Previous Chapter – The Knight and the Wanderer
The Starlit Wanderer Series – Finale
Words are not to be trifled with. They carry greater power than any magic or sword could ever contain. Words shape lives, countries and even the world. There is no more dangerous act than that of binding oneself to their words, as the failure or success in following up that deed defines the very character of that person.
Inugela Nyrea hurtled through the confines of space for a mere moment, clutching the robes of a dark mage who had just made the mistake of threatening the very reason for his entire journey. For that split second of transportation, the space about them warped with blue and green light, wavering like tree branches and twitching like the tendrils of some eldritch evil.
Finally, solid ground met Inugela as he lost his grip on Rali’s robes, striking the floor with a clatter of metal against metal. He opened his eyes, finding the cold ground beneath him unsettling and a little surprising. As he stood, his boots trod on pure silvery steel that ran on for some distance before bowing down and away.
Rali groaned and collected herself slowly, giving Inugela time to understand just where they’d fallen. Something told him this was not where Seraphina was. The landscape panned out before him as open sky, his feet standing on the metal of a colossal chain link. The chain link had to be hundreds of meters tall alone, not to mention the six or seven others linked to each other, reaching up into the sky. The very topmost chain embedded itself into the base of a broad floating landmass, suspended some thousands of meters into the sky. Below lay a writhing mass of water–the ocean–and rising from it stood two tall statues, titans who gripped the chain and held the flying island back as if it were going to float away. Inugela realised that was precisely what old stories told of those titans doing. He knew exactly where he stood–Unison Chain, the birthplace of many myths and legends. Taking Coellan’s sword in hand, Inugela spied the coastline of Hophreda’an, shrouded in early evening sun. He could faintly see a rising cliff on the landmass, which had various little buildings covering its top and the land below it. That town was the place he promised to meet her, the place he needed to be tomorrow evening. Suddenly, all despair and confusion left him, and he knew what needed to be done.
‘You ruined the spell, you little piece of nothing!’ Rali screamed, clutching her wrist with the strange runic bracelet on it. She tore the stone object off and cast it on the ground with a shriek. ‘You broke the artefact I went through hells for!’
Whilst Rali hurled insults instead of deadly spells, Inugela frowned at Coellan’s blade. Looped over the sword was that strange metal bracer, the elvish one. He recalled that Rali landed it on the blade when she was throwing all of his things away. He placed the bracer on his left wrist–better than no armour at all.
‘Are you even listening to me, imbecile?’ Rali snapped her fingers and sickly green energy danced across her fingertips, coming to rest on her little finger. ‘Do you know how difficult it is to hijack a summoning spell? I’ll never have an opportunity like that again!’ Her eyes strained red and her once composed demeanour shrivelled to a hunched and crooked posture.
Inugela adjusted his tattered shirt, shaking his head at the horrible mage. ‘Look at those eyes.’ Something rose in Inugela’s chest, hot like magma. He lifted his nose at the woman who held the same spell that caused Coellan’s end. ‘You have the eyes of someone who found themselves a reason to think they’re better than everybody they meet. You walk on the kind and honourable like blades of grass.’ Inugela readied his blade, and scarcely dodged the bolt of green energy, swiping it away with his weapon. The energy crackled across his sword, but fizzled out as his flicked the steel. No more running away from danger, time to fight the problem head on.
‘Argh!’ Rali readied another eradication spell, but it faded before even reaching the point of her finger. ‘You can’t decide how I act! I take what I need and what I want. I deserve everything I take. The world is one big entitled child, so I’m just evening the playing field.’
‘Does that include the lives you took today? Or any other day, for that matter?’ Inugela ground his heel into the steel floor and lowered his stance. Rali’s mouth sealed shut, so he continued speaking. ‘I don’t say this to anyone very often, but you are truly evil. People say everyone is a little morally grey, but I believe that evil still persists on a separate plane to good–they cannot mix. You have stolen, manipulated and murdered–all things you decided to do yourself. The world’s entitlement had nothing to do with that.’
Rali curled her fingers like claws, and an icy mist lifted from her skin. Inugela shook his head, hoping he would find some way to defeat this mage before she turned him to a block of ice.
