Chapter 14.5: Game

Okay...this is going to take some explaining.  Chapter 14.5 was not part of my original story.  I felt it important to be added between chapter 14 and chapter 15, hence the name.  And really...I want some feedback on this, if possible.  To those who take an interest in this little pet project of mine, let me know whether you think it adds to the whole piece because, it's not overly necessary.  It is, I think, kind of important.

See, there are a few things I wanted to do with the revisions that were lacking in my original manuscript.  Mina is not a magical prodigy and I wanted to show that, by having scenes where she has to grow and be frustrated.  Scenes where she's training, but without any...overt results.  A little bit of decompressed storyline.  Alongside that, there was another thought that occurred to me.  Gadus, Vincent, and Dakon haven't gotten much time in the spotlight.  They get some short stories of their own later, but...these three are sort of the male presence on Acacia and we've barely seen them interact at all.  Dakon's been training, Vincent has been...busy, and Gadius has kept to himself.  The girls have interacted with them at various levels, but the people of Acacia are supposed to be like a family.  So I wanted to have just a few scenes where we establish that familiarity.  Even if they're not skipping down the street arm in arm, which they shouldn't considering how different they all are, I want the audience to know that Vincent, Dakon, and Gadius know each other and trust each other with their lives.  Also, it was a good reason to hint at Aeon's true nature.

So, I want the audience's feedback, if they can give it.  What do you think of this little story?  It's all about adding character bits and fleshing out those we know, while giving enough down time to show growth, both for Mina and the supporting cast.  Does it succeed in that regard?  Would the story be better of without it?  Keep it or re-write chapter 14 or 15 to include those bits which do give vital information, like whether Aeon will stay or go?  Any feedback would be appreciated.

That being said, please enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 14.5: Game

            Keeping her eyes shut and her hands on her slowly inflating and deflating belly, Mina breathed in and out in a steady rhythm.  She tried to feel for any warmth building within her stomach or for anything other than air entering into her body.  However, she could detect nothing.  The sounds of people milling about downstairs in the tavern were proving difficult to ignore and after a few minutes, Mina felt a finger prod her shoulder.

            "Morning, Celi" Mina sighed, opening her eyes and glancing over at her tan skinned friend.

            "It's almost time," Celine mumbled, already in her leather work dress.  "The border guards are changing shifts this morning, so it'll be a bit more hectic than usual."

            "Right," Mina nodded, slipping out of her night gown and into her work dress.  "Wrec'll be back too.  I wonder how he's been treated..."

            "Well, you can ask him when we get downstairs," Celine said, pulling the attic's trap door open.

            The two girls headed down to the ground floor together.  As they went, Mina tried taking slow, deep breaths through her nose and focusing on her breathing.  However, the myriad of smells, ranging from her uncle frying up strips of meat to the unwashed men of the border guard  kept bringing her back to the present.  Just before they entered the tavern, Mina let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead.

            "Still tryin to...what did you call it last night?" Celine grunted.

            "Gather Leyline energy, Celi," Mina replied.  "If I can learn to gather it outside of Acacia, Aeon said he'll teach me elemental magic.  But I'm having trouble."

            "Well this ain't the most peaceful place for practice, I'll say that much," Celine shrugged, "But you've been at it ever since you got back last night.  Whenever you're not working, you just sit with your eyes closed, breathing.  Maybe you need a little break, so you can start fresh later."

            "Aeon could be leaving tomorrow," Mina mused, heading into the kitchen.  As the girls drew near to Kano, they lowered their voices.  "I want to learn as much as I can before he has to go."

            "Well, do what you have to, I suppose," Celine shrugged.

            "What're you two whispering about?" Kano grunted.  "Is it about Dem?" he winked at the pair and laughed to himself.

            "No, uncle," Mina rolled her eyes.

            "You wish, old man," Celine snorted.

            "Too bad.  Cause he's here again.  Be sure and treat him real nice after you serve the border guards, okay?" Kano winked at the pair before handing Celine a platter full of trays weighed down with fried aurox meat, eggs, and porridge.

            "Ya don't give the other boys in the village so much as a thought," Celine grunted under the weight of the platter as Kano poured mead into a dozen flagons.  "What makes Dem so special?"

            "Them other kids ain't going anywhere fast," Kano said, handing Mina another platter laden with mugs of mead.  "They'll stay here and be farmers, or artisans, or border guards.  Good honest work.  But something tells me, that ain't what you two have in mind," the orange haired innkeeper got a far off look in his eye before shaking his head and slapping half a dozen new strips of meat into his skillet.  "I just don't wanna make the same mistake twice, ya hear?"

            Mina felt herself flush red, but managed to nod and scoot out of the kitchen with Celine in tow.  "He...he's referring to my mother," she stammered, as they approached the border uards

            "Yeah, I got that," Celine sighed.  "It's great that he's okay with us leaving someday, but...could he maybe not make it seem like we're having a tryst with Dem?"

            "Hehe, he's as subtle as a rampaging minotaur," Mina giggled.  "Just like mom."

            "Well...let's try and make this quick," Celine grunted and dashed into the mass of a dozen or so border guards.  She spun around, handing out trays of food and darting off as grimy, ungloved hands reached for her backside.

            Following in her wake at a slower pace, Mina handed out mugs of mead to the border guards.  Morak received his gratefully and downed it in one gulp before holding out his hand for another.  "Is it wise to be drinking like that on an empty stomach, Morak?" Mina muttered as she handed another flagon to the grizzled man. 

