Morning arrived early as the two set off to Flambard. Stamping out the embers of their campfire their travel back is uneventful aside from the stray traveling merchant and traveler. Throwing her hood back up upon their return to city limits the pair navigate the cobbled streets of Flambard and cross the stone archways connecting the adventurer’s guild to the city. Fixing the strap on their knapsacks the duo approach a Teller’s counter, a Teller already at their post as she greets the two adventurers. “Welcome back Mary, Alexis. How may we help you today?”
Mary undoes the rolled-up paper from the mission statement and slides it over the counter to the teller. “We’ve completed our investigation as to the sudden change to the forest. There was an arachne that made its way up from a different area down below due to an earth wyrm undergoing metamorphosis. Both have been dealt with as you can see.” Mary explains as she produces a scale and fang from the wyrm and Gentiane’s dismembered leg as proof.
“An earth wyrm you say? And the arachne has been dealt with, which would explain the reports about the presence of silk spanning certain portions of the forest. If you’d give me just a moment,” the Teller says as they bring the attributed items back to a room behind the booth.
Soft shuffling of paper and tinkling of glass sounds from within the room. The Teller steps out with a cloth sack in hand. The opening is tied with hemp rope as she sets the bag down and slides the weighty bag towards Mary as the Teller pushes their glasses to the bridge of her nose. “Due to the peculiar nature of the mission the guild has awarded your team one hundred and twenty-five gold crowns, thirty silver coronets, and twenty copper pieces. With that is there anything else I can do for you?”
Alexis steps up to the counter and speaks, “Would the guild have information about aether?”
The teller’s eyes raise slightly before nodding. Opening a cabinet and filing through a series of cards before drawing one. Glancing at it briefly before returning her attention to Alexis. “Section twenty-six, row four. It will be the first book on the middle shelf.”
“Right, I’ll check it out then, thank you,” Alexis responds before the pair walk away from the counter before Mary speaks.
“Can we get this copied? I’d prefer that we move on from the city before the last train leaves.”
“That is possible. For a rush order a copy of the pages unbound will be five crowns. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’ll be fine,” Mary says as she drops 5 gold coins onto the counter, “C’mon Alexis, we’re going to get you properly outfitted. We’ll be back in a couple of hours to pick it up.”
“Yes, your copy should be complete upon your return. We await to see you two again, enjoy your shopping miss Clarke.”
Stepping out to the shaded day the pair travel through the layered streets of Flambard. Merchants peddle their wares across many stalls and markets that conjugate within the outer city limits. Alexis’ eyes wander about taking in the cityscape till she feels Mary tug on her sleeve. Pointing to a sign of a wooden sheep held by an iron post. “This’ll do. We gotta get you a good coat and pants for the cold.”
A little bell above the door chimes as Mary opens the door. A faint smell of grassy oil and earth faintly hanging in the air. “Hm, for a second I thought I was in a pasture. I can’t quite pinpoint that scent, do you know what that is Mary?” Alexis asks as she lifts her nose to find the exact word for it.
“Lanolin is what I believe you’re looking for,” Mary says as she combs through racks of clothing as soft clipping comes from the front desk.
The voice of a woman grows in volume as it comes from the room behind the front desk. “Welcome dear customers to HeartFelt. Vail's the name, is there anything I can help you two today?”
Alexis turns to see who the shopkeeper is but pauses for a brief moment as her eyes lie upon the shopkeeper. Her clothing is knitted wool dyed red and black with yellow embossing along its edges as tufts of cream-colored wool line her wrist. A curly mass of wool atop her hair while her skin was dark like black satin that glistened in the soft window light. Her eyes met the pair, uniquely elongated with irises of gold as she settled by the desk. Mary’s voice snapped Alexis out from her long gaze at the sheep Namelian, “Yes, my traveling companion and I are headed north to Talonmaw and require some clothing to keep her warm. I take it your clothing is capable of such a journey?”
Vail looks up and down Alexis with a glance and nods. “We’ve got just the thing for her. If you would follow me just a moment.”
The sheep Namelian walks out from the desk. Slipping between racks of clothing the two girls follow suit. Vail sifts through clothing, pushing aside hangers as they ring off the metal racks until she peels a set away from the bar. A long brown coat with a similar supple set of pants is held in her arms as she turns to Alexis. “This coat is lined with merino wool, excellent for keeping heat insulated from outside cold and keeping you dry from the inside. The pants are stitched with sheepskin with the inside being a layer of wool and the outside stitched with a layer of felt to keep the leather interior from wear. Feel free to try it on in the changing room and see for yourself.”
