Private Tales [ Chapter I ] Enchantmental Studies

[Amatrice Lorerince]

Art: WinterMoon. The Citadel Agnitus Suyud, located in Taagi Baara Steppes.

Amatrice coming from Kingdom of Alliria, by himself in these desperate times. Given that now he was acknowledged by his house as the new baron now. With is father having pasted away, he shed no tears of remorse as he embarked on his journey through the savage land. Having started to learn enchantments, he was eager to understand the fundamental history of how it came into being and to further his applications in magic. Disembarking the ship that offered aid in cargo transportation, he would throw a gold coin to a peasant as they cowardly accepted it and assisted him upon a three-legged bird carriage. Sitting inside the stuffy place, Amatrice would complain to the peasant of the issue. Annoyed as he impatiently called upon his assistant to hurry up with the service details. He would see his ten basic knight guards join him on their horses, as he would inquire what took them too long to prepare. "Geez! I'm going to die in this stinky place, for Gawd sake! HURRY UP!"

"Yes, my lord!" his assistant would reply as she quickly hurried to see the guards had received their pay along with map details and planned routes in case of an emergency. She would then dash towards his carriage only to trip and struggle to enter, however Amatrice would ignore the whole occurrence as he bricked about how much of a nuisance she was to fall.

Moments later as they would travel towards the Citadel, the knights would encounter some Frogzards, these annoying little creatures would hinder his travels. Knights indicating their signals for second route, as they would prepare to avoid the creatures in effort to assure Amatrice's safety was secured. "What are ya'll doing! These creatures can be taken care of right now! What am I paying you guys for! Hurry up!"

With his shouting, the guards would dislodge from their horses and prepare for combat as they grunted in annoyance to the brat's demands. Knowingly they dared not to proclaim against him, for he was now the Baron. They dared not to outspeak their minds, for if heard they'd surely be fired. Losing a highly paying job meant hard times for their families, given his status in Alliria, his word of say would also hinder their possible future jobs. Now with the clash of these lizards, the team would engage protecting Amatrice who sat inside the carriage without saying anything or offering assistance. '...my father would've yelled at me for not helping but, its not like you're alive now. Sucks to be you, Dad. I'm gonna be the greatest wizard you could never be!' thinking as the lizards one by one, fell to the swords of the knights. Suddenly a much louder roar would be heard as the group including Amatrice peeking outside his window, they sought to what had made that sound.

He would see a much larger Frogzard that appeared like the mother. '**** I need to get outta of here!' scared as the knights prepared to engage it, his assistant would claim that they had flee while the knights held the front. Understanding the reasoning as he jumped out with her, they'd ran towards the direction of the Citadel. Meanwhile the knights roared to confront the demise. An hour later after exhaustion from running for their lives. The looming silence in the distance gave an eerie feeling, the knights had been defeated for sure now as horses appeared to race across the vast land.

"Sire, do you have any food?" she would inquire as Amatrice looked exhausted and hungry. One stare at her, she knew he was pissed off by the question as she suddenly started to fidget around looking for food to hunt in an area. Amatrice would sigh knowing he would have to hunt, however in the setting sun, they needed to secure some place to lay and in a wide area with only boulders as cover. They appeared defenseless. With Amatrice as the only wizard able to utilize some basic applications of magic, the odds to surviving in this magically filled world seemed deem. "Go get those leaves over there. Grab some sticks over there, bring as many as possible."

While she attained the sticks, Amatrice would prepare for Arcane Summoning as they needed a night watch. He would hear a shrill, turning to face her as he dashed towards her. She would appear fine, but with two dots on her left arm bleeding, "...ah, something bit me while I was trying to grab those twigs, my lord. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"What was it that bit you?"

"I don't know, sire. Could've been invisible."

"You seem to have taken preemptive measures, so I hope you'll be okay, now bring those twigs."

"Yes sir."

Moving towards the large boulder, she would bring the sticks also the leafs, however momently she oddly would lose strength as she got on he knees. Amatrice would stop what he was working on, he eye'd her for moment before watching her faint. in shock of the aftermath, he would bring her close towards the boulders. Sighing as he nervously wondered what he had to do...

