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29. Astrid
🕑 Added 2025-08-30 09:16:07 +0000 UTCThe sight was an interesting one, to say the least. Everything together—the wild dancing, the ritual choreographed movements, and the pounding beat of the drums—gave the scene a wild, primal, almost heretical feeling. The sound of roaring fire and throat singing accompanying the instruments only added to the atmosphere.
“I will introduce you to the council, come,” said our guide.
We followed obediently as we arrived in front of the massive table in the middle, where a few older people sat.
“I have brought our guests,” announced the old man. After bowing to the person in the middle, he made his way to the other side of the table to join the other elders.
Five people in front of us sat on decorated throne-like chairs. The man sitting in the middle, whom I assumed to be the village chief, was an impressive-looking middle-aged man. He wore a crown made from wood with elk antlers attached. From the part of him I could see over the table, he had the physical presence of a warrior, with trunk-like arms and a defined physique that did not match his age at all.
He had a sizable beard and long hair, braided and decorated with jewelry made from bone. I could not tell much about his facial features as they were covered with red ceremonial paint. His eyes were strong, directly meeting mine without an ounce of hesitation. His aura also projected his second-circle power on full display.
Next to him, to the right, was who I assumed was his wife. She was a beautiful woman of similar age to the chief, with lively brown eyes, dark hair, and an oval face. She also met my gaze without hesitation, but unlike the chief's strong and stern eyes, hers shone with mischief. She wore a leather ceremonial gown with similar decorations made from bone and wood, and a crown made from flowers with doe ears attached to it.
To the chief's left was an old, ancient-looking woman. She had a head of gray hair. Her dress was much simpler than the rest, but from the occasional looks she was given, I could tell that everyone treated her with great respect. She had a staff with a bone arcane focus at the top and many talismans tied to it. As for her eyes, I could not tell much. The irises were covered with fog. She was blind.
But I knew better—one thing immediately came to my mind, the oracle. I gave her a small bow, and to my surprise, she immediately reciprocated it, her movement lacking any trouble you would expect due to her seemingly ancient age.
Was she really blind? Came a thought.
Also, one more thing immediately drew my attention—she was a third-circle mage. I raised an eyebrow, as I could not feel any mana keeping her conscious and functional.
“I see you are surprised at the power of our priestess,” said the chief.
“I have to say I am, I did not think people after the first ascension could function without any mana around. Is it due to this being a blessed ground?” I wondered aloud, which earned me a claw to the foot from Q’Shar.
“I see your curiosity gets in front of your manners, but since you are a guest, I will answer your question. She is brought out of hibernation only for special times, thanks to the blessing of our God.”
“Thank you for satisfying my curiosity,” I bowed a bit.
“My name is Alfhildr, this is my wife Agnethe, and our oracle Helga. We would like to welcome you to our village and the festivities. We will not discuss business today, as today is a day to be merry and celebrate the blessing of Taipo. So please take a seat.” He gestured to one of the tables to the side with free seats. “Eat and drink, dance and celebrate, and we will discuss the deal tomorrow.”
“We thank you for the invitation and the welcome, Chief Alfhildr.” We both gave thanks, bowed, and went to our seats.
“Did you notice it?” asked Q’Shar in a quiet voice, immediately after we left the main table.
“Yes, the three in the middle managed to control their expressions, but the rest were acting weird. It was more than curiosity. I think some of them tried to stare a hole through me. Also, I felt at least five mental pokes testing my defenses by some idiots thinking they were being stealthy.” I whispered back.
“Yes, same here. It is weird, why such hostility? I understand they are suspicious, but they were on edge like we were supposed to attack them.”
“Well, maybe they will tell us tomorrow.” I was hoping that would be the case. I don't like mysteries when they are about human emotions.
“Hopefully, I will try to ask around, and you… You know what, just don’t cause issues.”
“I never do. The issues throw themselves at me.”
“Sure they do. Watch out for what you eat. If they tried mental scanning from the start, they could add something to the food.” Warned my friend as we approached the table.
“I have an antidote on me, don’t worry.” I always did, part of the small bottle collection I was taught to always have on me.
“Good, now just don’t start anything.”
“I’ll try, but that might be hard.” I chuckled, a small smile showing on my lips.
“Oh my god, can you just sit on your as-”
“I can, but that might not change much. The guy on our right. Sitting in the middle of the group. He has been mad-dogging me the whole time.“
The cat turned to the right and immediately confirmed for himself.
