»Wandering Traders?«
The barkeeper nodded. »They stop by every few months, maybe one of them can help ya.«
Almost two weeks had passed since Unus and Annus had scaled the mountain. Since then, nothing much had happened, really. Arrabal was a quiet town, save for the passing travelers on their way to Port the Chat. Sadly, none of them had been able to help them.
»Can't hurt to try,« Unus said, and Annus agreed. Sure, maybe it was another dead end, but sitting around and moping wouldn't help either.
»There has to be someone who knows how to travel planes,« Unus groaned on their way to the town square. Annus had to hold back a terrible pun. Instead, he responded, »Maybe Rouge will find someone.« The young explorer had agreed to help them, keeping an eye open for anything magical or outwordly during his travels.
»I just can't get the magma beast out of my head,« Unus thought out loud. »It was from the Upside Down, that's for sure. But being in its presence felt so different from Dark.«
»It's hard to believe that both of them come from the same place.«
»Exactly. I can't help but wonder what happened to Dark to make him this way.«
I'd also like to know where the hell he is, Annus added in his mind.
The town square was bustling with activity. Merchants erected their tents, put their wares on display and unpacked carriages, and the curious townsfolk strolled through the streets of the newly formed marketplace, hopping from one tent to the next.
A grizzly looking man approached Unus and Annus as soon as he spotted them.
»Ah, what a relief to see mages in a place like this,« he grinned cheerfully. »Can I perhaps interest the gentlemen in cursed rings and enchanted jewels? Or perhaps you would prefer knowledge? Come, take a look.« He waved them closer. »Books from all over the world. Written by elves, humans, and,« he leaned towards them, cupping his hand on front of his mouth, »some even in the ancient tongues. Powerful stuff, I tell you!«
Unus lifted his hand and put on a friendly smile. »I am afraid we don't have the need for such things. But maybe you have some information for us.«
The man scratched the back of his head. »I don't have a good memory, my friend, but a mage from the north told me this ailment could be cured with some silver. Maybe we could test that theory?«
Annus opened pulled a small leather bag from his waist and tossed the merchant a few coins. The man's face lit up. »I cannot believe it! It really works! What do you want to know, friends?«
»We are looking for someone with knowledge of planeswalking,« Unus explained. »Have you ever encountered someone with this ability during your travels?«
The merchant shook his head. »I am afraid not. I've heard of a myth during my time in the land of Amazonia. The inhabitants speak of a lost seafaring civilisation. Magically and technologically far superior to us, but vanished without a trace.«
»Atlantis.«
»Indeed. But the people there speak of it as if it was more than just a myth. Maybe you can start your search there.«
YOU ARE READING
In Memoriam - An Unus Annus Fanfiction
Fanfiction365 days. Unus and Annus have one year left until their death. Trapped in strange machine, relentlessly hunted by Blank and Dark, a fight against the clock begins. Will they be able to find their way out, or will their story be lost in the sands of...