            Rubbing the burn mark near his left eye, Morak leaned back in his chair and pulled the blue bandana he wore off his head, revealing several puncture marks and burns.  "Minava, after a long shift like that, wisdom ain't got nothin to do with it," he grunted, taking a pull of his fresh drink while Mina handed out mugs to the other guards.  "I just want some warm food and a nice, soft bed to collapse in.  One that ain't made of straw or subject to infestation by dire rats."

            "Rough time?" Mina leaned on a chair and eyed the man's tattered blue and white uniform and chainmail, which was dotted with dried streaks of blood.

            "We had a few hooligans tryin to make a run from the authorities in Telnumbra.  Coupla naga and a fenris nearly got the better of us, but we ain't survived this long for being slouches," Morak sighed and shoveled food into his mouth.  "There was a gaunt lookin teythen that came up day before last.  Half mad from want of blood, seemed.  He'da been a real problem if not for that therian," Morak jutted a thumb to Wrec, sitting by himself in a much more tattered blue and white uniform.  "Wrec's as agile as a garm and about as fierce.  Managed to snap the teythen's neck and put it outta its misery, goddess rest his soul, afore he did too much damage."

            "Nothing like what happened before though, huh?" Mina mused.

            "Nah...that kinda raid only happens once in a great many years...anyone with real power in Telnumbra ain't stupid enough to provoke the ire of the clergy," Morak shrugged.

            "Ah!" there was a gasp from the far end of the group of border guards followed by a few hoots as Celine backed away slowly, holding the empty platter over her backside.  The girl's face was bright red and she put the platter aside to crack her knuckles.

            "Dammit!" Mina growled, stalking over to the snickering guards.

            "Was worth the wait, feelin that tight little-" the green skinned neeg named Fak snickered before someone slapped him in the back of the head.

            "Oi!  What are ya, an idjit?  That's no way ta treat a lady!" Both Mina and Celine froze when they saw Yuka, garbed in a sleeveless leather tunic and burlap pants, cross her arms and tap her foot at the stunned border guard.

            "Maybe not, but it's not a bad way inta her bed!" one of the other guards hooted.

            "Speakin of," Fak rubbed the back of his head and pulled at a few unruly clumps of blond hair, "Whatcha doin later, mdear?"

            "Babysittin an old man who'll probably end up blowin his butt off without me," Yuka sighed, whipping her braided brown ponytail over her shoulder.  "An before ya ask, no, I don't want no company."

            "Ouch!" one of the other guards called, "That's gotta sting!"

            "Ah, c'mon, baby..." Fak touched Yuka's thigh with his warty green hand and almost immediately was on the ground.  Yuka had twisted his arm around his back and forced his face into the floor before firmly planting her boot in the border guard's back.

            "Hey!  What's all the ruckus!" Kano bellowed, stepping out of the kitchen bearing a cleaver in one hand and a sizzling skillet in the other.

            "Same old, same old, Kano," Morak waved dismissively, "This time though it's one of your guests teaching my boys some manners, not your girls."

            "Ah," the burly innkeeper nodded, "Well if that's all..."

            "Oi!  She's pullin my damn arm outta place!" Fak whined.

            "Tcch...serves you right," Celine snorted.

            "Okay, okay, enough!" Mina pulled Yuka off Fak and helped the stunned neeg to his feet.  She handed him a mug of mead as Fak rubbed his sore shoulder and growled, "Be good," in his ear.  The border guard complied as Mina and Celine hurried Yuka away from him.

            "Poor shmuck ain't gonna have much luck with the ladies if that's all he's got," Yuka snorted, as the girls led her over to a table that was empty save for Deminos, who was laughing unapologetically.

            "It's actually kinda funny when I'm not the one on the receiving end," Deminos snickered, patting a seat next to him.

            "I ain't forgiven ya yet, Dem," Yuka spat, taking the seat beside him nonetheless.  "Anyway, how're the two ah ya doin?"

            "We're alright," Mina smiled, "Just a bit busy right now.  We'll be done with our shift soon though, so let's talk more then, okay?" she said, heading back into the kitchen.  "Till then, try not to cause trouble!"

            "No promises!" Yuka bellowed after them.

            When Mina and Celine returned to the kitchen, Kano had already laid out more trays for them.  "Friend of yours?" he muttered.

            "Friend of Dem's, apparently," Celine shrugged.

            "Hehe, you two better be careful or she'll steal him away from ya," Kano chortled.

            "Uncle..." Mina groaned, carrying three trays of food out to a group of farmers before turning towards Wrec.

            Seeing Mina, the therian smiled and patted a seat next to him.  "Mina!  How goes it?"

            "Not bad, Wrec, not bad," Mina returned his smile and took a seat next to him after delivering the therian his food.  "Much better, now that I see you're back, safe and sound."

            "Haha," Wrec chortled as he chewed, "Wasn't as bad as all that.  I'm used to wild apocra up in Luvolia.  Kinda goes with the territory for a kingdom ruled by therians.  Still, we got a teythen that was trouble.  Poor bastard didn't even know what he was doing.  Kept trying to bite us and blow us away with those blood arts of his.  I hated to put him down, but...there was no choice."

            "I heard from Morak," Mina sighed. "I hate that you had to go through that, Wrec."

