Beyond the Beyond: Update 42: A Night in Simone (Simone Village pt. 4)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 42: A Night In Simone (Simone Village pt. 4)

The last time we saw our plucky heroes they were back in Simone, that strange little village perched right by a cliff out in the middle of nowhere to make it hard for anyone to find them. The village elder had invited them to stay the night and after all that silly business out in the desert the kids take him up on his offer. It's the first real day of rest they've had in awhile.

Prrr. So is everyone looking forward to another fun-filled day in Simone?
You mean fun-filled afternoon? Most of the day is already gone.
That's exactly what I said!
They really should get that ladder fixed.
I know, right?
Well I don't know about fun but I'm sure I can find something to do to pass the time.
I have some questions for the elder. I guess now's as good a time as any for them.
Hmm. You know while I'm here I should look something up down in the library.
Like how to make your summoned friends actually listen to you?
That's impossible. No, I want to make sure I don't ever have a repeat of what happened in Arawn's Palace.
What about you, Annie?
Eh, I've got nothing planned. You?
Nothin'.

True to his word Edward went first to see the elder of Simone.

Prince Edward do I detect a hint of nervousness in your voice?
Ah, uh, well, it's just I'm trying to figure out the best way to ask my question.
What's there to worry about? It seems straightforward to me.
I mean, it's such an important question.
Obsessing over every little detail won't help. You'll do fine.

With a little encouragement from Sir Samson the prince approaches Elder Xelmet.

What can I do for you, child?
Uh, yes, we heard about something called the Great Light and were wondering what that is.
Hmm, that is a difficult question. I'm afraid that I don't have a good answer. The prophecy concerning the Great Light offers no clarity into who or what it is.
Really?
I'm afraid so.
Then why do some of the mages seem excited about its release?
It is true that a destructive shadow stretches out from Bandore. Whatever the Great Light is it must, by its very nature, stand in opposition to that.
But the clash of two immensely powerful forces often destroys anything that happens to be between them at the time. At least, that's what my master would often say when teaching me how to balance magical forces.
Aww, yes, what your master taught you is true. I don't think anyone wants a war. If it comes down to that Simone will do its best to minimize the damage to the Common World.
*smirks* One guy downstairs thinks we're the Great Light.
Wild ideas are running a bit rampant right now. People will calm down in a few days and Simone will be mostly back to normal.
(right) You know Birch won't back down once he's got one of those... odd ideas in his head.
Well I guess we have sort of become Arawn's messengers. I can understand how he would assume we might be the Great Light.
(right) I don't see how any human being could be the Great Light. It must be some powerful force like Arawn.
(left) Someone or something of equal power to the shadow?
(right) Probably.
Now, now let's not be hasty. We don't know what the shadow is or what's creating it.
(left) So you think the shadow, whatever it is, has power rivaling Arawn himself?
(right) I never said that.
Let's hope that's not the case.
Whatever the source of the conflict is Arawn said he's staying out of it.
He can't interfere because of the agreement.
If the Vicious Ones break it do you think he'll change his mind?

Hmm.
Samson!
I don't know. I doubt it. Would it really matter to us?
Well... *awkward shuffling* I don't know.
(left) I'm sure mighty Arawn is only trying to do what is best for everyone.
(right) The legends say that there was a war that marked the end of the previous age. All the nations of the earth were consumed by it.
I think I remember my teacher mentioning something about that once.
There are still some old ruins from that time but no one ever visits them anymore.
Really? Where?
Scattered about. Mostly stuff like part of an old wall or the corner of what was once a house. The knights used to keep track of the old sites but it just wasn't practical to keep doing that.
Huh. So they just fell apart over time?
Mostly. Anything of brick or stone was torn apart for building materials.
*looks around the room* I guess that's a problem Simone doesn't really have to worry about, is it?

Finn and Annie meanwhile faced a conundrum concerning Tont.

I really don't feel right about this, Annie. We should tell them.
Tell them what? That their son had a freak accident and has been cursed to be a gooey creature thing?
Prrar. I think Tont would like to keep some of his dignity, Finn.
So we're just gonna tiptoe around like nothing's wrong?
I didn't say that. Look, I don't like this either but it's what Tont wants. We should respect that, right?
I guess.
What's wrong, Finn?
I can't stop thinking, seeing him pacing over there, if that's how my dad feels about me right now. Is he worried, wondering where I am?
Prrya. That's kind of deep, Finn.
Bite me, Steiner.
No. I mean it. Lord Kevins probably is worried about you.
What would you know, Steiner? You always made yourself scarce whenever Kevins came by.
Call it dragon's intuition then. Finn, we'll be back in Marion soon. I'm sure your dad's not the type to get himself killed.
Assuming he wasn't killed in the initial invasion.
I know. I'm trying to stay hopeful. He'll be there when we get back to Marion. He has to be!
...
...It's the not knowing that's so terrible. You at least got to see Percy leave, to say goodbye to your parents.
If it'll make you feel better we can at least say hi to them and get acquainted.
No. That's okay. We should really talk to Tont before we do anything about this.
Okay. Soooo what are we going to do for the rest of the afternoon?
I dunno. Wander out in the woods and get too tired running around to think about this sort of stuff?
Sounds good to me.

