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A frown crosses Yuri’s face as she walks through the streets of Luminere City lost in thought. Had Ember meant what she said? The question nags at her mind as she walks the path to her house. A road she has walked hundreds of times.
The big problem is she wants to believe Ember was serious. Well, by itself that isn’t such a large problem. The crux of the issue is she can’t tell. Yuri wrinkles her eyebrows further, biting her lip as she tries to dissect the words one by one. Combing over and trying to dissect each word by itself, tracing for any sign of insincerity.
No. In theory, the words are as genuine as far as she can discern. But she’s learned not to trust her instincts as far as words go. That’s how she gets hurt. Expecting things of people from their words that they don’t mean.
“Hey watch it!” A burly man snarls.
“Sorry.” Yuri yelps, shaken from her thoughts. She stands there as the man disappears the other way.
Dangerous. Better to not believe her. Yuri concludes. She walks towards her home, clarity in her eyes, the decision now put to rest. It’s safe.
“Don’t believe people. They just let you down anyways.” Yuri mutters to herself, nodding vigorously. She holds her head up high, the same neutral facade she keeps up back on her face.
Tomorrow she’ll take another quest by herself, and soon enough this whole encounter will be a memory. A pleasant one. But a memory nevertheless. She’s sure Ember will go her own way, exceptional fighter that she is, taking on quests and succeeding. It’ll be all as normal. Her world will remain the quiet place that it is. A dull but peaceful place. A place filled with structure. Go home. Rest. Go to the guild by herself. Take a solo quest. Come back.
I’m fond of this life. Yuri tells herself. The cloud of solitude that keeps her company. For a moment, she dismisses such thoughts from her mind. Is it truly nice? The question sends a jolt through her. She had never truly questioned it before.
The savory rich smell of a home-cooked meal that permeates the air sets her stomach growling as she sits there in front of the table. The weight of the steel fork sits comfortably in her hand as she takes a bite of the roasted potatoes seasoned with rosemary, salt, and pepper. The soft creamy texture makes the corners of her lips lift upwards in a smile. Everything is so still. The house is silent except for the noise of her fork against scratching against the plate. It’s almost oppressive, settling in like an invisible weight on her shoulders. She pushes the plate aside, suddenly no longer hungry.
She lets out a morose sigh, walking over to the armchair in her living room, sinking into the plush leather cushion. A book. She’ll lose herself in it. Yuri picks up a book on advanced enchanting. The musty smell of worn parchment fills her nose as her eyes linger on every word. It’s so easy to lose herself in it. The rough texture of the paper against her hands, the smooth leather-bound cover against her skin. She’s utterly entranced, losing track of time as she immerses herself in the words. A worthy distraction from silence and solitude.
Good things always come to an end. Hours later, her eyes are dry and bleary from reading. Her mind filled with information to ponder over. Without the book, there’s nothing to distract her, there’s an empty pang in her soul. Yuri’s shoulders slump, a tear leaking from her eye as she confronts the inevitable. The next day, she will be back to her life as a solo adventurer.
The next morning.
Yuri walks to the guild by herself as usual. It’s a familiar walk she takes many mornings. Another quest. Another decent payout. She’ll be back home in one or two days with nothing different. Yuri’s ready for it. Her storage ring is packed with the normal things she needs for adventuring.
Her hands grasp the brass handles on the heavy oaken wooden doors. The well-oiled hinges slide easily enough as she yanks them open and steps into the guild. Her boots clack loudly against the wooden floor as she strolls towards the room with high-tier jobs.
She doesn’t spare a single glance around the small room, fully expecting it to be empty. It always feels a bit of a waste that there are full-leather couches in the corners of the room. It’s not like anybody really uses them anyways. They exist for parties waiting for their members to arrive or such, but Yuri swears she’s never seen anybody use them. Her eyes focus on the job board, already browsing through the requests even as she is walking.
Eliminate a family of adamantium lizards near the southern marshland. Yuri bites her lip, tilting her head. No. She’s not too fond of being in a marsh. Sweating with too many biting insects. Not to mention it smells like rotten eggs there. Eliminate a group of bandits harassing the eastern plains. She could do that. Yuri marches toward the board, ready to take that request.