            "Eh, it happens when you're in a military unit," Wrech shrugged.  "It gets easier the more you do it, I guess.  Better than having to put down a fellow therian, at least.  Anyway," he quickly interjected, "I got paid after we changed shifts.  Tell me...any idea how often the post comes through here?"

            "We're not a high priority for them, so a griffon only touches down once every two weeks," Mina replied.  "The next arrival was supposed to touch down a few days ago, but I guess the fighting made them think twice.  Griffons can usually keep the mail pretty safe, but they're smart enough to know when they're in over their head."

            "Yeah..." Wrec mumbled, "Damn...I gotta get this money to my family."

            "The post?" a clean shaven man at a table behind Wrec with purple skin and full head of windswept black hair called out.  He was dressed in a brown uniform with white highlights around the legs and arms.  A whip was coiled around his belt.  "We touched down this morning," the man got up from his table and joined Wrec and Mina.  "Griffons' are waiting outside of town in case there's anymore trouble.  I'll bring em in after breakfast to collect any mail.  You know our standard rate, yeah?"

            "Of course!  The post runs through Luvolia too, after all," Wrec nodded.  "Thanks for the info, buddy.  You can have the rest of my meal, if you want.  I gotta get everything ready."

            "So you're one of the postmen?" Mina mumbled as Wrec left the table.  "I guess it must've been a big deal to send you along.  Usually the griffon's just take the letters and our payments and that's it."

            "Yeah, the trouble out here was seen all the way from our office in Steadfall.  Once things cooled down, I was sent to make sure everything went smoothly.  Losing a trained griffon is like chucking two hundred gold pieces into the ocean, so we take their safety seriously."

            "Here you are," Celine snuck up behind Mina and dropped a tray in front of the postman.  "Mina, we've still got people to serve, you know," she jerked her head towards Nivtenc, who was taking a sip from his hipflask in the corner.

            "Oh!  Right!  Well, I hope you don't have any problems with the mail!" Mina jumped up and bowed at the purple skinned postman before running back to the kitchen.  Before Kano could say anything to her, she snatched up the last four trays and doled them out to the remaining patrons of the tavern, ending with Nivtenc in the back.

            "Phew...sorry for the wait," Mina panted before flashing him an apologetic smile.

            "It's no problem," Nivtenc nodded to her from behind the folds of white cloth that concealed his body.  "It seems as if things are returning to normal here," the Aridian mused, glancing around the tavern.  "Almost as if the raid never happened."

            "Hehe, if you can call this place normal," Mina snickered.

            "I was referring to Gesthal," Nivtenc stifled a chortle, "Hmmhmm, I doubt anything could make this tavern normal."

            "And that's the way we like it!"

            "Indeed.  Unfortunately, it might well be my time to hit the road," Nivtenc said, carefully pulling the folds of white cloth around his mouth back so he could eat.  "The crisis is over and the snow is gone.  I need to keep moving."

            "Awwwwww..." Mina groaned and slumped on the table.  "That stinks.  I've really enjoyed your company."

            "Have you?  You've been away a fair bit during the day lately.  I thought you wanted to hear some stories?"

            "Hehe, sorry..." Mina scratched the back of her head.  "Things came up."

            "Of course.  You are getting to that age," Nivtenc winked one of his red eyes at her and Mina flushed crimson.

            "Now that's not what I-"

            "Haha, relax," Nivtenc laughed, "I'm only teasing."

            "You're right though...things are getting back to normal," Mina sighed.  "I'm glad everyone's safe, but I'll miss the friends I made during the crisis." she looked up at the Aridian and smiled.  "You and Wrec really came through for us."

            Patting her on the shoulder, Nivtenc seemed to smile, though his obscured face made it hard for Mina to tell.  "Don't be sad.  I'm a wanderer, so if I ever pass through here again, I'll say hello."

            "Thanks," Mina nodded and got up.  Quietly, to herself, she whispered, "But what happens if I'm gone when you come back?"

            She glanced back at Nivtenc before Celine caught her arm and led her over to the table where Deminos and Yuka were sitting.  Daryl had joined them and was occasionally glancing over at Angelo and the other priests.  Angelo smiled at her and seemed to nod his approval.

            "So..." Daryl said, turning her attention to Mina as she and Celine sat down.  "Deminos tells me you're learning to use magic?"

            "Learning..." Mina sighed, "I've been meaning to ask you about your training."

            "I bet," Daryl smiled.  "Have you cast any spells yet?"

            "Well...Aeon helped me push some wind out of my hand, but other than that, no."

            "Ah, so wind is your natural affinity," Daryl nodded.  "I'm not surprised.  It reflects your free spirit."

            "Huh?  What're you goin on about, princess?" Celine muttered.

            "For novices, if they try to push Leyline energy out of them without molding it into a specific element and shape, it comes out as just a burst of whatever element they're most comfortable with," Deminos explained.  "For me it was water.  Apparently your favored element is wind."

            "How bout you?" Yuka mumbled through a mouthful of eggs and turned to Daryl.  "What's yer element?"

            "Well..." Daryl glanced back at Angelo and smiled, "I'm special.  I don't have a strong inclination towards one element, so my natural element is all four in balance...in other words, holy magic."

            "Tcch, well aren't you special," Celine snorted.

            "Yeah...you know you'll have to learn the elements at some point though, right?" Deminos cocked an eye at her.

            Resting her head in her hands, Daryl let out a groan.  "Goddess...it's like there's two vagabonds now!"

