How deep are you willing to go to know your roots?
[City of Na'tel ]
Inside the large earth walls stands a medieval themed city constructed from weathered wood, oxidized copper that has turned green with age, brick, and stone. At its heart, a massive tree stretches skyward toward the heavens, its canopy visible from every corner of the settlement. The city rests on a hill, with guards stationed at the gate and townsfolk moving through their daily routines and business as normal. The morning air carries the scent of bread baking and metal being worked. Suddenly, a speeding horse bolts past the open gate, its eyes wild with panic and nostrils flaring. The animal's hooves thunder against the cobblestone, sending guards and citizens scattering along the road, diving into doorways and pressing themselves against buildings. Behind the runaway horse, a wagon careens down the slope, its own horse missing from the harness that dangles and drags across the ground. The wagon carries two young miners, one 20 and one 18 years old, along with various ores and rocks that rattle and clink in the cart bed, some already bouncing out onto the street.
Guard1:damnit Andrew! Stop that wagon!
Andrew, an 18 year old who stands 6 feet tall with a lean build and dark skin, wears a white long sleeve tunic with an intricate gold tree drawn into the back and brown pants. His long black dreadlocks whip in the wind as the wagon picks up speed, and a small green copper crimp ring on a single dread catches the morning light. He twists his upper body to look over his shoulder at the shouting guard.
Andrew(looking over his shoulder): Sorry! But we can't right now, the market closes in less than 10 minutes.
Vinny: I told you to let me steer the wagon, we can't go anywhere without your bad luck getting the way. How are we gonna stop this thing before we crash?
Vinny, a 20 year old who stands 5 feet 9 inches with light skin and a bulkier build than Andrew, wears a matching tunic in red with the same intricate gold tree design on the back and brown pants. His short curly black hair stays mostly in place despite the chaos. He sits in the wagon bed, knuckles white as he grips both sides of the rattling cart, his body swaying with each bump and jostle.
Andrew: Hey, I was doing good so far. I didn't think it would act up as we were getting back. Besides the market square is in the middle of the hill before the shiwana tree, well lose momentum by then
The wagon continues its wild descent down the road, wheels clattering over uneven cobblestones. Startled townsfolk scramble to get out of the way, mothers grabbing children by the arms and merchants diving behind their stalls. The cart speeds past copper houses whose metal has turned green from years of exposure to the elements, shops with their doors flung open in surprise, and miscellaneous buildings—some three stories tall, others squat and wide—now bearing that same green patina from time. The guards, now recovered from their initial shock and mounted on horseback, give chase after the wagon, their horses' hooves creating a rhythmic thunder.
Guard 2: Out of the way! The Murphy brothers are at it again, watch out
woman(screams while grabbing her kids to shield them from harm): Someone get commander lya and captain Griffin
Vinny looks over his shoulder, squinting against the wind whipping past his face. He sees the guards on horseback closing in, their uniforms crisp and armor glinting, faces set with determination.
Vinny:Shit they're getting close. Can't you make this thing go any faster?
Andrew looks from one side of the wagon to the other, taking in the narrow street and the people still diving for cover, then looks at Vinny with an expression that's half grimace, half shrug.
Andrew: we go any faster were gonna crash or lose more ore than we already lost. We just gotta let it ride
Vinny looks over his shoulder again, this time catching sight of a woman mounted on a brown muscular horse with a black mane that flows like silk as she rides. Even from this distance, he can make out the set of her jaw and the intensity in her eyes.
Vinny(looking back at Andrew):Well we're gonna lose a lot more than just ore if we don't move our asses. Lya is holding the reins of the chase and she looks pissed
Andrew immediately whips his head around to look over his shoulder, his dreadlocks sweeping across his back with the motion. He spots Lya, an athletic and muscular woman with tan skin that hints at Irish descent, feminine curves and features that contrast with her imposing presence. She wears armor made of steel with engravings of oxidized copper along the chestplate that look like tree roots, forming a tree at the center of the chestplate. Her short red wavy hair is tucked under her helmet, and her deep blue eyes burn with fury as she stares them down.
Lya: ANDREW! VINELLI! STOP THAT FUCKING WAGON AND GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE!
Lya breaks off from the formation of chasing guards, her horse surging forward with powerful strides. She rapidly gains speed on the wagon, closing the distance with practiced ease, her gaze boring into Andrew and Vinny like daggers looking for a target.
Andrew(flinching slightly at lya yelling before he turns to vinny): Alright alright alright, maybe some speed wont hurt.
Andrew looks around frantically, his lime green eyes darting from the road ahead to the contents of the wagon, then back to the pursuing guards. He looks at the ore in the wagon and lets out a heavy sigh, his shoulders dropping.
Andrew: Move the ore up to the front of the wagon. We need more weight up here. Hurry before she does something crazy
Vinny doesn't need to be told twice. He releases his death grip on the side of the wagon and carefully makes his way toward the back, balancing as the cart bounces and sways. He plants his feet and starts pushing the ore forward with the back of his foot, grunting with effort as the heavy rocks scrape across the wooden bed. As he works, the wagon slowly but surely gains speed down the hill, the added weight at the front pulling them faster.
Andrew breaks into a smile as he glances back and sees Lya falling slightly behind, her horse unable to match their accelerating pace.
Andrew(laughing): We're losing them, keep it up vinny. I can smell the baker's bread and pastries. I can hear the blacksmith's hammers hammering faster as we get closer. What could go wrong?
Vinny:What was that, ando?
Vinny looks over his shoulder again, squinting to find Lya's position in the chase. This time he sees nothing but the other guards falling further back, no sign of the red-haired commander.
Vinny:No, wait Andrew, that's not hammers!
At that precise moment, Lya appears beside the wagon on their blind spot, having circled around through a side street. She rams the muscular side of her brown horse into the wagon with calculated force, the impact sending a shudder through the entire cart. The wagon lurches violently to the side, careening toward a brick wall. It slams into the structure with a deafening crash, breaking off a wheel that bounces away down the street, the wooden spokes shattering on impact.
Vinny, positioned at the back of the wagon, is thrown off and launched into the air like a ragdoll as the wagon spirals through an intersection. His body arcs through the sky, limbs flailing, soaring past storefronts and startled onlookers before landing with a heavy thump into a separate wagon piled high with hay. Straw explodes around him in a golden cloud. The guards trailing them quickly surround the hay wagon, their horses forming a tight circle. Lya pulls up alongside them, her horse snorting and pawing at the ground.
