Veiled Trust

Year 4

~In the background you can see mountains and large bird-like creatures Flying. Keya and Isabelle are practicing with wooden swords and Emma is with Sarah learning how to use her spirit weapons~

Sarah: Now picture Lily as two handles after you’ve got that work on picturing a blade attached to it.

~Emma begins focusing and after a moment. Lily begins to glow she then separates into both of Emma's hands as two small poles.~

Lily: This is weird.

Emma (TL): How so? Is it bad?

Lily: No I just feel an extra layer of consciousness almost like there are two of me but I can control either one.

Sarah: Okay good now try picturing them as blades.

~The poles slowly form into dull knives~

Emma: Woah.

Sarah: When you are older and your magic is stronger You’ll be able to give it more details.

~she sits back~ Momma's spirit really liked bows, actually her favorite one was stunning. It glowed in the sun, it had this snow-white wing-like frame and when you shot arrows they’d sound like sweet music across the field.

~Sighs~ the wings of Harmony…

Emma: Momma. Can Lily become that?

Sarah: Only if you have no hate in your heart. ~tightens fist~ Never force your Spirit into any form they don’t agree to, Promise me that.

Emma: Okay, I promise. I don’t wanna make Lily hurt or sad.

Goren: Are you sure you’re only four?

Sarah: I know she talks as well as Keya sometimes.

~Goren hands Emma the tester wand.~

Goren: Hey it’s been a while and I know you were sad before when your magic level is low so let's try it again.

Emma: ~Excitedly grabs the wand~ Yay!

~The wand starts to glow purple then its usual Green the number about now shows nine~

Goren: Hey That’s Pretty good for your age. Maybe you’ll catch up to Sister after all.

Keya: NU UH!

~Isabelle Bonks Keya on the head.~

Isabelle: Focus!

~Keya rubs her head, holding back tears, then goes back to training~

Goren: eight levels in under a year though that’s actually really fast for their age. I'm proud of you girls.

Sarah: ~Gets up~ Okay it’s time to get going if we want to make it to the ferry before they close today.

~Everyone helps pack up and they get back on the road~

Goren: Okay girls we’re going to be passing through a border town today which means we’ll be seeing many new races and subspecies, no staring, please.

Sarah: We need to be on our best behavior, Lily needs to stay out of sight in towns remember?

~Lily changes to a string bracelet the beads are placed so they look like Lily~

Emma: Yes Momma

Keya: Are we leaving the country?

Isabelle: for a little bit. We'll be in Lycaris for a couple of days.

~As they approach the ferry they see Dwarves and humans working the docks and a gnome is up on a balcony barking orders. A large ship is slowly filling with a large variety of races.~

Goren: Wait here I’ll get the tickets

~Goren runs over to the ticket booth. Emma starts looking at all the people around her, smiling~

Emma: Momma There's so many people.

Sarah: No staring, it’s okay to look but don’t be rude.

Emma: Okay momma. ~Emma squeezes a totem that looks like Lily~ Are their tails soft?

~ A female Beastkin with floppy dog ears and a fluffy tail comes back with Goren~

Penelope: It depends on how well they clean it. Mine is extra soft. ~she brings her tail to Emma offering her to touch it~

~Emma looks at Mom and Dad for approval~

Goren: go ahead.

~Both Emma and Keya begin petting her tail~

Goren: This is one of our friends from before you two were born. Meet Penelope or Peeps for short.

Emma: But she’s tall.

~Everyone laughs and they start moving onto the ferry where they all sit down at a table. Soon after the ship takes off Emma, Keya, and Isabelle go to watch the water of the Lake~

Penelope: So what brings you through here you should’ve written.

Goren: We’re going to visit Grace.

Penelope: ~tears form and she hugs Sarah~ while you're in town at least spend the night with us. Grant and the kids won’t mind.

Sarah: That sounds wonderful. But do you have the space?

Penelope: Grant just finished the guest house for his mother but she doesn’t get here until the summer. So, we have more than enough space.

Sarah: Then we’d love to. Thank you. ~She grabs Penelope's hand~ seriously thank you for everything I mean it~

~Penelope, Sarah, and Goren continue talking until they finally reach the other side of the lake. Penelope waves to three Beastkin, a large, dark-skinned Male with Short Doberman-like ears, a scar on his left eye, and a great axe on his back. And two children, one a boy a little bigger than Emma and a girl Keya's age. The boy is dark-skinned and has floppy ears and the girl is light-skinned and pointed ears.~

The group walks up to greet them.

