Tales of Arcadia The Arcane Order

8. Cats Outa The Bag

As the group arrived in the glistening cavern of Troll Market, Y/n couldn't help but be in awe at it's beauty. Nari had told her stories about troll kind and where they lived but Y/n had never seen it for herself.
"Blinkous Galadrigal!" Boomed the voice of an old wight troll as he approached them. He had twisted horns and clutched a flaming orange staff in his hand.

"Vendle?" Gasped Blinky, it was obvious he wasn't expecting him to notice them.
"Why on earth do you keep bringing flesh bags into Troll Marker! Soon will infested with the things!" He raged leaning in to getter a better look at Y/n.

Y/n didn't even try to hide her annoyance.
"I assure you, Vendle is it? I am no fleshling." She scowled.
"I am in fact a wizard." She said as she lifted her hand out of her jumper pocket, creating a beautiful blue mist around it before lowering her hand making the mist disappear.

Vendle took a moment to assess the situation before he opened his mouth to speak.
"My apologies youngling" he grunted before turning his gaze to Blinky.
"I suppose I can tolerate the girl, under the promise she doesn't make any trouble." He finished reluctantly before walking of.
Blinky put his hands together before his gruff voice finally spoke.
"Let us make our way to the hero's forge where we can discuss all questions there."

As the small group made their way into the hero's forge, Y/n did her best to take in everything that lay there. Jim waited no time dawdling, he just jumped straight to the point with asking Y/n.
"So Y/n, how exactly did you do what you did back there?" He questioned.
Y/n turned to face Jim, processing his question.

"Oh yeah that. I'm a wizard, from what I've been told I was abandoned at birth and left to die in the woods when Skrael found me, the order took me in and taught me how to harness my magic, they even taught me a few tricks of their own elements."
"The order?" Echoed Jim, his face reflecting the confusion he was feeling.
"The Arcane Order, there basically like a group powerful of wizards." Y/n shrugged.
"But what confuses me is why the amulet chose a human" Y/n scoffed indicating to the glowing blue amulet that sat in Jim's bag.

"I'm kinda like the first human troll hunter, I don't really get it either" chuckled Jim shrugging his shoulders.
"But, humans are destructive and heartless, the troll hunter is meant to protect troll kind, so why a human?"
"Destructive? Heartless?" Echoed Toby in disbelief.

"They've disrupted the balance between magic and mortals, they're an evil race!" Scowled Y/n at the thought of it.
"Pfft, who's been raising you?" Laughed Toby sarcastically, blissfully unaware that Y/n was being serious.
"Y/n, do you really think that?" Mumbled Jim as a flood of worry rushed over him.
"Of course! The orders told me all the about them! Humans are so terrible they didn't even let me visit the human world." She announced, her arms folded.
Blinky looked at the girl with anxiety, "I don't think the order, has been telling you the full truth." He admitted. Jim's eyes slightly widened as he noticed something.
"Y/n..." he paused "if the order didn't let you visit the human world, then how are you here now?" He questioned suspiciously.
"Oh right, Nari helped me get out of the castle, it's only a matter of time before Skrael and Bellroc find me, so I may as well have the best time I can while I'm still here!" She mewed joyfully.

"Wait wait wait, so you don't have a home?" Questioned Toby as he opened the packet of a chocolate bar.
"Not really, I was planning to sleep under that bridge when Bular attacked." Y/n laughed at the thought of it.
"Maybe you could stay here in troll market? It's pretty sheltered and It could help delay the order finding you!" Offered Jim with a smile, completely forgetting the whole conversation about how humans were evil.
"Sure!" Grinned Y/n without hesitation, quite truthfully she didn't really feel like sleeping under a bridge. For heavens sake who would?

"Anyways me and Tobes have gotta get back home before anyone realises we're missing, we'll see you later Y/n!" Waved Jim as him, Toby and Argh made their way towards the exit of troll market. Y/n turned to face Blinky before deciding to finally break the awkward silence that hung over them.
"Do you think Vendle will mind me staying here?"
"Ah, Vendle... I'm sure it's fine, he's fine with you visiting to I don't see why he wouldn't be find with you living here..." replied Blinky uncertainty as he twiddled his thumbs.
"But it's probably best we don't mention it..." he added before leading Y/n to where she would be staying.

Blinky lead her to a stone cave that was blocked of by an Oakwood door. Y/n instantly assumed this to be Blinky's house. Inside the cave like room, there was a large bed, a chest, multiple other artefacts that would take way to long to count, and another door.

As Blinky swung the door open, Y/n saw a human sized bed and a small desk top.
"You can stay in this spare room, I wasn't sure what to do with it so I set up a spare room in case ie ever needed it, and look! I'm glad I didn't get rid of it." Blinky laughed awkwardly, deep down he felt that this wasn't the most practical living environment. A look of joy spread it's way onto Y/n's face, this wasn't much, but to Y/n, this was a thoughtful gift.
"Aw, Blinky it's perfect, thank you so much!" She smiled looking up at the troll who was stood next to her.

"I'll let you get some sleep, if I am correct, you have school in the morning and I'm sure you won't want to be late." Blinky smiled at how much the girl appreciated his present. Y/n simply nodded as Blinky left the room closing the door behind him.