Vinny, knowing he's been caught and that resistance is futile, slowly raises both hands above his head in surrender, hay sticking out of his hair.
Vinny: You and that saying, ando. Ando?
Andrew screams, his voice cracking with terror, as the wagon spins and spirals down the hill out of control. He holds on for dear life, his fingers aching from gripping the wooden seat, his body jerking with every rotation. The wagon barrels through wooden crates that explode into splinters, crashes through chairs set outside restaurants and taverns that go flying, and tears down hanging signs that clatter to the ground. Ore scatters in every direction like deadly projectiles, debris fills the air, and people scream and scatter, pressing themselves against walls and diving through doorways.
Lya(sighing then addressing the guards): Captain can deal with him. I'll get Vinny in custody. The rest go get andrew
The guards nod sharply in acknowledgment and immediately set off after Andrew on their horses, steering their mounts carefully through the landmine-like road now scattered with chunks of ore, broken wood, shattered pottery, and other debris that could trip their horses.
As the wagon continues spinning wildly, the back of it clips a building corner with a splintering crack, breaking off the entire back panel of the wagon along with the two back wheels. The wheels bounce away in opposite directions while ore begins falling freely out of the opened wagon, creating a trail of glittering rocks. The impact causes the wagon to flip, rotating through the air. Andrew is finally thrown off the destroyed wagon, his body tumbling end over end as he soars over the market square and toward the edge of the cliff. The guards skid their horses to a stop, pulling hard on the reins. They watch the scene unfold in shock that slowly transforms to horror as they witness the remains of the wagon crash down into the market below, smashing through wooden stalls, cloth-covered stands, and scattering people inside the market who run screaming in all directions.
[Market Square]
From Andrew's perspective as he tumbles through the air, the world spinning around him, he can see the wagon running rampant through the market below. It tears through a vegetable stand in an explosion of produce, clips a pottery display that shatters into a thousand pieces, and sends merchants diving for cover before the wagon finally collides with and shatters into another parked wagon with a thunderous crash of splintering wood.
Andrew(flinching at the sound of impact): Oh,buddy. I'm in for it now. So much for salvos tonight. Sorry!
Andrew looks up mid-fall and sees the giant shiwana tree at the center of the city towering above everything else. Its orangish red leaves fall gently through the air, drifting down in lazy spirals, completely at odds with the chaos below. The massive trunk stretches impossibly high, its bark ancient and gnarled.
Andrew(tilting his head thinking to himself): I've always wondered what made the shiwana tree get like this? We don't have the magic or ability to do that
As Andrew is lost in thought, falling toward what seems like certain injury, he suddenly hears a horse's neigh—sharp and commanding—and feels the sensation of thick, smooth horse hide and powerful shifting muscles breaking his fall. The impact knocks the wind from his lungs.
Andrew lets out a grunt from deep in his chest, then instinctively wraps his arms around the horse's neck as the animal takes off with him on its back. He looks up to see who caught his fall, craning his neck to identify his savior. His entire body goes stiff as recognition hits him. He recognizes the copper and tungsten armor that matches Lya's design but is bulkier and more imposing, with an intricate sun symbol engraved on the back that seems to glow in the light. He sees that ever-present smile of amusement and not a care in the world that the man always wears when he sees him—that laid back posture as he rides his horse like he's got nowhere to be and all the time in the world to get there. Captain Henry Griffin, the city's red headed giant and ray of sunshine, both figuratively and literally.
Griffin(looking over his shoulder and smiling down at Andrew and in a happy thick irish): Oh hey, Murph You and yer brother at it again this early?oh, I bet little lya is gonna let you have it this time, feckin up the city before she could have a meal. Come one on, park yer arse.you and me can have a talk on the ride to the station
Andrew sighs deeply, his shoulders sagging in defeat, and sits up properly in the back of the horse as it begins its steady trek along the cobblestone path back up the hill, hooves clicking rhythmically against the stone.
Andrew(looking over his shoulder behind him at the shiwana tree): Hey, captain Griffin? You know the story behind the shiwana tree? We didn't do it right?
Griffin glances at Andrew, then follows his gaze to the massive shiwana tree dominating the skyline. His ever-present smile fades slightly, becoming more thoughtful as he ponders Andrew's question for himself, his green eyes taking on a distant quality.
Griffin(looking back at Andrew smiling): Of course we did that, It's been growin' since I was a wee one. I member stories of it being from mother nature herself to watch over us,but it was us na'telians who put in the work to make it grow like that.we even celebrate the day it was planted for all in Sanctuary to come and see. Now it helps on storms and conducts power with its roots.
Griffin looks back at the shiwana tree, his expression softening as he gazes at it with the fondness one might reserve for an old friend who's been there through everything, his smile returning to full warmth.
griffin: Pretty good gift if you ask me
Andrew listens to Griffin talk as the horse continues its unhurried pace up the hill, passing by clusters of people who stop their conversations to stare at Andrew. Their expressions range from disappointment to barely contained anger, some shaking their heads, others crossing their arms. Further back down the road, three men can be seen in the background struggling to calm down Andrew's horse, speaking in soothing tones and holding up their hands. The animal is still shaken up from its wild run, its eyes rolling white and ears pinned back as it sidesteps and pulls against their grip.
[Cobalt Station ( Griffins office)]
Vinny sits in a wooden chair, scratching the back of his head and looking down at the floor while Lya leans against the half cobblestone and wood wall. Her arms are crossed and she stares at Vinny with an unreadable expression, her features giving nothing away. Her helmet now rests on a side table, allowing her short red wavy hair to fall freely around her face. As they sit there in heavy silence, Vinny takes in Captain Griffin's office—the space is comfortable with its worn leather touches and wooden furniture, but still holds an air of authority in the way everything is precisely arranged. The afternoon sun flows through the window behind the desk, casting long golden beams across the blue carpet that dominates the center of the room.
Vinny(looking at lya): So, salvos toni-
Lya(cuts him off): Why the hell was there no horse on your wagon? How the hell did you two fools plan to stop the damn wagon?
Vinny is taken aback by the sudden barrage of questions, his body jerking slightly in surprise, but he quickly rights himself and straightens in his chair.
Vinny(sighs): I …let andrew steer the wagon back from a trip to the mines
Lya says nothing at first, just staring at him in loaded silence, her deep blue eyes boring into him. Instead of responding, she pushes off the wall and steps closer to the mahogany desk that separates her and Vinny, her boots making soft thuds against the wooden floor.