True to his word Tont was already hard at work in the great library of Simone.

Hmm, no that's not it.
...
What? Is someone there?

A lovely day for slowing you down, my child. I thought I might find you here.
Oh! Elder Xelmet!

You didn't have to get up on my accord. I just came by to see what you are doing.
Oh, uh, I was just looking up a particular incantation.
Oh? Perhaps I can help you. What kind of incantation are you looking for?
It's, um, well... *looks away sheepishly then takes a deep breath and starts talking quickly* I had a problem with one of my spells not working and I mean I figured out what was wrong but I was wondering if there was a specific reason why the specific way I was trying to make the invocation wasn't working. So I'm down here... reading.
A summon invocation?
Yeah. The firedrake one.
Aww, yes. The spirits are very picky.
But... why?
It's part of the contract. The spirits don't want to serve a mage who won't show them proper respect so they are picky about only answering a precise incantation. If it's off they know the mage is beneath them and they ignore the call.
...really?
Well it's not quite that simple but I'm not sure you're ready for the gritty details.
...
Is there something you want to ask me?

...
Well, we have some catching up to do but it can wait until this evening when you're more settled in.
What should I do if the spirits won't listen to me again?
You're worried about not being able to pull your own weight?
My friends suffered because of my screw up. I don't want to ever put them through that again.
You've been reading that book I loaned you haven't you?
Of course, Elder Xelmet.
Then you'll be fine. By the way I was wondering what you think of that boy Edward. Curious lad, that one.
Oh, uh, yeah, I guess you could describe him like that. He's really polite. Got a keen sense for magic though. I don't get how he does it.
Oh?
Yeah. He can sense magic. Says he feels it. He seems to know what he's talking about so I guess he actually can feel magic.
Hmm. That's not surprising. There have been some mighty mages born in Marion over the centuries. Merlin was born there if I remember correctly.
Huh?
Come now, child. You didn't really think all of the world's mages came here to Simone did you? Some thought it was a stupid idea. Others simply chafed at the notion of any authority over them. Then there were a few who said they had obligations elsewhere that they couldn't ignore. Noble, really.
Edward said he was trained by the court mage of Marion.
Try to learn what you can from the boy. I'll be by later to see how you're doing.

Elsewhere in the bowels of Simone was Sir Samson who had been once again left to his own devices.

Sir Samson?

His solitude would be short lived when Finn followed him down the stairs.

Finn? What? Miss Annie's not with you?
Well, she was, for awhile. We went out into the woods around the village but you know that mage that Annie doesn't like?
Yes.
He was kinda out there collecting herbs.
Oh dear.
Ahh, you know what? Forget I said anything. Nobody got hurt in the end and that's what's important, right?
I suppose. Is there something you need, Finn?
Well... *looks around* Where are we anyway?
We're adjacent to the great library of Simone.
Oh. Is that where Edward is?
Not yet. He's upstairs talking to one of the scribes.
Soooo, what are you doing down here?
Is there something you want, Finn? I don't really have the time to play twenty questions.
Uh, yeah, uh, I was just kinda wondering what exactly is the plan for when we get back to Zalagoon.
We're going to prove that we're not a bunch of Bandore spies, that's what.
But how? Do you really think the king is gonna give us another shot after what happened the last time?
Yes.
I don't know how you can be so confidant about this, Sir Samson.
*puts hand on Finn's shoulder* Remember, Finn, that we have friends in Zalagoon. Sir Bison is waiting for us.
I guess...
*chuckles* You're like Edward, you know. Both of you are too young to be worrying so much about this stuff. Relax. Take the evening and go do normal kid stuff.
And what would that be?
*shrugs* I haven't been a kid in a very long time, Finn.