“Ah shit, you are serious, just don’t kill anyone.” Said Q’shar resignedly. “And for the love of endless deserts do not start asking personal questions about their God, magic or ents, at least not today.”
“Sure, sure, should we eat something?” I was eyeing a nice piece of meat. The celebratory atmosphere was getting to me, and I let it in. We worked hard the past month, nothing wrong with some relaxation.
Q’Shar just groaned in confirmation as we made our way to the table. Aside from the poorly concealed hostility shown by some of the elders and the open hostility displayed by some asshat at the table in front of us, the rest looked at us with curiosity but did not approach.
We settled into our seats, ate, and drank, enjoying a pleasant conversation about plans once back—at least those we could discuss, assuming someone was listening.
As the celebration continued uninterrupted, I started to get hints about the inner workings of the village as well as the distinct groups within it.
The first group I could observe was the normal, everyday villagers. I did not feel any magic or presence of their God from them. They drank, danced, and made merry. If they ever looked towards me and my friend, it was mostly out of curiosity.
The next group was the older people, also without any easily sensed magic. They sat at tables next to the central one and tended to look at us with unconcealed caution and sometimes hostility.
The remaining social circles were more special. The first one was the masked people. They all possessed some kind of magic and were from both older and younger generations. They spent most of their time dancing around the main bonfire, clearly a traditional dance, as their movements were practiced and organized.
The next group of mages was the main elders. There were five of them sitting at the central table. They both had magic but also radiated the presence of their God, marking them as priests of some sort. They also clearly commanded the most respect in the village.
The last two social cliques were the most interesting ones. The first one was a nine-person group sitting at a separate table. They were all very old but did not have any magic. The table was on a podium, and from time to time, people would go there, say something with great respect written on their faces, and raise a toast. Also, anyone present immediately handled all their needs.
And the last group was nine younger people, a couple of them even at second circle but just barely. They wore crowns made from fresh white flowers and were the only people whose decorations were actual jewelry instead of bone and wood. Most had some green gems here and there, and one black gem carved in the shape of an elk in the middle of their foreheads. They were also treated with considerable respect.
I was looking around at different people when I heard someone plop themselves next to me on my left.
It was a woman around my age. She was part of the group that had jewelry and flower crowns. She was breathing a bit heavier, probably from the dance. Her face had war paint over the eyes, the red dye matching her red hair and freckles.
Her eyes were deep green, and her mouth was stretched in a contented grin showing sharp canines. The woman's overall presence was wild. Her quickened breath and grin, all lit up by the bonfires in the middle of the night, gave her a distinct, wild kind of beauty.
She locked eyes with me and smiled even more, with a bit of challenge in her eyes. As for her magic, she was one of the few younger people with second circle, although she had just recently ascended, judging by the unstable nature of the magic.
“Hello,” I greeted.
“Hello, outsider. Samuel, if I’m correct?”
“You are correct. When did I become a celebrity?” I asked, still keeping eye contact.
She smiled even wider at my question. “You were quite a talk of the town recently.”
“Town is a generous way of putting it, I'm flattered nonetheless.” That earned me a chuckle. “And who do I have the pleasure of talking to?”
“Astrid.” She stretched out a hand and I shook it. “So, it’s your first time in a festival like that, I take it. Having fun?”
“Quite a lot of fun actually, would be having more if not for the dude giving me side-eye the whole time.” I pointed at the guy in front of me, who now, for some reason, changed from side-eye to straight-up death glare. Was it because of the woman next to me?
“Oh, him? Yes, he is the village chief's son, a complete fuck-up if you ask me.” The disdain was clear in her voice, “I’m actually grateful you are here. Thanks to that, he spends his time trying and failing to intimidate you rather than trying and failing to woo me.”
That explains the death glare.
“Oh, that was supposed to be intimidating?” It was more like an uncomfortable stare than anything else, so I was a bit surprised.
She pointed a bit in his direction. “Yes, he has his hand on his sword, or so I hope at least.”
I looked to check what she was talking about, as initially I did not see a sword, and immediately noticed the issue. There was a sword. I could see its tip from beneath the table, but he did not account for how much the table covered his weapon, so from our perspective, it just looked like he was holding his hand on his crotch.
“Riiight, if there was no sword and he still sat there, looking at me like that, it might actually be quite intimidating.”
