Chapter 4 - 11th of Rebirth's Decline - [Orb]

[consultmybooks]

[The orb shows Giles, sitting in one of the fields on the outskirts of Schwanheim, but he's not looking back at the orb, nor showing any sign of his surroundings.

No, instead, he's looking at the mirror he found around his neck, when he woke up before the battle. It's hovering in the air, spinning very slowly, and shadows flicker across its silvered surface. But they're clearly very interesting shadows - Giles doesn't take his eyes off the mirror, even as he addresses the orb.

The only other notable feature of the scene is that Giles is wearing gloves, and occasionally and completely subconsciously tugs on the edge of them, as though reassuring himself that they're still on his hands.]

Um, apparently there is another kingdom, across the thorns. Or, um, there was. We have no way of knowing if it's still there, simply because...well, we have no way of knowing what's happening beyond the thorns.

But I thought, well, if we could get back in touch...

[He draws in his breath sharply, as though troubled by a grim thought. The mirror slowly stops spinning, and then falls to the ground with a soft chiming. Giles curses softly under his breath and picks it up, polishing its bright surface industriously with a sleeve.]

...apparently, um, whatever I am now, it involves the capacity to scry. I'm not sure what the extent of this new talent is, yet, but I thought I'd try and find out. Perhaps, um, if I can get good enough, myself and, and whoever else has this ability, we might be able to combine our talents and, and contact the rest of the world. For assistance, or for information...well, there's no way to know.

This, um, this might seem a silly question, but do any of you mind if I look in on you from here? Knwoing the name of who or, or what I want to see, that seems to help me get a lock on it. As such, I thought I'd ask your permission first, before I went snooping around on whatever you were doing.

Comments

[consultmybooks]

You don't have to. [Giles shakes his head as though to clear it, breaking the spell and letting the mirror fall.] I, um, I could probably use a rest. [He keeps his eyes closed for a few seconds, even as he tilts his head towards the orb. One thing he is coming to find is that, while he's learning how to scry, the effort plays merry hell with his eyes.]

I know I'm probably the last person to say this, but, um...best not to overexert myself, yes?

[folklorist]

[ Helios gives a light laugh and shake of his head. ] Best not to overexert yourself, yes. I'm not exactly one to give that sort of advice either. [ Not at all...especially when it comes to learning and making new spells. ] If you wanted to take a break perhaps you could come back into town? I-I was going to go and get something to eat myself...

[ If you wanted to join him that is, Helios is not objecting to that at all. ] Or I could always c-come and get you too.

[ He doesn't know how far away Giles is. But teleporting always made the trips quicker. ]

[consultmybooks]

Something to...

[Frowning, Giles pulls his watch out of his pocket - he didn't lose any possessions with his change, at least, even if he gained a few in the process. Clicking it open, he checks the time, and then his eyes go wide with surprise.] Good lord...

[Hastily, he replaces the watch in his pocket, obviously trying to pretend that the discovery of what time it was hadn't affected him quite so much.] Um, y-yes. Something to eat, that sounds...useful. I, I think I'm fairly close the markets, from this side of Schwanheim. Why don't I meet you there? I've, um, I've heard some things today that might be interesting.

[folklorist]

Giles are you alright? [ Frowning at his obvious distress about the time. It was strange to see something like that make such an impact on the other man. Yet...before this time really hadn't made much of a difference, did it? Even in Luceti there wasn't much need for it when all was said and done. ]

Alright. I'll meet you there then. [ There's a small hum from him at the added statement of 'interesting things' knowing this place it was probably a local gossipy legend or something to that effect. ]

I'll be there in a little bit then.

[consultmybooks]

F-Fine. [It was just a bit embarrassing, to realize that he'd lost track of so much time. Helios would probably give him a Look, for how much food Giles knew he was probably going to wind up eating. His mind might be Elsewhere, when he was scrying, or at least that's how it felt, but his body would only consent to not bothering him with hunger for so long.] Um, you know how it is. Just get...distracted. [Helios would know how that tended to go all too well as well, wouldn't he?]

Um, meet you there. Yes. I, I shouldn't be long. Um, w-where should I look for you, then?

[folklorist]

[ If you say so bro. Helios won't press any further with it, and will just sigh and nod. ] Of course. I can't remember how many times I've forgotten to-to eat when working on something. Nothing to be embarrassed about. [ A smile. ]

How about outside the market, by that stand that sells those deliciously sweet fruit? [ The one with the rather bossy and slightly mean woman. ]

[consultmybooks]

That deliciously sweet fruit we'll buy a bit of on our way to get a proper meal? Of course. I know the one. [Giles smiles faintly in happy recollection. The woman might be bossy and mean to Helios, but on the few occasions Giles had met the woman - who was rather closer to his age - without the magician's company, she had confessed that she was just worried that Helios wasn't getting enough fruit in his diet, what with staying at that terribly disreptuable inn and dashing about at all hours of the day.][And he'll turn off the orb, and replace it around his neck with the mirror. Then Giles gets to his feet, dusts himself off, and hurried to the markets, and the stall at one end that sells little wooden boxes of various fruits and preserves. Once there, he'll look around for Helios, searching for the now-familiar wizard's hat in the crowd.]

