M.D.Syl
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Chapter 43 colorless
🕑 Added 2023-01-28 16:19:35 +0000 UTCChapter 43 The mercenaries.
When no one would believe your word,
and everyone from you has turned.
Then you shall know pain.
And your soul shall grow and gain.
Amaret, the great sinner.
{22} Mayan (December) the 12th
Equipped for the long road, I make my way to the gate of Kalkus with Loyal behind me. This is the same gate I’ve passed through when I first arrived at Axero city. Loyal’s metallic horseshoes clack loudly in the empty street of this early morning hour. I wait at the gate for half an hour near a pair of sleepy guards.
It’s not like I wanted to arrive early, I simply couldn’t sleep. I am way too excited for the day ahead. If I succeed on this hunt - I’ll be able to become a mage without feeding on human beings, without becoming a cannibal. I’ve staked all the effort of the past few weeks of training and improving on this trip.
I worked hard mastering my cantrips arsenal and my makeshift flying spell during the past two weeks of waiting, along with the usual crossbow training. I feel as ready as I’ll ever be!
A short man with a recurve bow in a sheath on his back arrives at the gate. It’s still dark and dawn isn’t here yet. The bowls of burning coal near the gates are now in embers, waiting for the next guard shift. The young man stretches and yawns, addressing me. “Hello again lady Marisha, you’ll be joining us, right?”
I narrow my eyes at the young man. He has short black hair and a pair of blue eyes. Something about him is familiar but I can’t recall where I’ve seen him before. “Hello again? Do I know you?”
“You don’t remember me? Figures…” He sighs, shoulders slumped in disappointment. “We shared a prison cell a couple of months back? You said you’d be willing to…” a tinge of red appears on his face. “um… do the thing if I took a bath… you really don’t remember?”
Oh, that guy! “Oh yeah, I remember… I also said I’ll have to get to know you better.”
He chuckles awkwardly. “We do have a week or two to get to know each other… hehe… so… you’re a mage…”
“Yes,” I hold myself back from correcting him and calling myself an apprentice. If he thinks I am a mage all the better right? He doesn’t seem to be scared of me though… that’s a little refreshing…
“Good choice of armor, mages usually don’t think they need armor…” His compliment brings a flattered smile to my face, even if he’s praising himself too, he’s wearing a similar gambeson. Maybe I can find a friend among these mercenaries… didn’t have much luck in the slums after all… Though this guy seem to be more interested in getting into my skirt than anything else... I could even have some fun with him… lighten up... I’m way too lonely these days and I don’t think I’m ever going to see Kolag again… Even if I become a mage they won’t just let me go into the Sapphire Tower with a bounty on my head… I wonder how the hag got them to call off the bounty…
“Mages can’t wear iron, right? That’s why even iron arrowheads are so expensive…” He shifts his weight awkwardly.
“Yeah. A mage who has iron on them can’t cast spells, but nothing stops me from wearing a gambeson right?” I boast, then realize I gave up a weakness mages have just like that. Oh well… since he asked about it, it’s probably common knowledge. Besides, he has no reason to try and kill me… Not now anyway. You can’t know about later…
Most of my money is hidden at home. It’s not worth the risk for the hundred gold I am carrying… he also doesn’t know what I am capable of… Stop being so damn paranoid… He clearly likes me... Friend for now, and we'll see if it goes anywhere else...
He nods, yawning again. “Oh yeah. I’ve seen more than one mage die due to these stupid black robes, even killed one of them myself… Too easy, they never learn! Apart from you. It’s nice to see there are smart mage ladies who can understand proper protection!”
