《Wizards Without Work》 Episode Zero - The World of Magic That Once Was In a universe where magic is ever flowing, the world was a very different place for wizards. There were castles to protect, dragons to tame, curses to break, and epic battles that defined kingdoms and legacies. A wizard could wander the land with a staff in hand and a spellbook tucked under their arm, commanding awe and respect wherever they went. Back then, being a wizard meant something. It wasn''t just a job; it was a calling, a title whispered with reverence. The sky itself felt charged with their magic, and every corner of the world brimmed with possibility and wonder. Wizards wielded their spells not just to solve problems but to inspire legends. But the world doesn''t stay still. As centuries rolled on, magic evolved. It got faster, sleeker, and¡ªsome would say¡ªmore efficient. Technology crept in, blending with spellcraft in ways no one could have imagined. Technomancy was becoming of a demand for homes and businesses. Hover-carriages replaced enchanted steeds. Instant-cast charms made lengthy incantations obsolete. Telepathic communication devices turned scrying crystals into quaint antiques. For the younger generations, this was progress. For others, especially those who had dedicated their lives to the old ways, it felt like betrayal. The art of spellcasting, painstakingly learned and lovingly perfected over lifetimes, was being cast aside for convenience (no pun intended). The guilds, once sprawling collectives of wizardly talent, dwindled in size and prestige. The grand halls that had once echoed with discussions of strategy and lore now stood quiet, their banners faded and their chairs empty. The advent of the Arcane Standards Bureau, or ASB, further tightened the leash on magic use, enforcing strict rules and regulations. It became harder for small guilds to operate, especially those clinging to the traditional ways.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. One such guild is Ashbain''s General Magical Services. Nestled in a crooked little building in the growing town of Havenmere, this tiny guild stands as a relic of the past. Its leader, the cantankerous but brilliant Merrick Ashbain, refuses to let go of the old ways. His methods are long-winded, his spells take eons to cast, and his disdain for modern magic-tech is legendary. Yet somehow, his guild endures¡ªbarely. But times are hard. Work is scarce, clients are demanding, and Merrick''s team¡ªa mismatched trio of misfits¡ªcan''t seem to go a single day without turning a simple job into an explosion of frogs, snowstorms, or, occasionally, both. And now, stepping into this chaos is Darwin Dewflare, a bright-eyed young wizard fresh out of school. Armed with a degree in Traditional Magic, a dream of making a difference, and a wardrobe straight out of a history book, Darwin wants nothing more than to prove that old-school magic still has a place in the world. Whether Merrick and his team will let him¡ªor whether Darwin can survive the madness¡ªis another story entirely. Welcome to Wizards Without Work, where magic is messy, tradition clashes with progress, and every job is a disaster waiting to happen. Somewhere between the chaos and camaraderie, there''s a spark of something extraordinary. But for now, it''s just another day at Ashbain''s General Magical Services. Episode 1: A Late Shift at ABRA-KA-BURGER The bustling dinner crowd fills Abra-Ka-Burger, where every meal is ¡°Magic in Every Morsel!¡± (as the corny catchphrase above the counter proudly reads). Despite the hokey motto, it seems to work; everyone in Havenmere, from goblins to elves, cherishes this magical fast-food joint. DARWIN DEWFLARE, a young want-to-be wizard in his early twenties, stands behind the counter, staring into the void. He watches the world outside, full of wizards, enchanted creatures, and magic-powered vehicles. Darwin¡¯s face, longing, as he observes the town, wishing he could be out there¡ªdoing magic that matters. But back to reality, as he¡¯s met with the frustrated glare of an elderly witch, her graying curls bobbing under her pointed hat. She begins muttering curses about her missing ¡°Onion Rings of Wisdom¡± and complaining about the ¡°Potato Poof Puffs¡± she received instead. The witch¡¯s complaints blur into the background as Darwin reflects on his choices. He had banked on Traditional Magic making a comeback, like an old hairstyle returning to fashion. He had never expected to find himself here, taking orders for enchanted burgers instead of casting spells. But here he is, months out of college and stuck cleaning infant orc puke for a paycheck Darwin, a recent graduate with a degree in Traditional Magic, had once dreamed of being a wizard of note, a name in spellcasting circles. But with traditional magic seen as outdated, his degree might as well be taffy flavored toilet paper. Instead of grand feats, he¡¯s here, in Abra-Ka-Burger, fielding complaints from customers who can¡¯t remember what they ordered and blaming him for it. Despite the disappointment, the job at least pays enough for him to attend the Enchant¨¦ Faire¡ªthe yearly festival in Havenmere dedicated to up-and-coming spellcraft and magical gadgets. That is, when he isn¡¯t covering shifts for his chronically late coworkers. Darwin¡¯s shift begins, and the rush turns into a circus of magical mishaps: Through the chaos, Darwin watches the world go by, taking note of the little bits of magic around him, wishing he were part of something more substantial. Later that evening, as Darwin takes a moment to clear his mind, he looks up at the night sky, taking in the peace of the evening¡ªuntil he sees a frog land with a splat on the window. Then another. And another. Curious, he steps outside, eyes widening as he sees an onslaught of frogs raining down from above, dotting the streets of Havenmere like a plague of bouncing, croaking spots. Out in the street, the chaos unfolds. Darwin stares as he sees an old wizard with a billowing beard, standing on a traditional wooden broomstick, muttering incantations with dramatic flair. Nearby, another wizard, a younger spellcaster with a bag of potion vials, furiously shakes two potions, then hurls them into the air, the glass shattering and spraying potion droplets everywhere as she tries to reverse the frog spell. Meanwhile, a third figure¡ªa wizard on a sleek, modern hover-broom, equipped with small enchanted drones¡ªfrantically pilots the drones to capture as many frogs as possible. Each drone whirs and weaves, carrying small, sparkling nets that scoop up frogs in batches. It¡¯s a sight of pure magical mayhem. Darwin watches in awe, as the frogs scatter, hop, and croak, covering every available surface. But just as quickly as the chaos arrived, the Knight Enforcers¡ªHavenmere¡¯s law keepers ¡ªappear, their silver badges gleaming as they reprimand the wizards for reckless spellcraft. The scene concludes with a grand puff of pink smoke, clearing the street of frogs. When the smoke dissipates, only one frog remains, blinking in confusion¡ªit¡¯s the man from earlier, finally restored to his normal state after his unfortunate proposal went wrong. Darwin chuckles to himself, thinking, this is exactly the kind of life he wants¡ªchaotic, but meaningful. Darwin heads back into Abra-Ka-Burger, finishing out his shift. The scenes from outside replay in his mind, fueling his dreams of a life where magic isn¡¯t just for fast-food novelties, but something real, vibrant, and meaningful. As Darwin finally clocks out and walks home, he passes the town¡¯s community board, a cork-covered display filled with notices for lost familiars, enchanted tutoring services, and guild postings. One flier catches his eye: ¡°HELP WANTED: Traditional Magic Practitioner Needed. Experience Preferred. Apply at Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Darwin¡¯s eyes light up with newfound excitement. He carefully pulls down the flier, gripping it as if it¡¯s his ticket to the life he¡¯s dreamed of. Darwin arrives home, greeting his mother, Sylvia, a kind but pragmatic woman who listens with quiet amusement as he tells her about the evening¡¯s events: the frog rain, the spells, the Knight Enforcers showing up to ¡°straighten out¡± the wizards, and the eccentric team of spellcasters trying to wrangle the mess. Sylvia chuckles knowingly, and remarks that while she respects the old ways of magic, she¡¯s skeptical of wizards clinging to the past. ¡°The days of dragons and rock golems are over,¡± she says, suggesting that the guilds who cling to outdated ways are living in the past. But Darwin just listens, a spark of rebellion in his heart, ready to dive into a world of ¡°outdated¡± magic¡ªone that might just be his path forward. {Sylvia sets down her mug, glancing at Darwin with a smile.} SYLVIA: I saw all that commotion on the news. Truly a shame¡ªa wizard of that age, acting like that in public. DARWIN: So we¡¯re holding his age against him now? C¡¯mon, your son¡¯s also a ¡°traditional wizard.¡± He¡¯s just showing people that the old ways are still... relevant. And actually needed. SYLVIA: My son is an assistant shift manager who wouldn¡¯t dream of costing the town thousands in damages chasing a bunch of frogs around town. DARWIN: You get what I¡¯m saying. I want to be out there helping people, making a difference. SYLVIA: Oh, you are helping people! When they need to feed their families, they come right to you. DARWIN: Oh, yeah. I¡¯m making a huge impact serving a twenty-piece Kickin'' Chicken Nugget Meal. Really changing the world over here. {Sylvia chuckles, patting his hand gently.} SYLVIA: Listen to me. You¡¯re capable of great things, with or without wizardry. You don¡¯t need a spellbook to live a good life, honey. Take another year, find your way. Then, if you still want to pursue magic, you can always go back to school or find a trade. What about becoming a Knight Enforcer? You¡¯d be protecting people, keeping those ¡°strange wizards¡± off the streets. Or maybe a teacher¡ªor a magic inspector! You¡¯d still be around magic, helping to shut down all those rogue wizards with their rink-a-dink shops. Like the one I saw on the news tonight¡­ run by that ancient-looking wizard who should be put in a home, playing enchanted checkers and eating prunes. DARWIN: Mom, I need to be a wizard. I need... a purpose in my life. {Sylvia¡¯s expression softens, shifting slightly in her seat.} SYLVIA: I''m not a wizard, do you think what I do has no purpose? DARWIN: Mom¡­You¡¯re the head librarian at the largest magical library within 500 km! You oversee spells and tomes that are thousands of years old. Mom, you¡¯re the reason I wanted to be a wizard in the first place. I want to put all that knowledge to use. SYLVIA: Your brothers have very respectable jobs that involve magic. I could talk to them about helping you find something, just until you¡¯re on your feet. DARWIN: {rolls his eyes} Milo is a lawyer who¡¯s practically campaigning to add more regulations on magic users. And Grimbly? He¡¯s a warehouse supervisor for that big magic box store, the one pushing all this stuff to make old-world magic obsolete. No, Mom, I don¡¯t want to work with or for two people who stand against everything I love. SYLVIA: Who says they¡¯re against you, dear? DARWIN: {with a deadpan stare} You don¡¯t remember their graduation gift? A children¡¯s magic potion set. It makes bubblegum-flavored bubbles, and it came with a costume wizard hat and beard. SYLVIA: {holding back laughter} They were only teasing, honey. They didn¡¯t mean any harm. {Sylvia¡¯s laughter fades, and she looks at Darwin with a soft smile, shaking her head slightly.} SYLVIA: You know, I¡¯m proud of you, no matter what you do. I just wish you could see that there are so many ways to be happy, ways to make a difference. The world has changed, honey. Wizards aren¡¯t saving kingdoms or slaying beasts anymore. Sometimes helping people just means being there for them when they need it. DARWIN: But that¡¯s what I want to be, Mom. Someone people call when they¡¯re in trouble, who¡¯s actually making things better. Not just... filling orders for enchanted fries. I want my life to be about something more. SYLVIA: I know you do, sweetheart. But what if you could find that ¡°something more¡± in a different way? Magic has a place, sure, but it¡¯s not the only way to live with purpose. {He thinks about telling her about the post he saw. He starts to reach in his pocket for the paper but stops himself.} DARWIN: But I¡¯m still... waiting to figure it out. I¡¯ve felt so stuck since graduation, like I¡¯m just waiting for something to happen. And then I see people out there doing what I can only dream of doing. SYLVIA: {sighs} I know you¡¯re restless. Maybe... maybe you¡¯re supposed to feel this way right now. Maybe that feeling means you¡¯re supposed to explore. You¡¯re young; you don¡¯t have to know everything right this second. What if you let yourself enjoy life without expecting it to be ¡°more¡± all the time?. DARWIN: Thanks Mom, maybe I will just start enjoying life, seeing what¡¯s out there maybe. I¡¯ll figure this out. One way or another. {He reaches in his pocket and crumbles up the paper, then throws it in the trash} SYLVIA: What was that? DARWIN: Nothing, just a leftover receipt from work. {Sylvia reaches out and give her son a big hug and kisses him on the cheek} SYLVIA: Why don¡¯t you go ahead and turn in for the night. We can talk more tomorrow if you want or you don¡¯t have to talk about it at all. Either way, I¡¯m here for you, my baby boy. {Darwin nods, his expression stale, feeling a little defeated that his mom just didn¡¯t seem to understand. Sylvia watches him walk slowly towards his bed with his head hung low. Her mother¡¯s tuition tells her to look down into the trash. She retrieves the paper he threw away and reads it. She lets out a big sigh and thinks to herself¡­ What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡±} Episode 1A - Codex Entry: Darwin Dewflare Full Name: Darwin Aurew Dewflare Age: 23 Height: 5¡¯9¡± Complexion: Sky-blue skin tone Build: Average for his height, slightly leaning toward lanky Hair: Buzzcut, with a slight hint of a widow¡¯s peak Eyes: Amber brown - often wide with curiosity or mild panic Magical Specialty: Notable Strengths: Notable Weaknesses: Background: Darwin¡¯s family hasn¡¯t seen a true wizard in generations. For the most part, his relatives have pursued magic-adjacent professions rather than practicing magic itself. His mother, Sylvia Dewflare, is the head librarian at the largest magical library in the region, overseeing ancient spell archives and enchantment records. Darwin¡¯s older brothers have taken stable, lucrative jobs¡ªone as a legal consultant for magical regulations, the other as a logistics manager for a magical supply company. Darwin, however, was different. Fascinated by stories of wizards from a young age, he chose to pursue a degree in Traditional Magic despite knowing it was considered obsolete. He¡¯s driven by a need to prove that the old ways still have value and that he can make a difference in the world. Though life hasn¡¯t gone as planned since graduation, Darwin¡¯s determination hasn¡¯t wavered. He balances his part-time job at Abra-Ka-Burger with his apprenticeship at Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, hoping to one day show the world¡ªand himself¡ªthat he¡¯s more than just another aspiring wizard. Personality: Darwin is optimistic and idealistic, with a stubborn belief in the importance of magic as an art form. While he¡¯s usually calm and collected, he¡¯s not immune to fear when things go wrong. However, his fear tends to take a back seat when his friends are in danger or when he sees an opportunity to help. Though he can be self-critical and worries about being perceived as useless, Darwin¡¯s loyalty and sense of responsibility drive him to push past his doubts. He often surprises himself and others with his bravery and ingenuity under pressure. Fun Facts: Relationships: Current Status: As a trial apprentice at Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, Darwin is determined to prove his worth. Though his work-life balance is chaotic¡ªsplitting time between the guild and Abra-Ka-Burger¡ªhe¡¯s starting to find his place among Merrick¡¯s misfit team. Darwin hopes that with enough effort, he¡¯ll be able to turn his passion for traditional magic into something truly meaningful. Episode 2: Welcome To Ashbain鈥檚 General Magic Services Darwin woke to the soft morning light streaming through his curtains, groggily rubbing his eyes as he stumbled into the kitchen. His mother was already gone for work, as usual, but something on the counter caught his attention¡ªa neatly prepared breakfast waiting for him alongside a small, folded note. Next to it was the crumpled flyer for Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, now smoothed out and placed in plain view. He unfolded the note with a growing smile: ¡°Good luck on your journey, my son. I believe in you, and I know you can achieve great things. Go for your dreams. Love, Mom.¡± Darwin felt a swell of warmth and determination. His mom¡¯s quiet support was all he needed to shake off the nerves. Grabbing the flyer, he quickly ate, threw on his shoes, and dashed out the door. Today was the first step toward something bigger¡ªhis chance to finally prove himself. The town of Havenmere hums with morning life. It¡¯s a bustling but quaint town, with cobblestone streets weaving through shops (though soon to be replaced with the more high-tech kinetic roadways. Havenmere is like any ordinary town, with grocery stores and bakeries, schools and coffee shops, but here, nearly everything is touched by a hint of magic. Townsfolk of all kinds go about their day¡ªstudents with enchanted backpacks head to school, wizards in sharp suits hurry off to work, and families sit at outdoor cafes sipping ¡°Spellbound Mochas¡±, ¡°Moonbeak Lattes, and other caffeinated concoctions. Residents gather over breakfast, listening to the latest updates from the town¡¯s news channel, EN-CHANT-9. {EN-CHANT-9 NEWS ANCHOR: ¡°And in last night¡¯s headlines, a magical mishap involving a rogue spellcaster led to hundreds of frogs hopping across the streets of downtown Havenmere. Officials from the Arcane Standards Bureau¡ªour trusted ¡®spell police¡¯¡ªarrived at the scene and neutralized the situation. However, many citizens are calling for stricter regulations on unsanctioned wizard guilds.¡±} It¡¯s been nearly a hundred years since the formation of the ASB, the Arcane Standards Bureau, and in that time, magical incidents like these have decreased by over 97%. With the ASB enforcing strict safety standards, wizards who go rogue are fewer and further between. The Bureau¡¯s mission? To protect both people and property from the chaos that magic can sometimes bring. In towns and cities across the kingdom, the ASB ensures that spellcasters, especially lower-ranked guilds, follow precise rules and regulations. Once, wizards roamed freely, casting spells without consequence or care for property damage. But now? Even a minor magical mishap could mean costly fines or the loss of guild rank, which can mean a major decline in resources and status. One guild in particular should definitely be worried about this. ¡°Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services¡± as the sign reads above the weathered building. It has its charm with crooked windows and a slightly peeling paint job. The owner, MERRICK ASHBAIN, the self-proclaimed ¡°master wizard¡± of this establishment is inside trying to figure out how things could have went so wrong last time, for it was he and his wizards who were the main cause of what''s being called¡­¡±Night of A Million Frogs¡±. He mumbles as he shuffles through stacks of paperwork scattered across the desk, stopping to squint at the faded writing. He¡¯s visibly irritated, muttering under his breath about the ASB and its endless bureaucracy. Merrick moves around the office, checking his magical contracts, organizing supplies, and anxiously glancing at the clock, fully aware that an ASB inspection could come at any moment. His two employees, SAFFREY SMOKEVINE and TALLY BRIGHTSPARK, seem less concerned.}
SAFFREY, standing by the alchemy table, stirs a potion that bubbles ominously. She wears protective goggles, concentrating as the potion glows a faint orange. Without warning¡­BOOM! The flash lets off a small explosion and then a POOF of smoke, leaving a smear of soot across her cheek. Saffrey coughs and waves away the smoke, only slightly annoyed. TALLY, meanwhile, sits on the floor, working on one of his enchanted drones from the frog incident the night before. He¡¯s tinkering with its tiny gears, adding small modifications to give it a ¡°magical net¡± attachment¡ªa temporary capture device that can contain creatures and enchanted objects for a limited time.* Merrick¡¯s mind races with the possible repercussions of last night¡¯s frog incident. Although his team managed to clean up most of the mess, the ASB is bound to come knocking. But his assistants, Saffrey and Tally, seem unfazed. They go about their tasks, half-listening to his muttering with faint smiles. From across the room, Saffrey smirks as she watches Merrick mumbling to himself.
