with a smile. "I've never had the chance to meet a demi-human before. I like your horns."

"Thank you! I'm very proud of them. I like your dress. The bows are very pretty." Watame returns the compliment with her brightest smile.

"I'm gonna take Watame to see our garden father!" Flare says, taking Watame by the arm and leading her towards the back of the estate. "Do you like flowers, Watame? We have flowers from all over the kingdom in our backyard."

"Yes! Anon has shown me so many beautiful things on our way here, I want to see everything!" The sheep exclaims as she can be seen trying to keep herself from skipping while being led by the elf.

"Would you join me inside Anon?" Mr. Shiranui asks you. "I did not give you a proper answer to your question earlier. If you are worried about also getting to see the flowers, my study overlooks the back garden, you won't miss a thing."

While you would rather stay close to Watame, you figure it might be good for her to have some time with another girl, so you comply with your host's request and follow him into his home. Flare did seem genuinely happy to start talking to Watame too, maybe because they were both non-humans in a human city?

Mr. Shiranui brings you through his impressive home, an abode that showcases elegance and comfort. The top layer of the floor is made of brilliant white tiles, and the walls are painted with a welcoming cream white. Various framed paintings of landscapes hang on the walls above decorations of vases, wooden tables which hold smaller framed photos of Flare and her father, and smaller potted plants.

You follow your host up the spiraling staircase that begins at the other side of the foyer and to his study at the end of the hall. A large wooden desk that is littered with what appear to be maps, scrolls, and all manner of writing utensils takes up almost the entire left side of the room. A pair of large red armchairs that face each other sit directly ahead from the study's doorway, next to the window that likely overlooks the garden. Mr. Shiranui sits in one and invites you to do the same. It was probably the most comfortable chair you ever sat in, supportive, yet cushy.

"So, the reason why asking Flare to take you to the elven kingdom is rather complicated." He begins as he holds the tips of his fingers to one another. "Is because she is actually a half-elf, and like you she is also adopted. I am not her biological father."

"Is she?" You blurt out, and then instantly feel rude for asking. "I suppose now that you mention it she does look a tiny bit different than other elves I've seen before."

"I would say she inherited her physical build from her human half. Most elves are much more dainty than she is." Mr. Shiranui clarifies.

"Did you know her parents?" You then ask a much more appropriate question.

"I'm afraid not. Flare was brought to me as an infant by one of my soldiers while we were departing from the elven lands. He said he was approached by an elven woman asking him to find this baby a home. Before my report could press for more information, or even argue, the woman apparently said her parents had met their untimely demise while she handed the man the bundled up infant. The world was a very dangerous place back then, so these types of occurrences, while tragic, were not exactly rare. Since I was going to retire from active duty anyway, I decided to take Flare in as my own."

"Guess Flare and I have that much in common anyway." You say as you take in her father's story. "I don't know who my parents were either, they could still be alive for all I know. That's part of why I'm on this journey, to find answers."

"You'll forgive me for asking this, but why do you think answers involving your birthplace will lie there? You look about as human as myself or your uncle." Mr. Shiranui inquires.

"The elven lands might at least have some clues for me, but I'm more hoping that someone there might know where we can find more demi-humans like Watame. I really want to help her find her home and maybe her family if they're still out there looking for her. I'm still confused about one thing though, Mr. Shiranui. How does Flare being a half-elf make things complicated?"

"She has never actually visited her homelands, Anon. While I am retired, I am heavily involved with the kingdom's governance. A lot of different people seek my council on what might be the best course of action, and I feel it is still my duty to help ensure the prosperity of our kingdom. So I have never had enough time to take Flare to see her homelands myself." The man answers with slight regret in his voice.

"Could she not go on her own? What about her friend Noel? They seem to really care for one another." You ask. You can understand how hard it is to make that first step on your own, but you like to think that if you knew where your homelands were already, you would have the courage to seek them out as soon as you could.

"Noel is indeed her closest, and unfortunately only true friend in this city. I think the two of us are part of why she never left." Mr. Shiranui begins to explain, which only earns an even more confused look from you. The old soldier seems to find this amusing as he chuckles and his expression lightens.

"I guess it is a good thing in a way that I have to explain this to you. That means you're a good person. Flare is treated a little differently because she is a half-elf. People are civil enough with her, but she has never made any real connections with anyone but Noel and myself."

"I can kinda relate to that. People treated me a little differently too just because I came from somewhere else. My dad and uncle were the only people who really treated me like a person." You lament.

"And it is for a similar reason I think Flare has chosen not to leave to find her roots. I imagine she fears what might happen if she goes, and Noel and myself are not there to find comfort in should things go poorly. I must admit, I am sometimes saddened to think that she holds herself back. I know she would be content to be a vassal for Noel, but I know she could do so much more."

