Wishes: From the Past - Book 2 - Chapters 1-3

Chapter 1: The Capitol

Concern clings to my shoulders as I stare at the change of clothes lying on my bed. The outfit chosen for me consists of a white button-up, dark pants, and some new boots.

"Gruuuu..."

I jump slightly at the sound, drawing my eyes to its source.

Sitting at my feet, Llami glares at the clothes, leaning in and giving the articles a few untrusting sniffs. She recoils, snorting and trotting away.

"Quite a scrupulous fashionista, eh Llami?" I chuckle, grabbing the shirt and slipping my arms into the sleeves.

Sitting on my bed, I pull on the rest of the ensemble, Llami scurrying between my legs as I buckle my belt and tie off my bootlaces.

Suffenly, a knock rings from my door.

I rise to my feet and clear my throat.

"C-come in."

Slowly, the door swings open; Paladin Silvershine enters, her posture stiff and face stern. A tingle crawls down my spine as my eyes glaze over her uniform, the rapier on her hip glinting.

Astutely, the paladin looks me up and down.

"Good. They seem to fit you."

"A bit stuffy, but yeah. Did you...need something?" I ask, tugging at my collar.

"Your time, if it's not too much," she replies, grabbing a chair from across the room and sliding it over to face me. "Please, sit."

Reluctantly, I obey, sliding back down onto the bed.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. I've been ordered by the captain to get a report from you on your encounter in the Senal Wood, Mr. Johnson," she states, setting her hands in her lap. "Though, if the experience is painful to recount, we can get a report later."

I shake my head.

"N-no, I should be fine. Just...not sure. It'll be a very cohesive report."

"Give me what you can."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Hm, alright. I'll...try to be brief, then," I mutter, my eyes sliding down to Llami. Hastily, the furball climbs my leg and slithers into my lap; I lay my hand on her head, bringing my focus back to the paladin. "...our mission was to hunt a centaur terrorizing travelers near Spheneric Village, but we stumbled into an ambush. Mars Calloway and I led the way, with Trishala Pruitz and Cauli Son at the rear and Gideon Green providing support.

"When we got close to what we thought was the centaur, we found it was a diversion. In our shock, the monster hurled a tree at us from afar, and the battle ensued. I got knocked out of the fight while the others fended it off; when things started to look dire for it, the monster...did something, and its body changed. After that, it made quick work of my friends and stabbed me in the chest.

"I blacked out from shock or blood loss, or whatever..."

My mind returns to the moment, to the pain, the darkness, and the dream.

I take a deep breath, Llami kneading my thigh like a cat.

"W-when I came to, the centaur was battering a shield Gideon had put up to protect him, Mars, and Cauli," I continue, my fingers tightening. "With Llami's help, I managed to get to my feet. We pulled the centaur's focus, and I lept on its back, using a...a chord of my own hair to choke it out..."

The paladin's face remains stoic and still.

I assumed that part would get a reaction, at least!