Beyond the Thorns: A Novel

“Ross, the kid needs you,” Thane groans, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“She said her name was Mist, not ‘the kid’,” I smirked before finishing off my coffee and walking to where she was staying.

“You need me?” I ask after entering the room, which had its door wide open.

“Yes,” Mist pops up beside me, one of Elyra’s satchels messily put on, as if she doesn’t know how to wear them. “You seem to know about this town, so I need you to help me find Cana before she causes trouble and gets caught.”

“Eh? Why can’t you ask Elyra, or Milo?” I fidget, sure I’ve been here for a week or so. But I only know the path to and from this place and the marketplace, so I'm not the ideal option.

“Because, you understand the importance of this endeavor,” she states bluntly.

“...Fair, I did say I understood… Alright, I’ll help,” I itch my neck thoughtfully.

“Good, then I have no need for force,” Mist chirps. “Let’s go.”

I mentally question my choices before following her out. She pauses for a minute and walks towards the forest, we climb up the hill for a while before pausing once more. Mist squats down, all the mud had mostly dried by the time we returned.

She studied the mud before hopping up and pointing back to the town, “that way.”

“That way we go,” I say in response.

We walk for a while until we reach a café, Mist pauses here once more to analyze internally.

“Hey! You shtole a book! Dynamozs, attack!!” A young boy's voice shouts, making me jump as three kids grapple me. I quickly take my notebook into a football carry. Nobody is allowed to touch my research without permission, kids are no exception.

They try to steal my work continually for what felt like ten minutes until a female voice shouts, “you goofball kids- stop bothering every adult you meet!” A young woman around my age darts around the corner.

“Queen Emma!” They all cease and bow before the woman, who must be their teacher or something, “how is the princess?”

“Wha-?” The woman pauses before realizing something, “ah, she’s actually with me-”

“Oh- they’re talking about me?” An unnaturally-hued blonde girl chirps as she pops into view. Mist turns immediately to the voice.

“Unkno, you didn’t get caught!” Her cat-ears perked up excitedly.

“You missed me? Aww, I’m honored, and I told you to not call me that,” who I assume to be another Lab escapee emphasizes her words with her motions.

“I was hoping you didn’t cause any trouble, and my prayers have been answered,” Mist gibes.

“Hey…” The girl whines.

“Please excuse the kids, they have the world’s most active imaginations that I sometimes wonder if they’ll return from their fantasy dimensions or not,” “Queen” Emma smiles.

“Oh it’s fine, it seems like the one we found knows your oldest,” I point out, changing subjects.

“Uh, yeah. My friend found that one as well, no idea where she came from that didn’t teach her to read,” She sighs as we turn to awkwardly observe the children.

“Fascinating,” I say as I mentally note the resemblance. “Mist, do you want to stay with them for a while?”

Mist glares in response, “you must accompany on the quest. That is an order.”

I sigh, a strained smile on my features as Emma chuckles at the exchange, “you must have your hands full.”

“Emma, there you are! You weren’t at the Inn so I got concerned,” a male voice chirps cheerfully, making me jump.

“Everything’s fine, Cana and I just had to wrangle up the Dynamos before we came. But it looks like she found an old friend,” Emma explains as I note the man’s features.

Really tall, long violet-red hair, and well built to boot. I look to myself enviously. My short, blind-without-glasses, nerdy-as-heck self. But then again, I don’t have to duct into door frames as he probably has to.

“I’m hoping she’s enjoying herself with you,” he smiles at Emma with an unnatural charm.

“She is, so far Cana knows most of the alphabet and helps with these ones more than I could,” Emma responds, signaling to the five single-digit year olds.

The boy who launched the attack on me swiftly turns to the newcomer, “the Purple Titan has returned!” At once, the five kids salute in unison.

“The Purple Titan” laughs, “yes, yes. I, the god of titans, accept your tribute.”

“You have way too much fun with them, Jyra,” Emma chuckles.

“I gotta take as much fun out of life as possible. It’s only natural,” Jyra grins in response.

“Who’re they? Did they catch you and plan on taking you back? Don’t worry, I’ll send one of the artisans on them so we can escape,” I hear Mist talking as I zone out.

“Those people are fine. And I was thinking about…” Cana’s answer delves into a low, inaudible whisper.

“Where’d you find that other girl anyway?” Jyra asks, making me jolt.

“Uh yeah, me and a friend found her unconscious in the woods. We’ve had her rest at the guild building since. ‘Artisans of Adonas’ and stuff,” I reply.

“So you’re in a guild? How long have you been here?” Jyra continues.

“I just go there to tinker and test my designs, I’m not a member though.” I quickly say before he internalizes it, “and I’ve only been in Yalev for a little while.”

“Oh same! How ironic that we’d only see each other now?” Jyra laughs and starts talking with me like an old friend. The Dynamos are horsing around in the background as I gather information from Jyra. Apparently his full name is Jyrasck Yoliho and he was the best-selling bard at an Inn in Belduar but left on hiatus for a while. Though I have a feeling it’s something more than just a break. I talk with him casually until Mist walks up and says we’re going and taking Cana with.

“Okay, I need to be briefed before you go making decisions. What will the others think when you bring another home, and is there even enough space for another person?” I pause, this cat-girl is most likely younger than me and she assumes superiority. Where did she get that from?