"I have been told on multiple occasions that it is a useless practice to be able to read, or to spend countless hours on it." She said.
"Why? Because you're a girl?" I asked.
"No, because I am an islander and I can't do islander things." She said.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Well, I can start from the top. I can't fish, I can't fight, I can't hunt, I can't use useful magic or weave baskets...." She said.
"I see. Well, do you like to learn?" I asked.
"I do like to learn. It's the part of putting it into practice." She said.
"Then I suppose I should speak to your parents." I said. "I could easily put you through school."
"You are certainly.. You're welcome to talk to them, they may agree." She said.
"Well, if they don't, then maybe I could teach you myself. I'm sort of grounded anyways." I said.
"What's 'grounded'?" She asked.
"In my case, it's not being allowed to leave the house without my Uncle accompanying me. But to be fair, I was kidnapped and sent here, and some bandits tried to take me before that. And there were other incidents.." I half shrugged. "I'm a target."
"Why are you a target?" She asked.
"Well, I built a city that educates it's citizens, regardless of background, and made sure they had ample food and medicines. They get free housing, medical, food, and education.. basically, I have changed a lot on our continent, and people think removing me would cause my city to collapse. Or allow them to take it over." I half shrugged.
"Wow, you've done a lot." She said. "But those sound like good things, so why would someone try to stop you?"
"Greed. They can't benefit off the educated and healthy as well as they can the ignorant and sick." I explained. "Actually, why do you believe me?"
"Because the big man's eyes became fierce and resolute as you were talking. Means you're not lying and he's determined to help you." She said.
"You're a sharp child." I noted.
"I suppose." She said.
"Where are your parents?" I asked.
"Dad should be out hunting, Mom should be.. probably out with him." She said.
"Oh. Who is in charge of you then?" I asked.
"That would be my grandma. They say since she is too old to work she can watch the one who can't work." She said.
I frowned. "Then I'll talk to her first.. hunting what?"
"Probably iguanas. They're everywhere." She answered, placing the books back in the bag, "I can take you to Grandma. You're already pretty close, but I can take you."
"Ah, yes, thank you.. What else do you all eat?" I asked.
"Fish, shellfish, occasional fruits." She said. "The tribe next door is pretty tasty sometimes."
"I see." I said, as she opened the door to a house, "None of those foods are very good for filling stomaches. It must be a constant battle of obtaining foods."
"Not if the neighboring tribe comes with a 'sacrifice'," She stared at me intently. "Then we get meat and vegetables."
"Zelda, Dear, you hush. We haven't eaten any of the neighboring tribe since I was your age." The grandma said.
"Yes, Grandma, of course we haven't." She looked at me and whispered, "She gets forgetful."
I petted her head and said, "My friend Dean used to constantly make such jokes."
"About eating people? That's just odd." She said.
"I am aware there was a fresh body available days ago, not including myself, and it was buried rather than eaten. So I have to assume your words are a joke." I said. "However, I do think I could make an interesting bargain to your people."
"I'm gonna hope it's not for fresh.. 'people'." She said.
We entered the room where the Grandma is. "Well, I did tell you that I set up my city to provide food for it's citizens. We have an abundance." I told her.
"You can try to set up a deal. But the chief is very stubborn on ideas and change." She said.
"I don't need things that would revile a child." I said, looking at her grandmother. "But I do need people of intelligence. And I do prefer to have permission of the family when I want to do something."
The grandma looked at me with cold eyes. "What is your plan, stranger?"
"I would like to allow your granddaughter to attend the school I built. Or to be tutored by myself in my families library." I said. "To be blunt, I like her attitude and believe she's an intelligent person. These are qualities I like to enhance in others."
"That's your plan? Take her away and teach her things?" The Grandma asked.
"No, I can easily establish a portal to allow her to go to the school, or my home, and back. Family is very important to me, to us, hence my bored Uncle being here." I said. "In return for allowing her, I can easily provide your family with food from our mainland."