Alexis takes the set of clothing. Heading to the back she draws the cover over. Fitting the pants on and the coat over the regular clothing as its heft hugs onto her like a weighted blanket. The buckles and belts lock snugly to encapsulate the warmth Alexis’ body gives off and keeping it within the fibers of the wool. Satisfied she folds the clothes neatly, taking them into her arms before exiting back into the main floor of the store as Mary herself holds an overcoat. The color that of marble as black and grey streaks run through sheets of white through the tweed fabric. Vail’s attention falls on Alexis as she returns. “So how is it? Does the trick doesn’t it?” She asks, the corner of her eyes exuding confidence as they curl upwards.
“It’s very effective. Too warm to wear normally unless it's the winter but it’ll do well for where we’re going. What do you have there, Mary?”
“Just an overcoat to keep an insulating barrier for the outside. This white color will blend into the surrounding snow. Don’t lose me if we find ourselves out there,” Mary gives a snide smirk before patting Alexis’ back. “This is wonderful, what do we owe you, Vail?”
“Oh, right this way, and I’ll ring you up,” Vail says, directing the two to the register.
“For the outfit and the overcoat... thirty-five gold crown ten coronet will be the final tally,” Vail says as the register rings open.
Mary nods, taking out the appropriate amount of coinage, and lets Vail count it out before being deposited into the register. Vail writes out a small receipt as Mary takes it. “With this, I wish you safe travels wherever you two go. May you find your way back with a heartfelt reunion,” Vail bids the two farewell.
“Thank you, Vail. We’ll get back to you on if our journey is fruitful,” Mary returns, the pair exiting the store and into the cool air. Settling their new clothing into their packs.
“Anything else we need to get while we’re in town?” Alexis asks as she looks up to Mary.
“I’ll need to pick up some rations. Pick up your book back at the guild and meet me at the train station. Just follow the signs and the train whistle will get you there. Stick to the outside and I’ll look for you,” Mary directs Alexis.
“Got it, I’ll meet you there then,” Alexis nods, the two splitting as Alexis works her way back to the adventurer’s guild. Returning to a counter as a male teller comes to meet her at the desk. “Welcome back Alexis, your copy of Ether Manipulation is complete, would you like me to fetch it for you?” He asks.
“Yes, if you could,” Alexis replies.
The Teller nods. Stepping away from the desk and into a cubicle, Alexis leans against the counter until voices rise over a counter away. Her attention turns seeing two tall guards harassing one particular Teller. Their ornate shining armor embed with pieces of bark that run through patterns within the metal. Leaves of emeralds glimmer in the subtle light of the windows as long ears peak from the helmet. Silver helmets cover the two elves' heads. One with light brown hair and the other with grey hair. The pair heckling the Teller that Mary and Alexis spoke with earlier in the day. “There’s been word that Mary is back in town and is traveling with another person. Do you have any information to her whereabouts or actions she’s taken recently?”
The Teller pushes her glasses up to the bridge of their nose. Unmoved by the elves’ intimidation as a few of the other Teller’s glance to the sides while maintaining their positions. “The guild does not inquire about the whereabouts or activities of its clients. I’m afraid we cannot assist you with your request.”
The one with light brown hair steps closer, his arm coming down onto the desk as the clattering cuts through the busy halls. “You do realize this guild is harboring a wanted criminal of the elves? If you are withholding information about where she is or has been up to the king will ensure this organization’s operations are diminished across the continent. Revoke her affiliation with the guild as you do with all your members turned criminals.”
The elf balls his hand into a tightening fist. Metal chatters slightly as the muscles in his hand make the leather in the palm tighten and squeal. The Teller unphased simply dips her hand beneath a compartment within the desk as a small chime rings from the top of the booth. Small bells ring above before radiating out in all directions as other desks have their bells chime for mere seconds before going quiet. The initial bell chiming for only a moment longer as the teller responds to the elf. “Lady Mary has not broken any laws in regards to the three great nations nor has she overstepped any rules within the guild that would constitute termination of her relationship with us. She is a key contributing member of the guild and greatly appreciated by the people she’s helped. I’m afraid I will have to ask the two of you to leave the premises now, you are impeding the guild’s ability to tend to our clients. We can arrange to have you escorted out if you so desire,” the Teller says.
