D.L.Evans Prologue 4 - The Grey-t Escape
Grey kept his breathing to a minimum, surrounded by trees. The forest air was cold and humid, the sound of birds and cicadas echoing around him.
"Right, where is that boar. I've been tracking it for weeks."
He pulled out his knife and began running through the trees. The boar jumped out slamming into him and shot off into the bushes. Grey felt winded but kept up the pursuit diving under the bushes. His clothes snared on the branches and came off as he broke through.
He jumped to his feet to see the boar standing in front of him growling. He charged the beast down slamming into it again. "Gah why are you so solid and cold. Vial beast." He thrust his knife at the beast several times before it finally died in his arms. He slit it open and pulled out the cold insides and started eating it there and then.
Chomping away at the meat he slowly limped into the nearby hut closing the door and fell asleep on the bed. He was the greatest hunter to ever roam the lands... Well in his dream.
Let's roll back a few minutes to what actually happened. Grey fell asleep at his desk in his study after working all night. He is a very lucid dreamer after all and started sleep walking. He grabbed a pencil and stumbled out the door slamming straight into the wall in the hall. Managing to not wake himself up from the impact, he mistook the chairs and table as some bushes and dove underneath them. His clothes snared on the legs and pulled off, leaving him in nothing but his underwear. After some miraculous escape from the table torture, he stumbled over to the cold storage, mistaking it for a boar and slammed into it. After scribbling all over it with his weapon of choice, the pencil. He opened it, grabbing some food and managed to get to his bed where he passed out. Leaving a tidy mess and a plate of left overs on his side table.
A tidy mess a certain person would end up cleaning the following morning...
D.L.Evans Chapter 4 - The Legal Grey Zone
Grey awoke the same way as most days with blurry eyes, sun beaming through the cracks in his window, and birds chirping in the background. The sunlight gently tickled his face drawing his eyes open. He attempted to get out of his bed the same way he had done so every other day.
"Huh? Hmm a nice day again... Ack ow! Ah yes my injuries from yesterday's excitement... Well this sucks."
He stretched his hand out reaching for the bed side table to counter balance his heavy body. Placing his hand down he quickly realised it was on a plate. However, by that point all of Grey's weight was on the plate which flipped up with a clatter. His body followed, slamming into the ground with a thud. He was quick to jump to his feet and started removing his bandages, frustrated and mumbling obscenities to himself.
"That was annoying... The bandages weren't doing anything anyway. So I'm sure I won't be needing them anymore."
A thunderous sound echoed through the halls outside his bedroom.
Thud thud thud
"Huh? Is someone in my apartment? Nah I must be imagining things."
The door swung open and standing there like a concerned mother, was Celia. Breathing a little heavy as if she had sprinted straight to his door.
"What was that noise? Are you okay G-"
"Huh?" Grey froze as he stood in nothing but his underwear and loose wrapped bandages. There was a moment of silence in which only the birds could be heard from outside.
"Ahhh! I-I'm sorry Grey!" Celia was now bright red with her hands covering her face, peeking through the gaps in her fingers. She was bouncing from foot to foot, unsure where to look. "I-I heard a n-noise. So I thought y-you might be in trouble or s-something."
"Um no I'm perfectly fine. But more importantly, why are you in my apartment?" Grey decided to just continue his business in the hope she would get the message and leave. He began to remove the last of the bandages and started to dress for the day. Celia didn't leave. Instead she took that as a cue to turn around and faced away, she spoke to the wall.
"W-well I came to make breakfast. You know? We talked about it a while back."
"Oh! That's great. I really liked your cooking last time."
Celia started fidgeting with her fingers, her face flush red once again, blushing as if the wall just complimented her. She continued to speak to the wall. "You really liked it? Thanks, I'm happy to hear you say that." Celia's voice dropped to a whisper before she continued her conversation with the wall. "That's a win for team Celia."
Grey had finished dressing tightening his belt and tapped Celia on the shoulder. "What did you say there at the end?"
Celia jumped practically hitting the ceiling after being tapped on the shoulder. "Eek! Don't scare me like that! Nothing, hmph... A-anyway let's eat."
"Yeah sounds good. Oh. Is Hina joining us?"
"I went to wake her up but she was completely passed out. She must be working hard on something late into the nights." Celia pouted and then sighed. "Yeah she does that some times... I'll leave her a note, just a second."