Unlikely. Every full mage has an innate barrier that’s active at all times. I know that too well… Rushmia’s acid bubble, the storms guy’s lightning strike barrier… That is to say. If you’re calling black robes apprentices ‘mages’ then yeah, I can believe you can get the drop on one and shoot them in the back…
“I hope the week goes quietly for the both of us, eh?” his smile is infectious, and he’s about the same height as me. Most of the men I’ve met are taller. Speaking of height… I think I’ve gained a few centimeters? I’m still growing… I hope other things are growing too…
Berthold speaks up again to fill the awkward silence my thoughts lead to. “You know a quiet week is…”
“Sorry. I actually hope we won’t have a quiet week, at least not for me. I am going up there to hunt some magical beasts, quiet means I won’t find any…”
“I am not sure you want to find one of these. Some of those things are more vicious than a Noxi fanatic…” he caresses the string less recurved bow that hangs on his back. “I’ve hunted a couple of them before, wanna hear ‘bout that?”
“Yes, I’d love to!” I don’t even need to fake my enthusiasm. I don’t care if he’s just boasting or trying to impress me. Any information I can get is good, I just need to filter the truth out of it…
I spend the next ten minutes listening to his tales of valor. His exaggerations are obvious, he’s always the hero, always saving the day. Yet I find myself laughing, mostly at how absurd the tales are.
This guy should definitely be a bard at the taverns… It’s been a while since I had someone to talk to… someone who talks to me… or someone who eyes me like that… it’s pleasant… I miss Kolag, I wish I could be with him… But I can’t put my life on hold because of that… I have to move on…
By now more of the mercenaries come by. They tease him and correct his stories with their own versions, but it’s enough for me to get information. Any piece of information three of them agree about, is probably true.
Salik the leader is the last to arrive, he’s seated on a roof of a large closed carriage. Aside from the carriage driver, there are two guards with a noble crest painted on their uniform, a black wolf on a green field. Seems like we weren’t escorting a merchant like I thought we were… There’s probably a noble lady inside that carriage, if it was a male aristocrat he’d most likely ride outside with us… unless he’s ill.
“Everyone’s here?” This gets nods and a few “yes boss” responses.
“Alright Golden Thrill! Let’s move out!” Salik declares without standing on ceremonies. The gates are open for five minutes now, and we pass through them into the most beautiful dawn I’ve ever seen. I pat Loyal’s neck and flinch at the few warm rays of sunshine from over the hilltops, they warm my face telling me: ‘you’re going to make it. You’re going to hunt a beast and show that hag that you can do it without eating human meat! Without feeding on human souls!’
We cross green fields of wheat, and small hills covered in grass, crowded by herds of grazing cattle. There are few farms around here, same as the farm I’ve stopped at during my escape from The Sapphire Tower.
After thirty minutes of riding quietly, just when my excitement turns into boredom, a blond mercenary at the very front starts singing. He leads the song with a hint of music from the lute he carries, and the others join him. Someone plays the flute and soon, the small group of more than ten people is singing loudly with hoarse voices.
I went out on a trip, just outside the city.
I took along a girl, isn’t she pretty?
Long black hair, sky blue eye.
She doesn’t say a word, she’s just so shy.
Tu ya ya I’ll never settle down!
Tu ya ya my soul is outa town!
I’ll follow a bird, I’ll follow a deer.
No woman will ever call me dear.
It was but a trip, into the valley.
Just a small kiss, it was the day’s finale.
It is time to leave, and find another one.
If I stay too long, she’ll want a son.
Tu ya ya I’ll never settle down!
Tu ya ya my soul is outa town!
I’ll follow a bird, I’ll follow a deer.
No woman will ever call me dear.
I talk she laughs, my chest goes puff.
Who knew, this will be so tough.
Sitting on the beach, hearing the ocean.
My heart was stolen, for I have chosen.
Tu ya ya I have settled down.
tu ya ya my soul didn’t drown.
I’ll follow this woman, I’ll hold her dear.
I’ll make sure she laughs and cheer.
One song leads to another. It's pleasant listening to them and easily relieved my boredom.
I don't know any of these songs. Considering I just learned their language a few months ago, and still miss out a few less used words.
It functions both as a morale boost to the group and a way to relieve the boredom, and when the singing finally die down it's already late morning.
Now cheery conversations take place. I just realize how boring traveling alone is, and how different it is to have company.
