Watcher of Fate

As the group rode their camels under the cool, silver glow of the moon, the vast desert stretched endlessly around them. The soft padding of the camels' hooves and the occasional whisper of wind were the only sounds that accompanied their journey. Perched on her camel, Elara reached out with her magic, focusing on her [Dimensional Link]. With a small gesture, she opened a shimmering portal to her Spirit Domain, just large enough to slip her hand through.

Beyond the portal, her [Spirit Tree] stood tall, and nearby, the massive dolia they had commissioned from the potter rested, awaiting the precious water they would need for their journey. Concentrating, Elara cast [Create Water], summoning a steady stream of cool, fresh water that began to fill the large dolia. However, as she watched the water pour in, she couldn’t help but frown. The process was slow, and her mana reserves, while regenerating, were still being stretched thin due to her ongoing core formation.

“This is going to take a while,” Elara muttered, pulling her hand back from the portal and closing it. She glanced over at Lily, who was riding her own camel with ease. “At my current mana regeneration, it’s going to take forever to fill that dolia.”

Lily’s ears twitched, and she looked over at Elara with a knowing smile. “You could always make it easier on yourself, you know. Now that you’ve removed the non-affinitated mana from your pool, you’re ready for the next step. You should start purging the affinities you don’t need anymore.”

Elara raised an eyebrow, curious. “Like what?”

“Earth and fire,” Lily said matter-of-factly, adjusting her position in the saddle. “You don’t use them in your spells; they’re just taking up space. The fewer affinities you carry, the more efficient your mana will be. Right now, you’ve got too many elements crowding your core, and it’s slowing you down.”

Elara considered Lily’s words. It was true. She rarely, if ever, used earth or fire-based magic. Her skills had evolved to focus more on shadow, spirit, light, and force. Holding onto affinities she didn’t use was like carrying dead weight. “So, I just... remove them?” she asked, unsure of how the process would feel.

Lily’s voice broke through her thoughts. “It’s like when you removed your unaffinitied mana,” she said, leaning slightly in her saddle as she spoke. “Only this time, instead of shrinking, your mana pool will actually grow.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “Grow? How does that work?”

Lily’s tails swayed lazily behind her as she explained. “When you removed your unaffinitied mana, your total mana pool shrank because that neutral energy was essentially taking up space. But now that you’re dealing with affinities, it’s a bit different. As you start purging affinities you don’t need, like earth and fire, you’ll be left with fewer elements dividing up your mana pool.”

Lily gave her a pointed look. “Fewer affinities means each one has more space to grow. So instead of spreading your mana thin across multiple affinities, it’ll become more concentrated. Shadow, spirit, light, and force, those will become stronger, and your total mana pool will start to feel bigger because the same amount of energy is being divided among fewer elements.”

Elara nodded, beginning to grasp the concept. “So, when I drop earth and fire, the remaining affinities will be more potent, and I’ll have more available mana for the spells I actually use.”

“Exactly,” Lily said with a grin. “You’ll start feeling the benefits right away. It’ll take some time for the full effect to kick in, but once it does, casting spells like [Create Water] will become a lot easier. And when you form your final core, it’ll be even more efficient.”

She glanced over at Lily, appreciating her wisdom. “Thanks, Lily. I didn’t realize how much I’ve been holding onto that I don’t even use anymore.”

Lily smirked, her fox-like ears twitching. “It’s all part of the process, Elara. I had to do the same thing myself. Once you get rid of the clutter, you’ll start seeing real growth.”

Elara nodded thoughtfully, her mind turning over Lily’s words. As they continued their journey across the moonlit desert, the rhythmic sway of the camels beneath them seemed to mirror the steady work she knew lay ahead for her own magical growth. She glanced up at the stars overhead, feeling the weight of the coming changes but also the potential for new strength. The quiet night stretched out around them, and for a moment, the only sound was the soft padding of hooves in the sand. Then, as they crested a dune, the glow of something larger came into view.

In the distance, the silhouette of Fort Stonehelm began to rise from the sands. Arcane lights shimmered from the corner towers and the gatehouse, casting an ethereal glow across the stone walls. The lights pulsed gently, powered by runes etched into the very foundation of the outpost. The closer they came, the more the sheer size and solidity of the fort became apparent. It stood like a lone sentinel in the vast desert, a reminder of the Aetherium Empire’s reach even in such remote lands.

Elara’s eyes narrowed as they approached the gatehouse. The fortified entrance was well-guarded, with armored figures standing at attention, their eyes alert beneath the glow of the arcane lights. As they drew near, Yared slowed his camel, guiding it toward the lead guard, who stepped forward to greet them.

“Travelers,” Yared called out, his voice carrying over the quiet night air. “We come seeking entry to rest and gather supplies before continuing our journey.”

The guards exchanged glances before giving each of the group a careful once-over. Their gazes lingered on Lily and Kael for a moment longer than the others, clearly assessing the unusual nature of their appearance. Lily, with her fox-like ears and tails, and Kael, with his tiefling heritage, stood out in sharp contrast to the more human figures the guards were used to seeing.

One of the guards, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, gave a curt nod. “You’re clear. Proceed through the gates. But mind yourselves. We keep a tight watch here.”

The gate creaked open, the sound heavy and metallic, as the group made their way into the fort. As they passed beneath the stone archway, the coolness of the shadowed gatehouse provided brief relief from the desert night.

Once inside the fort’s outer walls, Yared pulled his camel to a stop and turned to face them. “This is where we part ways,” he said, his voice tinged with both pride and finality. “You’ve been good company, and thank you for saving us. You’ll always be welcome in Olorun, the great tortoise, should our paths cross again.”