Lya(in a low threatening tone): You let Andrew 'star- crossed' murphy, the boy who can talk himself INTO a problem? You let him steer the wagon? And where IS Andrew?
At that precise moment, the door swings open with a creak of hinges and Andrew walks in, his posture slightly hunched. Captain Griffin follows right behind him, his larger frame filling the doorway.
Griffin: Go on, murph. Park yer arse in the next to yer brother .
Andrew walks forward with hesitant steps and sits down in the wooden seat next to Vinny. The chair creaks under his weight as he settles in. He can feel the weight of Vinny and Lya's eyes on him, burning into the side of his face.
Vinny: Told you to stop jinxing us with that challenging fate crap. Now we got no ore and no wagon
Andrew( putting his hands up defensively): Hey, I didn't know she would come up on that side. You're the one who wanted me to speed up and let me drive knowing im unlucky
Vinny: You keep using that damn unluckly excuse ill-
The argument is cut short by the sharp sound of Lya's hands slamming against the solid mahogany table with enough force to make it shudder. The noise echoes through the office, causing Andrew and Vinny to immediately stop mid-sentence and snap to attention, facing forward like scolded children.
Griffin walks past the two boys with measured steps and sits in his chair behind the desk. The chair groans slightly as he settles his weight. He looks at Andrew and Vinny with a mixture of authority and barely concealed amusement.
Griffin: Thank ya, little lya.
Lya nods once, sharp and professional, then steps back beside Griffin, positioning herself slightly behind and to the side of the desk, giving him the floor.
Griffin: Alright, boys. Arguin' aint gonna solve this, or pick up the ore and debris on old feir. Now we seen our fair share of yer antics, but this? This takes the cake. Lya , why don't you fill me in on what I missed?
Andrew's shoulders slump as he looks at Griffin with the expression of someone who knows what's coming. Griffin, on the other hand, gets comfortable in his chair and leans forward with his elbows on the desk, as though he's settling in to hear a good story and has all the time in the world for it. Lya's posture straightens at being addressed, her spine going rigid as she stands at attention.
Lya(clearing her through): I'll keep it brief, Sir. These two idiots were found riding through the city on a wagon full of ore with no horse or plans on or way of stopping, Andrew driving of course. Drasticist measures were called and I rammed copper head into the wagon
Lya looks at Andrew, then Vinny, a wicked smile spreading across her face as she recalls the memory with obvious satisfaction. The expression fades as quickly as it appeared, replaced by her professional mask.
Lya: It didn't stand a chance against that titan. The wagon lost control and eventually threw those two off.
griffin(nodding his head):Oh, so that's why i caught murph down the hill top. Where vinn land?
vinny(lifting his head up): Wagon full of hay, sir.
griffin(looking at vinny and smiling): Well aren't you the lucky one, cant say the same for yer brother Murph. He landed right on old bastard, all that mining and hard labor gave murph a chest of iron
Griffin laughs heartily, the sound filling the office and causing some of the papers on his desk to flutter. He looks at Andrew, his smile never wavering.
Griffin: So, Murph. You were the one steerin the wagon, right? Now the wagon is gone and the horse is still freakin out away from the wagon. What happenin?
Andrew takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he prepares himself, then looks at Griffin directly.
Andrew: We were coming back from a trip to the mines when Vinny let me steer the horse down the hill while he counted the ore. The horse got spooked by some stag run past. It started running and when i tried to rein it in, poof the fasteners snapped off and we started picking up speed, so we were just gonna ride it to the market
griffin(shaking his head in amusement): Got yerself a skittish fecker for a horse, don't-cha? Horse be scared of its own shadow if it didn't know any better
Lya steps forward, her steel and copper greaves making metallic sounds against the wooden floor. Her arms remain crossed, and her expression has shifted from professional to genuinely confused and irritated.
Lya: My question is how the hell did they slip off, and how did you plan on stopping before the market?
Vinny and Andrew look at each other, a silent conversation passing between them as they realize how bad this is about to sound, then they both turn to face Lya.
Vinny: I forgot to check them
Andrew: I didn't come up with a plan for that yet
Griffin's ever-present smile fades slightly as he pushes his chair back, the wheels scraping against the floor. His green eyes widen just a fraction as he watches Lya's body language shift, recognizing the signs of his daughter's mounting anger.
Lya slams both hands down on the desk with explosive force, the impact reverberating through the office. Andrew and Vinny flinch hard in their seats, their bodies jerking back. The copper-themed decorations hanging on the walls rattle and shake, paintings of the city tilt at odd angles, and the neatly stacked papers on Griffin's desk scatter across the surface like leaves in a storm.
Lya( a hint of irish breaking out her voice raising with each word): No plan!? No check up!? There's feckin ore on the street and in buildings you bastards. People got hurt and their stands destroyed. And you hand no damn plan or even check yer damn horse in case shit like this happens. Who's gonna pay for this, you star crossed cave dwellers? Should mine your feckin skull to see what valuable in there
Andrew and Vinny recoil from the fury radiating off Lya, their backs pressing against their chairs as if trying to melt into the wood. They look increasingly ashamed with each cutting word and creative insult, their eyes dropping to the floor as the reality of what they've done and the consequences of their carelessness finally sets in. Just as Lya draws breath to continue her tirade, Griffin holds up his hand in a calm, authoritative gesture that immediately silences her mid-breath.
Griffin: Alright, lya. I think you got yer point across. Them boys look like they know what comin to em
Griffin leans down from his chair and picks up the scattered papers one by one, taking his time to neatly organize them by tapping them against the desk until the edges align perfectly. He then sets them back down on the desk with deliberate care, his movements calm and unhurried despite the tension crackling in the room. He straightens the papers one more time, then holds them up over his face to read them, squinting slightly at the writing.
Griffin: Look,boys. You know can't lock you up on back luck. Then we'd have to arrest every unlucky bastard. So here's what's gonna happen. You two are gonna have to pay for the damages you caused today. Now from what I'm lookin at here it's not just pieces of iron or silver tolos. They're gonna cost you gold tolos. One thousan, four hundred and sixty two gold tolos to be exact
Andrew and Vinny's jaws drop in perfect unison at the astronomical number. They both turn to look at each other in pure shock, eyes wide and faces pale, then slowly swivel their heads back to stare at Griffin as if hoping they misheard. Lya's expression shifts into a satisfied smirk at their reaction, clearly enjoying their horror.
Andrew: One thousand four hun… gold tolos?
