"Uhh, what was that?", said Emma slowly waking up.
"Greetings.", came a voice from above her. She woke up weakly standing as her knees creaked from all the pain and her legs were bruised.
"Who are you?", she asked weakly.
"I am Sara, wizard of the north.", the voice replied said smiling.
"Wizard?! As in magical shit?", Emma said as the surprise knocked her awake.
"Wouldn't exactly put it that way, but yes.", Sara replied.
Stephen too now begun to wake as his eyes barely opened from the weary battle.
"Uhh, you? Who are you?", he said waking up.
"Give your questions a rest, my children, let the others rise. There's a lot of questions, both of yours and mine. For now, drink this.", Sara said as she handed Stephen an Emma a potion that was bright blue.
"If you're trying to seduce me, a potion isn't necessary.", Stephen said smirking.
"Ignore him. Are these medicinal?", asked Emma sighing.
"Yes, my child, they'll bring you back to your full strength. For now, just rest, let's wait for the others.", Sara said as she sat down.
The others slowly begun to rise one by one, each questioned the wizard and were asked to wait. The last one of them to rise was Trent, he was human afterall. When Trent woke what he saw both stunned and confused him; he lay on a stony floor, marked with tiles of rock that streched as far as the eye could see, there were green grasses on either side of the stony path. The path itself curved to the West as it headed straight North. In the middle of all of this stood his four dear friends, a stranger and a pile of leaves that once made the Lushwshisper.
"nnn... Context, anyone?", he said rising with his hand pressed against his head.
"This is Sara, wizard of the north, she healed us all to our well being, we're just as curious as you to find out why. First, drink this.", said Ann handing Trent the potion.
"Well, now that you've all risen, I see you may have your questions. I would like to ask mine first, if that's alright with you.", Sara said smiling.
"Sure, I'm blessed to stand aside a wizard!", said Trent bowing.
"What were the five of you doing in these barren lands? How come you defeated the Lushwshisper by yourself? Why are you trying to reach The Narrow Arc?", Sara asked boldly.
"Lot of questions, Sara.", said Emma chuckling, "In summary, we're here on a trek to Pyrothos, we bested the thing by our abilities and we're trying to reclaim the gold our kingdom once lost at the mercy of the Dragons."
"That's madness! I'll come back to the mountains of Pyrothos later, first you must tell me how it is that you five bested the Lushwshisper?", Sara yelled.
"We five didn't do as much, Sara, he did.", Trent said smiling at Stephen.
"What?! Me? Pfft, no! It was a team effort.", Stephen said dusting his yellow jacket.
"Quit being smug. Atleast for once you deserve it.", Trent replied rolling his eyes.
"Wait, you two defeated the Lushwshisper?", asked Emma, she too was as confused as the wizard.
"Well, yes. Once you finished the spell a strong fire leapt that knocked you all out, me and Stephen hid behind a tree who's front caught in fire, but the back was safe. We then faught the Lushwshisper, I fainted mid-battle, and my assumption is Stephen took care of the rest.", Trent said patting the imp's shoulder.
"Well, that's part of it. You might want to check your bag.", Stephen said in a soft squeaky voice.
"My bag?", Trent said reaching for his prototype, "You son of a bitch! How dare you?!", he yelled as he held his broken prototype in his hands.
"I'm sorry, okay?! If it weren't for that we'd be in it's leaf crap right now.", Stephen said defending himself.
"Guys, quit it! So, Stephen, you defeated the thing on your own?", asked Ann.
"Well, yes. I shot it with the prototype-o, sent it flying across the gates, then torched it. However, it nearly got to me when a blue light killed it.", he replied.
"That was me, dear. Seeing it was close to killing you I made an impulsive decision.", Sara said smiling.
"Splendid! Hey, you never told us the thing you were 'fine' about.", Ann said smacking Stephen's shoulder.
"Tonight, Ann, tonight. I'm not keeping anything from the four of you anymore. You're my family, and the lizard made me realise that we need each other for everything, we're all in this together, all for one and one for all.", Stephen said looking at the ground.
"Wow! Good for you, Stev-o!", Ann said nudging his shoulder.
"It's extraordinary, really! You've managed to best a mythic using your very own hands!", said Sara astonished.
"We've actually already bested a mythic, you see.", said Gavin jumping in.
"What do you mean by that, my child?", asked Sara confused.
"An Aqua-something-or-other.", Gavin said scratching his head.
"Oh, you poor Troll, we bested an Aquillith.", said Emma patting Gavin.
"That's amazing! How did you manage that?!", asked Sara astonished again.
"Team effort, really. We'd love to chat, but we got some of our questions too.", said Trent.
"Oh, yes, my child, ask away.", Sara said smiling and controlling her astonishment.
"What are you doing here? If you killed the lizard how come you never managed so before? Why did you rescue us?", Trent asked repeatedly,
"Well, I've been here since our attempt to reclaim our wealth from the mountains. I fought many mythics aided by many kingdoms, we won most wars in the Arc, but we didn't win a single in the forest. Nevertheless, the wars in the Arc destroyed it's beauty and turned it into barren rock, I have the task to rebuild the Arc back to it's health. We wizards are often found in many places that require rebuilding, a dear friend of mine was sent to Aquanox to rebuild their kingdom. The reason I can't go into the forest is because of the mythics, the Lushwshisper was only a taste of the diversity Wispwood holds. I've never bested a single forest mythic in my years on Arionis, until now that is. I saved you because that's my task, children, to help those in dire need.", she responded smiling.
"You've never defeated a Lushwshisper? Yet we managed it?! Holy shit, we're awesome!", said Ann jumping.
"Why, yes, my children. The Lushwshisper is dreaded for it's vine and mist, I could never dare tread into Wispwood for I would alarm the Lushwshisper and many others that reside in the forest.", she said patting Ann's forehead.
