by Aleron Kong
Richter was honestly starting to get a bit annoyed. It was starting to feel like he was being pulled in twenty different directions. He quelled his aggravation, though, and just turned back with a serene expression. “What do you need, Krom?”
“It’s about the iron mine, milord. Some of the dwarves and the human miners have been gradually going deeper. A few days ago, one reported that he heard some noises coming from lower in the shaft. Since then, the other miners have been reporting hearing the same type of noises. They say it sounds like a child laughing. Well, I told them to toughen up and get back to work, but they will only work the areas closer to the surface now. The iron veins that close to the entrance were the first that we stripped, though, so iron production be slowing down. I thought ye might be able to investigate and put their minds at ease.”
Wait for it, Richter thought. A notification popped into his view. There it is!
You have been offered a Quest: Noises in the Dark I. Your miners have heard sounds like a child’s laughter in the iron mine. It is unnerving them and slowing down productivity. Krom wants you to investigate the mine and ensure that there is no danger. Reward: Access to the next level of the mine. Your iron production will resume normal levels. Yes or No?
“I’ll take care of it, Krom.”
“I knew ye would, yer lordship.” Some of the other dwarves had stopped in their tasks when the Smith had asked about the iron mine. Seeing that, Krom’s voice boomed out, “Get back to work, ye lazy slugs!”
Everyone in the Forge hopped to. Krom continued his tirade to make sure they kept at it. Richter took the opportunity to retreat. As he was leaving, he told Krom to take a look at the weapons and armor he had placed in the armory and to bring it all back up to full durability. The dwarf grunted and nodded. As Richter left the Forge, he set his sights on the meadow to the north of the village. He felt a longing to see the celestial tree. The silver wood and velvety white leaves brought a sense of tranquility to all who observed it. After the horror and stress of the last week, Richter could use a little inner peace.
CHAPTER 4
Richter walked out of the Forge and looked around, but unfortunately there was still no sign of Sion and Futen. Figuring they would catch up, he went on to his next errand. The remnant always seemed to know where he was anyway. While he was walking to the slope that would lead him to the meadow, sure enough Futen floated up with Sion strolling behind him. He told the remnant about his new quests so they could be passed along to Randolphus, then turned to see his friend.
“Piss off any more rock giants?” Sion asked with a mocking grin.
“Well, that depends,” Richter answered with a speculative gaze upward. “Giants compared to me… or to you!” His grin was just as shit eating as his Companion’s.
“Oh Richter,” Sion said without missing a beat. “You will never compare to my giant.” The sprite patted his crotch.
“Now why did you have to make it weird?” Richter complained.
“It is not my fault that I recently saw you naked. Raw chaos must be really, really cold.”
“I’m a grower not a shower man. Just ask Daniella,” Richter said offhandedly.
“Daniella?” Sion said, sounding confused. “Shouldn’t I just ask the cows and the sheep?”
“Enough!” Richter said with a laugh. “It is good to see you, my friend.” He reached out his arm.
Sion clasped wrists with him. “Always, my friend. Now why did you have your magic ball bring me?”
“We have hunting to do. The lands around the village are getting more dangerous. Terrod wants to do some scouting before the feast. I’m assuming you are up for a little action.”
Sion twisted his neck and a loud crack sounded. “That is an understatement, my friend.” His expression grew serious. “I feel horrible that the Assassin was able to harm you.”
Richter stopped walking. “That wasn’t your fault, Sion.”
The sprite looked up into Richter’s face and met his gaze. “I am your Companion, but even more than that, I am your brother. I feel great shame that I did not protect you. It should have been me and not Terrod that started instituting greater security in the village. If I had, you might not have died. Will you forgive me?”
Richter saw the earnestness in his friend’s eyes. He realized that more protestations would only insult him and waste time. “I forgive you, but only if you will forgive me for my selfishness. I have been walking around the village, and it seems like everyone that I meet needs something. I’ve come to realize these are all things that I should have been making more of a priority before now. I have been too focused on my personal needs when I should have been paying attention to my responsibilities as a leader. I am sure that I have also been ignoring my responsibilities as a friend.” A silence grew between the two men.
“We have a deal,” Sion said.
“Good,” Richter said. “Don’t wait so long to answer next time, though. Having to look you in the face for so long… now that deserves an apology!”
“I could paint my face to look like a pig’s behind if that helps. I know that’s the view you’re used to,” Sion quipped back.
“Really, dude? Another animal sex joke? You’re better than that!”
The two friends kept up a running train of friendly insults as they climbed the slope to the meadow and just enjoyed each other’s company. It was a comradery born of battle and sacrifice. Richter did not have many friends in The Land, but what he lacked in quantity he knew he made up for in quality.
When they got to the top, they could see a large tilled field. The last time Richter had been up here, the herb garden had just been, well, a garden. Now it was at least five times larger. Three elves and a human female were tending it now. The original garden was showing some great growth. Plants of many different colors were sprouting up in various spots. The new sections still just looked like furrowed ground. As he watched, one of the men ran string between two small poles that stuck straight up from the ground. Richter could see that a loose grid system had already been started. He guessed it was to separate the different types of herbs that had been planted.