SAFFREY: Merrick, relax. The ASB has better things to do than worry about a few frogs.¡± MERRICK: A few frogs? A few hundred frogs, Saffrey. And in the middle of the town square! We should¡¯ve had a better formation, a plan!¡± TALLY: Formation? Plan? Merrick, it¡¯s a frog containment job, not a royal battle. Besides, the only reason there were hundreds of frogs is because someone got a little carried away with the spellwork. MERRICK: If you¡¯re implying that I¡¯m to blame, it was Saffrey¡¯s overly potent potion that caused the multiplication in the first place. SAFFREY: Oh, so we¡¯re blaming me now, are we? Let¡¯s not forget it was your ancient incantation that backfired. The ASB will chalk it up to you overdoing it¡ªagain.¡± TALLY: I say if the Knight Enforcers wouldn¡¯t have showed up, this would not have been a big deal. I mean at least we cleaned up¡­most of it. {Just then, the door jingles open, and Peter Silverridge steps in¡ªthe man who had been turned into a frog the night before. He looks understandably annoyed, glancing between the three of them with narrowed eyes. The three wizards turn, caught off guard by their visitor. Merrick¡¯s face shifts from irritation to his best attempt at a warm, ¡°customer service¡± smile.} MERRICK: Well hello Mr. Silverridge! And how are you doing on this beautiful morning? PETER: How am I you ask? Well first my EX girlfriend turned me into a frog for trying to do something special. THEN I come to you guys for help and you cast some weird spell on me that turns me into like a million frogs. TALLY: By my calculations it was 7,427¡­I think a couple of you got squished. PETER: DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS!!! Another YOU that¡¯s a freaking frog being stepped on again and again¡­I still haven¡¯t slept thinking about this and i don¡¯t think I ever will again. SAFFREY: I have a potion for sleep, hours, even days in your own little dreamland. PETER: NO! You stay away from me with your weird little potions. All I wanted was for you guys to turn me back into a person, that''s it, and somehow I¡¯m on the news¡­NAKED! TALLY: I really feel like your ex should be taking a lot of the blame here. WE didn¡¯t turn you into a frog. SAFFREY: Wait now, hold up! Why should she take a lot of the blame? Who was the cheapskate who proposed at a greasy burger spot in the first place? Also did you guys see the ring? Did you win it at a fair or how many boxes of Dragon Puffs cereal did you have to eat to find it? PETER: Hey now, I didn¡¯t¡­. TALLY: WHOAAAA NOW! Saffrey, the man was probably doing the best who could in a forced situation.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. SAFFREY: Forced? Look at him. Who¡¯s forcing that to do anything? TALLY: Look at what he¡¯s wearing. Cheap. Secondhand. Not a ounce of fashion sense. PETER: Well this is becoming very personal, I just wanted¡­ SAFFREY: Exactly! He should be crawling on his hands and knees begging her for a second chance. TALLY: He scrapped and saved and sacrificed by getting those cheap clothes, cutting his own hair, and look at his glasses. Do you think a man who wasn¡¯t saving for something special would walk around looking like this on purpose? No Saffrey. No. Also, I am sure he¡¯s here to thank us and NOT ask for a refund like some wheaty small little man who cries and boo hoos about stuff. PETER: Speaking of refund, I was actually¡­ SAFFREY: No, give him all his money back and then some. He¡¯s gonna need it when he moves back in with mommy. While she is out with one of his coworkers on a REAL date, laughing behind his back and making fun of how small he is. PETER: My coworker? Wait, Who John? Frador? Maximus? What do you know? TALLY: He doesn¡¯t need his money back. He needs to step out in the world with his chest out, head held high, and grab the next pretty thing that says hello, kiss her and then march down to his ex¡¯s job and say ¡°LOOK WHAT YOU COULD HAVE HAD BABY!¡± MERRICK: SILENCE! Sir, I want to apologize for my young wards. TALLY/SAFFREY: Wards? MERRICK: I do apologize for everything that happened but let¡¯s discuss this in my office. PETER: No. They are right. This is what the old me would have done. I am to blame, and I did come here for a refund, but you know what? NO! I''m gonna take responsibility and show her that I can clean up my own messes and I can fix this. Thank you guys! I see what you were doing. Trying to tell me to get my life together and go get back the love of my life! THANK YOU! {Peter runs out of the door with tears of joy and a huge smile on his face. Meanwhile Merrick looks confused and also frustrated at his two employees for what just happened} MERRICK: What was that? TALLY: It worked. SAFFREY: Yep. I mean that guy was here for only one reason and that was to get his money back and complain. He definitely would have submitted a complaint to the ASB and did we really need that right now? MERRICK: And what if it wouldn¡¯t have worked? What if you would have angered him more and he would have tried to sue us instead hmmm? I mean insulting him like that¡­shame on both of you. I HAVE THOSE SAME GLASSES! {Tally shrugs, exchanging a grin with Saffrey as he casually spins a small, empty vial between his fingers.} SAFFREY: And besides, we just gave him a little nudge. {Merrick narrows his eyes at the vial, realizing with growing irritation what they¡¯d done.} MERRICK: {eyes widening} You dosed him? Without him knowing? SAFFREY: {casually} Well, technically, Tally¡¯s drone sprinkled it above him. I was just the supplier. TALLY: {innocent smile} Just a whisper of Saffrey¡¯s ¡°Courage Brew.¡± Didn¡¯t even have to touch his tea. MERRICK: And you think that¡¯s better? Do you two know how many rules you¡¯re bending here? You can¡¯t just sprinkle potion dust on clients and hope it ¡°solves¡± things! SAFFREY: {shrugging} All I know is that Mr. Silverridge won¡¯t be filing any complaints. And you¡¯re not out of pocket for a refund. TALLY: {grinning} Plus, he¡¯s on his way to reclaim the love of his life, or whatever dramatic quest he¡¯s taken up now. Happy endings all around. {Merrick rubs his temples, muttering something unintelligible about ¡°the youth of today.¡±} MERRICK: (exasperated) You two are going to be the death of this business. Mark my words. {Tally and Saffrey exchange amused glances, both clearly unfazed by Merrick¡¯s irritation.} SAFFREY: (smirking) Oh, come on, Merrick. You know we keep things interesting. Besides, you don¡¯t really want to go back to doing all this yourself, do you? TALLY: Imagine the paperwork.
Merrick scowls but says nothing, muttering under his breath as he sorts through a stack of mismatched documents on his desk. Just then, the bell on the front door jingles, and the three turn to see a young, slightly nervous young guy standing in the doorway, clutching a flyer in his hand. The newcomer looks around the room, taking in the scene with wide eyes and an awkward smile.
DARWIN: Uh, hi? I saw this flyer in the square. Is, uh¡­ is the position still open? {Merrick stares at him blankly, his expression shifting from irritation to outright annoyance. He throws a questioning glance at Saffrey, who simply raises her eyebrows and shrugs.} MERRICK: Position? What position? I never put up any flyer. {Saffrey coughs, avoiding Merrick¡¯s gaze.} SAFFREY: Oh, did I forget to mention that? I thought it¡¯d be a good idea to put out feelers, see if we could find some help. You know, reliable help. {Merrick sighs, looking at Darwin as though he¡¯s evaluating a strange creature.} MERRICK: So, you¡¯re interested in¡­ what, exactly? Do you even know what we do here? DARWIN: Yes, sir. I know it¡¯s a general services guild, and you handle a lot of traditional magic. I actually studied that in college. Traditional Magic, I mean. {Merrick raises an eyebrow, still clearly unconvinced.} MERRICK: And you¡¯re here because¡­? DARWIN: (clears his throat) Because I want to work with real wizards. I¡¯m tired of using magic for... you know, just flipping enchanted burgers. I thought maybe I could find a place here. {Tally smirks and leans forward, giving Darwin an approving look.} TALLY: So, you¡¯re saying you actually studied Traditional Magic? Not a lot of that around these days. Most wizards are too busy with their tech degrees and fast-cast spells. DARWIN: That¡¯s exactly it! I wanted to study something real, something with roots. And I thought maybe I¡¯d actually get to use it here. SAFFREY: All well and good, but a warning: you won¡¯t be pulling off grand spells or saving the world around here. This is a lot of grunt work, kid. Frog cleanups, amulet repairs, dispelling wayward hexes. Not exactly the flashy stuff they put in textbooks. MERRICK: (sighing) And who says we¡¯re even hiring? This isn¡¯t a place for beginners. We don¡¯t need a fresh college grad clogging up the works. TALLY: Oh, come on, Merrick. Couldn¡¯t hurt for you to have a third pair of hands at your disposal, right? {Merrick¡¯s eyes narrow as he studies Darwin, clearly torn. Finally, he lets out a long sigh, relenting slightly.} MERRICK: Fine. If you¡¯re SO determined, I¡¯ll consider you for a trial apprenticeship. But this isn¡¯t some playground for rookies. You¡¯ll be doing as you¡¯re told and nothing more. DARWIN: YES SIR! I¡¯m up for it. Thank you! SAFFREY: (smirking) Well, look at that. He¡¯s already saying ¡°sir.¡± You¡¯re already kissing butt. TALLY: (grinning) Yeah, kid, just watch your step. Merrick here¡¯s got a habit of throwing apprentices into ¡°fieldwork¡± on day one. DARWIN: I¡¯ll do whatever¡¯s needed. MERRICK: We¡¯ll see about that. Report here tomorrow morning, early. And bring¡­ whatever credentials you have. {Darwin nods eagerly, clutching the flyer in his hand like a lifeline. He glances at Tally and Saffrey, who give him encouraging nods.} DARWIN: Thank you, really. I won¡¯t let you down. {Merrick grumbles, already turned back to his paperwork, but there¡¯s a faint hint of interest in his expression. Tally and Saffrey exchange a grin as Darwin exits, clearly pleased with their success in nudging Merrick to give the new guy a chance.} MERRICK: I see you two are proud of your little surprise there. As if we don''t have enough problems already. SAFFREY: Think of it as ¡°new blood.¡± Besides, you know you need the help. MERRICK: Yes, i need help, not another young whippersnapper getting themselves into trouble. In fact, since you are the ones who put out the ad. You will be responsible for him. So when your little pet makes a mess, you will be the ones to clean it up. {Tally and Saffrey share a mischievous smile as Merrick returns to his work, the faintest hint of a smirk breaking through his grumbling exterior. The newest ¡°apprentice¡± may have no idea what he¡¯s in for, but with this team, every day promises its own brand of chaos.} Episode 2A - Codex Entry: Merrick Ashbain Full Name: Merrick Ashbain Taronigun Age: 317 Height: 6¡¯5¡± Complexion: Copper-toned skin, weathered Build: Once muscular and imposing, now leaner with age but still carries an air of strength Hair: Long white and silver hair, often tucked under his limp, pointed wizard hat Eyes: Piercing gold
Magical Specialty: Merrick is a master of Traditional Magic, priding himself on the long-forgotten arts of meticulous spellcasting, ritual magic, and ancient incantations. Though his methods are considered slow and outdated, his power and precision remain unmatched in certain areas. Notable Strengths: Notable Weaknesses:
Background: Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.Born during a time when wizards were revered as guardians and advisors, Merrick grew up in an era of grand battles and epic quests. He idolized Merlin as a young wizard but later grew to despise him after Merlin famously embraced modern magic and technology. In his prime, Merrick served as the chief magical protector of a distant kingdom. But as technology and modern magic advanced, his methods were deemed outdated, and he was ultimately replaced by a fairy magician specializing in tech-based spellcasting. For the past century, Merrick has run Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, a small, struggling guild dedicated to handling magical problems that the Arcane Standards Bureau or larger guilds won¡¯t bother with. His stubborn refusal to modernize has driven away potential allies and apprentices, leaving him reliant on an increasingly mismatched team of misfits.
Personality: Merrick is gruff, no-nonsense, and often exasperated by the chaos that surrounds him. He takes pride in his craft and struggles to adapt to a world that seems to have moved past him. Though he¡¯s quick to criticize and slow to praise, his loyalty to his guild and its members runs deep, even if he rarely expresses it aloud. While Merrick often seems stuck in the past, his occasional moments of humor, wisdom, and surprising vulnerability reveal a softer side beneath his cantankerous exterior.
Fun Facts:
Relationships:
Current Status: Merrick is the leader of Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, a guild hanging on by a thread in a world that increasingly sees them as obsolete. While his methods are often at odds with his team¡¯s more modern approaches, Merrick remains committed to proving that traditional magic still has a place in today¡¯s world. Episode 3: Spellbooks Abound The morning sunlight filters through the streets of Havenmere, glinting off enchanted shop windows and bustling brooms darting across the skies. Darwin strides purposefully toward Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, his arms laden with scrolls, books, and even a small enchanted crystal sphere that hums faintly with stored magical energy. The sphere is from a class project he did sophomore where, but for some reason he forgot what magic he stored inside of it. His traditional magician¡¯s robe swishes awkwardly around his legs¡ªa stark contrast to the more modern, practical attire of passersby. Darwin stops briefly outside the shop, adjusts his oversized satchel, and takes a deep breath. Today¡¯s the day he¡¯ll prove himself. Inside, Merrick is already bustling around the cluttered office. Tally tinkers with one of his drones near the workbench, while Saffrey organizes a shelf of potions with labels scrawled in her messy handwriting. Darwin steps in full of enthusiasm.
DARWIN: Morning everyone! I brought some examples of my work¡ªspells I¡¯ve been improving, my degree, even a few enchantments I made during school. And, uh¡ª my crystal sphere¡­This is something I think could¡ª MERRICK: Leave it on the table. We have to go, we have been summoned for a job. Grab my satchel and book. Make haste apprentice. We¡¯ve been called to the old Havenmere Archives. Seems a spellbook that was supposed to be de-cast got activated. Sentient furniture, enchanted chaos¡ªthe usual mess. Let¡¯s move. TALLY: First mission kid, feeling excited? {Saffrey smirks as she packs her different potions together, then glances at Darwin¡¯s outfit.} SAFFREY: {teasing} Nice outfit. Did your mommy make that for you? DARWIN: I thought it¡¯d be... fitting. Traditional magic and all. {Merrick stops at the door and gives Darwin a skeptical look.} MERRICK: Where¡¯s your broom? You do have a broom don¡¯t you? Did you learn to navigate one in your fancy schooling? DARWIN: Uh... sort of? I mean, I can ride one... theoretically. I never got my license in school. It wasn¡¯t a requirement to graduate, and¡ª {Merrick raises a hand to cut him off, now irritated.} MERRICK: {grumbling} Of course. Figures. You¡¯ll ride with Tally. TALLY: {grins} Oh, this is gonna be fun.
Tally points to the back of his hover-broom, a high-tech contraption brimming with blinking lights and enchantments. Darwin gulps, climbing on behind him as Saffrey chuckles and kicks off on her own broom. Merrick grumbles under his breath as he mounts his traditional wooden broom, the bristles swishing as he rises steadily into the air. The group arrives at the Havenmere Archives, an imposing building of stone and stained glass. It exudes an air of quiet authority, with its grand entrance and tall, arched windows. Or at least, it would¡ªif not for the chaos spilling out of the front door. A galloping table barrels into the parking lot, its legs bending and creaking as it dodges a startled passerby. Several chairs hop around, a bench rears up, neighing like a horse before bolting down the street. Darwin¡¯s jaw drops as he hops off Tally¡¯s broom, nearly tripping in his robes.
DARWIN: This... this is incredible! {Merrick gives him an annoyed look, stepping past him with his staff in hand.} MERRICK: Stay back and pay close attention. BEHOLD! Real magic is at work. {Tally deploys a drone, which buzzes to life and zips toward the library entrance. Saffrey pulls out a shimmering blue potion, setting it to the side as she pulls more colorful vials} SAFFREY: I¡¯ll use a potion to pinpoint the active spellbook causing this. Shouldn¡¯t take long. TALLY: And I¡¯ll make sure our furniture friends don¡¯t stray too far off.
Merrick mutters something under his breath as he moves toward the doorway, his staff glowing faintly. Darwin watches in awe as the team springs into action. For a moment, they look like a well-oiled machine. Saffrey¡¯s potion glows as she throws it into the air, the mist forming tendrils that snake through the library, seeking the source of the magic. Tally¡¯s drones whiz around the perimeter, weaving glowing nets that corral the galloping furniture back toward the entrance. Darwin can¡¯t help but smile. Maybe this is the place for him after all. But then, chaos erupts. One of Tally¡¯s drones sputters, its lights flickering erratically before it explodes with a loud POP! The net it was holding snaps free, and a table bolts past Merrick, crashing through one of the stained-glass windows. Saffrey¡¯s potion mist veers suddenly, its glow intensifying as it engulfs several dormant books on the shelves. Instead of pinpointing the active spellbook, it recharges the others, sending waves of new enchantments cascading through the library. One of the newly reactivated books flips open, releasing a gust of icy wind. Within seconds, a snowstorm begins to form above the library, snowflakes swirling through the aisles as frost coats the bookshelves. Merrick growls, gripping his staff tightly.
MERRICK: {irritated} This is why I tell you to TEST those potions before you use them in the field! {Saffrey glares at him, pulling out another vial} SAFFREY: The potion works fine¡ªwell it did yesterday! {Darwin, still standing near the entrance, watches the chaos unfold. His initial awe begins to waver as he realizes just how disorganized things are beneath the surface.} DARWIN: Okay... maybe they¡¯re not quite as put-together as they seemed.
The scene escalates as Merrick attempts to cast a containment spell, his voice rising over the chaos as he chants an ancient incantation. But the length of the spell gives the sentient furniture ample time to scatter further, and the snowstorm above intensifies with each passing moment. Tally sends out another drone, grinning despite the chaos.
TALLY: Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this under control! {The drone veers off course almost immediately, narrowly missing Darwin¡¯s head as it crashes into a bookshelf.} DARWIN: Do you, though?!