“Yuri!” Ember’s joyful voice pierces the air in the room. She sits on a couch in the back corner, waving a piece of parchment with a job request clearly written on it, a cheerful smile on her face. “I found the perfect job for us.”
“What?” Yuri jumps, the sound of her own heart loud in her ears. Her mouth falls open, staring at the other catwoman. How? What? She takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself. Despite her best efforts, her heart still beats a little too fast for comfort. “You were waiting for me?”
“Well, yes.” Ember nods firmly. “I did invite you on another quest.”
“I see.” She wrinkles her forehead, tilting her head to the side. Finally, she lets out a soft sigh of relief. A sense of tentative trust. It’s nice to have somebody keep their word. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“Nope! Only twenty or so minutes.”
“Thank goodness. So what type of quest did you pick out?”
“A quest to gather hallowed amber!” Ember says excitedly, tail swaying as she bounds over to Yuri, showing her the piece of parchment. “It pays fifteen gold!”
Yuri raises her eyebrows. It’s been months since she has been on a gathering quest. They’re rare in the higher ranks. Normally for a particularly rare material. Not that Yuri has a problem with them. She’s done more than her fair share of them.
“It sounds like we will be gone for a few days.” Yuri states calmly, though a light smile adorns her face. “I think hallowed amber comes from the Caelum Lignum at the peak of Mt. Ularn.”
“You’re right.” Ember nods “I’ll meet you near the northern gate.”
Ember isn’t in the least surprised this time when she finds Yuri already by the northern gate. There’s a different book in her hands this time.
“Well, let’s head out.” She offers a hand to the other adventurer, helping pull her to her feet.
Yuri takes the offered hand, hauling herself to her feet. The two adventurers head out to the north, following the smooth gray stone roads. Unlike in the other directions, the road to the north isn’t often used, with only a number of smaller villages that are mostly farming communities. It’s significantly less patrolled too, with Mt. Ularn serving as a natural border with Ainbrook.
“I do not understand.” Yuri purses her lips, her eyebrows squeezing squishing together. She pauses at the side of the road, and stares at Ember with her sapphire eyes. There’s an uncomfortable flutter in her stomach, her thoughts a jumble.
“Pardon?” Ember comes to a halt. She turns and takes a step towards Yuri. Did I do something?” She wonders.
“Why did you invite me on a second quest?”
“You’re fun to be with. And you make a great ally.”
“I..I..am fun to be with?” Yuri echoes, trying her best to disseminate the words. She has never been able to read people’s emotions well. It’s a bit different if she’s known them for a long time, but that’s not pertinent in this case.
“Yeah!” Ember nods enthusiastically. She takes Yuri’s hand and gives her a gentle tug. “Let’s keep going.”
The pair continue on their journey, though there’s a period of silence that passes between them. Yuri’s brow furrows in confusion, her steps robotic, thinking it. Fun to be with. The words echo in her mind. When’s the last time anybody told her that? Maybe Ryiel and Aura years ago back in mage school? Yuri files that away in her mind to think about later.
Oppressive heat washes over them, sweat trickling down their bodies. Gray flagstone shimmers brightly in the afternoon sun stinging their eyes as they continue their journey. The occasional cries of birds hidden in the trees are the only sound that breaks up the monotony of their boots echoing against the stones.
“So I am curious.” Yuri glances over at Ember, examining her. She’s doing her best to distract herself from the unwelcome heat. “Why are you an adventurer?”
There’s an undeniable fact about most adventurers. It’s especially true of B and lower adventurers, but regardless, it’s a generic truth. Many tend to be a little greedy. More of the rough and tumble sort. Ember doesn’t seem that way to her eyes. But like all other jobs, adventurers do come in all sorts.
“I just wanted to do something different.” Ember gives a nonchalant shrug. “Something to differentiate myself. Why are you an adventurer? You don’t seem much like the sort.”
“I-I.” Yuri stammers for a second. She pauses awkwardly, trying to sort through her jumbled thoughts. Of course she knows exactly why she’s an adventurer. Every adventurer does. How much do I want to reveal? Yuri wonders to herself. “I am an adventurer because of a promise.”
A kernel of the truth. Enough to answer the question, but not enough to reveal anything she considers actually personal. Luckily for her, Ember doesn’t press for any further information.