‘I’m not some villain bent on destroying the world, I just want access to each corner of it! I wish to study every aspect of this world. Difficult things need to be done to achieve greater good.’
‘And what good have you achieved so far?’ Inugela asked. When he received no answer, he slid his blade over the bracer, causing both to screech. Something itched on his skin beneath the bracer–weird. ‘Enough. Do not come at me with your reasons and justifications. I am not here to listen to evil speak itself up. I will fight for righteousness and honour, upholding the values you snuffed out with so much enjoyment as you killed Coellan. I will carry his legacy, keeping this blade from hurting even a single innocent, unlike your magic. I will fulfill my promise to the one I love, and meet her with my head held high, knowing that my journey did good for myself and the world. Now, perish at the hand of a fate you designed for yourself, dark mage.’
Rali cast her spell, sending waves of white mist toward Inugela. She cackled, loosing frost across his skin that caused his joints to lock up, teeth to chatter and skin to prickle with painful jabs. Determined not to fall, Inugela pushed through the icy storm, placing his free hand on his chest. He kept his blade held out toward the mage, but did not charge. He stepped toward her, slowly, as he released a warm light onto himself–healing magic.
This act alone gave him a small victory, as Rali was clearly losing her nerve at the sight of him walking through her deadly spell. Today, mage, I will be your justice. He covered his face as he grew close enough to take a swipe at her. Drawing his blade back, he shouted, thrusting the steel forward. Before he could land a blow, she dropped her spell and stumbled backwards, the tip of the blade nicking her shoulder. Inugela thrust his blade at her again, breaking free of the frost covering his skin. His swipe scarcely missed again, as she fell to the floor.
The mage made several gestures with her hands, then slid backwards, like an invisible force dragged her away. She rose into the air, flying freely and letting her sly smile return.
‘Cheat,’ Inugela muttered as he himself cast some magic. Focusing on acting defensive, he crafted a small plate of spectral armour which he placed on his chest, covering his heart. With some defence ready, he charged, readying his next move.
Rali, a little panic stricken, let her next attack take on the form of white lightning bolts. She loosed them from her fingertips, and the bolts barrelled through the air.
Inugela sidestepped, letting the bolts fly by. Some of the blast still stung his skin, though most was drawn across his body and into that plate of magical armour. When the bolt fizzled out to nothing, Inugela slid beneath the levitating mage. Without a second wasted, he called upon a well of power deep within him that he hadn’t drawn on in a very long time. He summoned the same great thorny vines that had once stopped Coellan from hurting his friends, and used them to grab hold of Rali’s feet. He leapt back, smiling as the dark mage was thrown to the steel floor. The vines bound her there, as he placed his palm on the flat of his blade.
‘Ensnare my foe.’ Bright green magic encompassed his blade, and he swiped it across Rali’s shoulder. Though the cut surely hurt, the vines that sprouted from the wound would cause far more damage. They wrapped around her, threading through the vines already there and completely covering any sign of the mage.
Inugela planted the tip of his blade into one of the vines, bowing his head and saying, ‘I call this one Nature’s Coffin. Hope you like it.’ He drew his blade out and stepped away. Finally, no more screaming. Finally, no more deadly spells.
His spectral armour plate vanished, turning into tiny wisps of energy that fluttered away into the ether. He planted more healing magic into himself, and sighed, unsure what was next. Should he wait until the magic’s end and then just roll her into the ocean? No, it occurred to him that she still had the orchid–he would have to find that then push her into the ocean.
He finally had a chance to recognise his body’s declining health. His magical strength was running out, and he still had to find a way down several hundreds of meters worth of chain and statue, cross a small strip of ocean, then complete a day’s journey to the town beyond.
Staring into his reflection in his new blade, he muttered to himself, ‘I must honour my promise, no matter what.’
Something moved.
A crackling noise echoed through the open air, centring Inugela’s gaze on the cocoon of vines. The scent of sulphur poured from the encasement, giving Inugela barely a moment to react as it exploded with bright orange flame. The fiery burst threw Inugela to the floor, sending him sliding toward the chain’s rounded edge. He scrambled onto his front in time for a pair of feet to land in front of him.