 

[Asemir]

And in the quiet of the drawing twilight the sound of an approaching caravan gently interrupted the evening song of wildlife. Two moons cast a silver light upon the lands, dotted by torches held aloft and attached to various wagons. Immediately recognizable as a komodi caravan by anyone who frequented any major city, it might come as a source of relief to the wayward mage and his servant. Though looked down upon by most other races, komodi had many uses and many qualities someone in their particular situation might see fit to economize.

Not a large convoy by typical komodan standards, there were perhaps 20 individuals in all. Three vardos, two open wagons, two dressed kleppa mounts, and several silhouettes of walking clan members made up the long line now slowly making its way toward them.

Melfa walked at the front, serving as a clan guard while she traveled with them. Though the caravan would not pass especially close by, the scent of two humans was difficult to miss. The komodo stepped off from their path, forked tongue flickering through the air. A heated gaze of yellow surveyed the landscape, catching movement some twenty-odd yards away near an outcropping of boulders.

"Melfa?" a wagon driver called over as they passed behind her, "what is it?"

"Smell hoomans," Melfa replied without looking back, tipping her head to one side as she wandered a bit farther out, "am look."

"Be careful."

Tail lashing in a customary departure gesture, Melfa began a slow trek across the wastes, tracking the scent of hoomans.

 

[Amatrice Lorerince]

Amidst the staggering of options, with a sigh Amatrice knew he had to do something. For survival he needed her to be alive given she had the skills of communication which was something that he lacked deeply. Moreover, with her over 4 language skills, he really couldn't afford to lose her in such a place. Poundering for a moment in deep thought over the articles he had read and recalling theories that wouldn't hinder him from suffering much of mana depletion, '...a somewhat bare understanding of magical alchemy, a type of magical art that was utilized in minimizing mana expense use. These technique aimed towards the understanding an intended structure of matter, decomposing it, and then reconstructing it. With only one thing amassed to be created from it, if something else of a certain mass was off the resulting erroneous miscalculation would result in a great exhaustion of mana which usually resulted in death of the caster. In other words, only the fully precise and meticulous natured mages dared to attempt this method of magical use. This is the Principle of Equivalent Exchange. Surely, I can, no will apply to his current situation, for mana exists within a form of both Spiritual and Physical energies as one. The Soul of all living things is housed by these energies, which in-turn requires both to be intact for one being to fully be alive. Therefore, given this poison is reducing her physical state, as long as a conversion is made, she'll stay alive. If I knew of a healing method, I would've help her quicker and effortless, sadly I only immersed myself during my studies in Enchantments. Okay, she don't look like she has much time, I've got to attempt it now.'

In a minute of deep thought as his servant suffered from annoy of some sort of venom. He would inhale and exhale as knowing his failure would result in her death. Placing his hand on her head and his other on her cheat above her breasts, in-between adhere to his actions she would attempt to calm down. Amatrice would channel his manner into her knowing that mana is unique to each individual. He would aim to rather absorb hers futile mana but roughly at the minimalist possible in an extremely careful application knowing that he must use his mana besides to simply manipulate hers. This method was completely experimental as no further practice had been taken. Basic theory of understand and his sheer confidence in magical application and understanding was all he had. Using this, he would surge his own into her while molding her own mana to formulate a basic seal.

Normally, creating a simple seal would be done by Amatrice as effortlessly as breathing however, when this application of using another's mana to whilst using your mana to 'beat in shape' another to do your bidding was beyond his normal feat, even though he wasn't wasting his mana in the process, the very action was a mental strain. Complete focus on her as he ignored the area around him, completely in a different world mentally as he gave 120% of his mental capacity this task.

Meanwhile as a komodi caravan had settled around the area, surely locating the ground, Amatrice wouldn't acknowledge their presence due to the task as his eyes closed and his whole mind strictly zoned on this task he would simple be defenseless. Meanwhile, as he simply applied the seal method using her mana, it would rather convert her physical strain to mana cost. In other words of magical application in concept conversion, if her physical energy was depleting her mana now was simply catching up to it. This ultimately was a quick effective bandage on a larger bleeding wound, changing the rate of the flooding into a faucet spill.

Turning to face the sky, in a relief to his successful use of mana. He had barely utilized his mana as he simply waste a most the minimalist possible. Given his mana wasn't released but rather manipulated as it retuned most of it back into him. Sighing, as he became annoyed of his weak subject but at the same time pleased he could utilize her once more. Reality would alert him as he was a sort of humanoid being, of a towering stature, broad shoulders, and a leering gaze. He had read about the entity walking towards him, it was the Komodi. They hated humans! Moreover, he was HUMAN!
"Ack!"

