[Wayfinder of Paths]
Time seemed to stop as Lucas blacked out. But instead of pain or an unknowable dream. What greeted him was a void, clad in all its glory, nothing but the absence of colour was to be found.
The Lucas that appeared wasn't the boy who'd sacrifice the memories. But the dream of him. Back once again to make the choice.
Then two tree samplings grew out of the nothingness. One decaying and pale, a gentle breeze was all one needed to destroy. The other was burning and black. A little more fire and the sampling would fall.
The first sampling was fragile, weak. But potent, the void changed in its presence, it appeared to make spiral patterns around the sampling as well as changes in the sampling design, never stagnant and always moving. Twigs fell and grew as it changed itself.
The second of the sampling was stalwart and proud, the smell of ash lingered in the air as fire ate away at the sampling's red leaves.
It was vain, ruthless. But brave, standing tall despite the fact it would no doubt burn itself out. Its burnt twigs still held on despite the flames, though one thing stood certain in Lucas's mind.
Even if the fire had all it needed to become a grand inferno. The red sampling wouldn't dare yield.
It looked as if two options presented themselves before Lucas.
Become ever changing and never stagnate
or
Become a prideful unyielding force.
The first has great potential but starts weak.
The second is unstoppable but would burn itself out in its hubris.
Lucas thought to himself for a while, time didn't seem to move and nothing else was in the abyss. So nobody could chastise him for being slow.
He was lost. In all honesty the only thing Lucas was sure of is that each of them were strong. He didn't think he was this indecisive but the two options seemed so great.
Something fell from the void. A not simple golden coin, one side had the face of a grand volcano. The other had a cloaked man on it.
Lucas felt something in his heart hate the very sight of the two. But his mind had no clue why he hated them.
Banishing the thoughts back to the dark place they'd come from. Lucas flipped the coin, it lingered in the air for one second of eternity. Then fell, landing on heads as the cloaked man greeted him once again.
With that done he looked to the black sampling and walked over.
Steeling himself for the deed. He wrapped his hand around it. The fire quickly climbed up his arm, engulfing it. He let out a mad scream, but wouldn't yield, the sampling clung stubbornly to the void.
Lucas kept pulling but the damn thing wouldn't bulge, nothing has changed except for the fire crawling further up his arm.
Desperate, Lucas claimed all his might to pull and eternity's later, the unyielding had yielded.
The first path has been chosen
The void immediately rushed like a dam had broken, and with it. Lucas was devoured.
Dear luca.
(In the short time you have spent with these wonderful pair of birds, you have gained their trust, for this lovely little treat, we grant you [Wayfinder of Paths]
Those born of freedom will show you compassion, even letting you in on their little thoughts, those of the free who truly trust and believe in you. Will have their very being changed by you.
Allows the wayfinder to understand the intention of beasts as well as change the very being of a beast who's soul they've connected too)
The voice of a great divine gently poured itself into Lucas's mind as he woke. And for once, he remembered, not the pain or the emotion but the event itself was remembered.
Lucas looked to his side to find Coin standing as an ever dutiful guard, but he could see the bird nod off ever so slightly. If Coin had to wait 3 or more minutes he'd have been sleeping.
"Hey. Thanks for standing guard, didn't think you'd be awake though" Teased Lucas before the penguin quickly turned around. It squeaked pridefully, puffing his chest out as if to say 'of course I am!'
"Hey…Coin, do you trust me?" Asked Lucas hesitantly. Coin nodded vigorously which brought a light smile to his face before it faded.
He flicked the bird's head before. It seemed like his usual teasing but at the slight touch a hint of Lucas's soul went into Coins. Linking them by nature. Not that either one knew.
Reeling from the flick. It glared for a second before hia face changed immediately, eyes going left to right as if reading something.
Lucas.
————————————————
Coin.
The stupid human had flicked him too hard!? Coin had taken the kindess of guarding him but all he got was a flick to the head!
Mama was right! Humans were bad news! But not this human, he was just annoying. This one was his friend. They were friends. And Coin hadn't made one in a while, mama said to keep traveling so there was never the time.
Still reeling from the flick, Coin opened his eyes. Only to see glowing runes in a gluttonous orange stare at him.
You are a fly. A pest, yet the trailblazer still deemed you worthy. This lone feat earns you a name.