[folklorist]

Yes that's the one. [ Helios didn't know the reason for that woman's attitude towards him but, well, he did try to keep things civil whenever he walked past or stopped by to buy some fruit.

It's a few minutes after Giles that Helios will arrive. He'll give a smile with a wave as he walks over. He is wearing his wizard's hat of all things but the cape is still neatly folded in his room. It's rather too hot for that. ] Giles! I hope you haven't been waiting long! The streets get so crowded this hour of the day...

[ And given Helios' aversion to contact, well, this always made traveling a bit more difficult. ]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles is honestly glad to see the wizard's hat bobbing determinedly through the crowd towards him, if only because...well, it's easy to pick out of a crowd, and he had been worried about losing Helios on the other side of the booth. The streets are already crowded as it is, and with Helios going out of his way to avoid touching anyone, it had seemed a possibility...

So he smiles in relief, gives a little wave, and goes over to meet the other man.] No, um, not long at all. Meanwhile I, um, I hope you weren't walking long.

[And here, by the way, is a small basket of fruit. Giles thought you might like to avoid the shopkeeper, Helios, your nerves looked a bit frayed as it was.] Um, where did you want to eat, then?

[folklorist]

[ Helios is doing a poor job of not at least grazing into people's arms, shoulders, whatever else. It's them to who he will apologize profusely and hurry along towards the designated spot of their meeting. Never allowing them a second glance as they note the oddly cool skin beneath the the long sleeved shirt.

He lets out a rather...relieved sigh when he's out of the crowd and smiling back at Giles and the offered basket. ] Not long at all. J-Just a lot of people out and a-about today it seems. And you, ah, d-didn't have to do that Giles. I-I could have picked some up later...

[ Even he doesn't particular like the way the owner treats him. He'll shrug and look around at the shops and taverns and things like that. ] We should try somewhere new, something different, hm?

[consultmybooks]

Maybe I didn't. [Giles knows that there isn't a lot that he has to do for Helios, strictly speaking.] But you reminded me that I actually quite enjoy what she has to sell, and so I thought I'd treat us both. Especially since you were good enough to remind me to take a break for something to eat in any case.

[So saying, he pops an apple slice into his mouth.] I agree. Anywhere new and different in mind, then, or shall we go wandering?

[folklorist]

Anyone who was concerned would have done that Giles. [ Helios laugh a little shaking his head as he looks around. ]

Wandering seems yield promising results here. You never know what you'll find a little off the well traveled path.

[ Helios takes a tangerine then as peels it, taking a slice and eating with an approving hum. ] She really does sell the best fruits.

[consultmybooks]

Yes, she does. Amazing - you wouldn't think tangerines would be in season at all, in this climate.

...perhaps they come from other countries. Funny thing, actually, I heard from a fellow sage that's had a bit more time to poke around the library that trading is still going on with other countries. Um, y-you'd think the thorns would put a damper on that.

[folklorist]

Back on Earth it was the same mystery to me. P-Preservatives and things like that were usually the case back home. But here? [ He's not sure how they do they. Importing might be the real reason. ]

Maybe there's...an alternate route or something like that? Magic is another way I suppose. [ Always can count on magic to defy things. ]

[consultmybooks]

I wish we knew what it was. In case things go impossibly sour...well, it would be a good idea to know which way to point people to run, wouldn't it? Before...whatever happens when people come into contact with the thorns happens.

[Giles has never before been faced with what is potentially an escapable apocalypse. It's a novel idea.]

There's, um, there's even an ocean here, and a kingdom on the other side of it.

[Shame Giles isn't likely to get turned into a dragon again any time soon.]

[folklorist]

Y-You don't...think they will, do you? I-I mean go sour that is. I-I just...hope that we can f-find a way to stop them before that happens. [ He looks a bit grim thinking about that. What does happen when or if they touch you? It's a scary thought none the less and one that Helios shakes out of his head as he sighs and runs a hand through his hair. ]

Another side to this world, yes. It makes sense at least. Luceti was the same. I just wonder why n-no other kingdom has tried to help...send real help that is. [ The fight with the Hero still fresh in his mind as he says that. ]

[consultmybooks]

My concern exactly. From what I remember hearing, from those of us that have, um, properly been out as far as the thorns, there aren't even any guards on the other side of it.

I've been trying to see out that far, to see if, if that's changed or not, but...well, no luck so far. I suppose I'm, um, not quite that powerful yet.

[A beat, and then Giles adds in a slow, thoughtful sort of voice:] ...they must know we're having this problem, yes?

[folklorist]

No guards on the other side. N-No way to fight them...

[ It seems like there really is no solution. ] Give it t-time Giles. You only just started using this sort of p-power. And, and it's not as if you've ever wielded it before this. I'm sure sooner or later you'll be more than capable of seeing things so far away...

[ Helios looks out towards the forest and then sighs shrugging at Giles' question. ] I asked the king the same thing d-during the ball. But, ah, h-he didn't seem to perturbed about it. I think other kingdoms do know. It's just...I don't know if they have the resources available to make the trip.