The Poulus Prophecy

[Mistress Sheena]

Celerina couldn’t help but be anxious at the meeting with Andromeda and Matoena. Just by the first spoken phrase she had said gave off the impression that Matoena was not your ordinary nice girl. She was a mean girl; a really mean girl that whose name rhymed with ‘witch’ but started with a B. This upcoming adventure mission with Andromeda was only going to get better, because Matoena will be some good entertainment for Celerina, yet will also become a burden because she won’t get to know Andromeda as well as she wants to if they were otherwise alone.

‘I hope there won’t be any major attacks, because I won’t be able to save them both at the same time…’ thought Celerina has she slowly approached behind Andromeda’s still body, standing face to face with Matoena. She stood behind him vigilantly as he uttered the word; “Umm…” to her. Now all there was to do was to wait for her response to his stuttering.

Behind Andromeda, Celerina couldn’t help but semi-glare at Matoena. Partly because she hoped that Matoena wouldn’t abuse him too badly, but preferably not at all. Deep down Celerina couldn’t explain why, but she had feelings for Andromeda. She’d do anything for him. It wasn’t because she pitied him or felt that he was weak, it was the total opposite of that. She felt that she was safe with him. She wanted to be by his side as much as she could. Maybe with his company and help, she would someday find her best friend that was lost those few years ago.

[Andromeda]

There was an awkward silence in the fields for a while as the three stood staring at each other. Andromeda tried to ignore eye contact with either of them not certain what would have happened if he looked at them. People were still coming out of the teleport room walking across the plains. Some were no doubt returning to their homes nearby, while others were enjoying the day taking a stroll. A stroll would be nice for him right now, he wanted to try to forget everything, but it was his problem and he was the one put into it. Though how could he explain this with any successfulness, he was never comfortable being putting into situations that forced a decision upon him.

His mind kept trying to figure out what to say, but nothing seemed to work. He just stopped in mid thought finding that it was not right and restarting. The truth seemed the simplest, that was the approach he originally had wanted to take, but would he be given the time to explain himself. She might just cut him off and not be able to finish himself. He sighed knowing that he would have to do something to break the silence. “Ummm…Miss Matoena this is Miss Celerina…she ah…came to me after one of my classes…and…asked to come…”

“I see. Rather pushy. This does not concern you, go home.”

“But she is alrea…

“Shut up! Let her speak.”

Andromeda closed his mouth so fast he almost bit his tongue. ”Goddess have mercy on me.” He was not sure how Miss Celerina would reply to her, though he hoped the two would not fight. There was not much he knew about Miss Celerina whether she would wish to fight or try to remain peaceful. He just wanted to walk away from it all.

“I am here to help, you have a problem with that?” Miss Celerina replied.

“Help. I will be enough to get us through any issues we might have.”

“How certain can you be?”

“You are questioning me? Do you even have training in magic use?” Miss Matoena said angrily.

“I am a Qelletor, I think that can speak enough for itself.”

“Hmm…better than I would have thought, but lower classmen should have more respect.”

“Lower classmen.”

“Ti’Tor.”

“Really.”

“I have my Ferm’Petna training starting soon, so I think I will be fine.”

“I’ve seen the lands and been from them, I think that makes me just as qualified.”

“What a cat with your fur shaved, how much have you dishonored your family?”

“Watch it Woman.”

Andromeda saw this going down fast, he had to do something to try to stop them. But both where stronger than he was either physically or magically, they would just push him aside. He had to think up something tactful and careful that would actually work. Not that he had any ideas. There must be something that he was over looking, something he could do to stop the squabbling from continue they had a mission to do. He had a job, though it seemed a little odd, especially finding out that Miss Matoena was a Ti’Tor. She could take care of herself on her own; it was not as though the journey to Qurn was that hazardous. At least that is what he remembered from his geography classes. They might have been wrong, or maybe she is not as powerful as it seemed. But he could continue this forever while they were arguing getting closer to each other rather to start a fight.

He needed something that would distract them, but what could he do. Andromeda sat down on the mound of grass they had met on staring at the horizon hoping for something. It must have seemed odd from the by standers watching two women fighting while he just sat with his back turned. He sighed again wishing something would come to him, their yelling get louder. His mouth just opened speaking not caring what he said. “You know everyone is watching you two. I can only imagine how disgraceful they think the two of you are. Especially for being wizards in training.” He sighed and stood up looking at the two women who had actually stopped. He really was not certain if they heard a word he said. “Miss Matoena we a have mission to do we not?”

“Yes…”

“Miss Celerina is determined to stay, what is the point of continuing when you are just wasting time.”

“Fine she can stay but she is under you care.”

“If I remember correctly the road just down there leads to Qurn.”

“Well then lets get going,” Miss Celerina said. The two women started walking as he did, but Miss Matoena remained in front of him on his right side, while Miss Celerina remained directly on his left side. He looked at her for a moment, she smiled at him and he looked forward again. ”Why she smiling? At least it is over.” The road that he had seen from the distance was hardly much of a road. It was a simple dirt and stone path, with stones sparsely placed. This must have been a manually constructed road, not one forged by wizards. He was surprised considering almost everything in the city was magically created; even the houses were made by specialized geomancy magic for construction specific tasks. It was amazing the power of magic, but it made him wonder the ability of physical labor. He knew that most things in the world were not created by wizards, but years of labor, true marvels to be awed. It seemed hard to imagine for him that people could do such tasks with their arms alone. This must be some of the things that wizards learn as they travel the world.

