I was beset once again by nightmares as I slept. Morning light flooded in through an open light in the ceiling; Betiara must have opened it as we slept. She wasn't in the room, but I could hear small huffs of air in the kitchen area. It was nice to hear her practice her forms again. I listened, waking myself as gently as possible, letting visuals of her motions fill my hazy inner vision. We had a goal today: to adventure, and to use that as a political example for opposing war. Adjusting to presented opportunities would be required for us to see ourselves forward. I retrieved my Spell Tome and stepped out of the room as quietly as I could. Betiara's senses were too keen for my approach. She quickly passed me a kiss on the forehead before returning to her practice, and I sat myself in the corner to review my spells. My selection would have to be versatile both in and out of combat; there was no anticipating what we would find outside the city walls, but whatever we found on the surface would surely be more pleasant than what lurked underground.
My fingers tapped an idle rhythm on my tome as I pieced through my selections. I could memorize about ten spells at a time now. A suite of defensive spells were selected alongside my less destructive offensive options. The plains and the forest outside the city were not a responsible setting for Fireball, and Invisibility would be superfluous with Betiara's presence. I felt confident about my choices as I closed my tome and leaned back against the kitchen wall. Cold radiating through dampened windows turned my attention to an overcast sky. Warmth from the city's heating system met the windows to form a light layer of condensation on the glass. The swirled lens it created painted the outside in gorgeous proportions; it was often smaller details like this that grabbed my attention the most. I stared out the window, wondering what the day would bring with it. Betiara sat next to me once she finished with her forms and stared out the window as well. "Cold day," she said quietly.
"It’s warmer with you," I replied, inspiring us to lean our heads together. "Thanks for opening the light."
"Of course. You were rolling around last night; are you still having nightmares?"
"Every night," I lamented. It was a terrible prospect for my future; my sleep may never be easy again. I had slept so well in Karthos Bend, and now, every morning, I felt exhausted.
"I'm sure there's a way to rid you of them," she offered in assurance. "You, Sekvi, and Lilika are forming stronger spells all the time; if we don't have the answer, then maybe a healer at a temple could help you."
"Is that a thing?"
"Of course. People need medical care." I hadn't considered how medical care was conducted here. Lilika's presence was a luxury I was eager to embrace, but if she couldn't fix my head, Beitara's suggestion could have some merit. "I'd go with you."
"Thank you. If it doesn't go away soon, then, yeah. Please." I closed my eyes and allowed myself to feel vulnerable with my significant other. It was still so hard to believe that I had found such a person in this world, or in any world. She was steadfast, principled and endlessly caring. All of my friends were, of course, but Betiara was different. She was willing to go great distances for the sake of us. I worried that I didn't reciprocate this care as much as I could, but whether that worry had any ground was beyond my biased self-evaluation. "I really want you to feel that you can make a difference, Betiara. I want to help you do that."
"I know, love. You try, I see it. Are you still worrying about our meeting with the rats?"
"Yeah. I feel like I gave you a chance and then just, christ, it was not a graceful death." Betiara smiled and took my hand in her paw, tracing over it with her thumb.
"You were doing the right thing by telling them the truth. Their terms are theirs, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. It happens." I shifted my weight to nestle against her more closely.
"Thank you. It's... it was all for you. I want to help people, too, but I don't know this world well enough to work at this scale." I sighed, pressing my face into her scruff. "I was hoping to watch you and Sekvi work, and learn from that."
"Well, let's start at the bottom, then." Her paw ventured lower, which instantly made me tense up. I quickly found myself enveloped not in pleasure, but the opposite: I was being tickled.
"Aaeeaaa! Stop oh my god Betiaraaa," I gasped as I attempted to wriggle away from her. She was unfortunately stronger and faster than I was, so I was now locked in this prison of everlasting suffering.
"This reminds me of the time I surprised you on the boat."
"Stop tickling meeeeee!" It was time to deploy my secret weapon. I reached up with both hands and scratched the sides of Betiara's neck! With my prey in my clutches, I climbed atop Mt. Werewolf and sank her to the floor. The others emerged from their rooms to see me kneeling over a blepping Betiara while providing her favorite form of scratches. "Morning! I caught a werewolf. She snuck up on me but I used my big wizard brain to snare her." Lilika smiled widely at the visual and clapped her hands.
"Astounding," Sekvi exclaimed in accordance with jest. "Such a fearsome creature, defeated by a bookbeetle! You must be a powerful wizard indeed!"
"The most powerful on this side of the Karths!"
"Having fun, fluffy?"
"Pbhut ub, pheff."
"What's that?" Keff leaned forward and brought his hand to his ear. "I can't understand you over the sound of Madison winning."
"Love, let me up so I can eat him."
"Pray to your maker, Keff, for the beast hungers!" I dramatically rolled off of Betiara's back, leaving her free to leap forward without hesitation. She tumbled over Keff and pinned him down, but the dwarf easily shoved her up and back to her feet.
"Not hungry enough," he chuckled as he stood up. "Good to see you two happy, but maybe no tickling until we're awake next time."
"I make no promises," Betiara countered as she hugged me from behind. She knew I liked that. "Sorry, though."
"It's alright, sweetie. How did everyone sleep?"
"Splendidly, I must say!"
"Eh," Keff offered with a shrug. "It was a little warm."