Celia walked over to a tube like structure running from the ceiling to the ground and opened a small hatch. She then wrote a note placing it in a capsule and slotted it back in the tube. Channelling a little wind magic into the tube, the capsule shot off with a thonk.
Grey had seen the tube many times before but never though to question it. "What are you doing with the ventilation pipe?"
"Vent-a-what now? Stop being silly. This is our communication system, pretty neat don't you think?"
"Honestly, no... It seems kind of clunky and annoying."
"Pff rude. You're clunky and annoying..."
"Hmm, did you say something?"
"Eh, no no. Of course not. Besides it works perfectly fine so it's good enough. Unless you have something better in mind.
"Hmm something better hey..."
Grey will remember that.
Meanwhile Hina was fast asleep in her bed in the basement. Her covers on the floor and her limbs spread to every corner. She was snoring with a little bit of drool running down her cheek.
Clatter sha-thunk.
She shot up in fright ready to fight the noise. It didn't take long for her to realise the noise was just the message tube. She begrudgingly got up, slowly getting dressed mumbling something which sounded like a curse including Celia's name.
The curse's victim was boiling a pot of water with a lick of fire magic. "Besides, I was hoping we could talk for a bit?"
"Oh sure. Of course. If this is about yesterday. Don't worry I won't press charges. It was just a couple of accidents. I'm totally fine and healing steadily."
Grey sat down at the table and Celia brought over the freshly brewed tea. His jokes tried to cut the thick air however he could still sense that the mood had dropped.
"What's on your mind? Are we going to bond over how annoying our parents are for shipping us to the city.
There was a slight smile on Celia's face as she sat down. "Not quite... Um let's start from the beginning, okay? Grey. You've been here for a while now. You've shown little interest in the shop... Are you planning to leave?"
"Oh er. Cutting to the chase... That's a serious topic to start with."
"You don't need to give me an answer now. I just don't want you to leave because of me."
"W-what? This is because of the gel shield and the magic reel incidents, isn't it? Like I said, don't worry about it I'm fine.
Celia giggled. "No it's not that. I don't want you to hate me for what I'm about to tell you.
Grey leaned forward with a serious look in his eyes. "Okay, I'm listening. But I'm sure I won't."
Celia took a big gulp of tea and readied herself, prepared for a difficult task. "Whaah, okay here goes."
Grey was puzzled and curious but also a little nervous about what he was about to hear.
Celia clutched her shorts and looked down at her tea cup.
"Back home I was raised to be a model to society. The perfect child, the perfect student, and the perfect mage. Then one day, the perfect leader of the Ellgraat family. I was always top of my classes and extra activities. I was told that I must always follow the rules set out in life and never stray from the path."
She raised her hand above her cup and began using water magic to swirl the tea leaves around. "People around me started calling me the Heavenly Mage. Which is also why my parents named me Celia. Because of this, the people I thought where my friends started distancing themselves from me."
Celia shivered hearing the voices of her childhood friends in the back of her head. "They would say things like. She's the Heavenly Mage. She thinks she's better than us. That girl is cursed. Leave her alone."
"My parents didn't help though. They just further isolated me saying they were not worthy to stand beside me. My mother said. You are too good for that school. If they don't respect you then they don't deserve you. My father was all like. You will be home schooled to ensure your unwavering success."
Celia made sure to put on a goofy voice for her impressions of her parents.
"Bored and with nobody to play with I began developing my magic skills. At first it was just one element, just to keep myself entertained. Before I knew it I was using all four elements with ease. Fire, water, wind, and earth. Inevitably, my parents noticed and were more excited than I. They had no hesitation in using it for their own gain."
Celia was now boiling the water in her tea cup with a little fire magic. "My mother wanted a successful rich daughter. She thought it was amazing. She wanted to get me into the best college the nation had to offer. My father wanted a successor to the family name. He wanted me to fulfil the role as the model leader for the family. I just wanted to have fun and make friends. I was young and scared. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay at home. But of course my parents wouldn't listen to what I wanted."
Noticing her emotions getting the better of her she used a bit of wind magic to cool the cup of boiling tea. She returned to her goofy voices and continued. "Stop being selfish dear. You have nothing to fear. Everyone there will be in awe of your skills. Gah. But how was a home schooled shut in supposed to make friends... Or even just fit in. But my father wasn't having it. He told me that I didn't need those distractions. That I should dominate them all, be proud of our family and walk out with nothing but the best grades... To cement the Ellgraat name in history."
"Without any consideration for me. I was sent here, to the capital. They put me in the best house in the city saying that a dorm was beneath me."
