Change

Erinara

I focused on the feather encased in runes.
“Do you think Fyor knew that I would end up in the company of warlocks?”, Jin voiced the question I was thinking of.
“While I can’t completely deny it, I doubt it. I assume the feather was more so meant as a memento. Then again, Fyor’s battle tactics were layered and widely known for having multiple potential actions depending on what happened. He probably saw at least one possibility of you ending with warlocks as allies.”
“Was he some sort of tactical mastermind?”, I asked.
“Quite. Combat with him was like fighting someone who could see the future.”
“Training under him felt like that, too”, Jin added, then he continued: “Speaking of the future, I’d better get my gear in shape. Please excuse me.”
With that, Jin left. He took some time out of every day to make sure his armor and swords were sufficiently taken care of.

Ebiron and I were alone in the study.

“Ebiron I have a request to make”, I stated, “I want to accompany Eaglecrest on the journey to find his master. May I?”
Ebiron raised an eyebrow quizzically.
“You have only made a request to me once before, when we first met. There is no need for such a formal request. Erinara, you can do as you please.”
Then he continued: “I would have asked you to do so either way. The Eaglecrest name seems to be seen as a threat to the royal council. It would be best to have Jin Eaglecrest accompanied by a capable warlock, if nothing else for added security. On top of that, you created the rune system to track Fyor, and you are the only mage other than me who can use shadow teleportation. Not to mention Jin Eaglecrest seems to be relaxed around you. You are perfect for this role.”
“Thank you. I shall talk to Eaglecrest about this tomorrow.”

First thing in the morning the next day, I knocked on Jin’s door. He opened it almost instantly. Even though the sun had only recently risen, he was already fully equipped with his armor.
“Good morning Erinara. How may I be of assistance?”
“Good morning. I’ve come to inform you that I would like to accompany you on the journey to find your master.”
“Seriously? You don’t have to do that, I wouldn’t want to take away your time”, he sounded worried.
“Don’t worry, I’m doing this out of my own volition. Ebiron agrees with my idea as well. You could use a warlock by your side. What if the tracking spell broke for example?”, I explained, “You’ve been slowly understanding the basics of runic casting from observing me and asking about it, but you’re still far away from being able to use it yourself. And besides, no harm in having some extra firepower, right? Unless of course, you prefer to go alone.”
“I see. In that case”, he bowed deeply before me, his hand clutching the Eaglecrest, “thank you very much, Erinara. With your help, I’m sure the journey will be a lot smoother.”
“I’m glad to be of assistance. Unfortunately, we will still have to make the trip on foot, as using shadow teleportation with the feather would break the runes around it, thus destroying our lead on your master. We should still be able to move quickly though. I will gather some spellcasting components for healing and reinforcement magic.”
I left for the apothecary room, filling a satchel to the brim with magic components in the span of the next hours.

During the rest of the day, Ebiron and I created a rune system to anchor my next usage of shadow teleportation to the citadel's main gate from any distance, for up to three targets. This way I could return with Jin and Fyor, if we found him, or use it as an emergency solution if Jin and I found ourselves in a situation we couldn’t handle. Which, in fairness, considering that we were the trainees of an executive and a hero respectively, was incredibly unlikely, if not impossible.

Jin entered the study late in the evening as well, wanting to ask Ebiron something. He waited for us to complete the glyph first though.

“Thank you for your patience, Jin Eaglecrest”, Ebiron announced, “What is it you wish to know?”
“Yes, I was wanting to ask you about some of your magic. Before we first met, you were watching my battle with the simulacrum using a spell, right? Can you do the same for scouting where Fyor would be?”, Jin inquired.
“While that would be a great idea, I’m afraid I can not. In order to use that spell, ‘shadow’s eye’, it requires me to mark a location first, by having physically been there. Unless Fyor is in the land of warlocks, shadow’s eye won’t be of help”, Ebiron explained.

The next day at noon, streaks of green light emanated from the feather, pointing northwest.
Jin and I finished our final preparations and got ready to leave on our quest to find Fyor. Every pocket in my clothes contained spellcasting components, as well as the satchel I packed a day prior. I had the satchel slung across my shoulder.

“Oh! Let me carry the spell casting components please”, Jin said, looking at the satchel, “The weight should be negligible for me, we will be able to cover more ground like this.”
He held his hand out expectantly. A massive backpack already hung from his shoulders, filled with rations, water, bedrolls, equipment for his maintaining his swords, and basic cooking equipment.
“Are you sure? You seem encumbered already”, I said uncertainly.
“Please, this much is nothing.” As if to prove his point, he quickly went through a range of acrobatic motions.
“I don’t know what’s more impressive, the fact that you can do a cartwheel with full heavy plate armor and a backpack, or that said backpack did not completely spill its contents across the floor”, I laughed. “Just a moment.”
Before handing him my satchel, I quickly grabbed two handfuls of silver powder. He slung the satchel atop his rucksack.
“Might as well keep this up the entire time.”
I recited a simple incantation, making the powder float in the air shortly and then attach to us as if magnetically attracted, increasing our strength and stamina.
“Funny, the simulacrum also used this when we fought”, Jin told me.
“It’s a very basic component spell. Simple, but efficient. Are you ready?”
“Ready as ever!”

We said goodbye to Ebiron and Kayon at the entrance of the citadel. Then we set out to follow the soft green light radiating from the runes around the feather.

Ebiron waited for a while longer than Kayon to return to the citadel. He looked in the direction Jin and I had departed for. We have already been long out of earshot.

“It seems more has happened in my absence than you implied, Erinara”, Ebiron chuckled to himself quietly, “who would have thought that it would be the disciple of the executive of change who might inspire the greatest change of all?”