"I slept fine." Betiara's previous description of how I slept, however, told me that she likely didn't. She was lying to spare my feelings. I gave her arm a gentle squeeze.
"We might visit a temple soon," I explained. "I can't shake the nightmares."
"What is the nature of these nightmares? Perhaps I could contact friends within the Conclave."
"They're memories that aren't mine. Dark, just, sounds and sensations." The faces of my friends told me that they were as worried as I was. Resolving to seek aid today if we had time, and tomorrow if we didn't, we began breakfast. I felt freer and more assured without the specter of social obligations hanging over me. This let me observe the others as we ate together. Lilika enjoyed dipping her bread in her soup. Sekvi, like me, sectioned the forward-facing part of their bread as they ate it in an even fashion. Keff ate his bread first, whereas Betiara finished her soup before touching her bread once. She ate the vegetables and lentils from it first, and then drank the rest in a series of gulps. The moment felt so cozy and close. I felt confident in the camaraderie we shared. Once breakfast was done, Sekvi, Keff and Betiara readied themselves for the day while Lilika and I wrapped lunches of dumplings for everyone.
Song was provided for our procession by the illustrious Sekvi the Song Weaver, their symphonia chanting away as we made our way to Nereved's West gate. The spectacle embarrassed Betiara and I, but the rest of our troupe enjoyed the attention. Sekvi and I were known figures that drew further looks of enjoyment. Betiara and Keff, in their stoic way, cast an air of duty that only bolstered Sekvi's song of inflated heroism. The entire endeavor was, in truth, hilarious to me. Lilika thought so, as well; her smile radiated in the likeness of the night sky. I wondered if it would kill me to enjoy the moment as they all were. In light of this thought, I offered meager waves to passersby that made eye contact. The people seemed happy that their history was being expounded upon, but inner conflict raged while I considered all the awful things that could come of Old Nere's remnants. Waiting for unpredictable outcomes was never something I enjoyed, but for now, I made an effort.
Sekvi's song peaked in a final, flourishing chord as we passed the city walls. I breathed a sigh of relief in the expanse that opened before us. It was a complete and utter blessing to be free of the air I now realized was smoggy with residential fires. The weather was cool enough to warrant the cinder block that would keep me warm on the plains. We would reach Alpos, the largest village in the area, in an hour's time. It contrasted the rising hills and forest on the horizon, painting a comforting pastoral scene for the day. I couldn't help but close my eyes and spread my arms into the breeze. Lilika's affirming hand brushed against my back in support of this motion. I wanted to heal, to embrace possibility, to see where the day would take us. Trauma had marked me in a way that may not be reversible, but if I gave up on making progress, then there was no point in breathing. A deep breath of fresh air filled me with bracing calm. "So, as we've an hour to fill," Sekvi began as they met my eyes, "it's been some time since I've observed your English, Madison. I think it could be both entertaining and enlightening to hear more of it."
They enjoyed putting me on the spot a little too much. I chuckled in memory of our last session of English study, which had been conducted on the deck of the river barge. "Fine, um, where should we start?"
"Well, we've completed our study of numbers, subject-verb agreements... plurals, as well. Perhaps an overview of phonetics would be informative."
"Alright. So... where do we start?" Sometimes Sekvi needed a moment to warm up.
"We can provide sentences for you to translate. To begin... 'the sky looks beautiful over the water.'"
"The sky looks beautiful over the water."
"Huh. It sounds so... round," Betiara said with a smile. "Round, but kind of blocky."
"I'm from East Pennsylvania, so that's about right." This exercise, along with the teasing, continued for several minutes while Sekvi took notes. There was something refreshing about traveling with my friends. I held less pleasant memories of our flight from Karthos Valley, but they had supported me even then. Afterward, we were all cooped up on a boat for a month and a half, which was a choice we made. This shared quality with the latter journey made today's venture all the nicer in my mind. The way my friends laughed together signaled their similar enjoyment. Today felt brighter than the sky would suggest, and said light scattered the lonely darkness within me. My eyes closed to reveal a scene that wasn't dark, but equal to present daylight, my wings spread over the blowing wind. I grew calm as I imagined myself as a large creature surrounded by my loved ones. Each twitch of my wings responded to the air around me, my tail swished as I walked, and my head ascended in contentment. It almost felt real.
Sekvi's hand rested upon my shoulder. I opened my eyes to find their bemused, green face brightening our surroundings further. "Don't drift too far now; we're nearly there."
"Oh, good. I was daydreaming."
"Not nightmares, I hope," offered Keff.
"No, it was a good one. I think I may have found a lead to follow in assuming my, um, draconic shape." If I could chase that feeling far enough, it could lead me to establishing my draconic form. I hoped its pursuit would soon bear fruit. "I imagined myself walking with you all as a dragon, and it felt... right. The feeling compounded on itself and in a way that makes me think it could be pushed further."
"An instinctual Polymorph," Sekvi mused aloud with their finger to their chin. "I would imagine the spell requiring far more work to establish."
"It almost sounds druidic," Lilika added.
"Give us a warning if you get close; I don't feel like getting any shorter." Laughter erupted at Keff's joke.
"No, yeah, I will." Looking ahead confirmed that we weren't far from Alpos now. "You know, I'm worried about this whole dragon thing. I feel like it'll bring so much attention that I don't want... it already is. Is that something you all can stomach?"
