The First Wizard

IV - A Silent Interlude

"Fire, I had no idea the gods were so mean," the fernian said as she straightened her back and looked to the wizard slightly ahead of her.

"Bah, nothing but heresy. I'm sure Thalon's exaggerating. There's no way the gods would put kin into cheese wheels and roll them around. Why would they even do that?!" the monk expelled with a noticeable twinge of cynicism as the shadows of the Eri forest trees still hung over them.

"Alright, fine, maybe I made up the giant cheese wheel part cause I'm hungry. But they did put us in tiny square carts and moved us around for fun," the wizard answered.

"That's ludicrous. For what purpose?" Griff's voice echoed back between the trees and small rodents scurried away as they heard the monk.

"I told you! Because Fortuna created this 'Speed Servant' game where we had to race each other on these self-propelled carts."

"Garbage, everything that comes out of your mouth is just garbage, Thalon."

"Oh, so I lied about the cheese-wheel now suddenly everything I say is a li—" the wizard's justification was cut short as he bumped against Fiona, who stood quietly by the road on the edge of the forest.

The monk and wizard looked to the fernian as the forest gave way to vast fields of the Human Heartlands and opened themselves to her.

The wind gently brushed her cheek. leaves floated, making their way out from the forest into the seemingly endless green pastures and grassland. She raised her hand to feel the rushing wind and stray seeds. "I've never been outside the Eri forest." Her tone was a mix of excitement and fear.

The wizard and monk stood by her side and as the trio looked toward the vast horizon. "Don't worry, Fi," the monk said in a soft voice. "It's smaller than it looks."

She gave a quick chuckle and said. "I hope not, I don't want to go back home so soon."

"We'll be with you every step of the way," the wizard admitted as he took the first step out from the forest and extended his hand to the fernian.

The sun felt warm and comfortable as it meshed with the breeze. Above her, the fernian felt the blessing of the leaves and birds urging her forward. She took the wizard's hand and stepped into the new hunting grounds.

"Won't be long until we reach the Erian river. Once we cross it we'll officially be out of Eri territory," the monk said as the walk resumed.

"I can't wait. I feel like we have been walking for days," the wizard said, exasperated.

"We left the Eri four days ago, you dolt."

"I know, right? Feels like a nice sunreign hike so far," the fernian completed with a smile.

The sun began its descent down from the blue afternoon sky as the trio stopped by a river rapid; behind them, the canopy and tree line of the ancient Eri forest faded into the distance.

Closer to the embankment, stone ruins of half-built dry stack walls lined the edge of the river. Forgotten pillars of wood dotted the landscape, the ancient foundations of some long-lost structure. In the river itself, boulders and rocks jutted from the water, accompanied by low-hovering river gnats that flew over it.

It was hard to tell what lay beyond the other side of the river. The hills rolled over on themselves and blocked the view as the river gave way to hills that secluded and hid the land of Levan's Legions.

The wizard fell on his stomach upon the hot afternoon grass, his feet burning hotter than the baking rocks.

The fernian took off her leather boots and washed her legs in the passing river, her worries melting further away with each cold water clash.