Guardian…

  I lay awake for what felt like an eternity, just staring at the wooden ceiling of my room. That one word kept swirling around and around in my thoughts. Grimelda had called Verity ‘Guardian,’ but what did that mean? Was it her title as a Priestess of Aelthara? I had no idea. I also couldn't understand why Grimelda had such a problem with it. Was it because she was significantly older than Verity, a bitterness born of being passed over?

  Sighing, I closed my eyes. Instantly, the image appeared before my inner eye: Pip, lying lifeless on the filthy floor of that hut in the slums. My heart ached so bitterly, and fresh tears began to well up, but I forced myself to breathe deeply in and out.

  Crying won't bring Pip back, so pull yourself together, Grim, I told myself, trying to distract the rising tide of grief.

  But I was so incredibly exhausted… yet I simply couldn't find any rest. My fingers slid through my short, black hair, and I gently massaged my scalp. As soon as I wake up—if I even manage to fall asleep at all—I’ll go straight into the city tomorrow morning. I had to start visiting all the herbalists in town to ask about the Phoenix Ember Root. But where would I even begin? I could ask Mantris or Jim. Or maybe even Verity. Alternatively, I could go to Lady Elara at the Arcane Sanctum, but… I don’t think I could bring myself to face Pip's still form right now. Even though I urgently needed to clarify how long Pip could stay at the Arcane Sanctum and how much it would cost.

  All these considerations robbed me of my last ounce of strength. The crushing weariness finally overcame me, and the long-awaited sleep had at last found me.

  At the edge of my consciousness, I heard something… a faint scraping sound.

  Sighing, I threw the blanket aside and struggled out of bed. Pip probably has to go outside. Still infinitely tired, half-asleep, I pulled on my clothes and left the room. I shuffled quietly down the dimly lit hallway, but as I reached the top of the stairs, the cold realization hit me.

  I had been dreaming.

  Tiredly, I rubbed my face and looked out the large landing window. My gaze drifted downwards, to the spot on the floor beside me where a small, black shadow usually trotted faithfully at my heels. But there was nothing there. Just empty, silent floorboards. A sharp pang of loneliness pierced my chest, so intense it made me catch my breath. I missed the soft click of her claws, her gentle nudges, her comforting presence. Without her, the silence of the house felt deafening.

  The sun would be rising soon, a pale light just beginning to touch the horizon. That meant I had at most an hour until breakfast, where I would probably be asked questions I had no strength to answer. I might as well be productive and go into the city right away.

  I took a moment to sort through the thoughts from last night again and weigh the options. If I went to Mantris, he’ll probably tell me to work first and do my research later. That option is out. Going to the Arcane Sanctum is also not an option for now, and Verity probably wouldn't be much help with this specific problem. That left only Jim at the Broken Shield, or just setting out on a whim.

  So, Jim it is. I could still scour the city myself if I had no luck there.

  I quickly went back to my room, grabbed my sufficiently filled money pouch from the bedside table, and snuck quietly down the stairs. I opened the heavy oak door, which creaked softly in the silent house, and was just about to leave the orphanage when I saw her.

  Grimelda.

  Her dark robes were a stark contrast against the dew-kissed grass of the meadow as she walked purposefully towards the woods, just about to disappear among the trees. I had seen this before. What is she doing in the forest so early? Surely she’s not just going for a quiet shit, is she?

  Gripped by curiosity, and even though every instinct screamed at me to expect the worst, I decided to follow her. As quietly as a shadow, I followed Grimelda into the woods. Keeping a respectful distance, I stepped gently on the damp forest floor to avoid making loud noises with crunching leaves or snapping twigs. Surprisingly, the old woman navigated the dense undergrowth with unerring accuracy.

  Carefully, I pushed branches aside and dodged thorny bushes until I saw her stop in a small clearing ahead. From my position behind a thicket of ferns, I couldn't see much, only that she knelt down. Her mouth moved in silent words, and she lingered there for quite a while before bowing her head and standing up. She left the clearing with quiet steps and disappeared back into the dense undergrowth.

  What was in that clearing? I was buzzing with curiosity, but I waited a few more minutes, letting my paranoia settle. I had no desire to be caught snooping by Grimelda.

  The air was cold but clear, and the first birds were tentatively singing their songs as the first golden rays of sun finally broke through the canopy, bathing the forest in light. That was my cue. I looked around, and when I was absolutely sure she wasn't coming back, I left my cover and stepped into the clearing.