"Sire, thank you for reviving me, I feel a lot better now, I don't know what you did but am great in-"

"Enough of that! You-you-y-y-You Speak!"

"Yes Sire!" watching her as she would surely confidently bow to the coming entity, before speaking she would appear to make herself very docile and innocent as she spoke kindly to the coming Komodi, "I. do. no. harm."

 

[Asemir]

To someone else they might have noted the unusual situation upon which they entered, but to Melfa it was simply odd to find two humans in the middle of the wastes. Humans were soft, weak, not able to eat carrion. Didn't they know it would be difficult to survive out here?

Melfa might have lifted an inquisitive brow at the small woman had she the ability to do so, alas keratinous overgrowth of horns had set her brow into a permanent scowl nearly a decade ago. The komodi canted her head to one side as she looked down upon the servant, then cast her beastly gaze upon the man she accompanied.

The komodo flicked her tail across the ground, stirring up dust and dirt.

"Hoomans lost," she observed after a moment with a nod, "not harm Melfa. Komodi scales too hard." A gravelly sort of sound reverberated from her chest not unlike the noise made by an alligator proclaiming its territory to another. To a komodi it was a sound of amusement, to a human it likely came across as a growl.

"Komodi clan go to Suyud, can take hoomans for a price."

 

[Amatrice Lorerince]

Amatrice watching the interaction with a worrisome expression and an Alert expression. He was keen on finding anything that was possible to utilize in the worst case scenario, given he didn't trust the woman he prepared to attempt as he recalled enchants that hindered sight. Knowing nearly nothing of the conversation of the two, given only 'human lost' and 'not able to harm the being in front' gave indication of intelligence to a degree.

She would turn back to him as she then relayed the message, to whom Amatrice would see the ground implying they travel with her only and not with the pack. She would request permission to refute which he would allow, then agreeing that they would follow at a distance, just so they wouldn't be besieged. "Okay now, go tell her."

"Yes Sire!" quickly turning around to face the Komodo, she would kindly once more explain to them about the issue hopefully as Amatrice awaited the result. Given he couldn't understand most of what they spoke, he awaited as he dusted himself off, knowing that he had to stay vigilant.

---Unable to fully grasp what they're slang is, due to how quickly 3rd Person they're taking with a different complexity mix and tone of language---​

"My Master says that we should go with you. While your group follows behind, given your people are much stronger than us, we wouldn't feel say, if we were surround by a lot of you. My lord will pay in Gold. I am sure you don't want gold. He doesn't know this, but I'll tell something. He can cure, do miracles and even dispel evil. So one task of your demand, for the secure escort to the Citadel Suyud?"

 

[Asemir]

The komodo blinked down at the woman, tail twitching in thought. Not so strange for lone humans to be fretful of komodi caravans - most of them were afraid of catching some fabled sickness. But komodi were hardly the blood-feasting fiends they were made out to be. Violently tearing humans limb from limb, though enjoyable to some, was hardly conducive to maintaining open trade with their cities and kingdoms.

"Komodi take gold, Melfa guard clan, walk with clan," and without any further hesitation she turned and began to make her way back towards the cavalcade in the distance, "clan not harm hoomans."

 

[Amatrice Lorerince]

Relying the message to him as she knew she had somehow failed him. Surprised by the calm attitude of Amatrice, she would know some scheming was being developed by him, given the tendency of her master she now prepared for the after course of events. Despite her mental self-augments over his change of heart, since he had cared enough to revive her. However, she couldn't help but feel an eerie feeling of a hidden plan. "I see, so we gotta to move as a group. Well, it can't be helped. It is almost dark and with them we should be safe."

"Yes Sire, I apologize for failure, pl-"

"Stay close to me." Amatrice would say to her as they begun to converge with the group. He knew if worst case occurred, he would utilized her as a living offering for Arcane Summoning. Moreover, at the situation he also kept a close hold on her as he felt eyes on the back of his head as the Komodi around him kept trying to study him and see what made him special. Having traversed with group towards the plains for a while, he had started to understand the speech of the common language that attempted to speak.

