Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith

Irwin stepped out of the tower, exchanging a quick greeting with the guards beside the door. Twyl was quietly sitting on his shoulder, and he barely noticed she was there.

As he walked towards the alleyway leading to Trimdir's smithy, someone came walking out, staring at him intently, almost as if he'd waited for him.

"Orwin!"

Irwin watched the short bald man pace towards him. Two piercing blue eyes locked onto his from above an impressive but poorly maintained mustache.

It took Irwin a few moments to remember who the man was, but when he did, he felt a sudden unease. This man was Burt, Lamia's uncle and the inn's proprietor.

"Burt," he said, having a good idea why the man was here. "It's good that you are alive."

The man snorted so hard his mustache fluttered forward.

"Orwin, where is Lamia? I heard you returned but that she isn't with you!" Burt asked, his voice filled with worry and hope.

Still, Irwin heard an undercurrent of anger. He sighed as he looked at the man half his size, glaring at him as if he'd done something horrible.

"Do you know where we went?" he asked as he gestured forward.

Burt held his place for a few moments before stepping aside and walking along with him deeper into the city. Irwin made sure to shorten his steps so Burt didn't have to run.

"She was vague when you left, saying something about becoming stronger because of what happened to my brother and the rest of her family," Burt said. "She wanted to find powerful cards around Esterdon, but… I've heard some rumors."

"She's alive, though I haven't seen her in a while," Irwin said. "Tell me the rumors."

"Is she alright?" Burt blurted.

Irwin thought about the things that Daubutim had told him about Uxin'tar and Lamia.

"She is now," he said, deciding that was as true as anything he could say that wouldn't make the man worried out of his mind. "Can you tell me what the rumors are?" he asked quickly, hoping they were what he thought.

Burt let out a loud harrumph before nodding. "Some people say she followed you to another world and that Hutch was there. I asked him, but he only told me Lamia was fine and with you. No matter what, he didn't want to tell me more, saying Lord Bron had told him not to." At the mention of Lord Bron, Burt's eyes gleamed.

Irwin stared at the muddy cobblestones for only a moment before making up his mind. They would be leaving here soon, and Bron was going to tell people soon enough.

"The rumors are correct, and Lamia is still in the other world," he said. "She is working to become a better smith at an incredible place."

"Seriously?" Burt snapped, looking up as if he expected Irwin to joke with him.

"Yes," Irwin said calmly.

"So, when is she coming back? Why didn't she come with you? Also... if it is so incredible, why aren't you there?"

Irwin grimaced at the deluge of questions.

"I was there at first, but I needed to do an important mission, which is how I managed to return. The way I came back isn't the same we left by," Irwin said.

"Why isn't she with you? She and you…" Burt asked, looking at Irwin challengingly.

Irwin remembered his time with Lamia in Degonda. For him, it was years ago, but it would have been only some months to Burt. He and Lamia had been bonding back then, but as he thought about it and his time with Scintilla on Scour, he could only smile sadly.

"I had to go away to another world," Irwin said. "You know that some portals have different times inside, right?"

"Yes, I've heard the rangers talk of it when they eat," Burt said, seeming worried. "Is that why you are so big and different?"

"Somewhat," Irwin said. "I went to a world where I lived for close to a year and a half while Lamia remained behind. She wasn't allowed to go there, and I had to-" Irwin waved around as he looked at the dilapidated buildings. "Well, to become strong enough to help, I guess."

Burt looked at him, seeming to search for something in his eyes. Irwin wasn't sure what to do, so he calmly looked back, wishing he had better news.

Burt didn't seem to find what he was looking for, and his shoulders lowered slightly. "And Lamia?" he asked softly.

"She remained behind on the first world," Irwin said.

Burt seemed to become even smaller. "So, she won't ever return?" he asked.

Irwin frowned as he thought about that. "I'll try and send a message to her if I can," he said, thinking about Gelwin. If the old sorcerer could send a message to Lamia to go back through the Esterdon portal, they could pick her up there.

"There might be a way," he said, slightly more confident this time. "If I can get a message to her, she might be able to return here before…" he stopped.

"Before what?" Burt asked, looking at him both sad and with a fearful premonition.

"Lord Bron will begin spreading some news soon," Irwin said. "Either today or tomorrow. It's best we let him do that, but you will understand what I mean after you hear it. Before that happens, I'll get her a message so she can come."

