Ananiel

Lily twirls her hair as she wanders around her bookstore. A soft melody, with hints of joy hums from her lips as she quickly stuff books into a box.

“Lend me a hand please, Edward?”

Lily points at the crate filled with books on the ground. Edward grumbles and clears his throat,

“You really ought to ask your apprentice first.”

Letting out a sigh, she continues packaging as Edward continues reading. I gather Lily’s quills and ink into a glass jar, and quickly put away the supplies into my satchel,

“So why are we leaving?”

Lily walks over to the doorway with a box full of books.

“ It’s a good time to. Lots of carriages ready to leave right now”

I ponder for a moment and remember the gathering outside.

“Ah. It’s ironic isn’t it, for people to be leaving on a festival instead of visiting?”

She giggles and continues packaging. Edward lets out a sigh and gets up from his seat,

“Well, I’ve got to go. I will be seeing you both in Idosa. Thank for your time, Farewell”

We both respond with “Farewell” as Edward leaves out the door.

“So”

I spurt out loud after a moment of silence

“What type of city is Idosa?”

“Idosa… Good question.”

Lily shrugs and looks around for a book, Tourist Guide to Idosa.

“Let’s see here. Hmmm, it’s that place with the wine company. Also known for its auction house of relics and an emerging thing called clockwork. It’s also an attractive place for mercenaries…”

She reads out a few key sentences, getting ever so quieter after each point and throws it towards me.

“Here, guess it’s something to read.”

Fumbling the catch, I grumble while bending down for the book. Analyzing the cover, a bottle of wine plastered itself above large, bold text.

Tourist Guide to Idosa

The City of Innovation

By Quinton Ruscoff

Shrugging, I toss the book on the top of a box. The dull sounds of shuffling and the still dust in the air entertained my tiresome mind. Blinking a few times, I found myself nodding off as my back arched forward and the weight of my head fell.

***

Lantern laid uncomfortably in a pew bouncing a ball up and down in the air. The chapel was uncomfortably cold with candle lights leaking into the darkness. A soft blue light trickles over the windowsill as a layer of fresh snow stretches over a dainty graveyard. An audible yawn flows out of Lantern’s mouth as the ball falls to the ground.

Sigh*

He raises from the pew and picks up the ball. Looking around, the empty chapel carried its weight in silence.

“Hey!”

Calling out, an echo bounced around the spacious walls, weaving past columns of wood and spreaded through the chapel. A lone priest stood up from the lectern stage and approached Lantern with a furrowed look.

“What do you want?”

Lantern tosses the ball upward and catches it

“Is there anything to do? It's boring waiting for this whole rebellion thing.”

Theo takes a seat besides Lantern and spreads out his arms over the backrest.

“Indeed, but this is big news. If we were to miss out on something so dire, we wouldn’t get the end of it from Orion.”

Putting away the ball, Lantern gets up from the pew and heads to the door.

“Well then, I'm going for a walk.”

Exiting, the sounds of footsteps on snow crunches further and further away. Theo gazes off at the tinted glass window displaying a lit brazier.

“Lord Ithax, rejuvenate this land. Cleanse the evil and madness that haunt over the people…”

Murmuring a continuous prayer full of ramblings, Theo slowly steeps into a trance.

“O child of Ananiel, heed my words. An old one will descend onto this land.”

A massive figure points their finger towards a city burning below iridescent, smoke-like flames of tarnished gold. A lone silhouette hovered above, gazing into a ball of abyssal darkness as fire fell to the ground.

“Look”

Theo fills with horror as gears fall from the sky. Snapping out of the trance, He immediately grasps for air.

“That’s impossible. How is it possible that Idosa could fall?”

Gaging, he quickly runs outside. The crisp, early winter air stung at his nose. However, it was accompanied with a pleasant breeze.

“It seems I have my work cut out for me”

Theo looks up and clears his throat as Cecil walks up the chapel stairs.

“Ah, my dear disciple. What can I be of service today?”

Cecil bows as well and goes in for a hug.

“It’s been a while, Master.”

“Indeed, it has.”

Theo directs Cecil to enter the Chapel and they both go to sit on a pew. Letting out a deep breath, Cecil grabs onto his knees and looks towards him.

“I have decided, Can I join you for a while? Would that be alright?”

Theo stares off for a moment, gazing out at the lines of buildings in the distance.

“Can I ask why?”

Cecil tightens his grip on his knees and smiles awkwardly at his master,

“I broke my vow. I couldn’t protect my friend”

Theo keeps his overbearing eyes on Cecil,

“So I take it you are ready for intensive clerical work from now on?”

With the slightest of nods, Cecil lets out a begrudging sigh,

“I’m in your care.”

***

A delicate breeze passes over Lantern’s stride as he makes his way around the city. The crisp winter air felt rather pleasant as he caught the scent of fresh bread in the air. Looking around, a robust man sat outside the bakery’s doorstep. Lantern’s peering eyes meet with his as he props an arm to his knee.

“You interested in some bread?”

Nodding, Lantern approaches the bakery while jingling a couple coins in his hand. Looking through the display, he quickly gazes over each loaf.

“This one.”

Lantern points at a rather hefty looking piece of bread in a baguette-like shape. The Robust man goes behind the counter and places it in a bag.

