Veiled Trust

Year 10

~Emma, Ariella, and Valorin enter the adventurer’s guild and look around they can see a couple of parties sitting at tables talking and some celebrating. As they head to the desk a female gnome walks up towards the group~

Valorin: Morning Margret.

Margret: So are they the reason you declined my offer before?

Valorin: Yup they’re my pupils and they got the okay to register early.

Margret: These two?! What did they take down?

Emma and Ariella: A troll.

Valorin: they even tried your light method.

Margret: That definitely helps.

Ariella: Except someone decided a flasher would work and wanted to start the fight an hour early.

Emma: I learned my lesson. Broken ribs hurt.

Valorin: I’m gonna talk to Margret here. You two head to the front desk and register and remember to show them the proof. Since they know you trained with me there shouldn’t be an issue. You might get quizzed.

~Valorin and Margret head off to talk and the girls each head to a different receptionist at the front desk. Emma goes to the receptionist on the left, a female elf with purple eyes and soft green hair, her name tag reads Zabrina.~

Zabrina: It's been a while Emma. I heard we’re getting you registered today.

~Zabrina passes a paper to Emma.~

Zabrina: Fill this out if you need help reading or writing just ask. Also, did you bring the proof as requested for the early registration?

~Emma hands a bag to Zabrina. She checks the contents and then excuses herself for a moment while Emma fills out the paper. ~

Emma: And done.

Zabrina: Okay and we just confirmed the proof, we’ll have your adventurer card ready by tomorrow but for now you can take this with you.

~Zabrina hands Emma an amulet that has the adventurer’s guild logo on it; a sword and staff crossed over a shield and a bow peeks out behind the shield.~

Zabrina: Keep this with you if it doubles as a second form of ID and with your adventurer's card, you will be allowed to enter a town and bypass any fees. You stay registered as an adventurer as long as you either complete four quests a month if you’re under c rank or you pay a five silver member fee annually. If you have any questions you can ask any receptionist or fellow adventurers. Not that you’ll need it with Valorin. ~laughs~

Emma: ~Smiles~ Thank you, Zabrina. Are there any beginner quests?

Zabrina: We always have herb gathering as a base quest for beginners. It pays five copper per medical herb and eight for antidote herbs, ten of those should be enough for an inn at most places. Anyone can complete it once a week.

Emma: Any rules for accepting?

Zabrina: nothing above your magic level, and you will be tested if you try to accept one with a magic level limit. They’ll say on the request if they require and what level they require of magic. Otherwise, you can accept quests one grade above you. To avoid any unfairness, aside from your first promotion from unranked to ‘G’, adventurers are limited to one promotion a year, and you must complete at least ten Solo quests a grade higher than you to qualify.

Emma: What are unranked adventurers?

Zabrina: They’re the newcomers, Your first rank up you’ll be eligible after completing a direct request. We try to do it every couple of weeks to a month depending on the team.

Emma: Well for the first few We’ll probably do the herbs. So we have the experience later if we need it, but, thanks, Zabrina. ~Waves~

~Ariella and Emma head over to Valorin, who's finished talking to Margret.~

Valorin: All ready?

~Both nod~

Valorin: Good, do either of you need anything before you get started? I know Goren still wants to celebrate with Emma.

Ariella: should we stop by and visit your dad at home?

Emma: Sure, I want to pick up my waterskin before we leave town anyway.

~Emma and Ariella walk into the door of the house. Its dark spooky atmosphere sends a slight shiver down Ariella’s spine.~

Ariella: ~Gulp~ Where is everyone?

Emma: three…two...

~Keya, Goren, and Isabelle hop out of hiding.~

Everyone: SURPRISE!

~Ariella jumps~

Goren: I think we scared Ariella more than Emma. ~Laughs~

Isabelle: That’s because she’s been practicing her enemy detection, how far can you see now?

Emma: Only around eight meters.

Keya: That’s better than our scout at the moment. Maybe you can join us sometime. ~Laughs~

Ariella: No she’s mine

~Holds onto Emma.~

Emma: Well there’s your answer. ~Laughs~

Isabelle: That’s how you know you’ll make a good team. Just don’t skip on your individual training. Never know when you’ll need it.

Goren: I hope this is enough. Since the tenth birthday is meant for the spirit's birth we couldn’t exactly invite anyone. That and your ‘official’ age being changed.

Ariella: I don’t know Mom might be mad if she finds out. She adores Emma.

