ULTRAMagic Prelude

Chapter 12.5

"I don't think you can get yourself a partner..." Tusk stated. "...Fair enough, but you're a machine... So you think there could be another primordial for you out there?" His conversation with the War Machine was going in all sorts of weird directions. "Well look, I'm not the one to ask for relationship advice. My forte is Alchemy..."

"Why isn't it then?" Corentin inquired as he and Kresimira approached.

Tusk groaned. "It just isn't. Enough said."

Kresimira hid her grin. She had a rough idea of what was up. "Well no matter then, hehe. We're ready to go, Tusk."

"What happened to your dress?"

"This is my dress. I just turned it into hiking attire."

"Kresimira's dress is a unique, shapeshifting entity," Corentin explained. "It is capable of turning into whatever the wearer needs. Drago's trenchcoat is the sibling to this entity. While not impossible to find, they are quite rare. In case you're curious, Duke Radovan went out and sought these entities as birthday presents."

Kresimira chuckled. "Papa always goes overboard when he sets his mind to something."

The trip over to The Unending Forest felt incredibly surreal for everyone. It was like they were cheating, just walking into it like that. Tusk stopped for a second at the border, then continued onward. The forest was most likely asking him what he was up to. Nothing had changed for Tusk, but the two guests were amazed.

Kresimira was enthralled by the beauty of the woods while Corentin jotted down notes like crazy. Upon passing by a certain batch of trees, the group felt that they were being watched. Tusk was pretty sure he knew who it was and elected to ignore the feeling. This is how things went up until someone leapt from the tree tops.

"UNCLE!" It was Auda, landing perfectly on his shoulders. "YOU'RE. NOT. SUPPOSED. TO. BE. BACK. YET!" She declared as she repeatedly bopped him on the head.

"AUDA, STOP!" Tusk exclaimed as he tried to get his niece off of his back. Kresimira and Corentin could not help but laugh at the spectacle.

"Oh don't worry, dear," Kresimira interjected. "We're just visiting is all"

Auda ceased her bopping and got down. "Okay. Who are you? You seem familiar... and where's Mr. Fire?"

"I'm Kresimira Raynot. And as for that feeling, I'm Dragoslava's older sister. Also goodness, you're so cute."

"Oh! Nice to meet you, Drago's sister! And who's this?"

Corentin stopped taking notes for a moment. "My name is Corentin Marin Schindewolf, rebuilder of The War Machine of Old and Kresimira's betrothed..."

"Betrothed? Whoa, one step at a time, tiger..." Kresimira muttered.

"War... war machine...of... war machine of..." Auda was confused.

"It's another primordial, just like the forest" Tusk clarified.

Auda nodded. "Oh, okay... What about Mr. Fire?"

"Blood-Wraith? He's doing fine," Kresimira answered. "He's busy studying Alchemy and knee deep in his books. I presume you wish to see him again sometime soon?" She then noticed something off in the distance.

"Leave the forest? Oh no, I can't do that yet... Oh, Uncle Tusk? Donia is back."

Tusk's face said it all. "Oh jeez..." A trail of crystals was barreling right at him. With a swift thrust of the hand, the crystals stopped in their tracks. Bolts of energy shot from Tusk's hand, turning the crystals into a flurry of flower petals.