Chapter 16:

Spreading the knowledge

Twilight Star: First Goal


Robbie and Rus were debating about how to train while walking over. When the group walked in, Elaine just blinked her hazel eyes, standing to welcome them… all? The original group, except for Julianna and Londra headed towards the training room while the others just smiled nervously at her. “Hello, Twilight Star,” she began, her round, dark beige face trying to hide her nerves. She pushed a lock of long, grey hair away from her face. “Mara, Trenton, and Peter can go in at any time…” The three waved before heading into a room that people usually shied away from.

“Sorry about Darcy,” Londra started as Anna chuckled. Both had animated faces full of apologies. 

“I don’t mind starting early,” Elaine said honestly. “The Archduke ordered my family and Master Oscar’s to be guarded for a while. He is upstairs and should be down soon to take some of them home. They should be out in the next five minutes… I received a notification that you had four more joining… all non-humans, so two and a half hours…”

“Elaine, breathe, nobody is rushing you,” Anna smiled. Her light tan, heart-shaped face and deep green eyes radiating warmth while she swayed a bit playing with her, long, deep red hair. “We introduced them to the Feline Drakes before we left. They hadn’t had the pleasure of that yet and my what a show that was! It wasn't nice to laugh but their reactions were better than ours.”

“Okay, sorry,” Elaine sighed, just as a large, fluffy, orange and yellow head plopped in her lap, his hazel eyes begging to be touched. “Oh! So soft. I don’t mind the size, but you could go smaller and sit on my lap.” Theda obliged, curling up in her lap. A few strokes and Elaine was centered again. “Okay, who wants to go first. I assume you are all here because you want to be and everything appears to be set up. I just need you to touch the large Lacrama to finalize everything then you may enter the Learning Room.”

“Yep, according to Mara, Spella can’t wait to meet you all,” Londra smiled, her round, light beige face and hazel eyes lighting up from the conversation in her mind. “She can’t wait to talk to me again either. She assures me that in nine months I will have more questions.”

“I will go first,” Zerina started, bowing her head a bit before placing her pale hand on the large Lacrama. “I know what I want to be now… strangely enough thanks to the tuxedo cat.”

Londra chuckled, “he wishes you luck but doesn’t want to overstimulate Elaine.”

“Everything is perfect, Zerina. It is nice to meet you and can’t wait to see you when you come out,” Elaine said motioning her to the door.

Anna did her best not to laugh since Elaine said the same thing to Calla, Belle, and Fern. “We are going to wait… Darcy requested it. Cob senses feet coming this way that aren’t quite healthy. They should be out a few minutes later. We want to see the feet too!”

Londra chuckled, “It looks like Ralph and Joan, such human names.”

“It also looks like they are going to form parties! How exciting. They were both nice, just wanted to keep their distance. We tend to get in trouble,” Anna told Elaine who was still enjoying the sleeping cat in her lap.

“Theda, I think Elaine will need to stand. Thanks for calming her,” Londra said softly.

Theda stretched in Elaine’s lap before letting his beige wings grow out. He floated above them before heading towards the training room leaving Elaine wondering.

“The others are in there chasing Zeke, Sasha, and Rus around. Working on body control today,” Anna explained. “Theda is going to play with Fenten. Robbie and Julius are just running while talking about different spells they each learned. Julius doesn't have a lot of magic, but he can do so many skill attacks now.” Londra nodded, pushing Anna towards the Learning Room door so Elaine could welcome the newest people.

They all still looked like sickly people even if they were moving better. There appeared to be four that used to be slaves. Ralph cleared his throat, “we would like to form a party. Well, us then them…” he mumbled. “Maybe I should let Joan go first…”

Joan rolled her blue eyes, “coward… oh, who is that,” she mumbled to those around her. The group looked to be holding each other up since they were so close to each other.

“Londra and Julianna?” a female Elf wondered.

“But how do you look so… healthy? How is Fenten? He was greyer than I,” a male Fairy that was still grey asked from his perch on Joan’s head. "We have had all kinds of treatments and...

Londra smiled at them all moving closer. “He is fine, thanks for asking. It is like this. We figured out how to use the Learning Room without any side effects. This is a spell called, Victim’s Revenge. Believe it or not it is a deep healing spell and quite tricky. I would be willing to apply it to you all once Darcy and Deven come out…”

“The Learning Room always gives headaches and horrible stomach aches,” a male Ogre stated while those around him nodded.

“Oh, I got it!” Anna yelled happily. “Joan is with the female humans, Fairies and Elves while Ralph has the guys with the Ogres and Sprites. Don’t want to mix it up too much but they look like solid groups. Do you have names?”

“Yep, know who that is now for sure,” Joan smiled. “The ten of us are Orchid Blossom.” Both Londra and Anna took a moment to see who was in the group. Four female humans, two female Fairies, one male Fairy, one female Elf, and two male Elves.

“The twelve of us are Rolling Flames,” Ralph stated. “It sounds… but we like it. What did you decide?” Their group had five male humans, three female Sprites, one male Sprite, two female Ogres, and one male Ogre.