As the two Companions walked up, one of the elves stood and started running towards them. It was Isabella, Terrod’s love. She didn’t slow down when she got close, but instead threw herself into his arms and held him close in a fierce hug.
“My lord, you did it! You brought my love back to me! From this day forward, you have my devotion and support! Will you accept my pledge?”
Richter shifted uncomfortably. Not because of the emotion she was conveying, but instead because her lovely lady lumps were causing a certain reaction. He tried to extricate himself from her grasp, but it just made her hold him tighter. “Please do not refuse my pledge, my lord. My honor will not allow for anything less. I must serve you!”
Richter didn’t know what was happening. It seemed like Sion and the other gardeners completely understood his predicament and were immensely enjoying the show, but Isabella was completely focused on getting Richter to agree. He tried gently pushing her off again, but she would not take the hint. She held him close, and the problem got worse. Now there was friction!
“Okay! Okay! I accept your pledge.”
Your relationship with Isabella has improved from Friendly to Trusted.
She relaxed her death grip and looked him in the eye. “Thank you, my lord.” Isabella went into a deep curtsy and then looked up at him with sweet and happy eyes. He reached out to help her up from her curtsy. She smiled brightly and then turned away to help the other gardeners. Wanting to defuse any sexual tension, he reached out to clap her on the shoulder. To his surprise, as soon as she felt his touch, she shied away.
Until this moment, Richter hadn’t really had a real interaction with Isabella. From the time that he had saved her from Count Stonuk, she had been in seclusion. He was finally seeing her as a person, though, and not just a damaged victim. It was easy to see how Terrod had fallen in love with
the elf maiden. She was an obvious beauty, with her chestnut hair and dusky brown skin. Her eyes were also captivating, being the shining gold of the setting sun. More than the physical, however, Isabella clearly had a gentle and genuine spirit. This was the creature that Count Stonuk had abused physically, mentally, and emotionally. She had healed emotionally to the extent that she had been able to embrace him, but unexpected contact still made her flinch. The count had hurt her deeply. Richter reaffirmed his resolve to deal with the man in kind once he had dealt with the threat of the bugbears.
He took a step back from the wood elf and just extended his hand, letting her come to him. Isabella had recovered from her involuntary recoil and had a slightly pained and embarrassed expression on her face. She firmed her lips, took a step forward, and placed her hand in his. “I am sorry for my reaction, my lord. I know that I owe you for my freedom. I can never repay you for that or for saving my love.”
Richter loosely held her hand, making sure that she did not feel trapped. “I have heard what you have done for me, rallying the villagers. You take whatever time you need to heal. With that in mind, I would like to give you a gift. I must touch you to do so, however. Are you okay with that?”
Isabella’s body tightened perceptibly. It was quiet in the meadow as the four bystanders witnessed the interplay between the wood elf and lord of the Mist Village. Richter didn’t make any move as her hand quivered inside of his. He sensed this was a pivotal moment for her. When she had seen him initially, she had clearly been overcome with emotion and a need to express her thanks. That was most likely why she had been able to hug him like that. Now, though, he was asking her to consciously allow a man to lay hands on her again. Richter just waited for her decision.
Several long breaths later, her hand stilled and she nodded. “I trust you, my lord.”
Richter smiled comfortingly and placed one hand on her chest above her breasts and the other on her head. His Power made his senses come alive as it sensed his intent. Words spilled from his mouth, heavy with the gravity of the moment. “By the Right of My Power, I Awaken Your Power.”
Warmth blossomed in his chest. Images flashed through Richter’s mind, and each brought a warm emotion with it: holding his nephew for the first time, and then feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. Then something he could not possibly have remembered, but still knew was a true memory. He remembered his mother holding him as a baby and looking into her face for the first time.
All of these memories and emotions suffused his very soul in the space of a single heartbeat. Then he felt the warmth in his chest spread down either arm and flow into Isabella. There was another breathless moment while both Isabella and Richter waited to see what would happen, but then they felt it. The resonance. He didn’t know if the Life magic found a home in her soul or if the Life magic inside of her had just finally awoken. Either way, a new Life mage had been born!
Isabella had seen Richter awaken the Air mages several weeks ago, but it in no way prepared her for the exhilaration of magic coursing through her. She felt as if a part of her that had always been asleep, a part of her that she had never even known existed was now singing out its birth to the world. The spiritual scars she had sustained during captivity would never leave her, and some of her emotional wounds were still healing, but now some of the darker parts of her spirit were being bathed in the healing light of her new Life magic. A smile bloomed on her face.
Isabella spoke in a calm voice. Richter heard a surety in her tone that had been lacking before. “Thank you, my lord.”
Your relationship with Isabella has improved from Trusted to Ally.
Richter smiled happily. It just felt “right” somehow that the Life magic had found a home within her. “You’re welcome, Isabella. What spell did you learn?”
Isabella’s eyes lost focus for a moment and then she answered excitedly, “I learned three spells, my lord.”
“Three?” he asked, surprised. “Your affinity must be high! What is it?”
“100%!” she answered, delighted.
“Well, what spells did you learn?” he asked again.