"Please keep your distance...sir?" as he told on of the Komodi that seemed to sniff him quite a lot more than others. Evading his space was creeping under skin as he was buffed by the behavior, like an itchy need to vent, Amatrice was being tested. His patience slowly thinned as they kept traveling as a group. His assistant would notice the annoyed expression on his face as the Komodi appeared quite young and eager to learn more of what made this human the boss of the older female. With his eyes starting to glow, an indication of magical erection build up in his body. Amatrice making a smirking stressed expression as he replied to the young Komodi, "Do. You. Need. Gold?"

 

[Asemir]

The young komodi issued a similar sounding rumble to the one Melfa had made earlier in the evening, easing back to swing himself up onto the nearest wagon. He murmured something in desert tongue to the one driving, who barked an audible laugh in return.

Melfa was walking just a few paces ahead, a leisurely stride alongside one of the pack kleppas. She sneered, pointed teeth glinting visibly in the moonlight, "Say you spek funny."

Her pace slowed enough to walk closer to Amatrice and the woman, Melfa gazed down at him with a faint hint of curiosity, "Melfa think you lucky for caravan. This time wastes have many hatch ... mm-" Melfa looked over to the young komodi from before, asking him a question in the same foreign tongue before reverting back to common, "sssserpents of moon."

"Luna Vipers," said the wagon driver lazily.

"Haaaa, yes? Much bad for hoomans, much tasty for komodi, raaaaaaaahaahaa."

 

[Amatrice Lorerince]

With his statement received by the Komodi that annoyed him, they'd move back growling at him after a moment of creating a rumbling noise '...hmph, very much like an uncivil beast' he would think to himself as he braced his glasses, retuning them into place. The warm night of the land was much welcoming, however it didn't calm Amatrice's nerves. With the group together, the scary Lazards in the distance seemed to know the threat the Komodi were. Keeping the wary look out as prey, the avoided the group which eased his mind as his Assistant stayed docile and quiet.

Turning to face Melfa, whom was the the leader per say for the trip, she would proclaim to him. "Say you speak funny."

"Well, ain't that amusingly a hypocritical accusation?" he would reply in a condescending tone glaring at the Komodi that spoke ill of him. Sighing as he held his one of his charms from his carryon handy pouch. Using the charm as a sweat absorbing remover upon his skin and clothing (negligible mana use). These charms being items he had personality crafted, he utilized them effortlessly. Now as Melfa neared them, Amatrice would retune his charm back into his handy-pouch. "Melfa think you lucky for caravan. This time wastes have many hatch ... mm-"

"...."

"Sire, she-"

"Silence." cutting her off before she would complete her sentence as he had left her no other option to even retort. Listening in to her statement made to him, he figured that she was merely boasting her strength in regards to that. He didn't respond as they walked she would further compliment that they should be giving gratitude to the band of Komodi that saved them.

"Luna Vipers," the wagon driver spoke lazily. Noting the tone, he was surprised to hear quite a much cleaner accent, a profound trader to be precise. Perhaps they were the instructor of the language, needless to say Amatrice took note of that. Having accounted the group's members, weapons, food, type of clothing, and social norms, he surely kept a mental profile of it all.

"Haaaa, yes? Much bad for hoomans, much tasty for komodi, raaaaaaaahaahaa." Melfa boasting once more as she spoke. Clearly was a proud individual, with a strong sense of combat, something Amatrice attributed to his possible plans. In the young night lured a wary mood to Amatrcie after having heard of these 'Luna Vipers' creatures, he invited conversation.

"Tell me more, my mighty strong friend. What are these Luna Vipers?" as he spoke to Melfa. His assistant would notice the behavior that he displayed, reminding her of the scheming nature of Amatrice. She would cower down as she walked knowing he was up to some plan to use the innocent kind Komodi.

 

[Asemir]

"Viper have poison, ha?" Melfa replied.

"Venom," the wagon driver corrected.

Melfa gestured to the driver, "Vipers hatch now, little vipers most venym. Kill ten hoomans one bite. Venym not kill komodi."

In fact, if their guest were to look forward toward the front of the caravan, he might have noticed other guards stepping off a ways and scooping up various writhing snakes with their claws or tails. Snake fangs were too brittle to pierce a komodi's scaled hide, not that the venom would do much either way.

Before she could add anything else, a chorus of herd bells sounded from the front of the caravan.

"Ssssaaaaa -" Melfa turned her gaze ahead as shortly off in the distance the faint flickering lights of the walled city began to crest the horizon, "we reach city by sun up."