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panda-dm · 6 months ago

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Flowers & Copper - Chapter I

A young men entered the temple of Plena. A human, with nothing special about his appearance. Light skinned, short brown hair and dressed as any citizen. Nonetheless, the cane he was using was the only uncommon thing about him. Since only blind people used one of that kind.

He turned his head slightly, hearing someone approaching. They’re footsteps echoing on the ceramic floor of the almost empty hall.

“Good afternoon, my child.” Said a gentle lady's voice. “I can feel your concern. What unfortune brings you here?”

The lady could see his whitish eyes, confirming what the cane denounced.

“Ah, yes, you see... hum... I'm sorry... how should I treat you?”

“Oh, I'm the one who should apologize for not presenting myself. I'm priestess Zulmira.”

“I-I’m Bridar. Bridar Griv. And… what brings me here, priestess, is my friend. He needs help. He needs to be saved.”

“Saved? From what?”

“A witch. She kidnapped him. And I...” He stretched out his hands, showing his palms in a sign of powerlessness. “I can do nothing.”

“Not nothing, my child.” Said the priestess and laid a hand on the young man's shoulder. “You came seeking for help. That's already more than what a lot of people would do. And enough.”

These words calmed and comforted the young man.

"Actually..." proceeded priestess Zulmira. “It happens that we now have two more pupils in our temple that could help your friend.”

In a small room, coincidentally or not, the one where Zulmira came from before meeting Bridar, there was two young ladies. The walls were in polished white stone, the humble furniture as well as the floor were in light wood. Close to the big window was a secretary and its empty armchair.

Sitting patiently in one of the two chairs in front of it, was a half-elf. She had brown skin and black straight hair cut to the shoulders, her purple eyes framed with round and elegant glasses, and she was wearing a white and silver robe with a knee-length skirt. In her chest she carried a necklace with Plena’s symbol, a full moon surrounded by five stars.

“Dália, stop it and came sit down. She just left like a minutes ago.” She told to the half-orc walking around the room.

She was wearing a silver armor with a blue cape. In the chest there was the same symbol as in the half-elf's necklace. Dália was a muscular woman. Like an orc, she had green skin, protruding lower canines and above average height. Like a human, she had long and black straight hair, tied in a ponytail, and brown eyes.

She walked to the half-elf's side, bent down so they're faces ware close to and said in a low tone "I'm bored."

The door behind them opened and Dália quickly sat down in the second chair, pretending she had never gotten up.

“Good news.” Said priestess Zulmira with a smile. The two turned in their chairs to look at the green, and skinny for the race, dragonborn wearing a robe. " Looks like I DO actually have your first quest."

She told them what the human told to her, and after that, asked them to come with her to meet him.

“Young Bridar, let me introduce you to Orquídea, our most recent cleric.”

“Hi.” Said timidly the half-elf.

“And to Dália, our most recent paladin.”

“You're really lucky.” Said proudly the half-orc. “We just arrived yesterday.”

“Or unlucky, depending on the point of view.” Whispered Orquídea to herself.

“Is good to meet you. But… could I ask you to describe your appearance a little bit? It comes in handy sometimes.”

Orquídea opened her mouth to talk, but…

“I'm a half-orc, muscular, green-skinned, long black hair. If you ever look for me after this, you can ask people where the prettiest half-orc in town is.” Described Dália herself with a hand in her armor chest and a prideful smile on her face.

“Or that half-orc paladin that loves herself too much.” Said Orquídea. “That should work as well.” She and Bridar chuckled. Dália didn't minded it. “Hum... I'm a half-elf. Tan skin, I think. Hum... straight black hair as well. Round glasses... Ah! And purple eyes, that's probably the only unusual thing.”

“At least about the appearance.” Commented Dália back. She and Bridar chuckled.

“So,” Orquídea returned. “Where should we start?”

“Ah, yes...” Bridar reached into one of the inside pockets of his coat and withdrew an envelope, which he handed them. “Maybe with this.”

Orquídea was the one who took it. The envelope had a recipient but no sender. Bridar was the recipient. She opened the envelope and took out a letter. The message in the letter basically said that Razelish ran off with his new love, that he didn't want them to look for him and to leave him and his future wife alone. Orquídea made a slightly uncomfortable face reading that.

“I don't know how people find this sort of things romantic.” She commented. “It's just straight out delusional.”

“Yeah, I know!” Bridar agreed. “That was one of the things that made us realize that he wasn't the one who wrote the letter. Or at least it wasn’t the sort of things he would say.”

“What were the other things?” Dália asked, while Orquídea noticed an interesting detail in the letter.

“Well... The other thing was... let's just say that women are not his type.”

“Oh! So, then it really is a suspicious letter.”

“But there's something more in this letter, isn't it, Bridar?” Orquídea returned. “This letter was for you. But you can´t read these words.”

Dália looked at her with the clear ‘Don't be rude!’ expression. That she ignored and continued talking.

“There are little holes here, which seem to have been carefully made with a needle or something that thin. THIS is the real message for you.”

He smiled, with a mix of relief and hope.

“Can you read this word for us, please?”