Though her clothes and hair were scorched, burns marking her hands, Rali had fury in her eyes. It was difficult to tell whether she was angry at Inugela, or the fact that she burnt herself with her own spell.
‘Die, whelp.’ She sparked another flame that ran from one arm to the other, spiralling across her fingertip and into the air, mere inches from Inugela.
The flame exploded, throwing Inugela back and into open air. Fantastic, airborne again. Inugela’s thoughts clouded over with the realization of the pain that scorched his skin, and not to mention the feeling of striking hard ground that rocked through him. Something cracked with an unholy snap. His vision swayed, blurring and doubling over until he found it in himself to focus. The damage had been done, however, and he struggled to even move his head. He realised he was lying on the next chain link down, the one held by the great statue. That was a decent fall.
Rali floated down to him from above, cackling to herself and drawing the sword she had stolen from his things in the ruins. Is this the final blow? She landed gently, with a horrendous smile that entirely offset her graceful posture.
‘If only you’d shown yourself in the ruins, you’d have died a much quicker death. Ah, but here we are.’ Rali swung the blade into Inugela’s leg. He scarcely felt any pain, as his consciousness faded with a flutter of his eyes. ‘Oh dear.’ Rali flicked his blood from the weapon.
Inugela struggled to look for Coellan’s sword, but couldn’t see it. All he had to defend himself was that stupid metal bracer that wasn’t even really his. I guess this is it–I die today without telling her how I feel.
‘Here it is, yer honourable defeat,’ Rali said as she held the blade over his chest. ‘Is it still honourable when you’re impaled by yer own weapon? Ah, well.’ She dangled the weapon a little longer, her bloodied eyes relishing the moment. ‘I think I will pay that special person of yours a visit, but only to give ‘er a gift.’ Rali leaned in close hushing her voice to a whisper. ‘Guess what it is.’
Inugela refused to respond, wondering if punching her right now would do any good.
‘It’ll be yer body.’ Rali giggled like a child and then plunged the blade toward Inugela’s chest.
‘No.’ Inugela swiped his arm in front of the blow, blocking it with the bracer. As impact was made, a burst of bright blue energy enveloped them. A tingling sensation ran through Inugela, giving him a jolt of new energy. Though on the verge of death, he kicked Rali back with his one good leg and thrust himself to his feet.
‘Ugh! You’re such a pain!’ Rali gestured with her own empty hand. ‘Die, screaming in flames!’ She tried to cast a spell, but nothing happened. ‘What?’ She tried again, then with a different spell, but nothing. ‘Then you’ll die by my greatest weapon!’ She held out a small gem studded box, but again, nothing happened.
Even Inugela felt there was no magic left in him, or maybe it was simply suppressed. Nevertheless, he found Coellan’s blade and held it out, a little shakily, but determined all the while. He couldn’t heal or protect himself, but never had he gained a better advantage in a fight.
‘Show me,’ he began, ‘how you fight with a blade.’ He aimed the point for Rali’s neck.
‘So you had an anti-magic artefact snuck away all this time?’ Rali clutched Inugela’s old blade between both hands, tossing its sheath aside. ‘How sly of you.’
Inugela shrugged–until she said that, he’d had no clue what was going on. He’d never even realised that anti-magic was the correct wording for it. Never mind that, he surely didn’t have much time before her power returned.
He lunged forward, thrusting his blade for Rali’s gut. She managed to twist her blade and throw his aside, giving her a chance to make her own attack. She brought the weapon down on his chest, but again, he used the bracer to block it. Making two movements at once, he slid the bracer down her blade to grab her wrist as well as strike her with his sword. Finally, his weapon made contact, drawing a cut directly across her side. He winced upon hearing her screech in her pain, and so set her free.
‘You!’ Rali cried. She grabbed hold of her side to put pressure on it, but couldn’t stop the crimson flow that splattered across the metal floor. Her head twisted one way and then another, eyes desperate and wide.
Stumbling on his cut leg, Inugela waited and watched. Would she run? Would she attack again? What should I do? He flicked his weapon about until he decided to make the first move again. He charged and made an almighty swing, bringing it down, but she leapt away. Rali responded with her own attack, jabbing her blade toward his face. Inugela responded by deflecting the blade upwards and then, finally, his blade sunk into her gut.