"I'll repay what you did for me in Letvel," Betiara said without an ounce of uncertainty, a yellowed fang announcing a confident grin. The others chimed their assurance of this notion.
"The ayes have it," Sekvi proclaimed while playing a dramatic chord with their symphonia. "Oooohhhhh-"
"Don't over sell it." Keff's hand gently lay upon the strings of the instrument.
"Jubilation does the heart well, Keff, but fine! I will abstain... for now," they teased.
"We've earned the opportunity to live a little," Lilika insisted. "You and I aren't getting any younger, Keff."
"I'm only 37!"
"And I'm only 47, but our birthdays are coming up, aren’t they?"
"Don't remind me," Keff said as he crossed his arms. This assertion invited Betiara to avenge all the teasing she had suffered at his hands. I couldn't help but smile in anticipation as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Oh, Keff, that reminds me, your birthday is coming up." Laughter erupted once more. It was hard to tell for sure, but I saw Keff's beard shift in a way that suggested a smile lay underneath. We reached the village minutes later. Sekvi announced us as an adventuring party, a label that felt too large to fit correctly, and assured the people that we were here to assist them. We quickly found tasks fit for our respective skill sets. Tilling a garden plot, babysitting, tracking a lost dog, and assessing the needs of horses kept the others busy while I tended the villagers' clothing. It was humble work that we didn't mind doing; I almost felt like I was back in Karthos Bend with a single coin in my pocket and mercantile hope on my mind. Most were grateful for our work, though one curmudgeon sardonically asked if my magical studies only amounted to doing laundry. I declined to answer her as I adjusted my Conclave sash, knowing that I could bring her house down with a well-placed Shatter. The mere air of that thought soured my mood more than her comment.
My mood had recovered by the time we were out of tasks to complete. Our reward was more food than we could reasonably eat in a day, which would save Lilika a grocery run. We set up shop beside a storage shed to prepare lunch for ourselves. Fresh millet and previously prepared dumplings were complimented well by a type of spicy hummus. With our stomachs warm and full, we were departing the village when we encountered a small band of nomads. They told us of trouble up the road: a group of foragers had disappeared in the forest, and so we had a new task before us. Before departing, however, Lilika bought a diamond from them. She assured me that it would be the vehicle for revival should one of us fall in battle. I was sobered by the sentiment and thankful that I'd memorized a set of offensive spells for the day. Small hamlets on the hills' horizon, our new destination, lay further up the road. We said our goodbyes and resumed our pace away from Nereved.
"I take it this doesn't happen often? The plains seem safe," I observed to the others.
"They are, but trees conceal all kinds of dangers." Lilika's conscientious words were as pertinent as ever. "Magic grows wilder the more hidden it is. Fey, awakened animals... many creatures gather around sources of ancient magic, and they don’t like to be disturbed."
"Why would magic be wilder when it's hidden?"
"A lack of interference," Sekvi explained, "or perhaps a lack of contamination. When left directionless, magical energy fills certain gaps in its equilibrium." My eye ridges furrowed as I considered these implications. I wondered if this was how Therimurk had retained some of his magical abilities long after death. Could magic have gravity as well? These thoughts were better suited to a peaceful time of study, and were thus tabled. Dark clouds had neared the plains during our time in Alpos. I didn't want it to rain; being soaked would make us terribly cold and potentially put me in danger of hypothermia. Luckily my Tiny Hut spell would keep us all dry for up to eight hours. Other shelters were within walking distance, as well.
"I have a spell that can shelter us for a while, but it requires a ritual. Should we be worried about the rain?"
"A shelter would be helpful; rain could make the ground muddy, which we don't want in the forest," Lilika observed. A small sphere appeared above her extended palm, showing lighter clouds than those above. "Oh, it shouldn't last that long. That's good."
"It'll be dark without the sun." Keff gestured to Lilika. "Will you be alright?"
"Ah, here, mom." I slipped my transmuter's stone from my wrist and offered it to Lilika. A smile quietly bloomed over her in response, one that warmed me more than a cinder block ever could. "I hope it helps."
"I'm sure it will, sweetie. Have you learned what else it can do yet?"
"No," I admitted. "I guess I've been too busy daydreaming to experiment with it."
"Identify it," Sekvi sang as they played an accompanying melody.
"I swear I'll remember that I can do that one day. Ugh."
"Head in the clouds, huh?" Keff teased. "Sounds like a dragon alright."
"My head's so clogged with shit," I lamented with a heaving sigh. “All this social stuff, dealing with the king and the Conclave just... to top it all off, I'm apparently afraid of the dark now." It had slipped out so easily. My cheeks burned as a growl gurgled up my throat. The concern of the others immediately fell onto me, but Betiara was quick to redirect it. She understood me so well.
"You've been through a lot, love," she offered in assurance, "but let's focus on what's ahead of us for now. We need to gather information and form a plan. Can anything invade your shelter?"
"Up to nine designated beings, but nothing else," I recounted as I consulted my tome. "They can't be too big, though, and I have to stay within the bubble or it fades."
"So nothing can break through it?"
"Not unless it's dispelled, I think, but something could burrow under it." It was an unfortunate limitation of the spell, but it would protect us more often than not. "I can disguise it, though." I expected Betiara's receipt of this information to continue her steadfast planning, but she smiled at me instead.