"How so?", asked Trent.
"We mythics sense each other, you see.", she replied.
"That's how you came to us? You felt it's presence?", asked Stephen.
"Precisely. That's why I brought you all to the Arc. Which reminds me, we need to come back to our main topic, you want to go to Pyrothos?", Sara said slowly raising her voice.
"Yes, at all cost.", replied Trent.
"The cost is unmatched! You have no idea of the horrors that lie past this path. Air difficult to breathe, magma beneath your feet and fire sparks in the air! It's certainty of death!", Sara yelled.
"We know, Sara, we know. Yet we must not rest while gold resides in the hearts of a volcano.", said Emma.
"Gold isn't important, Emma, lives are.", said Sara gripping her arm.
"We're doing this for lives, Sara, we need to rejuvenate the entire Arionis with it's long lost wealth.", said Trent.
"Your reasons are noble, you say? No greed?", she asked narrowing her eyes.
"Well, we must all have a fair share in it, say a tenth for us and the rest for Arionis.", said Stephen with his hands behind his head.
"Greed mustn't be your drive, children, honor must.", sarar said in sorrow.
"It is, Sara. We seek to reclaim our wealth, that's all, we don't seek to feed our own stomachs. While some of us might have woes we still seek good for the planet.", said Emma.
"Good, you say? Well then, you must resume your journey if you see fit. The lands of Pyrothos only honor those pure of heart and slay those who's minds are blackened with greed. The Dragons took their last breath on those rocks, don't forget. The cruel are punished, remember that.", she said in a deep voice.
"We know wizards are wise, Sara, we know you're worried for both us and the world. We promise you, however, that we mustn't astray from our true purpose of redemption.", said Emma boldly.
"Then so you shall continue, my children, for terrible paths await, fear will hold you back and courage shall propel you, greed will slay you but honor will reward you. In your path I sense love, my children, in your path I sense new commings, if I sense correctly then you must be honorable, just hope I'm right.", Sara said smiling at them.
"Do you sense any danger, dear wizard?", asked Ann nervously.
"I do, my child. Pyrothos is the least of forgiving, a land doomed to be blackened by the soot on which blood once split. It's the epitome of evil, my children, tread carefully for I sense a deal of trouble. I also, however, sense companionship, courage and love in your path.", she ended.
"Then resume we shall, at the break of dawn!", cried Trent. "Care to join us?"
"A wizard's task is not such, my children. We guide you, we shower you in our wisdom and help you fend off your troubles in the form of shields against thorns, but the ultimate task is yours. I'm needed here for rebuilding, I'm afraid I can't be of any more service than words of caution.", she said sorrowfully.
"Oh, that's quite alright", said Trent as he pulled out his mother's book, "we have this, a book with information on all mythics.", he said slyly.
"May I borrow that for a second?", asked the wizard as Trent handed her the book. "Blimey! You're the son of Vivienne and Sylas?!", she yelled in disbelief.
"Why, yes. They were brave knights, my parents. You knew them?", he asked confused.
"Not informally, no, but I did meet her alongside the army of Sylvanora. She kept a record of all the creatures we faced, she was a brave one that's for sure.", the wizard said, "Now this lay clearer than all crystals to me, my child, this is destiny. The dirt of Arionis has chosen the son of the mightiest knight to fend off obstacles and gather back lost pride!"
"Thank you, Sara, that means a lot.", he said bowing.
"What about you four? Any of your parents I must've encountered?", Sara asked chuckling.
"You could have. Both my parents were elementals, Illeana and Matthew.", said Emma.
"Heard of them, yes. I've heard of all elementals. You're one too, I assume?", said Sara.
"Yes, Sara, I'm one too, though not nearly as good.", she said in a soft voice.
"Oh don't be so sure! Capable of chanting the flames of Pyrothos even for a second is mighty powerful, you know? You should be proud of that magical brain of yours.", Sara said gripping her hand. "I'm a wizard, child, I sense what eyes don't see, and in you I sense potential ranging stronger than my own."
"Coolio. Anything you know about my parents? Whitney and Gustav?", asked Stephen.
"Residents of Nwot Pmi, I'm sure! Imps are a unique and hard to find species, some faught along us, but the numbers were not many. Being the only mages who aren't elementals yet still possess matter manipulation, truly are fascinating creatures." she said bending down to him, "They're lucky to have you."
"My parents were Trolls!", yelled Gavin.
"Yes, my dear, I figured.", Sara said chuckling. "And you, my child? Archer elves? Fine race indeed.", she asked bending towards Ann.
"Well, not exactly. I was born in a merchant family, my mother deceitful and my father dead. I escaped home and was found by a tribe of archer elves, they raised me and trained me. Soon I found my other family, these four idiots.", Ann said smiling.
"Ah, truly a painful tale it is! Nevertheless, I shan't keep you long. If you wish to trek the paths that lead to Pyrothos, I recommend you travel a straight way through the stony path that you stand on presently, it's end shall lead you to the mouth of the first hill you need to trek.", Sara said sighing.
"Thank you, Sara, we're grateful for your rescue and for your service!", said Emma shaking her hand.
"Don't depart just yet, have this, thought I'd never be giving this to anyone.", she said as she handed a magical orb to Emma.
"Wow, I sense strong witchcraft in this! What may this be?", Emma asked amazed.
"It's an orb of shear power. Use it to uproot an obstacle that may block your path.", Sara said closing Emma's fist.
"Thank you again, Sara.", said Trent smiling.
The five then rested, ate berries from the shrubs nearby, polished and sharpened their swords and sung old tales of their amazing friendship with the wizard as they ate. Dawn was near, it was time to head out and reach the gates to the end of their journey.