Celia was now sat with her head in her hand leaning against the table as she slowly filled the cup with little rocks of earth magic. "At first I tried. I really did. I went to all the classes and all seemed fine. I even tried talking to some of the other girls. I followed the rules and learned about the importance of magic and the sins of altering the purity of it. But it wasn't long before they realised who I was. They started calling me the Heavenly Mage again. They only saw me as someone to fear or as threat. But all I wanted was a friend. Leading to isolation once again. Both sides distanced themselves out of so called respect, jealous, or hatred."
Grey, who hadn't said a word up until now. Cleared his chocked throat and spoke gently. "Wow. Being isolated like that from everyone is awful. I understand how it feels to be lonely like that. To be so strong but empty at the same time... Like the shell of an egg with no chick inside.
Celia leaned back in her chair, looking at the wall behind. Her hair draped over the back of the chair as her chest pushed up. "I was definitely at my worst during those days. There never seemed to be an end to the same old same old. With no change in my life or the movement of magic. They were both stuck in place. Timelessly retelling the same chapter in history over and over again."
Celia's eyes began to tear up. "I thought I could be the change. So I sold my house and moved into the dorm. Hoping I could close the gap between me and the other students. But this just lead to even more distancing."
"I was really at my end. So one day I woke up and instead of following the rules and being the model student. I just didn't go to classes. The next day I did the same and then the next and the next after that. To the point where I just stopped going. Of course nobody noticed or cared that I didn't due to fear or relief."
"That's when I started exploring the city and experiencing everything my family had robbed me of. Not long after that, I stumbled across this shop. Where a few previous employees and Hina worked. I instantly fell in love with shop and applied for a job. The fact this shop is so completely against the rules. As well as this perfect magic everyone has become so fixated on. Was a breathe of fresh air. I want new, I want what I can't see. I want to grab it with both hands." She reached out with both hands towards the ceiling.
Grey was taken back by the whole story, mouth wide open. Celia looked across the table and tried to read his reaction tilting her head slightly.
"I'm sorry. If you hate me and want me to leave. I totally understand. I really shouldn't be working here without a proper education. I am just a useless drop out after all..."
Standing up, Grey scraped his chair back with the force and slammed his hands down on the table. Celia flinched, her watery eyes tightly closed expecting the worse.
"What! Absolutely not! How could I ever hate you? You've been through so much. I only respect you more... Success comes at a cost, yes. But it seems your parents were willing to loose you. Just to force there ideals on you"
Grey noticed himself getting worked up, so he awkwardly coughed and sat back down trying to act calm. "I had a lonesome upbringing in the middle of nowhere. But my parents were always so supportive. The fact you had nobody is terrible. Don't worry about your job you can keep it. Oh, and if you ever need somewhere to crash you are free to stay here."
"O-oh, you mean it? Thank you... Um I wasn't completely alone, I had my brother but I haven't seen him in a long time. Although he just kept to himself most days."
Celia broke out in a stream of tears overwhelmed with joy. She cried with force but the tears were no longer sad, rather those of joy and relief. She finally felt at home surrounded by her friends. At that moment Grey felt a force of his own, hit him on the top of his head.
Bonk
"Ow what the…?" He turned around slowly to see Hina with the face of a mother cat protecting its litter.
She was growling like a panther. "You made Celia cry again didn't you?. What did you do this time?"
"Wait... It's not-"
Celia wiped away the tears and smiled softly. "It's okay Hina, they're happy tears. I was just telling Grey about my situation."
"Oh, does Hina know?"
"Yeah. She was really kind and approached me. When I needed a friend the most."
Hina nodded sharply agreeing with her words. "Well I mean She is wearing the college uniform. Well part if it at least. She also seemed a bit young to be working full time. So I knew something was up."
"Oh That's why your clothes look like that."
Celia had cheered up with the banter Hina brought and giggled softly. Yeah I thought it was a cute outfit so I tailored it. Adding a few parts and tweaking the fitting here and there.
Grey covered his mouth with his arm to mask his gaze of her clothes. He couldn't help but think she had removed more parts than added.
Celia quickly change her tone clapping as she hopped to her feet. "Okay. Now that everyone is here. Let's eat! Wah I'm so hungry after that!" She went off into the kitchen humming and returned shortly after with a plate full of wonders.
As if the curtain had been lifted, the three seemed a little closer and started to act like good friends. With one less secret hanging over them.