Burt began pulling on his mustache. "Alright," he said, seeming to try and convince himself before looking up at Irwin. "I'm glad you came back safely and that Lamia is alright. I had hoped the two of you would hook up, but sometimes, what old people want doesn't happen. I've been patient for a long time. I can add another few days."

Irwin felt slightly conflicted as he imagined being with Lamia, then shook it off. Bron seemed so brittle, and something about the pained, lonely look made him think of his mother. Before he could stop himself, he placed a hand on the small shoulder as he scanned the man's hand. He had two cards on his left, both likely no higher than amethyst.

"Things are going to change," he said. "And there's going to be a need for strong people to help with what we are going to do. Lamia will need strong people to help."

Burt looked up, and slowly, his jaw clenched as he pulled his mustache so hard Irwin feared he was going to yank it off.

"You are right," he said before glaring at the cobblestones as they continued forward.

When they reached Trimdir's smithy, Burt looked up.

"Thank you for telling me Lamia is alright," he said, seeming ready to leave. "I'll be waiting for that news from Lord Bron."

"Wait a moment," Irwin said as he knocked on the door. Trimdir was the one to open him, and he was about to start talking when he saw Burt.

"Burt, how have you been?" Trimdir asked, stepping forward worriedly. "I haven't spoken to you in weeks!"

"I'll be right back," Irwin said, turning to Burt. "Don't leave, I need to give you something."

He walked into the smithy, waving absently at the smiths, and as soon as he was out of sight of the door, he took out his pack of cards.

"You are going to give him a card?" Ambraz whispered from his pocket.

Irwin looked up and around in fear someone would overhear them, but the smiths were pounding away on their anvils, and even then, none were nearby enough to hear him.

"Ideas?" he whispered as he quickly flicked through his deck of cards.

"Ugh, you bleeding heart. Fine! Keeping flipping. Four, more… yes, that one," Ambraz whispered.

Irwin looked at the card, a topaz-rank utility card meant to purify water and other drinks while giving moderate control over water. He didn't bother asking Ambraz why but stuffed the rest of the cards back in his pocket and headed back outside.

Burt was whispering with Trimdir but looked up when Irwin returned. His gaze landed on the card Irwin was holding, and his mouth fell open.

"Take this and slot it," Irwin said. "You will need it for what is to come."

Burt stared at the card, then at Irwin, and finally, hesitantly took it.

"I want to ask why, but you won't tell me. So... thank you," he muttered, staring stupidly at the card. "Normally, I'd never accept this as a gift, but if you are right, I need it."

Irwin nodded, then turned to Trimdir, who was looking at him appreciatively.

"We need to do some more practicing because I have to leave soon."

"You only just returned," Trimdir said.

Irwin shrugged, and he waved at Burt, but the mustached-man was already slotting the card in his hand and barely noticed them before heading inside. He heard a few confused mutterings from Burt, which he ignored.

I'll talk with Gelwin before we head to Indoutor, he decided.

--

Nearly two hours later, Irwin stood before Trimdir's smithy together with Myda.

The door was closed, and the smiths inside were busy reforging the cards he'd given them. He had left them with another stack of quartz cards that could be wasted if needed. He had brought them to feed to Ambraz in case he had to create another heartcard. This, however, seemed more important. Besides, he could use other cards if it came to it. Even though he'd been handing out many, he still had an entire stack left.

"Is that your bird?" Myda asked.

"No. It's Daubutim's summon, and it's coming so I can warn them if needed," Irwin said as he jostled the pack on his back slightly.

Trimdir had handed it to him, and it held enough rations for a week: mostly stale bread, old dried meat, and even some dried vegetables. As poor as it was after weeks of Ib's cooking, Irwin knew from what he had seen in the city that this amount of food would be a luxury to many.

"I wonder if it will be able to stay that long," Myda muttered. "We've tried things like that, and usually, the summon vanishes after a while."

Let's hope Twyl can stay longer, Irwin thought as he glanced at the raven before focusing on Myda.

Myda had a small traveling bag and was chewing on what looked like dried rations that had been heated up and covered in something greasy. Her face was clean, her hair still slightly wet, and she was wearing a clean, though worn armor. The bottom half was again a seemingly overly long leather, metal-covered skirt, barely allowing the tips of her boots to poke through.

I wonder why she's wearing that, Irwin thought.