The sword in her hand fell, clattering onto the steel and bouncing off the side. It hurtled downwards, vanishing under the foamy white surface of the ocean. Farewell, old companion of mine.
There, they both remained still. Neither said anything for a time, both considering what was next. Keeping a firm grip on his blade, Inugela drew closer to Rali, close enough to reach into the pockets in her robes and draw out the glass pressed flower. He held it in front of her and shook his head. He then slid it down his own shirt and used the newly freed hand to grab Rali by the collar.
‘What?’ Rali spat blood onto his face. ‘Go on, do it.’ She ground her bloody teeth together with a grim smile.
‘You and I both know that isn’t how this is going to happen.’ Inugela loosened his grip, and slowly drew his blade out of her stomach, letting her fall to her knees. Her eyes swam, no longer focused on him, and no longer holding that snarky persona. Lip quivering, Rali Wyndesnar faced her death with fear choking any chance at a final word.
A cracking noise broke the air.
Loosing from Inugela’s wrist, the bracer struck the floor, split into two halves. As that happened, a sensation returned to Inugela like fresh water to a desert–magic. He placed a hand on Rali, and sighed. He weighed up his options. I’m in poor condition, so maybe I should save this last bit of healing magic for myself? No, there wouldn’t be any honour in that. I have to do it.
Kneeling to meet Rali’s eyes, Inugela placed his hand on the bloody wound in her stomach. He took a deep breath, then gave her the very last ounce of his healing magic.
‘It’s only enough to stop you dying, but it’s all I have.’ Inugela searched her for any sign of change in her disposition, but she still stared into the void. He moved away from her, and turned towards the mainland. ‘Not long now, Seraphina.’
A whirring noise hammered from somewhere above. Some distance away, a large floating object followed the length of the chain. It appeared like a great boat, long and sleek, but with no sails. This was it–a rescue!
‘Yes, over here!’ Inugela cried. The ship turned its prow toward them, and continued forward. Relieved, he turned back to Rali, finding her back on her feet. Her bleeding stopped for the time being, she simply stared at him.
‘This Seraphina, are they your lover or something?’
‘Not quite lover,’ Inugela said with heat rushing to his cheeks. ‘But she’s incredibly special.’
‘During The Ever-Advancing Era, there will come a man and woman, beloved of each other, from a distant land. The power they bring with them will alter Hophreda’an’s very core, recreating a paradise like that of The Days of Jubilation.’ Rali’s teeth chattered, rattling each word out as if speaking those words threatened her life.
Inugela just stared at her with eyebrows raised. ‘What?’
Rali shrugged. ‘It’s a prophecy of some sort from old texts.’
‘You’re not saying it’s–’
‘No.’ Rali rolled her eyes. ‘Of course it isn’t you.’ She let her fangs show with a smile. ‘You won’t be alive to fulfil any prophecy!’ She drew from her pocket a small box, studded with tiny little gemstones. Opening it, she released a tiny black orb that whirred into the air. Its surface was simply nothing–a void in space. Clasping her hands together, Rali seemingly willed the orb forward, and it sped through the air towards Inugela.
Ah, this isn’t going to end well for either of us. Inugela swung his ducalvicus blade out before himself and focused on it. He imagined forming the barrier that Coellan had before, and simply watched the weapon release a blinding wall of light. The barrier caught the tiny black orb, but already, Inugela could see it eating away at his weapon’s magic.
‘What!?’ Rali cried. She lifted into the air, thrusting her palms outward. The orb pressed into the shield harder, but Inugela was ready. ‘It should be killing you right now! No magic can stop this weapon!’
‘Trouble with this is…’ He gritted his teeth, pushing the orb back and widening his stance. ‘Ducalvicus steel follows a few different rules to other materials. Also…’ Inugela lifted his free hand and allowed magic to course from his palm. ‘I can do other things whilst the barrier is up.’ He clenched his fist, calling upon the last of his offensive magic.
The atmosphere shifted, and light fell from above. In that moment, the skies about them blurred, pure magic warping its essence. A great beam of white energy struck Rali, encompassing her behind its veil. Her cries were muffled by the sounds of the spell’s whirring energy and the engine of the approaching airship.