"Wow this looks amazing. I'm so happy I get to eat your cooking for breakfast." Grey was overwhelmed with happiness from the food. Celia was overwhelmed with happiness that she could keep her job and new life.
Hina was just happy to be there. "Yes. I'm also grateful. Definitely beats the capabilities of my make shift kitchen. However hurry up and eat. We're burning money the longer we keep the shop closed."
"Alright, Okay. If you two don't mind. Please come back and do this again." Grey wanted to taste Celia's food everyday. However he also wanted to make sure she had company and could spend even more time with her friends. He knew it wouldn't mend her past but it could at least help start a healthy future.
"That sounds like a good idea. This can also act as a nice impromptu meeting before work." Hina completely missed his subtle cue.
"Oh you really mean that? Well then, I'll be here every morning!"
Grey smiled seeing Celia more motivate than ever. He was happy to see that look back in her eyes. He turned to face Hina with a new fiery look in his own eyes.
"Well if that's the case. Then there's a few things I want to discuss. Especially after having that product show case yesterday."
Hina chuckled into her tea cup. "Oh! Grey taking the initiative. That's not like you at all. Are you starting to like the shop. Or maybe develop feeling for us, perhaps?"
All flustered, He blushed and flinched. "H-hey it's not like that!"
Celia giggled with a new kind expression, somewhat different to her usual upbeat energy. "So what's on your mind?
"Ahem. So, I was thinking about the old mill. It doesn't do anything. It spins and spins but all it's connected to is a rod which runs to the basement. Since the grain press has been removed."
"Oh yeah. The mill was like that long before Celia and myself started working here. We can't remove it. Trust me, we've tried."
"Well I'm actually thinking the opposite."
Celia hopped up and down at her chair. "Oooh now I'm interested."
"I was thinking you could use your earth magic ability Hina. To create a few things I've been cooking up. Paired with your abundance of magic abilities Celia. We could do something much more exciting."
Both girls looked at each other, radiant hearing their abilities could be useful.
"My thinking is we reinstate the water wheel but repurposing it. Using the concept behind the mana charge crystals to generate an energy source. Like one big mana crystal. We could charge our lights and stuff off our own power source."
Hina looked at Grey with a spark of intrigue as she placed her tea cup down. "My my. Well that does sound good. The equipment I have in the basement and workshops sometimes black out. Due to lack of power this far out side of the cities mana pool. So if what you're saying works we wouldn't need to worry about that anymore.
Celia was now swaying from side to side thinking about all the things she could do. "Oh. Would that mean I don't need to use magic to heat the food in the kitchen?"
"Yes... Wait you mean there no power in the kitchen?"
"Yeah it's been like that since I've been here."
"Well that's only down to the fact you put a hole through the floor on your first day here..."
"Hey! We agreed never to talk about that ever again... Especially in front of Grey..."
Hina just laughed away Celia's annoyed glare. "Anyway have you even tried cooking yet Grey?"
Grey scratched the back of his head and chuckled dismissively before quickly changing the subject. "Er no, not really... Anyway, wait here a second." Grey shot up and walked into his bedroom returning momentarily with a roll of paper. "Help me clear some space."
The girls stood up and all three of them cleared a little space at the end of the table, allowing Grey to unravel the roll of paper.
"I think this is possible, look. If you study these cogs Hina you should be able to understand them enough to create. Right?"
"Hmmm let's see... Yes! Absolutely, these drawings are so clear. There should be no problem."
"Great! Now for you Celia. If you can charge the coiled elements and this crystal in the wheel arm. Then the force of water turning the wheel should continue to charge these larger crystal. Giving us a reusable power source."
"If you think I can do it Grey. Then I have no doubt we could pull this off. I'm just glad I can help."
"Fantastic that just leaves me to find a work force to help with construction."
As Grey stood rubbing his chin trying to figure that part out, Hina piped up. "I know you don't like the place. But you could go hand a flyer in the guild and ask around there.
"Ergh, I guess you're right. Okay let's finish eating and get to work!"
Celia was leaning over the table as her hair draped over her shoulder. "Are sure this counts as work? Well either way, I'm so happy to see you finally getting involved with the shop."
"As am I. But Celia try not to show off and blow something up this time."
"Ah what do you mean by that? Hinaaaaa..."
All three laughed and returned to there enjoyable breakfast before cleaning up and going about their designated tasks.
Hina went to the workshop on the first floor with the drawings in hand. Celia went off to the shop floor to do some actual work. This just left Grey, who was standing by the window admiring the view.