Vinny: Sir, we make 5 iron tolos an ore, 10 if we're lu-, on a go-. We make like 5 iron tolos an ore. 5 silver tolos a day if we get a full wagon. One gold tolos is 100 times what we make a day. We're miners, we don't make cash like that
Lya(mutters as a small smile forms at her lift lip): can do math but can't check the reins on a horse.
Vinny(looking at lya): I would've if i wasnt stuck drinking with you at salvos last night
Lya only smiles wider, completely unfazed by Vinny's retort and clearly enjoying his attempt to deflect blame. Instead of backing down, she steps closer to Vinny with predatory grace, her steel and copper greaves echoing loudly off the wooden floor with each deliberate step before the sound becomes muffled as she moves onto the plush blue carpet dominating the center of the office.
Lya: Maybe if you weren't trying to impress me and that bar wench by to out drinkin me, you'd have the money and competence to get a better fastener or not let your brother steer the wagon. I should be more mad at you than andrew(leaning forward a foot from vinny) so ill see you at salvos after you pay up your fine, vinelli
Vinny's mouth opens and closes repeatedly like a fish gasping for air out of water, no words coming out as he struggles to form any kind of comeback. Andrew watches the exchange with wide eyes, genuinely surprised by how quickly and thoroughly Vinny was shut down by someone he usually manages to banter with.
Andrew: Damn, Vinny. She got you there, why you let me steer?
Lya: Andrew, shut up. mr,i cant talk my way into a problem
Andrew: That's not true, ms. I eat, drink and shave like a male bear!
Lya's smile fades instantly into a deep scowl, her features hardening as she turns and steps toward Andrew with clear intent, closing the distance between them.
Vinny(looks at Andrew): You just don't know when to quit do you?
Griffin watches it all unfold with a fond smile playing at his lips, like a parent watching their children argue over something trivial, his eyes twinkling with amusement and affection.
Griffin: Ah, you tree still bicker and fight like children. But never stopped drinkin and havin eachothers backs.
Andrew, Vinny, and Lya all stop their arguing mid-breath and turn to look at Griffin, their expressions a mixture of confusion and surprise at the sudden shift in tone.
Griffin: So, here's what I'm gonna do. Murph and vinny, ill let you only pay half the fine, but from now on little lya gotta come with you on your trips to make sure you both don't screw up, understood?
Vinny and Andrew look at each other with matching expressions of shock, mouths hanging open, then slowly turn their heads back to stare at Griffin in disbelief. Lya, however, doesn't look too happy about this new development. Her jaw clenches and she turns around sharply on her heel to face Griffin and his infuriatingly pleasant smile.
Lya: Father, you can't possib-
griffin (raises his hand again silencing lya): My decision is final, lya. It's so the boys don't screw up again or get hurt, plus you did some damage too with the rammin nonsense. So you gotta help with the cost as well
Lya clenches both fists at her sides, her knuckles going white with the pressure. She takes a long, deep breath through her nose, visibly forcing herself to calm down as she remembers where she is and who she's talking to.
Lya:Fine, ill babysit the murphy brothers until they can pay their fine(she looks at andrew and vinny) that way i can see how this shit works in real time
With that final statement, Lya walks past where Andrew and Vinny are sitting, her boots making sharp sounds against the floor. She reaches the hardwood door and pulls it open to reveal the sound of guards of various ranks running around in the hallway beyond, their voices creating a distant buzz of activity and their footsteps echoing off stone walls.
Lya looks over her shoulder one last time at Andrew and Vinny, her expression softening just slightly as she gives them a roguish smile that holds equal parts challenge and anticipation.
Lya: Better not make me babysit you on some pathetic haul. You got gold tolos to make
Finally, Lya walks out the door and into the bustling hallway beyond. The door swings shut behind her with a solid thunk, the latch clicking into place and leaving only Andrew and Vinny sitting in the sudden quiet of the office to ponder over the deal that's been laid out in front of them.
Vinny: Where are we gonna get a haul worth even one gold?
Andrew(shrugs): I don't know, but we can't do our normal trips now., this is gonna take months, years even
Griffin looks at the two dejected young men and laughs, his voice booming and echoing through the office with such volume that it seems to shake the very walls and rattle the window panes.
Griffin: Boys, boys. I know I shouldn't be doing too much for yer both, but you're like brothers to my daughter, even if she doesnt show it, So here
Griffin reaches into one of the drawers of his desk with a purposeful motion and pulls out a rolled map tied with string. He unrolls it and sets it flat on the desk, using paperweights to hold down the corners. The map is a detailed sketch rendered in brown ink of a wooded area positioned along the edge of jagged mountains, complete with elevation marks and terrain indicators. Andrew and Vinny both lean forward in their seats simultaneously, craning their necks in awe at the craftsmanship and detail of the map. They notice a dark cavern entrance sketched and shaded in, peeking out at the bottom of one of those mountains, marked with a small X.
Griffin: This here is a cave out in nelmor we've been wantin to mine out for some time now, but i got my task up to my eyes to hire a proper minin' crew
Andrew: Nelmor?That's the northern sanctuary right? We haven't been up there yet
Griffin:Correct, it'll be a great chance for you boys to get out the city and find new caves to dig aroun' in
Griffin taps his finger against the cave marking on the map with two sharp taps, the sound pulling their attention back from examining the other details scattered across the parchment.
Griffin: Now, we don't know what's in the cave exactly, but we know it used to be a mineshaft and service tunnel through the mountain. Could be left over ore worth selling. I'll pay you both for checkin it out too
Andrew and Vinny are rendered completely speechless, their mouths hanging open slightly. They can only alternate between looking at Griffin's genuine smile and the detailed map spread before them in stunned shock, unable to process their sudden stroke of good fortune.
[Nelmor]
A wagon travels along a dirt path that winds through the wilderness, carrying Andrew and Vinny in the wagon bed with Lya seated up front holding the reins. The wagon travels through wooded areas where the canopy overhead filters the sunlight into dancing shadows, across rocky terrains where the wheels bounce and clatter over loose stones, and past occasional mining companies and quarries where workers are hard at work, their distant shouts and the ring of metal on stone carrying through the air.
Vinny and Andrew sit in the back, checking over their simple mining equipment with careful hands. Lya watches the road ahead like a hawk, her deep blue eyes scanning every detail of the path, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword in a practiced grip. She guides the horse down the trail with steady confidence, eventually bringing the wagon to a stop as the dense trees give way to a rocky clearing that opens up before a mountain. At the base of the mountain sits a cave entrance, positioned exactly as the map depicted with remarkable accuracy.
