Year 58

  *Emma walks into Giovanni’s office as she looks at him, remembering what Ariella told her.*

  Ariella: I never told you he was my Dad because he told me not to. He decided to stay hidden until the seers became active. No one aside from you and your family knows of it, at the moment.

  *As Emma notices a human male sitting down. His blonde, almost white hair, and blueish-grey eyes seem inviting, His soul is white with deep black spots.*

  Giovanni: This is the Human joining your next trip.

  *The man stands up and stretches out his hand.*

  Chris: Chris Citox. But you can call me Chris.

  *Emma shakes his hand and sits down adjacent to Giovanni and Chris.*

  Emma: So. Tell me about yourself. When did you join the church?

  Chris: I’ve been with the church for the past three years. I haven’t had the chance to leave Valoria because of the War, but now that things have finally calmed down, we are allowed to travel again.

  *Emma watches as it almost seems like his soul twitches.*

  Emma thinking: *Rubs eyes* I’m too tired for this.

  Emma: Has Giovanni explained the situation in full to you?

  Giovanni: Yes. We made it very clear, Anything he sees is to stay private. In return, he and his family will be given free passage through Sylvndor. *Turns to Chris* But Only! If he stays quiet for the next five years. After that, he’ll also be given a gold reward, which will be discussed at that time, due to inflation.

  Emma: Okay. *Turns to Chris* And you’re sure you can cast comfort on at least 20 adults?

  Chris: I can manage two hours without needing a short rest.

  Emma: *Impressed* Normally we take a break every hour.

  Giovanni: Well, since it sounds like you approve. Go let your troops know you’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.

  *Emma nods as she leaves the room.*

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------

  *As Emma leads her troops through the ruins once more, they reach the doors guarding the calendar once more.*

  Emma: Okay, Bastion stay by the entryway, you’ll be safe there.

  Bastion: As long as I can get the information I’m looking for, I’ll be happy.

  Emma: Everyone, gather around.

  * After going over their plan of attack Emma instructs them while staying in the doorway guarding Chris. As the elves enter the room they spot the Wendigo, standing right where they left it. They watch as its chest pulses with every breath.*

  Emma: Wait!

  *Everyone stops moving and listens.*

  Emma: It’s not moving.

  *Monica walks up to the Wendigo, even tapping it on the head with a stick, before calling out to the others.*

  Monica: It seems… Asleep?*Confused*

  *As Monica walks back to the group the others start moving towards the calendar. Emma notices that the Wendigo is looking directly at her. She begins to hyperventilate, and Chris recasts Comfort on her.*

  Emma: Thank you.

  Bastion: So that thing is a Wendigo?

  Emma: Yeah. The last time it locked eyes with that was the last I remember. If we’re lucky it won’t activate if we stay out here.

  *Stella and Orlando climb the Calendar and use the papers to make a perfect imprint on the symbols, making sure to mark where they are located on the Calender for later. While pressing the paper against the last few symbols a loud creaking noise starts coming behind the Calendar. *

  Stella: Everyone Back up!

  *Everyone steps back and watches as the calendar slips out and crashes into the ground. Orlando waves some smoke away while standing atop the calendar.*

  Orlando: Good thing we got those sketches when we did. Because the whole face of this thing is busted now.

  Emma: Well if you can’t get anything else from it, then hurry and get out of there.

  *Everyone gathers their things and then begins leaving the ruins. Emma looks at some of the sketches while they walk, and Monica slows down to her pace.*

  Monica: Shouldn’t we get rid of that Wendigo?

  Emma: No. And if anyone else asks. Yes, we did. With the Calendar broken, give it a year or two by then if the seers haven’t found it then we’ll leak the information. They won’t have the same resources to handle a Wendigo if they don’t expect one.

  Bastion: Is that why you had them remove the golems?

  Emma: Yeah, if the golems aren’t here to relight the torches then they won’t know about the discomfort curse.

  *Emma turns one of the sketches to Monica.*

  Emma: Her, does that look like a four to you?

  Monica: A little.

  Bastion: How do we know they weren’t with us?

  Chris: They would’ve needed to cast discomfort though.

  Bastion: Yeah, but if they followed behind. We weren’t silent, calling out information earlier.

  Emma: Not close enough they wouldn’t be spotted. Only a Seer or high-level Scout would be able to hide from me. And like we talked about before. The Seers haven’t been active as of late. Even the kidnappings have stopped.