"Right, well those two have disappeared leaving just me. Oh, I see Hina took my drawings. It makes me feel happy for some reason. Okay, guess I need to do my part now. Better see if I can find some able people to help build this invention."
He grabbed his jacket and pocket storage box and left the apartment. He headed down stairs to find Celia back in the shop tending to the floor and the very few customers in it.
"I'm stepping out Celia. Off to find us a work force."
Celia was in a good mood, humming to herself with a bright smile. "Okay, see you later!"
Grey opened the door and was about to step outside but a voice called out to him.
"Oh Grey! If you take the alley on the left. There's a small material vendor we sometimes use. They might have some useful materials you might need."
Grey nodded and waved a sign of thanks in Celia's direction before closing the door behind him. He began to walk towards the city centre, map in hand.
"Hmm a material shop. That could be useful I should check it out. But was it this first alley or the second. Must be the first right? Okay I'll go that way." Grey took the first alley he saw on the left, walking down a narrow path which opened out onto a similar. However, smaller street to the main one the shop was situated on.
"Huh, well this is as far as Celia's direction's go. Now which way? I guess towards the centre of town. I mean If I remember from this map this way also leads to the guild." The map in his hands was covering his entire view as he continued to walk down the street. Until he heard a soft chime and a rhythmic hum which immediately caught his attention. "What is this strange musical sound?"
A lady overheard his question and shouted out. "Music crystals. Get your very own musical magical experience. Or maybe you have a loved one in need of some music."
Grey noticed the vendor sitting on a carpet at the edge of the street. She was selling what seemed to be magic crystals much like the ones Celia uses to charge with mana. He was curious so he walked up to the vendor eager to know more. "Excuse me. Are these crystals mana charged?"
"Why yes! You have a good eye son. Each one is charged with a slightly different amount of mana. Allowing the crystal to vibrate. Giving off their lovely sound."
"Oh interesting. Mana controlled sound waves. That gives me an idea." Grey picked up one of the crystals studying it briefly before the old lady slapped it out of his hand.
"Well ideas aren't cheap. So you better buy some now. Before they're all gone. Limited time deal just for you, four for the price of three.
"Oh er yes. I, yeah sure I'll buy some."
"Good good. Fifty silver each."
"What! That's one gold and fifty silver... Seems like a lot... Hmm, fine here." Grey reached into his pocket and pulled out his storage box. He used one of Celia's mana crystals to increase it's size and grabbed the money dropping it into the open palm of the vendor's hand.
The lady grabbed his wrist with her other hand and dropped the tone of her voice.
"Where did you get that?"
"Huh? The box? It was a gift."
"Trinkets and toys make the best gifts but keep them out of the gaze of the church."
"Okay... Weird... Why is that?"
The lady snapped back to a loud sales pitch tone. "Thank you for you business!"
Confused and a little concerned for the lady, Grey began to walk away giving the vendor a thanking wave and sighed. "Thank you for halving my spending money..."
He sighed once again with his eyes closed as a group of soldiers butted passed him. He looked back to see the soldiers had stop at the lady he spoke to mere moments ago.
The soldiers had a bit of discourse between themselves.
"Is this the one?"
"Yeah she's the one."
The lady was ready to run, her wears already packed away. "What do you want? I'm not doing anything illegal."
"Get up and leave before we detain you for selling black magic."
"But these are mere toys"
"Toys or not the kingdom does not condone such acts, leave!"
"Tisk. Blatant disrespect to magic. That's what it is."
The lady gathered her things and left, scurrying off down a back alley.
Grey threw his arms up behind his head and kept walking. "Well, seems like I'll be her last customer for today. Serves her right for charging me so much. But seriously, I'm amazed we stay in business. Surrounded by hot water like this."
At this point Grey had forgotten about the material shop and walked straight past it with out realising. "Huh, I must of went down the wrong street. I didn't see any material shop. Oh well, next is the guild."
He entered the market square, a few stalls were selling delicious smelling food. To make sure he didn't blow the rest of his money, he went straight to the guild. "Well I didn't want to be back here so quickly. But needs must I guess..."
Grey opened the guild doors expecting a hostile reception. As the doors opened he was met with a surprisingly warm and familiar one instead.
"Ah, Grey. Nice to see ya again." The guild master Moma was attending to some business in the main hall and greeted Grey with a friendly tone. But that wasn't the end of the familiar voices as Hiro's voice rung out above the rest.
"Oh, is that Grey? Hey, guys it is!"
