The Autumn Mage

Chapter Five

     Snow was falling harder than it did yesterday but the pair was in much brighter spirits. They ate breakfast just before the sun began to rise. Aki nervously noted that their food rations were running low.

     "We should reach civilization before day's end," Minda cheerfully reassured. "In fact, there is a small village about thirty minutes before Sneekorn where we can stop."

     "Alpine Flats, right?" Aki inquired.

     "Yes," she said impressed. "I am surprised you have heard of it."

     "The Summer Sorceress lives there, doesn't she?"

     "Yes, she is the village elder there," she replied hesitantly.

     "Well, who knows? Maybe we'll run into her," he grinned. They traveled several hours until the terrain began to level off of its continued incline. Their calves were thankful for the change of pace, and after a while the trail began to descend. By late afternoon a faint golden dome could be seen in the distance.

     "There it is! Alpine Flats!" Minda exclaimed pointing. Aki looked at her and smiled. They reached the city by early evening, passing through the warm golden barrier and feeling refreshed; it were as if they were being surrounded by Summer. The town was covered in lush green fields that children were kicking a ball through. Aki noticed that his feet no longer crunched through snow, but clacked against cobblestone for the first time in days. Ankle-high oil lamps shaped like mushrooms lined the thin streets casting no more light than was necessary. The buildings were all one-story and made of thick wooden logs. The one they were most interested in was the local inn, which they found just as night began to fall. They enjoyed a bowl of hot stew and their first safe night's sleep in what felt like years.

     They slept in until early afternoon and leisurely strolled through the town in no particular rush to leave the small paradise. The locals grew crops and flowers and raised bees, or they worked wood and iron. Many tall evergreen trees dotted the fields in a constant state of bloom covered in pink, white, and blue flowers. They came to one field that exclusively grew a particular looking flower of dark green leaves and a stalk as long as one's forearm with a round head of pink petals and a cerulean center. Minda knelt down and drew a large whiff from the center of one; she said it smelled of cinnamon. The sun seemed to shine brighter here than anywhere else in the world despite being able to see snow just on the other side. The villagers all wore short sleeves and shorts and wiped their brows repeatedly as they worked.

     They came to a beautiful white temple at the center of town. They were welcomed by a large white marble statue of Athena with her flowing locks and her raised sword surrounded by more of the large odd flowers. Hygieia, Minda named them. The temple was not as large as other holy sites but had the air of a much grander place. It was slightly larger than the others buildings in town and its white stone and mortar construction were a stark contrast. The entrance at the top of the stairs was lined with large marble columns holding the sloped roof and two round stained glass windows centered into each side of the wall. Minda had been giving Aki a lecture on how some of the flowers grown in Alpine Flats were used, but he was only half listening.

     "...and that is why the archduchy of this region is renowned for its potions, salves, and cures! No other duchy is even close to the level of skill our people have here!" she explained, her chest slightly puffed.

     "Yeah, that's interesting. Hey, mind if we take a quick detour and pop into the temple here?" Her face dropped and she snapped back to reality.

     "Er, I suppose. I would not have you pegged as the religious type."

     "Actually, I'm not," he responded without looking at her. He started ascending the steps leaving her behind. She nervously ran to catch up to him. At the top of the stairs two large marble pits held a small fire on either side of the stairs on a pedestal and two bored guards stood next to the door. Aki confidently nodded to the two guards dressed in red leather armor and helmets holding a spear at attention. He slowly opened the large iron double doors to the peaceful interior. The room was stark white from the stones used and had bright red carpet runners down the aisle. On the few rows of wooden pews sat a handful of hooded temple goers, their cloaks as white as the stone. The ceiling had a large mural of Athena banishing a horde of demons and spirits into a pit of fire, and large crimson tapestries on the walls depicted similar events. The back wall had a large stained glass window of Athena standing before the world with Her hands outstretched welcomingly with a gentle smile. Below the window was a pulpit where a pale woman with flowing white locks dressed in loose white linen sat with her legs crossed tightly and her eyes closed. Even though Aki knew her to be at least one hundred she did not look a day over thirty. Upon closer inspecting, she was floating about a meter off the ground.