  Bastion: I feel that’s all the more reason to be concerned personally, but I’ll take your word for it.

  *As night falls the troops make it out of the ruins. Therion paces worriedly, but as he spots them he smiles*

  Therion: You’re all back in one piece. How did it go?

  Bastion: I got everything I needed. So great in my book.

  Emma: Told you I’d be fine.*Laughs*

  Bastion: Well, I promised, mother I would return with news after seeing the situation. So I’ll be off. I’ll see you all at the Glade.

  *Bastion mounts a Fluffmane and heads off as Emma and Therion enter the tent, she then explains how the Wendigo stayed still this time.*

  Therion: And Monica saw it breathing?

  Emma: I could see it from the doorway. So I figure since the Calendar broke. In a few years, we leak the info. If we’re lucky the Wendigo only attacks seers.

  Therion: How did you figure that out?

  Emma: Well that part is mostly a hunch. When I ran my rank evaluation with Ginnie and Jasmine, their golem raged out when I started using more than my illusion spells. We thought it might’ve been designed to attack seers. This time I hung out in the back to see how the golems would respond. The Wendigo was the only one who showed a different response.

  Therion: As your instructor, I’m both impressed and horrified and your ability to make traps.

  Emma: *Laughs* One of the possible recruits made me rethink some of my old traps. He's put me to shame. Norman something. I have to find him when I get back.

  *Therion clears his throat to get Emma's attention.*

  Emma: Anyway. I figure, worst case scenario, the Wendigo is a Wendino.*Therion rolls his eyes* Whatever, If that happens, then they get a broken calendar. I had Corey write me a phony report about killing the Wendigo and date it for a couple of years ago. They won’t be able to make out the actual date. Mostly because Orlando said one of the dials was shattered.

  *Emma smiles an evil grin making Therion shiver.*

  Therion: You really thought about this.

  Emma: So? It’s a good plan.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Therion: It is. I just don’t know if I should and or want to take credit as your instructor. *Nervous laughter*

  Emma: Blame the violent parts on Valorin.

  Therion: Fair point. But this is more thought out and diabolical than brute force.

  Emma: I’ll have you know, I was going to try and call Chris by his last name. But he asked to be called by his first name.

  Therion:*Smiles* That does make me feel a little better.

  *Emma places down the symbols.*

  Therion: Is this the order they were in?

  Emma: No, they numbered them in the corners.

  *Therion lines up the pages and starts going through some of his books.*

  Therion: When did that legend say it would happen? The one you found recently.

  Emma: Something about the seventh decade?

  Therion: This says the year would be 9658. That might mean we have twelve years.

  Emma: Doesn’t that seem early?

  Therion: It would, but the next four-moon eclipse is set to happen in a decade.

  Emma: They’ve been saying the seers have quieted down as of late. What if they already have this “Leader” of theirs? He wouldn’t even be twenty by then. What kind of threat would they even be at that age?

  Therion: Think about how strong you were back then, and they’ll be trained properly!

  *Therion starts tapping his fingers on the table.*

  Emma: Let’s head back. We can’t do anything about it right now anyway.

  —------------------------------------------------------------

  *Back in the Capital, Emma sits down in the guild with Keya and her party. Andrew sits next to Keya. The party consists of: Keya, and Andrew, Another female elf with green eyes, a thin male dwarf with a light brown beard, and a female beastkin with point fluffy catlike ears.*

  Keya: I know I’ve written about them but since you’ve never actually met. Natasha is our scout.

  *The elf waves.*

  Natasha: Everytime Keya leaves on an adventure with you she spends the next month complaining.

  Keya I said I’m sorry!

  Natasha: I know.*Laughs* But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop giving you a hard time about it.

  Emma: I’m sorry? Question mark.

  Dwarf: *Laughs* It’s fine, it’s an ongoing joke because she said it wasn’t as dangerous, it was “Boring.”

  Keya: *Laughs* Horis is our healer.

  Horis: *nods* Andrew tells me you were called the NightWarden in the Underground.

  Emma: Yeah. Sometimes it was nice, but it also invited a lot of assholes who wanted to fight.

  Horis: My cousin said you saved someone in their village.

  Emma: Probably. Tarbeasts can be really annoying in the hotter parts of the year. They get faster since their joints aren’t cold anymore.

  Keya: and Sophie is our beast tamer.

  Sophie: Keya, tells me you’re obsessed with beastkin fur.

  Emma:*Softly* I like fluffy.