            "Be nice, Celi" Mina chided Celine.  "We're all friends here."

            Yuka stomped down and Deminos let out a muffled grunt of pain.  "Don't ya start either."

            "Ow!  You know, I don't get many days off...it would be nice to not get beaten up again!" Deminos scowled at her.

            "I was wondering about that..." Mina mused, "I thought you had yesterday off."

            "Yeah, well, Gadius told me to clear out today.  Apparently, he's got something going on with Vincent and Dakon."

            "S'their card game," Yuka muttered, "They're pretty busy most days, so whenever the three get some down time, they play cards."

            "Speaking of down time, you're heading back to Acacia again, right?" Celine nudged Mina.

            "Ummm...yeah," Mina mumbled, "Say, do you two know if you're leaving-"

            "Ain't got a clue, Yuka shrugged.

            "Sorry.  Aeon's not back from his meeting with Master Dezolis yet, so-" Deminos began to say.

            "Dammit...maybe I shouldn't go," Mina sighed.  "I mean, if you left tomorrow, we might never see each other again."

            "Pffft, fat chance ah that," Yuka snorted, "We've gotta flyin island, remember?  We just have ta pester Aeon for long enough an eventually he'll drop us off for a visit."

            "Only you'd have the stones to do that," Deminos rubbed his eyes.

            "Well oneuvus has to be the man around here," Yuka ribbed Deminos and the sorcerer glared at her.  Turning back to Mina, she added, "Go on.  We'll be along in a bit."

            "Yeah...after what you told me Nerise said, I kinda wanna make sure Echidna's doing okay." Celine nodded.

            "How about you, Daryl?" Mina furrowed her brow.  "Are you alright?"

            "Yeah, I just needed a little rest, after...what happened," Daryl suppressed a shiver.  "Thanks for the cake, by the way.  My mom said you left it after the dinner shift.  I need to see Nerise and get some more."

            Stifling a giggle, Mina nodded and got up.  "Alright.  See you on Acacia, okay?"

            "Just so you know, it'll be a bit odd in there today," Yuka caught Mina as she passed.  "Aeon's toyin with the glamour."

            "Thanks for the heads up," Mina said before heading outside.

            Shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun, Mina failed to notice a furry Apocra on four legs which had two heads, one at the front and one at the back of it, until it had already bowled her over.  The creature had a long wet snout and a wrinkly face.  It lapped playfully at Mina's cheek and she laughed as she struggled to get the creature off her.

            "Babu!  Bad pup!" a lanky blue haired boy half Mina's age grabbed the creature's waist and hauled it off her.  "Sorry.  Babu's a little excited because of the griffons."

            "Haha, I understand," Mina smiled and petted the panting creature.  "Who's a cute little bandersnatch?  You are!" she cooed and let the creature lick her fingers.  "Watch where you're playing, Maynard.  There's a nal-vey postman here, so Babu might be a little intimidated."

            "Kay!  Thanks for the advice, Mina," the boy named Maynard called before carrying his bandersnatch into the village square to play.

            Stifling a smile, Mina headed out of Gesthal.  Across the way, she saw two beasts with long majestic wings and beaks, but instead of talons they had big furry paws.  Several bags were fastened around their sides.  Making her way along the outskirts of the forest surrounding Gesthal, Mina found the smooth hill, knocked three times, and let herself in.  No one greeted her as she passed through the musty stone hallway into Acacia.  Once inside, she noticed that it was black as night.  Dancing lights hung in the air, illuminating the darkened island, but only slightly.  Above her, a false ceiling of stars added their gentle light to Acacia as well.

            "So this is what Yuka meant," Mina whispered, tiptoeing through the grass and wrapping her hand around one of the dancing lights, as if it were a firefly.  "Amazing," she added, releasing the light and heading in the direction of Aeon's citadel, which, even in the darkness, let off a gentle light to guide the way.  "Aeon does all this with magic.  Someday, I'd like to be able to as well," Mina chuckled to herself.

            When she arrived at Aeon's tower, Mina made her way down the stone stairs into the alcove below it, careful not to tread on any of the plants which were growing there.  Touching her hand to the stone pillar, Mina took a deep breath and stepped into thin air.  Her foot touched something solid and the ground underneath her lit up, revealing a golden stairway leading into the air.

            "Phew," Mina breathed a sigh of relief, "Was worried for a second." 

Making her way to the top of the stairway, Mina pressed her hand into the nothingness before her.  The air rippled at her touch before slowly returning to normal.  Mina stepped off the stairwell and into the air, passing through what looked like a bubble, and ended up in the Selvan glade.  Without any sunlight, the Leyline energy that filled the glade seemed to give off a gentle glow, not unlike the dancing lights Mina had seen when she entered Acacia. 

            "Wow..." Mina gasped, "It's even more beautiful at night."  Cupping her hand around a few of the specks of Leyline energy rising out of the ground, Mina formed a tiny lantern in her palms before letting the specks fly off into the air and disappear.  Shaking her head, she suppressed a laugh and said, "Can't get distracted.  I came her to train, remember?"  Making her way over to the rock she had sat on the day before, Mina glanced down at the ground.  There was still a small trace of vomit, but most of it had been absorbed into the soil.  She blushed before plopping down on the rock, placing her hands over her stomach, and closing her eyes.