...
Finn what is it?
What are we going to do if there's no one left in Marion?
You mean if your father and the other knights are all dead?
Yeah. We've been gone for months. Edward said he didn't know what happened to his father.
*crosses arms across chest* Hmm, his Majesty was in the castle at the time. I don't know what happened to him. If Lord Kevins did the smart thing he made an escape route for the king his first priority.
Leaving Edward behind.
Hrmm. Yes.
You weren't there at the time, were you?
Have you been talking with Steiner?
What? No. Not about that at least. I was just thinking that Edward never mentioned you being with him that night and you're, like, his bodyguard and stuff.
You're right. I wasn't there. I was out on patrol at the time.
So in the event that you're not around who was supposed to look after Edward?
That was usually his teacher Myrrdin's job.
He... died in the invasion?
Like so many others. *pause* Finn, where is Steiner?
Well you know how I said we ran into that mage out in the woods?
Yes.
Well Steiner's kinda making sure that Annie doesn't go on a homicidal rampage against that guy because she's pret-ty mad right now and you know how she gets when she's all fired up.
So you just sort of left her like that?
Well there was nothing I could do about it. Gotta give her some space. *brief pause* Please tell me you have some sort of Plan B if things don't go well in Zalagoon.
You're really hung up on this aren't ya, kid?
The last few months have been mostly flying by the seat of my pants. I don't know how much more of this I can take.
I appreciate your honesty, Finn. Things will get better. I'm not exactly sure how but they will. You have my word.
*nods* Ok. I take it you're feeling better then.
Yes. Very much so.
Well at least somebody's happy...

Night falls upon Simone but not everyone is having a restful sleep. There are not many out and about in the treetop walkways of Simone but Annie is one of the few.

Oh, hi there.
You're out rather late.
Eh, I can't sleep.
And what about your brother?
Him? He's out like a light. I don't know how he does it.
Some boys are just like that. What about you? We didn't get a chance to finish our conversation last time.
Well I'm all right.
And your magic?
Oh, that. It's gotten better too.
*concentrates for a moment* Yes, I can feel it now. That aura, the magic flowing through you, it's a little stronger since the last time I saw you.
It... is?
Does that frighten you?
A little, I guess.

There's something you're not telling me.
It's something I don't usually talk about.
Is it about your magic?
Yes.
Well I'm here if you should change your mind.

The mage turns her back on Annie and starts to walk away.

Wait!
What is it?
Do you have any idea what might be causing this? I mean, having this magic has been helpful and all but I'm worried about what it's going to do to me.
Did something happen?
Well you remember what I told you the last time we met? I kind of left out the fact that gaining magic wasn't as spontaneous as I might have led you to believe. *awkward silence* Um, someone or something did this to me while I was dead.
You're sure of this?
Yeah. They kinda talked to me and told me they were sorry about what was happening but that it was necessary.
Why didn't you mention this before?
*awkwardly rubs her neck* Um, I'm not entirely sure any of it actually happened. I was kinda dead at the time after all. Do you think I'm just over reacting?
Not at all. Like I said before there's no sign that you're possessed. Maybe Arawn was speaking to you?
No. We met Arawn and he's an old guy who says he can't get involved. The person I talked to, well there were two of them but only one of them actually said anything, they were women.
Arawn's servants or spirits maybe?
Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?
I can't say that I have. People brought back from the brink of death can come back with some strange experiences but I've never heard of anyone being... modified while in that state. Hmm. Has your magic been stable?
For the most part, yes, but every now and then I'll wake up and realize I've got, uh, a bit more juice then I did the day before.
It really is growing then.
Is that normal for a mage?
With time and experience a mage is supposed to get better at drawing mana from their surroundings and keeping it stable until they're ready to use it.
I think I know what you're talking about. Edward does stuff like that sometimes. I've never had to do that though.
I can feel mana within you. You must be generating it naturally. Unusual but not entirely unheard of.
But why does that happen?
That I don't know. That's a question for Master Zeon. *another awkward silence* The last time we met you seemed calm, at peace with your magic. What happened to change your mind?
I guess it's just everything that's been going on. Sir Samson seems to be doing better but that curse almost took him out a few times. It's just... damn it if I'm supposed to have these amazing healing powers why couldn't I do anything about that?!
I heard about that curse from Elder Xelmet. Nasty, nasty business. You can't beat yourself up over that. You're a kid and a pretty normal one at that all things considered.

...Thanks. I think I needed to hear that.
You're not a monster.
And...
And if you start to worry that the path you've been set upon might be leading you in that direction remember why you decided to travel with your brother in the first place.
He needs my support because he can't do what needs to be done on his own.
And what needs to be done?
Our people are suffering. That must end.
And beyond that?
I don't know. I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know if... this is going to be permanent. I assume it will be.
Would that be so terrible if it were?
I don't know.

To be continued...

Update Forty-One | Index | Update Forty-Two point five