"You would paint a target on my family's back, then." She said.
"For which part?" I asked, unperturbed.
"Raising a single family above the rest makes them a pariah. If you stand out in a clan.. you are removed." She said.
"I see. Then would your family be interested in moving? I understand her parents are hunters. We could use those skills in my city. Or if they are better fighter's they could make great guards. Otherwise, I suppose I could try and bargain with the chief, but I noted the derision in his features when I inquired about Zeraldinria's whereabouts." I said.
"The chief would be pleased if we all were to leave. But convincing the girl's parents to do so will take some work." The Grandma said.
"If there is anything they may desire, I could probably provide it." I said. I was certain I could just buy her from the chief.
She laughed a little. "Do we look like a clan that worships materialistic things? We provide, live and die for ourselves."
I grinned and said, "I can certainly grasp that. However, forgive my bluntness, your clan seems to be exceptionally stupid. Why else would they be trying to damage a smart girl like Zeraldinria? Damaging her books even." I glanced at the girl, "But I think the targeting of her is because the clan provides for the clan or it's not of worth, no?"
"You're catching on quick to our stupid ways. It's almost like they weren't thought up very well." The grandma said.
I smiled. "Well, I suppose I could always become the tyrant that takes over the island. Or place someone else in charge. Might makes right, no?"
"Well, if you want to bother with all that and make it quick, you could just kill the chief. Then you could move us, sell us, kill us. No one would have a right to say no." The Grandma said.
"To be frank, if it wasn't for the sadness I heard in her voice, I would probably bother to take this island. But I don't think I like the people. I am only trying to be nice to you, and probably to her parents, because I don't want her to dislike me." I said. Then frowned. There was an easier method to get what I want, it was just plainly told to me.. but I didn't want this child to not like me. Why?
"Then your next option is to convince her parents to let you take her from time to time. Slowly build their trust in you, and your intentions, until they feel it is best for her to stay there and learn properly." The Grandma said.
"To stay..?" I repeated.
"I love this child, but I know this life is not what's best for her. She needs to go out and learn." Her grandma said.
It gave me pause to look at her closer. She was certainly older, but past her tough exterier, I could recognize that she was very much like my Mother. "You are reminding me of my Momma, Adelaide." I relaxed my stance some. Then I looked at Zeraldinria. "What do you want to do? You're just a small child right now, so it's ok if you don't know."
"I would like to go where the books are. I love my family, and the island itself, but I want to learn." Zeraldinria said firmly.
I looked at my Uncle, then, "Do you think it would be worthwhile to perform a hostile take over here? Aimed at a particular target?" I looked at the Grandma, "Are there seasons here? Cold times.. or significantly hot times?"
"There are times when the temperatures change, but nothing like the tales of old say." The Grandma said.
"Were they more significant before?" I asked curiously.
"Long ago there were times we would need to store certain things, because they'd stop growing." She said.
"Oh. Well, it'll happen again in eleven years." I half shrugged.
"You're literally asking if we should do a hostile takeover for an island we don't know the resources of, we don't know the condition of the island.. all for the sake of a child. This would be your endeavor." Uncle said.
I shrugged. "Of course, I wouldn't ask Dad or you to take it on."
"My suggestion is to look around and see if it's something you want to do. There are other options to getting the girl her education." Uncle said.
"Zeraldinria, does shellfish include oysters and mussels?" I asked.
"Yes, we get those occasionally." She said.
"Are clams and scallops more common?" I asked.
"I would say clans and scallops are the more common one, why?" She asked.
"As it turns out, there could be a use for the island, Uncle. The shells are calcium carbonite." I said.
"I'm gonna pretend I know what that means so we can move on. Are we off to kill the chief?" Uncle asked.
"Well, there is a potential for pearls here, and calcium carbonite is more commonly called marble dust which is used in buildings, streets, steel, fertilizer, rubber, paint.. and could be used as a vitamin... to help prevent broken bones." I explained.