Goren: Hey Grant good to see you’re still around

Isabelle: GRANT! ~Grant and Isabelle clasp hands firmly~ Thank the moons it’s been ages.

Penelope: Keya, Emma. This is Sheila and Joey.

~Penelope pats Sheila and Joey on the head. Emma stares at Joey's fluffy ears.~

Emma: They look soooo warm and soft.

~Joey nervously runs behind Penelope~

Sarah: Emma, be nice.

~As the groups near the edge of town, they reach two fields separated by a fence with three buildings.~

Grant: If the kids want to play just stay out of the fields but make yourselves at home I’ll be inside making some tea when you’re all done unloading.

Sarah: Oh we’re just here for the night.

Grant: Nonsense! Come on, it's been years, at least stay a couple days.

Goren: It would give Emma more socializing. Since there aren't many kids in our town and Elwin doesn’t come around.

Sarah: I guess it won’t hurt but only for a few days. It’ll be nice and you can help Grant.

Grant: I have a Job tomorrow. It’s light work. We'll only be gone for three days then you guys can head out. ~Smiles~

Sarah: ~Smacks Goren on the back~ He’s all yours ~Whispers to Grant ~ Please be gentle, he’s a little rusty.

Goren: HEY! I’m not rusty.

~All the grown-ups laugh while Grant and Peeps head to the main house~ Emma stays in the front yard reading about Illusion spells the fake totem sits on a windowsill nearby. The book is filled with words and pictures of hands and instructions.~

Lily: Can you even read that?

Emma: Bits and pieces. Not enough to cast but the pictures help give some lesser understanding.

Joey: Who are you talking to?~ Joey is leaning over looking down at the book~

Emma: Lily.

Joey: Who’s Lily?

~Emma starts to realize it’s not family she looks up and sees Joey and her expression turns to panic~

Emma: My spirit.

Joey: But I thought Baby elves didn’t have spirits?

Emma: I’m not a baby! ~Points at the fake totem~That’s Lily!

Emma Thinking: please don’t think about it!

Joey: Oh. ~looks at Totem~ Does Lily talk back?

Emma: No, but maybe she can hear me.

Joey: ~under his breath~ Huh, weird. What book is that?

Emma: It’s a magic book Dad got me on our way here. ~Smiles~

Joey: Huh ~looks at the book again~ Can you actually read that?

Emma Thinking: that’s the first thing everyone asks…

Emma: No, but the pictures help.

Lily: I thought you said you could?

Emma (TL): Well yeah, some, but they already think I talk too ‘adult’.

Lily: Smart.

Joey: I hear elves can cast magic even as babies. Is that true?

Emma Thinking: Do we need to add the baby comment?

Emma: yeah. Sister can make dolls and ~Emma rubs her right eye applying magic changing it to blue~ I can do this!

Joey: WOAH! How long does it last?

Emma: As Long as I focus.

Joey: Can you do it on other people?

Emma: Close your eyes

~Joey closes his eyes and Emma makes a wiping motion over them~

Emma: There. Open.

~Joey goes over to a bucket to look at his reflection in the water, and his eyes are now Sky blue~

~Goren Sarah and Isabelle are all sitting at a table inside talking quietly~

Goren: Emma’s wand has purple in it

Isabelle: What?!

Sarah: Shhhhhh! I mean we’ve all suspected it for a while now. Her eyes sometimes have a purple hue to them.

Isabelle: ~Scratches head~ Goren I hate to ask this… Will you come back to the guard?

Goren: You know I can’t do that right now...

Isabelle: I mean after. I don’t mean to sound insensitive but no one below me can know this information. If you can promise me you’ll keep quiet and re-enlist. I can help you get back to your old position if you can pass some tests and you can learn more about Emma and why she seems so advanced.

Sarah: I’ve already made him promise me he would.

Goren: But that was when we thought we still had time…

Sarah: You’ll need someone to help take care of the girls and Isabelle will have to go back to work soon…

~they both grab each other's hands placing their foreheads together.~

Both: I love you.

Goren: Okay.. I'll do it.

—-----------

~Outside Emma is practicing illusion magic on Joey, making him have different colored ears and eyes. Grant and Penelope are Laughing at the two playing. Keya and Sheila come running up to wish farewell to Grant and Goren.~

Keya: Where are you going? Can I come? When will you be back? Is there gonna be danger?

Grant: ~Laughs~ nothing super dangerous and we’ll be back three days from now. ~looks at Sarah~ Don’t worry I’ll keep em safe like always.

