Scarlet Flower

II

"This is the wand of polymorph." A voice echoed from all around Belanor, but he couldn't see anything, so there was no point in trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

What was strange was that the voice wasn't creepy but worried? It also sounded familiar, but he couldn't pinpoint who it belonged to. Not even a face came to mind.

"Derwin, I love you like a brother, but how will fighting with a frog on a stick protect me from an archmage." A second voice said that sounded like it belonged to Belanor. That alone made him listen more intensely, wanting to learn more.

The person named 'Derwin' let out an annoyed sigh. "The wand of polymorph allows you to shapeshift into anything or alter your body in any way." The voice of Belanor tried to speak but was quickly interrupted. "I want you to use this in hopes that if you are losing, you're able to get away quickly."

"I, Belanor Olokian, never runs from a fight-"

Derwin made a slight, bitter noise then that sounded more wounded than angry. "Just take it." At this point, Derwin seemed like he was begging for him to take it. Despite not seeing anything, Belanor could tell that Derwin had shoved the wand into his hands.

"Fine." Not-Belanor grunted. The sound of metal being moved around told Belanor that not-Belanor was putting it away on his person. If that was the case, then why didn't he have the wand now? "So, where am I to go?"

Derwin didn't say anything for a moment, possibly hesitating to send not-Belanor away. "The Kroviel Forest. That's what legends say where she remains-"

"Ha! That evil Naesala Xiljyre has no idea what's coming for her!" The two voices paused awkwardly. "I mean, attack her! She has no idea what's going to attack her." Not-Belanor coughed to clear the embarrassing announcement.

"Belanor, before you go." Belanor heard him grabbing some paper before handing it to not-Belanor. "Promise me you'll read this before you attack her." Derwin pleaded once more.

"Why can't you tell me now?" Not-Belanor took a few steps closer, the wood creaking under his boots.

"Just promise!" It seemed like Derwin hadn't meant to lose control of the volume of his voice.

"I promise-"

Belanor's eyes snapped open; his body jerked as he woke up from his nightmare. His body instinctively tried to sit up, but something warm and heavy was keeping him pinned down. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, the small knight pushed away whatever was on top of his chest with all his strength.

Sitting up, Belanor's eyes searched his surroundings, but everything was dark, so that he couldn't get a good look at anything. The darkness reminded the tiny man of his dream.

Memories flooded from his vision hit him like a wave. The wand of polymorph! That must be why he's at this size. In his dream, he'd put it away on his person, so why didn't he have it? Why did that Derwin think it was a good idea to give it to him? From what he heard, not-Belanor sounded arrogant and foolish.

Racking his brain, Belanor tried to force himself to remember what happened after not-Belanor had said, 'I promise-' but it was all blank. It was making him more furious every second.

Belanor took in a deep breath and pushed the rest of whatever was on top of him out of the way. Free, the small knight got to his feet and paced back and forth.

Okay, Derwin gave me a wand of polymorph. That's why I'm small. But it's now gone. This character, Naesala Xiljyre, is who I fought. Unless I had a run-in with someone else, but that seems unlikely. I traveled to this place called The Kroviel Forest to where the archmage lives. Maybe there is a map to show me where The Kroviel Forest is.