"None of that answered my question. A very simple yes or no is all I am looking for." Uncle said.
I considered the options available to me. "No, not today. I think I'll talk to Dad about it."
"Haah, alright." He said.
"Are you wanting to fight something, Uncle? I do know where some dragon's are." I said.
"What kind of dragons?" He asked.
"Black, then green, then red, then blue and then white." I said.
"Well, that sounds like quite the selection." Uncle said.
"I suppose so. But I don't believe I'm allowed to go there right now." I noted.
"You're allowed to go anywhere as long as I'm with you." Uncle said.
"You think that includes to kill dragons?" I asked.
"Last time James said anything it was if I am with you. You can go where you want. That's what I heard." Uncle said.
The grandma chuckled. And I looked at her, "Do you have any empty shells available?"
"I believe there is still a pile of them behind the house. You are welcome to them." She said.
"Perfect. I can give some shells to Summer so he can entertain himself." I said.
"To Su.. who's Summer?" Uncle asked.
"The reason the seasons haven't changed in three hundred years is because they got in a fight and their bodies died. Their spirits are stuck in their remains right now, because of their fight. Summer is the being responsible for the desert." I explained.
"And you believe shells can entertain this being?" He asked.
"Well, if we crush the shells into marble dust, he can burn it, and if it has copper dust and other powder compounds, it'll make interesting col- oh, if combined with black powder that could make really pretty effects.. er.. it'll make the flames different colors and allow him to make art if he wakes to." I rambled.
"Sure.. let's go ahead and do that, why not." Uncle said.
"Is there a better time for me to try to speak to her parents, Grandma?" I asked.
"After some time of the sun going down." She said.
"I have one more question before we leave you in peace... why do your people hunt Iguanas or fish during the day?" I asked.
"A simple enough answer is traditions can be odd." The Grandma said.
"Ah. Well, doing such things at night can increase what they bring in." I said. I petted Zeraldinria's head again, "Enjoy your books, ok?"
"Oh, I will, trust me. And thank you again." She said.
I smiled, and left her house with Uncle, cycling the house to find the discarded shells. I collected a good portion of them, storing them in my pockets. Then we walked the outside of the island. I was trying to get a good idea of the layout, and what was available to the island.
When it was closer to lunch time, I made a glyph home, to fetch some things with Uncle. And to have a meal with my parents. With Snows help, I managed to crush the shells finely and mix the resulting powder in other minerals, which I then sealed into seperate containers.
I fetched the teddy bear I'd gotten for Fall, a multitude of ribbons for Spring, and for Winter I got a flower that never freezes or dies as longs as it's cold, and changes colors based on how cold it is. For them all to play together with, I got them an expensive ball that changes color, as well as shows pictures, when at different temperatures.
They were all things I'd collected over the last year. Really, it was in preparation for much later than now, but it was fine. Uncle wanted to do it, and it was on my list. With the items stowed away in my bag of holding, and a few minutes left until lunch, I contacted Tilton.
"Hello, Mayor. Are you having a lovely day today?"
"So far, yes. I am having a lovely day. What can I do for you?" He asked.
"Do Elves typically do well in extreme weather? And what about Dwarves, do you know?" I asked.
"Dwarves do quite well in extreme heat. Elves can typically be fine as long as they are prepared." Tilton said.
"So, if it is consistently changing sporadically, that could be a problem?" I asked.
"Pretty sure that would be a problem for everyone if their weather changed constantly, why?" He asked.
"If you could pick the season for it to be right now, which would you pick?" I asked.
"What in the world are you up to?" He asked.
".. Nothing. I have a broken arm and shoulder right now, because I got kidnapped after you saw me last. I am home safe, though." I said.
"Whereas I am glad to hear you are safe, I still feel you are up to something." Tilton said.
"I am about to restore the seasons." I said.
"I am sure that could only go well." Tilton said. "Let's say spring, then. And how do you plan on doing this?"