Saffrey rolls her eyes, tossing another potion into the mix as Merrick¡¯s incantation reaches it peak. Darwin dodges a flying chair as he realizes just how much chaos this team manages to create¡ªand how much he still has to learn if he¡¯s going to keep up with them. As more books spring to life, the library becomes an ever-growing storm of chaos. Chairs gallop across the aisles, tables neigh like wild horses, and reanimated books flap their covers, darting through the air like birds. Darwin stands near the entrance, his heart racing as he watches the chaos unfold. Merrick, stationed at the center of the room, grips his staff tightly as he continues to chant the intricate incantation of a powerful containment spell. His voice rises and falls with the ancient rhythm, but the spell takes time¡ªfar too much time in the current situation. Darwin¡¯s admiration for traditional magic wavers slightly. While he respects Merrick¡¯s spellcasting, he can¡¯t ignore what he learned in school¡ªmodern adaptations could drastically shorten the incantation time without sacrificing its essence. On the other side of the room, Saffrey holds the shimmering blue potion and takes aim. The vial glints in the library¡¯s dim light.
SAFFREY: {focused} This should freeze the books and furniture for a few minutes. That¡¯ll buy us time. {Tally, meanwhile, activates one of his newer gadgets¡ªa small, dog-like robot with whirring legs and a glowing magical core. The ¡°dog¡± sprints across the floor, shooting a cable out to lasso around the legs of the table } TALLY: I¡¯ll handle the furniture. Meet Sparky! {Saffrey doesn¡¯t even look at him as she prepares to throw her potion.} SAFFREY: Just make sure that thing stays out of my way!
But as she throws the potion, Sparky darts directly into her path, running in between her legs causing her to lose control of the vial. It flies through the air before shattering near Merrick. A burst of frosty mist engulfs him, and in seconds, the master wizard is frozen mid-incantation, a look of intense concentration now locked in icy stillness.
SAFFREY: Oh, great! Look at what you did! Your little robot made me freeze Merrick! {Tally looks more amused than concerned, crossing his arms as Sparky scuttles back to his side.} TALLY: Hey, I¡¯m just impressed your potion actually worked. When he thaws he gonna be pissed.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. SAFFREY: We got like 10 minutes. We need to fix this now! TALLY: (shrugging) Ten minutes? Plenty of time for more chaos to erupt. {Darwin finally steps forward, unable to stand back any longer} DARWIN: {shouts} I CAN HELP! {He charges in, but his long, flowing robe catches on a fallen chair leg. He trips and lands face-first on the floor with a loud thud.} SAFFREY: Hey, kid! If you¡¯re gonna help, take off that stupid robe first. {Darwin scrambles to his feet, yanking the oversized robe over his head and tossing it aside. Beneath it, he¡¯s wearing simple, practical clothes. His face flushes, but there¡¯s a determined look in his eyes.} DARWIN: I think I know how to finish Merrick¡¯s spell. TALLY: Well go for it kid!
Darwin begins reciting a spell incantation, but unlike Merrick¡¯s drawn-out chant, Darwin¡¯s version is sharp, concise, and modernized. He combines fluid hand movements with spoken words, focusing his energy into the core of the room where the chaos is strongest. The reanimated books flap erratically, drawn toward the glowing point of Darwin¡¯s spell. The galloping chairs and tables slow, their movements growing sluggish as the enchantment takes hold. Saffrey raises an eyebrow, watching the room settle slightly.
SAFFREY: Not bad, kid. {But just as Darwin¡¯s spell seems to gain full control, a reactivated weather book suddenly releases a burst of energy. The snowstorm above the library gets bigger, frost and snow cascading from the ceiling as the containment spell loses against the storm''s strength.} DARWIN: {shouting} I¡¯ve almost got it! Just¡ªjust give me a second! TALLY: You might want to hurry. Unless you¡¯re a fan of frostbite. SAFFREY: You need to hold it steady. I¡¯ve got something that can boost the containment field, but it¡¯ll only work if your spell doesn¡¯t collapse first. DARWIN: I can do this!
Darwin grits his teeth, pushing through his doubt as he channels every ounce of focus into his spell. The glowing core intensifies, and the enchanted furniture freezes in place, the books fluttering weakly as their energy is drawn into the containment field. Saffrey throws her potion into the glowing core, and it bursts into a brilliant flash of light. The snowstorm abruptly dissipates, and the library falls eerily quiet. The chaos in the archive begins to settle. The snowstorm above the library fades, and the enchanted books and furniture freeze in place as Darwin¡¯s spell completes. Darwin lowers his hands, panting and wiping his brow, but his relief is short-lived. He looks around at the scene¡ªbroken furniture, shattered windows, scattered books, and puddles of melted snow covering the floor. The archive is a disaster. Suddenly, Merrick¡¯s frozen figure cracks and shatters, leaving him free once more. He shakes off the last remnants of frost and immediately glares at Saffrey and Tally.
MERRICK: What in all the magical realms was that?! SAFFREY: That was your spell getting interrupted by a misplaced freeze potion. MERRICK: Misplaced?! You froze me! I was the only one holding the containment spell together, and you¡ª {turns to Tally} ¡ªyou and your little metal mutt¡ª TALLY: Mutt? His name¡¯s Sparky. MERRICK: ¡ªyour ¡°Sparky¡± caused this mess! TALLY: To be fair, Merrick, it¡¯s kind of impressive that Saffrey¡¯s potion worked at all. Half the time, her potions don¡¯t even¡ª SAFFREY: Oh, shut it! My potion worked perfectly. It¡¯s your walking bucket of bolts that threw everything off. {Merrick pinches the bridge of his nose, groaning as his two employees bicker. He turns his attention to Darwin, who looks sheepish but determined.} MERRICK: And you. {pauses} Good job finishing the spell¡ªbut you still did it wrong. DARWIN: Wrong? But it worked! {Merrick gestures to the ceiling and the surrounding damage} MERRICK: {deadpan} Oh yes, it worked¡ªmagnificently. Except for the broken furniture, shattered windows, and puddles everywhere. A proper spell wouldn¡¯t have left such a mess. SAFFREY: Like your spell was going any faster... {Before Merrick can retort, the archivist, a frazzled elf named Corliss, bursts into the room. His eyes widen in horror as he takes in the scene.} CORLISS: {shouting} What have you done?! Look at this place! You¡¯ve caused thousands in damages! The books, the furniture, the everything! {Saffrey steps forward, crossing her arms.} SAFFREY: Yeah, but we stopped the book. CORLISS: Stopped the book? Stopped the book?! Look at this mess! It¡¯ll take weeks to clean, and half the archive is destroyed! TALLY: {cheerfully} Yeah, but we stopped the book. CORLISS: You keep saying that like it matters with all the damage that is done! SAFFREY: But listen¡­We stopped the book though. CORLISS: STOP SAYING THAT! TALLY: Stop saying what? I do have a question for you? Do you know that we stopped the book? {Darwin glances at the group, watching as Merrick, Saffrey, and Tally argue with Corliss. He furrows his brow, stepping forward.} DARWIN: {calmly} This isn¡¯t just about stopping the book. This happened because the de-casting spell on it wasn¡¯t done properly. {Corliss hesitates, caught off guard by Darwin¡¯s serious tone. Darwin picks up the enchanted book, running his hand over its surface.} DARWIN: The spell wasn¡¯t fully completed. It was unstable¡ªjust waiting for the right conditions to collapse. Who handled the de-casting on this book? CORLISS: {hesitant} Uh... I did. But I followed the instructions perfectly! DARWIN: Clearly not. {Darwin picks up another book from a nearby shelf, holding his hand over it. A faint glow appears around the cover as he concentrates.} DARWIN: This one¡¯s corrupted too. I¡¯d bet most of the archive is filled with de-cast spells done the same way¡ªhalf-completed and unstable. CORLISS: {nervously} I¡ªI didn¡¯t have the time to do them all individually. I used a de-casting machine to speed up the process. DARWIN: I¡¯ll come by every day to work through the most dangerous ones properly. The lighter books don¡¯t need full de-casting¡ªjust better storage. TALLY: I could build a lockbox for the dangerous ones. Enchanted, secure, and completely tamper-proof. SAFFREY: I can brew a protective coating for the lockboxes. No such thing as too much protection. {Merrick waves them off with a sour expression} MERRICK: Do what you want. I¡¯m not helping this guy. He¡¯s been nothing but rude. DARWIN: Don¡¯t worry Sir Corliss. We¡¯ll take care of it. I¡¯ll start tomorrow. CORLISS: Fine. But you¡¯d better fix this mess¡ªand make sure it doesn¡¯t happen again. MERRICK: The boy said he will fix the spells YOU so haphazardly cast being lazy. He WILL NOT be cleaning up a mess in which you are the core to blame! Master Darwin is not your cleaning service. {Corliss leans back in a bit of a fright as Merrick scolds him. The louder the old wizard gets the bigger his aura seems to grow. Saffrey and Tally exchange a grin as they both hear Merrick being protective over the newbie} SAFFREY: {teasing} ¡°Master Darwin,¡± huh? Does this mean he¡¯s officially part of the team? {Merrick freezes, catching himself. He narrows his eyes at them.} MERRICK: {grumbling} Did I say ¡°Master?¡± I meant apprentice. He¡¯s a trial apprentice¡ªwe shall be paid per book he fixes. That¡¯s it. {With that, Merrick storms out of the archive in a huff, muttering under his breath. Tally pats Darwin on the back with a grin.} TALLY: Congrats, kid. Welcome to the chaos. {Darwin looks around at the destroyed archive, letting out a small sigh. Despite the mess, he feels a flicker of pride. He might still have a long way to go, but for the first time, it feels like he¡¯s exactly where he¡¯s meant to be.} MERRICK: Alright, don¡¯t doddle, let¡¯s head back to the office. The paperwork for this is going to take all day¨C it¡¯s already given me a migraine. LET¡¯S AWAY!
The ride back to Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services was a quiet one, though it wasn¡¯t without its moments of tension. Darwin, still shaky from the mission, clung tightly to Tally¡¯s hover-broom as it zipped through the crisp morning air. Saffrey flew slightly ahead, her sleek broom cutting gracefully through the breeze, while Merrick trailed behind on his old wooden broom, muttering under his breath about "rookies" and "misplaced potions." The streets of Havenmere passed below them, bustling with morning life¡ªvendors setting up their stalls, enchanted carriages weaving through traffic, and the occasional glimpse of a wizard practicing street magic for coins. Darwin found himself lost in thought as the familiar streets of the town blurred beneath him. The chaos of the archives still fresh in his mind, he wondered if every day would be like this. When the team finally touched down outside the crooked little building that housed their guild, Darwin¡¯s legs wobbled slightly as he dismounted, earning a chuckle from Tally.
MERRICK: {gruffly} That was the easy part, youngster. Being a wizard isn¡¯t just about spells and containment fields anymore. There¡¯s paperwork, invoices, and enough red tape to strangle a hydra. You¡¯d better get used to it. {He adjusts his robes and points toward a cluttered desk piled high with scrolls and documents.} MERRICK: I¡¯ve got plenty of work to finish. If you need something, don¡¯t bother me. I¡¯ll be in my office. {Merrick disappears into his office, the door shutting behind him with a slam. Saffrey pulls on her satchel and heads for the door herself.} SAFFREY: {shouting out in the office} I¡¯m out early today. Gotta help my mom with something. Don¡¯t blow anything up while I¡¯m gone. {Tally gives her a mock salute as she leaves, and Darwin watches her go, feeling a bit unsure of what to do next. Tally notices and waves him over to the workbench, where he¡¯s adjusting a small drone.} TALLY: You did good out there, kid. It gets easier, trust me. Well¡­ maybe not easier, but you get used to it. Some jobs are exciting, like today. Others? Boring as dirt. You¡¯ll see. DARWIN: It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted to do. Work with real wizards, you know? But, uh¡­ how did you end up here? Merrick doesn¡¯t exactly seem like the type to embrace¡­ well, anything with blinking lights and moving parts. TALLY: Yeah, Merrick¡¯s not a fan of what he considers ¡°a waste of time.¡± But even he knows there¡¯s no avoiding it. My family¡¯s full of traditional wizards¡ªhalf of them are wizards without work. There¡¯s only so far you can go sticking to the old ways. Me? I¡¯ve always loved advancements. When they build new structures with magic-infused supports, when there¡¯s a new design for an enchanted communication screen, when they perfect portal travel¡ªI¡¯m the first to read up on it. I love keeping track of that stuff. Always have. DARWIN: So how¡¯d you convince Merrick to hire you? TALLY: He didn¡¯t exactly have a choice. I wasn¡¯t the first, you know. I¡¯m, like, the fifth or sixth ¡°arcane technician¡± he¡¯s brought in. DARWIN: Wow. Not the first huh? I guess people don¡¯t stick around long with Merrick. TALLY: {shrugging} Merrick knows he needs someone on his team who can deal with tech, even if he hates to admit it. He¡¯s difficult to work with, yeah, but once you figure him out, he¡¯s not so bad. He¡¯s got a stubborn streak as long as a sea dragon, but he means well. Most of the time. DARWIN: What about Saffrey? How¡¯d she end up here? TALLY: That¡¯s a conversation you¡¯ll have to have with her. If she wants you to know her story, she¡¯ll tell you. Just a heads-up, though: it¡¯s a long one. But hey, with what I saw today, I think you¡¯ll stick around long enough to hear it. DARWIN: Has being an arcane technician been a lifelong dream or something? TALLY: {grinning} For me? I just like fixing things. The tools, the gadgets, the big stuff, the small stuff. It all fascinates me. What about you, though? Why¡¯d you pick Traditional Magic? That¡¯s about as useful these days as running a wooden broom dealership. DARWIN: I grew up reading the old stories. You know, the ones about dragon hunters, wizards waging wars, and spells that could turn gold into diamonds. My mom works at one of the biggest magic libraries, so I was surrounded by all those tales growing up. When I got into school, the Traditional Magic classes barely had ten students. They even announced they were going to phase out the program soon. But I wanted to do it anyway. I thought, maybe if I worked hard enough, there¡¯d still be a place for wizards like that in the world: Of course, when I graduated, I went straight from mopping floors at Abra-Ka-Burger to bagging fries. Not exactly what I¡¯d imagined. I guess I got lucky, though, seeing that flyer. TALLY: Yeah? And what if this doesn¡¯t work out? What then? DARWIN: Ask me that a week ago, and I¡¯d have said I¡¯d go work for one of my brothers, or help my mom at the library, or even go back to school to study tech magic. But now? I¡¯m not worried about it. I feel like this is where I¡¯m supposed to be. {Tally pats Darwin on the back, with a warm smile on his face.} TALLY: You¡¯ve got a good head on your shoulders, kid. You¡¯ll do fine. Now, help me put this stuff away, and I¡¯ll show you a few tricks¡ªmaybe even let you see some new stuff I¡¯m working on. DARWIN: Actually, I took an extra class in Wizard Technology back in school. I¡¯ve got a few ideas for things that might help. TALLY: Well now, a technomancer in the making.
The two dive into conversation as Merrick stares down from his office. He stands by the window, glancing down at the two young men with a stoic expression. He lets out a small sigh, shaking his head. Merrick didn¡¯t want to get his hopes up¡ªnot again. But something about Darwin made him pause. Maybe, just maybe, this one would stick around. Merrick pulls the blinds closed and sits back at his desk, burying himself in a pile of scrolls. Episode 3B - Codex Entry: Saffrey Smokevine Full Name: Saffreonia Leanna Smokevine Age: 29 Height: 5¡¯7¡± Complexion: Deep emerald green skin with faint, vine-like markings that shimmer bright glowing green only under full moon light. All the females in her family are born with them. Build: Athletic but has some weight on her, with a confident stance that exudes both toughness and grace Hair: Long and dark, often worn loose or in a simple braid. It flows like living ink, with strands that almost seem to move with her moods. Eyes: Gold, but turn glowing green under full moon light
Magical Specialty: Saffrey is a Master Potion Maker and alchemical expert, with a sharp wit and a penchant for experimenting far beyond what¡¯s considered ¡°safe.¡± Notable Strengths: Notable Weaknesses:Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Background: Saffrey hails from a family of potion makers, though she¡¯s taken the craft far beyond the rigid rules her ancestors followed. Growing up in a small village known for its herbalists, Saffrey often found herself at odds with her conservative community. She craved innovation and excitement, not the quiet life of a traditional alchemist. After an incident involving a ¡°miscalculated¡± potion that turned half the village purple for a week, Saffrey left to pursue her own path. She found her way to Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, where her unconventional methods and fiery attitude made her an immediate standout. Though she claims to be in it for the paycheck, it¡¯s clear that Saffrey values the guild as a found family, even if she¡¯s reluctant to admit it.
Personality: Saffrey is sharp-tongued, fiercely independent, and unapologetically bold. She thrives on chaos and loves poking fun at her teammates, especially Merrick, whose old-school ways drive her crazy. Despite her tough exterior, she has a strong sense of loyalty and will go to great lengths to protect her team. She¡¯s also intensely curious, constantly pushing boundaries in her experiments¡ªeven when it means breaking a few rules.
Fun Facts:
Relationships:
Current Status: Saffrey is a senior member of Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, serving as both potion master and occasional chaos manager. While her methods may be unconventional, her results speak for themselves¡ªmost of the time. Episode 3A - Codex Entry: Tally Brightspark Full Name: Talon ¡°Tally¡± Brightspark Age: 29 Height: 6¡¯2 Complexion: Dark Purple, his arms have light blue symbols from his shoulders to his wrist (Runic Strands or Celestial Scars) it''s not yet know when or how he got them Build: Stocky, a bit chubby, but arms are somewhat bulky from lifting heavy machinery for his inventions Hair: Short and messy, dark brown with streaks of silver (natural or enchanted, no one knows) Eyes: Vibrant green, perpetually wide with excitement
Magical Specialty: Tally is a Magic-Tech Engineer, blending magical energy with technology to create unique and sometimes erratic devices. Not the same as a technomancer, which is someone who can control technology with magic. He¡¯s not a spellcaster, he knows very few spells and they are weak in power. But he understands how to match magic and machinery perfectly¡­sometimes. Notable Strengths: Notable Weaknesses:
Background: Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.Tally grew up in a family of powerful wizards and technomancers, but unlike his relatives, his aura levels were low. They have taken their abilities to great heights . His siblings studied spellcasting and rituals, Tally instead spent hours disassembling enchanted gadgets to see how they worked. This fascination led him to pursue a career in arcane engineering. After leaving a prestigious magic-tech academy (possibly voluntarily, possibly not), Tally went to work for several tech companies and engineering firms, but again for one reason or another was fired or banished. After a few years of job hopping, he found himself at Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services. He¡¯s been with the guild for four years, using his inventions to fill gaps in their old-world methods. While Tally often clashes with Merrick over the ¡°proper¡± way to do things, his loyalty to the guild is unwavering.