As she says that a number of other Tellers who have left their booths walk up beside her. Hands folded behind their backs as some on the second floor stand above looking down at the two elves. Their gazes are neutral and professional as a tension of silence befalls the hall. The light brown-haired elf grits his teeth before the other rests his hand on his shoulder. “That is enough, Urtica. We’ll be on our way now, teller. Thank you for your time in trying to find our fugitive,” the silver-haired elf says as he pulls Urtica away from the desk.
Urtica looks over at his teammate, glaring at the Teller before nodding. “Very well, we’ll be on our way then.”
Alexis waits, only glancing at the two elves after they have made their way to the mouth of the exit as the Tellers return to their workspaces. The Teller that was attending Alexis returns shortly after holding a collection of papers bound together with twine along the left edge. “My apologies for the disturbance miss Alexis, our clientele are quite irritable as of late. Here is your book.”
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The Teller slides the pages over to Alexis as she picks them up. The paper is on the lighter side but with words printed neatly on the front and back sides of the paper. “This is wonderful, thank you for your services, everyone,” Alexis smiles.
“Miss Alexis,” the Teller says, “Move swift on your journey. It would do both you two and the guild a great disservice if you both couldn’t continue to serve with you. Look after one another in these lands and may Solaris look over the both of you.”
“T-thank you, may Solaris grace us with fortune,” Alexis responds.
Alexis pauses for a moment, giving some time to pass before exiting the wide doors of the guild. Keeping her stride casual, the subtle clink of tassels marks her gait as the low droning tone of the train whistle echoes off the streets of Flambard. People carrying suitcases and wheeling luggage make a characteristic chugging noise as the small wheels click against the smoothed edges of cobbled stone walkways. The whistling growing louder as a low groaning rumble chugs itself through the air. Buildings clear as the streets feed into a singular building. Curtains of glass reflect the scattered skies onto the streets supported with dark metallic struts. A combination of off-white stone and brick makes up the facade of the exterior. Neo-baroque features connect to the roof. Slate grey shingles overlap like scales, hugging flat sections while others hug domed turrets connecting the main building. Their gothic appearance expressing a level of strength to the otherwise administrative air the building gives off.
“What did Mary call this place again, a train station?” Alexis scans the streets in search of her friend. Concerned about the presence of elves in search of Mary as she approaches the building.
Feeling a tug on the sleeve Alexis turns back as Mary pairs up shoulder to shoulder with her. “You’re late, what took so long I was about to go look for you.”
Alexis’ heart jumps before recognizing Mary. “Good heavens... Sorry, a commotion broke out at the guild hall. A pair of elves were looking for you on behalf of the Elven nation. You’re not some sort of fugitive are you, Mary?”
Mary pauses, taking Alexis’ wrist as she pulls her along towards the building. “I’m not some sort of criminal rest assured. But we have to move swiftly if they know I’m here.”
“You’re not going to tell me a bit more about your background, Mary? I think it’s the least I could know if you have people looking for you.”
“When we arrive at Talonmaw I’ll fill you in on the details. Did you get the book we paid for? If so, you can read that on our way up there, and try not to say my name out loud too much.”
Alexis nods as the pair walk inside. The polished caen stone turns the walls glossy and the marble floor reflects the sunlight. Gas lamps were distanced in neat increments with oak benches upholstered in black leather cushions. Marveling at the glass panes that peer outwardly to the city. The pair came to a line to a ticket window. The windows are made of dark bronze with an oak wood facade that molds around the limestone.
Arriving at the window Mary speaks with the ticket person within the booth. Dropping several crowns into the slight bowl of the table, a small cutting sound comes from the other side as two tickets are slid toward Mary. Gesturing for Alexis to follow as they stride. Weaving through the scattered crowds of people into a separate section of the station the pair arrive onto a platform as workers shuttle trollies of suitcases while down-the-line cargo is loaded into separate carts. The duo stands in a short line as people begin to board the train. The ticket master begins taking tickets from passengers, checking them ripping the perforated edges of the ticket, and handing them back to passengers. Mary steps up first with Alexis’ ticket as they’re torn and returned. Stepping inside the car stands elevated with a wooden floor and booths upholstered in green cloth. Mary takes a seat along one of the corners. White hood covering her face facing the window as Alexis takes the seat opposite of her. “You should put your new clothes on. It’ll be cold as we travel northward.” Mary says as she digs through her pack.
“Right, let’s see.”
Alexis puts on her winter clothing. Using the high backing of the booths for privacy before settling back down into the seat already feeling uncomfortably warm as the layers trap in Alexis’ body heat. A rolling sound runs through the cabin as the attendant shuts the door. Mary holds her hand out, an off-white paper package the size of her palm in her hand. “I picked a little bit of equipment to help us along the way. Jewelry is a bit of a luxury but also a handy piece of equipment.” Mary explains as she rolls her sleeve up.