Lya looks over her shoulder at Andrew and Vinny, her gaze sweeping over their lack of actual professional mining gear and their worn pickaxes that have seen better days. She finds herself wondering how they've managed to make it this far as miners with such meager equipment.
Lya: You two sure work on a budget. Come on, the faster we get this done the faster you can get this fine settled.
Lya hops down from the wagon seat onto the rocky and dirt ground below, her armor clanking and rattling slightly with the impact. She walks toward the cave entrance with purposeful strides, already beginning to scout ahead and assess the area. Vinny and Andrew hurry up in grabbing their pickaxes and lanterns, fumbling slightly with the equipment in their haste. They clamber out of the wagon bed and quicken their pace to catch up with Lya, who's already several yards ahead.
Andrew: Wow this place sure looks terrible, how long has it been abandoned?
Lya looks over her shoulder at Andrew, meeting his curious gaze for a moment, then looks away with a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Lya(shrugs): Cant say, few hundred years maybe. It used to be a silver mine that took miners in and out of sanctuary, now it's a shell of its former self. The under i think it was called
Andrew looks around with wide eyes and takes in the rusted and rotted tracks that snake along the ground, their metal eaten away by time and weather. Flipped over minecarts lie scattered about like forgotten toys, some partially buried in dirt and overgrown with creeping vines. The cave itself is a dark hole leading down into the depths of the mountain, its entrance only being supported by rotten wooden supports that look ready to collapse at any moment. Andrew feels nervousness and curiosity climbing in his chest, the two emotions warring with each other as he stares into the darkness.
Andrew: Woah, so this used to be one of the ways out? The maps must've been complicated to read. How did it end up so shit? Do the tunnels still work? What's on the other side?
Vinny side-eyes Andrew as he watches him look at and walk around the decayed mineshaft with mounting excitement. There's a hint of that familiar curiosity lighting up Andrew's lime green eyes as they practically glow while taking in every detail of this bygone age, studying the craftsmanship and wondering about the people who once worked here.
vinny(sighs and smiles at lya): Look at what you did, lya. Now the boy won't be able to shut up about this place
Lya watches Andrew walk ahead with a critical eye, tracking his movements like she would a potential threat, but there's a hint of a smile forming at the corner of her mouth. Her expression shifts to amusement as she sees him step carelessly on a loose board that's part of a rotten track and almost get hit in the face with the board as it springs up.
lya(letting out a small laugh): I know, but you can't deny how funny he prances around like a curious child is. Better to at least have some humor while you two check for crumps of silver
Andrew(leans forward to look into a minecart): Hey vinny i think this minecart is study enough to use, who do you think worked on-woah!
Andrew almost falls headfirst into the minecart, his body tipping forward at a dangerous angle, only to be saved by Vinny lunging forward and grabbing onto the back of his white tunic. Vinny pulls Andrew back to his feet with a firm yank and looks at him with an examining gaze, like a doctor checking a patient for injuries. Vinny takes in Andrew's face properly now that they're close, noticing the way Andrew's lime green eyes light up with that childlike wonder as they peek through his black dreadlocks that stop just above his cheekbones, leaving only the lower half of his face clearly visible.
Vinny: Come on, Andrew. We're trying to find anything worth mining here not get stuck in minecart and a bygone ages history… again
Vinny reaches out and wipes some dirt and dust off Andrew's white tunic with rough, practical swipes, then moves his hair from over his eyes with a gentler touch, getting a proper look at Andrew's full face without the curtain of dreadlocks obscuring his features.
Vinny: I need your focus, ando. The quicker we can get this done the less of a chance your…(gestures vaguely to Andrew) whatever the hell it is. We need money to pay the church what we owe. And don't say that line while were here
Andrew's smile fades into something more subdued and he nods to Vinny in understanding, but he can't help casting one last longing look around the clearing to take in the surroundings and commit them to memory. With a resigned sigh and a more determined look settling on his face, he grabs his pickaxe firmly and starts walking beside Vinny toward the cave entrance, his hair falling back over his eyes like a dark curtain.
Andrew(stretching as he walks): Alright, fine. I won't let my curiosity and luck screw us up again, but you can go giving dumb ideas that will get us in trouble again
Vinny reaches out and smacks Andrew upside the head with an open palm, the sound echoing in the clearing. The impact causes Andrew to grunt and immediately rub the back of his head with his free hand. Vinny smiles wide and laughs at Andrew's reaction as Andrew turns to look at him with an irritated expression. Lya watches it all unfold with her smile growing slightly bigger, clearly entertained by their brotherly dynamic, before the expression disappears as quickly as it came. She conducts a careful sweep of the area herself, her trained eyes looking for any signs of danger or instability as she approaches the cave entrance.
Lya: While it's cute that you boys are so close. We got work to do
Lya draws her sword in one smooth, practiced motion. A one handed broadsword made from what looks to be steel with a turquoise dyed leather grip. As Andrew watches Lya check the safety of the cave entrance with professional efficiency, he notices the intricate details of her weapon: the silver line in the fuller starting from the lower end of the blade and running all the way to the high end, the small pieces of white cotton peeking out from beneath the turquoise leather grip, and the oxidized copper pommel and guard that forms an elaborate basket hilt around Lya's hand, protecting her fingers.
Andrew finds himself wondering what kind of weapon that is, where it was forged, and what battles it has seen. He's about to open his mouth to ask Lya about it, the questions already forming on his tongue, but one sharp look from Vinny stops him dead in his tracks. With a curt nod from Lya signaling that it's safe to proceed, the trio walks into the relatively stable entrance of the mines, leaving the sunlight behind as darkness swallows them whole.
[the under]
The tunnel is dark, wet and gloomy with jagged rock jutting out from the walls and ceiling at dangerous angles. Rotten debris is scattered around the uneven floor,broken support beams, rusted tools, and fragments of old equipment that have long since lost their purpose. Some tunnels that branch off from the main passage have caved in, their entrances blocked by piles of rubble, while others are flooded with murky water that reflects the dim light of their lanterns. Lya leads the way with her sword held out defensively and her lantern raised high, the flame casting dancing shadows on the wet stone walls. She moves with determination and readiness for anything, her armor echoing off the walls with each measured step. Andrew and Vinny trail close behind, gripping their pickaxes tightly. Vinny walks carefully and cautiously, testing each step before putting his full weight down, while Andrew constantly fights the urge to branch off from the group and explore the side passages.