All the adventurers where sat around a table discussing various things with a few of the other parties in the hall. Elisia was caught off guard and by hearing his name and flinched, banging the table as she stood up. Elisia 's eagerness to see Grey mixed with her attempt to regaining composure forced her to knock over her chair and almost the entire table with it. As usual she pounced straight for Grey's hand.
"Grey! It's so lovely to see you ag-"
By this point, Grey knew Elisia 's move and swiftly moved his hand out of the way. Sending Elisia sailing across the room with her own momentum. "Hey guys, you seem popular."
"Yes, we were just showing these people some of your shops inventions." Atticus was holding one of the inventions they bought at the Sailsburn Emporium.
Raiko was still wildly swinging her blade around, shadow fighting the air. "Yeah they're so cool. I want everyone to see my super awesome blade skills."
Grey walked over to the table followed by the guild master. Elisia sulked her way back to her seat as Hiro cleared some space on the table. Grey placed a sketch of the mill down for everyone to see.
"What's this? Is this why you're here today, Grey?"
"Yes. I came up with a plan to use the old mill. So we're looking for a crew to help build it and make this happen."
With a push of his glasses and a light chuckle, Atticus scanned the drawings. "The old mill you say. I'm certainly intrigued to see how you use that."
"Oh yeah? Well how about you four come help us build it?"
The clam voice of reason owned by Hiro spoke up. "Oh sorry. We'd love to but unfortunately we're due to leave the capital soon for a quest."
"Besides manual labour sounds like too much work. isn't that right four eyes." Raiko slapped Atticuss on the back, who proceded to fumble his glasses dropping them.
Disgruntled, he nodded and fixed his glasses. "She's right Grey. You're better looking for people qualified for that job. We wouldn't want to ruin that safe haven of knowledge."
Elisia chirped back up and quickly ceased the opportunity to grab on to Grey. Changing her angle and wrapping her arms around his as she leaned across the table. "That's it settled. I shall stay and help!"
Grey couldn't believe he let his guard down and was quickly overloaded by the sudden contact.
Hiro pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Nothing is settled Elisia. Sorry to ruin your romanticism. But we need you on this quest and there's no getting out of this one."
"You do want the quest money right? For a certain thing for a certain person, right?" Raiko was sporting a wicked smile dropping heavy hints. Elisia quickly let go and launched at Raiko, covering her mouth with both hands. Poor little Raiko nearly passed out due to lack of oxygen.
"Ah please stop talking! I'll go okay! Jeez... Let's head out before it gets dark." She marched out of the guild like a tin soldier.
Hiro stood up and reached out for the already vacant Elisia. "Wait Elisia. It's not even that late... Well I guess we'd better head out too. Bye and good luck Grey. I hope you find someone to help."
The three remaining members packed their things and rushed out after Elisia. Who was probably already in the forest by this point.
"Oh bye I guess... Well what am I supposed to do now." Grey gathered his drawings as the guild master and a few other adventures where still standing around him.
"If it's a work force ya looking for. I can definitely send some people ya way." The group behind Moma nodded to one another. Several voices called out from around the guild.
"Yeah I'd also like to help. What do you say boys. Go check this shop out and do a little work on the side?"
"Sure, we're in."
Grey scanned the room seeing all the volunteers. "Damn really, that's great."
Moma chuckled with a hearty laugh and slapped him on the shoulder. "Whahaha. You seem surprised. Looks like ya little shop has left quite the impression on people. Well with these guys and a few trained workmen you'd be sorted. They should be good for tomorrow morning."
"Really? That fast, wow."
"Think of it as a welcome gift to the city. However I'll be expecting more invention showcases here in the future.
"Ah there's the catch... Thanks though. This is great and we'll make sure to pay you guys. For the short notice and time. Okay, well I best be getting back to the shop now. See you guys later."
"Whahaha, See you tomorrow. Bright and early!"
Grey left and headed back to the shop, he opened the shop door which chimed twice. As he entered, he scanned the shop noticing Celia was helping a handful customer as Hina was restocking shelves.
"Hey, look at that. Customers."
Hina was standing on a chair and continued to stock shelves as she spoke. "Welcome back Grey. Yeah it seems word has got around. Those adventurers must of told people about our shop. We've had a slow trickle of customers today. Anyway, how did it go. Did you find some people to help out?"
"Yeah I did actually. Moma is going to hook us up. They should be here tomorrow morning."
"I knew it! Moma always comes through for us."