She locked her eyes with mine and laughed.
“You just offended the chief's son. Are you not afraid I will tell on you?”
I think someone was clawing at my leg.
“Nah, you don't look like the type.”
She picked up a chicken leg and took a large bite. “Good eye then, so are you staying here for the ceremonial duels?”
“Ceremonial duels, that’s interesting. Why wouldn’t I stay?” I perked up at the question.
“According to the tradition, everyone who stays for the duels may be challenged. And looking at the chief's son, I think you have one challenger waiting.”
“We are going.”
“We are staying.”
Both Q’Shar and I voiced our opinions. The cat looked at me with a furious gaze.
“We are not letting you beat up the chief's son.” Whisper-shouted my broker.
“If I don’t, they will think we are weak. And I don’t think they are the type to respect weakness. Right?” I asked, turning back to Astrid.
"He’s right,” confirmed my new female friend between bites. “You will look like cowards. You, a cat, are not a warrior, so no one will challenge you, but he is clearly a war mage. Running before duels will be a great show of fear.”
“See,” I said triumphantly.
“Couldn't you have warned us earlier?” The cat leaned forward a bit to see Astrid better.
“What’s the fun in that?” She smiled a toothy grin in return.
“Yeah, what's the point?” I parroted, giving my broker a smile of excitement. He sighed in resignation as I turned back to the woman.
“So, why is he this murderous towards me? He glared even before we made our way here.”
“Oh, that’s a bit of a secret, I’m afraid.” She said, trying to sound mysterious.
“I can keep secrets.”
“No doubt. How about I tell you if you can beat me fair and square?” A challenge was clear in her voice.
“You got yourself a deal,” I confirmed, to the sound of more groaning coming from my friend to the right. “But you are barely in the second circle. While I am close to third, isn’t this a bit unfair?”
“But this is blessed ground of my God, and I'm a fast fighter while you are a mage without a frontliner, so I would say we are quite equal.”
“Good point, can't wait for the duels then, I'm always interested in secrets.”
“Right, if you win, I'll tell you a secret, but what do I get when I win?” She asked, now sounding a bit sly.
“My heartfelt congratulations.”
She smiled and pointed a now-clean chicken bone at my face. “No, I want you to tell me a secret of yours. How did you know that our God would be sending his messenger.”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t disclose such info, as-”
“Deal.” I interrupted my broker as he choked on something.
“Excuse us, I need to talk to my friend,” Said the cat, hooking a claw around my shirt’s collar and bringing my face closer so that others wouldn't hear us.
“What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?” He aggressively whispered.
“No, we need that info. If he’s the chieftain's son and there is a secret reason behind this hostility, then I'm willing to bet that it is connected to whatever made the elders so on edge.”
“But if you lose, you will have to tell her that you guessed because you-know-what is happening. She stands to gain much more.”
“Always with the business. Look, you are way better at negotiating, but I know my battles, and I’m confident I can beat her.”
“She’s a frontline fighter, likely using daggers, if those by her waist are any indicator. So probably an assassin type. Practically the natural enemy of any mage, and if you didn't forget, you’re a mage.”
“Yes, but I’m pretty sure I have more tricks up my sleeve. Look, I'm many things, and I started a couple of fights in my career, but may I remind you, I won all of them. So relax. Worst-case scenario, I will have to show some of my cards.”
“You better be right,” Groaned my broker with resignation on his face, giving up on convincing me not to fight.
“You guys talked it out?” Asked Astrid.
“Yes, the duel is on. After I fold Chief's son in half, we can fight right after.” I said, all excited.
“That was a figure of speech, right? You better not do any actual fucking folding,” Came a voice from my right, but we both ignored it.
“Awesome. I beat up everyone in the village already during training, and it's the first time I will take part in official duels. So you better make it a good fight,” she said with a predatory smile, the atmosphere of the place making her seem like a wild cat stalking its prey.
“Same goes for you, not many can match a second circle wizard in this world. Don't get me excited over nothing.” I answered with the same excitement in my voice.
We locked eyes, neither of us breaking the eye contact, a challenge visible in both our stares.
“Great, now there are two battle-obsessed idiots,” The cat grumbled.
“It is time for the official duels,” Said one of the elders. And before anyone else could speak, a certain person jumped into the middle.
“I challenge the outsider,” came an annoying voice, interrupting our little moment.