‘I gave you a fair chance,’ Inugela muttered, turning his face away from his own magical spell.
As the beam of light faded, it left behind the charred body of Rali, who simply fell towards the ocean below and beneath its writhing surface. The black orb fell to the floor, like a harmless glass ball, allowing Inugela to finally release the barrier of light. He searched the waves for any sign of the dark mage, but she did not surface again. Looking to his hands, burned a little, but still alive like the rest of him. He found himself marvelling at what had happened.
‘Runce was right–a strong resolve really does make you unstoppable.’
‘Sir are you alright?’
‘She called herself Rali Wyndesnar?’
‘Soldiers, search these waters. We need to find her!’
✬ ✬ ✬
Seated at the front of a lovely little restaurant, Inugela sipped a fine cup of herbal tea, looking out to the horizon. Above the surface of the distant sea awaited a large floating island, shackled to the world by a gigantic chain. Inugela had finally found rest in the city of Fr’ri, and not only that, but met someone he’d long promised to reunite with.
‘So you’re tryin’ t’ tell me, that you defeated an international murderer?’ asked a mauve skinned firbolg woman.
‘Yes!’ Inugela cried. ‘When are you going to believe me, Olive?’ He threw a hand up and sipped his tea once again.
‘I do, I do, but it’s just insane. I didn’t think ye had it in ye.’ Olive waved a small biscuit in front of him, before biting down on it. ‘Yer a wonder t’ behold, Inu, you really are.’
Inugela simply placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head.
‘How are yer wounds?’ Olive gestured to Inugela’s leg, bound in wraps that peeked through his tattered trousers.
‘They’ve healed well. I’ll leave the bandages on until tonight, just to be sure.’ Inugela crossed his injured leg over the other, then grimaced. ‘My back wound, however, is here to stay. I couldn’t heal it before it became infected. That’s the end of my attempt to adventure without any scars.’
‘Aw, shame,’ Olive cooed. ‘Poor Inu has a scar after fighting mages and ancient soldiers.’
Inugela rolled his eyes at her, choosing to keep his mouth full of defensive words shut.
‘Seriously, though, it’s hardly been a day ‘n’ yer practically all better.’ Olive averted her eyes from his. ‘You adventurer types are unbelievable.’
Inugela shrugged, his mind drifting to other places. His gaze settled on the leg of the table, spying a tiny image of a heart carved into its wooden surface. A tension settled into his stomach without any sign of its source. Something made his hands a little clammy, and his brow bead with sweat. He clasped a napkin from the table and dabbed away at the obvious tell of his nerves.
‘Not t’ mention that ye go through all that, and haven’t a single coin t’ show fer it. Yer lucky I’m payin’ fer this.’ Olive tapped the table with an open palm.
Like a stage actor on cue, a set of footsteps came marching down the street and stopped over the two. The figure had fibrous aqua coloured armour, with a few pieces of hardened steel on their chest plate. They appeared to be a rather tall blue humanoid, with a bald head and tattoo of a small compass below their ear.
‘Good day sir and madam.’ The Hophreda’anian soldier saluted them with an open palm across their side. ‘I’ve come to deliver a reward to an Inugela Nyrea.’ They gestured to Inugela. ‘And was told by the Lady Mayor to thank the Radiant Vanguards for their help with another crisis, on ‘er behalf.’ The soldier held out a small bag that clattered with the jingle of coin.
‘Oh no.’ Inugela pushed the bag away. ‘Firstly, there’s no proof I actually dealt with this criminal. Secondly, how in the world did you find me?’
‘Firstly,’ the soldier began, ‘there were eyewitness accounts of your fight with the mage upon one of our ships’ approach. Secondly, you’re the only fella in town who looks like he tattooed the night sky on his skin.’ The soldier briefly glanced about, then leaned in close. ‘It’s actually your skin tone, innit? Like, you’re not just an endrekin, like me, who painted their skin or somefin?’
‘It’s real, I swear.’ Inugela smiled, shaking his head.