Hours later.
“We should stop there for tonight. Ember points at the village in the near distance. Golden light shines down about the surroundings, the shadows growing progressively longer.
Goldenbrook. The most northern village nestled right beneath the foothills that define the northernmost parts of Unadin. Unlike most of the small villages that dot the north, there is a garrison of soldiers here, though smaller than most other garrisons.
“We can rent a room or two at an inn or camp outside the village.” Yuri carefully examines the village from a distance. A habit from solo adventuring. There’s a central wall that’s… well…compared to Luminere, it’s hardly a wall. Just a bunch of stakes driven into the dirt. Yuri supposes it’s enough to deter an attack from bandits or monsters. “Either way seems safe enough.”
“Let’s rent a room at the inn.” Ember decides. It’s an easy choice. The promise of something far more comfortable than camping in the wild is a seductive choice on a quest.
Dry golden grass rustles in the slight breeze as the pair make their way towards the wall.The road north into the village is sparsely populated, with only an occasional person hurrying by, no doubt trying to reach a safe haven before nightfall. They pass by multiple farms outside the wall. Workers carrying buckets of crops back to the farms, cleaning up tools as the day comes to an end.
They reach the walls of the village as the clouds passing by light up in pink, purple, and orange tones. A last magnificent display as the sun bids the earth farewell for the night. Goldenbrook is bustling, with villagers heading back home or towards the local taverns and restaurants. Voices fill the air, rowdy and full of cheer.
“So should we book one room? Or two?” Ember asks calmly as they head towards the larger of the two inns. “Either is fine with me.”
It looks slightly newer, with a wood and stone facade held together by lime mortar. All in all, nothing too fancy, but comfortable enough while on an adventure. Yuri bites her lip for a moment, thinking about the question.
“One room is fine.” Her voice is calm, belying the hint of trepidation she feels. A drop of sweat runs down her neck. She hasn’t shared a room with anybody else since what feels like a lifetime ago. Even when she has on occasion adventured with other people or parties, she always takes a room for herself. Yuri wants to believe in Ember. That this arrangement might work out.
The inn itself turns out to be a bargain. By Luminere standards. The going rate for a room in Luminere ranges from fifty bronze to one silver while out here in Goldenbrook, it’s only twenty bronze. The room is nice enough by Yuri’s standards.
There’s the soft creak of wooden planks as she walks across the polished floor with the crisp smell of fresh pine. The cold feel of the stone floor as she walks into the small bathroom, checking every corner for anything hidden. There’s an uncomfortable flutter dwelling in her stomach that refuses to subside unless she carefully examines her surroundings. She pulls back the shower curtains with a hint of trepidation, careful of anything that might jump out at her. I must look so silly doing this. The thought burns through her mind, a slight dusting pink coating her cheeks. Of course, the shower is empty of any dangers. The cool stone and faucet sit there, staring at her.
The flutter in her stomach finally settles as she walks back to the main room, where Ember is already sitting on the bed by the window, a fire lit in the gray stone fireplace. There’s the gentle crackle of flame, the orange glow suffusing their skin. If Ember thinks anything of Yuri’s habits, she doesn’t voice it. A small comfort.
Of course, the room has two beds. Sharing a bed would be about ….. 20 steps too far. I’ll probably never share a bed with anybody. Yuri thinks to herself. She sits on the corner of a bed, pulling a book out of her inventory.
Enchanting secrets by Archmage Alfred Pellinor. After a search of numerous libraries and bookstores, she finally got her hands on it. An original print too! There’s a manic smile on her face, heart racing as she slowly flips a page. Some people consider it a collector’s item, stacking it on a bookshelf to never be read again. Others even lock it in a vault. Knowledge denied to so many. The thought of it makes her brows furrow. She’ll never understand those people.
“Whatcha reading?” Yuri’s head snaps up, startled at Ember’s voice. But this time, she does a manageable job hiding her surprise.
“Enchanting secrets by Archmage Alfred Pellinor.” Yuri recites the title, eager to get back to the book. “Did you need me for something?”
“No. I was just curious. I’ll come back for dinner later.” Ember gives Yuri a little wave, reaching for the metal door handle.