  With a furrowed brow, I looked around, a sense of wonder slowly dawning on me. What is the deal with this clearing? It was maybe five degrees in the damp and still relatively dark forest, but here in the clearing, it was a balmy, warm twenty degrees. I was almost tempted to take off my jacket.

  When I turned around, I saw it. At the edge of the clearing, surrounded by a ring of low, flowering bushes, stood a statue. It was a life-sized statue carved from a single piece of pale wood, depicting a woman in long, flowing robes and veils. The statue's arms were outstretched to the sides, and her open palms were facing upwards, as if she were… weighing something. It reminded me of those old merchant scales that would tip to one side or the other if they weren't in perfect balance.

  Thoughtfully, I rubbed my chin. Balance… Balance… Mother of… Balance? Aelthara?!

  Shocked, I turned back to the wooden figure. Was this a shrine to the goddess Aelthara? Upon closer inspection of the statue, I found no inscription or anything that confirmed my suspicion. So, what should I do now? Maybe offer a prayer?

  But more importantly… what the hell was Grimelda doing here? Confused, I looked in the direction she had disappeared. The whole thing was very strange. I couldn't quite figure out what one would do here besides praying, but maybe Grimelda came here every day seeking absolution. I vaguely remember Elodie saying something along the lines of, “she should be the one to tell you.” Maybe she did something terrible that made her so bitter? But I wouldn't find out like this.

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  My gaze wandered back to the statue. I said quietly, “I will not waste the chance you have given me for Pip…” and with that, I left the clearing and made my way to my first destination: Mantris.

  I should at least explain myself to him; after all, I hadn't been at work for a week, and I didn't think anyone had told him. Not that I thought he was worried, but better safe than sorry. If he gives me trouble, I’ll just quit.

  The streets of Aegis were sparsely populated as the city slowly came to life. Here and there, a cart rumbled by, or a few early risers bustled about their business. The sun had not yet fully risen, and the sign hanging in Mantris's door showed that he was still “Closed.”

  Sighing, I picked up a smooth, grey pebble from the path and sat down on the steps in front of the shop, its coolness a small anchor in my hand. I tossed the pebble into the air with my left hand and tried to reduce its gravity in flight with my right, so that it would fall more slowly. But it wasn't so easy. The stone fell as usual.

  I'd had a thought for a while now: was it possible to summon magic outside the body’s effective range? During training with Corbin, we only practiced the basics. Even when he demonstrated something, all the spells came directly from his hand. But once, he had shown me a flaming kick. So, you didn't necessarily have to use your hands for it, but the magic was still in the immediate vicinity of the body.

  I sighed. As an autodidact, I was a bit lost. It was all trial and error. Maybe I should inquire if someone offers magic lessons for non-nobles. That way, I would know directly what is possible and what is not. But on the other hand, I wouldn't think as innovatively and would only follow the linear teachings of general magic theory.

  Once again, I threw the stone into the air and tried to apply my gravity magic to it. It landed in my hand just as quickly as before. I tried this a few more times until I changed my approach. When I practiced with the stone in the cell, I applied magic to the stone and then threw it up, and I did manage to reverse the gravity during the fall. But why? Because my mana was already in the stone?

  I tested the theory by feeding some mana into the stone and then throwing it about two meters into the air. I applied my gravity magic so that the stone’s gravity was reduced, and lo and behold, it fell much more slowly. Hm. That means I could cast magic from a distance if I fed mana into an object beforehand. But that wasn't the goal. I want to cast magic directly from a distance.

  Maybe Gravity magic was just the wrong magic for this. How about Fire magic? I looked at the ground in front of me and stretched out my hand to make a flame appear there, but the flame just danced in front of my palm.

  Hm, okay. Let’s try the mana method.

  I imagined gathering a ball of mana in my hand and shooting it at the ground. The tingling in my hand told me that mana was leaving it. So, I concentrated on the spot where I had shot my mana and imagined a fire igniting there. But my concentration was abruptly interrupted when the door behind me opened and the entrance bell rang.

  Startled, I turned to the door and thought I saw a flicker of fire on the ground in the corner of my eye. But now I saw clearly what, or rather who, was behind me. Mantris.

  “Hahaha, look who has returned. The scourge of the poor and weak. Say… have you come to take your revenge on me too? HAHAHA,” the amused southern voice blared.

  Sighing, I stood up and dusted off my trousers. “Why doesn't it surprise me that you know about that? But no, I'm here to clarify how things will proceed. Also, I need information,” I explained, matter-of-factly.

  Mantris just grinned and made an inviting gesture. After I entered, he closed the door behind me and turned the sign back to “Closed.” We walked past the counter, deeper into the shop. Apparently, we were heading into the part where he lived, because pictures and antiques hung on the walls.