Sarah: Good ~Kisses Goren~

~Goren walks over to Emma Kneels down~

Emma: Why are you leaving?

Goren: ~rubs Emma's head~ because Dad never learns and if I don’t go it sounds like the brute will get hurt.

Emma: ~Hugs~ I’ll protect Momma.

Goren: ~smiles~ Good Girl. Just make sure you sleep and I’ll bring you back a present. ~Hugs~

Grant and Goren head off waving to everyone as they disappear over the hill on the road out of town.

Penelope: Who wants cookies?!

~all the kids begin jumping hands in the air exclaiming” I DO!”~

—-------------

~Sarah is Tucking Keya and Emma into a bed with Lily and Lazarus curled up at their feet together~

Emma: Momma, is Dad gonna be safe?

Sarah: ~smiles~ of course girls. Back before he joined the guard we started as adventurers. ~Sarah sits down in a chair next to the bed~ Grant was a part of our party. He's supposed to have retired and worked in the fields, but every time Penelope talks about a quest that no one has completed he takes it upon himself to complete them so her rates are higher since she works for the guild.

Isabelle: ~Isabelle comes over to the end of the bed and leans over~ Your Dad might not be as strong as he used to be, but He’s one of the smartest fighters I know. His nickname comes from how red the water in his spells would turn after fighting.

Sarah: But he always looked so sad afterward.

Emma: Why is that Momma?

~Both Sarah and Isabelle laugh~

Sarah: That's because his white shirt was stained. So he started wearing more red to deal with it. Watching him smile like that was both heartwarming and terrifying. After that, we started dating. Now go to sleep you two. ~She kisses both of them on the forehead~

—-------------------------------------

The next morning

~Emma and Joey are both studying in the magic book. Joey helps with reading and Emma practices them.~

Joey: “To practice stealth, first close your eyes and feel the eyes upon you. Then picture them turning away”

~Emma closes her eyes but after a moment of focusing, she begins to feel sick and stops~

Joey: Hmm it almost worked.

Emma: Does it say a level?

Joey: Fifteen. How do we test it?

Emma: Oh I know! Come on!

~ Emma grabs Joey on the arm and starts pulling him to the house. Joey grabs the book as he stumbles, nearly falling. And follows after her~

—--------------

~Inside the main house, Sarah is brushing Sheila’s hair as Keya and Isabelle train right out front. Emma comes running around the corner with a giant smile followed by Joey quickly behind her.~

Isabelle: What’s the hurry you two?

~Emma runs in and stops just shy of running into Sarah~

Joey: ~still running~ She wouldn’t say!

Emma: MOMMA!

Sarah: My goodness what’s gotten into you ~laughs~ What's up?

Emma: Can we test Joey and Sheila for magic?

Sheila: ~Looks up~ Can we?

Sarah: I’m okay with it, but…

Kids: YAY!!

Sarah: BUT! We should ask their mother first.

Kids: Okay..

Isabelle: Do you have a Color chart?

Sarah: Penelope should know.

Isabelle: True.

Until then. Emma, come out here we’ll have a spirit lesson.

Joey: Can I come?

Isabelle: No reason you can’t Sheila you interested?

Sarah: ~Looks down to Sheila, with puppy eyes~ Well I can’t say no to that. ~Get’s up~ come on.

—---------------------------------------------

~everyone gathers around, under the tree. Shrieker Changes out of Isabelle's Amulet and begins flying up above the group.~

Isabelle: Today you’re going to start to learn Sightshareing. Everyone else can help by picking a number and facing away from Keya. Now pay attention Emma so when you can practice this someday. ~winks~

Isabelle: The same way that you use Telepathy with a spirit instead of a voice picture seeing things through their eyes. It’s a bit harder to explain, so I want you and Lazarus to look at each other. You’ve used a mirror. Picture seeing yourself.

~Emma closes her eyes focusing~

Emma (TL): Can you transform into your spirit form in the room?

~Lily as a bracelet rests next to the book in the house.~

Lily: Yeah.

~Lily turns into her animal form she then glances out the door watching the group.~

Lily: Now what?

~after a second she starts to see the group through Lily’s eyes.~

Emma (TL): Woah.

Lily: What's this?

Emma (TL): Sightshareing, Isabelle is teaching it.

Isabelle: It’s fine if you can get it to work for just an image or a couple of seconds. Can you see anything yet?

Keya: I think so.

Isabelle: Everyone else. Pick a number with your hands and make sure it’s not facing Keya. Keya when you’re ready have Lazarus go look at each person and guess the number and person. Ready?