Goren: Well we tried to ask her but too many people were around at every chance.

—----------

~Flashback to Goren and Isabelle attempting multiple times to wave to Seraphina, who’s then quickly pulled away for a meeting.~

—-------

Isabelle: That’s why we’re hoping she won’t think about it, since on paper she’s technically eleven.

Emma: She’ll figure it out she found out about me because I didn’t respond accordingly.

Ariella: It’s scary. I think she secretly sees the future or something. ~Shivers~

Goren: You should...

Isabelle: Send shrieker. Yup already on it.

~Isabelle sends Shrieker off with a letter and everyone sits down. Keya starts telling stories of her adventures until she’s interrupted by a knock.~

Goren: ~Opens door~ Your Majesty glad you could make it.

Seraphina: So this is what you two were trying to talk to me about.

Isabelle: Yeah, we couldn’t figure out how to approach you. ~Nervous laugh~

Seraphina: Well I’m glad I made it now I can give Emma her gift.

~Seraphina hands a box to Emma and she removes the string that ties it shut. Inside are two blades in the shape of two crescent moons, waxing and waning. The base of the waxing holds a green gem and a purple gem in the waning.~

Seraphina: I had them ordered soon after we learned about you. I give this to you as a gift and request. Please keep My Arie safe.

Ariella: She’s more likely to get hurt than me.

Seraphina: These blades together amplify your spirit powers as well as the Waxing blade, Veilshroud, is for amplifying your Illusion magic. The Waning, Tempest Moon, blade amplifies elemental magic. Together they’re called The Twilight Fangs.

Emma: They’re beautiful~Emma tears up and hugs Seraphina.~ Thank you!

Seraphina: Don’t thank me yet, the dwarf that made these required me to tell them who was getting them so he could make sure they fit their owner. He said he won’t say anything but he requires you come visit him before you need them. Ariella knows him, He lives in DeepDock.

Ariella: Brent? But he’s so mean.

Emma:~beggingly~ But Aire. It’s DeepDock. I don’t think I should use them until after we meet him. It just feels rude.

Ariella: Okay we can go to DeepDock after we get promoted and find an escort quest out that way.

Emma: fair.

~Goren pulls Emma to another room to talk with her in private.~

Goren: Emma. I have something for you.

~Goren hands a locket to Emma.~

Goren: It was your mothers. She got it soon after you were born. Said it was for you if she couldn’t be here.

~Emma opens the locket to a picture of her mother holding her and Lily sitting on Emma’s head, all with smiles. A paper falls out.~

---------------------------------------------------------------

~ Dear Emma

Happy tenth birthday. I’m sure your dad made sure it’s a day you’ll remember for all eternity. I don’t need to be there to know what a strong, intelligent woman you are becoming. You’ve always been smarter than most adults around you. I hope this picture of us will be something you can show your future generations one day. I want you and Lily to find the happiness you deserve in the world, in this locket I leave all my love for you and her. I can see great things in you even now, so I hope you’ll do me one last thing. Protect The smiles.

Much love and always smiling,

Sarah/Momma

--------------------------------------------------------------------

~Emma begins to cry~

Goren: Your mother wrote that letter before she got sick. She always knew when it was coming. She told me the night she felt better she had a dream you visited her. She was scared at first but then you said “It’s gonna be okay Momma, we can go visit her together.” That’s why we went on the trip to visit Grace.

~Emma in tears holds onto Goren; they both cry and then head back to the others.~

Ariella: Emma, I’m gonna head back with Mom. I’ll meet you at the guild tomorrow.

~Ariella and Seraphina leave and the family helps clean up after the party.~

Keya: I have tomorrow off, I could join you and the princess. We haven’t spent much time together since we moved up here.

Emma: That sounds fun!

—-------------

five months later

~Emma and Ariella are helping load a cart, and Valorin stands by.~

Emma: Our first adventure outside of the capital.

Valorin: You’ve been on an adventure beyond the capital a few times now.

Emma: Yeah but I always felt it was more training than anything.

Ariella: Yes, because most people use a troll to train.

Emma: We don’t talk about the troll!

Client: I can’t thank you enough. Knowing I’ve got Valorin and his pupils watching us. I’m more worried about any bandits.

Emma: It’s no problem at all. Ariella and I have been looking for a Request heading to DeepDock for a while.