Around Mary’s wrist is a gold bracelet with small ruby gemstones placed in their sockets. Opening her hand as tiny embers escaped from the gemstones, collecting into the center of her palm and creating a flame in her hand before dissipating. “Gemstones retain concentrated aspects of mana. Their quality, clarity, and of course size determines how strong they are,” Mary explains as she weaves a strand of fire across her hands.
Alexis’ eyes widen at Mary’s display, undoing the packaging around her present. A silver bracelet with similar purplish stones that were in the statue. Taking the bracelet Alexis clips it to her left wrist, a small hum runs through her arm like electricity and sends the hairs on her arm up. The gemstones shudder as energy runs to the crystals. Lighting up briefly before disappearing once more. Mary nods as the train whistle sounds. Five whistles ring into the air as rumbles reverberate beneath the train car. Steam bellowing from beneath while wheels begin to move the cars. The gradual chugging of wheels stirring the carts to move, the world moving past as buildings go by. “This’ll be great Mary, thank you,” Alexis says as she flexes her left hand.
“Right, best to get on that book and get to grips with aether. That bracelet is a good start I would think.” Mary says as she sits back, getting herself comfortable as she shuts her eyes. Alexis looks between her book and the sleeping half-elf before turning her first page.
The train picks up speed as the rails take them through the edges of the city. The characteristic clatter of rails provides a rhythmic tempo while Alexis processes the contents of the book. How aether is a relatively new magic discovered a few hundred years ago in comparison to mana. Its uses are largely relegated to mining and agriculture. Utilizing a construct and an aether crystal to control a it without the need for complex engineering. Tales of people using constructs to burrow tunnels in mines. Of elves utilizing aether users to build the five walls of Tellestra, and the stone masons that carved the tunnels and buildings of the subterranean complex. A few hours pass as Alexis flips past the final page of the book and stashes it away.
Alexis can feel the bracelet hum as purple bands of electricity jump across the embedded aetherite crystals inlaid into the silver bracelet. “So, the concept of aether is similar to mana. Mold your thoughts and aether will respond to them,” Alexis says as she holds her palm out.
The bracelet bends and melts. Metal runs over Alexis’ hand like quicksilver, dripping down into stalactites that fall and solidify like candle wax. The metal collects itself as strands of purple electricity wave through the metal, collecting over Alexis’ hand like a mesh before solidifying into a thin gauntlet that runs to her fingertips and up to her wrist. Small metallic shifting squeaks as the plates articulate. Alexis holds her palm out as the metal melts in her hand flowing like candlewax. Alexis remembers seeing a music box in a toy shop when her family once visited Altania. How the dancer spun and shimmered in the window brought a tinge of heartache as Alexis remembered home.
The liquid metal collects into Alexis’ palm, climbing on top of itself as the liquid metal finds form. Spindly wires twist and intertwine themselves from vague protrusions as the liquid metal pool shrinks. First a head. Then the shoulders and torso until a miniature figure of wire stands within Alexis’ palm. Two of the purple aether crystals sit at the shoulder while two act as the knees. One sits at the back of the head while the last and largest of the crystals sits within the chest standing three inches within her palm. Bending a leg behind itself as the left arm goes across the midsection while the right arm goes up. The figure pirouettes within her palm as small arcs of purple electricity suspend the figure before melting back into liquid. Recombining around Alexis’ wrist as it reforms into the bracelet.
Her gaze casts itself onto the window. A world of white has taken over the scenery as whispy flakes of snowfall in scattered flurries. Thick grey clouds hang in the air and tumble over one another. “Tickets please,” Alexis overhears as she turns her attention back to the middle of their car.
The voice is recognizable to Alexis, the same one she overheard in the uproar back in the guild. That same smooth textured tone voice with a hint of condescending air puts Alexis on edge as she gives a couple of nudges to Mary’s ankle. Groggily picking her head up she scans Alexis to see why she roused her before Alexis tips with a slight nod to the elf in the aisle of the car. Mary’s eyes narrow before picking her bag up from the seat beside her, taking Alexis’ wrist as she stands and makes for the car door before Urtica’s voice halts them as Mary’s hand grips the train door. “Hold it, passenger. We are still collecting tickets from riders, may we see yours?”