He picked up the letter and ran his fingers over the paper as he spoke. “Witch. Tower. Radish Valley. Help. These were probably the only things he could write.”

“Radish Valley?” Priestess Zulmira wondered. “I didn't know there was a tower there.”

“So, you know where it is, Priestess?” He asked.

“Yes. I will prepare a Waysphere for you.” She said to Orquídea and Dália.

“So, do you happen to know who this witch is?” Orquídea asked. She was walking arm in arm with Bridar, guiding him. They were behind Dália, who was following the Waysphere, a sphere of light with the size of a human's palm. This sphere floats one meter above the ground, guiding the person holding the cord like a leash.

“I do have a strong guess, yes.” Replied Bridar. “Razelish told me about a weird girl that looked like she was following him lately. She looked just extroverted at the beginning, but then she started, like, trying to be with him by force.”

“Did he know her before?” Asked Dália without turning her head, so as not to take her eyes off the sphere.

“He didn't remember at first, but she said something that reminded him. He works in a cafe, and she was just another ordinary customer that appeared one day, and then started to go more often. That's it.”

“That’s it?!” Asked Orquídea and Dália in unison.

“Yeah, that's it.”

“So, she started to stalk him.” Said Orquídea.

Bridar nodded.

“Remember what you said about delusion, Orquídea?” Asked Dália.

“Yes, I see it now.”

The sphere didn't look like it would stop anytime soon.

“By the way,” Returned Dália. “How does Razelish look like? I mean if you could describe him of course.”

“Ah, yes. He's an elf. Maybe I should start from that. His hair is straight and… blond. It was long, before he disappeared. He has... light skin? Yes, light skin.” He had trouble remembering the colours. “And the eyes... hum... Blue! Yes, blue!”

“So, he is a white and blonde elf with blue eyes?” Dália recapped.

“Yes. I heard that people tend to find that combinations the most attractive.”

Orquídea and Dália agreed.

“Is that your type as well?” He asked casually.

“Not really.” Answered both at the same time and also in a casual tone. He even felt Orquídea shrug her shoulders indifferently.

“It's true that white, blond and blue-eyed is, for some reason, like, the stereotype of beauty or something.” Dália continued. “That's what we agreed with you on. But, personally, and no offence to your friend, for me that's just the physical description of a preppy guy. I prefer a man that can handle me.”

“She's talking about personality.” Orquídea hastened to clarify in a confidential whisper.

“Oh, ok, that makes sense, thank you.” Bridar looked relieved.

The dirt path continued to the right, but the Waysphere pulled the leash to the left, as if it wanted to cross the hill. Dália loosened the rope a little, so see what the sphere would do. It approached the overgrown earth and stone wall and slithered through the foliage. She diverted the vines as if they were curtains and revealed a small tunnel whose light they could see in the end. The sphere wanted to go that way.

“OK! Nice! Let's go!” Dália said excitedly and started walking through the tunnel like it was a walk in the park.

Orquídea continued behind her, still leading Bridar, but reluctant and suspicious. She described the tunnel to him.

They made it to the other side without any problems. There, they find themself looking at a beautiful and small valley surrounded by hills. The nature looked intact in there. The colours of the flowers vividly splashed through the green of the grass. A few trees with lovely shadows where a family or a couple could make a relaxing picnic. There was even a lagoon formed by a waterfall with came from one of the hills.

The glowing sphere began to lose its light until it completely went out and fell to the ground. They arrived at their destination.

“Wow! This place is beautiful!” Said Dália, as she put the sphere in the leather bag she wore at her waist.

“Indeed. But there's a problem...” Orquídea pointed. “I don't see a tower anywhere.”

“Is probably hidden.” Dália looked around. “But where?”

Orquídea excused herself and let go Bridar’s arm. She walked slowly forward, scrutinizing the valley, focused. That was her instinct, but dealing with a witch, it was also the most logical thing to do. She stopped, a few meters away from them, closed her eyes and keep her concentration.

“What's happening?” Bridar asked to the closest person to him.

“I think she's trying to find some magic trail or something.” Dália answered in a low voice.

Orquídea opened her eyes and looked directly to her right side, to...

“The waterfall!”

Dália looked at that and then at Bridar. “Maybe you should stay here. I think the next one could be a difficult terrain. Wet and slippery stones.”

“You also should hide.” Orquídea said as she approached them. “We don't know if the witch is out and could arrive at any moment. If that happens and she finds you, you could be in danger.”

“Yes, I understand.”

They took him away from the tunnel, towards the middle of some trees whose shade and his brown clothes managed to almost camouflage him. They told him to be patience and don't worry, they would be right back and with his friend, if he really was there.

Dália followed Orquídea to the left side of the waterfall. They approached the rocks. Clothes getting damp because of the water falling beside them, the sound of the impact on the lagoon nearly deafening them.

Orquídea stretched out her arm and began to tap the stone.

“Wait!” Said Dália. “I'll do that.” And took her place tapping the stone.

“Do you even know what I was looking for?” Orquídea asked.

“I can only presume. But either way, I am the one that should do the dangerous...” Her hand went through one of the rocks and she almost tripped. “Were you looking for a secret passage?”

