10 Chapter 08: The Mages Ember (1/2)

The question that made me fired up about the things to come sparked another curiosity inside of me.

Making our way towards The Mages Ember this curiosity made me think of how different it would be there in comparison to The Martial Novices Guild.

Walking through the ever so majestic and grand Guildhall I couldn't help being fascinated by the way it was built and decorated inside once more.

Amaris took the lead as she knew her way around this unimaginable huge building. Following her and not looking in front of me as I was completely taken in by the uniqueness of the interior, one of the beginning adventurers ran into me as she did not look where she was walking either.

*thud*

The girl cried out in shock by the impact.

”Kya!”

Because of the impact, we both dropped to the floor.

I grabbed on to the girl and turned with my back to the floor bracing for the impact making sure she would not get hurt. She dropped her staff because of this as she began apologizing while at the same time curling up in a ball on top of me. I noticed she was all dressed in white and dropped her scepter? It was hard to move as she was laying on top of me still apologizing.

The curious thing about her dress was that it had crystal decorations all over the bottom and sleeves of her dress.

Trying to get up quickly finding out it was inevitably impossible with the girl on top.

I looked in front of me. Stunned by the sight in front of me.

I noticed she was in a rather awkward position.

Rewarding me with the possibility to look under her dress which made me blush as it would any man having a beautiful lady on top off them.

Being the gentleman that I am and not wanting to be seen as a creep or pervert. Knowing that we couldn't do anything about the situation we got ourselves in,

I and looked away. Although, curiosity began getting the better of me struggling to give in I was barely able to keep my gaze away. The best course of action would be for both of us to go on our way. I replied to the girl on top of me.

”It's okay... don't worry. I didn't look where I was heading either. But could you please get off of me so I can get on my way?

Startled the girl jumped up as she turned red being embarrassed by her clumsiness. It seemed she was afraid of something when she answered.

”I am terribly sorry, please don't hurt me...”

The girl looked away, bracing herself for the terror that overpowered her mind. She looked really frightened.

She didn't know how to react, tears welled up in her eyes being on the verge of crying. I thought she was like a defenseless little kitten all terrified of the unknown burying her face into the palms of her hands. I needed to make her feel at ease and decided to gently pet her head.

At first, she braced for impact thinking she might get hurt, yet in an instant realizing that I did not mean to hurt her.

She had short green hair that turned darker the lower the hair went. As she looked up I could see her gemlike eyes. Sapphire blue like the deep dark sea with a faint light blue glow to them. It gave me the feeling as if I was a fish that looked up at a cloudless sky during a warm sunny day.

”Don't worry about it. It's okay. I won't hurt you.”

I smiled at her as I bent down to pick up her scepter.

The specter had the same color patterns as her dress being all white with a golden top in the form of an eagle wing. Although, I think it would be more accurate calling them angelic wings that held a gem. Blue like the see, darker than ice.

The stone on top of a Sapphire, not a normal one perhaps, I could feel the water flowing inside of it.

Oddly enough it had a calming and soothing effect on me. Entranced by the beauty it made me think back to the days of my past life visiting the beach with my family and friends. I breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly turning to the girl.

”Here you go, this must be yours.”

I handed the scepter to the girl. Luckily she calmed down quite a bit.

The girl kindly accepted her scepter as she stood up.

The girl gave me a thankful bow and joyfully ran off to the quest board. I looked as she clumsily jumped up to grab her quest and went on my way towards The Mages Ember.

What could have made the girl so terrified?

Something wasn't right,

knowing I couldn't do anything for her as I was now I decided to let it rest for now.

”Follow me, Michael, we have to go through the crowd all the way to the center of the Guildhall.”

It seemed I had fallen behind a little as I Amaris was visible in the distance. She turned around and looked a bit agitated as she needed to finish this assignment as soon as possible.

”Wait for me! I'm on my way!” I yelled to her trying to catch up with her. Relieved I saw her waiting, she looked irritated, yet even if she was agitated she was still beautiful.

Standing next to her I had to react to the way she looked at me.

”You know... even when you are irritated you shine brightly like the fireflies in the forests.”

”Hmm... flattery won't get us to the Guild Michael, we need to hurry. The Guild Masters are a busy bunch. If you would follow me, please. And try not to get sidetracked again...”

She pulled a pouty face and turned around to conceal her blushing cheeks.

Going through the center of the Guildhall I noticed that the interior kept changing little by little, glowing stones was turned off in this part of the hall.

Did it fell a bit more Grimm? Mysterious was a better way to describe it. The once golden tiles now brass and stone gave off a cold and eery vibe to our surroundings.

”It isn't crowded at the entrance... What might be the reason?”