  *Emma tries to hold back a smile.*

  Emma:*Clears throat.* I just like how soft it can be.

  Keya: I’m sure if you didn’t have Lily you would’ve skinned someone by now.

  *Sophie holds her ears and Emma glares at Keya.*

  Emma: That’s only half true.

  *Everyone laughs.*

  Sophie: Would you like to feel my tail?

  *Emma’s face lights up with joy, she bounces with excitement.*

  Emma: I would like that very much yes.

  *Sophie sits next to Emma and places her tail in Emma’s hands. Emma, quickly, becomes entranced in petting Sophie’s tail.*

  Keya: *Smiles* So. Emma. You have next week off, right?

  Emma:*Focused on Sophie’s tail.* Yeah. I’m planning on learning some new spells in the break. I just found a new book of spells.

  Keya: Oh? What kind of spell?

  Emma: I’m just trying to make my clones capable of storing more magic. So they can cast more spells themselves.

  Andrew: Why don’t you come join us then? We’re going to some old abandoned village for some demo work.

  Keya: You wouldn’t need to help with the demolishing of anything, just come practice your spells and hang out.

  *Keya nods towards Sophie.*

  Sophie: Yeah, you can help me cook.

  Emma: *Excited* Okay!

  *The next week Emma follows Keya and party to an old abandoned village. The village is now overrun by goblins, the party spies from afar.*

  Emma: I hate you.

  Keya: But Sophie was so excited to cook with you.

  Emma: First I’m going to go stab a goblin. Then. I’m going to come back here and think. About stabbing you.

  *Emma sneaks off into the village and quickly clears out the goblins. As she walks out of the front gates, Keya runs over to her.*

  Keya:*Smilng* Feel better yet?

  Emma: No. Now I’m hungry, go do your job.

  *Everyone walks into the village where they start piling the bodies. As Sophie walks past Emma, Emma grabs her tail and smiles.*

  *After eating Sophie watches Emma practicing with her clones. Emma focuses her Mana on the three clones standing before her, and they start to glow until exploding. Emma sighs, irritated at the multiple failed attempts.*

  Sophie: Can I help?

  Emma: not really. Each clone is like a pot. I fill them with my magic, but they break before I can fill them.

  Sophie: Well then use a bucket. Wouldn’t that be stronger?

  Emma: No.

  *Emma looks at Sophie, realizing she is serious.*

  Emma: they’re not physical pots.

  Sophie: I know. But if you pictured them as something sturdier, wouldn’t that make the spell more durable?

  *Emma rolls her eyes before attempting again. As she fills the clones she jokingly pictures the vessel in the bodies as a wooden bucket. This time as they fill the clones manage to cast three low-class spells before dispersing. Emma turns to Sophie, dumbfounded.*

  Emma: Are you secretly a genius? Or does your cuteness just dumb you down?

  Sophie: Is that a compliment or an Insult?

  Emma: Yes?*Smiles*

  *The two laugh*

  Sophie: They managed to cast multiple spells that time. Isn’t that what you wanted?

  Emma: Yeah, I’ll be honest. I thought the bucket thing was REALLY stupid at first. But it turns out that was what I needed to do.

  Sophie: That’s how you make new spells isn’t it? You take different elements from other spells and combine them.

  Emma: Yeah, but I never realized how me thinking of it as a pot this whole time was what was holding me back.

  Sophie: Oh, yeah. *Nods* That’s also called reinforced casting, in some cases. In Earth magic, it can make your structures more durable.

  *Emma pulls out the metal dust in her bag. She begins focusing on creating a long, curved blade. The dust turns red hot for a moment, crackling in the air. Emma cools down the blade and swings it a few times before admiring it up close.*

  Sophie: How’d you do that?

  Emma: I’ve been working on an emergency blade.

  *Sophie looks Emma up and down.*

  Sophie: Don’t you have enough blades on you though?

  Emma: Yes, but the knives break. This way I can have a purpose for the scraps. This one doesn’t need to kill a dragon, but it can still do damage if the opponent doesn’t know about it.

  Sophie: You’re like Natasha.

  Emma: How so?

  Sophie: You both plot things.

  Emma: I mean, we’re both born under a green moon.

  Sophie: So was I, but I don’t plot.

  Emma: They say the moon directly affects our moods.

  Sophie: Yeah. I’ve heard that, but I think it’s just an excuse. I don’t know any other elves like Keya that enjoy talking so much.

  *Emma bursts into laughter. As she pulls out some dried meats from her bag.*

  Sophie: I have some magic potions you can use if they’ll help.