Ariella: We got promoted from ‘G’ rank fast enough but it seems fewer people head to DeepDock these days.

Client: That’s because the bandits between here and there have been getting worse.

Valorin: Well it’s a good thing I was in the guild when you came through.

Client: those who go through need at least one b rank adventurer for now according to the guards.

~The cart finally loaded the group heads out. As they reach the edge of the forest you can see the view of hills and fields that eventually form mountains. They cross a bridge before stopping for the night.~

Emma: This first week has gone by so fast.

Valorin: and there’s still no sign of bandits.

Emma: Not that I’ve spotted. I plan on scouting once we get a fire going.

Ariella: Go ahead we’ve got things covered here.

~Lily changes into her larger animal form and Lily hops on her back.~

Emma: Sounds good. I’ll be back.

~Emma uses stealth on her and Lily, then runs off. After searching the area Emma and Lily find an empty area to practice her magic.~

Emma Thinking: picture myself.

~Emma makes an illusion of herself and then has it jump, run, and sit; in that order.~

Emma: Okay so we’ve got movement.

Lily: But it still can’t cast magic?

Emma: No, I wonder if I. ~Emma creates another copy after a moment the copy self immolates and disappears.~

Emma: I tried to picture a copy that could cast fireballs.

Lily: That looked more like it turned into a fireball.

Emma: one more try.

~Emma pictures herself, then pictures herself casting a fireball. She then pictures a core inside the copy powering the fireball. Emma creates another copy.~

Emma: I think.

~The clone lifts its hand towards Emma and then shoots a fireball. Emma blocks it with a barrier. Then the copy disperses and Emma drops down to one knee.~

Lily: What happened?

Emma: I did it, but all that practice wasted a lot of magic.

~Lily picks up Emma and they head back to the group.~

Ariella: Since you’re so exhausted, I’m assuming the perimeter is safe?

Emma: Yes.

Valorin: So you ready to show us what you’ve been practicing?

Emma: Not yet.

Client: New spell?

Emma: I’m attempting to create a copy I can use to train with that can cast spells. The problem is the complexity uses a lot of Magic and it’s not useful since it can’t think on its own.

Client: Why don’t you teach your spirit a human form?

Emma and Ariella: Human form?

Client: It’s not very common and it takes a lot of focus from both partners. Your spirit can take a human form, it’s close to an illusion spell. It’s not practical in fights but I’ve heard it can be useful for training.

Ariella: Do they look like us or their own form?

Client: I don’t know, I've only ever heard of it. It could all be someone pulling my leg, but it seems almost like something spirit would be able to do to help strengthen their partner and train together.

Emma: No, I read about something similar in an old book. I thought it was just a typo. But it mentioned training with their spirit but described it like they had human anatomy.

Valorin: Okay well you can practice after you get some rest. I’ll take my first watch.

Ariella: I’ll let the baby have her sleep and take the second then.

Emma: Baby?! You’re not that much older than me.

Ariella: yeah but leaving you unsupervised you always come back exhausted from your own training.

Valorin: Did I not train you enough?

Emma: I’m still mad you never taught me archery.~Pouts~

Valorin: How are you trying to prove you're an adult?

~Emma gets irritated and heads to bed.~

Emma: Good night!

~Everyone laughs.~

~After another week of traveling the group comes up on a checkpoint when Emma Alerts the group to bandits.~

Emma: I spotted at least twenty. It looks like they’ve taken over the checkpoint.

Client: This checkpoint has always attracted bandits. They don’t send any guards out here because it costs too much.

Valorin: I’ve been waiting for a time to stretch my legs.

Ariella: Emma can you get me up there? ~She points at the roof of a tower.~

Emma: Yeah. So We agree Valorin distracts you. Lily and Celestra will stay here and guard.

~Valorin walks through the checkpoint, A wooden Gate with a watchtower in the middle above the portcullis. where he’s stopped by some human bandits dressed as guards.~

Bandit 1: Hold Lizard, There’s a toll.

Valorin: Sorry, forgot my wallet.

~Emma uses stealth on her and Ariella as they scale the wall. Emma jumps in ahead and knocks one of the bandits out. She then moves a box over the door to the ladder leading down.~

Ariella: Okay I’m good, now we wait for Valorin’s signal.

Valorin: Listen bud. I’ll bring the money on my way back now. Are we gonna have a problem?

~The bandit boss walks towards Valorin.~

Boss: Do we have a problem here?

