Arius was peacefully reading on the floor of the large library. She was in the form of a girl at the moment, reading about the sea. But the information in the library was limited to the sea.
Arius did not know what the sea was truly like, its names, or even how many there are. But there were two she could ask the only problem being that one of them always changes the topic and the other likes to eat.
Guess none of us are going to eat…
She got up and put the book back in its place. Downstairs her mother was nowhere in sight but Jega was. He was on the counter drinking something.
He turned back at the noise of footsteps coming from the stairs. "Little dagger? Do you need anything?" He asked in a drowsy tone.
Arius isn't used to seeing her uncle so tired "uncle are you alright?" She asked worriedly as she walked up to the chair beside him and sat down.
Jega slowly nodded "I'm alright, just need to rest. Your mothers working me like a slave looking for something." This got Arius curious so she asked "Looking for what?"
He turned towards her in silence for a second before turning back to his drink to take a sip. After the silence, he said while staring at the drink "I haven't slept in days."
That didn't answer the question… but since he's not answering now he'll never give it. Plus he's fully lucid he's not fooling me with this act…
Knowing she would not get the answer upfront she instead tried to soften him by asking normal questions. "Why don't you and mommy look alike?" She asked.
This took Jega by surprise which caused him to choke on his drink cough cough. "What?" He asked in a flutter.
Arius tilted her head and asked again "Why don't you and mommy look alike? Your faces don't look alike and most of all your hair and eyes are completely different." Jega's eyes opened wide still surprised by the question.
He took a second to get himself together then answered "You do know what foster homes are right? Your mother was in the same one as me and so we became siblings."
Arius just stared into his eyes after getting an answer. She was stunned that she actually got an answer. "Wait what" she subconsciously asked.
Jega scratched his ear "Don't tell your mother also what's the real question you wanted to ask when you came down?" He looked Arius in the eyes.
How did he know?… Arius thought to herself. "How's the sea like?" She asked blankly. Jega raised an eyebrow "To be honest I didn't expect you to ask so blankly. I thought you would ask other questions to get me to open up."
Arius's jaw was agape for a second before closing. She stared at Jega and he took this as a sign to answer. "To be honest I don't like the sea much but if you want to know what it's like I'll tell you."
He took one last sip of his drink before speaking "The rides are too long, the rooms are too small, the crew is always the worst people you'll ever meet, the food isn't good either, the smell is horrible, and worst of all the sea sickness. That's just the beginning."
Arius was regretting even asking as he looked down at the counter. There was silence for a long minute until she suddenly asked "So what's the drink?" He answered casually "coffee."
—-
A man in an expansive grey suit and suitcase was walking through a busy street. It was high noon with the grey-suited man and his two guards of black suits.
Everyone in the street stared but never dared look their way in fear of what they could have on them. They continued walking until they reached a relatively small building. They knocked twice on the door.
They all stood elegantly awaiting the door to open. Footsteps were heard and the door opened. What came into view was a young man most likely an intern with a small scar above his left eyebrow. He greeted them "Good day, I'm sure you want to get right into business he's this way."
The intern led them into a small living room where the boss was. It was a man who looked to be in his late twenties with a beard and blond hair.
The grey man sat opposite the boss with his two guards behind him. The boss chuckled "Your guy came in the other day and I gave him my answer." The grey-suited man stared at the boss of the building for 10 long seconds before putting his hand into his suit.
Sweat ran down the intern's face as the image of what could come out scared him. When the hand got out of the suit what came out were stacks of money. The grey-suited man said "well add five more thousand."
The boss replied "As I've said before it's impossible. It doesn't matter how much you pay me." His answer seemed final until the grey-suited man pulled out another stack of money.
The boss gazed at the money for a long minute before finally saying "Deal."
—-
In an illusory village of many flying creatures, one stood out. It was a woman of ash-brown hair wearing a green witch's outfit with no hat. She called out to one of the flying creatures "hey bell! You needed my help?
A spirit in the form of a sheep with horns turned and saw Elantra. She walked over and explained "It broke a few days ago all of a sudden." Elantra thought for a second before replying "It has never broken for as long as I've been in this forest. That doesn't make sense."
The spirit Bell came up with an explanation "Maybe one of the children was playing around it?" Elantra shook her head "I don't think so it has a protective barrier. They're not strong enough to break through exceptionally when their children."
They both couldn't think of an answer so Bell proposed "how about we think this over tea." Elantra nodded and followed Bell through the streets of the village.
There were young spirits flying and playing everywhere. Some were playing ball and others were helping their elders with work. This brought a smile to Elantra's face.
They stopped at the door of a house made of wood and stone. Bell transformed into a human form. She looked like a woman in her early fifties with almost no wrinkles and light-brown hair.
Bell opened the door and let Elantra in first. The interior of the house was simple. In the center were sofas circled by a chimney, a kitchen at the back, a door leading to a bedroom, and lastly another door but leading to a basement.
Elantra sat down on the sofa while Bell went into the kitchen to make tea. While picking out cups Bell started a conversation "so how's little Ari?"
Elantra smiled and answered "She's doing well. I'm teaching her about the wells while Jega's teaching her to take care of her body." Bell poured a bit of water then chuckled "Wells? You mean just the Arcane Well. I know how you are Elantra."
Elantra frozed not knowing what to say so Bell said "You have to teach her the other Wells also I know the Red One is teaching her the Martial Well."
Bell opened a drawer and there lay leaves. It was leaves grabbed from the garden of the forest. She reached out and grabbed the leaves but instead of putting them into the cups immediately she shook them. Glowing dust came out before she put them into the cups. Lastly, she added sugar cubes to each.
Elantra let out a sigh "and here I thought I was the only one with spies around here." She gave a small chuckle. After a short minute of chatter, Bell brought the tea over.
Elantra took and savored a sip. She let out a deep sigh "You know how I'm addicted to this stuff Bell." Bell raised an eyebrow "It's tea Elantra."
Elantra said "Yes, but I've been working too much lately" She took another sip. Bell raised an eyebrow "You?" Elantra laughed a little "alright fine it's really Jega doing the work. But I will do my part and fix it.
Bell asked to pass the time "You've mentioned Arius learning but what about her actual self?" Elantra responded "She's been eating too many sweets. She'll get cavities eventually. But the real problem is that she gets too curious."
Bell raised an eyebrow "Curious?" after another sip "Yes, she's been asking too many questions about beyond the forest. I think I should limit her reading."
"And here I thought you said reading was important for children." Bell teased. Elantra's lips twitched in response "well yeah… but not when it causes this…"
They continued drinking until Bell raised the question "I heard what the Bladebearer was looking for…"
—-
Arius was running downstairs. She got a message from a spirit to meet Jega in the training ground. Arius did not know what it was about but for some unknown reason, she felt excited.
Step by step she ran down the stairs. She fell on the final stop but got up as if nothing happened and continued running to the training ground. She ran out the door and in the distance she saw Jega.
She ran towards Jega's back. Jega turned back upon hearing the footsteps and spoke "Hey, I've convinced your mother to let me teach you something."
Arius asked "How'd you do that?" Jega looked at her in confusion "Shouldn't you be asking what I convinced her to let me teach you? It was with the help of a friend. Anyway point is I've convinced her to let me teach you to use weapons."