They work in silence, the only sounds being the drip of water, the scrape of metal on stone, and their own breathing. Occasionally they find leftover silver veins embedded in the rock walls or other ores worth extracting, stopping to mine them out with their worn pickaxes. Other times they have to stop and turn around entirely due to tunnels being flooded with black water or caved in beyond any hope of passage.
Andrew(picking up pieces of silver ore): I can see why Griffin said we can keep the ore. This sucks
vinny(looking over from wheres he's mining): I know, feels like we had a better chance in shi'kan than nelmor. At least there we found a sliver of a silverrite
Andrew: Right we found a sliver of silver
Andrew tosses the ore into the worn minecart with a metallic clink, then goes back to mining, swinging his pickaxe in steady rhythm. But Vinny stops his own mining and looks at Andrew with a confused expression, his brow furrowing.
Vinny: What? No, we found a sliver of silverrite, silver-rite
Andrew(sighs and stops mining to look at vinny): Right, we found a sliver of silver, right?
Vinny lets out a long sigh and rubs his temples with his free hand, looking like he's developing a headache from this conversation alone.
Vinny: Ando, sometimes i wonder how you're the smartest in the family
Andrew: Well when you drink before the sun rises you tend to get dumber
Andrew casually places his pickaxe in the minecart with the collected ore, then grabs the handles and pushes the minecart down the tunnel like nothing happened, the wheels squeaking and rattling as they roll over the uneven tracks. His comment leaves a stunned Vinny standing there with his mouth slightly open and Lya who is now laughing openly at Andrew's retort and complete lack of filter. Vinny looks over at Lya who has turned to look back at Vinny with a smug, satisfied smile spreading across her face.
Vinny: He gets that from you
lya(laughs again): Yeah right, Andrew has been speaking his mind since he could even speak. I figure his first words were 'more sugar'
Lya walks past Vinny with confident strides to follow along after Andrew, who's already disappearing around a bend in the tunnel. Vinny can't help but smile at Lya's quip despite himself and quickly moves along to try and keep up with both of them.
As Andrew pushes the cart forward, the wheels creaking with each rotation, he notices a faint mist traveling low to the ground. The strange vapor seems to be seeping from the water of a flooded tunnel to his left, flowing out like it has a mind of its own. Andrew stops dead in his tracks, his hands tightening on the cart handles as a mix of emotions plays out across his face, confusion at what he's seeing, paranoia that something is wrong, but also that familiar curiosity beginning to flare up in his chest.
Andrew(looking around): Well it doesn't seem to be toxic. Hey lya, vinny there might be some gasses trapped in the water, be caref-
As Andrew turns around to warn them, his eyes widen beneath the curtain of his hair in pure shock. There is nothing behind him but a flat rock wall, solid and unyielding. The tunnel that was there just moments before, where his brother and Lya should be, is no longer there. Andrew jumps back in shock, his hands releasing the minecart in his panic. The cart falls back against the wall with a hard, heavy thud, the impact reverberating through the stone as if to confirm that the wall is absolutely real and solid.
Andrew: What the hell?
Andrew slowly approaches the wall, each step hesitant and disbelieving. He reaches out with trembling hands that are carefully wrapped with turquoise tape starting from his fingertips and running down to halfway up his forearm. His fingers make contact with the stone, feeling the rough, jagged rock that wasn't there mere seconds before cold, solid, and impossibly real.
Andrew: Vinny? Lya? Can you hear me? What happened to the tunnel? Please there's some gas in here
There is no response to his increasingly frantic calls, only the steady sound of water dripping somewhere in the darkness and the oppressive weight of silence. The mist grows thicker by the second, rising from ankle height to knee height, making it harder to see the ground. Andrew tries to calm himself down, taking deep breaths and forcing his racing heart to slow, but the mist makes it hard to think clearly, let alone stay calm.
Andrew(thinking to himself): Ok, ok. I gotta find a way out before I die here, if it's a passage tunnel too I can try to get to the other side.
Andrew reaches into his pocket with shaking hands and pulls out a piece of cloth with a few slices of bread wrapped inside. He quickly chows them down, barely tasting the stale bread as he swallows, then wraps the cloth around his face, tying it securely at the back of his head to cover his nose and mouth.
Andrew(thinking to himself): I should last longer with this. I need to get away from fog
Andrew turns away from the impossible wall and pushes himself off it, leaving the minecart and all their collected ore behind. But before he can get more than a few steps away, he finds himself face to face with something he could never have predicted in a thousand years.
[The Under]
The shiwana tree stands impossibly tall in the center of a gently sloping hill, its massive trunk reaching toward a sky that seems brighter than it should be. The tree is surrounded by a sea of red daylilies that carpet the ground inside a bumpy crater, their petals swaying gently in a breeze Andrew can't feel. The medieval city that should surround the tree is nowhere to be seen vanished as if it never existed. Instead, there are only lush trees with vibrant green leaves, tall grass that waves like water, and four separate rivers rolling down the surrounding hills like natural slides, their water crystal clear and sparkling as it flows down toward the shiwana tree's roots.
There, standing before the ancient tree with his back turned to Andrew, is a tall, muscular, but divinely elegant man. His presence seems to make the air itself shimmer. His skin is as tan as polished copper, catching the light in an almost metallic way. His hair is a deep turquoise color at the roots that gradually changes to a dark brown at the tips, long and flowing, falling just before the center of his broad back in waves. He wears only a ripped loincloth that hangs around his waist, revealing the powerful muscles of his legs and torso. Thick bracelets made of a mysterious black metal that seems to absorb light encircle his wrists and ankles.
As Andrew slowly approaches the shiwana tree and the mysterious man, barely daring to breathe, he takes in the impossibly beautiful surroundings and studies the figure before him. As he draws closer, moving as quietly as possible, he sees the man press his forehead against the bark of the tree with reverence and whispers something in a language Andrew can't understand. The words flow like music, ancient and powerful. As the man finishes the chant, an intricate green spiderweb-like symbol with a detailed drawing of the shiwana tree at its center forms on the bark, glowing with inner light. The leaves of the tree immediately glow brighter, shifting from orange-red to a brilliant gold, and the entire tree visibly grows taller, its branches reaching higher and spreading wider.