Yuri barely pays attention to her, eagerly devouring the words written within. Each word lingers in her analytical mind. She traces over each word with her left index finger, making sure she misses absolutely nothing. Meticulous.
Ember closes the door quietly behind her, her boots echoing softly on the wooden floor as she walks towards the stairway. She’s glad Yuri is so engrossed in her book, but intricacies of magic fly over her head anyways. No potential for it. She has mana like everybody else, but like most people no potential to actually learn magic.
At least there’s a village to explore! She can’t wait to see what kind of goods they sell in this village. Or pick up some rumors of new places.
The cool evening breeze hits her face, hair billowing about as she exits the inn. With it, comes the sound of raucous laughter and loud voices. Words in the wind. The scent of food cooking with the savory aroma of meat and the yeasty smell of fresh bread. Ember’s stomach gives a small grumble that she manages to ignore for now.
She strolls around the village, eagerly searching for the source of the aromas. A streeside vendor roasting ground meat shaped around a metal skewer with a large line in front of the stall. Her eyes open in wonder, staring at the sight. The sizzling of the flame. The clink of coin into the vendor’s metal jar. For a moment, Ember is entranced by the sight. It’s not something she sees in Luminere too often, with so many street vendors selling food around the village square.
Nearby, is another stall next to a giant fire pit. Inside the fire, are numerous packages wrapped in giant oak leaves slowly cooking.
“Fresh oak bread.” The vendor calls out, his voice booming as he takes a shovel and lifts out a package and unwraps it.
Ember watches with shiny eyes, plumes of heat still rising from the bread as he sets it on the side of his cart to cool. A good number of the people in line are in guard uniforms, with chainmail vests and emblazoned shields. It’s not a bad place to be stationed. She thinks to herself, slowly walking out of the village square towards the quieter places.
An hour later.
“Yuri.” Ember pokes her head into their shared room, her stomach grumbling. “Want to join me for dinner?”
For a moment, there’s no response, as Yuri continues reading the book, her finger tracing over the words.
“I probably should.” Yuri places a bright green bookmark and shuts the book with a satisfying thump.
“You look like you were really absorbed in the book.” Ember states calmly as the two head towards the tavern attached to the inn. “Do you like it?”
They take a seat in the back corner, where it’s a little more quiet. The sound of wooden mugs slamming against the bare wooden tables still echoes through the space, along with a jumble of conversations.
“Oh, I absolutely love it. The book is by the esteemed Archmage Alfred Pellinor from three centuries ago that details all of his greatest enchanting secrets. How to increase the power of various enchantments by layering them in particular order or engraving them on the gem itself before setting it in jewelry. Did you know he even managed to create golems with his enchantments? 300 Years ago! So many of his secrets are barely known now, and the field of golem creation hasn’t advanced-”
Ember just nods along. Most of the information flies over her head, with no real knowledge of magic. But Yuri seems so excited about it, her eyes shining with a glee she’s never seen, even gesturing with her hands animatedly. It’s a bit cute to watch.
“And so I could create more powerful items if I just learn to apply some of his-” Yuri covers her mouth, her face suddenly flushing bright red. “How long have I been rambling?”
The realization hits her like a lightning bolt. She hadn’ meant to get so carried away talking about the book. But it’s just so exciting to her.
“Maybe five minutes.” Ember nonchalantly shrugs her shoulders. “It’s not a big deal.”
“My sincere apologies.” Yuri buries her face further in her hands. “I didn’t mean to-”
“It’s really not a big deal.” Ember waves a waiter over. “You have things you’re interested in. It’s natural.”
Dinner is a pleasant affair with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, and sausages made of a mixture of beef and lamb. Accompanied with a mug of weak beer for both adventurers. After dinner, they both head off to sleep.
“The Caelum Lignum really towers over the landscape.” Yuri observes as they set off towards the north road leading into the foothills. “It feels so close even from right here.
Legend has it the branches reach into the divine realm, but Yuri isn’t too sure. Nobody has been able to prove or disprove the legend.
“It’s an impressive sight for sure.” Ember nods as the two march along the road.
Plains turn into foothills. The smooth flagstone path increasingly narrows as the pair walk along. Flagstone into dirt. There’s only a narrow trail to walk on through the trees that sprout up all over the mountain. Throughout it all, the tree casts its shadow over them.