“Oy lass! When I saw you back at that cell, I never imagined you’d be joining us one day. Welcome!” The bear-like man who accompanied Berthold in his cell walks near Loyal and gives me a large warm grin under his thick beard.
“Aye, definitely nice to have someone like you around.” The blond man with the lute says. “Sorer is great to look at, but I don’t like hairy men if you catch my drift.”
Sorer burst into a hearty laughter. “Yeah! Almost making me regret I’m married… almost!”
“Ahem… we don’t want to make the lady feel uncomfortable…” Berthold’s voice is barely heard over the two.
Sorer’s laughter intensifies.
“Thanks Berthold, but I don’t mind…” The lady… it’s been a while since someone called me that… it reminds me of Kolag… even if Berthold is nowhere near Kolag…
“Want her all to yourself Bert?” The blond man pats his shoulder, “sorry! But you can’t stop me from looking at this blessing of sky! Even if you put a pair of arrows in my eyes…”
“Buaaahaaha” Sorer bellows “He’s more likely to send his fairies at you!”
Berthold face is covered in red.
“Fairies?” I ask.
“Yeah. Berthold here believes in fairies, says he sees them deep in the swamp, or the mountains. Beautiful girls bathing in the springs and flying naked in the forest… loads of his venom dreams if you ask me. The lad is mad as snow.” Sorer explains in his deep bass voice.
“It’s true!” Berthold exclaims with heat on his face. “Fairies exists! Some mage even told me that they do! Called them Fae!”
“Aye. Even if they do exist, they wouldn’t live on the shimmering tops so close to Axero.” The blond man says. “Only beasts live there. They’ll prey on anything. And those peaceful fairies you describe, sound like fragile things.”
“But it’s true! I saw them! You’re not going out there to forage and hunt! I do!” Berthold protests.
I wonder how he’ll react if he learns I’m a part Fae… I smile uncontrollably. He’ll probably lose his mind… Let’s not make him lose his mind yet… I’ll have as much fun as I can with this… it’s nice…
“You don’t believe me either huh?” He looks at me.
“No, I know the Fae exist.”
“Bwuahahah!!” Sorer laughs.
“You don’t have to be polite Marisha.” The blond man says. “It’s not good to encourage the boy’s fantasies.”
“It’s not fantasies! I saw them!” Berthold protests in a high tenor.
“The Fae exist, and from what I know they can be quite dangerous.” I insist. “But I’ve also heard that some are friendlier…” I researched the fae, I've tried to find out what my bloodline is for a while. But had zero success so far, there weren’t any clues.
“So you believe me?” Berthold’s blue eyes glimmer.
Sorer palms his forehead. “Don’t encourage him lass, he’ll make up all sorts of stories if you do.”
“I’m not sure what you saw, or if there are any Fae at the Shimmering Tops. I just know that the Fae exist.” I explain, and he nods to himself.
The other two shrug and march on. Berthold smiles at me. I return the smile and watch him forget himself. I let out a quiet chuckle. I can do this all day…
“Berthold!” Salik wakes him up from his daze. “Find us a place to camp for the night, check if the usual spot is empty, and see if you can get us some good game afterward! We have lots of mouths to feed.”
“Yes boss!” The young man strides forward at a fast pace.
These people don’t treat me like an outsider or a mage to be feared. They’re friendly, chatty, boasting their prowess, or flirting openly. This disperse all the anxiety I had last night. After a day of riding alongside them. I feel like I want to do this regularly, that I want to join them every time they go out of town.
The lonely part of me that craved human company really needed this, at least once in a while. I could sit for long hours with books or meditation, I could discuss magic for days. But at the end of the day I am a human being - well, mostly - with human needs…
Free natural social interaction without being on guard all the time is amazing! I’m glad I didn’t hire them, they’d be a lot more stiffer with me if I was their employer... They treat me as if I am one of them, and being here just makes me feel so much at ease…
We make a break when the sun sets at the far horizon. The mercenaries make camp. They unfold and construct tents, make fires, and draw water from a small spring. Salik shouts orders to everyone except me.