"Uncle and I will go to the mountain, and have a chat with the seasons. I'll release Spring, then Fall, negotiate with Winter, and over rule Summer. Then I'll give them presents so that they can be entertained." I explained.
"You make it sound like they are children instead of concepts for seasons, which means very powerful Fey." Tilton said.
"Fey, Seasons, Gods, Devils, Children. What's the difference?" I asked. "They all play with things they shouldn't."
He went quiet. After a bit, he said, "I can't fault that logic."
"Anyways, I thought I should give you a heads up." I said.
"Thank you for the warning, I will prepare my flowers." Tilton said.
I ended the contact with him, then contacted Alex, "Hey, I'm gonna restart the seasons, starting with Spring."
"Your going to restart the seasons? I feel I should tell someone about this...." Alex replied.
"I told Tilton already. You can tell your family, and if you wanted you can tell Hearthstone. But try to not let my Momma know yet, because I have a broken arm and shoulder that she is aware of." I told him.
"Who is going with you?" He asked alarmed.
"I am grounded, so my Uncle, why?" I asked.
"So you are grounded with a broken arm and shoulder and you're going to go restart the seasons... That sounds like a very bad idea." Alex said.
"It's just a matter of talking. It will be fine." I said.
"Oh, well, that's not too bad." Alex said.
"Yep. So don't worry, ok?" I said.
"Alright. I can't see much of a reason to be panicked." Alex chuckled.
I told him bye, then contacted Phintias. "Hello, Phintias."
"Hello, Isarial. What can I do for you?" He answered.
"Um, I wanted to let you know that it will be getting cold in your area soon." I said.
"I'm not sure at follow. That would be familiar yet odd for people around here." Phintias said.
"I am restoring the seasons. I understand it could cause panic." I said.
"Yes, I would imagine it will cause quite the panic around here. Hm." Phintias said.
"Yep. I thought it would be prudent to warn the Sultan, but I didn't think I should contact him directly." I said.
"Oh, well, I will handle that. He won't know much of how to handle winter, so I suppose, as his advisor, I will have to advise him on that." Phintias said.
"It will start with Spring." I informed him. I was notified of lunch being ready, so I said, "I've gotta go. I'll visit when I'm no longer grounded. Or healed. Whichever comes first."
"Alright, can I get a time frame real fast?" He asked.
"Oh, by eight." I said. "Do you have a recommendation on where to release three-hundred years of backed up seasons?"
"Can we get a bit longer than eight o' clock today?" Phintias asked.
"Hm. I don't think so. Since I am grounded." I said.
"Shouldn't that mean that you are not going to go anywhere?" Phintias asked.
"Yeah, it starts after tomorrow because I have some business to attend to. It's because of being kidnapped a few days ago." I said.
"Well, that just sounds terrible for you. I still believe it would be best to wait a little while." Phintias said.
"I do understand your point." I said. "But it won't be too bad. Just blame me."
"You say it won't be too bad, but the desert used to be nothing but snow all the time. It's a stark contrast." Phintias said.
"Yes, I heard. It won't become like that again immediately. It'll just be cool as a breezy island." I explained, heading to the dining room.
"As for the three hundred years of seasons, might I suggest a different realm.. like the realm of fire?" Phintias said.
"Not a bad idea. I told them to release it in the Shadowfell last time." I said.
"The Shadowfell. Eh, depending on where, that's not a bad idea." Phintias said.
"There was apparently a lot of people who died there. The Shadow Knight had screamed that I was a murderer. Guess he only cared because it was his people who died." I half shrugged, not that he could see.
"All shadow creatures have a certain level of connection. He probably felt them die." He said.
"Oh. Interesting. Well, I really do have to go now. Thank you." I said.
"Not a problem." Phintias said.
I ended the connection as I joined my family for lunch. "So, did the girl like your books?" Snow asked.
"Yes, tell us of your island adventure." Dad said.
"Well, I don't think that little girl is well liked there." I said. "But her eyes lit up when she saw the books, just like Mom's does when she gets really curious about something."