  The floor creaked slightly under our steps as we entered a room furnished with a kitchen, a few potted plants, and a dining table with chairs. At that table, Mantris’s daughter—Cansu—was having breakfast. She was just spooning something enjoyably out of a bowl and paused when she turned and saw first her father and then me.

  “I thought you had fired your little helper,” she said, chewing, and then turned her attention back to her food.

  Mantris sighed heavily, went to a cupboard, and took out a few utensils. “Do you want a coffee too?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at me. Coffee? I didn't know why, but I hadn't thought they would have coffee here. I shook my head; I wasn't a coffee person. He just shrugged and went over to the fire. He knelt, poured a few things into a small pot with a long handle, and then placed it in the sand of the hearth. I watched his actions curiously. The coffee foamed up, Mantris lifted the pot, and the foam subsided again. While he repeated this a few times, he said with a sarcastic undertone,

  “So, you said you wanted to clarify how things will proceed, you criminal…”

  When Mantris’s daughter heard that, she looked at me, shocked, but quickly averted her gaze again.

  A little embarrassed, I cleared my throat. “You know that my cat was missing.” Mantris nodded with a frown, and Cansu also began to listen intently. “I found her again. In the slums. And that was the reason this… incident occurred. Now, I urgently need to find a plant called the Phoenix Ember Root. To find it, I want to visit the city's herbalists, and therefore I have little time for work in the shop. That’s also why I need information: the names and locations of all herbalists. I was hoping you could help me with that,” I explained, my voice tense.

  Cansu’s gaze fell into her bowl as Mantris narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

  “Phoenix Ember Root… never heard of it.”

  I nodded in disappointment. Of course, I had expected that, but who knows what all passes over his counter.

  “But I know someone who can help you,” he said with a winning smile and pointed to his daughter.

  Surprised, I looked at Cansu, who pointed at herself with an open mouth. “ME?!” a shrill voice escaped her.

  But Mantris just nodded, amused. “Boy, I’ll tell you straight. I only pay you a wage if you work, so it’s your loss if you don’t come. And in the future, I’ll see money pass over the table before I give you information, but this time, I’ll turn a blind eye. You’ll sort out the rest with her. And of course,” the greedy bastard added, gesturing at his daughter with his chin, “you’ll pay for her help.”

  Dejected, I just nodded obediently and looked at Cansu, who was still staring at me with an open mouth.

  “So, now get on your way, I have to open the shop,” I heard Mantris say as his steps were already leaving the room.

  About fifteen minutes later, I found myself on a busy street with Mantris's daughter.

  People and carriages were streaming by from all directions. Shops lined the street left and right, with customers going in and out everywhere. We stopped in front of a shop overflowing with plants and flowers of all colors and types. There was no shop sign to be found. Was this something like a florist?

  “Grim… don’t dawdle,” Cansu said, annoyed. She was already halfway inside the shop, tapping her foot impatiently on the floor.

  “Hehe… sorry.”

  Upon entering, the smell of fresh flowers and damp earth greeted us. Bustling activity and joyful conversations filled the room. A generous splendor of colors welcomed us. Flowers and plants stood everywhere, and everywhere there were women. I felt out of place, but no one seemed to notice us; the women were all engrossed in conversations about flowers, dresses, events, men, and I even heard a few words about the slums.

  I rubbed the bridge of my nose, sincerely hoping that I hadn't made myself public enemy number one.

  Sighing, I made my way to the counter, dodging what felt like two dozen people. Arriving, I waited patiently until a middle-aged woman with long brown hair and brown eyes came out of a back room. She was carrying a pot with a blue plant and placed it on the counter.

  “Oh, a boy! What a welcome sight. Welcome to Flora’s Flower Shop! How can I help you?” she said with a friendly smile.

  A little confused, I furrowed my brow. “Flora’s… Flower Shop?”

  The woman sighed heavily and put her hands on her hips. “Actually, my name is Ursula, but how stupid does Ursula’s Flower Shop sound?” I had to hold back my laughter. Just as I was about to speak, she looked behind me. “Good morning, Cansu. Can you please check the incoming goods right away? Thanks!” And before I could turn to look for Cansu, she had already disappeared into the back room.

  Uh… okay? Does she work here? I could find that out later.

  “Good morning, esteemed lady. I’m looking for a plant called Phoe–”

  “Grim?! What are you doing here? Wh-where is Pip?”

  From the back room of the shop came a girl with steel-grey hair and lavender-colored eyes. Mara.