“Detect Life, Virol’s Blessing, and Slow Heal I! I don’t know what I want to try first!”
Richter laughed. The woman had undergone a transformation. “Well, what does Virol’s Blessing do?”
“It increases the yield of growing plants. The spell can be cast once per day, but the casts are cumulative. Each time I invoke the spell, the final growth and potency will increase by 5% for a max of 100!”
Richter wondered at the unknown rules of The Land. That spell sounded like exactly what an herb gatherer would need. Did she get the spell because of her skill in Herb Lore or did her skills in Herb Lore and Life magic both stem from something intrinsic to who and what she was? The line of questioning was probably about as useful as “chicken or the egg,” Richter realized. He decided just to be happy for his new Life disciple.
“I want you to learn what I know as well.” Richter placed his hands on her head and chest again. Her pupils dilated, and she knew! He was able to teach her Charm I and Soul Trap. His other spells required a higher level in Life magic than her current skill level of one.
She thanked him profusely again and hugged him. There was no hesitation this time. He looked at the other gardeners, who had stood silently by watching, and decided not to waste a good PR opportunity. “Your loyalty and fealty are not taken lightly, Isabella. I stand by my first pledge that as I rise, you will rise as well.”
He looked at the three villagers and clearly saw that his words had taken root inside of them. With any luck, they would spread this story during the feast tonight. Even if it only convinced one more person to swear fealty, it would have been well worth the effort. They all just stood there for few seconds. Richter still wanted to go check on the Quickening, but had a feeling that as soon as he started walking away, someone would speak up and ask him for something. He decided to nip it in the bud.
“Isabella.”
She looked at him.
“Is there anything else that I can do to help you?”
“Well, my lord. Now that you mention it…” She kept talking and he got a new quest.
You have been offered a Quest: If It Grows From The Ground, It’s Probably Okay I. Your herb gatherers are working hard to supply the needs of your burgeoning village. They need a structure to dry and treat the plants that they harvest, however. Isabella requests that you build an Herb House. Bonus will be provided if you select a location suitable for both light-needing and dark-needing plants. Yes or No? Reward: Increased potency of herbs. Yes or No?
Richter accepted the quest. “I’ll talk to Roswan about it, but you may need to wait a bit. There are a lot of other things we need to build first.” She assured him there wasn’t a major rush. The first batch of herbs would not finish growing for a while and those could be hung up in the longhouses. Richter nodded and then started walking towards the Quickening with Sion in tow. Alma had gotten enough of a rest apparently and flew off towards the village below. Futen floated behind them silently.
Before Richter had taken more than a few steps, he heard chanting. Isabella was looking at the tilled herb field and had both hands extended out. She spoke in a smooth measured voice, and gold light suffused her arms. As Richter watched, she moved them sinuously. Her movements matched the cadence of her voice perfectly. Apparently her spell had a relatively long cast time, but for a potential doubling in herb yield and potency, Richter knew it was worth the effort. He turned away again and left Isabella to explore her new Power.
A short walk later, the two friends were standing under the canopy of the Quickening. The two sprite guards had greeted them before fading back into concealment. The thick white leaves shifted above them, causing a faint rustling as they rubbed together. The silver bark shone slightly in the scant light that filtered through the foliage. Richter and Sion kept walking until they were directly in front of the trunk. It almost looked like eight dif
ferent trees that had been woven into a complex helical shape.
Richter ran his hand over the smooth wood. The surface of the Quickening was not wrinkled like an oak tree. Instead, it was covered in smooth whirls that were artistic in appearance. Richter closed his eyes and stood there for a full five minutes. Every breath in filled his mind and soul with contentment. Every breath out exhaled a small amount of tension. Richter kept one hand on the tree in a simple communion. Sion shared this sacred space with his friend. The wood sprite, like all of his people, had an almost religious reverence for nature. Being able to see and stand beneath a heavenly tree was a dream made reality for his Companion.
Richter opened his eyes. The residual stress of the past week was still there, but it felt distant now. Sion looked at him and smiled. The sprite also felt the same oneness of spirit. Richter peeked through the gaps in the trunk and looked at the cocoon within. Elora’s chrysalis was spun of silver thread that matched the trunk. He silently wished her well. He took a step back and exhaled in contentment. Sion turned to leave, but stopped when Richter touched his arm. The sprite looked back with a questioning expression.
“I know this is a somewhat sensitive topic, but you are my best friend. The list of my enemies is only growing longer and more distinguished. I want to give you every weapon and advantage that I can. With that in mind, I would like to try and awaken Life magic in you.”
Sion shook his head and his face adopted a slightly pained expression. “My mother has tried, Richter. Sumiko has tried. Other Life masters have tried. It has never worked.” Though Sion tried to stay even keeled while he spoke, the volume of his voice rose ever so slightly by the end. Richter didn’t interrupt. He knew what a sensitive subject this was for his friend. Being the son of the Hearth Mother and yet living most of his life thinking he was magically barren had taken a serious toll on Sion. The sprite had been able to shed most of that emotional weight once he had learned Air magic, but no one could easily forget decades of shame, even if it was about something beyond your control.