Personality: Tally is upbeat, curious, and perpetually optimistic, even in the face of failure. His quick wit and easygoing demeanor make him a favorite among the team, though his penchant for chaos can test their patience. He has a knack for turning mundane moments into memorable ones, often by showing off his latest gadget or cracking jokes at Merrick¡¯s expense. Beneath his playful exterior, Tally is deeply passionate about proving that magic and technology can coexist harmoniously.
Fun Facts:
Relationships:
Current Status: As the resident inventor at Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services, Tally takes pride in solving problems that others can¡¯t¡ªor won¡¯t. While his experiments don¡¯t always go as planned, his ingenuity and determination make him an invaluable part of the team. Episode 4: The Name of Stone It¡¯s been a few weeks since the enchanted book fiasco and Darwin has been trying to balance his job at Abra-Ka-Burger and his apprenticeship with Merrick. It¡¯s bright and early in the morning and the light streams into the Dewflare kitchen. The comforting smell of breakfast fills the air, but this is lost on Darwin who is struggling to stay awake with his head about to fall in a bowl of oatmeal. Sylvia, dressed in her casual day-off robe, hums a tune while tidying up, notices Darwin sitting hunched over, his eyes red with huge bags under his eyes. She walks over to her young son, concerned.
Sylvia: {raising an eyebrow} Sweetheart, are you ok? You look like you haven¡¯t slept in days. Darwin: {yawning} Mom¡­ Everyday I¡¯ve just been bouncing back and forth. Long nights at Abra-Ka-Burger and early mornings with Merrick. Syvila: So living the dream huh? Darwin: Yep! Living The Dream! Sylvia: {rubbing his hair} Well, this is what you wanted right? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve learned alot of new spells at this point.. Darwin: No. That¡¯s the thing¡ªIt¡¯s mostly organizing books, cleaning shelves, and fetching coffee. The only magic I¡¯ve done is figuring out how to keep my sanity. Sylvia: {leaning forward} So he¡¯s told you nothing? Any magic? Incantations? Darwin: {hesitating} Nope. Sylvia: Do I need to come down there and talk to this Mr. Merrick? Darwin: No Mom, please, the last thing I need is my mama coming to fight my battle. But I will say that I¡¯ve learned alot from Saffrey and Tally. OH YEA! I helped Saffrey develop a new potion for super strength. {Darwin digs into his bag and pulls out a small vial.} Darwin: One sip, and I could lift a heard of cattle! Sylvia: {skeptically} Really? Prove it. {Darwin hesitates for a second but finally takes a sip. With a small puff of orange smoke, he shrinks down to a few inches tall. Sylvia gasps, nearly knocking over her chair as she picks up her miniature son.} Sylvia: Darwin! {giggling} Well I guess you really are my little boy again. Darwin: {tiny voice} Okay, maybe she was messing with me¡­ {After a few moments, Darwin poofs back to his normal size, looking thoroughly embarrassed. Sylvia shakes her head, her exasperation fading into laughter.} Sylvia: No more of her potions in this house, understood? I don¡¯t need you being turned into a bird or a fire demon. Darwin: Fair enough. Sylvia: Just...take care of yourself, okay? You¡¯re burning the candle at both ends with these two jobs. Find time to rest. Darwin: I¡¯ll try. I wish it could be today, but no luck there. Have to be at Merrick¡¯s in a few minutes. Sylvia: Do you have to work at Abra-Ka-Burger¡¯s tonight as well? Darwin: No, thank goodness! Sylvia: Ok, so you think about what you want for dinner, give me a call, and I¡¯ll go grocery shopping. You deserve a big dinner my son. {Darwin finishes his cereal, kisses his mom on the cheek, and heads out the door, his bag slung over his shoulder. Sylvia watches him go, her smile bittersweet. Darwin rushes over to Merrick¡¯s in hopes that he will start to teach him new things and that he will start to be noticed as a member of the team soon. He understands that he is an apprentice, but so far he¡¯s just learning what everyone¡¯s favorite drinks from cafe. Darwin walks briskly down the cobblestone streets of Havemere, his mind racing. His mother¡¯s words echo in his head: ¡°You¡¯ve been there long enough to start asking him to teach you properly. You¡¯re not just an errand boy.¡± With each step, his confidence grows. He straightens his back, holds his head higher, and mutters under his breath.} Darwin: {to himself} Yeah, I¡¯ll tell him. I¡¯ll tell him I¡¯m done fetching coffee and cleaning up. I¡¯m here to learn magic. {But then a thought strikes him} Darwin: What if he fires me? What if I say it and he decides I¡¯m not worth the trouble? {He stops in his tracks, glancing at the towering Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services building ahead of him. He stills himself, clenching his fists.} Darwin: No. You can do this. You have to do this. {He pushes open the door and steps inside, immediately greeted by the sound of a heated debate between Saffrey and Tally.} Saffrey: I¡¯m telling you, sugar does not go in grits! That¡¯s an abomination. You can put it in porridge, you can put it in oatmeal, but grits are meant to be savory! Tally: You¡¯ve completely lost it, Saffrey. Sugar can go in any hot cereal. Grits, oatmeal, porridge¡ªit¡¯s all the same! Sweet or savory, it works either way! Saffrey: No, it doesn¡¯t! Grits are inherently savory. You season them with butter, salt, cheese¡ªnormal things. You don¡¯t dump sugar on them! That¡¯s just...wrong. {Merrick, seated at his desk, rubs his temples in frustration. His pointed hat droops slightly as he mutters under his breath.} Merrick: {grumbling} By the stars, must I endure this nonsense every morning? {Saffrey and Tally both turn their heads as Darwin hesitantly steps further into the room. Tally immediately seizes the opportunity.} Tally: Darwin! Perfect timing. Quick, tell this misguided soul that sugar goes in any warm cereal¡ªgrits, oatmeal, porridge¡ªyou name it. {Darwin freezes, glancing nervously between Saffrey and Tally, then over to Merrick, who looks completely unamused.} Darwin: Uh...I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t eat any of them. {Saffrey and Tally both stare at him in shocked silence for a moment before rolling their eyes in unison.} Saffrey: {pointing at Tally} We¡¯re finishing this later. Tally: {waving her off} Fine by me. {Saffrey turns to Darwin, a sly grin spreading across her face.} Saffrey: So, did you manage to help your mom move furniture around with that super-strength potion I gave you? Darwin: {deadpan} Oh, very funny. Saffrey: {laughing} I bet she loved having her tiny little baby boy back, even for just a few seconds. Her little pocket wizard. Tally: Don¡¯t worry about her, kid. She played pranks on me too back in the day.. Means you¡¯re finally part of the family. {Before Darwin can respond, the Echo Orb on Merrick¡¯s desk flares to life. A panicked voice fills the room, the projection of a frantic parkgoer flickering above the orb.} Caller: Please! Someone needs to come to the park¡ªquickly! Merrick: What¡¯s the problem? Caller: It¡¯s a rock Golem! It¡¯s tearing everything apart! Merrick: A rock Golem? That¡¯s impossible. They¡¯ve been reprogrammed to be peaceful. Caller: I¡¯m not joking! It¡¯s destroying everything! {The sound of a deafening roar echoes through the orb, followed by distant screams. The orb flickers and cuts off. Merrick stands abruptly, grabbing his staff.} Merrick: Pack your things. We¡¯re off to the park. {Saffrey and Tally exchange glances before grabbing their equipment, while Darwin shoulders his bag nervously.} Saffrey: {grinning at Darwin} Ready for your first real fight, pocket wizard? Darwin: {under his breath} ¡­I think so? {As the team approaches the park, the faint sound of screaming echoes in the air. Merrick grips his staff tightly, his eyes narrowing.} Merrick: Sounds like it¡¯s a real mess. Saffrey: Wait...is that cheering? Tally: {sarcastically} Oh great¡­look who it is?
The closer they get, the more apparent it becomes that the noise isn¡¯t panic but applause and celebration. When they finally reach the scene, a large crowd has gathered. Cameras flash, and excited onlookers clap and cheer as the celebrity guild, The Starfall Reign, stands front and center. Their leader, Gideon Moonspire, beams, shaking hands with fans. His polished robes gleam in the sunlight, embroidered with intricate golden runes, while his matching cape billows dramatically despite the lack of wind. A few feet away, Oswen Falonfen stands beside the now-frozen Golem, arms crossed smugly. Another guild member holds an enchanted trap spell over the Golem, a web of glowing magic keeping it in place.
Merrick: Them. Of course, it¡¯s them. Darwin: {whispering to Saffrey} Who are they? Saffrey: {rolling her eyes} The Starfall Reign. A bunch of glorified mascots pretending to be wizards. Darwin: Wait, They¡¯re real?! I thought they were just some entertainment troupe Tally: {snickering} They¡¯ve got matching outfits, business cards, sponsorship deals. They¡¯re basically walking commercials. Merrick: Parasites. {As Merrick and his team approach, Oswen notices them and strolls over, his smirk widening as he makes eye contact with Saffrey.} Oswen: {mocking} Well, well, well. If it isn¡¯t Havemere¡¯s local talent. {Saffrey flips him off without hesitation, earning a laugh from Oswen. He brushes it off, turning to Gideon, who¡¯s busy signing autographs.} Oswen: Hey, Gideon, look who showed up! {Gideon turns, spotting Merrick and his team. He flashes a dazzling smile, his perfect teeth gleaming.} Gideon: Merrick Asspain!This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Merrick: IT¡¯S ASHBAIN! Gideon: That¡¯s what I said. You''re still kicking, I see. Barely. Merrick: {scowling} Shouldn¡¯t you be off cutting ribbons at some burger chain opening? Or maybe petting unicorns for the tabloids? Gideon: {chuckling} Oh, Merrick. Still bitter after all these years. Merrick: Bitter? Please. I¡¯m disgusted. You prance around like heroes while the rest of us do the real work. Gideon: {Real work? Like frog catching? Or what about the time you and your crew rode a giant hamster? Face it, Merrick, you¡¯re stuck in the past. My team and I? We¡¯re the future. We¡¯re making a difference¡ªbeing noticed. Merrick: Noticed for what? Prancing around like a spoiled child? Gideon: {shrugging} A spoiled child who is now diamond! Yea, that¡¯s right Merrick, I¡¯m where you have always wanted to be. But listen old timer, we were just passing through, saw the commotion, and thought, hey, why not help out the little people? Oswen: {smirking} Thought we¡¯d show the locals how it¡¯s done. Saffrey: How about I stick that wand up your ass? {Gideon waves dismissively at Oswen.} Gideon: Oswen, wrap it up. We¡¯ve got more important places to be.
Oswen casually raises his hand, snapping his fingers. The Golem freezes in place, its movements completely halted. Another Diamond Reign wizard deactivates the containment spell and steps back, allowing the Golem to slump back into its statue form. The crowd erupts into cheers, rushing forward to take pictures and get autographs. Gideon, ever the showman, turns to Darwin.
Gideon: You¡¯re new. Please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re apprenticing under him. Darwin: Uh¡ª Gideon: {interrupting, handing him a glowing, sparking business card} Listen, kid. If you want to learn real wizardry, come find me. {Gideon straightens up, signaling to his team. They mount their sleek, high-tech hovercrafts, shimmering with expensive enchantments. Gideon throws one last smug grin over his shoulder.} Gideon: It¡¯s time to retire old man! See ya later!. {The Starfall Reign flies off, leaving a frustrated Merrick fuming. He mutters under his breath.} Merrick: Bastards. Tally: {grinning} Since we¡¯re already here, how about we grab some breakfast? I can get some grits¡ªand drown them in sugar. {He shoots a look at Saffrey, who glares back. Meanwhile, Darwin holds the glowing card left by Gideon, staring at it for a moment before tucking it into his pocket. He walks over to Saffrey.} Darwin: How do you guys know them? Saffrey: Long story short, Gideon was a whiny brat who we used to work with. Darwin: {frowning} And Oswen? Saffrey: {grimacing} Dated him for a while. Biggest mistake of my life. The end. {As the team begins walking away, Darwin pauses. A strange sensation comes over him. He turns back toward the statue, something isn¡¯t right.} Darwin: Wait¡­ {He doesn¡¯t know how or why, but he can feel something about the Golem¡ªa residual energy that hasn¡¯t faded.} Darwin: {hesitant} Uh...guys? {No one hears him. Merrick is muttering curses under his breath about Starfall Reign, while Saffrey and Tally bicker behind him about breakfast. Darwin inches closer to the statue. The ground trembles slightly beneath his feet. He takes another step, squinting up at the Golem¡¯s glowing eyes. His stomach churns as he spots the earth shifting ever so slightly beneath its feet.} Darwin: {louder} Guys, look! This thing is still moving! {Merrick freezes, turning sharply. He follows Darwin¡¯s pointing finger just as the Golem¡¯s eyes flash brightly¡ªred as fire. A deep rumble escapes its massive form as the containment spell shatters like glass. The Golem lets out a deafening roar, its form shifting and growing larger as its rage intensifies.} Merrick: Spread out! {The team scrambles as the Golem slams its massive fists into the ground, shaking the entire park. Debris flies everywhere as the creature¡¯s once-dormant body surges with renewed power.} Saffrey: {grabbing Darwin¡¯s arm, pulling him back} Stay out of the way, kid! This thing¡¯s gone berserk! Darwin: I can help! Saffrey: Help by not getting crushed! {Tally springs into action, activating his wristbands. Sparky, his mechanical dog-like drone, leaps out from its carrying case, its legs extending as it powers up. Tally grins.} Tally: Let¡¯s go Sparky! Merrick: This is no time for your toys, Tally! Tally: Sparky, engage cables! {Sparky darts around the Golem at hyperspeed, magical cables shooting out from its sides and wrapping around the creature¡¯s massive legs. The cables tighten, pulling taut as Sparky completes several rapid loops around the monster.} Tally: {grinning} Get the zoomies, boy! {The Golem stumbles but quickly regains its footing. It roars again, pulling against the cables with incredible strength.} Saffrey: {pulling out a glowing orange potion orb from her pouch} Let¡¯s see if your new trick works, Darwin! {She attaches the orb to a small rock and hurls it toward the Golem. The orb releases a burst of orange smoke. The rock grows rapidly, expanding into a massive boulder that slams into the Golem¡¯s chest, knocking it backward.} Saffrey: Well damn! . {Merrick, floating above the battlefield on his broom, begins chanting a intricate incantation. Electricity crackles around his staff as he summons a powerful lightning spell.} Saffrey: Come on, old man! Hit it already! {Merrick unleashes the lightning, bolts striking the Golem with loud cracks. It roars in pain, dropping to one knee. Another bolt hits, and another, pushing the Golem further down. Tally sends Sparky in again, this time firing magical orbs from its back-mounted cannon} Tally: Let¡¯s see how you like this big guy! {The Golem roars once more, breaking free from the cables. Its massive foot stomps down on Sparky, breaking his back legs} Tally: {devastated} Sparky! Hang in there, boy! {Saffrey pulls out another potion, this one a shimmering green with swirling flecks of gold. She hurls it high into the air above the Golem. As the potion shatters, a shower of sparkling liquid rains down. The moment it touches the ground, thick, barbed vines erupt, twisting upward and wrapping around the Golem¡¯s arms and legs, pinning it in place.} Saffrey: That ought to hold you! Darwin: That¡¯s...amazing. Merrick: {yelling from above} It¡¯s not enough! Keep it steady! {Tally, recovering a damaged Sparky, activates one of his drones named Birdie. The compact device unfolds mid-air, revealing small cannons on its sides. Tally directs it toward the Golem with a wave of his wristband.} Tally: Alright Birdie, you¡¯re up! {The drone fires a barrage of glowing orbs that strike the Golem¡¯s knees, chest, and shoulders. The impacts push it further down, the vines tightening their hold. The Golem roars in frustration, its movements slowing.} Merrick: Stand back! {Merrick unleashes another lightning spell. The bolt strikes the Golem¡¯s chest, the shock rippling through its entire body. The creature trembles, its massive form sagging as the electricity courses through it. He strikes again, then again, each bolt lighting up the park like a storm. The Golem collapses to one knee, the ground beneath it cracking.} Saffrey: Hit it again, old man! Merrick: I¡¯ll show you ¡°old¡±, whipper snapper! {Just as Merrick releases another bolt, the Golem lets out a furious roar, its eyes blazing brighter. The vines begin to burn away as the Golem¡¯s rocky body starts to glow with an intense heat. It pushes itself back to its feet, shaking off the remnants of Tally¡¯s drones and the vines.} Darwin: It¡¯s not stopping! {The Golem stomps down, sending out a shockwave that knocks Merrick off his broom. He lands roughly on the ground, clutching his staff for support. Saffrey pulls Darwin back as the Golem takes a step forward, the ground trembling beneath its massive weight.} Saffrey: Stay back, kid! It¡¯s going wild! Darwin: {pointing at the Golem¡¯s chest} Wait! Look! {Darwin¡¯s eyes focus on the faint, glowing rune etched into the Golem¡¯s chest. The language is ancient, its script almost impossible to decipher, but something about it feels familiar.} Darwin: {yelling} Do you see that? The symbol! Saffrey: No, kid! What are you talking about? {Darwin doesn¡¯t hesitate. He runs toward the Golem, dodging debris and the creature¡¯s swinging arms.} Saffrey: {shouting} Are you crazy? Get back here! Darwin: I can read it! {He closes his eyes, recalling his training, the ancient texts he studied back at the university. The rune begins to make sense. He stammers out syllables, piecing together the name.} Darwin: {hesitant, then louder} Gree..Grey¡­Greg...Gregor! {The Golem freezes mid-swing, its eyes flickering. Darwin steps closer, shouting louder.} Darwin: Gregor! That¡¯s your name, isn¡¯t it? Tally: His name? What does that matter? Darwin: It¡¯s the curse in the rune¡¯s language¡­just keep saying its name! Merrick: What rune? What language? What are you talking about boy, are you going mad? Saffrey: Well we¡¯ve hit it with a lot and the kid hasn¡¯t led us astray so far¡­{yelling at the golem} GREGOR! Tally: GREGOR! Darwin/Saffrey/Talley/People standing in the park: {all yelling} GREGOR! {The Golem¡¯s eyes shift, the red glow fading to green, then to a soft blue. Its massive form begins to shrink, returning to its original size. It kneels, staring down at Darwin.} Gregor: {slowly, gravelly} Gregor... I remember. That is my name. {The team regroups around the now-calm Golem. Merrick approaches cautiously, his staff raised.} Merrick: {eyeing the Golem} Well, that¡¯s new. {Gregor looks at the group, his voice still rough but clearer now.} Darwin: You were bound. The rune on your chest was more than likely a curse, written in a forgotten spell language. Gregor: I...was bound? That¡¯s right¡­my soul trapped in this stone. For so long... I had forgotten myself. Saffrey: {softly} Who did this to you? Gregor: A sorceress I think. Long ago. Her name...I cannot recall. Merrick: I can try to free you. Separate your soul from the stone. But that would mean¡­well you know. Darwin: Wait¡­no. Why? You see he¡¯s fine now, there is no reason to do that. Gregor: {nodding solemnly} Well young one, the reason I was turned into this thing is because I don¡¯t think I was a good person. Maybe going into the light or the dark is what I deserve. {Merrick begins chanting a spell, his staff glowing with energy. A circle of runes forms around Gregor, glowing faintly. The spell pulses once, then fizzles out. Merrick frowns, his shoulders sagging.} Merrick: {shaking his head} The magic binding you is too strong. I can¡¯t break it. Gregor: {sighing deeply} Then it seems I am to remain as I am. Tally: Most Golems work in quarries. You could find some purpose there. Gregor: Perhaps. First, I will help clean this mess. A ¡°thank you¡± for freeing my mind.