“Hey Salik…” I approach him.
“Later. We’re busy. Make yourself useful or get out of the way kid!”
“That’s what I’m here about, making myself useful. I can light up fire without flints, I can conjure water, and I can even make ice if you need. I can move around heavy objects with ease. Just put me to work.”
He stops and glares at me with a frown. “Is that water you say you can conjure drinkable?”
“Of course!”
“How much water can you conjure?”
“Until I run out of mana? That’s… hmmm… about fifty liters give or take? I can conjure more if I really push it, but that’ll render me useless for a while.”
He pats my shoulder. “Hey Elitar! Forget the spring and put that barrel down!” He shouts to the blond man who played the lute earlier today. “Go and fill it up.” Sailk pushes my shoulder forward.
I form my mana pattern, aim my hand forward, and tug my sleeve back. “Nimuwal…” <boundless water…>
A jet of cool water gushes out from my palm. The blond man stares at me with wide blue eyes. “That’s something…”
“Thanks. It’s actually a very weak spell…”
“In a battle? It’s arguable. The torrent is strong enough to be a really good distraction, more so if you can increase the strength of the flow. But I’m not talking about combat, this kind of magic may save your life. Especially in places like the Araki wastes. It’s a desert without any water besides what you bring with you.”
I chuckle. “Also saves me the hassle of drawing and carrying water from the well, I know, it’s why I learned how to do this. The hag is really stingy with her magic, I wanted to be able to take a bath when I need one… even in a place like a desert, especially in a place like a desert...” I stop when the small barrel is full to the brim.
He starts laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” He shakes his head.
“Tell me!”
“Women… you have lifesaving magic like this, and all you think about is your next bath.”
“Nothing is wrong with being clean, would you rather if I smelled like Sorer?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
He chuckles and shakes his head, dips a mug in the barrel, and takes a drink. “Huh… it’s pretty bland but better than some springs I’ve had… No aftertaste. Can you also create food?” He asks hopefully.
“Haven’t learned how to do that, haven’t even looked it up… I figured I could just hunt.”
“What if you’re too weak to hunt but have magic?”
“You’re right… I’ll look it up once I get the chance, thanks!”
He shakes his head again murmuring something intangible under his breath.
“Hey boss! I’ve caught us a doe! Need someone to carry it!” Berthold enters the camp with an excited step.
People cheer. “Oy Bert! Good job son!” “Haha! We’re having some meat tonight!” “Did you get her by the eye again?” A man with a painted face asks.
Berthold shakes his head.
“Sorer, go and bring that doe, the rest of you prepare more fires! We…”
“I’ll go!” I volunteer.
“You lass?” Sorer laughs and stretches, flexing his muscular arms.
I smile at him. “How about a bet? A silver piece if I carry that doe here myself. I’ll pay you a gold if I drop the doe even once on the way here!”
“Buwahahah! You’re on lass!”
People exchange coins, and Sorer and I follow Berthold out to find the doe.
“So Berthold. Those Fae you saw, mind telling the details of what you saw?” I ask, not bothering to hide my curiosity.
“Sure, there were these little tiny ones, beautiful naked girls at the size of a finger with butterfly wings and…”
“Oh really? Naked little girls with butterfly wings?” Sorer asks mockingly.
“They weren’t little girls, they were… ahem… mature.” Berthold blush. “They were only miniature sized. There were also big ones that looked like beautiful women, but you could tell they aren't because they don't talk. And…”
Sorer’s laughter cut Berthold’s off. “In all of my blooms of venturing out there in the wilds I’ve never seen something like that, and I’ve seen a lot. Ever seen a Trinag lad? Pray that you never encounter the three headed snake! They’re vicious and some of them breathe fire or nastier stuff. Little fairies like you describe won’t survive the same ground as them eh? It sounds like you’ve visited Koshavi’s grand dream lad…”
“But it’s true!” Berthold protests. “And I’ve seen the Trinag. I was there!”
