A Taste of Death

Chapter Eight

When they woke up, it was raining, the air thick with fog as the elder members of the company distributed cloaks and ushered everyone awake. Nova accepted her cloak as she heard a pout from Neveah, whose wings were forced to stay out in the rain due to not having a fae cloak designed for wings. "Aww, now my wings are wet! I can't fly!" Cassiopeia chuckled. "Here, I hope this helps." She cast a layer of her purple magic over Neveah's wings, reducing the water that dropped on them. "I'm sorry, the fae's magic I'm not used to." Cassiopeia apologized, sincerely. Neveah shook her head, hugging the warrior. "No, it's okay! It's working wonders already, thank you." The princess smiled.

After packing up the tents, a little bit of magic and shivering group huddling in the cabin, they set off once more to complete the next part of their journey, the humans grateful that the rain as at least a little warm. Elowen gently pulled them close to her, leaning in. "I had another dream last night. I wanted to let you know that Casey is alive..." She hesitated. "And...? What's the bad part?" Rosa inquired, Nova's heart sinking as she prepared herself for what she knew as coming. "But it is as we feared, she's been held captive by our enemy."

Rosa and Nova looked at each other, slowly taking the other's hand. "We can do this," the ravenette whispered. Rosa nodded in response, repeating the phrase, squeezing Nova's hand. "We can do this." Elowen smiled. She held knowledge she didn't want, had a gift others called a blessing and she called a curse but somehow, she felt that everything would be alright. It was hours and a lunch stop later that they arrived at Lyra's Lake, the skies now a gloomy grey but not raining, to their credit. As Amarelis dispelled the rune casted horse and the group neared the shore, a man called from a hut nearby. "Sorry, we're not taking any customers right now." Amarelis sighed while Elowen walked up to him. "Aleon? Captain gifted with prophecy, yes?" She inquired. He sighed and looked her in the eyes. "Yeah, but all the visions are dark nowadays. There's no use in it anymore." Elowen smiled softly. "I know, but we're here to change that. We just need a boat and a ride to Circe." She explained. Aleon raised an eyebrow. "And who are you?" He inquired, glancing back to the others then back at the brunette elf. "Elowen Skyskivean, High Seer of the Sarein Tribe." He blinked, as if unbelieving. "You're the dream divinator." He replied. She kept her smile, arms folded in front of her. "Indeed, I am. Now about that boat-" She didn't want to sound forceful but she knew well that Casey's fate depended on their timeliness. "You got yourself a deal," He responded, the captain getting up, though he waved Elowen's hand away when she began to pay. "No need, dear. Changing the world may not be free but allow me to spare you some expense." She merely nodded and walked back to the others as the Captain called to his crew that he'll be gone for a while.

While the majority of the party helped the crew, Nova and Rosa gazed at the scenery, a hushed "Hey!" calling them over. They crouched down as a beautiful mermaid with red and blue hair popped out of the water, her gold eyes scanning them. "Be careful out there. There's lost of monsters that wouldn't hesitate to eat you." Nova looked out at the sea then nodded. "We will." The mermaid then returned the nod and handed both girls a metallic seashell locket, containing a compass. "If you ever need help or wish to return here, use the compass." She then turned, beginning to leave. "Wait! What's your name?" Rosa called back, causing the mermaid to turn. "Alodie." She smiled before diving back into the ocean.

It was lightly raining again as the group boarded the ship, the anchors freed from their sandy holds and the boat propelled itself forward via magic. It'd take about a day to reach the shores of the Circe province and as such, the group was advised to rest as much as they could. "Are you sure you can do this by yourself?" Nova overheard Amarelis talking to the captain. "Don't worry yourself, Rune Caster, I've been doing this for years." Aleon assured him, the male nodding and going down below deck with the others. The group chatted, Amarelis eventually calling them all to attention as he once again went over the plans. "Once we get to Circe, we're looking for Heaven's Grove. It's known location is secret but based on the legends and all the resources gathered, it should be in Niami's Wood." He explained, pointing out the place. "Is everything named after someone?" Rosa asked curiously. "Niami is the goddess of fertility." Waylon answered. Rosa hummed. "Oh- that's cool." She chuckled.