"You've come so far, love. We'll most likely be safe with all the magic at our disposal." I suddenly felt more confident in myself. If she thought I was doing well, then I probably was. Following the trail of hearsay led us to the most distant hamlet, a short walk from the others. We were told that a party of three had been missing for two days after they ventured into the forest for food. The locals were familiar with the woods and knew how to survive within; that something could have caught them off guard was practically unheard of. Supplemental tales were shared of strange shadows cast by trees deep within the forest. Lilika and Sekvi exchanged a look of concern while Betiara and Keff shrugged, and I was thoroughly spooked by such an ominous set of words. After ascertaining the villagers' usual foraging routes, Betiara asked for a personal effect that belonged to one of the missing villagers. A bandana was reluctantly provided. Once the others felt satisfied with our course, we left the relative safety of the hamlet for a darkened, mossy forest.
We immediately began preparing ourselves for trouble. Betiara ascertained a faint scent trail and warily led the party forward. Lilika, following closely behind with Rags, provided a spell that would make us harder to detect as we traversed the shade of the wood. I whispered Mage Armor over myself and kept my eyes alert as I walked behind Lilika. Sekvi was next, their hands ready to crank a variety of magical songs into existence. Keff tailed our formation, calm and casual with his hammer resting over his shoulder. His confidence was a boon to the rest of us, who were far more wary of our surroundings. We communicated largely in hand signals that I didn't understand, so I followed the others' lead while I kept a tight grip on my staff. I wondered if I was more worried than I should have been, but the earlier assertion of revival and the earlier purchase of a diamond for safety's sake inspired more apprehension than reassurance. Still, our travel was uneventful, with a quick stop to forage for sustenance being our only highlight.
A distinct feeling of unease grew in me as we trailed the missing villagers. The sky overhead was darkening still, and tree cover shaded us further. It was a boon to our silent movements and potential predators as well. Our breath misted before us. I had heard that bears on Earth would follow people for miles before making themselves known, and I knew that cougars were equally stealthy. All kinds of seasoned hunters could have been watching us at any given moment. Every flutter of a finch's wings or distant movement of small animals caused all but Keff to assume immediate alert. We occasionally glanced upward to look for odd shapes above us, but nothing was yet out of the ordinary. Rain began to slowly filter through the thick cover of leaves, turning fallen logs and mossy ground into obstacles of a new caliber. Betiara looked over her shoulder and made a dome shape with her paws, to which we all agreed once adequate space was found.
That space was located before we'd gotten soaked through. Unfortunately, the same space contained torn shreds of fabric that matched the make of the bandana Betiara carried. It was bloodied, of course, as was the ground around it. We now knew that there was little to no chance of finding the villagers alive. The clearing we stood in felt a little too open, so we ducked back into cover so we could spend the storm under a Tiny Hut. Lilika, Sekvi, Keff and Betiara sat with their backs together to watch our surroundings while I began my ritual. Once my ritual was complete, we would only have to observe the ground and the sky to watch for incoming assailants, as surface-level threats wouldn't be able to penetrate the dome. An odd feeling crept up my neck as I worked. I felt as if I was being watched, with Betiara briefly mentioning an odd smell before Keff suddenly shouted for us to duck. The sound of straining wood erupted above us as something large quickly dropped from the tree, scraped the ground around us, and bounced back into the canopy. Screeching sounds filled the air as we looked up to see enormous shapes shifting among the leaves.
"What the fuck is that," I shouted as I scurried beneath a fallen log for cover. The others scattered into similarly strategic places until the log above me was snatched away by the enormous bungee cord of a creature.
"Dentridi," answered Lilika as her staff's focus pulsed green light that reflected in her magically assisted pupils. "Hungry tree snakes!"
"We can't hit them from down here," Betiara growled to Keff as Rags helpfully led us behind a mossy boulder.
"Not with that attitude, fluffy!"
"Dear friends," Sekvi belted as they proudly stood with their symphonia at the ready, "shield your eyes!" A slow, warbling series of mesmerizing notes floated into the air above us, and a flash of blue light cast dramatic shadows through the trees.
"What was that?"
"Well, I’ve stunned one of them," Sekvi announced in resignation. "Betiara, would you be so kind?" Peeking around the boulder granted us a view of three smaller dentridi descending from the trunks of nearby trees, and the shadow of the large one cast over the clearing below as it brandished its tentacles. This was a bad situation, but I was already forming a plan. Betiara, as requested, darted out from behind the boulder and loosed her daggers upon the closest dentridi. Both daggers stuck into the creature's brandished mouth. With her opening move completed, she dashed behind the rock once more. The dentridi that had dropped its horrible tube of tentacled, beaked horror upon us made a strike at us but accomplished little more than momentarily upsetting the boulder. It was an intimidating blow; the creature was much larger than it appeared from a distance. Its green-brown hide extended like a cracking whip. Leaves adorned this stretchy, barked exterior, which informed me of a plantlike composition.
I felt that I could turn the tide of this battle with a well-placed spell. The largest dentridi would be content to strike at us from above as long as it held its grip around the top of its tree. I noticed, however, that its length draped over one large, strained branch that would give way with some effort. My staff hummed as I held it above the boulder and shot a wave of condensed energy toward the monster's perch. It struck true with a sound that could crack the air itself, shattering the branch at the trunk and causing the creature to crash down to the ground. The creature screeched with rage as it thrashed about in an attempt to right itself. I felt as if I'd scored a good hit on the monster, but my excitement was quickly metered by Lilika's contribution to the moment. "Well, it's down here now, get ready!" The wind vanished from my sails just in time to be revived by an amazing sight. Keff, who was climbing above the boulder, leapt into the air with his hammer raised high as he soared toward the enormous monster. The moment played out in tensely slow motion, his shining weapon catching several drops of rain on the way down.
