9 Chapter 009

They left the realm a few days later, stopping on the island to gather a few odds and ends before heading off the island on a small ship setting sail for the wilderness.

The world was a magical one, not only in the way that there was magic available to be used, or that it could be found and conserved, but also in the fact that it was constantly evolving. Where once there was a small creek, a few years later there would be a rolling river. A small field becomes a large meadow, becomes a valley that becomes a ravine.

There were new plants and animals being created, and thus discovered, as the gods and higher powered entities played their hands at new life. Some were dangerous, others more for their looks and as a form of companionship, but they all would offer a form of resonance.

Resonance was something that Trimagus, the ever jolly Fire Magus, was always searching for. It was something that consumed many lifetimes, and had caused his death more than once.

The Wilderness got its name from the fact that nothing could truly settle there. No pioneer ever survived. No clan could tame it, and no creature higher than an instinct driven animal could remain there for long.

Passing through, however, was completely acceptable. And, this is where Trimagus and Alaina were travelling through.

It took the ship they'd left the island on two days to arrive at the small gulf that Final City rested in. Final City, a small town that housed less than a hundred people, was the last bastion of civilization before the wilderness began. And, it was only able to hold on to its meager position because of its proximity to water, the distance from the Wilderness' heart, and the high level of citizens that refused to leave the place they called home.

The docks were quiet, as they approached and off loaded, being given a reminder to not stray too far from the city unless they were wanting to end up in some animal's belly. And, with a couple coins, a good inn was suggested by the man at the docks.

"The Flaming Minge…" Trimagus muttered, as he looked at the inn's sign that they'd been suggested to stay at. "I…"

Alaina glanced back at him, and laughed in response, shrugging a shoulder. "I don't know, Master. I don't know." Was her comment as she looked up and down the street they'd come down. "But, it's getting late, and despite the name it was suggested by the tariff taker at the dock, I'm sure it's lovely."

"I'm sure it's lovely inside the Flaming Minge…" Agreeing, he chuckled once again, and stepped inside the battered door.

The Flaming Minge was a two story building that looked almost picturesque against the backdrop of the setting sun and the expansion of trees behind it with a pair of mountains peaking in the far distance. It was made of wood, but a sturdy wood that could only have been found in The Wilderness, and thus was expensive.

It boasted a large common room, with two fireplaces and enough chairs to let a hundred people rest at one time, without feeling cramped for space. And, at one time in its illustrious history, it had. Now, it was in a sad state of disrepair, causing the pair to carefully step past splintering portions of the floor, and carefully place their weight on the creaking wood.

"Hello.." Trimagus began, then stopped as he watched a plump looking ass wiggling back and forth as its owner scrubbed the floor under a table that still had quite a bit of food on top of it.

Alaina began to say something, but the mage raised a finger, stopping her with a lewd grin. Crossing his arms, he was preparing to enjoy the view when the slave cleared her throat. "Sorry to disturb you…" She said, smirking at Trimagus's look of disgust. "But, we'd like to rent a room."

She glanced sidelong at Trimagus, and muttered something about possibly a second room, which earned her a raised brow and a simple terse shaking of the head.

The person banged their head on the bottom of the table, earning a yelp of pain while the food and dishes on top clattered and fell around them to smash on the floor, shards of glass flew, and liquids splashed.

"That's it!" A shout called from the kitchen, coming storming out from a door deeper in the inn. "That's the last of my dishes you're gonna break!"

The pair looked round for the voice, even as it sounded as if were coming closer before a small gnome comes out from behind the bar top with a dirty apron over his well worn brown shirt and pants. He stormed over to where the person was rubbing their head, sobbing and trying to speak between their hysterics, only to swat with a towel.

"No more, you stray. You won't be staying here anymore. You've cost me more than a month's worth of dishes and food, and it's only been a week!" The gnome snarled, then apparently realized that there were patrons.

"Oh… ahem, excuse the mess. He was just about to leave." The small figure stated, motioning them towards the bar top and away from the mess.

"He..?" Trimagus muttered, looking at the delicate features of the dark skinned youth that was finally pulling themselves together.

They had long pale hair, snow white with hints of blue highlights. It framed bloodshot eyes of steel grey, and a smooth face that put their age somewhere around twenty. The oversized shirt was stained and ragged, but looked like it was cleaned regularly. It was belted down over a pair of tight fitting pants, that apparently had been worn for so long, there were hints of skin teasing through the fabric.

"That's.." Alaina pulled him along, shaking her head at the man's antics. "One room, food, two days." She told the gnome, eyeing the mess under the table and then Trimagus, back to the mess and finally to the gnome. "And, I'm sorry for startling your help. He seemed to be engrossed in his work, and jumped when I called for him."

"Don't mind him, he's just some random stray that showed up one day. Said he's waiting for some trident or another to come. Something about helping right a wrong of their family." Waiving his hand, he dismissed the boy and the apology. "One room, huh? Five gold'll cover the room and board, but a wash'll cost you extra if you're wanting that."

As they were speaking, Trimagus handed the girl a pouch, and turned to walk over to the person that was surrounded by garbage. Crouching down, he reached down and tucked a hand under their chin, ignoring the attempts at stifling their crying.

"Hey. You're stronger than that." The man whispered, his soft voice causing Alaina to look at the pair with a hint of jealousy streaking through her eyes. "I bet you feel so deep, don't you?" He continued, stroking a few strands of hair from the slowly calming down person.

"Y..yeah.." The voice was soft, a trickle of sound that barely was audible.

Nodding, Trimagus leaned closer, almost touching noses, and suddenly smiled. "You're so strong, though. I can smell the ocean on you. Taste the lake breeze." He said, his voice sounding almost mystified. "I want you."

"Master!" The girl began, "You can't just go claiming stra… err… people. You have me, what more do you need?" She spoke up, resting a hand on her chest.

"Your resonance is Earth. You're not an opposite, but you're not exactly a partner. An ally, and a strong one." Trimagus said, still looking at the delicate figure. His hands roamed the face, stroking skin and tucking hair away, showing more and more of the beautiful face while apparently calming the boy down. "She's Water. Almost as strong as you are, with what feels like some …" He frowned and sniffed thoughtfully. "A hint of life resonance."

Alaina began to say something else, but the person under the table went from crying to calm to confused and then curious. "Who are you? How do you know that..?" The voice, calmer now, was lyrical and almost musical.

"I'm Trimagus." He offered, shrugging a shoulder as if that was all there was to know.

"Fire Tyrant!" With a scream, the figure launched itself against the mage, latching their arms around his neck. "I've been waiting for you!" The voice grew higher in pitch. "It's been so long, my people haven't forgotten our promise. My people have been waiting for over five hundred years."

Alaina launched herself forwards, grabbing the figure by the scruff of the neck, and pulled him off the fire mage. "What promise are you talking about, boy?" She asked, despite being the younger of the two.

That saved Trimagus from having to ask the same question.