            "Slow breaths..." Mina murmured, taking a deep, deliberate breath.  She focused on the sounds around her.  On the leaves gently rustling in the breeze, on the water from the nearby spring bubbling forth, and on her own breathing.  She smelt and tasted the air, feeling a gentle warmth building within her stomach as she did so.  Her stomach began to gurgle and Mina clamped her hands down on her stomach, as if ordering it to be silent.  Nevertheless, the warmth in her belly started to creep it's way up into her throat.  Putting one hand over her mouth and another over her throat, Mina opened her eyes, tilted her head back, and swallowed hard.

            "Accck!" Mina hacked up some saliva on the ground and held her throat.  "That was close," she groaned, panting hard.

            She took a moment to gather herself before trying again.  This time, when the warmth came, Mina opened her eyes and resumed her normal breathing.  Putting her hand over her heart, Mina felt it quicken slightly as the warmth in her stomach slowly dissipated.

            Letting out a sigh, Mina tried again.  Each time Leyline energy gathered in her stomach, she would cease her breathing exercises and get up, move around and focus on things besides the natural world.  Occasionally, when she was gathering energy, Mina would open her eyes and watch the specks of Leyline energy seeping into her skin.

            After roughly two dozen attempts, Mina swallowed hard and said, "Let's try what we did yesterday." 

            Keeping her eyes open this time, Mina slowed her breathing, cleared her thoughts, and focused her senses on the world around her.  Though she watched as the specks of Leyline energy entered her body, her eyes stayed front and center, undistracted by the tiny balls of light.  Warmth gathered in her stomach, however it did not reflexively force its way up to her throat.  Taking another deep breath, Mina contracted her stomach and felt the warmth in her belly slowly make its way into her chest.  She held out her right arm and tried to move the Leyline energy into it.  Warmth started to flood her arm, however before it could reach Mina's hand, her stomach let out an unpleasant gurgle and the warmth was siphoned back into her gut.

            Mina fell to the ground, holding her groaning stomach and panting.  she crawled over to the spring of water and dunked her head in it, drinking thirstily in an attempt to settle her stomach.  After a few minutes, the gurgling subsided, however Mina felt a wave of nausea wash over her and put one hand over her stomach and one over her throat.

            "Ugh...how long's it been?" Mina grunted, getting up off the ground and glancing about the dark sky.  "That's the problem with this glamour...I never know how much time I'm spending in this place," she sighed.  As she breathed, Mina felt her stomach tremble and a hint of warmth crept its way inside her.  Putting her hand over her mouth, she swallowed hard and groaned.  "This...bleh...this place is making me sick," Mina said, staggering over to the exit.  "I need a few minutes of regular air."

            Pressing her way out of the bubble, Mina stepped into thin air without a second thought and the golden stairwell appeared underneath her.  She absentmindedly made her way down from the Selvan glade and took the stone stairs out of the little alcove under Aeon's citadel.  When she reached the top stair, Mina put her arm behind her head and stretched, feeling her muscles pop slightly as she did so.

            "Hmm?" Mina glanced over at the forest when she heard the sound of countless rustling wings.  A black cloud seemed to be floating into the darkened woods.  "What's that?" she murmured, following after the cloud at a distance.  Though the forest was dark and many Apocra were laying about, asleep, the stars and the dancing lights offered enough visibility for Mina to find her way without tripping or falling.  She stopped behind a tree just short of the clearing which housed Gadius's fields and home.  At the edge of Gadius's field was a large wooden stump that was almost as tall as Mina was and three smaller ones around it.  Gadius was sitting at one of the smaller stumps, bare chested, shuffling a deck of cards.  Next to him was what looked like a miniature tree with branches that curved together to form a wooden platter.  Three mugs were laid out on the platter.

            "Finally decided to let your wife rest, eh?" Gadius called.  Hiding herself behind her tree, Mina glanced out and saw Dakon saunter over to one of the stumps, garbed in a tunic made out of Apocra skin and a short skirt made of furs.  "You're a beast, Dakon!  You know...if she ever gets to be too wild for you-"

            "Stop where you are or I'll tear out your tongue," Dakon growled.

            "Good to see you too, old friend," Gadius carried on talking without the least bit of fear.  "How did the training go?"

            A yawn escaped Dakon's lips and he took one of the mugs from the wooden platter.  "Not too bad...the griffons and harpies enjoyed the rocky terrain, but my new scraggillions were a bit less enthusiastic.  Still, we got some good joint exercises done and I think they've learned to trust each other.  That's important, considering scraggillions tend to eat avian apocra."

            "Well so do I, but no one complains when I do it," Gadius shrugged.  Dakon let out a groan and ran his fingers over his shaved scalp.  "C'mon, relax," Gadius slapped him on the back.  "It's been weeks since we've had a chance to have a game together.  If I don't rib you now, there's no telling when I'll get another chance."

            "You...!" Dakon sighed and took a swig from his mug.  "Whatever.  Have at it."

            "Something wrong?"

            "Ugh...Crimson."

            "Ah, the nightmare," Gadius nodded.  "Still won't obey orders?"

            "Crimson's an amazing apocra," Dakon grunted, "And we respect each other, we do...but he still just does whatever he wants.  I keep hoping to get the fastest creature in Serano to listen to me, but...Crimson only does what he wants, when he wants to."

            "He needs a good lay.  Probably be a bit more amenable after having a roll in the grass, eh?"

            "He's not you," Dakon snorted.  "Anyway, where's Vincent?  It's not like him to be late."