The dust begins to settle as Gregor, now calm and diminished in size, kneels in the clearing. Merrick leans on his staff, catching his breath. Before anyone can say another word, the sound of galloping hooves echoes through the park. A squad of Knight Enforcers, clad in gleaming enchanted armor, charges into the scene. Their weapons shimmer faintly with magical enhancements, and their leader raises a hand to signal the group to surround the Golem and the team. The circle of knights tightens, their spears and staves trained on Gregor, who raises his massive hands in a gesture of surrender. The Golem remains motionless, his eyes dimming as he sits back on his heels. Merrick narrows his eyes at the Captain, his jaw tightening
Knight Enforcer Captain: {authoritatively} Ashbain¡¯s Guild. Step away from the entity. Merrick: {annoyed} You¡¯re late. As usual. Knight Enforcer Captain: {ignoring Merrick} The situation is under control now. We¡¯ll take it from here. {The Captain, a tall figure with a stern expression, nods at Merrick as if to acknowledge his effort but maintains a professional distance. Merrick straightens up, dusting off his robe. He reaches into one of the many hidden pockets inside his robe and pulls out a neatly folded piece of parchment. He hands it over to one of the knights with a firm motion.} Merrick: The bill. For services rendered. And make sure your office doesn¡¯t ¡®lose¡¯ it this time. {The Knight Enforcer holding the parchment glances at it awkwardly before passing it to the Captain. The Captain doesn¡¯t even look at the document, simply tucking it away in his satchel.} Knight Enforcer Captain: {calmly} Your contributions have been noted. You may leave now. {Merrick glares at the Captain for a moment longer before turning to his team.} Merrick: We¡¯re done here. Let¡¯s go. {Saffrey and Tally exchange glances, with Tally rolling his eyes slightly. Saffrey mutters something under her breath as she grabs her potions pouch, and Darwin follows hesitantly, glancing back at the Golem one last time.} Darwin: Take care, Gregor. Gregor: Thank you...friend.
The Knight Enforcers tighten their formation as Merrick¡¯s team mounts their brooms. They ascend, with Merrick taking the lead, his broom creaking slightly under him. Tally and Saffrey bring up the rear. As they fly back toward the GMS, the sounds of the knights issuing commands fade behind them.
Tally: At least we don¡¯t have to clean up the mess this time. Saffrey: Yeah, but knowing those knights, we¡¯ll probably never see a single coin from that bill. Merrick: Quiet, both of you. We have more important matters to focus on. Tally: More important matters? Like what? Merrick: Like Why our Darwin can read a dead cursed language that has been forbidden for over a century!
The sun is high in the sky as the group returns to GMS. The streets of Havemere bustle with activity, townsfolk going about their midday routines. The clatter of carriages and the hum of magical streetcars create a vibrant backdrop as Saffrey¡¯s broom glides through the air, carrying both her and Darwin. His grip on the back of her broom is tight, his posture tense, though he keeps quiet. Tally flies alongside them, his usual grin replaced with a thoughtful expression. As they land in front of GMS, the door to the shop swings open slightly from the gust of wind created by Merrick¡¯s landing. He dismounts stiffly and strides inside without a word, letting the door close behind him with a heavy thud. The remaining three stand there for a moment, exchanging uncertain glances.
Tally: Well, he¡¯s pissed. Saffrey: {rolling her eyes} He¡¯s always pissed. {Darwin hops off Saffrey¡¯s broom awkwardly, he hesitates near the sidewalk, staring at the door Merrick disappeared through. A hint of shame colors his face. Tally notices and walks over, patting Darwin¡¯s shoulder.} Tally: {grinning} Hey, kid¡ªdon¡¯t let it get to you. It¡¯s after lunch, right? Instead of heading back in there and dealing with Mr. Grumpus, let¡¯s grab a bite. Give him time to cool off. {Saffrey, overhearing, places her hands on her hips, looking Darwin over.} Saffrey: Yeah, kid. You¡¯re still in one piece after everything that went down. That¡¯s a win in my book. Don¡¯t let Merrick¡¯s mood ruin it. Darwin: You sure we shouldn¡¯t just go in? Saffrey: Oh, trust me. You do not want to be around him right now. Tally: Besides, I know a place that serves the best chimera sausage links this side of Havemere. My treat. {Darwin lets out a faint chuckle, a small smile tugging at his lips as he follows them. The three begin walking down the bustling cobblestone street, blending into the midday crowd. Darwin lingers a step behind, his mind still on Merrick¡¯s reaction.} Tally: {throwing an arm around Darwin} Stop thinking about it, kid. Merrick''s gonna be a sour puss no matter what. We just stopped a giant rampaging golem and he¡¯s the only one with an attitude. You¡¯ll get used to his little temper tantrums Saffrey: Or you¡¯ll learn to ignore them¡ª like we do. You¡¯re not on your own here.
{Darwin looks between the two of them, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. A small smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, and as they continue walking, his steps fall in sync with theirs. The trio vanishes into the vibrant midday crowd, their laughter mingling with the hum of Havemere¡¯s bustling streets, the warmth of camaraderie surrounding them. Back at GMS, Merrick stands by the window in his cluttered office. The sunlight filters through the dusty glass, casting long shadows across the stacks of books and parchment. His gaze follows the faint outline of his team disappearing into the crowd. His expression, stoic at first, softens as he strokes his beard thoughtfully. He turns back to his desk, cluttered with open tomes and scattered notes. As he sits, a rare chuckle escapes him. Shaking his head, he mutters to himself, the corners of his mouth forming an almost reluctant smile.}
Merrick: {quietly} He may be the real thing after all. Episode 5: The Baker鈥檚 Man
Inside the GMS office, the atmosphere is lively, filled with a mix of heated debate and quiet annoyance. Darwin, Tally, and Saffrey are gathered around the central table, each armed with their personal opinions, while Merrick is seated at his desk, visibly trying to ignore them as he flips through an ancient tome.
Darwin: I¡¯m telling you, Luna¡¯s Delights has the best lunar pies in town. They¡¯re baked with an actual moonlight spell! They taste like a slice of stardust. Saffrey: Stardust? Please. That place is all marketing. Moonlit Morsels is where the real magic happens. Caramel cinnamon luna pies with a glowing crust¡ªeverything there has actual flavor. Tally: {chiming in} You¡¯re both wrong. The Crusty Cauldron isn¡¯t about gimmicks. Fireflower extract, everything handmade ¡ªno shortcuts. Best lunar pies you¡¯ll ever taste. End of story. Saffrey: Fireflower extract? Sounds dry. Darwin: Moonlit Morsels uses imitation extracts and I heard that they just had a ratcrab infestation just a few weeks ago. {Their voices start to rise as they argue over which bakery reigns supreme. Merrick, sitting nearby, slams his book shut with a loud thump, making the three of them jump. He glares at them over his round spectacles, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and disdain.} Merrick: Here¡¯s an idea¡­ why don¡¯t you three go and try all of them? And then you can judge them for yourselves. Anything to stop this insipid squabbling! Darwin: {grinning} That¡¯s actually a great idea. {Saffrey and Tally exchange glances, then nod enthusiastically. They trip over one another rushing for the door, their chatter already shifting to plans for the taste test. Merrick groans loudly as they leave, muttering something about ¡°wasting daylight.¡±} Merrick: A few weeks ago it was about grits and oatmeal, this time is lunar pies, i swear it¡¯s like I¡¯m running a dayca¡­. {Merrick pauses and his stomach interrupts him with a loud growling. He then rushes over to the window before the three can get out of shouting distance} Merrick: BRING ME BACK A DOZEN RAZZLEBERRY FRITTERS! {The trio gets to the eatery plaza and enter Luna¡¯s Delights, a cozy bakery with a whimsical moonlit theme. Soft, glowing silver lights hang from the ceiling, and the air is thick with the scent of sugar and butter. Shelves are lined with neatly arranged pastries, each one labeled with lunar-themed names.} Darwin: Welcome to perfection. Saffrey: It¡¯s...cute. I¡¯ll give you that. Tally: Cute doesn¡¯t make a good pie. {They approach the counter, where a cheerful shopkeeper greets them. After ordering three lunar pies, they settle at a small table by the window. As they prepare to take their first bites Darwin stops them.} Darwin: No, everyone wait. Let¡¯s wait until we collect all of them from all 3 bakeries, we get back and then we do a taste test¡­oh¡­a blind taste test! Saffrey: Decent idea, that way I can watch the disappointment in your face when you see my spot is superior. Tally: This is going to be so satisfying, watching you two admit defeat. The day started out so boring, but it¡¯s definitely gonna be a great day! {They leave and walk a few streets over and go to Moonlit Morsels, a sleek and modern bakery with starlight patterns twinkling on the ceiling. The air is filled with the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon and nutmeg. A friendly witch behind the counter waves them in.} Saffrey: {grinning smugly} This is how you do it. Tally: Fancy lights won¡¯t save subpar baking. {They order their pies and they all look at one another as if they have already won. Each one of them is thinking to themselves how much they can¡¯t wait to gloat.} Saffrey: Oh yea, Let¡¯s not forget those razzleberry fritters for Merrick. I have no idea why he likes razzleberry, they taste like butt Tally: You would know what butt tastes like¡­seeing that you¡¯re a fan of Moonlight Morsels. Darwin: True. Moonlight Morsels does taste like butt. {Saffrey looks offended but decides not to argue as they pack up and head to the final stop. The Crusty Cauldron is a humble, slightly chaotic shop that looks more like an alchemist¡¯s lab. Bubbling cauldrons line the walls, and enchanted utensils float through the air, preparing various baked goods. The display case is sparse, with a single lunar pie sitting front and center.} Tally: {gesturing dramatically} Behold, greatness. Darwin: {looking around} Where¡¯s the staff? Saffrey: {raising an eyebrow} And where are the pies?
Tally rings the bell on the counter, but no one appears. They wait for a few moments before faint noises catch their attention. Tally takes the lead, pushing through the swinging doors into the back. The kitchen is dimly lit, with strange shadows cast by flickering candles. Tally freezes as he comes face-to-face with a humanoid gingerbread man, its eyes glowing faintly and its frosting lips curled into a wicked grin. It stands tall, taller than Merrick at least. Nearby, several employees and customers are trapped inside a freezer, banging on the glass. A glowing sigil pulses ominously on a preparation table.
Tally: {wide-eyed} Uh...guys?A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. {Darwin and Saffrey join him, their eyes widening in shock. The gingerbread man notices them and lets out a cackling laugh.} Tally: What the hell are you? Gingerbread Man: Gone are the days of servitude to you creatures. Bake this. Decorate that. Days upon days of endless baking and not even a 15 minute break to rest my crumbs. Tally: Ok, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on here, but you can¡¯t just put folks in a freezer. You''re gonna be in some major trouble buddy! Gingerbread Man: {mockingly} Catch me if you can, I¡¯m the gingerbread man! {He bolts for the door, leaving the team scrambling to chase him. The gingerbread man leads them through a series of alleyways, narrowly dodging spells and obstacles. When they corner him near a dumpster, he whistles sharply, and dozens of tiny gingerbread minions appear from the shadows.} Gingerbread Man: {laughing maniacally} You¡¯ll never stop me! Soon, everyone will be a part of my gingerbread family!
They launch into a chaotic battle against the minions. Darwin fumbles with a spell, managing to hit a few targets but missing others. Tally left most of his gear back at GMS and is only armed with an item called The Everbloom Rod - a staff, the size of a pencil, made from ebony oak, that is charged with magic energy , it extends to the size of a yardstick used for combat. Saffrey throws a few mini potions she has on hand that are simple explosion types, but there are too many gingerbread men and she is running out quickly. The fight spills into a nearby plaza with a large fountain. Darwin suddenly has an idea and casts a water spell, creating bubbles that burst over the gingerbread minions, making them soggy and slowing them down.
Darwin: Of Course! They are just cookies! Saffrey: Gotta work faster, it¡¯s like they''re multiplying! Wait, I have a plan guys! Like Darwin said, they are just cookies, just eat them. Tally: Awesome, we can just eat them!
The three of them start destroying, crumbling and now eating as many of the little mini gingerbread monsters as they possibly can. But as this plan seems to put a small dent in the situation, they are quickly getting tired of chewing on the very dry little cookies. Then an idea comes to Saffrey. She runs to the fountain, muttering an incantation putting her alchemy skills to work. The water turns to milk, and she begins grabbing and dunking gingerbread minions into it, and starts devouring them in mass.
Darwin: Oh that¡¯s gonna make this so much easier¡­but we need just a little more help. {Darwin looks over in the shopping center and sees that it is full of children walking about and yells out to them.} Darwin: HEY KIDS¡­FREE COOKIES! {The children scream out in joy, rushing over grabbing the mini gingerbread men by the handfuls and dunking them in the fountain of milk and crunching down on their little bodies. The gingerbread men scream in horror¡ª they didn¡¯t fear a magic staff, potions, or incantations, but being eaten would be any living cookie''s worst nightmare} Gingerbread Man: {horrified} No! Not like this! {Darwin uses a levitation spell well the main gingerbread man is distracted, he grabs it and drops it into the fountain. He lets out a dramatic wail.} Gingerbread Man: I¡¯m melting! I¡¯m melting! {He dissolves into a soggy mess, and the battle ends. They then head back to the Crusty Caldron to release everyone out of the freezer and then speak with the owner, Bufo, about what happened} Tally: Is everyone ok? Sir, Do you know why that gingerbread man trapped you all in here? Bufo: I have no idea¡­He was an amazing worker, always with a smile on his face. Saffrey: So he just ginger-snapped huh. You guys see what I did there? You get it? Tally/Darwin/a few of the customers: BOOOOOOOOO! Darwin: This spell and writing on the prep table¡­This is a ¡°Weaver¡¯s Wheel¡± isn''t it Saffery? Saffery: Well look at this¡­seems as though you were dipping into some stuff you weren¡¯t regulated to do. Bufo: What are you talking about? This is just a good luck diagram. Saffrey: Hey idiot! Certified and trained alchemist here. That¡¯s a weaver¡¯s wheel, but by the looks of it, it¡¯s been modified greatly. Darwin, you want to tell me what you see? Darwin: {running his hand over it} It¡¯s been coded differently, kinda like he¡¯s been¡­ {Darwin stops speaking, his eyes widen and he starts to shiver a bit. He turns to both Saffrey and Tally with a bewildered look on his face} Tally: Hey kid, what the hell are we dealing with here? Darwin: Weaver¡¯s wheels are used to create things, but in the rules of alchemy, you can¡¯t make something out of nothing. Whatever you make needs to be created with the same amount of energy. Tally: Equivalent exchange, yea I¡¯ve heard of it. But what does it have to do with this guy and the bakery? Saffrey: Different versions for different situations. This one looks like more of a transmutation circle type. Which means you were trying to bring life to something using an actual soul. Darwin: He didn¡¯t just try¡­He did it! You brought that gingerbread man to life didn¡¯t you. But what soul did you use¡­something still isn¡¯t right about this. Bufo: You know what, I don''t like all of these accusations¡ªthank you for the help, but you all can leave now. Tally: It¡¯s a demon symbol! You put a demon soul in the damn gingerbread man?! YOU FREAKING IDIOT! Darwin: It explains everything. Bufo: {desperately} I didn¡¯t know! I didn¡¯t ask for a demon! I just thought I could create a worker I didn¡¯t have to pay or wouldn''t beg me for time off. Saffrey: {coldly} You are the worst! Darwin: It looks like the gingerbread man was using it to make the mini ones. But look here¡ª he changed it again¡­wow¡­. Tally: Wow what Darwin? I¡¯m guessing he was going to make alot more huh? Like an army of the little bastards. Darwin: He wasn¡¯t just making more gingerbread men. He was trying to make them stronger. Saffrey: Stronger how? Darwin: {grimly} By giving them souls. {The room falls silent. Tally and Saffrey exchange chilling looks.} Tally: {breaking the tension with a nervous laugh} Well, great. As if fighting tiny cookie soldiers wasn¡¯t bad enough. Now they were about to get...what, upgraded? Darwin: {nodding slowly} Exactly. Each one of those mini gingerbread men was supposed to hold someone¡¯s soul. He changed the inscription for that purpose, but who¡¯s souls were he going to use? Saffrey: {slapping her forehead as realization hits} The freezer. That¡¯s why he trapped everyone inside. He needed their souls to complete the transmutation. Tally: So wait? Did we¡­. Darwin: No, thank goodness he didn¡¯t finish. If we hadn¡¯t stopped him, he would have turned them into his gingerbread soldiers. Tally: We dodged a serious disaster here. Saffrey: Let¡¯s call the Knight Enforcers and get out of here. Tally: Wait¡­for all of our trouble, we will be taking any and all Luna Pies you have, even the frozen ones¡­for free!
The crew gather bags and bags of Lunar Pies, heading back to the GMS and will just let the Knight Enforcers handle Bufo and his illegal magical practices. They talk about all the weirdness they experienced and whether or not they should tell Merrick. Tally and Saffrey both commend and congratulate Dawin on a job well done and both tell him they will force Merrick to start teaching him more magic because he has definitely earned his place on the team. They finally arrive back, a bit exhausted, but all around in a great mood. They go inside and place the luna pies on the table in the center of the room. They each sit staring at them, ready to prove the other one wrong about the opinion on which one tastes the best. The problem is they realise that they aren¡¯t hungry. In fact they are quite full, sickly full in fact. The adrenaline of the day has worn off. The reality of eating their weight in mini gingerbread men has turned them off the idea of eating anything sweet entirely.
