ULTRAMagic Interlude

Chapter 4

Following breakfast, Brenna took Blood-Wraith for a walk around the neighborhood, using the opportunity to recount her experiences with the Magician's Labyrinth. The biggest obstacles they would have to deal with was the layout of the labyrinth. It was a unique realm in its own right and constantly shifted around. Things from places unknown were also all over the labyrinth. Blood-Wraith was not sure what to make of what he was told and it seemed like he was stepping into a mess with this quest.

"This seems, hmm... this seems like it's going to be tricky," Blood-Wraith concluded.

"Yup. So how do you plan to find your mom? I got a few ideas, but they're just ideas at the moment" Brenna replied as she sat down at the grand fountain.

Blood-Wraith thought about it for a second, his mind wandering to all sorts of ideas. "Er, I guess we could ask around?"

"Well it's better than mindlessly trudging around the labyrinth. The only hiccup is finding someone willing to talk.

As the two brainstormed, Radovan walked by. He was on his way to meet with a city architect. "Blood, there you are. I wanted to tell you something real quickly..."

"Oh, hey dad. What's up?"

"Hey, Radovan," Brenna replied.

"Greetings, Brenna. Now I presume you two are discussing the Magician's Labyrinth? Blood, I need you to go to the mansion real quickly and ask Kresimira to get you a blank family crest. Then take the badge to Barna and have him engrave it with your name."

"Okay, what for? Aside from the obvious."

"Word of your adventures thus far have had a good chance of reaching Rose and she is trusting, but I want you to present it to her just in case."

Blood-Wraith processed that and it made sense. "Yeah, I get it. Okay, I'll go do that. Let's go, Brenna. Best of luck to you, dad."

"You too, kids" Radovan said as they all went about their business. Fortunately he had ordered extra crests in the distant past to accommodate for new family members.

Over at the mansion, the two ran into Desislav. He looked a bit disheveled, but greeted them warmly with his usual energy. Kresimira was busy touching up some paintings when Blood-Wraith and Brenna approached her. Upon having Radovan's idea presented to her, she darted off and returned with a crest. The dull badge depicted a sword behind a shield and a fist in front of the shield. The blade represented Rose and the fist represented Radovan (the idea being that Radovan would put himself first so that his family and his people would be safe). Before Blood-Wraith and Brenna left, Kresimira gave each of them a cookie from a batch she had made the day before.

The next stop was Barna's home, with Aureolus accompanying them. He had been wandering around to fetch some smithing supplies and figured he would go with them back to his house. They were greeted and welcomed by Corentin once again. "Hey, dad!" Aureolus called out. "I'm here and Blood needs a favor.

"Does he now?" Barna said as he put down the piece of metal he was working on. "What's the job, Blood?"

Blood-Wraith handed the crest to him. "Barna, can you engrave my name in this?"

He looked at the dull crest for a moment, feeling a sense of nostalgia. "Ah, I remember the day I fulfilled this order. Sure, Blood. It'll need a little a restoring though..."

Barna got to work by getting out a bottle of liquid and an old rag. He explained that the polish he was using was his own recipe, based on one he had learned on a trip to Shadowland. He gave the bottle a squeeze and out came a cloudy, orange fluid with a flatulent sound that made the others giggle. It was amazing how quickly it worked as Barna rubbed it into the metal. The badge shone brightly with a luster close to when it was first made. Next it was left to air dry, as that would help the polish work.