            "I'm here!" the black cloud Mina saw before burst out of the trees a short ways away from her.  It was a mass of crawling and flying rodents that coalesced into the pale form of Vincent.  He was panting hard and was bereft of his usual black cloak and was instead garbed in a black and red vest with a long sleeved white undershirt underneath.  A few stray pieces of silvery hair poked out of his white bandana, which Vincent quickly tucked back under the cloth.  "Sorry, I was delayed.  Had to square a few things away.  Anyway," the teythen took a seat on the last stump.  "Same as last time?"

            "Of course," Gadius smirked, "What else do we play?"  He dealt out a hand of five cards to each man.  "So, what will we wager this time?  I've got some ripe lika fruit ready to juice, some succulent mushrooms, not poisonous, I promise, and a few root vegetables, perfect for hot, nourishing soup."

            "I've got some bottled djinni essence from my last trip to Aridia, a few glassworks made from the sand there, and six of Nerise's cakes I've been saving," Vincent said.

            "Five pounds of Apocra fat for candles, a few hand made fur and leather goods, and three couatl skins from my latest acquisitions," Dakon added, taking two cards from his hand and putting them face down on the large stump in front of them.  "I'll start the bid with four ounces of fat.  Any takers?"

            "I'll see your four ounces and raise you an extra lika fruit," Gadius said, taking one card from the top of the decking and smirking as he did.

            "Dammit..." Vincent sighed.  "I'm out."

            "Pity," Gadius shrugged,  "I bet you'd be more into it if I bled Deminos and offered up his blood as a wager."

            "Why not," Vincent shook his head, "You've already taken his sweat, tears, and dignity...what's a few pints of blood?"

            "Oh, come on, I'm not-"

            "Yes, you are," Dakon interjected, laying his cards down, "Two pair, therians and liches."

            "Sorry, but the ladies love me," Gadius put his hand down, "Three harpies."

            "Dammit!  Lucky bastard!" Dakon banged the stump with his fist.

            "Anyway, I know Deminos probably hates me...but it's for his own good," Gadius sighed, shuffling the cards back into the deck.

            "Gadius, I'm used to being the drill sergeant here.  Eventually, everyone goes through my boot camp.  That's how Neri learned staff fighting, Yuka learned to wield that whip-like weapon of hers, and how you," Dakon nodded to Vincent before accepting his five cards, "Learned to wield a sword.  And take it from me, what you put Dem through is too much.  Maybe not for his body, but for his spirit.  He needs to believe he can improve instead of working out of desperation or obligation."

            "He needs to get over himself," Gadius narrowed his eyes before laying down one three cards and adding, "Two turnips and a carrot."

            "Bandersnatch pelt belt," Dakon added, dropping two cards.

            "Djinni smoke from an ifrit," Vincent put three cards down.

            "I know you two worry about Deminos because he's our latest acquisition, but...he's not the only one who's lived a hard life," Gadius muttered and dealt out new cards to the others.  "We've all been there and we shouldn't pamper him.  The sooner he can stop dwelling on his past, the better.  And one thing my training doesn't give you time to do is dwell."  laying out his cards, Gadius said, "Three lamias."

            "I'll concede that point, at least," Dakon sighed, "Another two pair.  Cockatrice and aurox."

            "Three garms," Vincent smirked as Gadius gawked at his cards and put his head in his hands.

            "Those were good turnips too..."

            Next to Mina, there was a soft chirp and she ducked behind the tree, clamping her hand over her mouth.  "Who's out there?" Dakon barked.  A tiny speck of light floated out of the forest.  It passed close enough to Mina for her to see that it looked almost human, save for the bug-like wings and feet which merged into a single mass of flesh at the end of long slender legs.  "Oh, Drzil.  Is something wrong?"  There was some buzzing from the clearing and Mina heard Dakon let out a laugh.  "Haha, the girls, eh?  Well, I'm busy, but you can show them the way.  Ecchi'll get a kick out of seeing Celi and the others."

            Mina saw the little sprite vanish into the forest and breathed a sigh of relief, careful to keep her breathing slow and shallow as she glanced out from behind her tree again.

            "Taken a liking to those girls, haven't you?" Gadius patted Dakon's shoulder.  "You're just a big softy inside."

            "No lewd jokes, Gadius?" Vincent chuckled, "I'm stunned."

            "Oh, come on..." Gadius rolled his eyes.

            "Well, Celine has a way with apocra," Dakon smiled.  "The girl's got a natural kinship with animals.  Pity she wasn't born a nal-vey...she would have made a grand tamer."

            "But...if she were born a nal-vey..." Gadius sighed.

            "Yeah..." Dakon pinched the bridge of his nose, "Though, from what I've heard, her life wasn't much better."

            "Like you said, Gadius...we all know what despair tastes like," Vincent said, dealing out cards to the others.  "All six of Nerise's cakes."

            "Fold!" Gadius and Dakon called at the same time.  'I swear, you're too easy to read sometimes," Gadius snorted.

            "Am I indeed?" Vincent smirked, "No wonder I make such a poor spy."

            "Alright, alright, deal a new hand," Dakon muttered.  "You ever wonder if we should get some new players?  Like Neri or Yuka?"

            "Can you imagine our Nerise playing cards?" Vincent chuckled and blushed slightly, "I can see Yuka, but..."