‘Well.’ The soldier dropped the money ungracefully onto the dining table. ‘The perp might not ‘ave been captured, but she’s been ‘andled permanently. Many folks across the world will be incredibly grateful for what you did. Thanks again, ‘ave a lovely day.’ The soldier spun on their heel and strolled off, even as Inugela tried to call them back and protest against the money.
‘Ugh.’ Inugela looked at the hefty little bag, feeling a little guilty for the part of him that wanted to snatch it up and see how much he’d received.
‘I’ll take it, if you won’t,’ Olive said with her hands already closing in on the bag.
Inugela grimaced, not sure what to do.
‘Inu,’ Olive said with a stern tone.
‘Mm?’
‘As I recall you tellin’ me about ten minutes ago, ye lost nearly everything to that horrid mage. Don’t ye think you could use the money right about now?’ Olive pulled the ties on the bag, and though Inugela didn’t look inside, the golden glow from within reflecting off Olive’s face said it all. He thought about the terrible state of his clothing, lack of any armour and many other missing goods, then nodded slowly.
‘I just don’t like being selfish, though.’ He wound his thumbs together, sighing.
‘Lookin’ after yerself and accepting what ye’ve earned ain’t selfishness, Inu. In a way, yer carrying yer own weight, so no one else has t’ worry about ya. Get me?’ Olive’s head cocked to the side.
‘You’re right.’ Inugela slapped his own cheek lightly. ‘I need to be ready for the sake of the Vanguards.’
Olive stood upright, shaking the bag before him. ‘Now, how about we get ye some new gear? With this money, you can pick up somethin’ real nice.’
Inugela finished his tea, then stood, finally accepting the bag from Olive.
‘Right then.’ Olive clapped her hands together. ‘Let’s get ye ready fer yer big date tonight!’
‘Oh dear.’ Inugela fell back into his seat. ‘It’s tonight.’ There it was, the source of that tension welling in his stomach. He felt suddenly weak, and lost any motivation to walk around town.
‘Ugh, come on, Inu.’ Olive dangled her arms down and her head lulled. ‘Ye can’t be loosin’ yer nerve now.’
‘But–but… I’m just not sur–’
‘Don’t give me that.’ Olive snatched up Inugela’s wrist and yanked him to his feet. ‘You need t’ stop worrying. Let’s just go on a shopping spree. It’ll all work out.’
‘Sure, if that’s what you think.’
Olive rolled her eyes, saying, ‘just let me do all the talking. You take it easy and tell me what you like. Just think about what you need next.’
With that, the shopping trip began, and Olive truly did do most of the talking.
‘Let’s get a new bag to start.’
‘How’re these fer nice boots?’
‘Can we get this tailored to his size?’
‘Thank you! We really appreciate this. He’ll be back tomorrow to pick it all up.’
It didn’t take very long for that bag of gold pieces to turn into a pocket of gold pieces.
✬ ✬ ✬
Evening came and the sun cast its final glow across the coastline beyond Fr’ri, causing the distant Unison Chain to reflect orange light across it like specks of ember. Inugela stood in a simple inn room, buttoning up a basic blue shirt behind a small folding screen. His hands fumbled for the last button, but his fingers couldn’t grasp it, shaking as if it were a cold winter’s night. He heaved a large breath, but still couldn’t relax.
‘You alright?’ Olive called from the other side.
‘No, I’m good.’
‘That’s a lie.’
‘What!?’
‘Inu.’
‘Alright, I’m nervous again.’ Inugela’s eyes followed the floral patterns on the back of the screen, tracing tracks between them in his head. ‘I’m scared that so much could go wrong. What if she realised on her own journey that she doesn’t want to be with me any more? Or worse, what if I look at her and decide I don’t think we’re right? I’ll just be an awful monster of a person.’
‘Inu.’
‘No, Olive, nothing you say will help me. This was just a bad idea all along and… and…’
‘Inugela.’ Olive’s voice was much closer to the screen now. ‘I don’t need to say a thing. You’ve already told me how much you learned on your own. Just say what you told me this morning, and then try to tell me you really think this is a bad idea.’
Inugela froze, then finally pushed the button through its hole.