"That reminds me, a lot of people in the city seem to recognize and know Noel. Who exactly is she? She doesn't seem older than me, but she's that important to this city?"

"Noel Shirogane is the leader of the Shirogane knight order, one of the most powerful orders in the whole kingdom." Mr. Shiranui says matter of factly.

"Wait. THAT Shirogane?!" You gasp as you almost jump out of your seat. "I thought the name was familiar but I wasn't able to make the connection. My dad used to talk about how they had some of the strongest warriors around. And she's their leader?!"

"Her father was their leader until he passed away earlier this year. Since then, Noel has taken up the mantle and has been doing her best to live up to her father's legacy. Make no mistake, her strength in combat gives her more than enough merit for the title. The girl has raw natural talent I have never seen before in a knight. Her strength is also unmatched among them, and it will only increase with age and experience. She cares a lot about this kingdom and her people like her father did, so she puts everything she has into keeping them safe."

The idea that someone like Flare would still be treated poorly by others even when her best friend and adoptive father were so well respected and looked up to by the people baffles you for a moment. You quickly remember that even though your dad and uncle were well respected, that still did not stop the villagers from judging you either. You guess that people will keep their prejudices no matter who you may know.

You turn your head to the nearby window overlooking the garden. You see Watame and Flare happily talking with each other. Watame has a smile that could stretch for miles, and Flare also seemed to be enjoying the conversation they were having.

"So you and Noel really can't leave the kingdom for long huh?" You try to confirm.

"I'm afraid not. If I knew an exact place to go where we could find information about Flare's parents, that would be one thing, but we would basically have to start from square one. Not to mention that my entire presence might interfere with the investigation. Tensions are high between our two kingdoms. If two high ranking people, such as Noel and myself start strutting through turning over every rock we can find, it might make things even worse."

An idea suddenly hits you as you continue to look at Watame and Flare laughing and smiling together.

"If it's okay with you Mr. Shiranui, I'd like to ask Flare to join Watame and I. The two of us know what it's like to not know where you come from. Our homes might be a bigger mystery, but Flare's is right there. We can help her find out about her parents. We can be there for her too if things get tough. It looks like Watame and her have already become fast friends, and Watame is one of the best friends you could hope to have." You say with a smile as you are reminded of how much the fluffy sheep has helped you with already.

"Perhaps this is just what Flare needs." Mr. Shiranui says, almost to himself after pondering over your proposal for a moment. "You can certainly ask her Anon, but it will ultimately be up to her. Gunther and his subordinate had certainly raised a fine lad. I almost feel bad that Noel is wasting time confirming a story I now know to be true. But it never hurts to be completely sure."

"Thank you. I'm gonna go ask her now." You say walking toward the study's doorway.

"I think I'll join you." Mr. Shiarnui says, getting up from his chair and taking the lead to show you the way downstairs and to the garden.

A door in a back room on the first floor past a rather expensive dining hall and kitchen, leads out to the colorful and expansive garden that grows behind the estate. As the two of you walk out, Flare and Watame come running over to the two of you, both wearing wreaths made of different colored flowers on their heads. You can't help but notice the content expression on Mr. Shiarnui's face, seeing Flare quickly connect with another person, must make him happy. You look toward Watame and Flare now. Both were looking much happier than when you had arrived here, and you also want to say you see a fire of determination in Flare's orange eyes as she looks at her father.

"Watame told me all about what she and Anon have been through together, father. I want to help Watame find her parents if they are still out there." The half-elf says confidently.

This caught Mr. Shiarnui off guard for an instant, you guess having Flare beat you the punch came as a surprise. His eyes quickly regain their commanding composure which gives you the feeling things may not be as simple as you want to believe.

"And how exactly do you plan to help her?" He asks.

"I'll go with her and Anon to the elven kingdom. Talking with Watame reminded me that I too want to know about where I came from. So, I'll finally go there and help them find the answers they are looking for."

"I see. You are aware Noel and I cannot accompany you right? And you still want to go?" Flare's father asks as his eyes narrow on his daughter.

You could see the troubled look on Flare's face as she considered her fathers words. However, it is short lived as the fire in her eyes returns.

"I do, father. I know you and Noel are needed here, but Watame and Anon could use my help. I know how they must be feeling. That makes me want to help them even more. May I go with them? Please?"

"Well I don't think it is entirely up to me." Mr. Shiranui says playfully. "Anon? Watame? What do you think?"

"Of course you can come Flare!" Watame says, wrapping Flare in a soft hug. "She can come with us right Anon? She's really nice, and I want to help her find out about her parents too. She's a lot like us."