Mary faces Urtica, putting on her best smile as she steps in front of Alexis. Looking at the purple-eyed girl from the corner of her eye before glancing at the door handle and directing her attention to the elf before her. “But of course, just a moment,” Mary says as she reaches into her pocket, taking the punched tickets out and handing them to Urtica as he lifts the attendant hat atop his head and checks the ticket.
“I see, All the way to Talonmaw? There isn’t much up there except for a few huts and metal shacks. What business might you have there, Mary?” Urtica’s tone darkens as his eyes meet Mary’s.
“Go, Alexis!” Mary shouts as she goes to grasp her sword.
A flurry of vines shoots from the chest plate embedded in Urtica’s cuirass, the sound of bowing branches and buckling wood overlaying the train tracks while a rush of cold air floods the cabin. Mary strains to pull against the jutting vines. An orange glow grows around Mary’s wrist. A burst of flame surrounds Mary, an overwhelming wave of heat causing Urtica to reel back as the roots holding onto Mary burn up. Pulling away the fire surrounding her fades as she pushes Alexis past the threshold of the door, shutting it before scanning the open gangway and looking up as a rung of ladders goes up to the roof of the car. “There, get up there I’ll hold the door,” Mary says as she takes her sword and jams it at the handle of the car door.
A light blue light crawls down the blade as frost envelops the door. Ice grows across the surface and accumulates between the spaces in the metal and wood jamming it shut. Urtica tries the door to no avail. Glaring at Mary as she hikes up the metal ladder behind Alexis. “Damn it, um... Forward... no, head to the back of the train!” Mary shouts.
The pair do their best to maintain their footing as snow has collected itself on the roofs. Hopping over the gap of the gangway as the door beneath slams open. Mary turns back and swipes her foot across the surface of the roof behind her as a light blue shimmer beneath the snow as Alexis hops to the next car. Urtica reaches the top of the cars, beginning the chase of the two girls as Mary catches up with Alexis. Urtica reaches the roof of the train car. Following the two a car behind before the traction beneath his foot gives way. Falling with a thump against the metal roof as he slides to the side of the car, catching himself on the structural railing that runs along the side.
“We might manage to shake him off at this rate,” Mary smirks as Alexis goes to make the jump to the next car when a shrouded figure in a brown cloak leaps up from the gangway. Silvery protruding outlines hiding in the cloak shoot out in a spread.
Alexis’ eyes go wide at the sudden figure, unsheathing her sword the blade sweeps and knocks away a handful of the thorns as the scraping of metal sounds. Mary pulls Alexis back as she steps in front of Alexis. “Watch the rear in case the other manages to catch up on us.”
Mary draws her blade as she directs her attention frontwards. “It’s been a while, Lychnis. Took you this long to track me down?”
“You’re slippery but not impossible to find with so many people looking for you, I’m just sad that it had to be me that found you out here like this,” Lychnis says, a fan of petal-like blades whirls in the wind, and shoot at the pair.
Mary turns to the side, moving Alexis behind her as a ripple of air flows around her. The twirling blades flow along the stream of air as they blow over. Strands of hair blow away in the air as a sting graces Mary’s cheek. “You’ve gotten better, Lychnis. You actually tagged me this time.”
“We can either end it all here or we bring you back and let your friend here live.”
Urtica leaps onto the car, powder kicking up and getting thrown to the wind as Alexis steps up to close the distance.“The guard knows of your nature, halfbreed. Your existence spells the end of Solaris if you go on existing.”
Mary reels at the remark. Her composure shook as Urtica’s words cut into her. “You... You don’t know that!” Alexis shouts. “She has as much of a right to life as anyone else.”
“Shut it Altan,” says Urtica. “What do you know about our affairs with the halfbreed here? I bet she hasn’t even told you the situation surrounding her.”
“She will bring the end of the world as fate ordains it,” says Lychnis. “The world will fall as monsters unlike anything seen will walk the earth. Rot will consume everything and turn this planet into a husk.”
Urtica undoes two fasteners holding a woven flap at his waist as a wood cylinder is taken out. Engravings wrap around the exterior of the item as the two ends are capped with bronze before the length of the cylinder grows into a staff. Sweeping it across as the settled powder disperses into the wind. “Enough talk. Either come with us and your friend here gets to live or you both die here.”
Mary looks back at Alexis as their eyes meet. A gaze of brief contemplation before conviction sets inside Alexis’ eyes. The two give knowing nods before looking back at their two adversaries. Setting the grip on their weapons the clicking train tracks are replaced with howling wind as the two charge.