“Ah yeah, you’re right! I forgot you were with us at that run-in at Sha’ashbash… Tell me something lad. How come every time one of us comes with you - you suddenly can’t find those fairies of yours eh?”
“I don’t know! Sometimes they show up around the water spring and sometimes they don’t. There’s also this weird old man with five horns and…”
“Yeah yeah I’ve heard it all already!” Sorer cut him off.
“But I haven’t…” I comment silently and Sorer snorts.
“Whatever! You wanna fill your head with the lad’s fantasies be my guest! I for once will not…”
“I’m a part Fae.”
“You’re what?” They both ask.
“I’m a part Fae.” I lift my hair exposing the sharp tip of my ears. “I don’t remember much of my mother, but I’m trying to learn about the Fae in order to find her. They’re very much real. I don’t know if Berthold saw them or not, but I’m interested nonetheless.”
“Pfffff! Bwuahahaha you almost had me there lass! You’re just a half elf! Your kind are rare but nothing special eh? Elves are not real fairies, just a bunch of tree hugging lunatics and… oh wait, lass? Don’t go flapping your lips ‘bout that eh? Between you and me I don’t mind them tree hugging lunatics who steal children, but Noro hates them. A few others here won’t like that side of you. It’s bad enough bringing a woman with us, even now they’re being polite because of your magic eh?”
I sigh and roll my eyes. He’s right of course, it’s why I cover my ears normally. What was I thinking? And these people are just polite? They were quite friendly. And… “What’s wrong with bringing a woman with you?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “I know I’m physically weaker, but I can fight with my magic. So what’s the issue?”
“Oh nothing.” He moves his hand in dismissal turning his head back toward the camp.
“Sorer, answer me. I need to understand because I’ll have to work with you guys in the future. I promise I won’t do anything to you. I’m a mage, but I’m not a crazy murderous lunatic everyone expects mages to be. You have nothing to be afraid of.”
“Haya…” He sighs. “It should be obvious lass. I’m married, but over half of these men aren’t. Having a young and beautiful woman like you with us is a distraction. When we’re in danger and have to fight for our lives, the men will instinctively try and defend you instead of protecting each other, it’s not…”
“But that’s stupid! I can protect myself!”
“Aye, I never said you couldn’t lass. But men have an innate need to protect the women around them eh? Especially young and pretty ones. Look, I don’t think women are bad, or that all women should stay home and cook or that sorta thing. Served under a woman for a while, married her, and I'm the cook now, ha! But even I might jump between you and a mighty monster eh? And I’m married. Not good for a mercenary company trying to earn its keep, not good at all…”
I disagree, attraction works both ways... and people will want to protect each other if they care enough... though I don't have to antagonize him, they're on guard enough as it is... “I see… I never thought about it that way. Then why did Salik let me join?”
“I asked him the same thing. Said you have someone powerful behind you, someone we can’t afford to cross.”
“That’s… not wrong. I’m sorry… I didn’t realize I was imposing.”
“Haya… don’t mind me lass. Just an old adventurer flapping his sore lips. Who knows, your magic might just save our very lives eh?”
“Thanks… Sorer. Those monsters you talk about - If there are monsters roaming about, how come people here live in these farmsteads and little villages we passed when we left Axero?”
“The monsters don’t leave their habitat. Trinags won’t leave the swamps. They can heal with the swamp water, and they don’t like going very far from it. It’s rather rare, but if a monster dares to leave its habitat we would get a contract to finish it off. If we can’t, or there are too many migrating south, a group of your kind just show up in their black fancy robes and take care of it with some flashy magic.”
“Here’s the doe.” Berthold’s voice is soft, almost as if he’s afraid I’ll break if he speaks too loud.