"Thank you for your purchase!" Celia was just finishing up with a customer and over heard the conversation. "Whaah! That soon. Are we even ready for that?"
"I think we'll be fine. As long as we get the parts made with no problems. I think we'll be finished in no time."
Hina put her box down and hopped off the chair, walking over to the counter. "Oh right. I've made a start on the items you drew out. So far so good. Come see me first thing tomorrow so we can confirm everything for the build."
"Of course, no problem."
Once she finished behind the counter, Celia walked around and stood between Hina and Grey leaning forward in a playful manor. "Oh, did you go to the material shop?"
"What? Oh right, No I couldn't find it."
Celia started giggling. "Knowing you Grey. You were probably distracted and didn't even notice you walked past it."
Hina caught the laughter and began giggling herself. "Pff I could see him doing something like that. Oh well. I believe we have enough materials down stairs.
"Wait guys. Come on... I wasn't distracted the whole trip..."
"Anyway, I'm glad to see the shop finally doing well. Given it's reputation and all." Celia fixed her hair, brushing it past her ear.
"Oh right. I've heard a little bit about it from Moma. But why is this shop so hated. The products here are amazing."
Hina crossed her arms and nodded. "I'm glad you're starting to feel that way. However you'll just end up lumped in with us as outcasts. Thinking that way."
"The shop on it's own wouldn't be so much of a problem. It's the fact that Hina makes objects which I then combine with magic. It bends the set in stone rules of the church regarding magic use.
"That much I gathered. From the few magic lessons I did have back home. I know the four elements and their basic properties."
"Time for a magic lesson!" Rejoiced by the chance to teach, Hina walked up to the windows and drew the curtains and switched the door sign to closed, blackening the room. Celia pulled out a candle and lit it on the counter.
"Okay then. Well you know that the four elements are wind, fire, earth, and water right?" Hina pointed towards Celia as she demonstrate each basic element. "Well there's actually four more elements. These don't get talked about much and aren't written in any modern day text. The church is very much against this. They will actively seek out and detain people who use the other four elements."
"So what are they again? I know I can use spatial magic." Celia demonstrate spatial magic by shrinking the tea mug sitting next to her.
"Correct. These four elements are a combination of two basic elements. Spatial magic is the ability to warp space around you. This is the combination of fire and wind magic."
A shocked look crossed Grey's face as he shifted his head to look at Celia. "Woah that sounds powerful. Paired with your destructive nature. How haven't you been arrested yet?"
"Ah! How dare you. I'm very careful you know, hmph." She slapped her chest and huffed in pride.
"Despite her personality. Celia hasn't used spatial magic outside of making items for the shop. Therefore she hasn't done anything illegal... Yet."
"Yet..? Um so you could say. It's a legal grey zone. Eh?"
Both girls sighed and Celia slapped her face. "That was just bad..."
"Okay, ignoring that... The other combinations are dark magic formed from fire and water. Able to resurrect the dead and other dangerous matter. Light magic formed from earth and wind. Allowing the user to use the divine power of the gods. You can understand why the church don't want everyone using that one. The last element is time magic formed from water and earth. Bending the fabric of time to your will.
Hina waved her hands around in circular motions downplaying the threat. "It's rare that a mage can use more than one type of magic. So the threat of the sub elements has died down. Therefore we aren't a huge threat to the church here. As for Celia... Well she's just weird."
"Ah! Hinaaa..."
"Wow I didn't know such magic existed how do you know so much Hina?"
"Grey? Guys don't ignore me! I'm not weird!"
Hina looked away like a cat following a noise in the wall, avoiding eye contact. "Erm, well I kinda maybe study this stuff in my past. Oh, one more thing actually. I've only ever read about this. But there's also a ninth element. Which has never been seen before, or at least recorded before. It is a combination of all the elements."
"Seriously! That's so cool. Do you think I could learn it?" Celia had a concerning excited look on her face.
"It might be possible. However it is said that this element is so destructive it could kill it's wielder immediately."
"Oh yeah, maybe you should learn it then Celia."
"Ah Grey, stop it. You're too mean."
"The element is known as negative space. Where even darkness is consumed. Brandishing this element would only cause destruction. To everything and everyone around you including yourself." Hina swiftly blew the candle out and shot the curtains open with her earth magic. Making both Grey and Celia jump, coiling around each other in fear from the spooky thoughts of negative space.