Valorin: Nope I was just leaving.

~The Boss reaches out and lays his hand on Valorin.~

Valorin: You just made my day.

~Valorin unsheathes his greatsword, steps back, and smiles.~

Emma: There’s the signal. Let’s go.

~Ariella fires two arrows hitting the two bandit guards. And in the confusion, Valorin cuts down the boss. Emma casts a copy of herself and they both jump down. Emma lands on a bandit striking them down, One bandit runs and swipes at the copy falling through and falling off the wall. Emma stands and throws two knives at two of the bandits hitting them as they turn towards her.~

Bandits: Retreat!

~The bandits that hadn’t been caught attempt to retreat eight end up getting away. The group bunches up the bandits, ties them up and Valorin starts a prisoner train with them.~

Valorin: Well we didn’t get them all but catching the boss should keep them from showing up for a while. We should hurry so we can make the next town before dark. Emma, Wanna go crazy?

Emma CAN I!

~After they get the cart and the prisoners on their way Emma stands under the portcullis. She puts her hands together holding a brown gem. Emma attempts to pull her hands apart and while she does the ground around her opens up, leaving a single pillar where she stands. until the entire checkpoint collapses inside. Pieces of the wooden structure are deflected by her barrier. The gem shatters, and afterward, she pushes her hands back together closing the hole. She smiles and runs back to the group~

Boss: Who the hell are you people?

Ariella: They haven’t heard of you Val.

Valorin: Valorin.

Bandit 2: Wait like Valorant Valorin?!

Valorin: I hate that name so much.

Emma: All done!

Client: What magic level is that spell?

Emma: I used a Fissure stone. The guild asked us to clear out the checkpoint to help clear the roads for others.

Client: Amazing. So can anyone use one?

Emma: Yeah.

Emma thinking: No, but who would believe it?

~The group drops the prisoners off at the next town and finishes their journey making it to DeepDock. The Chasmic Cove. Right before sunset Ariella and Emma run up ahead to watch while Valorin finalizes the quest.~

Ariella: We made it just in time!

~as the sunset begins for just a moment the entire just goes quiet and the prismatic colors flood in rise through the town and the light disappears. The lights of the town begin to flicker on.~

Ariella: Okay before it gets too late let's go meet Brent.

~The two head to a blacksmith they enter and the sound of hammering metal goes on for a moment before a Young adult male dwarf comes out his short brown beard covered in soot.~

Brent: Princess Ariella, I thought I heard someone complaining.

Ariella: I don’t always complain! You! Are just a jerk.

Brent: What do you want or are you just here to insult me?

Emma: I came to thank you for the Twilight Fangs.

Brent: So you’re the veil seer.

~Brent stares into Emma’s eyes for a moment.~

Brent: Okay, you have my blessing, I only ask you to bring them to me exclusively for repairs.

Emma: That’s all? I thought you wanted to get to know me.

Brent: I'm a good judge of character. I just need to look someone in the eyes to understand them.

~Brent picks up one of the blades inspecting it.~

Brent: Seraphina said to make something that could change the tides of a war. I wouldn't hold the title of Legendary blacksmith if I said no.

Emma: She’s really laying on the responsibilities isn’t she?

Ariella: She always does, that’s why she’s the queen.

Emma: I’ll be sure to bring them in for any repairs when I’ve grown into them a little more.

Brent: ~laughs~ Fair. and if you have any other equipment needs feel free to stop by, I’ll give you a loyalty discount. ~Smiles~

Ariella: Sounds good we gotta find an Inn for the night bye!

~Ariella grabs Emma and the blades they head out and go find Valorin before going to an Inn, where they all celebrate with sweets.~

Valorin: I’m taking a quest with some old friends in a couple of days. I met them at the guild.

Emma: That’s fine, I’ll eat your cake share while you're gone.

Ariella: I can’t wait until we’re at least 'B' rank so we can all go on an 'A' rank.

Valorin: I’ll reach 'S' by that point ~Laughs~

Emma: As long as you agree to be our team leader still I couldn’t care less. You’re stuck with us, second dad.

Ariella: ~Laughs~ I guess he is like our dad at this point.

Valorin: Fine then as your “Second Dad” Go to bed. I know Emma will want to go explore tomorrow.

~They both hug Valorin and head to their rooms. The girls fall asleep cuddling their spirits and Valorin spends the night trying different cakes.~

ng different cakes.*