The doe is sprawled on the ground with a broken arrow jutting out of her throat, it seems like he shot her as she ran. I take out a dozen rose petals, and form the mana patterns and gestures as I chant. “Myrsha, nia tsaf lah! Lu myrsha nik kull lah. nik wuan nalahi myrsha.” <Gravity, I command you! Do not pull her onto you. She is free from your reign.>
With a purplish smoke, the violet elemental shows with buzzing wings. She giggles. “Ah zarpyam!!! diar manus!” <ah flowers!!! kind mortal!> Both Berthold and Sorer look at the little creature with eyes opened wide. The petals get sucked into the purple mist, and the elemental turns into a violet speck of light circling the doe’s corpse.
“That’s not a Fae, she’s an elemental.” I explain as I grab the doe’s leg and swing it up. The purple speck of light circles it rapidly.
“Yes, of course lass, I knew that…” Sorer says in a distracted voice.
I drag the carcass back toward the camp, the doe floats behind me weightless. I walk fast in order not to run out of time for the spell, since it’s a bound spell it only takes me fifteen out of my forty gravity gems to cast it. It takes ten more gems for two patterns that allows me to prolong the effect for one more minute. I’m clear for the first three minutes, but after that, I’ll have to start converting mana from my other pools and I’d rather not do it.
I run back to the camp, leaving Sorer and Berthold to trail behind me. I still need to convert mana from other pools twice before I reach the camp. I’m nearly out of mana, my heart races, and the edges of my vision dim.
However, I enjoy the sight of coins exchanging hands when I drop the carcass near the fire. Pride swells in my chest when Salik gives me a smiling nod, and I know I’ve proved myself. He’ll put my magic to good use from now on.
The mercenaries jump on the doe and butcher it rather quickly. And soon, Sorer and two others are grilling meat on multiple fires around the camp. Smearing honey, wine, and herbs on the meat. Sorer throws me a silver coin as he wipes his forehead with a beefy wrist. “Well earned lass!”
“Thank you…” I warm my hands near the fire, eyeing the sizzling oily venison steaks with a gulp.
The food Sorer made is quite good, but not as good as Kolag’s and doesn't even come close to the hag’s cooking. Yet, not having to wonder what human body part the hag might’ve put in there makes it a huge plus in my book.
*~*~*
Ayla’s Water jet
Names: Ayla’s water jet, water jet, sea jet, torrent.
Element: water
Sub element: water – pressure.
Level: 0
Words: nimuwal
Translation: boundless water (sea)
Patterns: 3
Gestures: aimed hand.
Requirement: temperature above -1c or below 101c
Range: 10 meters
Target: aimed spell
Duration: channeled spell
Effect: A strong pressurized jet of water will surge from the caster’s hand. The water come out at the rate of 2.5 liters per second.
Cost: 5 water gems for initial cast, 1 gem per second to maintain.
Altered cost: 1 gem per two seconds for each pattern.
*~*~*
Power level: 2nd stage apprentice.
Mana pools status:
Crown-knot: Affinity 10: formed: 1 gem replenished per five minutes.
Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 66
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 6 gems. Conversion ratio: 6:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 18 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 14 gems
Water: Affinity 6: formed: 27 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: opened: 3 gems
Wood: Affinity 2:
Gravity: Affinity 9: formed: 40/41 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing.
Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating.
Light: Noxi’s Light, Lako’s Blinding Light.
Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet.
Earth:
Wood:
Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s lesser shield. Imari’s Minor Telekinesis. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body.
Spells known:
Gravity: Alino’s weightless bodyb.
Focus capability: 10 patterns
Social status: apprentice to the maven of mysteries.
Wealth: 909 gems. 1287 gold coins, 13 silvers, 47 coppers.
Items:
Two simple healing potions.
Two potions with unknown effects.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keep the pouches’ content fresh.
Fresh rose petals, 18g
3 soul containers size 1. (Burrowed item. Ownership: Maven of Mysteries.)
Roll of magical cloth, any carcass wrapped fully in the cloth will not rot. (Burrowed item. Ownership: Maven of Mysteries.)
A magical pouch, any carcass attached to the pouch will shrink in size. (Burrowed item. Ownership: Maven of Mysteries.)
Companions:
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> 9/10
Myrsha <Gravity> 5/10
Injuries and scars: Back, lightning scar.