Elara smiled at him. “Thank you, Yared. We wouldn’t have made it here without your help.”

Yared inclined his head, a warm but solemn expression on his face. "May your journey be safe and your path clear," he said, his voice carrying a note of finality. He gave a final nod to Lily, Kael, and Elara, before gesturing for them to dismount. They slid off their camels one by one and handed the reins back to him, each exchanging a brief but meaningful glance.

With the camels now in tow, Yared climbed back onto his own mount, gave them one last parting nod, and turned his camel back toward the endless desert. "You’ll always be welcome on Olorun," he called over his shoulder, his voice fading as he and the [Lamia Guard] began their journey back toward the vast sands from which they had come.

As they watched him and the [Lamia Guard] retreat into the moonlit night, Elara felt a pang of uncertainty. They were on their own now, deep within the outpost of Fort Stonehelm, with their next steps leading them into the unknown. But for now, they had made it this far, and that was a victory in itself.

She turned to Lily and Kael. “We should find a place to rest and plan our next move.” The arcane lights of the fort flickered above them, casting long shadows as they prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

Elara, Lily, and Kael made their way through the winding streets of Fort Stonehelm. The arcane lights that lined the pathways flickered, casting long, eerie shadows on the stone walls. The quiet hum of magic filled the air, giving the place an otherworldly feel as they walked, their steps soft on the ancient stone beneath them.

As they passed a few bustling stalls and closed shops, Elara’s eyes caught sight of a familiar symbol: the insignia of the Adventurers Guild hanging above a modest building. A soft glow came from within, signaling that it was still open for business despite the late hour.

“There’s the Adventurers Guild,” Elara said, pointing toward the sign. “I think I’ll stop in. Maybe they can help us get our bearings and figure out the best way to get back to Frostspire.”

Lily and Kael nodded, and they followed her inside. The interior of the guildhall was well-lit, with intricate runes carved into the stone walls, illuminating the space. As they approached the reception desk, Elara was surprised to see an automaton standing behind it. The mechanical figure was sleek, with bronze plating and glowing blue eyes, its movements smooth and precise. It clicked softly as it acknowledged their presence.

"Greetings, adventurer," the automaton said in a pleasant but slightly mechanical voice. "I am Reception Unit 492, though you may call me Regan. Please present your guild badge for verification. How may I assist you today?"

Elara handed over her guild badge, feeling out of place in this foreign guild hall. "I'm new to this area," she said. "I'm working my way back toward Frostspire and hoping for some guidance."

Regan processed the badge, and a soft whirring sound came from its internal mechanisms. Its glowing eyes flickered briefly before it spoke again. "You are currently 5,721 leagues away from Frostspire as the airship travels," it said in its even tone. "Assuming one could fly directly over the mountain range instead of passing through Gabilanûr."

Elara’s eyes widened at the number. That was much farther than she had anticipated, even accounting for the twists and turns of her journey. "That’s... a lot," she muttered, glancing at Kael and Lily.

"If you would like," Regan continued, "we can message the Frostspire Adventurers Guild, notifying them of your current status."

Elara thought about it for a moment. Given all that had happened since she left, it might be wise to let the guild back in Frostspire know she was still alive and that there had been trouble. “Yeah,” she said, nodding. “Send a message. I need to inform them about Eldrin... the assistant guild leader. He was a demon in disguise, and he tried to summon a Lich. Frostspire needs to know what happened. Also tell my father at the Crystal Heart Inn that I'm alive and well.”

Regan paused for a brief second as it processed her request. “Understood. The message will cost one crystal to send via the guild message ledger,” it informed her.

Elara reached into her pouch, pulling out the crystal, and handing it over. "Go ahead. Send the message."

As Regan took the crystal and entered the message into its magical system, Elara felt relief and trepidation wash over her. Whatever lay ahead, at least now Frostspire would know the truth about Eldrin, and perhaps that would set things in motion for when she eventually returned. The soft hum of magic in the air grew faint as the message was sent, a faint shimmer trailing from the automaton’s hands as the process concluded.

"Your message has been successfully sent," Regan said, its blue eyes glowing softly. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, adventurer? Would you like me to mark this outpost for airship layover, or do you have your own means of transportation?"

Elara furrowed her brow. “What exactly does that mean?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Airships do not stop at Fort Stonehelm regularly unless this is their destination or if they are signaled to make a layover," Regan explained in its even tone. "If you wish to board an airship, I can send a signal marking this outpost for a layover. Otherwise, you would need to wait for an already scheduled airship to stop here."

Elara exchanged a glance with Lily and Kael. "And when’s the next airship supposed to pass through?"

"We do not have a set schedule," Regan replied, its glowing eyes flickering for a brief moment. "Airship traffic is based on trade routes and the movement of goods. However, you can expect an airship within the next week or so."

Elara thought for a moment. The idea of waiting around for an unknown period wasn’t ideal, but signaling for an airship would at least guarantee a ride. "That sounds good," she said with a nod. "Please mark the outpost for layover."

"Done," Regan responded with a faint clicking sound as it transmitted the signal. "An airship will stop here when it next passes through."

"Thank you," Elara said, giving the automaton a small smile.

With their business concluded, the group turned and headed back out into the cool night air of the fort’s streets. The arcane lights flickered above them, casting long shadows as they walked.

"Now to find somewhere to stay for the night," Elara muttered, scanning the quiet streets for an inn or tavern where they could rest and regroup before the next stage of their journey.