“We went with Twilight Star,” Londra smiled hearing the door to the Learning Room open.

Cob came behind Londra first, patting her head with his happy tail. “Oh, you are getting new shoes! I never knew that I could ask those kinds of questions. I may be the happiest… well other than the day I met my future bride!” His tail patted Anna too then he disappeared.

“He is home fine,” Londra chuckled. “I don’t think Master Oscar needs to come down…” with that Alden came out of the training room door. She turned to face Kwan, Gladiolus, Ven, Krista, and Murk, “would you like Alden to teleport you home? You all live near where you work, right?”

Murk twitched his large, brown lizard tail, “would love it. I can’t tell you how much I… yea, I can make it home if he takes us all to the center.”

“We can too,” Gladiolus said smoothly, her long Elven ears twitching. “I can teleport now but only two at a time. Anna and Londra, thanks for doing this…”

“Cas was so interesting,” Ven stated with a big smile on his face. “I think he could teach a fly how to fly!” he added with a deep belly laugh. “I never knew learning could be that fun! Thanks ladies.”

“Spella sends her warm regards and told us that you had more entering,” Krista said with a little ear twitch. “Can’t wait to meet them.” The family and Murk grouped together, and the full room watched them vanish.

“What are you about to do!” Darcy yelled, seeing the other groups. “Oh! New adventurers from the horrible… challenge. You must heal them so I can see... we can.”

“Thanks for remembering I was here,” Deven said dryly rolling his amber eyes. “Once Alden returns, I would love a ride. You must tell them how fun Cas and Spella are!”

“I don’t know what is going on,” a female Ogre started, “but you all look healthy and ready to fight. I want that too! Please, miss Londra… you helped keep us alive…”

“It isn’t a problem,” Londra smiled warmly trying not to laugh at Darcy. “Besides, these two want to watch. I can only do six at a time so if you group together like that… oh, the first group move over to the left with me.”

“I can do three at a time,” Anna sighed wishing she could do four, but she wasn’t there yet. “So, if three of you want to head my way.”

“Wait!” Darcy yelled. “You can both do it… is it a bit different? I need to watch both! Anna first, since she is closer.”

“Actually, Fenten, Robbie, and Alden can do the spell as well,” Londra explained nodding at Ralph. “Just relax and picture what you want to look like and let the magic in. You will hear questions in your mind, answer them honestly. It takes two hours for the spell to finalize and another two plus until it is finished. You can do anything, but I would suggest after registering you go take a nap.”

“Okay,” Ralph said looking around at his party, motioning a few to come with him before Londra. Londra waited as two more humans, the male Sprite, and the two Ogres joined him. Deven was now standing next to Londra, feeling the power growing around her. A moment later her hands outstretched, and colors exploded around the six. He had to hand it to them, no one jumped or back away. The power was extreme while comforting… such a strange mix. He bent down to stare at the different lines of runic spells woven within the spell that was slowly attaching to the six. It started the same then changed and was just a bit different after attaching to the individual… maybe different races? He watched until his amber eyes blurred, and Londra helped him stand. He didn’t even know that she was done.

He looked back at Darcy then they switched places. Now he was watching the energetic Julianna. She smiled at him then at the three females before her, a Fairy, human, and Elf. Deven nodded and she began. The spell was the same, but the energy flow was different. Hers was more… excitable but was doing the same thing. The colors around her hands were just as vibrant and the runes just as clear. Once again, he watched until Julianna helped him stand. “You want to take the last four or divide them up?”

“I can take them,” Londra smiled since Alden was standing beside her. “What, you want to do it?” He sighed, while she hid a chuckle since his ears moved just enough to show he was annoyed. She knew if he did then he couldn’t take Darcy and Deven home. Joan nodded to the last four as she approached Julianna. A moment later, Anna was helping Joan register her party with an exited Elaine.

Once she was done, Ralph came over to Londra since Joan wasn’t close to being done yet. “Help?” he asked simply.

She nodded to Alden who took Darcy and Deven home. “Sure, activate your Lacrama, Ralph.” Ralph moved closer, with his future party. “Okay, everyone accept the terms of being an Adventurer… can’t say no anyway. Ralph, open the tab and see that your account has a bit of money in it from the Archduke and new Continental Guild Master… everyone who survived the challenge has an account.”

She paused as he looked it over. His mind focused on the word Party. The menu opened and he started to fill it out. “Just like that…” he chuckled. “Is it easier this way?”

“Yes.” Londra nodded before looking at the others around him. “Now when you get your invites, accept and we can head to the next step.” She listened to the jokes and chuckles of how easy it was. “Now, here is the part that sucks. Finances. Continental rule states that non-humans can’t get paid anymore than half. This is how I did it. I set it up so any time we do a quest it is split up into twenty parts, no matter if it is four of us or all. Humans get one part while non-humans get a half. We decided that four parts would go for dues, but it could easily be two I have a feeling. Then the rest goes into our Party Account…”

“We let anyone access the Party Account,” Ralph nodded. “That just might be the best way to get around it.” He closed his silver eyes and let his mind write the financial contract. Londra was watching, quietly. She pointed to the two names that needed financial accounts set up. He did that before returning to finish the party finances. “Went with three for dues. So now we have to?”

