Desert

As Akaj returned to the wagon with his rolled-up camping supplies, he tossed a gleaming object towards Fulcher. Catching it against the gleam of the sun, he examined the new ring he found in his possession. It was a lazurite ring with a lapis lazuli gemstone.

"I won it off of a Frost Lord in a game of Pecabaz," explained Akaj. "It's called Glacial Core. Whatever you touch will be permeated with a frost so cold that it can even freeze flame." Fulcher looked at the ring, gently placing it into his pocket next to Crimson Vigor.

"That's incredible," he muttered. Akaj climbed onto the wagon, sitting down next to Schon with a thud.

"So my new human companions, where are you off to?" he asked.

"The Librarum," Vardia said. "We told you that already."

"No, not the physical location," Akaj said, waving his hand about. "Where in your life? What is your mission? Unless you just find joy and wandering the desert unguided? And hardly armed, eh?"

"We seek a way to end my father's reign," Fulcher explained that he climbed onto the wagon. It began to move forward as the group discussed.

"Why?" Akaj asked with a dull stare.

"He's a tyrant and a cruel man," Fulcher explained. Akaj continued to stare at him for a moment.

"Okay?" the Marquess said, unimpressed. "So why do you want to end his reign?" For the first time, Akaj was not smiling. "Is he just a cruel man? And you find that that is irritating, yes? He is just a tyrant to lesser people? Or are you simply doing this because you don't like daddy?"

"He is a slaver and a slayer. And there are no lesser people, only equals," Fulcher said. Akaj shrugged his shoulders, staring off into the distance.

"Do not misinterpret what I say as bigotry, my liege. Where I am from there are greater flames and lesser flames. A roaring fire snuffs out the spark. It is the nature of what I am. Is that not how humans work?" he asked.

"No," Fulcher explained.

"Sure, some people have magic," Schon said, "but that doesn't make them better or worse than others. It just makes them more physically powerful and capable, but they aren't necessarily smarter or more deserving." Akaj studied Schon for a moment before his smile returned.

"I see now. The Flameseers told me I'd learn much from mortal minds. I see, I see, so you are not doing this out of hatred, but revolution. A revolution so intrinsic to your beliefs, that you would slay your own father?" Akaj asked, turning to Fulcher.

"Yeah, well," Fulcher began. He's not really much of a father."

"Nor is mine young Prince, nor is mine. Now then, if you wish to go to the Librarum, you'll likely want to pass through Ubukhazikhazi," Akaj said.

"Bless you," Vardia said. Akaj looked at him with an odd expression, before turning his gaze back to Fulcher.

"Ubukhazikhazi is a shining city. One of the few in your world that have made its way to mine in the form of stories and rumor. I meant to travel there too, but figured the northern kingdoms were closer to where I was summoned," Akaj explained.

"Summoned?" Fulcher asked.

"Yes, I'm not from this plane. I am a fire djinn," Akaj said, dramatically posing with his hand held high.

"Well, it's probably good that you didn't go north," Schon said. "There were adventurers waiting to kill anything that tries to cross the border." Akaj chuckled.

"You think they could hurt Akaj? No no no... that is not the case. But I understand your concern," he said. "Though, this does explain why our Cinders have yet to return to The Realm. That, and we no longer have sparks in the northern kingdoms of man. The Deepfrost claimed the Far North, but other than that it seems the realm of man has been purged of our sprites. It is part of why I am here." Fulcher looked forward at the horizon, not wanting to make eye contact.

"It is likely my father. I've been told he purged the land of all beasts and non-humans. Hates magic and the like. Whatever sprites you had here were likely destroyed," he explained. The wagon was silent for a time as Akaj watched Fulcher.

"I see," he said, "then it is good we ran into each other. After your adventure in the Librarum, perhaps I will help you defeat your tyrant king. Ah, I can see it now. Yet another title added to my greatness."

"What, all those things you introduced yourself with when we first met?" Schon asked. 

"Indeed, indeed. Fire djinns are only as great as their deeds they commit. As a flame consumes fuel, we too consume experiences. Thus we gain titles to show what we have accomplished! That is why I am Akaj! Marquess of--" Akaj began before Fulcher interrupted.

"All right, all right. You don't need to go through the whole thing again," he said. Akaj frowned.

"Very well then 'single title Prince Fulcher'. But yes, the city of Ubukhazikhazi is grand and immaculate. I would even consider part of it worthy of the Realms of Fire. You will see that the greatest cities are in the south."

 -----

Corvidrop sat idle at his table staring at Stella, who still had not touched her food. He had long finished his four-course meal and now sat in silence as he poked at the remnants of his dessert. Meanwhile, the girl had hardly even drunk her water.

"What is wrong girl," he asked. "Don't tell me you are depressed because you couldn't travel the desert."

"It's Fuly," she muttered.

"It's fully what?" Benedict asked.

"No, Fuly. Fulcher. He's not real," she said. Corvidrop sighed and went back to poking at his plate.

"I know, I know, he's gone. But he'll be back soon enough, I'm sure," he began.

"No, that's not Fulcher. It's not him, he's not real. It's someone else..." she said softly, her voice trailing off as she stared down at her plate. Benedict began to stare at her now. The Prince had been acting strangely, different than what he had remembered. He had acted kind, not cruel. His words seemed honest, not venomous. Benedict thought the stress of his sudden rebellion had simply made The Prince act out. But the longer he thought about it, the less sense it made. He leaned forward against the table towards Stella.

"Dear," he said. The girl looked up at him, her eyes hollow.

"Tell me everything..."