‘I…’ He sucked in a sharp breath, then slowly breathed out. ‘My resolve… my decision, is that I cannot simply find a home in this world alone. I want to do it with her, supporting her in any way I can. Like me, she disappeared from the world for some time before really pursuing the adventure she needed. I’m going to be right by her with every step, and when we’re ready, we’ll find a place to stay together. However short our time together may feel, it will always be enough for me.’
Inugela reached into his pocket and drew out a small object, round and wooden. The traditional Nadarian ring fit comfortably in his grip, the feeling of its cool surface soothing those last dwindling worries.
Every moment of his journey had begun to make sense, every conversation with a new friend, every fight, the long treks through the wilderness, every city he visited and each thought that had once plagued his mind. Except that time he was messed with by a strange wizard boy, but that was beside the point. His battle for himself, the loss of his weapon and the wounds he gained, including the one on his foot from hiding the ring in his boot for nearly a week, all had their places in his journey for a reason. He was grateful for every single moment, however dangerous or sad it was at the time. This was a good space of mind to be in.
He truly felt that he achieved what he originally set out to do some time ago–explore this beautiful world he’d longed for. Now, he’d get to continue that journey with a group of people he loved.
‘Oi, Inu, it’s gettin’ late.’ Olive knocked on the other side of the screen.
‘Of course.’ Finally, Inugela stepped out to reveal his attire for the night. He checked a nearby mirror, seeing his blue button up, grey trousers and simple black boots. Looking back was a young elven man with deep blue skin and starlight freckles that shimmered when he turned his head. His silver hair was half tied back, some of it still covering the beginnings of his long ears and framing his face gently. And those eyes, they were a deep purple, but no longer confused. They stared back with certainty and firmness as if they were constantly saying, the next step is my best, at every moment. He knew this man, this soul who loved seeing the beauty in others, who enjoyed every second he had. This once lost man felt he could practically be walking in the heavens above, with all the indescribable folks he knew.
‘Inu, again, she’s probably already waitin’ for ye. And I need to get t’ bed before my big glider race, tomorrow.’ Olive had her arms folded and a raised eyebrow, as if to judge the fey elf.
‘Alright, alright.’ Inugela adjusted a small brown bag at his side, checking that it contained that last little bit of his reward money, the wooden leonfolk coin and that wonderful glass pressed flower. He glanced across the room at his haversack, Coellan’s blade leaning on its side inside the silver scabbard of Inugela’s old blade. ‘Will it be alright if I pick up my bag and Coellan’s Principle in the morning?’
‘Of course, of course.’ Olive pushed Inugela to the front door, heaving and grunting just to get him to move. He stumbled out the door, then swung around, quickly tucking away a necklace that stuck out. Olive clearly seemed curious about it, but instead chose to fold her arms again.
‘Wounds all healed up?’ she asked.
‘They feel good as new.’ Inugela stretched his once wounded leg out.
‘Good, yer gonna need to be in top shape for tonight, if ye know what I mean.’ Olive sucked her lips inwards with a giggle, then slammed the door closed.
‘Yeah… wait, no! Olive! Open this door!’ Inugela felt heat rush into his face. ‘That won’t happen on, oh you know, the first date!’ He banged on the door a few more times, feeling that it would really drive his point home.
‘Have an incredible evening, Inu. You’ve earned this,’ said a sombre voice on the other side.
Inugela smiled, finally stepping away from the door. ‘Olive, thank you. It’s because of you that I am who I am.’
No more words were exchanged, and so Inugela journeyed out of the inn and into the faint night lights of the street. The sky was clear, and though a chilled wind whipped through the town, Inugela hardly noticed it. He made for the great cliff overhanging the town, where the upper-class resided, as well as the place he’d promised to meet her. As he climbed a metal staircase that wound back and forth across the cliffside, he tried practicing lines, in hopes it would help him relax.
‘Hello Seraphina, it’s been too long. No, maybe… my lov–no, no.’ He clutched his forehead, trying to calm the noise clattering within. ‘I’ve longed to see you again, Phina. No! Don’t use a nickname she’s probably never heard.’ He crested the top of the staircase, and made for the spot. Not far from where he stood awaited a section of the cliff reaching out from the rest, looking over the great town of Fr’ri below. ‘Maybe just, hey there–no, no.’ He shook his head, hardly believing the words coming out of his mouth. ‘Just be coo–’
And there she was.