"I'm surprised you left her there, then." Dad said.
"I intend to speak with her parents. But her grandmother suggested I build on their trust slowly until I can just keep her, because the island life is ill suited to her. And she does want to learn." I sighed. "The easier option is to kill the chief and take the island over. They have pearl bearing shellfish available. They also have plenty of sea shells, some of which Mom helped me crush into marble dust."
"So you have an easy way, or a time consuming way." Dad said.
"Yeah. I know of plenty of ways to turn the island profitable, starting with it's shells. I just don't know if I want to bother with it. But at the same time, I don't know if I want to bother trying to gain the trust of people whose daughter is actively made to feel useless by those around her." I said. "I can empathize with the feelings of being burdensome and unwanted, not that it's still the case."
"You have the abilities to alter people's lives. This is a perfect representation of how you can. Don't be so nonchalant about your approach. It will alter many lives and many opportunities." Dad said.
"Are you saying I am being too blasé with the situation?" I asked.
"Yes. Blasé." Dad said.
"I'll just tell you, Dad, I was never a very smart child, only capable with a great capacity to memorize things." I said. "Generally speaking, I am apathic towards people. I'm most probably a sociopath. But if you think I need to put more care into the situation, I will think about it. Only to me, the people on that island are objects."
"I most certainly do not believe you are a sociopath, Isarial. Perhaps a little antisocial.." Snow said.
"No, probably not a sociopath, but definitely more than a little antisocial." Uncle said.
"He has friends." Snow protested.
"I don't think we're here to get into his choice of friends." Uncle said.
"Indeed, we are not." Dad said.
"Then do you just suggest I gain her parents trust?" I asked my Dad.
"I was not suggesting any certain path, I just wanted you to think on it a little more. Either one will suit your end goal." He said.
"Shameless kidnapping would, too. But as I told the Grandma, I don't want Zeraldinria to dislike me." I said.
"Her liking you or not is the only thing that won't impact your end goal. So why should that matter?" Dad asked.
Snow hit his leg covertly, I pretended not to notice, "It shouldn't. And past giving her the books as a thank you, which was my original only intention in going there, I should just not care."
"Why do you care?" Dad asked.
I frowned a little. James Hearthry doesn't like repeating himself, yet just did. So I thought on it carefully. It wasn't as if I'd be attracted to the girl. She was smart, but barely out of the toddler stage. I thought of meeting Eluvian for the first time, and how beautiful she is. I had been interested in her immediately.
She'd been the reason I changed my original plans for Hearthstone. I'd wanted to make a good impression on her. I even paid her thieves a gold a month. I'd originally just made Hearthstone to be my personal home. I'd wanted to bring in the thieves guild to clean and tend to my home while I was absent adventuring..
Eluvian had never grown to have the same feelings towards me.. which was fine, it wasn't owed. I turned my thoughts back to the island girl. She was similar to Navia in personality, my future lover. But I supposed she was more similar to Eluvian. A smart redhead, with pretty green eyes. She'd be gorgeous when she grew up.
Then I turned my thoughts to why Dad was asking me this question, and why Snow hit him.. You've gotta be kidding me. "I may be physically five right now, but I have memories of being nearly seventeen, you know. This girl is just five or six."
Dad sighed, "That is not what I meant, Son. Just simply wanted to know why you had such a vested interest in someone. I am fully aware you are not a pedophile."
"It wouldn't be pedophilia, he's the same age as her. To anyone else, he's just an unusually smart child. He is about the age to start getting small crushes." Snow said. "Just because he has the memories, doesn't make him mature."
Dad looked at Snow, "It just seemed odd that our boy who basically doesn't care about anything in existence, suddenly cares about this girl."
Snow gave him a pointed look. "You're so cute. Did you know Fey are resistant to Charm?"
"I believe I read something about that, yes." Dad said.
