Converging Destinies: Part 1

Chapter 22

       "Well, our ship leaves tomorrow morning." Ara' Sei said to the other three at the table. For their final night, Ara' Sei decided to pay for an expensive dinner for the four of them.

       "Alright, do you know how long the voyage to Duskholme will be?" Eris asked.

       "It'll be between four and six days." Ara' Sei said.

       "Ah. So a decently short trip. Any food we need?" Ella asked.

       "No, food and space are already provided. It was somewhat pricey but... I can manage."

       "How much was it?" Eris asked.

       "Oh, it was about ten gold pieces for all four of us. But, a week from now, we'll be in Duskholme." Ara' Sei said.

       "Do you know why?" Cedric asked.

       "Yes actually! There's a man I need to find, I saw his face in a vision of sorts but I'm not sure how we'll find him. I'm not sure how he's important, but I'm sure he is." Ara' Sei explained.

       "Anyways! This food's good. Thanks Ara' Sei." Ella said.

       "Your welcome. I figured we'd want to have something like this before being on a ship for the next few days." Ara' Sei replied.

       The dinner went by uneventfully. Ella was able to finish half of the whole dinner that the others had left on their own. Cedric and Eris went to their room.

       "Eris, before we went out and stole the daggers, I'd only see you use magic once before then. It was on yourself before we went to the guards.

       "Oh, you mean this." They said as their form transformed to look like Cedric.

       "Whoa. That's cool, I can't do anything like that." Cedric said.

       "Well, my body isn't actually changing, it's just an illusion. If you touch it you can tell." Eris explained. Cedric tried touching the now elven ears of Eris' new form, but his fingers went right through it.

       "You're far more magically capable than I am." Eris pointed out.

       "What's considered more capable? I'm not sure we could compare magic because our magic is different. What you just did is something that I couldn't do even if I were the most powerful druid in the world." Cedric explained.

       "Well, anyways. Enough about me, what can you do?" Eris asked.

       "Well, I can do this." Cedric said as a flame appeared above his hand, casting dancing shadows upon the walls all around them. Cedric clasped his hands, and when they opened again, there was a beautiful, pale pink rose in his hands.

       "It's beautiful." Eris said.

       "Here, I'll make another so we can both have one." Cedric said.

       "Oh... uhhhh-" But, it was too late, Cedric was already offering Eris another flower.

       "I can do the things you saw me do before. But, now that I've become more powerful since we've first met. There's this spell I can use, which creates a cloud, and then I can make lightning come from it and strike people." Cedric explained.

       "You can do that?!" Eris asked.

       "Yeah, yeah I can." Cedric said. He put his hands behind his back, and his fingertips glowed as stems and flowers grew forth from them. Eris didn't seem to notice. Then, Cedric offered the newly created flower crown to Eris. Eris' form changed back to that of a half-orc. They took the flower crown and put it on. Even in the dark, the two could see the vibrant pink color of the flowers. A flame appeared in Cedric's hand as he inspected his creation.

       "Yeah, it's just the right color. I think you look beautiful with that color." Cedric said. Eris' cheeks went dark.

       "Oh... uh, really, oh wow! You do?" They asked.

       "Why would I lie to you about that?" Cedric asked.

       "It's just, I've trusted people too much in the past." Eris answered.

       "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Eris felt as Cedric's strong arms encircled them in an embrace.