Andrew(whispers): Magic? But… no one in sanctuary has magic, especially na'telians
Suddenly, as if sensing his presence or hearing his whisper, the man turns and looks Andrew directly in the eye. His swirling yellow and white eyes with black creeping in from the sides like ink in water lock with Andrew's lime green eyes that peek out from under his hair. The intensity of that gaze is overwhelming. Andrew stops in his tracks and instinctively steps back, his body moving before his mind can catch up. Strangely, his instincts aren't telling him to run in terror but to kneel in reverence. The sensation of being watched is so intense and all-encompassing that Andrew even feels the flowers themselves watching him, their petals all turned in his direction.
The man stares at Andrew without speaking, his expression unreadable. The area is pregnant with heavy silence, the kind that seems to press down on your chest and make it hard to breathe. Then, unexpectedly, the man's face breaks into a warm, genuine smile. one that leaves Andrew completely confused and off-balance.
Man: She's beautiful around her birthday isn't she?
Before Andrew can formulate a response or even process what he just heard, the vibrant world around him begins to fade. Colors bleed away, the light dims, and everything dissolves to black like paint running off a canvas.
[the under]
Andrew wakes up sprawled on the cold, damp tunnel floor to the jarring sensation of being roughly shaken by Vinny. His brother's face hovers above him, filled with deep concern and barely contained panic as he grips Andrew's shoulders.
Vinny: Andrew?! Andrew?! Come on, don't die on me in this shit hole
Andrew coughs violently, his lungs burning as he takes deep, gasping breaths. He reaches up and removes the cloth from his face with shaking hands. His surroundings are no longer the lush hills and vibrant shiwana tree but the dingy, dirty mines that are barely hanging on by rotted supports and crumbling walls. He twists around and sees Lya standing watch a few feet away, positioned between them and the tunnel ahead. Her sword is out and held ready, facing the shadows as if expecting an attack at any moment, but her face is also lined with genuine concern for Andrew.
Andrew: What the hell happened to you both? There- there was this gas, an-and this guy with the shiwana tree, talking about a birthday. He looked like copper and used magic to grow the tree
Lya and Vinny immediately look at Andrew, their expressions shifting from concern to confusion and disbelief.
Vinny: What? A man that looked like copper? Talking about the tree's birthday?
Lya: Magic to grow the shiwana tree? Bullshit. It was the blood,sweat and tears of the founding na'telians. Not no damned magic. That gas must have fucked your mind up to think otherwise
Andrew: But i-
vinny(sigh and cuts off andrew): Andrew, you just got lost in some weird gas. Don't take that as the truth. Magic hasn't been in sanctuary for centuries. No one could be from here let alone na'tel and be able to use magic
Vinny helps Andrew to his feet, supporting him with his arm wrapped around Andrew's back and gripping his side to keep him steady as Andrew's legs wobble beneath him.
Vinny: Lets get this cart out of here and see what we can scrap up to pay that fine
Vinny nods to Lya to signal her to begin walking ahead of the boys toward the exit of the mines, taking point again. Andrew holds onto the side of the cart for support as Vinny pushes, the trio slowly climbing higher through the winding tunnels. During the long walk out, Andrew replays the memories of what happened over and over in his head: the mysterious man with copper skin, the glowing symbols on the tree bark, the strange red flowers that seemed alive and aware, and how the shiwana tree grew before his very eyes. He can feel the memories slowly fading from his mind like water slipping through his fingers, leaving only a dull, persistent ache in the back of his head.
[Nelmor]
As the trio reaches the surface and emerges into open air once more, the sun has already begun to set over the mountains. It casts a warm, soft orange and pink glow over the abandoned mine yard, painting everything in golden light while simultaneously creating long shadows over the scattered minecarts, rusted tracks, and their waiting wagon. Their horse is still hitched to a nearby tree, contentedly eating grass and swishing its tail.
Andrew remains silent throughout the entire loading process, lost in thought and trying desperately to understand what he saw and what it meant. The curiosity burns bright in his lime green eyes despite his exhaustion. Lya and Vinny occasionally cast concerned glances at each other over Andrew's head, silently communicating their worry and wondering what exactly Andrew experienced in that cave. As the ore is loaded up into the wagon bed with heavy thuds, Vinny and Andrew climb in and settle among the crates while Lya sits in the driver's seat. She takes the reins in her strong hands and guides the horse back down the winding dirt road toward home.
[City of Na'tel]
The sun has officially set by the time they approach the city, disappearing below the horizon in a final burst of color. Two moons one tinted pink and one glowing orange rise and fall upon the city, bathing everything in their ethereal light. Iron streetlamps placed at regular intervals light up the cobblestone streets, their flames flickering behind glass panes. People and wagons continue to travel in and out and through the city even at this hour, the settlement never truly sleeping. The shiwana tree glows faintly in the night, its leaves emanating a soft bioluminescent light that can be seen from miles away.
The city guards stand on both sides of the main gate in their crisp uniforms, checking each person's cart that comes through with a strange gold disc that pulses with a faint inner light. As Lya's wagon gets closer in line, the guards recognize her and immediately stand at attention, preparing to let her pass without the usual inspection. But before she can drive through, the gold disc one guard is holding suddenly flares up bright red. Strange red symbols flash across its surface like lightning. Everyone in line stops to look at the cart and crane their necks toward the direction of the beeping, murmurs of concern rippling through the crowd.
Suddenly the guards step in front of the wagon with raised hands, forcing Lya to pull hard on the reins to stop the horse. She looks at the guards with clear annoyance, her jaw clenching.
Lya: The hell is this about? We didn't have no magic on us
The guards look at each other with uncertain expressions, having a silent conversation with just their eyes. Then one guard steps forward with slow, reluctant movements. He leans to the side to see past Lya into the wagon bed. When he spots Andrew and Vinny sitting among the ore crates, his shoulders visibly slump and his face twitches in pure annoyance.
Guard(sighs): Let them through. They got starcrossed murphy in the back, his presence messing with the ouroboros again.
Everyone in earshot lets out a collective sigh of relief, the tension draining from the air. The guards step aside and wave them through while resuming their inspection of the next wagon. The citizens in line continue on with their nights, already dismissing the interruption.
As the wagon passes through the gates and begins rolling down Feir hill, the city reveals itself in full nighttime glory. The streets are very active with life, wagons coming to and from the market district, night merchants on the streets yelling out their wares in competing voices, stores and restaurants with their doors open and warm light spilling out, inns and taverns packed full of a variety of people ranging from happy groups celebrating to solitary sad figures drowning their sorrows. The white lights from the street lamps mixed with the pink and orange glow from the two moons leaves a pinkish tint washing over the city, making everything look dreamlike. Andrew and Vinny lean over the sides of the wagon, taking in the city they've come to know so well, watching the familiar sights pass by.