"I was going to ask her if she wanted to come with us anyway just so you know." You say stepping towards Flare, who looks in surprise at your response."Your father told me how you don't know a whole lot about where you come from either, so if we can find out more about all of our homes in the same place, why shouldn't we go together, right? If Watame wants you along, that's more than good enough for me."

"You really mean it? Just like that?" Flare asks in disbelief. "Even though Noel and I didn't trust your story at first?"

"Hey, I lived it and I'm still getting used to the fact it happened." You say with a soft chuckle. "So no worries. I'm glad you want to come along with us, Flare."

Before Flare can respond her father clears his throat to make himself known.

"Well with that part out of the way, I do have two conditions of my own regarding this matter. The first is that we await for Noel's return to verify your story Anon. While I do believe you, I want to make absolutely certain of it. Not to mention if you are going to be leaving for a journey of your own Flare, Noel should hear that directly from you."

"You're right, father." Flare agrees, while she looks to be coming to grips with what might be a very difficult conversation. "I need to tell Noel myself about this. What is the second condition?"

"I will reveal that once Noel returns. Now, how about we go back inside for something to eat. I assume our new friends are hungry after just arriving here this morning." Flare's father answers with a kind smile as he gestures for everyone to go back inside the estate.

At the mention of food, your stomach involuntarily growls along with Watames, earning a small chuckle from both your hosts. Between the excitement of finding clues on Undine and the stress of being more or less interrogated, you had forgotten you hadn't eaten since breakfast.

A pleasant late lunch is provided to you by Flare and her father inside the estate's lavish dining room. You help yourself to a variety of high grade fruits, vegetables, cuts of meat. You can't remember the last time you had food this fresh. Watame is eating everything even faster than you are. While every new flower or tree has been new to her so far, you can only imagine how it must feel to eat real food for the first time in ages.

"So at the library they told me you needed special permission to read books about magic. What's the deal with that?" You ask your hosts between bites.

"Here in the capital, the learning of magic is reserved for those who are accepted into the mages school." Flare begins. "The school typically only accepts applicants from noble families and specific individuals who have a natural gift for mana."

"But mana is something everyone has, even if it's a small amount, you can use it for good." Watame says.

"So do you know any magic Flare?" You ask, realizing the subject of segregation was not one you should let linger.

"I know a little. Just a few simple spells I was able to teach myself." Flare says modestly.

"You do?" You exclaim, unable to contain your enthusiasm as you place your hands on the table and prop yourself up more. "I need someone who can teach me how to use my mana. If I'm ever gonna improve my mana enough to summon Undine again, I need to start being able to use it properly. Will you be my teacher?"

"I'm not sure how much help I can be." Flare says, a little taken aback by the sudden request. "But I suppose I can give it a try."

"Thank you Flare! Can we get started right now?"

"Now now." Mr. Shiranui interjects before Flare can answer. "You have had quite the intense week Anon. A good fighter knows when to let their body rest. I think it would be wise to hold off on magic lessons until later."

"That sounds like something my uncle would say…but I guess you're right. I'm still trying to get used to a lot of things. I guess it couldn't hurt to rest more." The winds being taken out of your sails somewhat, as you slump back down into your seat.

"There will be plenty of time to learn magic as we travel." Watame says. "Since Flare's gonna come with us, she can help us both get better."

That was a good point, but you still couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. You did have to admit that after a full stomach, you were feeling tired again. You decide to take Mr. Shiranui's invitation to nap in one of the guest rooms while Flare and Watame continue to get to know each other better.

A heavy knock on the front door downstairs awakes you several hours later. You stretch and get off of the still made bed. A short nap could certainly do wonders sometimes, you feel much more energized now. You can hear Noel's and Mr. Shiranui's voices faintly from downstairs, so you decide to leave the guest room and go downstairs. You were not expecting Noel to be back so soon. What took you and Watame over two days to travel, took her a fraction of that on horseback? Maybe horses of a knight order are just built differently.

"Ah Anon. Perfect timing. Noel has just returned." Mr. Shiranui says to you when he notices you come down the stairs. "And what did you find out, Noel?"

"That it's all true." She says almost regretfully. "The castle, the wizard, even the water spirit. Everything Anon was saying is the truth."

"Splendid, is there anything else, Noel?"

The lady knight sighs. "I'm sorry I gave you and your friend such a hard time. It won't happen again." She says with her face turned away from you like a scolded child. "Where is your friend anyway?"

"I believe Flare and Watame are both outside in the garden, the night air is quite enjoyable this time of year." Mr. Shiranui answers. "Come, there is something Flare must tell you, Noel."