            "Yeah...sooner or later, the young ones end up departing," Gadius sighed.  "And it's just us old men left to tell tales and play games.  Throwing in three Hamelin peppers.  I managed to grow a few with that sand you brought me from Aridia, Vincent."

            "Glad it worked out for you.  I'll offer up one of my glass decanters."

            "Pair of hand crafted leather gauntlets," Dakon grunted.  "To be fair, me and Vincent thought you'd be out of here in a few days when we first met you."

            "Wild times, eh?" Gadius sighed.  "I was so stupid back then...hehe, who am I kidding?  I'm still stupid.  Did you know that there was a nal-vey postman in town today.  I snuck in early this morning and put another letter to Rini in the bunch.  Stupid, right?"

            For a moment, silence fell over the game.  "It's been over a century, Gadius," Dakon grunted, "I hate to repeat myself, but...maybe it's time to move on.  You've got plenty of fans among my children and...so long as you treat them right...I don't mind," Dakon said through gritted teeth before layinng his hand down, "Four omnara."

            "I hear you, but put yourself in my place.  Could you give up on Echidna?" Gadius laid his cards down, "Just two vey this time."

            "Point taken," Dakon nodded.  "Vincent?"

            "It's yours Dakon," Vincent dropped his cards.  "Gadius, you know she loves you.  The problem is that she doesn't want to hurt her family."

            "And her family hates my guts," Gadius muttered, taking a swig from his drink.  "Not that I can really blame them, after what my parents did.  It's no wonder the sel-vey have severed all ties to the jela-vey.  Dammit...I wonder if Aeon gets this frustrated, trying to revive that woman of his.  We're both trying to do the impossible...but if we don't try, then-"

            "Then keep trying," Dakon offered Gadius an encouraging smile.  "You're different from other jela-vey, after all.  The fact that we're even sitting together proves that."

            "Hard to believe the monster we picked up from Selvaria turned out to be such a reliable guy," Vincent said, handing the deck of cards to Dakon.  "I had to keep my familiars watching you 24/7 while you were recovering, in case you went on another rampage."

            "I remember," Gadius smirked, "You tackled me to the ground after I found your and Echidna's little hidey hole," he turned to Dakon who held out five cards.  "Surprised me, seeing an omnara and a nal-vey raising a family together.  It was...different from how I'd grown up."

            "A little love, some firm discipline, and the right amount of freedom are worth a lot more than fancy titles," Dakon said, "Going all in for this one.  A fur cloak."

            "Three of Nerise's cakes."

            With a sigh, Gadius put his cards down, "Too rich for my blood."

            "Speaking of families, how are your children doing, Dakon?  Or are they yours, Gadi?" Vincent stifled a chuckle.

            "Mayhaps they are," Dakon shrugged, "But they're healthy, happy, and apocra, so it doesn't matter too much.  You know, it's strange, the life span of a vey and an omnara...we've outlived most of our children from back when Aeon found us.  Now we're up to great-great grand children."

            "Still got the moves to pop out more little ones each year, though," Gadius performed a pelvic thrust and Mina hid back behind the tree, feeling her face burning red.

            "Well..." Dakon's voice made Mina peep her head out again.  The purple skinned man had a calm smile on his lips.  "Ecchi and I are happy together...I suppose when that happens, you're bound to have children.  Two liches and three scraggillions."

            "Dammit!  I was gonna give one of those cakes to Austarine!" Vincent groaned, holding his head in his hands.

            "How is the empress these days?" Gadius mumbled, "We've not been to see her in years."

            "Well, you have, but-" Dakon muttered, nodding at Vincent while he shuffled the cards.

            "Austa's fine, I suppose," Vincent's shoulder's slumped.  "Just as amazing as ever.  Her royal guard still makes me feel inadequate, even after all this time."

            "Oh, get over it!" Gadius slugged Vincent in the arm.  "You're damn strong and a good bit more useful to Aeon than the rest of us.  Sides, you wear her favor, so you shouldn't be too mopey," the jela-vey pointed to Vincent's bandana.

            "Maybe so," Vincent said, undoing his bandana to reveal that he had short silver hair cut close to the scalp, save for his bangs, which were much longer.  "She asked me to join her again," he murmured, fingering the bandana as Dakon shuffled the deck of cards.

            "You fool..." Gadius sighed.  "You turned her down, didn't you?"

            Tying the bandana back around his head, Vincent nodded.  "I'm not ready yet.  I still have business that would be impossible to complete if I became her knight."

            "Any news on that front?" Dakon murmured, dealing out five cards each to the three of them.

            "Nothing," Vincent said, reaching into his vest's pocket for a moment before taking his cards.  "Not that that's ever stopped me before."

            "He could be dead by now, Vince," Gadius mused, rearranging his cards, "How're you gonna find a corpse from over three centuries ago?"

            "Doesn't matter," Vincent retorted, laying his cards down, "I have his crest.  And those with crests tend to keep them, even in death.  I'll find him.  No matter what."

            "I'll bet two of the cakes I just won," Dakon smirked, taking two cards.

            "My potatoes, a whole sack of them," Gadius nodded and grabbed a single card.

            "Take my advice and back out now," Vincent's face split into a wicked grin.  "Nerise's last three cakes."

            Mina raised an eyebrow as Gadius and Dakon exchanged glances.  "Show us," they snorted in unison.

            Vincent flipped his cards over.  "Four teythens and a lich."

            "Oh, goddammit..." Gadius sighed, dropping his cards.  "So much for being able to read you."