Amaris picked up the pace in this part of the hall as the interior became shadier the closer we ventured further to the back. It feels like we were venturing through a dungeon of some sort.

Something must be wrong here and I bet she knows what is causing it. ”Amaris, what is...”

She stopped at the sight of a huge metal coated wooded gate. ”Phew! We are finally here... this took us forever!” She said at a relieved tone. Stretching her back and arms. The door had a circular design.

”Amaris... what might the reason for the different interior design be?” She turned to me with an uncanny smile as she noticed I was worried about something.

”It feels like something isn't right, doesn't it?”

I nodded being a little confused about the way she reacted.

”The area here is known as the back area of the Guildhall, it has been neglected for centuries giving it the run down, eery ruined feel to it that it has.

There might even be rats here now that I think about it.” Amaris jokingly said as a silent laugh escaped her mouth.

”Luckily the Magic Guild could establish their guild here last year gaining enough funds to clean up the dusty design of the area.”

Amaris knocked on the door making a creating a dull thud that echoed through the empty hallway behind us. Silence, we couldn't hear a thing for seconds.

*click* *taka taka taka* *click*

The silence was broken by an oddly familiar sound.

It was the sound of gears falling into each other, turning and powering some sort of mechanism. In an instant, we heard another thud.

*thud*

As we were fixated on the circular shape we saw to our surprise that it was moving. First only the outer layer turned around its own shape moving clockwise. Then the smaller circle in the middle began turning at a higher speed moving in the other direction. Counterclockwise.

I fancied the way this worked as it piqued my interest.

Captivated by its golden glow I could have sworn the circular shape became more sphere-like.

Inside the outer and middle golden turning layers appeared some kind of blazing unknown tune script that lighted up the entire design. As the circular shape became all the more captivating the inner circle looked like it came out of the door creating a glowing blue sphere. ”This must be one of those magic crystal, right?”

At the moment I asked my question the sphere began projecting an image. It looked like a man. A scholar maybe? It startled me as it began to speak in a polite manner.

”Lady Amaris, please state your business...”

”We Arrived at Sir Bronsbuckle, I have the previously mentioned Adventurer with me.”

”The one with the peculiar affinity? I'll let Lady Darkfire know of your arrival.”

The man bowed down as the circular device stopped glowing and moving altogether. The door cracked one last time as the hinges creaked loudly.

*Creeeeaaaaak* *Thud*

”Someone should really lubricate the hinges again. It seems it was done ages ago, since last time!”

Amaris mumbled to herself as we made our way through the massive wooden door.

The instant we got to the other side of the wooden door, oddly enough the same uncanny feeling rushed through my veins like when we entered the premise of the Fighter Guild Master. Being outside again.

Or so I thought. The bright and pleasant sunlight embraced me. Filling me with warmth. We were outside. Actually outside! It felt like deja vu, although something was different.

I couldn't put my finger on it as I got distracted by the view in front of us.

A huge tower was visible in covering the back of the Guildhall in its entirety.

The sun momentarily blinded me, who wouldn't get blinded after walking in a poorly lit hallway?

As I stood there taking in the view, it excited me to know the existence of magic was real. How did it work? What did it look like? And why did it get implemented the way it did?

We went inside, I followed Amaris while thinking about the concept of magic. The inside was extraordinary and in a way mysterious and uncanny.

Mostly because it was all a new experience for me, I tried to take in as much as possible before we left each floor walking up the stairs to the next.

”Brace yourself, Michael, because this will take a while,” Amaris said with a sigh leaving her throat.

”We have to walk all the way to the top?”

Amaris nodded and screamed loudly in frustration.

”Aaaaagh. This will take forever...”

She threw up her fists in the air as she vowed to get the promotion by the end of the month.

After we have visited the Guild Master here we will be 2/3rd of the way. I wonder what the Guildmaster would be like. Could it be a wise old man? Or perhaps a Mature and sexy older lady? I fancied the second thought as we left for the 10th floor.

As we walked up through the different floors,

the uncanny and mysterious feeling gradually disappeared. Replaced by a sense of admiration for the technological and magical content of the interior.

”Yes! We have arrived at the main hall.”

Passing through the hallway I saw an overwhelming amount of magic Crystal's on the walls and ceiling of the hall. The ceiling, in particular, was special.

Giving off the illusion and believe one walked through the open air, yet having the warmth and coziness of the indoors.

Magic Crystals as far as my vision could reach.

To my surprise, even groups of people were testing the use of unknown rare crystal as we passed by.

Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, even Lightning was being controlled by these so-called gems. What kind of awesome things would I be able to do with them?

As I lost myself in my imagination I did not notice the person closing in behind me. A thief rushed by and pushed the person towards me trying to escape.

*crash*