"Our cute son is just interested in a girl. It's fine and normal." Snow said. "You're both forgetting that Isarial himself sees all people as equal to himself. As long as she's not acting like a child needing to be raised, like Simon, then he's going to see her as the same as himself. Haven't we seen this with Eluvian and Dean?"
Dad put his hand up, "Alright. Let us just enjoy our lunch."
I was frowning. Hadn't I just refuted those words before they'd been spoken?? But it was true I saw anyone capable of thought as the same. No one is superior to another, not truly. Perhaps I needed to think on it more. Though, I'd rather not.
Once we'd finished our lunches, I retrieved my bag and returned to Uncle. "All ready?" I asked.
He checked over his armor and such, "More than ready."
So I made the glyph, taking us directly to the mountain near the entrance. Of course the sand disgruntled Uncle. And we headed inside, not that I could see in the darkness of the black dragon's lair. Uncle reached into his pack and brought out a lantern of sorts, and chucked it into the air, illuminating the lair, and waking the black dragon.
"Ah, there you are. Wakey wakey. Would hate to kill you in your sleep." Uncle said.
The previously chatty dragon got to his feet and thrust himself forward, aiming for Uncle with his jaws. Suspecting it was a feint for a breath attack, I ducked behind a big rock. It had not been a feint, in fact, but my suspecting the acid breath attack had also been correct. In response, Uncle smacked his maw to the side, avoiding the teeth.
Uncle then lobbed his sword at the dragon's face, which the dragon narrowly escaped having it land in it's eye. Then I noted there were undead filtering in from the entrance. "I may have forgotten about the vampires and other undead the Black dragon controls, Uncle.." I said.
"Awh, the poor lizard can't fight on it's own? I suppose I'll have to speed this up." Uncle taunted the dragon.
I headed for the stairs. "I'm gonna go tell the green one to come down.."
"Eh, the more the merrier, this one might be done by the time you get back down here, though." Uncle said.
I managed to get most of the way to the stairs before the undead got too close. I sighed a little and said, "Heads up, Uncle. It's gonna get noisy." Then I used a striker to light a hand grenade, flinging it towards the undead.
It exploded quickly, damaging and burning them. The vampires weren't nearly as affected, but their heightened senses meant that the surge of light and sound stunned them. The zombies, or thrills, whichever they were, burned away before reaching Uncle. With the vampires left, one turned towards me, and the other two went to help their master, the Black dragon.
"You may follow me up, it'll lend credulity to my claims." I smirked at the vampire, then I fled up the stairs, Mind Linking to my Uncle.
Surely enough, it did follow me. Unwary of whose territory we were entering, and much like before, the dragon immediately took offense to our presence. Seeing the undead, it was enraged. "How dare you intrude!" It shouted.
"The black dragon told me to hunt something from this floor and bring it to him to eat." I inform it. "That one followed me to make sure I didn't run away." Both true statements, though not pertaining to this timeline.
The green dragon was, ironically, seeing red at my statement and narrowly missed me chomping up the vampire before staring me down. "He sent you up here to hunt my creatures?" It growled.
I stared up at it, nodding, "Yes." Roaring, it surged past me to go after the black dragon. 'Incoming, Uncle.' I warned mentally.
'Good. This one's on it's last... well, I'd say leg, but they are broken.' Uncle said.
'Vampires handled, then? The one that followed me was chomped by the dragon.' I said, walking towards the halved vampire. "Hullo."
'Oh, there are some scampering around. They haven't dared to approach yet.' He sounded amused.
"I'm going to.. rip you apart..!" The vampire hissed, seething in pain and anger.
"Right. You're just a 'monster' and not a person." I noted. "You'll die." I told it, casting the cantrip, Word of Radiance. This canceled its ability to regenerate without blood.
It let out a strangled cry of pain due to it's thirst. I thrust another hand grenade into it's mouth and lit it with a cruel smile, distancing myself just barely in time to avoid being blown up. The vampire did not survive this. I'd never afforded mercy for enemies, I didn't see a reason to now.