            "I still have one cake, at least," Dakon chuckled, pushing his and Gadius's cards into a pile.  "So...what's on your mind, Vincent?"

            "Huh?  What do you-?"

            "You've had a distracted look since you got here," Gadius mumbled.  "May as well share.  You'll feel better for it."

            The teythen's smile faded and he pushed his cards into a pile with the others.  "Mina's been learning magic with Aeon."  Mina suppressed a gasp and pulled her head back out of sight.  Holding a hand over her mouth, she slowed her breathing and listened carefully to what Vincent was saying.  "Seems like she can look past his exterior, but..."

            "Sooner or later, she'll have to accept his true nature," Gadius added.  "All for the balance.  It's not an easy thing to understand, much less accept, especially for a kid her age.  Yuka and Dem have a vague idea of what it entails but Mina's still a bit naive."

            "It'd break her heart," Dakon grunted.  "Perhaps it would be for the best if we leave."

            "Yeah," Vincent said, "Maybe."

            Mina felt her eyes widen as she peered out from behind the tree.  Gadius was shuffling the cards while Dakon rested his elbows on the table with his chin on his knuckles.  Vincent was taking a swig from the last mug that was on the wooden platter.  Continuing to breathe slowly and listen as closely as she could, Mina tried to inch closer to the three men, but stopped when she felt a cold chill run through her.  Glancing behind her, she saw Aeon's bony hand on her shoulder.  The lich raised a single finger to his lipless mouth and Mina nodded.  After helping Mina to her feet, Aeon led her away from the card game, into the deep, dark woods.

            After a few minutes had passed, Aeon murmured, "You should not eavesdrop, Minava.  It is not polite."

            "Says the man who claims to have eyes everywhere," Mina grunted, managing a weak smile as she felt her stomach.

            "Hmmhmm, I had not thought of it in that manner," Aeon chuckled.  "Regardless, I thought you were supposed to be training.  I came to find you and you were not in the Selvan glade."

            "Sorry about that," Mina let out a nervous laugh, "I...was starting to feel sick from channeling so much Leyline energy, so I wanted to get some fresh air."

            "Ah, progress," Aeon nodded, his eye sockets swirling with green light, "Hopefully over the next few weeks we will be able to improve your ability to gather and retain Leyline energy...perhaps you will even learn to use other elements."

            Stopping in place, Mina slowly looked up at Aeon.  "Over the next few...weeks?" she repeated his words.

            "Indeed.  Now, let us return to the glade.  I shall give you further instruction."

            "Wait, wait, wait!" Mina held up her hands and took a step back.  "So, you're staying?!"

            "We are," Aeon nodded.  "Master Dezolis has asked that I remain here for a while yet."

            "Why?" Mina murmured, "What makes Gesthal so special?"

            Aeon stopped in place and hovered in the air.  "Minava, do you know why we came here to begin with?"

            "It...it was to stop Agni from destroying the village," Mina stammered.  "Right?"

            "Correct.  Now, think.  Agni is searching for something.  What do you think he will do if one of his raiding parties has been destroyed?"

            "He'd want to know who destroyed them...and what they were protecting..." Mina whispered, her eyes slowly widening.

            "We do not know when he will return," Aeon said, "However, one thing I am certain of is that he will return."

            Lowering her eyes, Mina gritted her teeth and balled her hands into fists.  "How many more people is he going to kill in search of...of...whatever it is?!" she growled.

            "None," Aeon replied, "Provided we can stop him."

            Glancing up at the lich, Mina noticed that Aeon's eyeless sockets were fixed on her.  Biting her lip, she squeaked, "Can you stop him?"

            "If Agni returns, we have a plan to subdue him."  Lowering himself down to the ground, Aeon put both his hands on Mina's shoulders.  "You do not need to be afraid, Minava.  My comrades and I will protect you and the whole of Gesthal.  I promise."

            "Thank you..." Mina murmured, staring into the gentle green flames that filled Aeon's eye sockets.

            "Come...this is not a time for anxiety or fear," Aeon said, floating back into the air. "Let us work on improving your magic."

            "O-okay!" Mina nodded and followed after him.

            They exited the forest and headed towards Aeon's citadel.  "I believe that even if you are not yet ready to try casting a spell on your own, I should explain a bit more about how elemental magic works," Aeon muttered as they headed down the stone stairs leading into the alcove underneath Aeon's tower.  "You see, the reason wind came out of your palm when you used magic before, was-"

            "Because it's my favored element, right?" Mina said, a tiny smile playing at her lips.

            Aeon stopped for a moment and hung in the air.  "That is...correct.  No doubt due to your adventurous nature and free spirit.  In order to use elemental magic effectively, you have to understand how to mold the energy within you into a specific element.  The amount of energy you need to use increases based on how powerful the spell, the shape, and how thoroughly it is molded.  Of course, it is possible to mold more than one element at a time, but that is an advanced technique, requiring excellent control.  This is why holy magic is so difficult for some.  Because-"

            "It requires keeping all four elements in balance within the body, right?" Mina smirked.  She saw the flames in Aeon's eye sockets flash briefly before he continued leading the way towards the Selvan glade.

            "Yes.  You are correct.  It...would seem you know a few of the basics.  Perhaps for today we should just focus on improving your ability to guide Leyline energy through your body."

            "Whatever you say, Aeon," Mina stifled a giggle, "You're the teacher here."