The three of you go back outside into the back garden where Flare and Watame can be seen enjoying each other's company under the stars as they begin to come out. Flare notices the three of you and immediately comes to greet Noel.

"So was it all true Noel?" Flare asks her.

"It was. You were right, Flare, no one could have made it all up." Noel almost forced herself to repeat that fact.

"I'm glad. Watame and Anon are very nice people, you know. The three of us have a bit in common." The half-elf says with a warm smile.

You watch Flare as she was seemingly having an internal battle with herself. Telling someone you care a lot for that you'll be leaving for some unknown amount of time is certainly easy. You're lucky that your dad and uncle were practically shoving you out the door to so speak, or you might have struggled similarly to how Flare is right now. From how Mr. Shiranui made it sound, her and Noel have been inseparable almost their whole lives. You've only known Watame a few days and know you wouldn't want to part from her for very long, so you can only imagine how much harder this must be for Flare. You watch the half-elf look over at you, and then back to Watame. A pure look of certainty flickers in her eyes.

"Noel. I'm going to go with Watame and Anon. I'm going to go with them to the elven kingdom." She finds the courage to finally say.

Noel looks shocked, she isn't sure how to respond, but Flare continues.

"They both have spent their whole lives not knowing where they came from. Poor Watame spent most of her life alone, but they were able to help each other take that first step forward to find their homes. I want to make a difference Noel, I want to help them both. I also want to find my origins as well. I want to find out who my parents were, I might even still have family in the elven kingdom. So I have to go with them." Flare says with growing confidence.

"I'll go with you then." Noel blurts out, placing both her hands on the half-elfs arms. "You don't have to do this alone, we've always had each other, and we can keep it that way."

Flare shakes her head. "As much as I would love that, you are needed here, Noel. I know how much the people of this kingdom mean to you. How much the Shirogane order means to you. I know you don't think so, but they need you."

On the verge of tears Noel hugs her friend tightly. "I hate that you won't be nearby, but I'm proud of you, Flare. I want you to find out everything you can about your heritage. I always wished I could do it for you. I'll keep making the Shirogane knight order even stronger, so you will always have a safe home to come back to."

"Thank you Noel." Flare says hugging back, almost crying herself now.

"About that second condition I mentioned earlier." Mr Shirauni says breaking up the tender moment. "A test of strength. Against Noel."

Flare looks puzzled by the request. "But father, Noel and I have sparred plenty of times before, you know I can't match her strength."

"And who said it was to test your strength?" He asks back, as his eyes shift to you and Watame.

"What? Father, you can't be serious. I don't see the point." The half-elf starts to panic a little.

"If my daughter is going to be traveling with these two, I want to be sure they won't be dead weight on her. You are very skilled, Flare, but you need to be able to rely on your allies just as much as they can rely on you."

"There must be another way we can prove ourselves." You say, your own worry starts to mount. "Watame doesn't have any formal training or experience. I only had my first real fights a couple days ago. I don't think I would be much of a match for the head of a knight order."

"That is my condition, and it is final. And one more thing. Noel, I can tell when you are holding back, so if you do, Anon and Watame will automatically lose."

A match with an actual knight is probably already more than I can probably handle! Let alone a leader of the strongest order of knights in the country. I only survived the fights I did because my opponents were half my size…and if Noel is as strong as Flare's dad says she is, I have no chance. She can't even pull any punches either. What the hell am I gonna do?

"Let's do it Anon." Watame says to you with conviction in her eyes.

"Watame hold on, there might be something else we can do instead. Noel is a fully trained knight, and apparently one of the strongest in this kingdom. I don't think I can do a whole lot against that." You feel the need to point out, pride be damned.

"Then it's a good thing you got me." Watame winks at you. "We need to do this Anon. I want to prove to you that I have your back, no matter what comes our way. I want to show I can support you and Flare through whatever troubles we face. I want to help Flare however I can."

Those wide purple eyes look back at you with such courage that you really start to believe you might have a chance after all. Your trust in this brave sheep and your desire to help her got you this far. It's time to see how much further you could go.

"Alright. We accept. A test of strength against Noel. When do we start?" You say to Flare's father, Watame's confidence influencing your own.

"Right now, I think would be good." Mr Shiranui says. "Come, the training grounds are around the corner."

The pieces started to come together in your mind. He had this all planned. It was why he encouraged you to get some rest, but what you can't quite figure out is why he would place such a powerful obstacle in Flare's way. Or why he was apparently trying to tip the odds in your favor, even if it was only slightly. It was two against one after all though. You also have your spell book. Hopefully both those things could give you enough of an advantage to achieve a win somehow.