Vinny: Can't wait to get this pickaxe off me and change out of this tunic. The city is alive and i wanna be with the living
Andrew(looking at Vinny): And be dead before a new dawn? What about our fine?
Vinny just smiles wider, his expression becoming mischievous. He wraps an arm around Andrew's shoulders and pulls him close in a brotherly side hug.
Vinny: Like you're one to talk, mouthing off about some copper man
Andrew immediately stiffens at the mention and moves out of Vinny's embrace, pulling away and putting distance between them.
Andrew: Hey I was trying to be focused, how was I supposed to know about a gas leak? I know what I saw
Lya looks over her shoulder from the driver's seat, her blue eyes sharp and commanding, silencing both of them with just her gaze.
Lya: You spaced out in some old dirty mineshaft from a mysterious gas leak. You saw nothing boy
Vinny: Hey lya, salvos tonight?
Lya turns to look at Vinny properly, one eyebrow raised.
Lya: Your brother could have died in a mineshaft and you two are in debt. And you're talking about drinking at a time like this
Vinny looks at Andrew, then back to Lya, and simply shrugs with a carefree expression that suggests nothing can dampen his mood.
Vinny: Like ando never inhaled something he shouldn't have. Were miners and murphys, we can handle a bit of gas, right ando
andrew(looks at vinny): You going to salvos and leaving me to clearing the-
vinny(before andrew finishes): Im going to salvos and leaving you to the cleaning the ore
andrew(looks at lya): You're going with him-
lya(before andrew could finish): Im going with him to salvos
[The Murphy House (Dekkel Road) ]
Andrew is suddenly dropped off unceremoniously in front of a small house constructed from cobblestone and copper that has turned green with age. The property has a small stone walkway leading to the door and a modest front yard enclosed by a low fence. Two heavy wooden crates are dropped with loud thuds next to him on the ground, raising small clouds of dust. Before he can protest, Vinny and Lya speed off on the wagon, heading up the hill toward the heart of the city. Their laughter and teasing voices echo back to him as they disappear into the night.
With a heavy sigh of resignation, Andrew grabs the rope handles of the two crates and drags them inside the house one at a time, their weight making them scrape across the ground. He kicks the door open behind him with his feet, then kicks it closed the same way once both crates are inside. The interior of the house is small but full of character and personal touches worn wooden floors that creak with each step, earth-themed decor scattered on shelves and walls, and a stone fireplace in the main room with ashes from the last fire still visible. Two doors in the back wall lead to Andrew's and Vinny's separate bedrooms. The main room is ruggish but well maintained, clearly lived in but cared for, with a worn fur couch that's been patched multiple times and a hand-carved wooden table in the center of the space.
Andrew spends his time moving the heavy crates over to the couch with considerable effort, grunting as he lifts them. He also fetches a basin full of water from the kitchen and a stiff-bristled brush. He begins the tedious process of opening the first crate and picking up each piece of silver, copper, or lead one at a time. He carefully brushes off the dirt and debris, dipping the brush in the water and scrubbing until the metal shines, before setting each cleaned piece on the table in organized rows. As he works, he glances at the second crate with a confused expression, noticing it seems heavier and more full than he expected.
Andrew: What ore did they get while I was out?
[Salvos]
The night is alive with energy as Salvos tavern is in full swing. The establishment is packed with people of various shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, miners still covered in dust, merchants celebrating successful deals, guards off duty, and locals just looking for a good time. They're all drinking from frothy mugs and eating various items off the extensive menu. Bar wenches dressed in practical white and brown dresses navigate the crowded space with impressive skill, walking around with heavy trays balanced on their shoulders as they serve patrons who call out orders.
Lya and Vinny sit across from each other at a furred booth along the wall, laughing freely and drinking from large mugs filled with dark ale. Their table has plates piled high with roasted duck that glistens with fat, grilled fish that still steams, mixed vegetables in butter, and fresh bread rolls that are soft inside with crispy crusts.
Lya(laughing with a mouth full of food): Cant believe you actually left your brother at home while you drink. And you call me a drunk
Vinny(rolls his eyes): My littler brother has been through alot, a simple gas aint gonna bring him down. He's probably at home right now cleaning away as we speak
Vinny's attention gets completely distracted as he watches a pretty light-skinned bar wench lean forward across his side of the table to refill his mug. The liquid sloshes as she pours. She gives him an unmistakable wink as she straightens up and walks away to serve other tables. Vinny watches her walk with obvious interest, his eyes locked on her hips as they sway with her movement. Lya watches him over the rim of her own mug of ale, her expression clearly judging him.
Vinny: And while he cleans that ore, imma have her polish mine
Lya rolls her eyes so hard it looks painful and leans over the table just as Vinny is about to stand up and chase after the bar wench. She reaches out and grabs his wrist in an iron grip, stopping him in his tracks.
Lya: Hold on this, mole rat. I gotta talk to you about something
Vinny looks at Lya with an expression that's both confused and slightly annoyed at being interrupted from his pursuit.
Vinny(tugging his arm): Well hurry up, i got a gem in the rough i wanna pick at
Lya sighs deeply and rolls her eyes again, tightening her grip on his arm until he winces slightly.
Lya: Don't you find it odd that we were able to find two crates of ore one heavier than the other off those meager finds? How that gas Andrew talked about was nowhere to be seen after we found him? Or how the magic checker was acting up as soon as we got in?
Vinny shrugs dismissively and yanks his arm free from Lya's grip, already looking over his shoulder for the bar wench.
Vinny: Who cares, just means more tolos for use to pay our fine and drink the night away.
[The Murphys house]
Andrew is on the floor with his back pressed against the wall, having scrambled backward in terror. The table is knocked over on its side, scattering ore everywhere across the wooden floor with metallic clatters and clinks. The couch has been pushed back hard against the opposite wall. He stares at the center of his living room in complete shock and horror, his body frozen. The cleaning brush is raised above his face like a pathetic weapon, his knuckles white from gripping it so hard.
There in the center of the room stand two figures, one slightly taller than the other, both wearing light blue cloaks with hoods that obscure their features in shadow. They give off a soft, ethereal light blue aura that pulses gently, making them look like they're underwater. Most disturbingly, the familiar white mist that Andrew encountered in the cave trails across the floor from beneath their cloaks, slowly creeping toward Andrew like searching fingers.
Vinny: Magic is banned in Na'tel
[END]
Created and written by John Fallout