Yuri wipes her forehead, cold sweat dripping down her face as they make their way through the cold forest. Oaks increasingly give way to pines and evergreens. A short huff leaves her lips as they make their way up, the path winding. There it is, taunting them the whole way. It feels like it should be in reach at any moment. Yet the tree only seems to grow larger as they ascend. The twisted golden roots and the spiral pattern in its trunk grow increasingly apparent as they march onwards.
It takes them two days to climb to the base of the Caelum Lignum. Yuri wheezes, hungry for air as she leans against a large root for support, the crisp cold air filling her lungs.The bark is surprisingly soft against skin, a palpable aura of magic emanating from the tree. Long golden hues wash over them, lending the illusion of flames dancing around the trunk and branches.
“We finally made it.” Yuri gasps out, finally slumping down against the roots.
“That was a challenging hike.” Ember agrees. “My legs are ready to give out too.”
“At least it’s nice and cool up here.” Yuri takes a hand towel out of her storage, wiping the sweat off her face.
Ember wearily sets up her tent as Yuri breaks out her blanket, still sitting at the root of a tree. It’s a simple dinner that night of bread and dried meat. Neither have the energy to cook.
Yuri can’t help but to stare at the trunk thicker than any she had seen before. Her best estimate is at least twenty meters, but that’s an estimate at best. Even at night, the vibrant deep-green foliage shines with soft gentle light that washes over the ground below. Her eyes are wide with awe, a comforting earthy scent reaching her nose. It lulls her towards peaceful slumber, her eyes growing heavier by the minute until they finally shut.
The next morning after breakfast
“These roots are amazing.” Ember utters as she follows behind Yuri into the natural cave the roots have formed over time. “I didn’t even know a place like this exists.”
“I have not been here before.” Yuri states calmly, though her muscles are more tense than usual, flicking her ears. There’s a natural green glow from the cavern walls, serving as a source of light. From somewhere in the distance, is the sound of water dripping onto the ground below.
She gingerly steps forward, the uneven ground a mixture of root hairs and dirt.
“I think the quest details said the sap is supposed to glow a light amber.” Ember offers as she follows closely behind Yuri. “Any trace of something like that?”
“No.” Yuri carefully leaps over a root blocking the path. The sound of water dripping growing ever louder. “Nothing like that yet. Though it seems to be a little brighter the farther in we go.”
Her heart beats a little faster, the drops of water far too loud, piercing the quiet. They continue forward, eventually rounding a corner where a golden glow pierces the dim light of the cave. Yuri finally lets the tension leave her body, muscles slowly relaxing as the cave comes to a dead end. Water runs down the wall, dripping onto the ground beneath in a small pond.
“So this must be it.” Ember reaches towards the amber, running her hand over the smooth surface. It’s cool to her touch, with a slight floral scent. “The hallowed amber.”
“Indeed.” Yuri nods. She touches the other side of the amber deposit reverently, the ancient magic trapped within responding to her touch. The touch of a mage. For a moment, the amber glows brighter, its light almost blinding. “I have never seen it in its natural environment.”
“You know what this is used for?” Ember arches her eyebrow, leaning towards the amber even closer, her eyes tracing the small patterns left in the chunk.
“Yes.” Yuri gives a small nod. She bites her lip for a moment, then reaches towards her neck, lifting her necklace with the brooch attached. “It is used in many holy symbols and religious jewelry like my brooch.”
“What church do you belong to?” Ember eyes the glittering jewelry, a small sapphire and a piece of hallowed amber side by side on it.
“To the church of Uaos.”
“I think I’ve passed by it a few times.”
Yuri and Ember crouch down, working the bottom of the deposit free with their knives, carefully running the blades under and separating it from the tree roots. The deposit slowly comes free, with Yuri storing it in her dimensional storage.
The return journey is unremarkable, though much simpler than the way up, the pair arriving in Luminere City in three days. Just like before, they evenly split the fifteen gold reward and bonus from selling the hallowed amber of 50 gold.
“Let’s go on another quest next week!” Ember says cheerfully, waving her hand cheerily as the pair part just outside the guild.
“Sure.” Yuri’s smiles. Her eyes glimmers with a newfound warmth. “We can do that.”
This time, she means it.