In a cave far from there homes two boy sat looking at each other. Just moments ago Deyxel had pulled his dwarf trespasser out of a small hole. He had never meant to make a trap to catch anyone. It just so happen that when he was first testing the stone cutting tool. There had been two slabs pulled out from that same location.
Until Herzach fell in, he had completely forgotten that such a hazard had existed. Luckily the dwarf had no injuries, that would have his parents asking questions. It was easy enough to get scraped and bruised, roughhousing with friends in a village setting.
That said Deyxel found himself in a troubled situation. Aside from Herzach's family who had only recently moved into the village. The rest of Gilipii new his circumstances and stayed quiet about it.
For better or worst Deyxel was mostly left to himself.
"It is a long way just to follow a person." [Deyxel]
Watching the intruder to his secluded workshop. Deyxel could see Herzach, stealing glimpses of the paper around him.
"I was curious what you were doing when you left the village." [Herzach]
His answer was puzzling, Deyxel had thought that no one cared for what he was doing.
"A cat with a pale on its head sees nothing." [Deyxel]
To this Herzach nodded. This saying described the present situation to a tee.
"How long have you know about me coming here?" [Deyxel]
Taking one of the pieces of paper off of the stone desk Herzach answered.
"Not long, around a month or so now. You have been pulling a lot of stone out of this place." [Herzach]
For a moment Deyxel's eyes narrowed towards the dwarf in front of him.
"What do you want?" [Deyxel]
Having asked this, Deyxel hoped to be able to find a way to keep his little enterprise a secret a while longer.
Waiting for a reply he could see a sad expression beginning to change the dwarfs face.
"We are the same, I am also unable to use magic without runes." [Herzach]
Confounded by this response Deyxel looked as if he saw a ghost. Or some sacred creature that was only read about in books. Never in his life had he thought he would meet some with the same problem.
"I was hoping we could be friends." [Herzach]
He looked embarrassed asking this of someone he knew almost nothing about. But for Herzach the inability to use magic like the others had brought pain. So upon arriving in this new country he had found it strange. He was treated like any other boy of the village.
For Deyxel the feeling of finding someone like him was exciting.
"How long have you been working on your runes? [Deyxel]
Full of enthusiasm Deyxel would not pass on the ability to discuss the thing they had in common. For Herzach the sudden interest was surprising, never had he dealt with someone like this.
"From the age of eight I began to study. What about you?" [Herzach]
"Me only eight months." [Deyxel]
To this answer it was now Herzach who was suprise. He had worked for three years all for nothing. And here in front of him sat someone, who was doing things with runes he did not understand.
"Can you draw a rune for me I would like to see a dwarvish rune." [Deyxel]
Quickly moving paper and the only quill over the young human waited patiently. For Herzach this had not been anticipated but he would not disappoint. Taking the quill he began to draw out a rune.
"Would something basic be okay. A fireball takes little effort." [Herzach]
Beside him his new friend intently nodded his head.
Watching Herzach write the rune Deyxel was fascinating by the difference between the runes dwarfs used compared to humans. While human runes were a series of magic circles. The dwarven looked more like letters in an alphabet.
The symbol for a fire ball looked interesting to Deyxel. In the middle was one large rune with a grouping of smaller letters placed around the center in a deliberate way. Raising the quill from the paper Herzach finished.
"Here it is, you will not be able to use it thought. I have not studied the runes to allow other races to use our runes." [Herzach]
Nodding Deyxel took the paper. The rune was beautiful, far exceeding his expectations. As to what Herzach had just said he felt a little deflated. The idea that races could only use there own racial runes was a little to much. To make things more troubling there was a rune structure that would allow for one to convert their mana so they could use another racial rune. The problem was that Deyxel had no idea the parts nessicary to make such a rune structure. All he had for rune knowledge was in his book for beginners aside from that he had no idea how such a thing would work.
"Herzach if you are willing to have me for a friend, I will do everything in my power to be the best friend I can." [Deyxel]
Hearing this the young dwarfs turned slightly red.
"If you are willing to go that far I will also pledge the same." [Herzach]
Nodding to each other both boys suddenly laughing together. The sudden change in atmosphere from tense to interested to excited. Now they were both at ease.
"So how much did you get from the village chief? For that first load of stone my parents would not tell me." [Herzach]
In an instant the conversation changed. For Deyxel the cut stone was a just becoming lucrative. But it had not been something he started out seriously. So he was torn whether to let his new friend in on his business or to guard it jealously.
"Why would you want to know that?" [Deyxel]
With a raised eyebrow the dwarf looked to another rune on the table. One of the integrated wind runes.