"So, Bron said you are able to move really fast?" Myda said as they walked through the city. "Do you have some short-range teleport, shadow step, lightning, or dash movement?"

"No," Irwin said. "I don't really know how to explain it, but you will see when we are out of the city. There's one thing, though: I'm not very quiet when I move."

"I can't wait to see what that means," Myda said with raised eyebrows.

They continued their chitchat until they reached the gate where a group of rangers stood.

"Lady Myda, are you heading out again?" one of them asked as he walked forward, glancing at Irwin.

"I told you not to call me that," Myda said. "But yes, I'll be gone for at least a week or two, so make sure to keep everything safe here."

The ranger frowned, obviously not happy about something, but all he did was bow his head and let them pass through the small door that sat beside the massive gate.

They walked away from the city towards the distant plains bordering the hills. After crossing through some of those, they would reach the forest separating them from Malorin.

"So… Lady Myda?" Irwin asked. "I didn't know you were a noble?"

Myda snorted, shaking her head and glaring over her shoulder.

"I'm not, but Bron thought it was a good way to thank me for my services, so he elevated me to nobility or something," she said. "With the king likely dead, he is one of the few people who could be the new king, and I guess he decided this was within what he could do."

"Is there any more information about the king?" Irwin asked.

"None. Kasadiron was turned to ruins by some massive fiery explosion. There are not even rumors that the king or anyone else managed to get out before that, let alone news. It's best to assume they are all gone," Myda said, sounding like she cared very little.

Irwin couldn't blame her. Most common people barely knew or cared about the king or the circle of nobles around him.

They continued walking until they were far enough from the city that only the guards could still see them, and Irwin looked at Myda. "Bron said you can keep up, so… what kind of ability do you have?"

Myda grinned. "A right! You've never seen it before, have you? Alright, well, don't be scared, okay? I have a card that allows me to change a bit, just like your old ability, but more."

She stepped forward, and her hand flashed.

Irwin stared in awe as her legs began growing, turning longer until her eyes were nearly level with his own. Hand-long claws poked out of pre-made holes in her boots while her now mostly bare knees bent the wrong way.

"So, what do you think?" Myda asked, her voice different. It was smooth and soothing, almost as if she was partially singing. As Irwin looked up from her legs, he saw that her eyes had grown, and her pupils were a bright, glowing yellow. Tiny feathers covered the sides of her face, and more seemed to sit nestled between her hair.

"Those look able to tear things apart," Irwin said as he inspected her clawed feet.

"Definitely," Myda said. "Ever since I got this card, I've only had to use my daggers on very few occasions. Now! Let's go, smith. It's your turn. Show me what you can do!"

She ran forward, her claws leaving behind deep gauges, and within moments, she was moving as fast as Daubutim could.

Irwin leaned forward and kicked off, shooting forward and leaving behind a deep impression and spraying sand. He began swirling his internal flame, building up Kinetic energy as he landed, kicking off even stronger.

Ahead of him, he saw Myda look back with a frown, but her eyes widened as he began picking up speed.

Within a few moments, he was barreling forward and gaining on Myda. After a few moments, Twyl jumped off his shoulder and followed him a few feet up in the air.

Eventually, they were running beside each other, Myda taking long, agile strides, her legs moving like a blur, while Irwin covered twice the ground she did per stride, leaving behind clouds of debris.

"Alright, I see what you mean about being unable to sneak around," Myda shouted as Irwin sailed through the air a few paces. "How much faster can you go?"

Irwin glanced at her, feeling the still overflowing kinetic energy, and he couldn't hold back a wolfish grin.

"Keep up," he shouted, using as much Kinetic energy as he dared and propelling himself forward with a whoosh. Within ten steps, he doubled his speed, but to his surprise, Myda managed to keep up. Still, her jaw was locked tight as she bent forward, breathing heavily.

They continued increasing speed, and soon, they were dashing across the muddy plains towards the distant hills.

Focusing on his balance more now than his speed, Irwin was finding it harder and harder to keep it. Finally, just as he landed, his foot slid sideways, and before he could stop himself, he fell. He hit the ground, rolling and sliding forward. When he finally lay still, covered in mud, he couldn't hold back an annoyed grunt.

Desert sand is definitely easier, he thought, slapping at the mud.

Myda stopped beside him, her breathing so haggardly that she seemed incapable of making the funny remark Irwin knew she probably had.