  Emma: At my magic level. Most magic potions don’t work enough. Normally before a big fight, I eat a lot of fruit.

  Sophie: Oh, I have some magic berries.

  *Sophie pulls out a handful of glowing blue, berries. She hands them to Emma.*

  Sophie: with you clearing out the goblins. I’m not going to need them. *Smiles*

  *Emma smiles as she eats one of the berries. She watches as a Belf, a half-wolf half-bear creature with elf-like ears, pulls a load of scraps just outside the city where Keya dumps it into a pile. Keya looks over and waves at Emma.*

  Emma: You know. *Eats berry* I’ve only ever hunted Belfs. I never enjoy it because they’re both smart and tough. *Eats berry*

  *Sophie watches Emma eat the berries in wonderment. Emma turns to her.*

  Emma: What? *Eats berry*

  *Keya walks over and grabs her waterskin, after a drink she turns to Emma.*

  Keya: Even Andrew only eats, maybe, five or six at a time.

  Emma: Is that what those looks are for? *Eats berry*

  *The two nod at Emma.*

  Keya: What is your magic level?

  Emma: *Shrugs and eats berry* I haven’t checked it in a while. And since they might be changing how they measure us. I don’t see a need.

  Keya: You mentioned something about that earlier. What do you mean?

  Emma: Ginnie has this crystal, she said it doesn’t show a number. *Eats berry* But it shows your attributes and how good you are with them.

  Sophie: That sounds useful to elves, but most races either have magic or don’t. We don't worry about the numbers as much.

  Emma: It sounds like it still has some time before she finishes.

  Keya: I still carry Dad's old wand.

  *Keya starts looking through her bag. Emma wipes her hands as she finishes the last berry.*

  Keya: I let children use it when we travel. The smiles you get. Ugh. Here it is.

  *Keya pulls out the wand and hands it to Emma. The wand changes green and the number 2140.*

  Emma: Okay, keya. Your turn.

  *Emma hands the wand to Keya.*

  Keya: *Shakes head* No. I’d rather not feel insignificant. I stopped working on my magic years ago.

  Emma: You just wanted to brag about me again didn’t you?

  Keya:*Laughs* Maybe.

  Emma: *Sigh* If I tell you something better. Will you keep both a secret?

  Keya: Better how?

  Emma: I know an ‘S’ rank. But she wants to stay private. I’ll tell you if you keep both quiet. Otherwise… I’ll.

  *Emma notices Andrew in the distance.*

  Emma: I’ll tell Andrew about the barking.

  *Keya’s smile quickly turns to panic as she starts begging Emma.*

  Keya: Please. Please. Please! Don’t tell him.

  *Emma pulls out a large golden coin with a giant ‘S’ in the center of it.*

  Keya: Why am I just now hearing this?!

  Emma: Because.

  *Emma pulls out her ‘A’ rank ID. A golden leaf.*

  Emma: I already have plenty of issues. Managing fans won’t simplify my job.

  Sophie: What if I tell someone?

  *Emma looks to Sophie with a look of concern.*

  Emma: Are you going to? I’d rather not be violent against someone so fluffy.

  *Keya and Sophie laugh.*

  Sophie: I’ve always been jealous of the elven adventurer ID The beastkin one is boring.

  *Sophie pulls out a bronze paw-looking ID.*

  Keya: *Smiles* Sophie is too innocent to break a promise.

  Emma: Thank goodness.*Exhale* Even as a joke the only thing I could think of was skinning you.

  Sophie: Then what hang me on your wall?

  Emma: No, I’d make it a blanket.

  Keya: OH! So you can cuddle her to sleep every night?

  *Emma turns to Keya, both embarrassed and infuriated with Keya’s joke.*

  Emma: Want to run laps?

  Keya: I’ll stop.

  Sophie: So you don’t want to cuddle?

  *Emma grabs hold of Sophie and hugs her for a moment, then steps away.*

  Emma: Nope. I got what I wanted.

  *Both Keya and Sophie stand with their mouths left open, as Emma walks over and starts practicing her spell again.*

  Keya: You know, for someone who claims to be a virgin, you sure like to tease.

  Emma: Blame Aire. She always teased me. Whenever I would talk to a boy, that night, she’d pretend to talk in her sleep and make fun of me.

  *As the last of the village is cleaned up Emma returns to her sister's party, back to Serenvale. Where she goes back to training her troops.*