Valla stood alone amidst the windswept Eredal Plains, the unyielding winds tugging at her hair as she stared at the newly-dug grave where her mentor lay. The now filled hole in the earth seemed to mock her, taunting her with the knowledge that her beloved master would never rise from it again.
As the sky, as silken as the finest cloth, cast its light upon her, and the gentle winds whispered their mournful song, Valla remained frozen, her eyes refusing to abandon the grave. For years, they had stood as master and student, and the thought of carrying on without him seemed impossible.
Questions clawed at her thoughts, demanding answers she did not possess. What was she to do now? Who was she to serve? Should she search for a new master or forge her own path in this unpredictable world?
Gently, she clutched the staff her master had gifted her, its iron bells ringing out in the morning light. She would cherish this memento always. Summoning her strength, Valla gathered her few belongings, determined to return to the Second Kingdom’s capital of Sentoros, to the very place where it all began. There, she would find what she was looking for—at least she hoped she would.
Valla staggered to her feet, her body protesting with every movement. The memory of the battle was seared into her mind, the metallic tang of blood lingering on her tongue. It was a miracle she had survived at all, her very existence hanging by a thread, allowed to dangle along by the Aevum familia.
She knew now.
The Aevum were not to be trifled with.
She’d only faced their youngest son, and she’d still lost. When she thought of confronting the stronger members of the family, a sense of unease filled her.
Had it been a mistake to come this far?
Reaching into her backpack, Valla felt for the familiar fur of her severed appendage. Without it, she felt incomplete—even more than she already did—and she struggled to walk, her balance thrown entirely off. She wasn’t sure if it could be reattached, but she’d heard of people in similar situations. A highly skilled medic might’ve been able to stitch it back together, and there was one place in Dventos she knew of that fit the bill. It would cost coin, of which she had little to spare, but she needed to at least try.
She stumbled along, the pain at her backside ever-present, toward the City of Wind. The journey was rather uneventful, the roads leading through the forest clearing and beyond. A large inn along the way offered respite, but Valla didn’t stop to rest. She preferred to avoid humans as much as she could. With how little money she had, she couldn’t risk it—their greed and selfishness was all too apparent.
Despite this, Valla had encountered many considerate humans during her travels, each struggling to survive in a harsh world in their own way.
People like her master.
He didn’t regard her with the same suspicion or disdain that others did. Instead, he’d been fascinated by her, drawn to her innate magical abilities different from his own. She’d found it a little odd at first, but she’d grown to appreciate that interest—at least it wasn’t hate. And, equally curious, he’d taught her to use the kind of magic he did too.
For the first time in a long time, she’d felt a glimmer of hope.
But she wasn’t sure what she felt now.
As Valla approached the city of Dventos, she knew she had to be careful. She had heard rumors that the guards were on high alert nowadays, their eyes scanning the city’s perimeter for any signs of trouble, no matter how small.
But Valla was no ordinary traveler.
“Spellcast: Aspect of Change.”
She summoned forth the avatar of a nimble predator, its form enveloped in a shimmering aura of deep, purple haze. The creature was a physical manifestation of her own being, a guardian to guide and protect her on her journey.
Her mana was still recovering from her earlier exertions, but Valla was undeterred. The walls were formidable, to be sure, but they were not as tall as the walls of Sentoros.
Valla would do just fine.
With a deft hand, Valla began to scale the stones, moving with a fluid grace that belied her years of training and discipline. Winds battered against her, but that only aided her, the guards below oblivious to her ascent.
As she descended the other side of the wall, Valla knew she was getting closer to her destination. She had a particular person in mind who could assist her with her current predicament. They were a lonely and kind soul, one of the few she had met during her travels and had come to trust.
◊◊◊◊◊
The Richard Red, Brewery and Inn was a hive of activity, the air thick with clinking glasses and raucous laughter. For many adventurers, it was a welcome respite from the perils of the outside world, a place to rest and refuel before venturing into the unknown.
The third kingdom was a vast and sprawling land, much of it still unexplored. The Erethon forest, in particular, was a source of great fascination, with rumors of dungeons and hidden passages spreading like wildfire among the adventurers who frequented the Richard Inn.
But for Valla, there were more pressing matters at hand.
As Valla navigated her way through the throng of people in the crowded inn, her eyes flicked from face to face, searching for the person she had come to meet. And then, she saw her, a slender figure with dark hair pulled back in a tight braid. In her hands, she bore forth flagons of frothy beer, shimmering with a crimson hue that bespoke the signature drink of the establishment. The Richard Red, as it was known, was a potent concoction that mingled the flavors of robust ale with the energies of rejuvenation potions.
Approaching the young woman with a sense of caution, Valla spoke in hushed tones, keeping her words low and discreet.
“Erm… excuse me,” she said. “I don’t know if you remember me, but I need your assistance.”
Eileen looked up at her with a look of recognition. “Ah, Valla,” she said. “How goes it?”
“It’s uh–,” Valla unsteadily replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s my tail. I… I was hoping you could help.”
As they reached a secluded area, Valla hesitated momentarily before removing her upper wear to reveal the extent of the damage to her body. Eileen’s face contorted in horror as she took in the deep cuts and bruises that covered Valla’s skin.
“How are you still moving?” Eileen asked, her voice filled with concern. “What happened?”
“I took a job that I couldn’t do,” Valla replied, her voice strained. “It was a contract, and I…I underestimated the danger.” Eileen’s eyes widened in understanding.
“Monsters?” she said softly.
Valla nodded, her eyes downcast. “Yes,” she said. “Monsters.”
For a moment, the two women stood in silence; each lost in their thoughts. And then Eileen spoke, her voice gentle but firm. “I’ll get you patched up as best I can,” she said. “But you need to be more careful.”
Valla nodded, her expression contrite. “I know,” she said. “Believe me, I’m never taking a job like that again.”
Eileen moved about the room with fluid grace, her fingers deftly plucking jars and tinctures of various colors from shelves and cabinets. Valla watched with admiration and trepidation as the other woman worked with haste, mixing together a concoction of herbs and medicines.
After several minutes she came back to her with a jar of greenish liquid. “This should suffice for your wounds,” Eileen said, holding the container out to her. “It will ease your pain and help speed up your natural healing abilities.”
Valla nodded gratefully, taking the jar from Eileen and applying the ointment to her wounds. The soothing sensation of the mixture working its magic was a welcome relief, and Valla felt her body beginning to relax ever so slightly.
But when Valla asked about her tail, Eileen’s expression turned serious. The tail was intricate, requiring a deft hand and careful touch. Eileen studied the severed limb for a moment before nodding to herself.
“I can’t guarantee you’ll regain complete function of it, but I can reattach it,” she said, her voice confident. “It’ll take a bit of time, and it won’t be painless.”
“Do what you must,” she nodded.
“I’ll try to work as fast as I can.”
As Eileen examined the severed tail, she saw that the nerves and muscles had been severed cleanly. Whoever had sliced, it was sharp with the sword. First, Eileen used a needle and thread to carefully stitch the severed flesh back together, aligning the muscle fibers and nerves as best she could.
A grimace of pain contorted Valla’s face as she felt the needle piece her flesh. Her instincts screamed at her to recoil, but she knew that any movement could undo the work. She needed to tough it out.
Many agonizing minutes passed by as she worked, the pain eventually starting to dull into a mass of manageable discomfort. Then, snipping the thread as she tied it off, Eileen applied a poultice of healing herbs and potions to her tail, using a small brush to spread it evenly across the wound before retrieving something else from another cabinet.
Eileen then turned to a small vial of bright blue liquid, carefully applying it to the severed end of the tail. The potion was a powerful regenerative agent known for its ability to accelerate the regrowth of tissue. As the potion began to take effect, Eileen could see the severed nerves and muscle fibers beginning to knit themselves back together.
After an hour of concentrated work, Eileen took a deep sigh of relief.
Valla looked back at the familiar appendage, and a warm comfort coming in seeing it back where it belonged. A tinge of worry came over her as she spent several seconds trying to move it to no avail, but she knew it would take some time.
“It’s not perfect,” Eileen said, examining the tail critically. “But hopefully it’ll be functional. It will take a few weeks to completely heal, but that is the best I can offer you.”
“Thank you,” she earnestly said. “I… I’m grateful.”
Eileen warmly smiled and started to clean the area of blood and her tools. “So, where are you headed next?” she inquired as she worked.
“To Sentoros. I have… unfinished business there,” Valla replied.
“Does it have anything to do with the expedition to the north?”
“No, it does not,” Valla denied.
“I have heard rumors that the Aevum and House Exoren are mobilizing. Sightings of Aevum forces beyond their walls in Tenebris have been reported,” Eileen revealed with a touch of concern.
“What could they be up to?” Valla wondered aloud.
“The Aevum have been expanding their territory for some time now, and this latest move is likely a continuation of that trend,” Eileen explained with a touch of sagacity.
“Do you think war is imminent?” Valla asked with a hint of apprehension.
“There is definitely something brewing on the horizon. Everyone senses it, but nobody knows exactly what it is,” Eileen replied with a wise tone. “The King’s failing health only adds to the uncertainty.”
“I’ve heard about that,” Valla nodded with a hint of worry.
“His passing may very well be the catalyst for the Aevum to seize control of Tenebris. They have had favorable relations with the third kingdom’s nobility for some time, and his death may provide the opportunity they need to assert their claim.”
“The Aevum have been occupying themselves for quite some time now,” Valla remarked, her voice low and serious. “I heard that they have sent their son to the Floating Academy.”
“I too have heard of this,” Eileen replied, her expression grim. “But I fear that once he returns, they will turn their sights to the south. They have already attempted to establish a mine, but venturing deeper into the outskirts of Mount Vasir has proven to be a challenge.”
“Do you believe that they will succeed?” Valla asked.
Eileen shook her head. “No, I don’t think they will. War will break out before they can complete their expansion. I suspect that this is why the other major houses are eager to extend their influence northward. If they do not, the Aevum will become too powerful to contain.”
Valla knew well what the land past Azeita’s Wall had to offer. Her homeland was abundant in naturally-grown mana crystals, and hidden deep within the hills and earth was enough mana to establish an empire that could rival the Aevum. But conquering the north would not be an easy task. Her people were fiercely protective of their land and would stop at nothing to defend it.
“I must leave now,” Valla said, rising to her feet. “Thank you for your help, Eileen. I will not forget your kindness.”
Rifling through her bag to retrieve what little money she had, Valla asked, “How much do I owe you?”
Eileen shook her head, placing a hand on her own to stop her. “You helped me once. We’re even now.”
◊◊◊◊◊
The journey to Sentoros would be long and arduous, demanding Valla to traverse through the treacherous Mirage Desert, a place she had grown to detest, especially since the last time she had crossed its scorching sands was with her master.
Despite facing down the blistering heat and the creatures that lurked within the dunes, they had managed to overcome the dangers with skill and coin, the latter of which they’d entirely run out of by the time they’d reached the third kingdom. The native inhabitants of the desert, the Mara, were kind but difficult to deal with, with most of them demanding some form of payment for any assistance they provided. But for the conditions they were living in, she couldn’t blame them.
She might’ve been able to sneak a ride on one of the ships sailing out to Sentoros from Port Gnosil, but she dreaded the sea even more than the desert. She supposed she would have to decide on that when she got there. But her next stop was Callow, the gateway to adventurers. It was on the way to her true destination, and it was also where she and her master had stored most of what wealth they had there. It wasn’t a lot, but it would suffice, and if it came to it, she could procure funds one way or another.
The road to Callow was relatively safe, passing through the tranquil countryside with farms and the occasional caravan. Yet Valla knew better than to take any shortcuts. Bandits were plentiful in the third kingdom, especially as more and more travelers and traders flocked to these lands.
She walked until her feet ached and her shoes bore into her skin, but she was determined to keep going—this was nothing compared to what she’d been through before. Maintaining a delicate balance of speed and stealth, she pressed onward. If she moved quickly, she might’ve been able to make it there in a couple days, and the sooner she got there, the sooner she could leave.
Hours passed as she continued along the trail, and somewhere along the way, she noticed something.
Her tail—it stung.
She smiled. It still couldn’t move, but she could almost feel it again.
A relief filled her, but she didn’t have much time to enjoy it.
The hairs on the back of Valla’s neck stood on end as she suddenly noticed a stranger on the road in front of her. He stood not far from where she was, facing her in his regal clothing of gold and white and with a strange marking etched into his skin.
When did he get there?
Somehow, she’d failed to notice his approach—it was like he’d appeared out of thin air—and a sinking feeling that she’d made a terrible mistake emerged in her.
“Who are you?” she warily spoke out.
“We are the Aevum Imperia.” He declared.
Shit.
With a quick activation of her Foresight and Insight, she assessed the situation, her mind racing as she calculated the best course of action. She didn’t have much mana to spare, but there was no sense in conserving it now—she was as good as dead if she got caught here. As she surveyed her surroundings, she counted at least four others lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. The odds were not in her favor.
She activated her avatar, but it was too late.
In the blink of an eye, one of the Aevum Imperia suddenly appeared behind her. Her instincts commanded her forward, her body pouring as mana into her feet as it could, but it wasn’t enough. Another of the men caught up to her, their hand closing around her neck, cutting off her airway.
“Sleep,” they impelled.
Valla tried to fight it, but the world quickly faded into darkness, her consciousness slipping away. Before completely succumbing, she heard some final words from one of the strangers, “Take her to Trost and see to her recovery. Her demise cannot be permitted at this juncture.”