“Yes, indeed I was.” She smiled.

Dália clenched her left fist, activating the signet ring she wore on her index finger. In this was engraved the symbol of a sword. As she stretched out her arm, a long sword with a translucent blade appeared in her hand. And she went through the rocks.

Few seconds later, Orquídea sees the silver-gloved hand re-cross the rocks and signalling to follow her.

Once inside, they found themselves in a tall cave. There was absolutely no light from the outside. In front of them began a path lit by strings of lights, round glass bottles with small magic fire inside, and the only other lights capable of illuminating the cave floor. The only other lights capable of illuminating the cave, were way above, magical light spheres, like big-size fireflies, floating up above, near the cave's ceiling, around the top of...

“The tower!” Orquídea said amazed.

The trail led to the tower, so they hurriedly walked by it.

“This would be a really romantic place if the circumstances didn't make it creepy.” Dália commented.

Arriving at the base of the tower there were only the bricks of the wall.

“What?” Orquídea stammered and rounded that tower’s base completely. “Where is the door?”

Dália looked back quickly before picking up Orquídea and hiding behind a large rock nearby. Before she could ask what was going on, Dália signalled for her to shut up and look at the trail.

A woman was approaching the tower, walking along the path with a cheerful gait. She also had a happy and childish smile in her face, always with her head tilted up, looking at the top of the tower. She was light skinned and red-haired, wore a black witch's hat, striking for its size, and a matching dress cut on one leg. She was carrying a large basket on one of the hands, a broom on the other and seemed to be completely oblivious to their presence.

“The witch.” Dália whispered.

She stopped, looking up gleefully and said out loud with a sweet voice: “Razeliiiiish, open the window for me, pleeease!”

They heard what must have been the shutters of the tower window, opening violently against the brick wall. She giggled.

“You get grumpy when you're hungry, don't you?”

Dália and Orquídea looked worriedly at each other. The witch dropped the broom which began to float beside her, she got on it, putting the basket on her lap and flew up.

“What do we do?” Dália asked Orquídea, still whispering and crouching behind the rock.

“We shouldn't do anything now. She is too close to him, being able to hurt him if she even saw us. Let's go back outside and talk there.”

Dália looked up to the top of the tower, unsatisfied.

“We'll get him out of there, but we can't risk that much.” Orquídea said.

Outside the cave, they went to the trees where they left Bridar hidden.

“So...” Started Orquídea. “We have good and bad news...”

“Can I choose to hear the bad ones first?” He asked.

“You could but... then they would be out of order.” She was fumbling a little. “So, the good news are that we found the tower, Razelish, and already saw how the witch looks like.”

“Great! But the bad news are...?”

“There is no door, and we need to learn how to fly to get up there.” Dália said bluntly.

“Oh, so... what do we do now?”

“We? No!” She said assertively “You go back home and wait. From now on, it's OUR job. Mine and Orquídea's. Don't worry, we can take care of this. Just wait for tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!” Orquídea said with her lips and without speaking.

He sighed. “Okay, I trust you two.”

And she straightened, hearing those few, simple words.

It was getting late, and they escorted him home. When they arrived, it was already night.

There was a park nearby, where they went to talk. Dália sat on a bench. Orquídea was walking back and forth.

“What if we get ourselves brooms?” Dália suggested.

“Even if we know where to buy them, they are expensive, and wouldn't work on anyone else but the witch or wizard they create a bound with.”

“Isn't there anything else like a carpet or something?”

“Again, difficult to find, probability expensive and not working with us.”

“Flying potion?”

“Same problems. Except that those would work on us.”

“Don't we have some kinda budget from the temple for these things?”

“Yes and no.” She suddenly stopped in front of Dália. “The thing is, why buy an expensive potion when they can just say we failed and choose someone else to do this quest for free?”

“Oh no!” Dália said assertively and got up. “But if flying is not an option, the only thing left is to climb. And despite my amazing strength…” Orquídea rolled her eyes. “I can't climb that unless I get rid of my armor. And that's NOT gonna happen!” There was a pause. “And less chance you have.”

“I would be more offended if that wasn't true.” She brought her hand to her chin. “But yes, climbing is our only option. And we need someone for that. Someone with a high dexterity. Maybe someone we could hire. Someone like...” She widened her eyes as if she found the answer. “A Rogue!”

“Hm! Where?” Dália got into a defensive pose.

“No! We need one to climb the tower.”

“Are you going to stoop so low as to hire a rogue?”

“You are being prejudiced, Dália. Some of them don't have much choice. And who knows if we're not helping someone else in the process?”

The half-orc wrinkled her nose.

“Ok, listen, let's, at least, try. We don't have much more options here.” And then she got a snarky look “Unless you don't mind failing your very first quest.”

“…Fine! Let's try to get a rogue. But a minimally reliable one!”

~ End of part 1 ~

You can finish reading this first chapter and all the following ones here!

#flowers & copper #flowers and copper #original story #witch #elf #cleric #paladin #half elf #half orc #rogue #fantasy #adventure #book #books and reading

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