~Chapter 12~
Mae had been left feeling defeated and stressed, unable to bring herself to say much as she and Ven waited in the town square, resting on one of the many stone benches located about the town.
They had been waiting for quite some time and several others, in the midst of their own day, had stopped to exchange pleasantries with Venificus which led to admiring his adorable, shy, little sister. Despite appearances, all were kind, pleasant, and well-mannered. Her heart being torn away bit by bit with every exchange, as in her silence, she tuned out their conversations, and the memories flooded in.
Specifically, she was reminded of the first time Jack took her to a party at his friend's house. Everyone loved him, he was jovial, easygoing, and knew how to carry a conversation. She was the exact opposite, at least until she felt comfortable, which was hardly ever. Sometimes, she wondered how Jack managed to tolerate being around someone like her, and hoped it was because he loved having someone who could listen to his endless stories. She was good at listening, and best at keeping her opinions to herself, even when she knew someone was wrong. It wasn't that she felt herself superior in anyway, with a 'I'm the smartest, or arguing isn't worth my time!' sort of attitude. In fact, that couldn't have been farther from the truth. She despised arguing. Being yelled at made her mind freeze, and her nerves would choke out her voice, even when she knew she was right, articulating her points and thoughts, was impossible, and she hated it when anyone looked at her with a smug 'I won' grin, just because she couldn't express herself. She had learned ages ago to just smile and agree or say nothing. Jack was one of the few people, she felt safe enough around to really speak her mind, and now, in this place, she was without her person.
"Mae?"
She looked up to the sound of her name, Karanosi kneeling before her.
"I'm sorry, I must have drifted off for a moment."
"It's fine. I've brought good news. Omb has agreed to grant you an audience. 5 days from now, in Tag'thyr."
"That's wonderful. Thank you, Karanosi," she replied.
She attempted to sound excited, but she struggled, and 5 more days and a journey to a faraway city; the thought caused her to tremble.
"It's going to be alright," Karanosi remarked wrapping his hands around hers, "you won't be going alone. We will be with you."
"Even so, it's a long way to go when I don't even know if she'll help me. Isn't there a way to talk to her without make a journey?"
Karanosi lowered his eyes.
"What? Is there like some magic portal system that's going to make this super easy? Did I just embarrass myself again?"
"No, it's not that. And while portals are a thing, they aren't easily used at this sort of distance and gateways are incredibly difficult to set up. It's all very nasty business."
"Then why do you look worried?"
"Because," he replied casting her a look of concern, "she wants to meet you. More importantly, she wants all of Tag'thyr to see us walking into her temple together. She's using you for her own vanity."
"I'm fine with that, but something tells me this isn't about me at all. This is about you, isn't it?"
"You aren't wrong. The politics of dragons is complicated and she's doing this more to appease the shadow brood, who is loyal to her, than for her own amusement."
"Crystal or Air dragons, bow to no one," Venificus remarked, "and they are allies with the Silver and Golden, who are loyal to Boem'thol's Aspects."
"Omb is one of Sotar'ra's though. Won't this damage your alliances or reputation?"
"You needn't worry over such things."
"I worry because you shouldn't have to sacrifice a part of yourself just to get me answers. She might not even be able to help me and then this will be for naught. If you're allied to Balen'thelm, why not to go him instead? Spare yourself whatever indignity Omb's asking of you. I'm fine with waiting."
"You worry too much over nothing Mae," Karanosi replied, now wearing a genuine smile. "It is heartwarming to know of your concern though, but I promise you, I will be just fine. But now is the time for food and I want to hear about your morning with Ven. Come, let us go to the park where we can eat in comfort."
Together the three of them returned to the public stable and gathered Saulk and their belongings from the storage room. Once they were back on the street, Ven summoned his mount Praja, which was a creature knows as a 'Sambel'. He looked like a musk ox with the feet of a hippopotamus and gorgeous, long, flowing ice blue hair, while being the size of a large pick-up truck. Being stronger than Saulk, just by the nature of their species, Karanosi lifted Mae up and set her onto Praja's back behind Ven.
Holding tight to Ven, they followed behind Karanosi and Saulk, riding through the town following the road east towards Sap'letor, stopping one block before the eastern gate. Turning south, they followed the side street, arriving in a wide-open field, where there were mounts and townsfolk, hanging out, enjoying the day with their families and loved ones.
This was a strange sight to see for Mae. Monsters amongst beasts, frolicking in the sun. Children's laughter, expressions of joy, a game being played with some sticks and a ball, while jubilant parents cheered from the sidelines, others flying overhead, hanging in the sky, gliding on the wind.
The species and games may have been different and the size of the pets inequivalent, but the atmosphere was the same. It was a park, and it felt like one.