Your true name shall henceforth be known as Beelzebub, lord of the flies. A great unknowable hunger and a form fit for it.
The divine words came and went. But Coin wasn't phased. The voice was an idiot. Coin couldn't fly! Penguins could and would never fly. They were meant for the sea.
Moving on to the next message.
[Wayfinder's Beast]
Dear Beelzebub.
(You have gone far beyond what most of your fold would do for a friend, Forsaken your own soul for someone you've barely met yet you trust them with your story, with or without your knowledge.
Your body shifts as your flesh goes against itself in grotesque eternity as you grow into a beast worthy of a trailblazer, eyes grow where your teeth should be as mouths cut further into your spine.
The beast's form can grow in power and change according to the situation at hand)
Do you accept all of the curses?
Looks like the dumb voice wasn't getting any smarter. Curses didn't give you powers. Of course Coin would.
The majestic stag awaits your death.
Ooohhh spooky. A stag must be an ugly thing if it waits for death
Beelzebub
————————————————
Lucas
Ignoring Coins suddenly air-headed-ness. Lucas noted how strong he felt. Guess the pain was for something.
Getting up. He walked over to Oz's bed and picked it up easier than he thought he would. Don't get me wrong it took some effort. But I could probably do it before. Thought a completely wrong Lucas.
Putting it down he jumped up and hit his head on the ceiling, rubbing the back of his head, a loud bang from the other rooms was heard along with a few curses.
"Sorry!" Lucas yelled before looking at Coin who looked ecstatic. Jumping up and down. The penguins squawked at Lucas to watch before golden runes craved themselves in front of Lucas.
[Wayfinder's Beast]
Cool name. Thought Lucas before reading the description that came with it. It looked very cool. Though he had no idea what Coin was 'forsakening' another set of runes glowed in a glowed orange.
Beelzebub.
Nevermind an even cooler name. Thought true name did sound ominous but on to the real question.
"So what can you do?" Asked Lucas as Coin concentrated for a few seconds. Before he faced his head straight up.
From his beak to his neck. The bird's top had split into four equal segments and opened to reveal a row of teeth on each segment as well as an eye placed near the top.
The eyes were split in two. One larger than the other. A gluttonous yellow filled the colour of Coins, usually black pupils.
He flopped on all fours like a dog as his flippers had slits run into them. Making make-shift claws.
When the transformation was done. Coin just looked around, enjoying the world in his new very ugly and probably dangerous form.
"Soo…are you stronger?" Asked Lucas.
Coin responded by grabbing one of Oz's pillows and ripping it to shreds as his teeth rotated during the action.
"Cool! But.." Looking at the mess of feathers and fluff, Lucas turned around to replace Oz's one with his own. Picking one up at turning back around showed him that no such mess of feathers even existed.
All that was left was the rotating maw of Coin as he swallowed the last feather into his beak.
"..Of course it'll do that. Perfect for a fatty like you" Teased Lucas, placing Oz's new pillow down on his bed. Coin faced up and gurgled, which Lucas took as an insult? Actually he had no idea.
Coin kept on gurgling before all his segments clamped together. And the ugly horror was no more. Though a drowsy penguin was left in its wake.
Lucas picked Coin up and put him on top of his bed. Putting the blanket over Coin. Lucas looked to the window, seeing a small trace of ice left on it.
Two hours later
Lucas was very bored. Thankfully Oz decided to show up. Who would hopefully cure his boredom.
"Hello. I apologize for taking as long as I have" Said Oz as he guided Lucas outside of the Inn.
"Where too first?" Asked Lucas.
"I figure we should visit Misia. Though she has a knack for making others wait. She is a tad bit impatient herself"
"Really? She didn't seem like that. Actually… on second thought I don't really know her well enough" Said Lucas, going down the same path they took yesterday. Passing buildings till the quality was questionable.
"Why does she stay in this dump? " Gestured Lucas to the area around them. Oz answered by shrugging "People aren't too used to seeing demons around. Mithelios is home to humans for the most part"
"What's Mitlethos?" The simple question managed to get Oz to mess up as they nearly tripped over themselves. "Sometimes I forget you have amnesia. You don't act like someone with the illness and that fools me. But Mitlethos is the continent we are on at the moment"
Stopping in front of the nameless store that Misia called home. They both went in, passing the empty front desk.going down the weirdly Long hallway, then finally into the backroom where Misia was holding a dark blue coat with gold stitching all around the coat in various patterns .