"EAT THIS," he bellowed as the blow pulverized one of the monster's tentacles, quickly meeting a second on the way down. The prime dentridi howled and thrashed about, slowly rearing up to make its next strike. Keff, with his back to us, merely laughed at the creature's efforts. A sparkling stream of starlight erupted from my left. Lilika's spell struck the dentridi Betiara had previously injured and surrounded it in a halo of bright light that curled the creature in on itself. Its companion leapt toward Lilika to avenge its fallen broodmate. Tentacles lashed over her chest amid a cry of surprise, and the creature bit into her with its beak. A terrible squelching sound announced a spurt of blood into the air as she screamed in pain. Her efforts to shake it off were in vain. In this moment I began to realize what it meant to see red. Anger surged through me, and I became determined to rid my adoptive mother of any danger that could ever befall her.
"MOM!"
"Get, back, sweetie!" Rags whimpered, but instinctually rushed to Lilika's side to try to pull the dentridi away from her. Meanwhile, Sekvi had readied another spell. A familiar discordant clang of a chord rung from their instrument in the direction of the offending dentridi, which launched it from Lilika's chest and sent it slithering into the bushes. My bloodied mother staggered, but held her ground as she readied her staff with one hand and pet Rags with the other. "I'm, ugh, okay, boy. Thank you, Sekvi!"
"A paltry effort," they responded, taking cover as Betiara dove toward the fallen dentridi. Her movements were effortlessly fluid as she raked her claws along one of the injured tentacles. One, two, three, four, and finally five swipes connected with the creature in quick succession! To finish her display, she grinned at the horrible thing and beat her chest to effectively distract the creature from an injured Lilika.
"I'm right here." The enormous snake, in a last-ditch effort to secure a meal, launched itself at Betiara. She was swept from her feet at breakneck speed and pinned to the boulder the rest of us hid behind. The whipping of its tentacles snapping hold of the boulder sent the rest of us diving for cover as it bit into her. A vicious snarl shivered the air while blood splattered across the ground. My mother and my love had both been seriously injured by these fucking tubes of murderous filth. I dared myself to look up and discovered something I never thought I would witness. Along with Betiara, faintly blue figures of translucent dwarves were pushing against the monster's beak, seemingly reducing the amount of damage the creature had done. Keff stood just beyond with eyes that glowed in harmony with the specters, his hammer pointed at the creature. This startling windfall invigorated me enough to act.
I directed my staff downward in the direction of the offending creature. A rose gold whip, adorned with dozens of barbs, wrapped around the creature and cinched at the base of its head with a sickening crunch. It fell limp as green fluid flooded from its wounds, leaving a trail of its blood upon the boulder. Betiara's blood mixed with the substance as she slid to the sodden ground. I helped her to her feet and embraced her, which elicited a sharp intake of air. One of her ribs was likely broken. "I killed it. It's dead. Nothing... will hurt you." She draped herself over me and all fell silent until Sekvi interjected.
"We aren't done yet, ladies!" Lilika, high on adrenaline, leapt into action. She aimed another blast of starlight at the dentridi Sekvi had held at bay. It slithered down the tree once it came to its senses, only to meet Keff's hammer face to face. One effortless splat was made of the creature, and calm resumed the clearing long enough for us all to let our guard down. The final creature, previously sent scurrying by Sekvi's Dissonant Whispers, attempted to avenge its progenitor by leaping in my direction. I turned to my left and raised a Shield spell, but I wasn't fast enough. A terrible pang of fear rang through me as its tentacles wrapped around my arms and its beak dug into my left bicep. My eyes opened as widely as my mouth as I screamed pain and rage against the air. Sekvi came down on the creature with their mercifully magical instrument, but this only earned them a lash of the creature's tail. "Hang on, Madison," they shouted as they clutched their left arm.
"YOU," howled Betiara as she swiped at the creature with savage fervor, “HAVE SECONDS TO REGRET!" It held on to me despite the deep, spurting cuts that now adorned its side. Enough was enough. I worked my right hand free of the dentridi's grasp and slapped it to the squirming, munching monster's head and cast Magic Missile directly into it. The spell's beams perforated the creature with enough force to leave only a shredded husk of a body on the ground. My arm was mangled; deep gashes penetrated to the bone. I whimpered as I forced myself to look away. To everyone's relief, Lilika was already readying aid. A swirling breeze of green light encompassed us all, our wounds closing in short order as we stood within the soothing sphere of magic. All of our ills were cured in the span of a minute. We instigated a small celebration as we huddled together in the rain, laughing, crying, or both simultaneously. Our tears, regardless, bled seamlessly into water. Rather than risk further danger from other creatures or chill, I made a second attempt at creating a Tiny Hut.