~Keya closes her eyes tightly~

Keya: Ready!

Isabelle: Okay start whenever you’re ready.

~Lazarus goes over to Sarah who is holding up Emma instead of a number~

Keya: I don’t think it’s working. Emma looks like Momma?

~Everyone Laughs.~

Isabelle: Close, your Mom was holding her up, but still pretty good. Keep going.

Keya: ~focusing~ Sheila has four and Joey has three? No five and two!

Isabelle: Great job!

—-------

~Penelope slowly walks up to the house after a long day of work, the glow of the fireplace coming through the window.~

Penelope: Momma’s home!

Yay!

Joey: Mom, can we learn magic?

Sheila: Aunt Sarah said it was okay with her.

Penelope: Oh? And how are we doing this?

Sarah: With a Tester wand. We have one and if you knew the Magic colors we figured they could test themselves.

Penelope: You know I think that’s an amazing idea we can surprise Papa when he gets back.

~Sarah grabs the wand passing it to Sheila.~

Penelope: picture air surrounding your hands and focus it into the wand

Isabelle: Air what now?

Penelope: ~Laughs~ it’s a trick I learned to explain magic to newbies

~The wand turns a shining silver with a blue core and number one.~

Sheila: What's that mean?

Penelope: The one is because you haven’t practiced yet and the color means you have air and water affinities, The shine to it means you have some light magic as well. Healing would probably be easiest for you to learn.

~Sheila hands the wand to Joey.~

Sheila: Your turn.

Joey: So one is normal?

~Joey begins focusing after a bit longer than Sheila it changes to a bright yellow with a green hue.~

Penelope: Correct and for yellow you can learn fire. The Green is common in Beastkin it is beast-tamer magic hmmmm. Isabelle, you've been training Keya. How strong is she?

—------------------------------

~A few days Pass and at Sunset, Grant and Goren walk up to the kids running up to them.~

Keya: Uncle Grant, can I hit you?

Goren: Keya!

Grant: ~Laughs~ Penelope told you? Okay, one free hit.

~Grant looks at Goren~

Grant: I trained some kids a while back and I told them I’d give them an enchanted ring if they could knock me back.

~Grant looks at Penelope and can tell she is scheming something, letting his guard down just enough for when Keya hits him, who’s slightly enhanced by Joey to send him back on his butt.~

Grant: ~Laughs~ If I didn’t know better I’d say someone helped you.

~Sheila runs up casting healing magic on grant~

Sheila: Joey did it. It was Mom's plan.

Grant: Still, when did you guys have time to learn?

~Emma runs over to Goren, tripping just before reaching him as he catches her before she hits the ground.~

Emma: Daddy! ~Hugs~ ~tears up~ I missed you. You were gone so long.

~Keya grabs hold of Goren.~

Keya: Did you bring us anything?

Goren: ~Pulls out little charms that look like little bear faces~ I picked up both of these for you two since they have the same face as your spirits.

Sarah: ~kisses Goren~ Having you back safe is all the gift I need.

—----------------------

~The next morning Everyone is at the gate as they say their farewells.~

Goren: Well we were gonna stop by on the way back but with the mother-in-law moving in, we might just have to settle for a quick visit on the way back if you’re okay with that.

Penelope: Maybe we can have her watch the kids and head to a tavern like old times.

Sarah: We should. ~smiles~

Isabelle: ~Looking at grant~ you owe me a match sometime.

You know I’m always willing. ~Smiles~

Emma: ~hugs Joey~ bye-bye.

Everyone: AWWW!

~Joey turns red and then escapes the hug and runs towards the house.~

Joey: BYE!!

Penelope: I guess someone has a crush. ~looks at Joey running away.~

Grant: ~Looks at Emma~ Go easy on him. ~winks~

Emma: ~Sticks out tongue~ Ew icky!

~Everyone laughs~

Emma: I just like his fluffy ears. They’re so soft.

~They say their farewells and then begin heading back to town where Grant rents a cart and an extra fluffy-looking horse creature.~

Sarah: I’m glad we decided to get a cart and a Fluffmane for the rest of the trip. We should be able to get there by next year at this rate and we’ll be safer.

Goren: I only got that deal because we ended up helping out the owner. Normally he only sells or buys, but he was so grateful he offered to let me rent when I told him about our trip. I told him we could use Bubba to Pull the cart but he said it was both or neither.

Isabelle: ~Steering the cart~ As far as we’re going we might want to look into some extra protection. At this point, I know we talked about it before but I have a friend who might help for cheap or just for the experience alone.