Guardian Angel Haruki
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LiLNasY Member
STATUS: Back from romantic getaway! Working on replies! 7 mos agoStatus
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7 mos ago
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Back from romantic getaway! Working on replies!
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7 mos ago
Romantic weekend with boyfriend, no replies. Sorry friends
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The children chased after the phantom cat. They laughed and called out happily. Their small feet pattered across the lawn as the image bounced and weaved ahead of them. I watched them go with quiet relief. At least that crisis had been avoided.
"And here I was thinking I was going to have to rescue you from a mob of curious children."
I turned at the familiar voice. Lady Agnes Larimar stood beside me. She moved with the kind of grace that came from years of noble training. Her golden hair caught the light from the arcane lanterns. Her violet eyes seemed to shift slightly in shade. The Larimars were all beautiful. Every single one of them. But Agnes was something else entirely. Sometimes I caught myself staring a little too long. Wondering things I didn't usually wonder about women.
"I actually enjoy social gatherings," I said. "Just usually with far fewer people involved. This is..." I gestured vaguely at the crowded lawn. "A bit much."
I glanced back toward where the ceremony dais stood beneath the ironwood tree. "But I'd do whatever I could to be here for Professor Finch today. She deserves that much. This is a special day for her."
"And here I was thinking I was going to have to rescue you from a mob of curious children."
I turned at the familiar voice. Lady Agnes Larimar stood beside me. She moved with the kind of grace that came from years of noble training. Her golden hair caught the light from the arcane lanterns. Her violet eyes seemed to shift slightly in shade. The Larimars were all beautiful. Every single one of them. But Agnes was something else entirely. Sometimes I caught myself staring a little too long. Wondering things I didn't usually wonder about women.
"I actually enjoy social gatherings," I said. "Just usually with far fewer people involved. This is..." I gestured vaguely at the crowded lawn. "A bit much."
I glanced back toward where the ceremony dais stood beneath the ironwood tree. "But I'd do whatever I could to be here for Professor Finch today. She deserves that much. This is a special day for her."
Your thoughts spiral, each question leading to another. Six hundred miles. Your mother. Bartholomew. The wishes. Someone following you. Leila. The horrific truth about your mother's work.
Your heart pounds. Your breathing quickens. The exhaustion from the disastrous engagement party, the argument, everything that's happened tonight weighs on you like a physical burden.
But some instinct makes you look up, scanning the room.
The only obvious entrance is the door you came through, the one leading back to the tavern. There are no windows in this room, no other obvious ways in or out. The tavern staff would notice anyone trying to follow you here. You should be safe.
Your eyes drift across the rich textiles hanging on the walls, the deep reds and golds and blues. The patterns seem to shift slightly in the lamplight, geometric designs flowing into one another.
Then you notice it.
In one particular spot, one of the large cloths moves. Just slightly. As if a breath of air pushed against it from behind.
But there are no windows. No drafts should be coming through.
What do you do?
Your heart pounds. Your breathing quickens. The exhaustion from the disastrous engagement party, the argument, everything that's happened tonight weighs on you like a physical burden.
But some instinct makes you look up, scanning the room.
The only obvious entrance is the door you came through, the one leading back to the tavern. There are no windows in this room, no other obvious ways in or out. The tavern staff would notice anyone trying to follow you here. You should be safe.
Your eyes drift across the rich textiles hanging on the walls, the deep reds and golds and blues. The patterns seem to shift slightly in the lamplight, geometric designs flowing into one another.
Then you notice it.
In one particular spot, one of the large cloths moves. Just slightly. As if a breath of air pushed against it from behind.
But there are no windows. No drafts should be coming through.
What do you do?
Oof sorry, hadn't seen your message. If anything, I'll edit my post after you edit yours!
I followed the stag through the forest, losing track of time completely. Every few seconds I glanced around, trying to figure out how long I'd been walking, but the trees all looked the same. The stag moved just fast enough to stay in sight, leading me deeper into the woods.
Then it stopped at the edge of a hill and looked at me. Then down. Then back at me.
Before I could figure out what it wanted, the stag bounded away, disappearing into the trees.
I moved to the edge and looked down.
My blood went cold.
Meli. Four bandits surrounding her. Two of them holding her while she struggled against their grip. A net tangled around her, making it impossible for her to break free.
Everything else disappeared. The forest, the statue, the dream, all of it. There was only Meli struggling, and the bastards who had their hands on her.
I didn't think. I just moved.
I hit the slope at a run, using the curve to slide down in a controlled fall. My boots found purchase on roots and rocks, my draconic arm gripping at branches to control my speed. Twenty feet felt like nothing. I landed hard but steady, already reaching for my sword as my feet hit the ground.
The blade sang as I drew it. The bandits were moving slow, dragging Meli along. They hadn't seen me yet.
Good.
I followed, closing the distance as fast as I could. My boots pounded against the forest floor. Getting closer. Almost there.
Then it stopped at the edge of a hill and looked at me. Then down. Then back at me.