He rose and began wiping away the mud while she slowly caught her breath.

"Alright… I guess you are faster," she eventually managed. "But you definitely need more practice."

Just because of this stupid mud, Irwin thought as he remembered the long hours of practice he'd done on Scour.

When she finally caught her breath, and Irwin was done wiping mud from his face, they continued forward at a fast but manageable pace.

At this pace, it should take us less than a week to reach Malorin, Irwin estimated.

The day continued without incident, and as he recalled the drops of soulforce, Irwin was almost disappointed that they didn't come across any more Imps. Late in the evening, hours after it had become dark, they stopped atop a hill with a good spot to camp.

"So… you have very rare or even better cards or something?" Myda asked as she tossed her back down, slightly out of breath.

Irwin sat down with his back against a rocky wall below a ridge.

"Why do you ask?" he asked innocently.

"Oh, no reason," Myda snorted. "Just curious to know if you ever get tired."

"Not before you," Irwin said, grinning as he watched her lie down, arms behind her head. They had little time to chat while running, mostly because it would have been a constant shouting match.

"So, what kind of cards do you have?" he asked.

Myda turned her head to look at him in surprise. "Usually, people aren't that direct," she said.

"I'm not asking for details," Irwin said. "Just curious. You have that shape change card and four more. Anything useful for our trip?"

It was quiet for a bit, then Myda sighed. "I'm pretty sure you weren't this weird before. But sure... I'll tell you a bit! I was lucky when I was young. Lord Bron was looking for young people with potential, and although I only had a simple uncommon card, he saw potential in it and me. So, he had me trained by Hutch, together with some others. When we finished, we all got cards. Mine was a rare bow summon. It creates arrows from out of thin air and allows me to shoot them further and straighter than normal."

Irwin whistled. "That's a great second card."

Myda laughed. "Yeah. I meant it when I said I'm the best ranger Lord Bron has, you know? I've been trying to train others, but between a lack of cards and people with potential, none have yet managed to catch up. Annoying because now I have to scout most of the distant areas on my own. What about you? I recall that you used to have to use a skill to change into this big metal shape, but you've been in it ever since you returned. Did you improve it by merging it?"

"Something like that. I combined all my cards into one," Irwin said. "They call it a heartcard, and it's why I look like this now."

"Heartbound… I've heard stories about it from Hutch, but he wasn't willing or allowed to go into details," Myda said, staring at him intently. "Is that why your eyes are silver?"

"Yes," Irwin said.

They continued chatting until Myda couldn't stop yawning.

"How are we going to divide the evening watch?" Irwin asked.

Myda closed her eyes and yawned. "Come on, you're the one with all the impressive cards. If you get tired, wake me up."

Irwin stared at her, wondering if she was being serious. Seeing her curled up, he snorted. "Sure. I'll wake you up an hour or two before dawn," he said.

Myda didn't respond, and within moments, her breathing slowed and softened.

That's an impressively fast way to fall asleep, Irwin thought as he glanced at Twyl, wishing he could talk with Daubutim through her. At least she was still there.

He got up and moved to a position that would give him a good overview of their surroundings and glanced at her again. He might have more stamina than her, but if she thought he would take every watch without sleep, she had another thing coming.

In the end, he woke her an hour before dawn, and they left an hour later. Still, when they began running again, it almost looked like it had been the other way around.

Halfway through the morning, they slowed their pace slightly, and during midday, they had a short break, during which Myda kept looking at him in annoyance.

"What?" Irwin finally asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Has anyone ever told you it's really annoying that you don't get tired?"

Yeah, Greldo's going to like her, Irwin thought, unable to prevent himself from smiling widely as he remembered running across Clour with Greldo and Scintilla.

"Yes," he said. "Multiple times."

"Oh," Myda muttered. "Well… great."

That evening, Irwin let her sleep again, and he didn't have the heart to wake her. She'd struggled the last few miles, and Irwin was starting to realize she was very competitive. The fact that Lord Bron had said he was the only one who could keep up with her obviously wasn't helping.

After she woke, he took a short sleep before they continued on their journey. When Irwin slowed the pace even more, Myda didn't complain, but he heard her mutter something about his cards.

Late in the afternoon, they reached the edge of the hills that bordered the forest they would need to cross. The lower pace had given Myda enough time to regain some energy, and as they slowed down for the last stretch, she hummed thoughtfully.