"I think we can help each other. What you want to do is up to you. But I think if we combine our efforts. We could help ourselves get more advanced rune knowledge. While making a healthy profit on the way." [Herzach]
This line of thinking resonated with Deyxel. While having an extra around would make the stone cutting go faster. The only downside was he would have to give up a degree of autonomy to his new business partner.
"Right now I have made three thousand two hundred Soubai. You already know I have other stone already at the cache. Just waiting for news from Kylmeithos as to the market price. I plan to take thirty percent of the income made and allow the village to have the rest." [Deyxel]
Opening up meant the chance of betrayal in the future. But there was also befits to having trust.
"That is close to what my dad makes after a job." [Herzach]
"That is true, I have commissioned your father to make some tools to make cutting the stone easier. While also allowing for varying kinds of cut stone." [Deyxel]
What Deyxel wanted at the moment was not to be a one trick pony. The ability to get varied cuts meant the market could expand. In a country where stone for different projects was desirable. If he could become the go to provider. The profits would be amazing.
"I was wondering what those strange contraptions were that he was working on." [Herzach]
As he said this Herzach reached over to the stone cutting tool picking it up.
"You only have the one?" [Herzach]
"Well, yeah there has only been one of me till now." [Deyxel]
Saying this both snickered while the tool was put back in its place.
"What are your thoughts on procurement of some books on rune craft? [Herzach]
For a moment this question seemed to energize both of their minds. In spite of the struggle that magic caused them. They had put their hearts into rune mastery.
"That will depend on the price the stone sells for. Once we know that, we can enquire about entire tomes of runes." [Deyxel]
So far they had both been able to agree on most thing. Which worked well for Deyxel, he would have hated pulling around dead weight. At present things seemed to be blending together well.
Down from the mountains, in the fields of tall grass. Gelima Vornal lay watching the clouds go past in there many shapes and sizes. An hour ago a message had come from the academy. In this letter was an order for her to represent. the Aihetal Mage Academy at the funeral of Earl Telaman Ofsalban.
The reason for this being delegated to her was mainly her rank within the academy. Another would be proximity to the funeral location. With all that working against he she was stuck. She had hoped to not have to wear he school uniform, until she returned at the end of the following month.
The situation in the Ofsalban family was something truly horrible. She did sympathize with Lasca Ofsalban. Who was in the same year as her in the academy. They had rarely met even though they were of the same rank.
'Being part of the aristocracy puts her in a different channel of acquaintance. When her father was alive he treated the peasants well but did not associate with them.'
Sitting up slowly she could feel different articles. Which attached to her hair while she was in the grass falling away. It was at times like this she was glad for shortened hair. Running her hands through her hair dead grass fell to the ground.
'I guess, It is time to tell my parents.'
Picking herself off the ground Gelima moved toward the house she currently share with her family. In the back garden worked Iscal cutting fire wood. In the kitchen her mother Kitoria cooked an lunch for everyone. In the case of Deyxel. Lunch was always given to him when he went out.
"Father, Mother, I have recieved instructions from the academy." [Gelima]
Trying to sound confident regardless of a situation. Had not come easily to Gelima until she entered the academy. Once in that place only those that adapted got anywhere.
"I see, what do they instruct you to do?" [Iscal]
Stopping his work Iscal lowered his axe. Turning his full attention to his eldest child.
"I am to represent the academy at the funeral of Earl Telaman Ofsalban I will have to leave for Kylmeithos in the morning." [Gelima]
Waiting for her father to say something. Gelima could not discern what he was thinking. This had long been a troubling ability her father had.
"This, seems to be a great honor. I wonder why a son of a aristocratic family. With the appropriate rank, could not be prevailed upon to preform this task?" [Kitoria]
The question of why it had to be her had been tumbling in her head for awhile now.
"The Earl's popularity had been on the decline. The lands that had been annexed in the last war. He took to much for himself." [Iscal]
Having finally spoken, Gelima was not happy with the content of what her father had to say. Because what he had said was true. Her presence was entirely a show of disdain for the Ofsalban family.
"You have no choice but to make due with the situation. If you preform well you may not cause yourself to much damage." [Kitoria]
What her mother said was true but it would be difficult to do well in such a situation.
"Also I feel your brother has had to little exposure to the outside world. Why not take him with you? He will not be able to have the freedom he does now but life does not wait." [Kitoria]
It took a second for Gelima to suppress the suprise from this suggestion.
"Are you sure mother? I could be entering a viper pit. Are you sure you want him to go into that?" [Gelima]
"Yes, infact, I insist on it." [Kitoria]