Karanosi found them a nice spot off to the side. It was out in the open but away from most of the others. After unloading Saulk, she and Praja took to roaming, heading off to join a gathering of mounts, some similar to themselves. Yet amongst the beasts were creatures that reminded her of earth-like ones; horses, lamas, Elk, overgrown sheep, and dogs covered in scales the size of polar-bears. Few bore no similarities to things that she had seen, and the ones that did, resembled things long extinct, like the giant sloth and wooly rhino. The most terrifying of the mounts that she had seen was an enormous insect which Ven called a scarento. It looked like what would happen if a scorpion and praying mantis had crossbred. But by far, the most popular were the gecko looking lizards called Ifersom, the length of limos from nose to tip of the tail.
Laying out the blanket, the three sat and ate the food Karanosi had prepared, and Ven and Mae told him of the morning venture, of the cloths she had ordered and the experiences she had enjoyed, leaving out the near panic attack she had suffered in Ghrifal's store.
Once she had eaten her fill, she laid down and stretched out, and watched the clouds drift by from under the brim of her hat, as their voices slowly faded. It hadn't been that long of a morning, but it had been exhausting all the same, and before she knew it, she was being nudged awake, and told that it was time to leave.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep," she apologized as she sat up to find everything had already been packed and was ready to go, aside from the blanket she had been laying on.
"It's perfect alright. If you're tired, it's good to rest," Karanosi told her as he helped her to her feet, only to promptly lift her further up onto Praja's back. "We have one more stop on our way back through town and then I'll fly you both home."
"Where are we stopping?"
"The Apothecaries," he replied as Ven gathered and folded the blanket.
Mounting up, they returned to the town center and to the large stone building that looked like a warehouse. Leaving the mounts tied to the hitching post outside, they headed in. Inside it was busier than the other shops had been, so she tightened her grip on Ven's hand while Karanosi carried the basket. It had everything she had expected to see from an apothecary, and resembled a standard pharmacy but with much wider aisles, good selection but with limited supplies. Here they purchased candles, lantern oil, a bottle of gel-like liquid called Fasleer that acted like a mouthwash and toothpaste all in one, a couple of bars of soap that she found more to her liking at Ven's insistence, along with a few small bags of powders and ground herbs, she couldn't have begun to guess the use for.
Once they were finished, having gotten all they had come for, they left the town, returning to the clearing where they had arrived. Transferring everything from the mounts to the large pouch Karanosi carried, they dismissed the mounts. Then Karanosi had Ven take Mae back to the road, calling them back a few moments later, once he had transformed back into his true self.
Mae was curious as to why he never let her see him transition, but felt it best not to ask, at least not right then or there.
It was an easier, longer flight back up the mountain, and Karanosi took his time, making no quick movements or sudden drops, just a steady climb with lazy sways, gliding upon the wind, riding the up drafts until cresting above their valley. At least this time, she found the courage to look, to gaze out passed Ven's back and marvel at how large and protected it was, before Karanosi came in with a gentle landing.
After putting their new items away, Karanosi helped her assemble her shirt, while Ven cleaned up the picnic dishes. Once it was completed, she went up to the dressing room to put it all on.
Amongst the undergarment's Ven had insisted she needed, made of a skin tight, stretchy fabric, was a tank-top like shirt, called a 'stays' and boxer-brief like shorts they called 'leggings'; collectively called under armor, and it helped to protect the skin from the rubbing and movement of the leather making it exceedingly more comfortable and easier to wear.
Slipping on her new leather armor over her under armor, the shirt wore like a vest with a high neck. Her upper and lower arms covered in wide bands, leaving only her joints exposed. She was pleased by how unrestrictive it all was. Even the pants were more comfortable than they appeared to be, and with boots in hand, she returned to Karanosi in the sitting room.
"Put on the boots too," he remarked, as he rolled a ping-pong sized, clear glass-like orb between his palms.
"What is that?" she questioned, sitting down to put on her boots, which really were little more than leather socks with thick soles.
"It's your armor orb. I've already activated the spell, and once it is affixed, all you will have to do is tap it, say exchange, and it will store your armor, replacing it with whatever you have been wearing. To equip your armor, simply press it against your chest."
"Oh. That sounds handy, but what if I can't use it?"
"The magic is in the orb. You shouldn't have any issues, but we will soon see."
She finished tying her boots and stood before Karanosi, who tapped the orb against each piece of her armor before setting it to the center of the upper neck piece over the top of her sternum.
"Place your hand over it and press it into place," he instructed once it had shifted to a dark red color similar to that of her armor.
Placing her palm over the orb, Karanosi pulled his hand away and she pressed down upon it. Much to her surprise, her hand easily sunk to her chest, with little, almost no, resistance. Pulling her hand away, a simple, round, red-ish jewel was now a part of her armor.
"See, good to go. It will only respond to you, and it won't repair anything that's damaged, it's just storage. The first time you use it, say, 'return,' and it will remove it. Or if you ever just want to take it off. I'm certain you will get the hang of it."
So was she; after all, it wasn't complicated. Magic, in this world, it was real, and even she, so it seemed, could use it in cases like this. But it made her wonder, how many cases like this there actually were? And if it were possible to create more; to make items that even she was capable of using. Because maybe then, being small and weak, wouldn't matter so much anymore.