Darwin: You know what guys¡­How about we just call it a draw alright? Tally: {belching} Yea I agree. The smell of anything sugary is kinda making me sick at the moment. Saffrey: {groaning, holding her stomach} I¡¯ll be in the bathroom if anyone needs me! {Merrick walks down to the table and sees his team sitting there looking miserable with a pile of pastries in the middle of the table} Merrick: So¡­who was the winner of your little luna pie contest? Darwin:{holding back the need to puke} It¡¯s been postponed until further notice. Merrick: Fine, I really don¡¯t care as long as I get my razzleberry fritters. {Merrick see¡¯s his fritter sitting within the pile of luna pies, grabs them and makes his way into the kitchen. Before getting there, he turns around with a smirk on his face} Merrick: Ah Yes, I almost forgot¡­The next time you are dealing with possessed or evil food stuff. Don¡¯t eat them! The dark magic in them will definitely give you a horrible case of diarrhea. Episode 6: The Invisible Intruder
Darwin enters the GMS, looking a bit tired but accomplished, carrying a strange book under one arm. As he steps in, confetti explodes around him, startling him. Tally and Saffrey stand near the door, both holding party poppers.
Tally: Kid, you made it! Three whole months here at Ashbain¡¯s General Magical Services! You¡¯ve made it further than A LOT of people in the past. Saffrey: So proud of you, Darwin! Three whole months of hard work, life-threatening nonsense, and Merrick¡¯s delightful personality. Who knows, maybe you¡¯ll even make it to six months! Darwin: Wow, time really has flown. I still remember walking through that door for the first time and wondering what I¡¯d gotten myself into. Saffrey: {noticing the book} Hey, what¡¯s that? Corliss giving you homework or something? Darwin: Oh, this? While I was helping Corliss clean up the last of the spell books, I found it in the back. It doesn¡¯t have a name or any markings on it. Not even a single word inside¡ªjust blank pages. Corliss said I could have it. {Darwin sets the book down on a nearby table. Saffrey eyes it suspiciously but doesn¡¯t say anything. Merrick appears at the top of the stairs, his staff in hand, descending slowly with his usual commanding air.} Tally: {patting Darwin on the shoulder} Well, kid, to celebrate your 90 days, you¡¯re finally getting your first official training session¡­ with Merrick! Darwin: Really? What kind of training? Merrick: Let¡¯s go, young one. Darwin: Uh¡­ go where? Merrick: You¡¯ve been here 90 days. It is time for you to learn¡­ and meet the Cyclops. {Darwin freezes for a moment, his face going pale. He looks at Tally and Saffrey for clarification.} Tally: {grinning mischievously} The Cyclops. Yep, it¡¯s the real test. Survive this, and you¡¯re one step closer to being an official part of the team. Don¡¯t survive? Well¡­ It was nice knowing you, kid. Saffrey: {laughing} Hope you had a big breakfast because you¡¯re going to need the energy. Oh, and I really hope your mom kept up with your health insurance. {Darwin stares at them, his nerves kicking in. Tally and Saffrey just laugh, clearly enjoying his unease. Merrick, unimpressed with the antics, clears his throat.} Merrick: Enough nonsense. Darwin, let¡¯s go. Your destiny won¡¯t wait all day. {Merrick heads toward the door, and Darwin follows hesitantly, throwing one last worried glance back at Tally and Saffrey, who wave cheerfully.} Saffrey: {grinning} Don¡¯t trip on the way out, newbie! Tally: And hey, don¡¯t forget¡ªif you fail, we get your room! Darwin: But I don¡¯t live here. Saffrey: {with a sinister grin} We know¡­we mean the one at your house!
Darwin gulps and steps out the door after Merrick as Tally and Saffrey share a laugh. Merrick and Darwin fly through the air on the trusty Grandmear, Merrick¡¯s old but loyal magic broom. The wind rushes past them. Darwin thinking the fresh air would help with the knot forming in his stomach. His mind churned with possibilities of what was up ahead. How dangerous could the Cyclops even be?, he thought to himself. The scenery below began to change, transitioning from the bustling streets of Havenmere to rolling fields and scattered woods. Darwin¡¯s unease only deepened when he spotted a massive figure standing in the distance. The Cyclops¡¯s silhouette loomed like a small mountain, unmoving, its single eye unmistakable even from afar. This is fine, he thought. It¡¯s just training¡­ probably. He clung to that shred of hope as they descended toward the grassy field, his heart racing with every inch closer. Darwin glances nervously between Merrick and the towering Cyclops standing in the distance. As they fly closer, the Cyclops grows even more imposing¡ªa hulking figure at least 12 feet tall, with broad shoulders, wearing surprisingly formal attire: slacks, a dress shirt, suspenders, and a tie. Despite the odd clothing choice, Darwin is too intimidated to question it. They land a few feet away from the Cyclops. Darwin¡¯s hands shake slightly as he steps off the broom, his eyes wide with fear. The Cyclops frowns as he looks down at them, his single massive eye narrowing. Darwin stiffens, expecting the worst. But then the Cyclops breaks into a wide, gentle smile and extends a hand.
Toro: {in a deep, booming voice} Ah, welcome! You must be Merrick¡¯s new Apprentice. Darwin, isn¡¯t it? Three months in, and you¡¯ve made it all the way here. That¡¯s impressive! {Merrick folds his arms, nodding slightly as if in approval. Darwin hesitates, his fear still evident, but he steps forward and shakily extends his hand to meet the Cyclops¡¯s.} Darwin: {nervously} Y-yes, sir. It¡¯s, uh¡­ a pleasure to meet you. Toro: {laughing heartily} Sir? Oh, come now, lad, no need to be so formal. I am Torin Toro, but you can call me Toro. Though I must ask¡ªwhy do you look so scared? Let me guess¡­ Tally and Saffrey painted me as some sort of man-eating monster, didn¡¯t they? {Darwin glances at Merrick, then chuckles sheepishly.} Darwin: Well¡­ maybe a little. Toro: {grinning} Those two rascals! Wait until I see them again. I¡¯ll show them a real monster. {He laughs again, the sound reverberating through the valley.} Darwin: {relaxing slightly} So, um¡­ why am I here today? Merrick: {stepping forward} You¡¯re here to learn something your little university would never dare teach you. Today, you¡¯ll learn how to use The Mage¡¯s Eye. Darwin: {confused} The Mage¡¯s Eye? Merrick: {nodding} Of course. They never mentioned it to you, did they? Some skills can only be learned in the field, under the guidance of a true master. Luckily for you, I am such a master. {Darwin stands a bit straighter, his curiosity piqued.} Merrick: Let¡¯s start with the basics. Do you know how your mana is formed? Darwin: {confidently} Yes, sir. Mana is formed in our ki points, which are connected by meridians. Each ki point contains the type of mana we¡¯re most efficient with. The larger ki points hold our main type of mana, while the smaller ones store other types we have access to. {Merrick smirks slightly, pleased with Darwin¡¯s textbook knowledge. Toro listens attentively, giving a slight nod of approval.} Merrick: Good. That¡¯s the foundation. But what they don¡¯t tell you is how to manipulate those flows to see the unseen. That, my boy, is what we¡¯ll work on today. {Darwin¡¯s curiosity begins to outweigh his nervousness as Merrick gestures for him to step closer. Toro watches silently, a kind but observant presence. Merrick stands in front of Darwin, his expression sharp as he taps his staff lightly on the ground. He takes a steady breath, and suddenly his left pupil begins to glow faintly. A small arcane circle forms within his eye, its intricate patterns shifting slightly as if alive.} Merrick: {his voice low and analytical} Hmm. Interesting. {Darwin, feeling his skin prickle under the weight of Merrick''s gaze, fidgets slightly.} Darwin: Interesting? What¡¯s interesting? {Merrick doesn¡¯t answer immediately, scanning Darwin head to toe. He strokes his beard as if deep in thought. After a beat, he turns to Toro, gesturing toward Darwin.} Merrick: Take a look for yourself. {Toro tilts his head, the single glowing eye narrowing slightly in focus. A faint hum resonates as his eye begins to emit a soft golden light. As the arcane patterns within it spin and lock into place, he steps closer to Darwin.} Toro: {his voice deep but calm} Well now... That is unusual. Darwin: {growing anxious} Unusual? What¡¯s unusual? Someone tell me already! {Merrick folds his arms, clearly deliberating how much to reveal.} Merrick: Your mana flow... it¡¯s different. Darwin: Different how? Toro: Most mana streams are like rivers¡ªstraight and steady, flowing to their destinations without much resistance. Yours, though¡­ {Toro gestures toward Darwin, his large hand moving in small swirling motions.} Toro: Yours has whirlpools. Small eddies that spin and churn within the streams. Merrick: I¡¯ve seen hundreds of mana flows in my time. Yours is... unique, but then again you might just be defective {Darwin¡¯s spirit crashes, his face becomes long and sad.} Darwin: I¡¯m defective? Toro: Merrick, don¡¯t say things like that to the young one. There is no such thing as a defective wizard. Merrick: It means your mana behaves in ways most don¡¯t. Which can be a bother and a pain if not managed correctly. Only time will tell. Toro: I wonder if you even realize the gift¡ªor the burden¡ªyou carry young Darwin. {Merrick clears his throat, breaking the moment.} Merrick: Enough speculation. We¡¯re not here to marvel at your weird mana. Today, you¡¯re learning to activate your Mage¡¯s Eye. {Darwin¡¯s curiosity momentarily overrides his anxiety.} Darwin: Right¡­ The Mage¡¯s Eye Merrick: A technique that allows you to see the flow and nature of magic around you. With it, you¡¯ll be able to discern the type of magic your opponent wields and figure out the best way to counter it. Toro: {grinning slightly} It¡¯ll also help you spot traps before you trip over them. {Merrick steps back, motioning for Darwin to stand still.} Merrick: Now, focus. Draw your mana to your core and channel it toward your left eye. Chant this incantation, you will need it at first. No incantation needed once you master it, but for now, you¡¯ll need these words: Oculus Arcana Aperta. {Darwin closes his eyes, his brow furrowing as he tries to follow Merrick¡¯s instructions. The energy in the air seems to shift as he attempts to concentrate and repeats the incantation Oculus Arcana Aperta. After a moment, he cracks one eye open.} Darwin: Nothing¡¯s happening. Merrick: Keep trying. {Darwin holds his breath, grunting and contracting every muscle in his body, looking like he is about to pass out} Toro: {chuckling deeply} You¡¯re trying too hard, kid. You¡¯re all tension and no flow. {Toro steps forward and gently places a hand on Darwin¡¯s head.} Toro: Breathe with me. In... {he inhales deeply} and out... {he exhales slowly}. Let your mana settle. Find your center. {Darwin hesitates, then matches Toro¡¯s breathing. With each breath, his posture loosens, and a faint glow begins to form around him. He whispers the short incantation Merrick taught him, his voice steady but soft. Suddenly, his left pupil glows, and an intricate arcane circle appears within his eye.} Darwin: I did it! {Merrick and Toro exchange glances. Merrick, ever reserved, simply nods in approval. Toro, however, grins broadly.} Toro: Look at that. Told you it was in you. Merrick: Don¡¯t celebrate yet. It takes years to master this. You¡¯ll need to balance the strain of using your Mage¡¯s Eye with your other abilities in a fight. Now, tell me what you see. {Darwin looks at Merrick, the arcane glow in his eye intensifying as he focuses.} Darwin: {excitedly} I see it! Your magic... it¡¯s Enchantment and¡­Arcane, with some elemental mixed in¡­right? Lightning magic with something else¡­, right? Merrick: Close enough. Now look at Toro. {Darwin turns toward the Cyclops, his Mage¡¯s Eye flickering slightly as he struggles to maintain the focus. He scans Toro, his brow furrowing as he processes what he sees.} Darwin: It¡¯s a very strong magic. I see... Nature? But also something else¡ªEnchantment? Wait, your mana¡¯s weird too! It¡¯s layered. Toro: {laughing deeply} That¡¯s right, kid. My magic¡¯s all about strength, healing, and some nifty tricks like my roar and one more you¡¯re gonna see in a few minutes. Not bad for your first try. {Darwin beams with pride but suddenly winces, clutching his eye. The glow fades, and he blinks rapidly.} Merrick: Alright, I¡¯ll give you a few minutes to rest your eye. The real test begins shortly¡­ {Back at the GMS office, an unusual quiet hangs in the air. Tally and Saffrey are at their respective workstations, tinkering and mixing in silence. The hum of magical devices and the occasional clink of a vial are the only sounds.} Tally: Ugh, I need a break. And by a break, I mean a monster sandwich. Yeah, the works. Cheese, meats, lettuce¡ªoh, maybe even that hot spicy mustard. Saffrey: {not looking up from her project} Sounds great, Tally. Don¡¯t forget to make one for me. Tally: Do I look like your personal chef? You want one, make it yourself. Saffrey: Woooowwwwww! All the times I have picked you up something to eat and you do me like that? Ok. I¡¯ll remember that. Tally: Remember it. Write it down. I do not care ma¡¯am. {Saffrey throws a dirty towel at Tally as he heads to the small kitchen area. After a few moments, he returns with an absolutely ridiculous sandwich stacked high with layers of meats, cheeses, greens, and sauces. He places it triumphantly on the table next to the mysterious book Darwin brought in earlier.} Tally: Behold! A masterpiece in sandwich engineering. Saffrey: {glances over briefly} Why is it dripping so much. Bleh¡­Looks gross. Probably tastes like machine grease and regret.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Tally: Oh, ye of little faith. Hmm¡­ Needs one more thing¡­onion. {Tally strolls back to the kitchen, leaving the sandwich alone for just a moment. When he returns with a plate of sliced onions, he freezes. There''s a small, very visible bite taken out of the sandwich.} Tally: Hey! What the heck, Saffrey? Saffrey: {startled, looking up from her project} What? Tally: You took a bite out of my sandwich! Saffrey: {rolling her eyes} Are you serious? Why would I touch that monstrosity? Tally: Because you¡¯re jealous of its perfection, obviously! Admit it, you couldn¡¯t resist. Saffrey: {getting annoyed} I¡¯m busy, Tally. I didn¡¯t touch your sandwich. You probably just cut it unevenly and think a chunk is missing. {They argue back and forth for a few moments, their voices rising. Midway through the bickering, Tally stops and points again.} Tally: LOOK! {They both turn to the sandwich. Another bite is missing, clear as day. They stare at it in stunned silence.} Saffrey: Okay¡­ That definitely wasn¡¯t me. Tally: {wide-eyed} Then who or what¡ª? Saffrey: It¡¯s a rat. Gotta be a rat. A huge one. Tally: {grimacing} A sandwich-stealing giant rat in my workshop? Not on my watch. Saffrey: {cracking her knuckles} Let¡¯s catch it. If it¡¯s bold enough to mess with us, it¡¯s about to get a taste of some magical pest control.
The two start brainstorming their ¡°rat-catching¡± plan. Tally pulls out a small drone-like gadget from his workbench and begins modifying it with enthusiasm, while Saffrey digs through her stash of experimental potions for something ¡°rat-appropriate.¡± Meanwhile, the mysterious book on the table remains quiet¡­ for now. Tally¡¯s drone hums quietly as it hovers just above the ground, its mounted "seer" crystal ball scanning the floor. Tally grips a small handheld device, a smooth oval-shaped panel with a glowing interface, showing the drone¡¯s perspective in real-time.
Tally: {whispering} All right, little guy. Let¡¯s see where you¡¯re hiding. {Saffrey, crouched nearby, rolls her eyes and shakes a tiny vial of her mini sleeping potion. The liquid glows faintly, and she tightens the stopper.} Saffrey: Whatever it is, it seems to just want food and not to hurt us. So we catch it alive and free it¡­understand? I¡¯m not about killing something over your dumb sandwich Tally: {snapping back} YOU need to understand! This isn¡¯t about just the sandwich. It¡¯s about respect. {tearfully} The respect of me and my fallen sandwich. Saffrey: Idiot. {The drone sweeps silently across the floor. The hum of its movement mingles with the soft creaks of the building. Both of them creep forward, their eyes darting between the drone¡¯s feed and the room around them. Suddenly, a faint thump echoes from the main table, followed by the sound of chewing.} Tally: Did you hear that? Saffrey: Yeah. Sounds like it¡¯s back at the sandwich. Figures. {They both turn slowly to the table. The sandwich is toppled over, and faint crunching sounds fill the air. They scan the area, but there¡¯s nothing in sight.} Tally: {frustrated} Where is it?! {As the chewing grows louder, Saffrey inches forward, gripping one of her potion vials like a weapon. The faint scuttling of tiny feet darts across the floor. Tally adjusts the drone¡¯s view, trying to follow the noise.} Saffrey:It¡¯s fast¡­ Whatever it is. {Suddenly, the two of them collide as they creep toward the same spot. Tally stumbles, dropping his viewing device.} Tally: Watch it! This is precision equipment! Saffrey: Precision my ass. I¡¯m doing you a favor even caring about your sandwich. Tally: Just hand me the viewer. PLEASE! {Saffrey picks up the device and shoves it toward him. Tally fumbles with it, shaking it in frustration.} Tally: {grumbling} Great. Just great. Now it¡¯s busted. Saffrey: {mocking} Oh no, the universe mourns your loss. {As Tally shakes the device again, a sudden poof of smoke escapes from it. Both of them freeze as something small and furry pops into existence, squeaking loudly. Tally yelps and throws the creature in the air. The creature screams in surprise, and then Saffrey screams as well.} Tally: {screaming} WHAT IS THAT?! Saffrey: {screaming back} I DON¡¯T KNOW! {The small creature, round and covered in soft fur, scurries across the floor. Its big eyes gleam mischievously, and its tiny paws leave faint magical sparks with each step. It looks like a cross between a Mogwai and an armadillo, rolling into a ball to bounce off a wall before darting toward the kitchen.} Tally: {pointing after it} IT¡¯S A DEMON BALL! Saffrey: It¡¯s adorable! But yeah, also probably a demon. {The two race after it, Tally nearly tripping over his own feet as Saffrey storms ahead. The creature skids into the kitchen and disappears behind a row of cabinets. They stop at the doorway, catching their breath.} Saffrey: {whispering} Okay, whatever it is, it¡¯s cornered. Tally: YOU catch it. I¡¯ll supervise. Saffrey: {glaring, raising a middle finger} Supervise this. {They creep into the kitchen, both tense as they scan the area. The faint sound of tiny claws scratching against metal echoes softly, but they still can¡¯t see anything.} Tally: hold on¡­He transformed from my viewing unit¡­so it can transform? Damn it! It can be anything in here then. Saffrey: If it wasn¡¯t already a pain looking for the little cute bastard¡­now we are trying to see if the toaster moves on its own.
