Chapter 8 - The Capital and the Guild (1/2)
Xavier
When we finally arrived at the Capital, Persephone was still nursing her arm. Even though she had healed it over many days through prayer to Thanatos, it still left a nasty scar. Mordred had also woken up, though he kept a considerable distance away from me. I guess he saw what I had done. Solskin hadn't woken up yet. According to Persephone, nothing was wrong with him and he just needed to wake up on his own. We rolled down the bumpy main road and came to a stop in front of a large storehouse. The merchants began unloading their various cargo. We collected our pay and headed off deeper into the city.
The city was grand. It sprawled from the coast and pressed right up against the mountain range. The royal palace towered over the entire city with its soaring towers. Rings of white marble walls enclosed the entire city. Markets dotted every plaza and people crowded through the streets.
”Wow!” Solskin's jaw dropped. His eyes widened with a childish glee. He immediately sprinted into the crowd.
”Solskin, stop!” I cried out in vain. He was gone. Persephone and I sprinted after him. Mordred had already left. He went to take care of some business at the High Mage Guild. I heard him mumbling about something yellow.
We pushed our way through the crowd, trying our best to keep up. Solskin's height made it considerably easier to find him. His yellow hair practically stood out like a banner. We finally caught up to him. He was standing in front of the palace gates. His eyes were wide with excitement.
”Xavier, where do I sign up?” Solskin stared expectantly. It seemed to me that his childhood dream hinged on my reply.
”You get requested,” I stated bluntly. Solskin frowned. He had some fame, but it wasn't enough to spread beyond Solaire. As for money, I knew that the 40 gold pieces on him weren't enough to impress the noblemen in charge. My own savings weren't too great either. I only had 30 gold pieces on me. I led him away and to the tavern. After getting us a room and eating a hot meal, I set out into the bustling streets of the capital. I wandered around for a bit and hid in an alleyway. Looking around, I saw no one. I took of my gauntlet and unraveled layer after layer of bandages. I stared at it. My arm, but also not mine. A gnarled, black hand with fingernails that came to an unnatural point. I realized it had spread further towards my shoulder. Where was Epoch when you needed him?
Mordred
The Mage Guild was quite a distance away. It was a small tower sitting on a hill overlooking the entire capital. Unassuming and plain, other than the fact that it was surrounded by floating rocks and glowing crystals. I stepped inside. My body tingled as I crossed into another dimension. I clenched my teeth and shivered a little, everytime I did that I felt like I did back when I first came to this world. The inside of the tower was huge. Glowing orbs dotted the vast library-like building. Books and scrolls floating above in an endless complex highway. I twisted my ring and sent out a message. I immediately got a response. Inside my head came a raspy voice.
”Mordred Leporum, I didn't know you were at the capital. How are you? Is the manor life too comfortable for your tastes?”
”Ash, long time no see. It's been great. You?”
”Emmyth Daeric is as troublesome as ever, but he is slowly learning the tricks of the trade.”
”His kind are always pricks.”
”As an elf, I really can't take offense from that fact. We are pricks. But at least we are more magically gifted than some short, uncultured apes. Anyways, did you need anything?”
”I found something… interesting, to say the least. A man that wields similar magic to what brought me here.”
”That is indeed quite interesting. His name?”
It was strange how Ash was so direct, he usually enjoyed playing word games.