“You got a good eye. This is indeed a fine loaf”

Chuckling, the Baker slides the bread over and gestures for money.

“3 copper”

Dropping 3 copper in his hand, Lantern takes the bread away and goes out the door. Finding a nearby bench, he takes a seat and starts munching.

sigh*

Closing his eyes, Lantern hears the faint sound of music in the distance. Looking around, he spots a man playing an Erhu. Furrowing his brows, he bites down on the bread,

“Why is the Nocturnal Band here?”

Half way through his bread, Lantern crumples up the bag and puts it away. Curiosity glinted off his eyes as he gazed off at the strange instrument.

“Alright fine”

He mutters while scratching his head and walks over to the erhu player.

“Hello!”

Lantern waves at the musician and smiles.

“Is that an instrument from the east?”

The musician nods and continues his seemingly endless song. Tossing a 3 copper into his hat, Lantern lets out a shrug

“Can I ask why you are here?”

Stopping the song midway, the musician lays down the erhu and does a polite bow.

“No reason. At Least none that would in’terest the guiding light of the Watchers.”

Giving a souring glare beneath his cap, he raises the cap as if requesting more money. Throwing a few more copper into the hat, the musician’s face brightens as he raises up his instrument, getting ready to play.

“I’m here to gain inspiration. The chaotic orchestra of the people is truly maddening, but beautiful.”

“Are you alone in this endeavor?”

Nodding once more, the musician points off towards the city square.

“I’m sure you already hear them, but if you need information then listen to the people. Stop pestering me.”

Lantern sighs and flicks and catches a watcher emblem in the air.

“I’m here for business reasons, actually.”

Reaching out for a handshake, Lantern slyly smiles.

“The Watchers will like to partner with the Nocturnal Band”

Pondering in silence, the musician stands up and bows.

“Much pleasure to my new companions.”

He sits back down and continues playing. Lantern turns around and walks away.

“That was easier than I thought”

He lets out an exaggerated chuckle and goes back to finish the bread.

***

“Hello, student… wake up.”

I hear Lily’s soft voice uncomfortably close to my ear and shudder awake.

“There you are.It’s time to leave! Everythings ready to go.”

She gestures around with a smug look as I start rubbing my eyes.

“Really?”

I look around seeing boxes placed all over the place.

“How are we going to move those boxes?”

Lily freezes, she clearly didn’t plan for transportation and food.

“Uhmm, one second. I will get a cart.”

She quickly leaves from the front and vanishes from sight.

sigh*

A feeling of doubt arises as I am left alone inside the bookstore. Was it really a smart idea to become her disciple? Letting out a yawn, I start moving the boxes to the front door.

“Ah”

I exclaim as a book falls to the ground.

“What’s this?”

I look at the title, Astonishing Events of Ananiel. Shrugging, I sat down and read through the book.

Ananiel, our dearest and precious world, has its secrets hidden in the sand. Throughout time, many weird and mysterious landmarks have risen and fallen. Everyone knows that there’s a crater where Ithax fell, surrounded by mountains of hardened, and ashen stone. As well as the split mountain, said to have been a swordmaster’s enlightenment.

But have you heard of the cave of wonders? A cave of crystals the size of trees that hides ancient technology? Said to be an explosion of some kind, this cave contains the most intact ancient records we have discovered.

There is also the mausoleum of King Quiliff, who left behind a message. “For the one who visits my grave, I welcome you to the knowledge of Sol. To the ones whom I invited, I bless you with the maddening gaze of Balor.” It is said that everyone who attempted the raid gained visions of a light. And this light caused their minds to shatter. My team blesses anyone who dares step into this mausoleum. One day, King Quiliff’s bounties will be revealed to the world!

I close the book and dust spews into the air.

“Cave of wonders… and King Quiliff’s Mausoleum. Maybe I will visit them one day.”

I think as I hear Lily open the door.

“Alright! It’s time to go.”

She waves her hands at the boxes around and looks at me with an assertive look.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Start moving the boxes.”

Letting out a heavy sigh, I put away the book and started slowly moving the unexpectedly heavy boxes. Finally, after an arduous process, I collapsed on the ground after setting the last crate.

“What am I to do with a disciple like you?”

Lily nags as I try to catch some rest. She raises the cart up and starts pulling away.

“Hey, wait up!”

I quickly get up and start trying to catch up. Somehow, even with tens of boxes on the cart, Lily was pulling it with ease. Slowly, the pace kept increasing. Before I knew it, my legs were in a full-blown sprint as we made our way to the west gate.

Huff* Puff*

“What was that for?”

I gave an irritated look as my throat burned with each passing breath. Lily shrugs

“Did I not tell you? Your first lesson has already started.”

“And what might that be!?”

Realizing my anger, I quickly pull my head down as she answers calmly

“We first have to work on your mental fortitude. It’s way too delicate. From what I have heard, the best way to do that is endurance training.”

A smile as bright and pure as an angel fills her face as she waves over to a nearby coachmen.

“Which vehicle is going to Idosa?”

The coachmen point at the one farthest to the left. Lily hands over a copper and gestures to me to come over.

“My dearest disciple Clover, Please take over the cart.”

I see her sly eyes peeking past her bright smile as she enters the carriage heading to Idosa. Sighing, I begrudgingly shrugged and headed over to the cart.

“Was this really worth the 5 silver?”