Merrick and Darwin stand in the middle of the vast, open field. The sun is high above, casting long shadows from the tall grass surrounding them. A gentle wind blows, rustling the grass and making it ripple like waves. Toro looms nearby, cracking his knuckles and grinning widely, his towering frame seeming even more imposing
MERRICK: {looking sternly at Darwin} This is your first real test. You¡¯ll need to activate your Mage¡¯s Eye, track Toro in this field, and dodge his attacks. DARWIN: W-What kind of attacks are we talking about here? TORO: Oh, nothing too dangerous, lad. Just a little roar blast or two. Let¡¯s see if you can handle it. {Toro lets out a soft chuckle, but even the sound of his laughter reverberates through the air, shaking the grass slightly.} MERRICK: He¡¯s going to hold back. But don¡¯t take it lightly¡ªthree hits, and you¡¯re out. You have thirty minutes to not only dodge his attacks but to catch him. DARWIN: {gulps} Catch him? MERRICK: Yes. He¡¯ll be moving, and you¡¯ll need to find an opening. Use your Mage¡¯s Eye to detect where his magic is coming from and predict his moves. DARWIN: He¡¯s huge! How¡¯s he going to be running around in all this grass and how am I supposed to catch him? TORO: {grinning} Oh, don¡¯t worry about me, lad. I¡¯ve got a few tricks. {Toro suddenly shrinks down to the size of a cat, disappearing into the tall grass with a faint shimmer. Darwin¡¯s eyes widen, and he instinctively takes a step back.} DARWIN: H-he shrunk! Did he just¡ª?! MERRICK: {impatiently} Focus! He can¡¯t hold that size for long, but you¡¯ll need to figure out when and where he¡¯ll reappear. Now activate your Mage¡¯s Eye and start tracking! {Darwin takes a deep breath and places his hands together, concentrating and breathing as Toro had taught him. He mutters the incantation under his breath. Slowly, his left pupil glows faintly, the arcane circle forming within it. The grass around him seems to shift and shimmer as the world comes alive with faint magical auras.} MERRICK: Good. Now, remember, watch for fluctuations in the grass and focus on the magic flow. He¡¯s using the mana to maintain his small form. Track it. {The grass sways unnaturally to Darwin¡¯s left, and he turns just in time to hear a low growl. Toro suddenly bursts back into his full size, roaring loudly. The air ripples visibly as the roar blast sweeps toward Darwin like a shockwave.} DARWIN: {yelping and diving to the side} Whoa! {The roar grazes past him, shaking the ground where he had been standing moments before. Darwin scrambles to his feet, breathing heavily.} TORO: {laughing heartily} Not bad, lad! Better be quicker than that though! {Toro shrinks again and vanishes into the grass. Darwin, still panting, narrows his eyes, trying to focus through his Mage¡¯s Eye.} DARWIN: {grunting under his breath} Not now¡­ I can¡¯t¡ª gotta keep going. {The circle in his pupil flickers again, and Darwin grabs at his head. A sudden wave of nausea hits him as the Eye begins to fade. He stumbles and blinks hard, trying to force it back. He can¡¯t lose the Eye now¡ªnot when he¡¯s so close to figuring out Toro¡¯s pattern. Darwin¡¯s vision blurs momentarily, and he narrowly avoids another blast of Toro¡¯s roar by diving to the ground. The impact knocks the wind out of him, and he struggles to push himself up.} MERRICK: {sternly} Get up, Darwin! If you lose focus now, you¡¯ll never pass this test! {Darwin clutches his head, his voice shaking as he yells back.} DARWIN: I¡¯m trying! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s too much! TORO: You¡¯re pushing too hard, kid. The Eye¡¯s not about brute force¡ªit¡¯s about balance. You keep burning yourself out, you¡¯re done for. {Darwin takes a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He lowers his hand from his head, his expression turning determined. He tries a different approach, the Mage¡¯s eye fades out as he shifts his attention to listening and feeling the mana around him. He begins to pick up on the subtle vibrations in the air and ground. The faint ripple of Toro¡¯s energy trails through the grass once more.} DARWIN: Okay, okay¡­ I¡¯ve got this. Just focus¡­ {The magical energy flows through the field like faint, glowing streams. Darwin spots a small whirlpool of energy swirling rapidly about twenty feet to his right. He turns toward it just as Toro bursts from the grass, letting out another directional roar. Darwin leaps backward, barely avoiding it.} MERRICK: Stop flailing and start thinking! This isn¡¯t about dodging forever! Use your head, boy! {Darwin mutters under his breath, frustrated but determined. He tries to steady his breathing, scanning the area again. He notices that each time Toro shrinks, the mana flow shrinks with him, but they never disappear entirely.} DARWIN: {thinking to himself} His magic never fully vanishes¡­ He¡¯s leaving a trail when he moves. {Toro reappears again, roaring toward Darwin, who ducks and rolls away. As he regains his footing, an idea starts to form in his mind. He notices that Toro takes a moment to transition between his small and large forms. The shrinking only lasts a short time, and when Toro reappears, he briefly stands still to stabilize himself.} DARWIN: {smiling slightly} That¡¯s it¡­ {Darwin crouches low, following Toro¡¯s movements through the swirling trails of magic in the grass. He begins to anticipate where Toro will reappear, counting the seconds between each transition.} MERRICK: {to himself} Good. He¡¯s learning. DARWIN: {exhausted} Damn it... I can¡¯t keep this up. TORO: {his voice echoing through the field} You¡¯re in the wild now, kid. No time for resting. I¡¯m still coming for you! {Toro, in his shrunken form, darts around the field, his movements swift and erratic. Darwin steadies his breathing, closing his eyes briefly to concentrate. He reaches out with his senses, like he did when detecting magical residue on spellbound objects at the archives. Faint traces of Toro¡¯s mana linger in the air, rippling like the wake of a boat in water. Darwin furrows his brow, focusing on the surges.} DARWIN: The transformations...they leave traces of magic. Strong when he shrinks, weaker when he grows back. {Darwin takes a moment to assess the pattern. Each time Toro shrinks, a surge of magic ripples through the grass, and when he grows back to full size, another pulse follows. Darwin¡¯s expression shifts to one of realization.} DARWIN: {a small grin forming} And right before he roars, he has to stop moving. Just for a second. {Darwin opens his eyes, now using only his magical sense to track Toro. A strong pulse behind him alerts him to Toro¡¯s next move. Darwin leaps to the side just as Toro returns to full size, a massive roar shaking the ground where Darwin had just been standing.} TORO: {laughing deeply} Not bad, kid. But thinking won¡¯t be enough¡ªyou need to act. {Toro shrinks again, disappearing into the grass. Darwin¡¯s head tilts slightly as he tracks the lingering magic from the transformation. He begins to anticipate Toro¡¯s movements, moving just before Toro unleashes another roar. Darwin¡¯s confidence grows with each dodge, but his exhaustion is evident. Sweat drips from his brow as he mutters to himself.} DARWIN: {panting} Okay, I¡¯ve got the timing down...but how do I grab him? {Darwin knows he is getting more and more exhausted, with that, he¡¯s getting alot slower. He has to make the decision to try and use the eye well before it is ready. He will hold out as much as he can, but he is thinking there is a way he can combine his sense ability along with the Mage¡¯s Eye. Toro grows back to full size again, releasing another deafening roar. Darwin barely dodges, the force of the blast throwing him off balance. He tumbles into the grass but quickly scrambles back to his feet. He closes his eyes for a brief second, summoning all his remaining focus.} DARWIN: {to himself} He has to stop moving to roar. That¡¯s my moment. {The pain in his head starts to fade, and Darwin risks activating the Mage¡¯s Eye again too early. He grits his teeth as the arcane circle glows faintly in his left pupil, the pain duller but still present. He scans the area, spotting the rising surge of magic as Toro shrinks again. He uses his last bit of strength to combine the two skills to pinpoint almost exactly where Toro is the very moment he changes size.} DARWIN: {smirking slightly} Gotcha. {Toro darts around, his movements swift but predictable now that Darwin can sense the magical patterns. Darwin sees the moment of change when Toro stops. It''s now or never, Darwin shifts in his direction and before Toro notices, he''s standing right above him right before he grows big again} TORO: {grunting in surprise} What the¡ª? {Toro grows back to his original size and there is Darwin, sitting right there on his shoulder.} MERRICK: {smirking} Well, well. You¡¯re not completely hopeless after all. {Toro lets out a hearty laugh, his deep voice resonating through the field.} TORO: Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. You¡¯re starting to think like a real wizard. {Darwin collapses onto the grass, his chest heaving as the glow in his left pupil fades. His head throbs, but the sense of accomplishment outweighs the pain. Merrick stands over him, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.} DARWIN: {between breaths} Did I...pass? MERRICK: You survived. TORO: {helping Darwin to his feet} You indeed survived and passed. But it¡¯s just the start, kid. Next time, you¡¯ll need to do more than just react¡ªyou¡¯ll need to dominate. But this? This was good. Hey look at it this way, Neither Tally or Saffery passed on their first time. You make sure you rub it in their faces for me when you see them. {Darwin nods, his exhaustion evident but his determination unshaken. Toro nods at them both and begins to walk away back towards his home. Merrick summons his broom and helps Darwin on and they begin the journey back to the GMS} DARWIN: {to himself, smiling faintly} One step closer¡­ {Back at the GMS, Saffrey and Tally are in the kitchen, moving quietly as they look for the creature that has been wreaking havoc on their workspace. Tally adjusts his goggles, muttering to himself while holding the handheld crystal seer panel, which is synced to the drone hovering silently above them.} TALLY: {whispering frustrated} This thing is picking up magical traces everywhere. It¡¯s useless. The stove, the fridge, the utensils¡ªeverything in here is magical or has traces of magic on them. It¡¯s like trying to find a grain of sand on a beach. SAFFREY: Then maybe stop relying on your fancy toys and go old school. TALLY: Old school? What do you mean? SAFFREY: Bait. The little guy is hungry, right? So, we lure it out with food. TALLY: You want to put out food for the thing that already ate half my sandwich? SAFFREY: {smirking} Exactly. And I know just the thing. {Saffrey opens the fridge and pulls out a perfectly preserved slice of Whipplenut Cheesecake, its glossy surface shimmering in the dim light of the kitchen.} TALLY: Wait, isn¡¯t that Darwin¡¯s cheesecake? SAFFREY: {shrugging} We¡¯ll get him another one. Besides, this is an emergency. TALLY: Fine. But you¡¯re paying for it. {Saffrey places the cheesecake in the center of the table and sets it down carefully, positioning it like a prized treasure. Tally grabs a small powered fan, placing it next to the cheesecake. He activates it, and a gentle breeze begins wafting the cheesecake¡¯s sweet aroma throughout the room.} TALLY: If this doesn¡¯t lure it out, nothing will. SAFFREY: Alright, now we wait. {The two of them move into the other room cautiously, with Tally glancing at his seer panel and Saffrey keeping an eye on the cheesecake. The drone hovers quietly above them, scanning the area. After a few tense moments, the drone picks up movement near the counter.} TALLY: {excitedly} There! Look at the flour container¡­it¡¯s moving. {Both of them turn their attention to the counter. The flour container begins to tremble, its surface shimmering faintly. Suddenly, with a soft "poof," the container morphs back into the small, furry creature.} SAFFREY: {wide-eyed} A Furric... I haven¡¯t seen one of these in years. {The Furric scampers down from the counter, heading straight for the cheesecake. Its large ears twitch as it sniffs the air, inching closer and closer. Just as it takes its first bite, Tally presses a button on his seer panel, and a magical net shoots out from the drone, ensnaring the Furric.} FURRIC: {squealing and thrashing} TALLY: {triumphantly} Gotcha! SAFFREY: Tally, look at it. It¡¯s terrified¡­ I feel so bad now. TALLY: {defensively} It ate my sandwich! {Saffrey steps forward and carefully deactivates the net, much to Tally¡¯s protest. The Furric stops thrashing, looking up at her with wide, frightened eyes.} TALLY: Seriously, Saffrey? SAFFREY: {holding out a piece of cheesecake} It¡¯s okay, little one. We¡¯re not going to hurt you. {The Furric hesitates for a moment, glancing nervously between Saffrey and Tally. Then, it inches closer and takes the piece of cheesecake from Saffrey¡¯s hand, nibbling on it cautiously. Its fear melts away, and it gives her a small, grateful smile.} SAFFREY: See? Not so bad. TALLY: It still ate my sandwich. {The front door opens, and Merrick and Darwin walk in. Merrick freezes in the doorway, taking in the chaos.} MERRICK: {yelling} What in the name of all that¡¯s magical happened here?! {Darwin walks in behind him, stopping in his tracks as he sees the Furric sitting on the table, happily munching on the cheesecake. His face lights up with recognition.} DARWIN: {excitedly} Quizzle? Is that you? {The Furric¡¯s ears perk up, and it lets out a delighted squeak before leaping into Darwin¡¯s arms. Tally and Saffrey exchange baffled looks.} TALLY: You know this sandwich stealing furball? DARWIN: Yeah, I found him at the archives. He used to hide from Corliss and the others, but he warmed up to me when I shared my lunches with him. SAFFREY: Well you know once you feed a stray it¡¯ll follow you everywhere? DARWIN: Well, I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d follow me here. In fact, I never even noticed it on the way here. MERRICK: You¡¯re telling me that you didn¡¯t see this creature following right behind you? That¡¯s why the training today was so important¡­for situations like this. SAFFREY: Well he could have been transforming into different things along the way to hide from him. I didn¡¯t know they could transform into household things though. MERRICK: They can¡¯t. furric¡¯s can only transform to camouflage themselves in nature from predators. Rocks, shrubs, things like that. DARWIN: So how did you even sneak in here without anyone noticing little guy? {The furric runs over to the table and then poof, transforms into the book that Darwin brought home, then back into his furry form} MERRICK: {shocked} That¡¯s impossible! How did it do that? {The Furric reaches into its pouch and pulls out the small ball called a Morphling Core. Tally¡¯s eyes widen as he examines it.} TALLY: {awed} That¡¯s a Morphling Core. Where in the world did you get one of these, little guy? SAFFREY: What¡¯s a Morphling Core? TALLY: Morphling Cores are ancient arcane tech. They were designed to allow objects¡ªor in rare cases, creatures¡ªto alter their form by channeling raw magical energy. SAFFREY: Wait, didn¡¯t these things get outlawed? TALLY: Yep. Ages ago. Too unstable. People were using them for all sorts of dangerous experiments. I¡¯ve read about them in old tech manuals, but I¡¯ve never seen one in real life. DARWIN: So how did you come across such a rare item little one? MERRICK: Maybe it¡¯s a little thief and stole it {The Furric shakes it¡¯s head furiously, clutching the core tightly} TALLY: Hey, let me see that. Just for a sec. {Quizzle hesitates, clutching the Morphling Core closer. It glances at Darwin, clearly looking for reassurance. Darwin nods encouragingly, and the Furric slowly places the core in Tally¡¯s hand.} TALLY: {examining it closely} Huh. Looks like this one was custom-modified. These runes weren¡¯t part of the original design. Somebody tinkered with it specifically for this little guy. SAFFREY: {grinning at Quizzle} So someone made you a clever little thief. {Quizzle squeaks indignantly but then playfully sticks out its tongue, making Saffrey laugh.} MERRICK: {crossing his arms} Clever or not, it can¡¯t stay here. DARWIN: Understood, but I will have to find a way to convince my mom to let him stay, at least for a little while. She¡¯s not really a pet person. MERRICK: {gruffly} I don¡¯t care, as long as it¡¯s not here. I don¡¯t need furric droppings around here. {Merrick turns on his heel and heads toward his office, muttering under his breath. Saffrey and Tally turn to Darwin to ask him about the test. He lets them know he passed and that Toro has a bone to pick with them when he sees them again. They pat him on the back for a job well done} SAFFREY: Your celebration cheesecake is waiting for you. Great job! TALLY: Your first time too? I feel like Toro was taking it easy on you¡­but don¡¯t tell him I said that. And you owe me a sandwich¡­since your little rat thing ate mine. {Darwin smiles and heads to the table, but his face falls as he sees the cheesecake with several bites already missing.} DARWIN: {exasperated} Hey! Who ate my cheesecake?! {Quizzle looks up at him with wide, innocent eyes, its cheeks covered with cheesecake crumbs and goes in for another bite.} Episode 6A - Codex: Familiars Familiars are mystical companions bound to magic users through contracts and serve varying roles, from assistants in mundane tasks to vital allies in battle. They are categorized into three main types, with a rare fourth option that is scarcely discussed in the magical community. Type 1: Summoned Familiars A Summoned Familiar originates from another dimension or plane of existence. These beings form a pact with the magic user, agreeing to lend their powers and services. They can range from ethereal creatures to humanoid entities and may act as guides, fighters, or assistants in magical tasks. Type 2: Enslaved Familiars An Enslaved Familiar is a creature from the magic user¡¯s world that is bound against its will or through coercion. These familiars are treated as property, often serving with unwavering loyalty due to the constraints of their contracts. Type 3: Soul-Linked Familiars A Soul-Linked Familiar chooses their magic user willingly, creating a deep bond that is rooted in mutual trust and companionship. These relationships are the most celebrated and ethical form of familiar contracts. Rare Type: Fusion Bond Familiars The Fusion Bond Familiar is the rarest and most extraordinary type, resulting in the permanent merging of a familiar¡¯s mana with the magic user¡¯s. In all types, a magical contract governs the familiar¡¯s role and behavior. Whether the contract is ceremonial or instinctual, it ensures balance and clarity between the magic user and their companion. While the bond can usually be dissolved, the Fusion Bond is a permanent and unique exception. Episode 7: Merrick鈥檚 Day Off
Darwin arrives at GMS early in the morning to find Saffrey and Tally working on their respective projects. Merrick, ready to head out, puts on his cloak, nods curtly to the group, and makes for the door.