The spell quickly dried all the water within the dome. It was awful to camp near the bodies of these fearsome monsters, but we were still together. No one had died. Rain gently pattered into the leaves that comprised the dome's exterior. This set the perfect stage for our shared silence. All six of us, even Keff, lay together as we stared up at the sky. I'd never seen rain from this perspective before. There was no need to ask what the other was thinking; we were all of the same mind. The possibility of death was growing as we progressed in our combative ability, but my lover, my teacher, my former employer and my mother had stood beside me, and I stood beside them. Everything felt so small in this moment. I expected myself to feel angry, perhaps distant or fearful, but I felt calm instead. 'Alive' was a good word for how I felt, rooted in the present moment. I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Shifting into a wider perspective informed me that I'd had choices in that battle, and that I'd made those choices. I affected an outcome that helped lead to this moment.
"Keff?"
"Mhm?" I wasn't sure how to ask the question that filled me with curiosity. Since I was speaking to Keff, I chose to approach him in his own familiar manner. It would have to do.
"What's with the ghosts?"
"Ancestors," he answered. "I've been communing with them."
"I never thought I'd see the day when Keffit Suffoto became a student of history," Sekvi teased, quickly returning to form.
"It's right there in your face, blue. I've always known ancestral smithing techniques. Some of them even come from mine." I wondered what it was like to have a connection to one's ancestors. The people that had spawned me were so awful that I'd been entirely burned on the concept, and now I was too far from Earth to ever undo that damage. There was a choice of acceptance that could be made, so I decided to make a different one. I had a new family: the people that surrounded me with warmth, calm and understanding. "Anyway, my research is for more than notes."
"Thank you for helping me, Keff. I'll allow you one free pass at calling me fluffy."
"I appreciate that, fluffy."
"You couldn't wait two seconds?"
"You expected me to?" A light bout of laugher harmonized with the rain above. It was such a pleasant moment, one that contrasted strongly with the fact that I had killed something. Not just one thing, but two. There was no consolation in the fact that it had been self-defense. Betiara nudged me with her snout, prompting me to lean into her. When the largest dentridi was on its last legs, it had still tried to eat my girlfriend. Defending someone else seemed a more valid reason to kill than it did to defend myself. She likely had a more reliable evaluation of such things than I did; after all, she understood the wilderness in ways that I never could. I raised my head enough to see Lilika, whose smile suggested peace. Keff and Sekvi were similarly content. My head resumed its place in the crook of Betiara's arm as I settled with the knowledge that our efforts were likely justified. The end of the rain saw Keff stand and draw Betiara's sword. "I'll cut the head off the small one," he announced. No one seemed to be terribly concerned by this development.
"What? Why?"
"Proof that we found the things." His braids swayed as he glanced back at me. A semblance of confusion entered his expression, having forgotten that our dome was only transparent from the inside. "You want to bring those people peace, right?"
"...as long as I don't have to carry it."
"I don't think you could." Given the estimated nine feet of wrong that comprised the creature, Keff was likely correct; its head was the size of my torso. "No offense."
"Lumpy hammers," I recalled in agreement. Our final moments under the dome were marred by grunts, squelches, and other disconcerting noises as Keff worked his particular brand of magic. We were soon on our way back to the villages, with Betiara's keen sense of smell once again heading the charge. Keff mercifully resumed his previous spot to spare us the view of a decapitated dentridi. The sky slowly grew darker as we walked. Without a sun to cast shadows, the forest fell eerily quiet around us. We took the same magical precautions during our return trip. I was amazed by the efficacy of Lilika's aid in particular; she had healed our wounds so thoroughly and so quickly, and now the darkness seemed to wreathe our footsteps in silence. Anxiety began to flutter in my chest as daylight vanished behind us, but I steadied myself with the knowledge that Lilika’s bond with nature wouldn’t lead us astray. Another hour of travel saw us free of the tree line. One of the hamlet’s residents had diligently awaited our return.
Sekvi took conversational point, which meant delivering our unfortunate findings. None of the foragers had survived, but their deaths had likely been quick. Keff's offer of a dentridi head garnered the mixed reception I expected. We were offered sleeping quarters for the night in lieu of monetary payment. Our path lay elsewhere, and instead of asking for generosity, the others provided advanced warning of a potential war. The word would be spread in the coming days, which would spread quickly through the aid of the nomads. I found myself trying not to cry as I recalled the death of Lilika’s husband as concerned people gathered around us. My forearm draped upon the tome at my waist and a staff resting upon my shoulder prompted an awestruck reaction in several of the local children. As if she had read my mind, Lilika lit her staff, dispelling both darkness and the color of fire light in nearby lanterns. I suddenly found myself much more composed as Sekvi gracefully tapered the conversation and gifted some gold to the bereaved.
"You okay, Madison?" Keff and I made contact as I considered my state. "Not too cold?"
"No, I'm warm, thank you. I think... natural night isn't as bad; it's not like the, um, perfect darkness of the Caverns. Lilika's light is helping, too." We were far enough from Nereved to gain a clear view of the night sky. So many stars were visible above the distant pinpricks of the city. "I've never seen so many stars before. There's so little light pollution out here that they're lighting the ground on their own."
"It's wonderful, isn't it? It reminds me of home." Lilika linked her arm in mine. Some of my encroaching anxiety melted away as I felt her reassuring touch.
"It feels wild," Betiara added as she took a deep breath of cool night air. Sure enough, her form shifted and settled along my left side, mirroring Lilika and Rags on my right. I was looking forward to experiencing a fraction of the wilderness she lived. The Conclave likely held books about transforming oneself... researching the topic would kill two birds with one stone if I could stand being underground long enough to conduct research. For now, though, I gave Betiara a hearty pat on the back. It was nice to see her panting and wagging her tail as we walked. I felt she could teach me what it meant to be a wild, free creature that was beyond the typical structures of society. Such lessons could potentially inform me of what it meant to be more in tune with my own experience. Waiting for that day was terribly difficult, but I could see it on the horizon; every day provided a new opportunity for change.