A young woman stood alone in the center of the land outcropping. She was a burst of blazing sunlight that cut the dark with her rays, blinding the stars above and all who dared peer into her light. She looked a little different, her silver hair cut far shorter than Inugela could recall, and the scar on her right temple was entirely unexpected, still bright red and new–a crack in her golden skin. There was a bandage lying on the floor, suggesting she had just taken it off. Was it a gesture of some sort? Her choice of clothing had changed as well, black with green trimmings. Inugela suddenly felt a little underdressed.
Inugela’s knees grew suddenly weak, but he swallowed every thought that tried to bring him down–this was his moment. He opened his mouth… and nothing. He tried once more before Seraphina could say a word, but he failed.
‘I didn’t think you would come,’ she said. That hit hard. Suddenly, Inugela recognised the eyes of someone who had talked themselves out of this moment. Seraphina, to some amount, was feeling exactly how he had felt back in Nadaru–okay with walking alone.
‘I didn’t think I would make it.’ Inugela’s voice shook as is first words croaked worse than the oldest swaying oak tree. He steeled himself, trying once more. ‘I–um… I struggled to get here, and it was mostly my own fault. I fought through some bad people, but the worst was myself. I talked myself into and out of coming back. My answer to you became a yes and then suddenly a no, and back again. I threw myself to and fro until I lost sight of myself in all of this.’ His hands shook so much that all feeling was beginning to leave them. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he realised he was staring at the ground, not her. He was falling to pieces in the moment he’d fought for.
Seraphina rocked back on her heel, saying, ‘it’s okay if you need to say no.’
Those words felt the worst. For not the first time, she was being kind to him as he locked himself away.
‘No, that’s–no, you can’t…’ His heart trembled, missing a beat. Words were continuing to fail. If he stayed on this path, he would surely leave without telling the truth. ‘I want this to work. I want us to work. I want everything for you, but I just… you are…’
Why is this so hard?
He couldn’t believe the struggle it took to even get his stammering out. This wasn’t right, he’d been through far too much to just fall to pieces in front of the person he’d spent the last two months thinking about. With that thought in mind, he knew only one thing that would overcome words. Saying the right things and showing the correct actions were two different things. He had to say I love you and throw the words aside, along with the thinking and the doubt. And so, he resolved to make one effort that might ruin it all, or make it all right.
Inugela drew Seraphina in close, and he kissed her.
For that moment, the world turned without them. The stars themselves came down to meet them, and they could practically fly amongst the lights. All the magic in the world of Igharias couldn’t compare to the feelings conveyed. It was merely a moment, but that fantastical time under the starlit sky finally meant a brand-new chance to continue forward.
Joy overcame Inugela. So much so that when he finally stepped back and saw the look of shock and happiness on Seraphina’s face, he could no longer contain his feelings. And so, for the first time in a long time, Inugela Nyrea transformed. His skin took on a green hue, as the starlight on him was cut out by this new self. His hair turned from a shining silver to a vibrant green, like the leaves of summer trees. Floating throughout his hair came tiny lights, fireflies that lit the dark. Not everything made sense in that moment, but Inugela didn’t want that to change. He didn’t need all the answers right away.
‘This doesn’t, um, normally happen,’ he tried to explain with a flap of his hands.
Seraphina looked at him with a gentle smile, not seeming concerned about the change on the outside. She stepped in close to him and said, ’it sounds like you have quite a story to tell.’
And there, all things unravelled like a colourful tapestry. Tales were exchanged and friends were reunited, but that story will be for another time.
Words are world changing, carrying more power than the fires of the deepest mountain or the waves of the roughest sea. However, there comes a time where words fail or, more accurately, they become too difficult to articulate. Everybody makes promises with words, but it can sometimes take a legion of courage and understanding to realise the actions needed to keep that promise. There will come a time in every life that their truth must come to light, lest their piece of the world be strained by loneliness and a deep dark they craft for themselves. Only when all promises are honoured and actioned, and truth be revealed, can one’s world feel full and joyous. And realising that truth is what it is to wander amongst the stars.