MERRICK: This is my day off. I¡¯ll see you all tomorrow. Lock up before you leave. {With that, Merrick steps out, the door closing firmly behind him. Darwin watches him, his curiosity piqued. He turns to Saffrey and Tally.} DARWIN: So¡­what does Merrick actually do on his days off? SAFFREY: Oh, when I first started working here, I couldn¡¯t tell if he even had a life. I used to think maybe he just sat in a park feeding¡­uh, Glimmerdoves. TALLY: {chuckling} I bet he goes to play Mythic Checkers with someone even older than him. DARWIN: Mythic Checkers? I can¡¯t see Merrick enjoying a game with anyone. SAFFREY: {shrugging} I mean, who knows? At first, we couldn¡¯t figure it out. But then Tally got nosy. TALLY: ¡°Nosy¡±? I call it investigative curiosity! SAFFREY: You call it whatever you want. The first time he tried to follow Merrick, he didn¡¯t even get halfway there before Merrick found him and sent him running back like a scared. He shrunk him down and put him in the NeedleAnt farm for 3 days. TALLY: Okay, fine, yeah. But that¡¯s when I got serious. I designed a spider drone¡ªperfectly inconspicuous. It trailed him all the way to the coffee shop. DARWIN: Which one? The Dragonclaw Cafe? TALLY: Yeah. Every week, Merrick meets his two old Guild buddies there. But guess what? Merrick sensed my drone, found it, and smashed it to pieces. SAFFREY: And that was 2 weeks in the NeedleAnt farm. DARWIN: {eyes wide} He has former Guild members? SAFFREY: Yup. Silas the Tall and Falga Lightwillow. {At the mention of the names, Darwin¡¯s face lights up in excitement.} DARWIN: Silas the Tall?! Falga Lightwillow?! Are you serious? Those two are legends! TALLY: {smirking} Yeah, but apparently they¡¯re just Merrick¡¯s coffee buddies now. DARWIN: I can¡¯t believe it! What do you think they even talk about? TALLY: {shrugging} Oh, probably us. Complaining about how useless we are. SAFFREY: Or how much they wish Merrick would retire already.
Merrick arrives and steps into the quaint caf¨¦, its air filled with the rich aroma of coffee. The shop is a favorite among older magic users because of its supposed "Dragonfire Roasting Method." Merrick smirks at the gimmick but still orders his usual. He sits at his regular table near the window, glancing out as he waits. A bell above the door jingles, and Silas the Tall ducks through the doorway, his towering form immediately drawing attention. Silas spots Merrick and approaches with his usual calm demeanor.
SILAS: Morning, old friend. MERRICK: {nodding} Silas. Coffee? {Silas gives a small grunt of agreement and sits. A few moments later, the bell jingles again, and Falga Lightwillow sweeps in, her tracksuit swishing softly as she moves. She grins broadly as she spots the two men.} FALGA: Look at you two, already brooding like old crows. SILAS: Nice to see you, too, Falga. MERRICK: You¡¯re late. FALGA: {rolling her eyes} And you¡¯re predictable. Now, can we skip the formalities and get to it? {The three old friends settle into their seats, sipping on their coffee. Silas leans back, his towering frame barely fitting in the chair. He pulls a small cloth bag from his side and places it on the table.} SILAS: I brought you both a little something from my garden. Moonpears¡ªgood for calming headaches. Stardrop Radishes¡ªbit of a kick to ¡®em, but they¡¯ll clear your sinuses. Oh, and these. Prismroots¡ªslice them thin, fry them up, and you¡¯ll feel twenty years younger. FALGA: {grinning} Oh, you¡¯re just determined to keep me spry, aren¡¯t you? SILAS: Someone¡¯s got to. MERRICK: {snorts} Gardening. Who would¡¯ve thought. SILAS: {shrugs} It¡¯s peaceful. Something you might consider trying, Merrick. FALGA: I¡¯ve been keeping busy by knitting gifts for the great-great-great-grandchildren. A whole set of enchanted scarves and gloves¡ªthey change color depending on the weather. SILAS: Practical and magical. Nice. FALGA: Oh I almost forgot, I¡¯ll be traveling to Ferundale to have dinner with the queen of the Elderstone Kingdom. Special invitation, no less. She had such a marvelous time at the ski resort last season, and this is her way of thanking me. MERRICK: {scoffs} Can¡¯t believe it. Dinner with royalty, scarf knitting, and homegrown Prismroots. This is what we¡¯ve come to. FALGA: Oh, here we go. SILAS: Merrick¡¯s weekly existential crisis. MERRICK: I¡¯m serious! Look at us. We used to be feared by villains, respected by heroes, adored by the public. Now, here we sit, gardeners and scarf-knitters, sipping coffee in a shop that claims to roast beans with Dragonfire. THEY ARE CLEARLY LYING! FALGA: Merrick¡ª MERRICK: We used to protect kingdoms! We sat beside kings and queens; they sought our advice on matters of life and death. And now? Now we¡¯re just¡­quaint. FALGA: Merrick, if you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯m leaving. Every week, me and Silas share a little about what¡¯s going on in our lives, and every week, you hijack the conversation with the same complaints. SILAS: She¡¯s not wrong. FALGA: And you can¡¯t even reminisce properly! Every time we try to laugh about the good old days, you spiral into a rant about how they¡¯re gone. You need to let it go. SILAS: Or find a hobby. FALGA: Or a date.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. {Merrick snorts derisively, but Silas¡¯s face brightens.} FALGA: Wait a minute. Silas¡ªare you dating someone?! MERRICK: {rolling his eyes} Dating. What a waste of time. FALGA: Oh, shut up, old man! Silas, tell me everything. SILAS: Well, I met her at the farmer¡¯s market. MERRICK: pfff! Farmer¡¯s market¡­.. SILAS: Her name¡¯s Seraphine . {Merrick¡¯s cup slams down onto the table.} MERRICK: Seraphine? You can¡¯t be serious. SILAS: {calmly} I know you two have a past, but that was over a century ago. Surely you¡¯ve moved on by now. MERRICK: That woman is a liar! A BIG FAT LIAR!. She¡¯ll ruin you. FALGA: Oh, this is good. Go on, Merrick, tell us how she wronged you. MERRICK: She stood me up. 127 years ago, I waited for her for two hours at Gilded Griffin Tavern. Two hours! SILAS: Didn¡¯t you go to the wrong place? MERRICK: Lies! All lies! She didn¡¯t even try to make amends. FALGA: {grinning} And here you are, still bitter about it. Silas, good for you! I hope it works out. MERRICK: {pointing at Silas} She¡¯ll stab you in the back, just wait. SILAS: So far, she¡¯s been lovely. We¡¯re going on our third date in a few days. FALGA: {clapping her hands together} Wonderful! See, Merrick? Some of us are capable of moving on and enjoying life. MERRICK: My crew and I have had some great adventures lately, thank you very much. {Falga and Silas exchange knowing looks as Merrick crosses his arms, huffing. The lighthearted banter continues, the trio poking fun at one another, the weight of their past adventures momentarily lifted. The trio continues their conversation, sipping on their coffee. Falga leans back in her chair, her gaze landing on Merrick with a glimmer of curiosity.} FALGA: So, Merrick. How¡¯s the new apprentice? Think this one¡¯s going to work out? MERRICK: He¡¯s¡­doing fine. FALGA: Oh, come on now¡­¡±Fine¡±...that¡¯s it, hes doing ¡°fine¡±¡­ there has to be more to it. SILAS: Yeah, Merrick, tell us about them. MERRICK: {sighing, leaning back in his chair} Fine. He¡¯s¡­not entirely useless. FALGA: {chuckling} High praise from you. MERRICK: {sipping his coffee again, warming up to the topic} He¡¯s clever. Figured out how to calm a rampaging golem. SILAS: I saw something about a golem in the park on the news. Good job! FALGA: Go on. MERRICK: Then there was the bakery incident. A giant evil cookie running amok, enslaving people with dark magic¡ª FALGA: Wait. What? SILAS: A cookie? MERRICK: It was a magical gingerbread monstrosity, thank you very much. And Darwin was instrumental in stopping it. FALGA: Did he eat it? MERRICK: {grumbling} Not the point, Falga. SILAS: {laughing} Sounds like you trained him well. MERRICK: And just recently, he managed to beat Toro on his first try. FALGA: Toro? As in Torin Toro? MERRICK: The very same. SILAS: {impressed} That¡¯s¡­actually remarkable. FALGA: It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve talked about any apprentice like this. SILAS: Not even the other two you¡¯ve had for a while. What¡¯s her name? Saffrey? And that gadget guy, Tally? MERRICK: They have their¡­uses. FALGA: {grinning} That¡¯s the nicest thing I¡¯ve ever heard you say about them. MERRICK: {deflecting} They¡¯re fine at what they do. They all have potential. SILAS: Potential, huh? FALGA: And yet, I get the feeling you¡¯re holding something back. MERRICK: They show promise. Let¡¯s leave it at that. {Falga and Silas exchange a knowing look. Silas leans back in his chair, stroking his chin.} SILAS: You know, the only other time you spoke this way about an apprentice¡ª MERRICK: {cutting him off} Don¡¯t. {The table grows quiet for a moment. Falga looks at Merrick with a raised eyebrow but decides not to press the subject. Instead, she shifts the mood back to lightheartedness.} FALGA: Well, sounds like this Darwin might actually make something of himself. Maybe you¡¯ll actually keep this one around. MERRICK: We¡¯ll see. {The trio chuckles lightly, though a shadow of unspoken memories lingers in the air. Silas and Falga exchange one last glance, silently agreeing to leave the past alone for now. The conversation shifts back to banter, the camaraderie of old friends easing the tension. They finish their coffee and lighthearted banter. Falga glances at the clock hanging on the wall, tapping her fingers on the table as she finishes her cup.} FALGA: Well, boys, it¡¯s about that time. MERRICK: {grumbling} Oh, yes. Off we go to the MRH¡ª[Magicians Retirement Home]. Maybe I¡¯ll book myself a room this time. FALGA: {smirking} Not this week, Merrick. That was last week. MERRICK: Where are we going, then? FALGA: The Children¡¯s Center. MERRICK: {groaning loudly} You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! SILAS: Come on, Merrick. You know you love it. MERRICK: {gruffly} I most certainly do not. {Despite his complaints, Merrick gets up with the others, and they leave the coffee shop. They fly out over a great distance to a small orphanage called ¡°Mistress Marple¡¯s Magical Manor¡±, which has a school, learning center, daycare, and pediatric hospital. The trio arrives at the center, greeted by a chorus of excited cheers from the kids. The children rush to the trio, their faces lighting up as they hug Silas, Falga, and even Merrick, who manages a faint smile despite himself.} CHILD 1: Silas! Can you make my hair stand up again? SILAS: {grinning} Oh, you bet I can. Hold still now. {Silas puts his hands together, generating a bit of static electricity, and gently touches the child¡¯s hair, making it rise into the air like a wild mane. The kids laugh and clap, amazed.} CHILD 2: Falga! Can you make me a snow cone? FALGA: {smiling warmly} Of course, darling. What flavor? CHILD 2: Strawberry! {Falga waves her hands, conjuring ice, reaching into her bag for a paper cone, and then squirting red strawberry flavor all over it. She hands it to the child with a wink, creating several more for the other kids as they line up eagerly.} CHILD 3: Mr. Merrick! You have to do tricks again! MERRICK: Oh, no, no, no. Not happening this time. FALGA: oh don¡¯t worry little one. Mr. Merrick will definitely be putting on a ton of magic tricks for you all. As soon as he puts on his funny clown makeup and big red nose. MERRICK: No! I Will Not! FALGA: SILAS! {Silas tases Merrick and his body stiffens, Falga drags him to a chair and applies bright clown makeup to his face, plopping the red nose on last. The children roar with laughter as Merrick grumbles but ultimately obliges, performing sleight-of-hand tricks and small illusions.} CHILDREN: The Magic Song! Please, Mr. Merrick! MERRICK: {sighing deeply} All right, all right. You lot win.
Silas produces a lute from his bag, tuning it with a hum. Falga conjures a xylophone made entirely of shimmering ice. Merrick takes center stage, raising his hands dramatically before beginning to sing. His voice is deep, resonant, and surprisingly beautiful. As Merrick sings, he uses his magic to create illusions of animals and glowing shapes. A glowing stag leaps through a meadow of shimmering flowers, and a flock of rainbow birds soars overhead. The children are captivated, their faces glowing with delight. The performance builds to a climactic finale. Falga¡¯s ice xylophone rings out a triumphant melody, Silas strums the lute with a flourish, and Merrick raises his hands. The sky outside darkens and the center bursts into a dazzling display of magical fireworks¡ªbrilliant reds, blues, and golds painting the sky in intricate patterns. As the fireworks continue to bloom across the sky, Tally, Saffrey, and Darwin stand together outside the GMS, their faces lit by the dazzling colors above. The display bursts with patterns of shimmering animals, glowing trees, and radiant arcs of light, a show of such breathtaking beauty that it stops everyone in their tracks. All across Havenmere¡ªand even in neighboring towns and cities¡ªpeople pause to watch the sky. Families gather on balconies, shopkeepers step outside their stores, and children point in awe as the magic unfolds above them. For a brief moment, the world feels a little brighter, wrapped in wonder and joy. Tally, arms crossed, smirks as he watches.
TALLY: {softly} Still don¡¯t know where it comes from. SAFFREY: Who cares? It¡¯s amazing. DARWIN: Someone out there¡¯s putting a lot of love into this. {They fall silent again, letting the quiet hum of the town and the brilliance of the light show wash over them.}
Meanwhile, far across the town at the Children¡¯s Center, Merrick stands near the entrance, arms crossed, watching as the final bursts of fireworks fade into soft embers. His face, half-lit by the glow, shows the smallest trace of a smile. He turns back to the emptying room, listening to the lingering laughter of children echoing in the air. Maybe it¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t want his crew¡ªor anyone else¡ªto see his soft side. Maybe it¡¯s because charity, to him, should never be something to brag about. Or maybe, deep down, he just doesn¡¯t know how to say it out loud. But for Merrick, the joy on their faces, the laughter in the air, and the shared awe from the townspeople is reason enough to keep his secret. One of many he carries with him.
Episode 7A - Codex Entry: Silas the Tall Full Name: Silas the Tall Titles: Formerly known as Silas the Thunderous and Silas the Lightning Bringer Age: 340 years Height: 7¡¯2¡± Complexion: Hazelnut Build: Towering and broad, with a sturdy frame that hints at his once-mighty physicality. Despite his age, he maintains an imposing presence. Appearance: Silas dresses simply in slacks held up by suspenders, a plain white shirt, and well-worn leather boots. His once-vivid eyes are now softer, reflecting wisdom and a calm demeanor, though they still hold a faint spark of his former glory. His short, graying hair is neatly combed back, and he carries a walking staff¡ªnot out of necessity, but as a reminder of his more adventurous days.
Magic Specialty:
Background: This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.At a young age Silas wanted to be a part of his father¡¯s renowned guild ¡°The Light of Zeus¡±, but after countless disagreements with him, he decided to venture out to make a name for himself. He then heard of an up and coming wizard by the name of Merrick and at first sought to challenge him. They met, and rumors had it that an immense battle commenced, but afterwards the two became thick as thieves. Along the way they would meet Falga and together, they completed countless legendary quests, earning fame and accolades as one of the most celebrated guilds of their era as ¡°The Guild of Rigel¡±. However, the guild''s legacy is marred by the mysterious disappearance of its fourth member, whose identity is shrouded in secrecy. Despite their past, Silas and Falga remain close friends with Merrick, meeting weekly for quiet coffee gatherings where they reminisce about old times, share wisdom, and provide each other with support.
Personality: Silas is a man of few words, but his quiet demeanor belies a sharp wit and a good sense of humor. He¡¯s known for delivering perfectly timed, dry remarks that leave his friends in stitches. Beneath his reserved exterior is a deeply loyal and compassionate soul who values his friends and treasures his quiet moments over a shared cup of coffee. Quirks: Fun Fact: Silas enjoys gardening in his spare time and grows an impressive variety of herbs, which he occasionally gifts to his friends. However, his friends often joke that his herbs are imbued with ¡°lightning spice¡± due to their unusually sharp flavors. Episode 7B - Codex Entry: Falga Lightwillow Full Name: Falga Lightwillow Age: 295 Height: 5''8" Complexion: Pale blue skin with a subtle icy sheen that glimmers faintly in direct light. Build: Slightly pear-shaped, with a comfortable softness brought on by retirement, though still carrying an air of elegance and vitality. Hair: Long, flowing locks of icy blue streaked with silver, usually tied back into a practical ponytail. Attire: Tracksuits and sneakers, favoring comfort over style. Her wardrobe is filled with cozy yet fashionable pieces, often in cool tones that compliment her snowy complexion.
Background Once revered as the "High Witch of the Snow Mountain Coven", Falga Lightwillow¡¯s mastery of ice and snow magic earned her a legendary reputation. At the height of her power, she commanded the elements with precision, shaping storms, glaciers, and frost into tools of protection and defense. However, she was unceremoniously pushed into retirement by her great-great-grandchildren, who transformed her coven into a luxurious ski resort. Though initially resentful of her family''s decision, the considerable monthly income she receives from the resort has softened her stance, and she now enjoys a life of peace, leisure, and indulgence. Falga is the youngest of the trio comprising herself, Merrick Ashbane, and Silas the Tall, formerly members of the illustrious Guild of Rigel. The Guild of Rigel was once an elite group of adventurers whose feats spanned continents. Despite Falga¡¯s younger age, she often served as the voice of reason among the group, tempering the fiery personalities of her companions. However, her maturity never quelled her mischievous streak, and her pranks became legendary among her peers.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The Guild of Rigel disbanded following the mysterious disappearance of their fourth member¡ªa wound that still haunts Merrick, Falga, and Silas in quiet moments. Though none speak of it often, it remains an unspoken shadow over their reunions.
Personality Falga is the epitome of wisdom and humor, embodying a paradox of grounded maturity and impish mischief. She thrives on bringing joy to others, often using her sharp wit and playful pranks to lighten the mood. Though she occasionally misses the thrill of missions and battles, she is pragmatic about her limitations, believing that such tasks are better suited for the younger generation. Now, Falga dedicates much of her time to convincing Merrick to retire and embrace a life of leisure. She sees his continued work at the GMS as unnecessary toil, though she admires his stubborn dedication. Despite her teasing, she understands Merrick¡¯s sense of purpose and respects his choices.
Magical Specialties
Fun Facts
Current Role Falga cherishes her weekly coffee meetups with Merrick and Silas. These gatherings serve as a reminder of their shared history and enduring camaraderie. While Falga occasionally daydreams about their adventuring days, she remains firmly rooted in her new life, savoring the peace and prosperity she has earned.