“When they are done, just touch the Lacrama when Elaine asks. She will need everyone to do it but since everything they are doing is done it should be easy,” Londra stated with a slight shrug.

“Okay, now the Learning Room,” the male Ogre began. “I have been in one, it was horrible. But that group just came out laughing, why?”

“Oh, it is something we had been debating about to keep our spirits up,” Londra admitted while explaining. “This one spell must be huge; it is attached to every Adventurer’s Guild building around the world. It is also sentient; it would have to be to interact with each person. Now, if that was you, how would you feel?”

“Lonely,” one of the male humans with golden hair said. “The only ones that visit want something from me…”

“Yes, that is how we did it,” Londra nodded with pride displayed all over her round face. “We gave the spell a name, Castaspella, since mothers are the best teachers. But it can take either gender, so the male version is Cas, and the female version is Spella. Just by doing that you are engaging him or her, and it is no longer so lonely. Next, never ask to practice, that is disrespectful. Once it says you have learned it go on. That is why you sleep and practice afterwards. Remember, your manners… as if you were talking to the one person you hold the most respect for. May I, would you, thanks, please, I appreciate this so much… things like that. But believe me, you won’t need to think about it once he or she starts conversing with you, it comes naturally.”

“It makes sense…” Ralph chuckled. “I would be upset too if you just wanted something from me then left without any appreciation. That is why we got headaches because we disrespect the spell. I can see that it worked…”

“Also, blanket questions,” Londra added as Alden appeared next to her again. “Would you please look within me to see which weapon would be the best fit, please? Then follow it with, would you please teach me the basics.”

“I never knew which weapon… just picked up a sword but…” one of the Sprites mumbled.

“What about evolution?” a female Ogre asked with two pale green horns.

“Yes, Zeke evolved again plus learned how to activate the next level which takes him the Green Knight, an Enhanced Non-Human,” Londra said proudly. “You just ask. Spella, do you think it is possible for me to evolve? How far do you think I could go? May I ask for your help? Those sorts of questions. Remember to treat Cas or Spella like a friend who just knows everything… well except for Green Goblins. Don’t ask about that… she started crying. I felt horrible and had to consol her…”

Alden placed a hand on her shoulder. “Oh, yes, we learned how to connect our minds. Which worked within the Learning Room too. That way when we weren’t quite sure what to ask for next, we could ask each other. Spella and Cas liked that we wanted to be a unit. Oh, two things, everyone should ask if they are capable of learning how to purify and Purifying Flame. Last, someone should learn how to either butcher animals or preserve them until you can get it to a butcher.”

“All good things that seem so simple,” Joan said. “We were listening too. Ralph, we are almost done. Though it looks like your way was a bit easier. What are you up to now, Londra?”

“Well, we are working on body movement,” Londra answered. “Our bodies are healthy, but movement doesn’t come instantly. It is better today than yesterday but we need to… practice. That is where we are heading. I don’t think we will fall as much today. Yesterday I felt like a child, falling down so much. Oh! Elaine, can we use the outside field at any time?”

“Yes,” Elaine answered. “Did I tell you that earlier? I meant to if I didn’t. So much excitement! The building is locked up, but you can use the grounds at any time.”

“Yea!” Anna laughed. “I am ready for this training. Let’s go, by guys!” she smiled, threading her arm through Londra’s while Alden followed. Nobody was in the training room and most of the practice weapons were missing so they continued through the room.

The open area proved that this building was once a large guild hall and not an average house. What they seen was happy chaos. Sasha was in her beast form racing Rus, Zeke, and Alpha while Fenten was practicing flying with Delta. Beta was helping Julius with reaction times by tossing air spells at him. Theda was in his larger form with his beige, bat-like wings folded up being a moving target for Robbie. “I think… I am going to go play with Beta and Julius,” Alden projected to Londra and Anna. “It looks fun.” With that he headed towards the group.

“You want to see if we can not fall down this time?” Londra asked Anna who smiled widely. She scooped up the two training poles tossing one toward Anna.

With a giggle, “I didn’t drop it… so stay out of my head? Yea, I can do that,” Anna said leaning her pole against her body, tying her long, deep red hair back as her deep green eyes glistened.

“That is why I am debating my hair,” Londra commented, simply tucking her sable hair behind her ears. “Don’t miss tying it back.”

“It does need shaping,” Anna stated. “After all, you pulled it back then slowly cut it. Not exactly a neat hair style. You are the captain after all.”

“Hey! Who braided your hair when you were weak…” Londra grumbled as the two began to spar. Each strike became more familiar as their simple test turned out into an all-out battle to see who would wear out first. The others stopped to watch for a moment before returning to their own experimentation. It was a tie ending in laughter.

Author: