Briar led Ash and Cael to Evander's house. It was only a short walk, and they quickly arrived, silent the whole way. Briar knocked on the door with a quick three-tap burst, their signature knock. Evander swung the ornate wooden door open, as he'd always done.
Evander stood at over 2 meters tall, a sturdy, well-built hunter. His broad shoulders supported many people, not just Briar, but Cael and Ash too. He was a truly reliable man.
"Briar? Ash and Cael, too? I wasn't expecting you all. What's wrong?" Questioned Evander.
"People from the Calcium Council came… They took Bessie," Replied Briar.
Evander looked momentarily stunned, then quickly composed himself. "Come inside. We need to talk."
Briar followed silently, heart hammering. They all sat down at a small kitchen table next to a large window.
"I have something important to tell you all." Evander paused, letting his words settle over them, making sure everyone was paying sufficient attention. He cleared his throat. "Have any of you ever heard of wizards?"
"You mean like the ones in children's stories?" Cael asked, a hint of laughter in his voice.
"No, no, not like that." Evander chuckled softly. His expression soon hardened. "They are very real."
Evander took a moment to gauge everyone before he looked Briar directly in the eyes. "Briar… do you know how your parents died?"
Briar blinked, caught off guard. "You never told me… wa-wait, why are you bringing this up now?"
"You see… your father, my brother, he was a wizard." Evander's gaze drifted to the window, solemn and distant.
Briar's stomach dropped. A wizard? That wasn't real… was it? They searched Evander's face, expecting him to laugh and tell them it was a joke. But his expression remained grave. Their mind raced. If their father was a wizard, what did that mean for them? And… what even is a wizard?
"Wait, hold on. You still haven't explained what a wizard is, or why any of this matters!" Briar exclaimed, frustration edging their voice.
"Some people are… different," Evander said quietly. "They can use milk to… channel magic. They're called calcimancers, but most call them wizards."
His voice faltered, guilt flashing in his eyes. "I kept this from you to protect you. The Calcium Council doesn't take kindly to wizards who act outside their control. Your father… he defied them. And it cost him everything. I don't want to lose you, too."
"And now, it seems, the Calcium Council has become more brazen..." Evander looked at Briar worriedly, "They've gone so far as to hoard all of the cows, most likely to stop anyone else from becoming a wizard."
It took a moment for Briar to truly process the severity of their current situation. "So, how does one use these powers?" They asked inquisitively.
"Your powers… they come from your bones," he continued, voice steady again. "Your body consumes them to create magic. It's a balance: use too much, and you weaken yourself. That's why milk is so important."
Evander's expression darkened as he spoke of his brother. "To restore what you lose in combat, wizards must drink milk. Your father believed the power was in the milk itself. He could mold rocks with ease. Once, he even stopped a dragon's breath with a single swig of goat's milk."
He paused, glancing at Cael and Ash. They seemed to follow, nodding slightly. Encouraged, he asked, "Do any of you remember the old nursery rhyme… about The Milkgician?"
"Oh, that silly one that we used to sing?" Cael asked.
"Yes, that's the one, Cael," Evander replied. "Briar, you must do what that nursery rhyme said. You have already accomplished the first step, even though you don't realize it yet."
Cael tried humming the rhyme, albeit discordantly, and then remembered, "Drink the best milk in the land, right?"
"Correct again, Cael," Evander replied. "If you want to get Bessie back, you three must make an adventuring party, and do what the other four lines said. Your father researched this rhyme for a long time, it being the thing that eventually got him killed and all…"
"The Cheese of Time is in Bellevigne," Evander said, his voice low. He paused for a moment, letting the name sink in.
"Bellevigne? That's… that's on the other side of the country!" Briar whispered, eyes wide.
"Next is the Capital," Evander continued, his gaze serious. "Then the pasta is in Veridora." He exhaled sharply, as if naming these places drained him.
"And finally, you must travel to the furthest north, past Kyrzharia, to the Northern Plateau."
Silence filled the room. Each name settled in like a stone in their stomachs.
"You really expect us to believe all of this?" Ash asked, "It all just sounds so outlandish."
"Believe what you will, Aisling, but I have no reason to lie to you. I want you all to succeed," Evander responded.
"I, for one, would be happy to go on an adventure with my two best pals," Cael quipped. He wrapped his arms around Briar and Ash's shoulders, but Ash slapped his hand away.
"As much as I hate to admit it… Fine, let's do this." Ash said, "Someone needs to protect your sorry asses."
"Let's get Bessie back," Briar replied, now bonding the three together into a party.
Evander stood up from the table, along with the party. He gave them a bag with enough money to last them the first few weeks, and some camping supplies.
"My, you're all so grown-up now… " Evander remarked, his eyes becoming slightly wet. "It brings a tear to my eye. One day, you're a bunch of rowdy toddlers, chasing each other around the yard. and now look at you all, so capable and strong… " He started sobbing, but quickly stilled his emotions. "I can't go crying over a simple goodbye." He wiped his eyes clean and sniffled a bit.
"Oh, come on, old man, we'll be right back, you don't even have to worry about us." Cael playfully said.
"Shut up, Cael, we were having a moment, now you ruined it." Ash groaned.
Briar chuckled, Evander and the others quickly following suit. "Briar, you were so small when I first brought you here, but you've always had an endless curiosity. And Cael, Ash… you're like family to me. I couldn't be prouder of the people you've all become." He pulled them all into a tight bear hug. "Stay safe out there. And remember, no matter what happens, you'll always have a home here."
He waited a second, and then added on one thing, "Briar, there's this one thing your father always said, 'Power is nothing without control.' It always sounded cliché to me, but maybe you'll find some use in it. Goodbye, my child, stay safe out there." Evander looked on, the three of them getting further into the distance.