Aliath

A Random Stranger

It was a stormy morning in the city of Khaloran. The winds blew away the usually crowded streets of Khaloran, leaving nothing but two men on horses. Bravery or foolishness? Only time would tell for not even the sun showed its face on such stormy days. The wind howled violently, with their horses taking two steps backwards for each step forward. Their heavy clothing was proof that they expected the winds, but it barely clung to their bodies, threatening to break free at the slightest chance, or even worse, take their wearers with them as well.

"I told you this was a bad idea, master!" one of them exclaimed, his voice barely making it over the howling sound of the wind.

"Create a path for us. We're getting close!" the other man replied, but his partner paid no heed to his words. "Besides, if I did it, I might accidentally blow away the entire town. We need someone wea..." he paused, as he noticed the scowl on his partner's face even beneath his mask. "With more control. Like you, Bitrus," he continued.

"As you wish, master," Bitrus said. He pulled his sword swiftly from beneath his cloak and held it fast against the great odds that were the howling wind. "Excelsia!" he chanted.

A force field burst forth from his sword, clearing a path to what resembled an inn ahead. The pulsating force field kept the winds from breaching their path once more and the two continued what was meant to be an uneventful journey. If only Aliath had kept his mouth shut.

"Ah yes. This is what weak... controlled magic looks like. Well done, Bitrus. Well done," Aliath, Bitrus's master said. And at that moment, Bitrus's force field crumbled under the sheer weight of the wind and the pair were forced to weather through the storm once more.

"I'm sorry master. It appears my weak... controlled magic has failed!" Bitrus goaded, his voice barely making it over to Aliath as the winds intensified.

Aliath peeked a grin on Bitrus's face somewhere beneath his mask. That sly fox! "You did this on purpose didn't you!!!" Aliath lamented.

"Of course not, master. This is only a reflection of what I am capable of, unfortunately."

"Fine, I'll do it myself," Aliath said as he raised his hand to part the wind in his path.

"Wait!!!" Bitrus exclaimed. If Aliath performed the same spell that he did, there might not be an inn for them to go to. Or worse, he might destroy all of Khaloran.

Bitrus cleared a path for them once more, and this time, the rest of the journey was uneventful.

The two walked into the inn before dismounting from their horses inside. The inn was a lot bigger on the inside than the outside told. Aliath handed his horse to Bitrus as he walked towards the counter. The inn was richly spacious, with each table the distance of at least five tables from another. However, the people in the inn didn't look so pleased to see two strangers. Some, frightened even. One of them, was a giant of a man who blocked off Aliath's path, casting a  muscular shadow over him.

"Now how did you two devils travel through that storm?" he bellowed.

"Care to guess?" Aliath teased as he pointed to the two horses.

"I don't know who you two are, but first, you can't keep those horses here, and two, you need to leave the same way you came."

"You would think these people would be wise enough to steer clear of us. Are you vying for the martyr's path? If you are, I know a shortcut, and you're looking right at it," Aliath said as he closed the gap between the two as though he would hug the giant before him.

But the others in the inn would not stand for Aliath's threat. Aliath unwrapped his mask as the men in the inn walked towards him. A glimpse of his face was enough to deter even the bravest of men from approaching him. His dark brown eyes and black hair stood out amidst all the dust that had covered his natural tan face. "I wouldn't consider this wise," he said.

"Who the hell do you think you are to barge in here and threaten one of ours?" one man beckoned and the other cheered in support.

"I am Aliath."

There was silence in the inn for what felt like forever but lasted no more than five seconds.

"Who the hell is that?" one of the men asked in bewilderment.

"Are we supposed to know who he is?" another man asked.

"Fine! If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get. Bitrus, get me the healing potions," Aliath said.

"What for, master?" Bitrus asked.

"We'll need to heal them quickly once I'm done with them so that we can question them later."

"As you wish, master."

"Hey, you over there. Don't pretend like this doesn't concern you," another man beckoned at Bitrus who paid no heed to the scuffle behind him. As the man, reached for Bitrus, he accidentally undid his mask, revealing Bitrus's stunning face, red eyes, and red hair that crept under the mask that barely stayed on his head.

"You're the hero, Sir Bitrus Mshelbara!" the man exclaimed.

"Are you serious? You know who he is? I am Aliath Renan! The High Wizard of Edvan! How can you not know who I am?"

"Oh. The High Wizard."

"Oh!" all the men in the inn exclaimed much to Aliath's delight. The proud grin on his face said that much.

"More like the high sham!" one man exclaimed as the crowd burst into laughter. "I bet he had Sir Mshelbara do all the work for him while he took all the credit. He should be the High Wizard. Not that sham of a man.

"Preposterous! I am no sham!" Aliath exclaimed.

"Really? Then show us your amazing magic!" a man said.

"Well, if I did that, none of you would remain," Aliath retorted.

"See! I told you he was a sham!"

Bitrus walked up to the jester, his anger clear for all to see. "I will not allow you to mock my master any further."

"My apologies great hero. Who is it that you wish to see?" the man asked.

"The innkeeper," Bitrus replied.

"Right this way then."

Aliath and Bitrus made their way through the inn until a certain figure caught Aliath's attention. Someone cloaked up just as they were, leaving no recognisable feature that they were human save for their humanoid figure.

"Go ahead. I'll be with you shortly," Aliath said to Bitrus who obliged without question.

Aliath walked up to this strange figure and the inn that had come alive due to Bitrus's presence became silent.

"Now who might you be?" Aliath asked as he took a seat beside this strange individual.

The individual dropped the hood of her cloak to reveal her dark eyes and black silky hair. "A random stranger," she said.