"Hey, mom?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"I think, um, if you wanted, I'd be okay without the light as long as everyone else is." Sekvi and Keff assured us that they welcomed the decision. I took a deep breath as the green light of Lilika's staff gave way to gentle moonlight. Instead of fear, I felt as if the night was now right. My powerful, ferocious girlfriend and my steadfast mother anchored my presence firmly in the surrounding plains. A friend of unrivaled fortitude and another of effortless grace only aided my comfort. I was in no danger as long as we were together. Memories of consigning myself to loneliness on another planet felt so far away now; much had changed for me, and it had largely been for the better. My perspective on life was wider, I had discovered the miracle of magic, and I even had friends. The Cradle was imperfect, as was any world, but I never could have lived this life elsewhere. I felt like I belonged here with my friends. "I love you all. I hope I do a good enough job of showing it."
"Madison, your company is a pleasure," Sekvi began as they began to play an uplifting melody on their symphonia. They walked backward so they could meet my eyes. "Please understand that everyone has needs, and as your friends, we are more than willing to see to them. You understand that you inspired me to renew my study of magic from another perspective, yes?"
"I remember you saying that, yeah."
"That inspiration arrived during a time in which I needed it most. I flash no gold at you, my friend." I took this phrase to mean that they weren't blowing smoke up my ass.
"You helped me, too. If it wasn't for you, and Sekvi learning from your example, I might have given up when the town came down." Keff drummed his fingers against his warhammer. "But seeing you connect with people made me think I could do it, too. Now the spirits of my ancestors help me fight."
"I went looking for a good person when the loneliness finally got to me," Lilika added, "and I found one. We've created our own little family together, something we've both needed for so long. Rags found a friend in you, too!" Their words were so kind. My immediate internal reaction was to disbelieve them, but I felt empowered enough to combat this feeling. The illogical, trauma-informed coping mechanism fell before the warmth and power of my friends. Betiara, though she couldn't understand the topic of conversation, leaned her enormous fluffy body against me as we walked. She didn't need words to convey her care for me. I momentarily pressed against her with my leg to reciprocate the sentiment. Disagreement would find no purchase against the glowing love our happenstance collection of survivors. They were the ones that decided whether I was worth their love. All I could reasonably do was to accept and appreciate.
"In other words, the feeling is mutual!"
"Sure is."
"You're the glue holding everything together, sweetie."
"Rrouh!"
"I think I'm finally done with doubting it." I took a moment to bask in the warm emotion of acceptance. The ground beneath me felt firm for the first time since it shook. Even as we neared the towering walls of Nereved, I felt unassailed by all the ills of the city, save the plumes of woodsmoke that poured from the city's exhaust vents. The way it obscured the stars felt wrong; Lilika's expression suggested that she felt the same way. Fire affirmed life in the chilly weather of Nereva, but with so many people concentrated in one place, it came at a cost. Nereved's public heating utility, though impressive for the period, clearly couldn't see to everyone's needs on its own. I wondered how long we would stay here; there were other locations I'd like to visit both in Nereva and abroad. The volcanic eastern islands of Alanuwa and the arboreal rainforests of Ygsild sounded like interesting environments to explore. Draconic wings could surely carry me to either destination.
The group's consensus was that we had done good work in spite of its unfortunate outcome. Teamwork seemed to come naturally to us, and had saved us on more than one occasion. My right arm drifted to my left to trace the flesh that would have been missing without Lilika's oversight. The injuries she had sustained, even worse than my own, didn't slow her down. Betiara goaded the fiercest of the monsters toward herself when it threatened Lilika, and Keff had softened the resulting blow in a critical moment. Sekvi, additionally, provided crucial crowd control that prevented us from being overwhelmed. Rags, as well, played a central part in the battle by leading us to cover... Rags was a very good boy. Sekvi and Keff now fell into an entertaining conversation of their own as Lilika, Betiara, Rags and I silently followed. I noticed a spark burning between them as they poked fun at each other and spoke of high-spirited moments in their past. Were their respective loves really so incompatible?
Passing into the city's boundaries earned us a studious eye from the guards. They would no doubt report my whereabouts... it gave me an uneasy feeling. Sekvi had asked the villagers for discretion as they spread the word of war, but if the guards caught wind of our involvement, the king could easily take exception to my attempts to undermine him. Once my friends' conversation lulled and we were out of observant earshot, I tapped Sekvi on the shoulder. "Is there a way, like a magical item or something, that would keep me from being observed?"
"More than an invisibility spell?"
"Call me paranoid, but there have to be ways to observe someone remotely, between guard reports." Sekvi inclined their head in thought.
"There most certainly are," they confirmed. "Divination magic specializes in such things; how do you think I attained my status as a negotiator?"
"A silver tongue and a handsome face?"
"Ahah, I'll admit they were a boon. However, yes, there are, but such implements are costly. That Amulet of Tongues is quite the prize, and an Amulet of Nondetection involves much stronger magic; it would have taken much time and all of my ability to create one."