"What's wrong?" Irwin asked as he scanned the forest sprawling before them.

He saw no heat signatures, not even the small ones of birds or wildlife around the edge. If that meant they were none or just further in and blocked by the trees, he didn't know.

"I haven't been here for half a year, so some changes are understandable, but this? "Myda said thoughtfully. "There's no sign of life anywhere."

"You can see that from here?" Irwin asked.

As he looked around for heat signatures, he wondered if this ability came from one of the cards she hadn't given any information on or from the shape change, just like with Greldo.

Myda tapped the side of her head beside her eyes. "These aren't just pretty. I can see further than anyone else I've met in great detail."

Then I'm sure you and Greldo will have a blast, Irwin thought.

"Usually, I can see insects flying a mile away, but here? There's nothing," Myda said, causing Irwin to frown.

"Alright, let's go forward slowly," he said, summoning a massive hammer.

"That's a bit too big, maybe?" Myda asked.

Irwin just shrugged as he continued, knowing that he could enlarge the hammer twice before it would be too big for him to use effectively. But he preferred this. The hammerhead was half as wide as Myda's upper body and just heavy enough to allow him to reposition himself while swinging it by using the momentum. Crithann and he had practiced with it for many months. If there was anything in those forests he couldn't blast with his fire or suffocate with steam, he was going to smash it apart.

As he walked down towards the forest, the muddy hills with patches of yellow grass made way for a mossy, grassy slope with the occasional low bushes.

The closer they came to the forest, the more apparent it became that Myda was right. There wasn't a single bird cry, and although it was early summer, there weren't any mosquitoes or flies anywhere.

"Have you ever seen anything like this?" Irwin whispered.

"No, but I have heard some nasty rumors," Myda said. "One of the scouts that headed north to the coast said he encountered an entire area that was devoid of life. I know him, and I had thought he was being overly dramatic. Now though…" she sighed. "If we need to, we can go around this area and see if it's different a few days north or south, but that would add a lot of time to this trip."

"Not yet. Let's see what's inside first," Irwin said. "You wouldn't happen to have a stealth card to scout ahead?"

"No, but I can move soundlessly and see most and hear a lot. Can't you just ask the bird to do it?"

Irwin looked at Twyl, then shook his head. "I'm not sure that would work. It can't actually tell us what it sees..."

"Right. A shame," Myda said.

"Well, I can see body heat," Irwin said. "But my hearing isn't that good, so I think you should take the lead. If anything happens, jump back and hold your breath."

"Hold my breath?" Myda asked, looking at him in confusion.

"I've got a card that allows me to create dense steam," Irwin said as he looked around. "If we get into trouble, I'll cover us, so stay close to me when that happens."

"..." Myda stared at him before shaking her head and continuing forward.

Irwin heard her whisper something about Hutch and miracle worlds under her breath.

Ten steps into the forest, Irwin smelled a nasty scent of decay carried on the warm breeze moving in from under the trees. Myda was a few steps ahead of him, and she kept moving her head around, sniffing softly.

As ominous as the silent forest and the damnable stink were, they saw nothing as they continued deeper inside.

A good while later, when the light filtering in from above was turning faint to indicate evening, Myda suddenly stopped moving. She raised her hand, making a gesture Irwin had learned long ago from Hutch, which meant stop and be silent.

Irwin's fingers tightened around his hammer's handle while he instinctively readied his heart card.

Seconds ticked by, and then Myda beckoned him forward.

Irwin moved beside her, trying to see or hear anything, but all he saw were trees, branches, and bushes tinted red by his darkvision.

"There's something ahead. It's hard to see, but I think it's a body," Myda whispered as she began stepping forward, pointing out branches and anything else while she moved across.

Irwin nodded and snuck after her.

At first, he saw nothing, though he did notice the pungent stench was becoming stronger. Then, as he ducked below a branch, he suddenly saw what Myda had seen. A furry brown limb sticking out from behind a tree and the edge of a larger shape.

A Shadedeer? he thought as he recognized the dark and clawed hooves. He hadn't seen one since leaving Malorin, and they usually never left the Gloomforest.

Myda snuck further, around the tree and the bushes, then froze. Irwin saw her hand tremble, and he quickly took another step to come beside her.

Hundreds of animals, birds, and even a few Galubs lay on a big pile, old, congealed blood covering the ground and most of the pile.

"By Yilda…" Myda whispered. "What did this?"