Year 3 - 1203
1203 - Spring: In Fengheld
I didn't expect to have company this spring, but it looks like I will have Audeline as a reading partner.
Her parens seem to have commissioned her to read a book on Magical Theory (the same one that I myself had to read at the time), so the first day I met her with a surprise and she received me with a big smile.
Between her company and helping her solve some doubts that arise, the days go by very quickly, and before I know it, summer is coming... and also my decision.
If I stay this summer in Fengheld, I should wait until next year to travel to Irencillia to take advantage of the good weather. In addition, its in summer when my parens will send the money to Merseburg, so I could be accompanied during the first days by people from the covenant before we part ways. They also could lead me into the good road.
The thing is that I really don't want to leave... I know I would miss Bonsimon a lot... also Audeline, even though I've only known her recently. Besides, here I am safe, and comfortable.
But as a magician, and as a person, I must take the step. If I keep putting it off it will cost me more and more... it already does now. And I'm sure that in Irencillia I will learn a lot about being a Merinita.
Writing this down has helped me decide. I'll say goodbye to everyone and get ready.
Study from Rego summae L12Q15
Rego 9+6exp + 15 exp → 11
1203 - Summer: In travel
I first bid farewell to all of the Fengheld magi. Even from Adelman, who I think took it as a kind of provocation that I said goodbye to him... I don't understand that man. And yes, he is a magus already, he made the Gauntlet of him during the spring... maybe that's why I was able to be so calm with Audeline.
I also said goodbye to her, by the way. It surprised me that she began to cry when she found out that I was leaving. I hugged her and promised that I would write to her when I could.
My parens weren't quite as effusive, but an hour of advices and warnings from him made it clear that he appreciated me, too. I don't think I understood half of the things he explained to me, but I agreed on the key points while I was listening so he wouldn't worry.
As I foresaw, he advised me to accompany the covenant servants who were going to Merseburg before continue on my own. I took the opportunity to ask him for the first time who the money was intended for, but he just told me that I would see if I wanted, and added with a serious look that if someone asked, he was only sending twenty coins, not one more. He even made me swear that this would be my version, although I know that many times there were more than twenty coins in those bags... but I'm sure there is a good reason not to say it, so I accepted.
He also gave me another bag of money for my travels and a couple of laboratory texts.
It wasn't an easy goodbye… not as hard as the one I remember when I was taken from my mother, but sad in a different way.
The journey to Merseburg was an easy three days, with some breaks in villages. It all seemed so interesting... There are so many humans everywhere!
As I hadn't been farsighted enough, I had to wear a kerchief to cover my hair and hide my flowers (if my parens hadn't reminded me, I confess I would have completely forgotten about it). It wasn't a perfect disguise, but if I managed to didn't attract attention, the Gift would work in my favor so that people would ignore me (as I write this from Irencillia, I must say that it did).
My two grog companions were quiet to me, but having the Gift didn't seem strange to me either, so I tried to bother them as little as possible.
The city of Merseburg was quite an experience in itself. I made it clear to me that I don't like cities. Too many people. And the smell... ugh. But even so, to the despair of my companions, I wanted to see everything and constantly slowed them down. And, by the way, the cathedral is impressive... I still remember how it felt to look up into that open interior. Unfortunately my companions could not answer my questions about how such a place could be built.
Continuing with our journey in the city, we passed through some doors that seemed to lead to another area of the city. I imagined that more important people should live, to keep them separated with their own wall. And there I also discovered something that surprised me a lot. I had never asked Bonsimon, but I always assumed that the metal wheel he carried with him was his sigil... but the place we went to, everyone had a similar one.
The grogs explained to me that it was a symbol of the Jews, and that my parens sent them money to help them, since apparently they were not very loved. I did not understand the details, but in broad strokes it is what I remember.
I stayed away during the exchange, but at least so I could know who the people were in case I had to come with the letter from my parens in the future. And after that the grogs guided me to the south of the city, where they gave me directions to continue on my own.
It's strange, because those grogs were practically strangers, but when they left I felt like a huge stone in my stomach. I think it was at that moment that my journey felt real, until then it had been like one long hike, not unlike going to the woods to find herbs for Bonsimon.
When I was doing night close to Naumburg, I was attacked by a furious ghost. It was invisible and I only saw him though my fairy eyes.
I felt my parma blocking a whole bunch of interferences, and the ghost was clearly mad and unable to think and answer my questions. Since my spontaneous magic is so weak and I don't know any Mentem spells I was unable to affect him, and he started to follow me. It was a very upsetting situation.
But I was lucky, a man and a big creature-animal (that it seemed from the Faerie reign) came and with a simple hand-wave the ghost got hit and disappeared. He introduced himself as Celeste of Merinita.