"Mmh." Unease gripped my stomach as I considered what it had cost to earn 1,000 gold pieces. I wouldn't repeat the experience for ten times that amount. "So I'd need to make some big money."
"A substantial sum indeed, perhaps more than you were gifted by the king." I sighed; this likely wasn't an avenue I could yet explore.
"How much more?"
"That depends on your source," Sekvi explained with a grin, "though I would discourage seeking disreputable vendors. The wares would be cheaper, but they would come with the possibility of... impurities. Curses, in other words."
"I don't know about that, I don't want to know about that; where can I get a good one?"
"You won’t regret that decision. I recommend Elsa's Enchantments on the Sixth Ring. That is my source for all trinkets magical."
"Perfect. Thank you, Sekvi. I’ll take a look tomorrow." I had to come up with a way to make lots of money in short order. The West side of the city gave me some inspiration with all of its industry. When processing a product, it was often most resource intensive to either extract the usable material, or to process it; therein lay an answer. This question weighed me back into silence as we ascended the Rings. My mind was abuzz with the prospects of applying Transmutation magic to practical processes, but the matter was tabled while I helped Lilika cook. It felt nice to be home after the day's events, and it felt better to be out of the smoke-choked air. I quickly set about placing candles while Lilika lit her staff and Keff polished the group's weaponry. Betiara lay beside Rags in diligent guard of the house, and Sekvi joined Lilika and I in the kitchen. The nomads had provided my mother with a recipe in recent days, one whose name was translated to "shred sandwich." I was assured that the meal would not be painful.
I'd learned how to make three varieties of bread with Lilika, and the fourth type the recipe called for reminded me of pita. More hands made less work; I shredded various mushrooms while Sekvi mixed a flavorful marinade, with Lilika handling the bread. We all transitioned to dicing vegetables and grinding spices while the bread cooked within another pan. A blanket was draped before the oven so the fire's light wouldn't upset anyone. Our food slowly came together, though it was an intensive process. I looked over the rest of the raw materials that we'd stockpiled for food, wondering what it would all become in time. The sandwiches, closely resembling Hot Pockets filled with stringed mushrooms and vegetables, aromatically browned in a lightly oiled pan. Just like that, a firework went off in my mind. I could create a spell that would take raw materials and form them into familiar, finished products! "Oh shit," I exclaimed. "Oh, shit! I figured it out! Ohoh, Keff, you're gonna hate me for this."
"Unlikely," he said, his voice tumbling down from the loft. "Tell me about it."
"I can create a spell that turns raw materials into finished products. Automation! I mean, it would take a little time to happen, but way less than it would take to do it manually." Keff's face appeared above the wall.
"That'll ruffle some feathers, Madison. Be careful who you bring that to." He made a good point. Many craftspeople could consider such magic cheap, or 'cheating.' Jealousy could lead to backlash, and backlash could lead to trouble. I would have to go about making money with discretion.
"You don't like attention," Lilika added, "but if you walk too loud, you'll gather it."
"Walk softly, but carry a big stick." I did not enjoy Teddy Roosevelt, but the sentiment held water in this situation.
"Just keep it under your cloak," Keff commented with a laugh. I wasn't sure if his comment was an innuendo or not, but it didn't seem within his usual character, so I paid him no mind. Considering my friends' advice, I decided that I would search for someone in genuine need of help. This approach would ensure that my efforts would make a genuine difference and keep my profile low; a grateful party wouldn't disregard the secret of one that helped them. As well, I was wary of contributing to industry barons that were already well-off. The completion of our food redirected my attention to it and it alone as we ate together. I was impressed by the combined spices that Lilika had assembled, and these flavors were well-received by everyone but Betiara. Spiceless overages made a sandwich that was more acceptable to her sensitive nose.
A day at the Conclave was in my future, but I felt I could squeeze another spell out of a day's work. I entertained various ideas: an extrapolation of Tiny Hut, an economic crowd control spell akin to Sekvi's earlier display, an impractical spell specifically designed to kill plants... and Banishment. My skill had grown enough to learn the spell, facilitated by the potent Abjuration spells I'd penned only days before. Having a way to return myself to Earth, should I ever desire to, was an invaluable asset that couldn't be overlooked. Still, I didn't feel that I was emotionally ready to visit such options. I mused over a lasting spell of protection that could provide a stopgap against Divination magic and similar intrusions. That felt more necessary to me than spells meant to do damage; Fireball would be effective enough at doing exactly that. Necessity was the mother of spell composition. I was determined to read about shape-shifting and geopolitics if I had time afterward.
Lying in bed was a comfort beyond description. Anxiety closely followed this comfort, however. I had almost died today. Lilika and Betiara could have died as well. Was I simply too numb for it to sink in before now? There had to be another way to spread our message without flying in the face of the king or risking our lives in the process. Political cartoons, music, physical comedy, and books were potent vehicles for satire... this line of thought was getting me nowhere. I sighed and raised my shirt to cover my face so I could momentarily hide from the world. Scanning the candlelit room showed Betiara, curled up on the floor, through the fibers of my Star Wars shirt. An idea struck me like a bolt of lightning, a final strike of inspiration for the day. I slowly sat up, eyes wide as I considered the veracity of this idea. Sekvi and I had a quick, conversation once I’d apologized for disrupting their routine, and they agreed to meet me in the morning. It took me some time to fall asleep with all the excitement that mercifully distracted me from my fears.