On the rack next to her was a long robe. White with patterns of various flowers etched in with black silk.
She turned around at the sound of their footsteps. A calm smile found her face as she set down the coat and greeted them.
"Just in time. The most splendid work I've done in this lifetime and it's wasted on a tasteless alchemist and a clueless assistant. Heaven knows how far I've fallen" Mused Misia as she pulled out two mannequins. And with a flick of her finger. Clothes flying and wrapping themselves around the lifeless bodies.
The white flower patterned robe went to the first mannequin. Which was accompanied by black pants with matching flower patterns in white stitching and a pair of clear circular glasses.
"I don't like it" Said Oz.
"Well it doesn't matter alchemist. You will find that these are the finest silk in all of crownfern. And you were always the practical type. No practical person of any kind will deny better equipment" Boasted Misia as she smirked, pride in full display.
"Question! What's Crownfern?" Misia immediately broke out of her grandeur at the stupid question. "Alchemist. Is there…something wrong with your assistant? Perhaps a dimwit?"
"No. Nothing is wrong with Lucas, he just has amnesia"
"And you haven't sought to rectify this very large problem? How cruel" the two squabbled immediately. Which was entertaining. But still.
Lucas's question wasn't answered. Guess he'd have to figure it out. Wendy mentioned it earlier. Something about 30 states of Crownfern? And if the continent is Mitlethos. Then Crownfern is the country!
Lucas felt proud for probably figuring it out on his own. Though the two still argued. Luca's eyes wandered to the second mannequin which had his clothes.
The blue-gold coat sat loosely on it with even looser grey pants beneath the coat. Overall the whole vibe he'd gotten from the outfit made his brain tingle in a good way. Weird how that worked.
Walking over to the mannequin. He went to take the coat when it suddenly came to life and grabbed his hand. Attempting to twist his arm. Rolling with twist. His feet found ground and he immediately tried kicked the mannequin
It caught the kick with its free hand, and pulled his leg and hand in separate directions. Trying to pull Lucas apart.
Misia noticed this and immediately glared at the mannequin. Who released Lucas, dropping him on the floor with a thud. "Ow. Stupid thing tried to rip me in two!" Complained Lucas as he got up.
"I apologize. I suppose I should've warned you beforehand. The mannequins are quite…exotic at times, mostly to make sure pickpockets don't wander in and out with goods they cannot afford" Said Misia with an almost amused smirk.
"Is it a tale?" Asked Lucas.
"Yes it is"
"Can I see yours?" Misia stared at him as if he asked whether the sky was red or yellow. Then quickly shook her head before answering.
"I will forgive the actions simply because you are ignorant of customs. But do not ask questions of this kind. It will not be well received by others…but yes, assuming you have a tale" Lucas nodded.
Walking over, while simultaneously a surprised look came over Oz's face at the news. Runes in bright contrast of colours appeared.
[Guards of Cloth]
Dear Misia.
You have found a wide variety of ways to combat the common thief. Your creativity is as astonishing as your fashion. Enjoy this boon.
The poor mannequins watch daily as those of ill intent steal its rightful clothing. They will stand idly no longer.
Mannequins that are under your name. Will gain an intermediate amount of combat prowess as well as increased physical stats to combat thieves.
Neat. They all chatted a little while longer before Lucas and Oz put on their outfits.
Lucas thought he looked cool if a little flashy in his coat.
Oz on the other hand looked fabulous. Their flowing blond hair complimenting the white and black of their flower patterned robes. And the glasses highlighted their green eyes even more.
The duo looked rather stylish all together. But unfortunately this was interrupted by the sound of loud banging as screams of anger sounded at the front of the store.
"Do not worry. It's just the local hoodlums" Mused Misia as twenty more mannequins appeared from the needlessly long shelves.
Letting out a loud sigh. Oz mumbled something before pulling out a very murky green pack of vials.
Misia seemed deep in thought as if strategizing.
While the two prepared Lucas on the other hand was standing still. Contemplating how he'd gotten to this point.
The days are getting too long. Thought Lucas as he stretched. Looking at the wooden floor as if it would give him answers