Feeling my face getting red, and somewhat flustered, I thank him and I introduced myself. I also asked about him and his companion and I told a little about my own travel, hoping that he would give me some directions towards Irencillia, or he could give me some advice against ghosts for the future...
To my surprise, he offered to guide me to Irencillia. He was also a she, I've listened about that type of spells, but now that I see it for myself I cannot stop to think how weird must feel to change your body so much. She seems used to it anyways, so she is good.
Anyway, surely because of her feeric blood, but she is looks good both as a male or as female. It more than purely physical looks, but her personal aura. Must be so easy to make new friends for her... and thats me makes feel even more lucky (she is very patient with me too.. she is too perfect, that must be the destiny).
Lencor, the giant faerie-creature, it seems like a great companion too. He is scary-looking, but it's a very intelligent and brave.. dog? Celeste says that he is a dog, I'm not so sure to e honest. But he is great once you ignore his looks.
We followed the roads south towards the Ore Mountains. If her presence weren't enough, it seems like she is gentled gifted, so if I don't attract attention, we are welcomed everywhere. I can see too how useful is to seem like a man, since people take her even more seriously.
So, thanks to Celeste and Lencor we didn't encounter any problems on our way to the mountains. With both I felt so much safer and I've saved myselft from casting my defensive spells everyday.
When we reached the top of the mountain range and saw the forested valley spread out before ourselves, I stopped worrying so much about getting to Irencillia and thought I'd focus more on the journey itself. To my surprise, Celeste agreed, and offered to explore the area with me.
Maybe that could be my chance to find a compatible familiar, or vis, or just enjoy the experience in good company while I practiced my mother's faerie sympathy, since that was always something that I wanted to try.
Thats was my chance to prove myself useful too, and put my years living in a forest and my magic into some use.
Celeste told me many stories from Irencillia, and I shared my own from the Black Forest. We also had several troubles with some creatures and fairies, I found various possible familiars... that sadly weren't compatible with me, and I still remember our travel to the Boii springs and the celtic ruins nearby.
When we reached Irencillia, the summer was nearly over, and I found surprised about how fast the time flew. Even the worse moments felt good when I think about it.
I also learnt about Celeste's quest to find her mother killer, so I couldn't help but offer my help if she wanted.
Adventuring into the unknown and the wilderness (10 exp source)
+2 Warping
Sympathy (Living trees) 0 + 5 exp → 1
Area Lore: Bohemia (Wild areas) 0 + 5 exp → 1
Rewards:
- Bag with coins
- White linen kerchief
- Laboratory texts:
- Freeing the Striding Tree (ReHe 30)
- Disguise of the Transformed Image (MuIm 15)
1203 - Autumn: In Irencillia
Irencillia is great. Not because the looks, I know that those change from person to person, and in fact was very fun to compare the differences with Celeste.
I mean with the culture. The way how humans and faeries coexists peacefully. It's lovely (albeit there are too many people for what I'm used to) and in a way I feel like at home. If it just were closer to the Black Forest...
During our previous travel, Celeste offered to teach me some of her spells. Maybe because I asked her a lot. In return, I offered her to teach some of mine. Since she was interested too, I asked to teach her first and I wouldn't take no for an answer.
So, I have spent this season teaching Celeste some spells and getting used to Irencillia and its inhabitants.
Teaching spells
Teaching 0+2exp + 2 exp → 0+4exp
1203 - Winter: In Irencillia
The winter has come and Celeste learnt all the spells quickly. I'm starting to find fun and rewarding to teach others.
But this season was my turn, so she taught me a lot. Each day I feel more grateful for having crossed paths with her.
Oh, and it seems like I already have my own caricature! Now I have my own nymph following me all the time. I still don't understand why they do this caricature thing, but it's kinda cute seeing that faerie trying to imitate me.
I try to talk with her, but for now she seems more concentrated into learning about me than talking with me.
But I still ask myself, does she really need to follow me even when I go to pee or I'm sleeping? What she expect to discover there? I asked to Lencor but he just answers without really explaining nothing, so...
If I remember well, next season she will stop following me as much. Maybe she will be more talkative?
Learn spells
- The Succubus's Trick (MuCo 5): HoH:S, pg.97
- Step Sideways (ReCo 15): TtA, pg.79
- Lay to Rest the Haunting Spirit (PeMe 5): ArM5, pg.150
- Unseen Hand (ReTe 5): ArM5, pg.155
Magic Theory 4+3exp + 2 exp → 4+5exp
Completely true... sigh, i always forget something... ty ^^ You know if a magic creature can have Magical Lore by default?