Before I could figure out what it wanted, the stag bounded away, disappearing into the trees.
I moved to the edge and looked down.
My blood went cold.
Meli. Four bandits surrounding her. Two of them holding her while she struggled against their grip. A net tangled around her, making it impossible for her to break free.
Everything else disappeared. The forest, the statue, the dream, all of it. There was only Meli struggling, and the bastards who had their hands on her.
I didn't think. I just moved.
I hit the slope at a run, using the curve to slide down in a controlled fall. My boots found purchase on roots and rocks, my draconic arm gripping at branches to control my speed. Twenty feet felt like nothing. I landed hard but steady, already reaching for my sword as my feet hit the ground.
The blade sang as I drew it. The bandits were moving slow, dragging Meli along. They hadn't seen me yet.
Good.
I followed, closing the distance as fast as I could. My boots pounded against the forest floor. Getting closer. Almost there.
OMG!! How far are they? What is the fall from the precipice?
Can you give me a perception check?
The stag looked at my arm and huffed, shaking its head. At least it wasn't running away. But when I got closer, it turned and started walking off. Not fleeing exactly. Just moving away at a calm trot.
Then it stopped and looked back at me. Waiting.
My breath caught. It wanted me to follow it.
I tried to remember what the satyr children used to say about golden stags. There were stories, I knew that much. I could picture them running around the orchard, laughing and shrieking about something. The golden stag, they'd call out. But what did the stories actually say? What happened to people who followed it?
Nothing came to mind. Just the image of kids playing and Meli laughing at their games.
I shouldn't, I thought. This was stupid. I was lost, Meli was upset, and now I was thinking about following some impossible creature deeper into the woods.
But then the dream came back to me. That voice in the darkness. Resurrection or Destruction. The feeling of something watching me, something bigger than I understood.
And now this. A golden stag with fur the same color as my draconic arm, appearing right after I'd gotten lost trying to do the right thing.
I made a decision.
"Alright," I said quietly to the stag. "I'll follow. But just for an hour. If I'm just walking in circles, I'm heading back toward the Gathering."
It was still morning. I had time. And maybe, just maybe, this meant something.
I started walking after the golden stag.
Then it stopped and looked back at me. Waiting.
My breath caught. It wanted me to follow it.
I tried to remember what the satyr children used to say about golden stags. There were stories, I knew that much. I could picture them running around the orchard, laughing and shrieking about something. The golden stag, they'd call out. But what did the stories actually say? What happened to people who followed it?
Nothing came to mind. Just the image of kids playing and Meli laughing at their games.
I shouldn't, I thought. This was stupid. I was lost, Meli was upset, and now I was thinking about following some impossible creature deeper into the woods.
But then the dream came back to me. That voice in the darkness. Resurrection or Destruction. The feeling of something watching me, something bigger than I understood.
And now this. A golden stag with fur the same color as my draconic arm, appearing right after I'd gotten lost trying to do the right thing.
I made a decision.
"Alright," I said quietly to the stag. "I'll follow. But just for an hour. If I'm just walking in circles, I'm heading back toward the Gathering."
It was still morning. I had time. And maybe, just maybe, this meant something.
I started walking after the golden stag.
Miss Thornwick watches as you study the map, her sharp eyes noting every reaction that crosses your face.
As you point to the Forever Keep and ask about the Queen, fragments of knowledge surface from your history lessons. Thundrastone, you remember, is one of the biggest cities on the continent, though still smaller than Luxiatum. Much smaller, in fact. Queen Mycena rules from the Forever Keep, though her family name escapes you at the moment. You'd known she lived separately from the main city, but you hadn't realized she ruled over Thornwood as well.
A curious thought crosses your mind. Thornwood and Thornwick. The same prefix. Could they be connected somehow?
But that thought is quickly pushed aside as you find Valerith on the map. Your home. Luxiatum. Over six hundred miles away.
You sink back into your seat, and the cushions embrace you with an almost decadent softness. The rich fabrics, the layered comfort, it's all so different from the rigid furniture back home.
Miss Thornwick makes a small sound, almost like a knowing hum.
"Long way from home, aren't you?" she says, her tone carrying just a hint of something you can't quite place. Sympathy? Amusement? It's hard to tell.
You sit there, trying to process everything. Your breathing is still shaky. Six hundred miles. How did this happen? Your wishes echoing in your mind again.
Time passes. You're not sure how much. The sounds from the tavern beyond have quieted considerably. The music has stopped. The raucous laughter has faded to murmurs.
Miss Thornwick begins gathering her things, closing her ledger with a decisive thump. She tucks her quill away and stands, adjusting her elegant silks.
"Well," she says briskly, "I need to be going. You can leave the map on the table when you're done with it." She pauses at the door, glancing back at you. "And please, don't go poking around in the drawers. I've got everything organized just how I like it."
With that, she slips out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
You're alone now. The noise from the tavern is much quieter than before. It probably won't be long before they close for the night, though the inn portion of the business will keep running.
What do you do?
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