Coalesce: The Escape

We walk until dusk and rest at the foot of the Great Mountain until dawn. We have almost no food left and shelter is scarce with the lack of trees. We begin up the mountain at first light.

The snow gets thicker as the days wear on and wind bites fiercer the farther up the mountain we climb. A day blends into a week, a cold bitter week. Legend and Ruby are the strongest of us now, it seems we are barely able to carry our things. We take turns resting, Legend offered to carry our things. By the time we got to the top we were out of food completely and practically freezing.

“Pounit... The school of magic...” Sabille says looking up at a large building made of black stone. Pillars with carvings of mages and sorcerers battling and casting spells line the front of the building. A single glowing pillar rises from the roof, lighting the darkened area around the school. The school welcomed any race, so I’ve heard. The gypsies of Valley Forge, the Loheckle of Merchant’s Crest, the Wood Elves of Scholar’s Keep, the Snow Elves of Widow’s Moor, the humans of Shadow Mountain, even the Mystic and Blood Elves, the two races that have been all but banished from the Empire after the last war.

The wooden door of the school creaks open and a dark-skinned elf steps out. His eyes narrow at the sight of us.

“Who are you?” He questions, slowly raising his wooden staff and pointing it towards us.

“I am Anyndel D’aemon. My companions, Kylon Shankland, Lord Eraleth, and Sabille Mendoza.” I give a short bow as do the others.

“D’aemon? You don’t look like a D’aemon at all.” He says critically eyeing me.

“Why not?”

“You look like a gypsy.” His nose wrinkles as though in disgust.

“What’s wrong with that?” I cross my arms.

“It is not in your blood...” Is all he says and walks away.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I muttered crossly and turned to Sabille. “Why are we here?”

“It is time for you to know, child.” She murmurs gently and pushes me towards the school. I sigh, giving up on what all of this means. No one can ever speak plainly these days. It’s all riddles and cryptic answers that mean nothing to me. I hesitantly walk up to the entrance. What do I do now? I don’t know what I’m doing... I start to turn but Sabille gives me a harsh look so I slowly push one of the doors open. I am met with a large circular hall full of mages. I can see balconies lying on upper floors and grand staircases in nearly every direction. Doors that are far larger than any I’ve ever seen mark a dining hall, arches leading off into hallways lined with doors.

“Woah...” I mutter in awe when I step inside. It seems so much bigger on the inside. Magical bursts come from every direction, spells and instructions are shouted from everywhere. If anyone is looking for quiet, here is not the place at all. On the wall to my right is a tablet. It reads: Floor one, Unknowns. Floor two, apprentices. Floor three Mystics. Floor four Arch-mage and magisters’ chambers.

“Mystics get a whole floor...” I tilt my head slightly.

“You must be new around here.” I turn to see a brown haired elf standing beside me. “Everyone here knows the mystic elves have different classes based on their abilities.” He says as though that explains everything perfectly.

“Okay..” I look around some more, wondering what I could possibly learn here. I’m no mage or sorcerer.

“Are you going to take lessons or what?”

“I-I don’t even know the real reason I’m here. See, I have a... friend that sent me. She said it was ‘time for me to know’ whatever that means..”

“Sounds like there is something you don’t know about yourself then.” He shakes his head slightly. “Most of the apprentices are that way. They learn something they never knew about themselves.”

“Ugh... If I’m going to become an apprentice here, what do I have to do?”

“Well first you must show your skill,” He smirks a bit, looking noting the sword at my side.

“I have no-” I start, my voice tight. He holds up a hand, shaking his head.

“Don’t start that. You show your ability to handle yourself under pressure, with a blade first, then we give you nothing but a staff.” He gestures towards my sword and I stare, wishing my wrist was in better shape. “Are you up to it?”

Determined to prove something, I nod. I’ll at least give it a shot, I suppose. How wrong can it go?

“Alright let’s see here...” He walks over to a shelf with scrolls neatly stacked on the shelves and draws one carefully out of the middle. He gives it to me and tells me to read it.

“It says ‘Voquev Cavern’.” I look at him and he nods slowly.

“That is where your challenge lies. To prove yourself with a blade, bring me the head of one of your victims from the caverns.” I cringe slightly but nod. What am I getting myself into? And why?

“Anything else I need to know?”

“Not really. The Magisters cannot help with this task.” Of course. Why should I expect anything more than a vague instruction. AT this point they could very well be telling me to go jump off a cliff.

“Alright,” I turn after rolling the scroll and putting it in my bag. I walk outside to the waiting group and tell them what happened.

“So...”

“I have to bring back the head of a victim from the caverns. That’s only the first part of the task though... I’ll have to go back with only a staff the next time.” Rolling my eyes I let out an exasperated sigh. I look at their faces and smile slightly, they look so strange as a group, no, we look strange as a group. I laugh softly and turn.

“Are you coming or staying?” I ask as I locate the caverns on a map and find the best path to take. Kylon, as always, is the first to follow me. The others trail behind, Legend and Ruby taking up the rear, the latter perched on Legend’s back contentedly.