A Dreamer's Knight

Chapter 10 - Missionaries

The road to Muonsol is a long one to travel by foot. Vinta is a large world after all, and Ircandesta is easily one of the largest of its continents. Mikaen and Jeronem already trekked for a week across the trail to Muonsol, and according to Jeronem, they still had a ways to go. Still, most people going to Muonsol didn't walk there, a fact they were reminded of regularly as airships and floaters soared through the sky high above them. Elduran offered to summon something they could ride, but they unanimously refused. Somehow, starting their adventure on foot seemed more appropriate.

They met with little trouble from animals or otherwise. The main roads of Ircandesta were well maintained and protected by numerous enchantments, courtesy of the Center of Knowledge. What few aggressive creatures were there wouldn't bother people without being bothered first (such as Jeronem's durien, as Mikaen was quick to remind the vuestan every time he was inclined to go exploring off the path).

Not that there was only the path and the forest. Like in any post-industrial society (magic, tech, or otherwise), the roads passed through a number of cities and towns. They stopped by a few of these on the way, usually to check into an inn or hotel for the night, or to have a meal that neither of them had to cook. During one of these visits, Mikaen met his first idestan.

The idestan range from lightly tanned to dark brown in skin tone, are typically taller than the average Galden, and are usually fair-haired. Their most distinguishing trait, their pointed ears, also led Mikaen to another discovery: the term 'elf' (commonly used to refer to the fair-skinned pointy-eared folk back on Earth) is considered a highly offensive racial slur by the idestan people. Fortunately, Jeronem stepped in and mollified the idestan before the situation could escalate.

Despite the occasional hiccup, Mikaen and Jeronem were both in high spirits. Mikaen felt positive that getting home was in his grasp, provided Elduran was correct. If Trystan could teach Mikaen how to return home, perhaps coming back wouldn't be so difficult. Once the Revs were eliminated (it was astounding how simple a goal it seemed when he thought about it), Mikaen would return and continue the life he had made for himself back in Homestead.

Of course, the idea of roaming across Vinta had merit as well. Mikaen had read of many fascinating places across Vinta: the underwater country of Jai Vye, the ever-changing Cleftan Region, the technological superpower of Rimstak, and the wide, sweeping plains of Longshore just to name a few. Still, it was comforting to know that wherever he travelled, Homestead would always be waiting for him at his journey's end.

Jeronem was just as excited, though Mikaen surmised this was more to do with leaving Homestead without parental supervision. To be fair, Jeronem was definitely excited about his upcoming exams at the Center of Knowledge. He talked of little else during the trip, and spent hours storing spells in his staff only to spend about five minutes emptying the same spells for practice. He grew especially skilled at producing a burst of prismatic light from the tip of his staff that transfixed the target (which, for lack of other options, meant Mikaen) and obscured the target's vision with a rainbow of color. Mikaen had never taken mind-altering drugs before, but he imagined the effect must be similar.

One morning, nearly two weeks after they had left Homestead, Mikaen and Jeronem had been walking for about an hour when they heard the sound of snoring. Much to their surprise, the snoring turned out to be coming from One, who they found sound asleep under a tree beside the road as though he hadn't a care in the universe.

Jeronem stopped a moment after Mikaen, a curious look on his face. "Who is that?"

"It looks like One." Mikaen said in a hushed tone.