"Well anyway. That's just a rumour you know... Er, get a room you two..." Hina sighed as she looked over to see Grey and Celia wrapped around each other. The two looked at each other before releasing their grip promtly.
"Di-did you g-get scared G-Grey?"
"W-what? N-not at all. You're the one w-who was clinging to me."
Hina packed the candle away and stretched out wide. "So you see. Despite our use of spatial magic. There is no physical use of it outside of a work environment. So they have nothing on us. No matter how many cease and desist letters they send us. However people still shun our shop because if it."
Celia straighten her outfit and cleared her throat. "Ahem, yes. So little moments like you bringing back those adventurers. Go a long may in helping this shop."
Hina poked Celia in the cheek and pointed at Grey with her other hand. "Don't pursue these elements Celia. Not without good reason. It'll just end badly. Don't take advantage of Celia's potential by creating inventions which use them either Grey."
"Aww, okay..."
"How did you know I was thinking of that? I won't I promise... Right then. Let's talk about the cogs you made first thing tomorrow Hina. I have something I want to work on this afternoon."
"Nothing Illegal I hope?"
"Of course not!"
Celia giggled and slapped Grey on the back. "Okay. Then I guess I'll see you both at dinner. But eat something for lunch before you start working."
The three of them returned to their respective jobs as silence fell once again in the shop.
Grey had returned to the apartment and was excited to start working on his new project. He pulled the crystals he bought out of his pocket rolling them around in the palm of his hand.
"I think with these, I'll be able to create something special. Hmm, if I use the concept that lady was using. I should be able to isolate the vibrations to transmit messages. Let's see..." Before Grey knew it, time had escaped him and before long a faint voice called out from the other side of his study door.
"Grey, we're eating now!?!"
"Grey we're starting with out you!?!"
He was completely wrapped up in his work and didn't here the voices. A few moments past before fwoosh bam. Celia slammed the door open. "Grey, what are you doing? We were calling out."
Grey jumped, finally returning to reality as he started frantically hiding his work. "O-oh okay, no problem. I'll be there in just a second."
The curious rabbit, Celia, noticed he was frantically hiding things and couldn't help herself. "Oooh what are you working on? Can I see. Hmmm please, I'd love to see."
"Oh er no. This is nothing maybe another day."
"Aw boo, okay then. But hurry up and come on through already. Your food is going to get cold."
"Yep, coming." Grey chuckled and took one last look back at his drawings before following Celia out. "I can't wait to show them this..."
.
.
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D.L.Evans Epilogue 4 - Shrouded in Greyness
The leader of the underground group was sitting at the end of a long table eating a meal with a few masked attendants. A hooded figure came running in with a flutter of their cloak and kneeled before him before standing up.
"So what have you brought me today to watch." The leader barked at the masked figure, spitting food everywhere.
"Um nothing sir..."
"What! Excuse me! Say that again."
"Well. They didn't do much while I was watching..."
"Gah, ridiculous. Give me your sight already."
"But sir. I don't thi-"
The leader snapped his fingers and ignited the masked person who went up in flames screaming. Visions filled his crystal ball as he watched all the nothing for himself.
"Don't think? Gah I don't keep you around to think. I'll just watch myself... Oh... I see... This isn't much, is it? Some sad sop story about a lonely girl? Hmph, wake me up when Hina talks about her past. Yawn..."
He stabbed his knife into the table and downed a chalice of wine. He continue to watch with disinterest until one scene made him spit out his wine. He roared with laughter and disbelief. "W-Wait, come now Grey. Home renovations? What is this heritage conservation rubbish."
He slumped down in his chair and grunted looking up at the black ceiling. After a few moments, he violently thrust the chair away from him as he stood and left the room. His attendants moved to follow but were quickly halted.
"Nobody follows me down here. Got that." The leader pushed the attendants back charring their robes before continuing down a set of deep steps. The room opened into a great chamber, poorly lit with nothing but rock like shadows. The grizzled man place a hand on the large central rock which glowed dimly, reacting to his touch.
"Yes, soon. Negative space. Such a wonderful and powerful name. If we create enough fear and chaos. I can harness this power for myself."
The surface he was touching pulsed, vibrating once. Making him jump slightly resulting in him pulling his arm back removing his hand. He began to laugh manically as he walked off into the darkness.
"The stage is set. Fight strong Celia. Show everyone the monster you really are."
Hi! Thank you for reading, if you made it this far then I'm extremely grateful. Please like and comment, it will help me out a lot as more comes out. Chapter five will be just around the corner so keep an eye out for that.
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