He could not wait until he could travel the lands meeting the difference races that he only saw in the council rooms. Unlike most people he had seen almost every race that inhabited the lands of Linona. Though he never had seen their homelands which he heard stories from. Sights that would dwarf the spectacles of the city, especially the dragons that spoken in great length about their halls, dens that would be carved and detailed over the course of hundreds or thousands of years. Each family adding their own artistry to their den as new members are born. It was like seeing into history as you stare at the murals. There would be much for him to see and even more to experience.

Andromeda mind continued to wander as they walked the dirt road everyone remaining silent. He doubted that either of them would willingly speak to the other one. As long as there was no trouble on the road he figured that he would not have to worry about anything. Though if there was he worried if they would help each other, he did not want to have either one of them injured or worse killed. He could never live with himself if something did happen to them.

The wind began to pick up blowing dirt around from time to time. It seemed to make Miss Matoena annoyed and she placed a barrier against the wind stopping the dirt from flying up. Though it seemed to conveniently stop before Miss Celerina. The small party continued on as the barrier followed keeping the dirt down hitting the barrier with a slight spark as a wave of energy was sent across the barrier. The barrier would remain a calm blue until hit lighting up with waves across the wall where the dirt hits. It was enough to keep you entertained for hours watching the difference patterns be made only to disappear quickly afterwards.

The sun was now high above them with half of the day gone now they decided to rest for a small lunch. Andromeda had thought about trying to start a conversation, but considering they were still angry about the morning it was best not to try. The meal was small, some dried meat and bread with a little of their water. Though as they finished their meal and were getting ready to continue a group of men and women came screaming from the road near the horizon. Andromeda could not see why they were screaming, but it seemed like they would need help. He ran down the hill they had been resting under towards the group seeing that it was Gwolimes chasing them.

Gwolimes were a four legged animal, with fur down all their back. What made them recognizable as Gwolimes were the horns that grew on their head and down their back as well as their size. They stood near to the shoulders of an average woman. They were often mistaken for Hownlings a more diminutive form without the horns. Though Hownlings were faster and more aggressive, so most knew of them and made the easy mistake. However Gwolimes were not normally aggressive animals, but if you stepped into their territory they would become vicious. But Gwolimes usually made their homes in caves or dense forests, so it was a rare sight to them. He wondered what it was that these people had done to anger them, but to save them he would have to fight these animals. As he came closer the number of Gwolimes made him realize this was not going to be easy. There were five of them and they already had one woman done biting at her flesh and tearing her clothes away. He tried to reach her, but the animals were already done and leaping to their next victim.

Andromeda quickly cast a general area barrier behind the running people. The gwolimes ran straight into the barrier and sent back surprised and stunned not sure what had just happened. But it gave the fleeing people enough time to get a safe distance away while Miss Matoena and Miss Celerina caught up to him. The three stood ready to take the beasts if they decided to continue their attack, he hoped that the beasts would turn away but it was unlikely. They would have to be convinced to leave; a simple barrier would not deter them. He was uncertain what he would do to fight considering that he was not good enough for his attack spells to make effective attacks.

He pulled out the sword that Ehut had given him, “Hortornema!” The sword came to life with the soft bluish blade. He bore it down on the beast that crawled ever closer being cautious. The beasts started to divide two started towards Miss Matoena and another towards Miss Celerina. The other two looked at him leaping towards him, Andromeda stepped backwards letting them land on the ground. He lashed at the ground trying to startle them, but they were not afraid continuing towards him. Grasping the hilt tightly he lunged at the closer gwolime cutting it slightly in the leg. The beast bore its teeth at him lowering itself closer to the ground ready to pounce while the other started to circle around him.

His mind was spinning thoughts and tactics, he was scared and nervous uncertain how the beasts would react. Though everything he had tried so far to scare them away had not worked. This was something he wished to avoid, but it seemed that they were determined to fight. Even the one he had wounded slightly was not feeling pain or hesitation. The two beasts were not facing opposite sides of each other around him. He remembered from his classes that they usually attacked in groups surrounding their target striking together. If they struck now he would not be able to avoid both of the attacks, he had to come up with something, but he was not sure, should he move. Maybe he should run away get higher ground, or should he make an attack on one before they strike. Try to take them off guard and fight only one at a time. So many decision he did not know what to do, the time was pouring out they would strike soon.

Andromeda cast a barrier spell to be controlled by his left arm and turned himself towards the gwolime behind him. The two leaped together as he turned, the one in front of him hit his barrier but tried to claw at it anyway. The other came straight to his face, its mouth was open and looked as though it could swallow his entire head in one bite. Working awkwardly he swung the sword downward across the beast chest slicing it open. Still in motion it came towards him even though the mouth was closed in pain. He did not expect this to happen the beast landed on him quickly sending him to the ground unable to move. The spell was about to give out that held back the second gwolime. The one lying on him roared in pained clawing at him ripping cuts into his skin. Andromeda screamed in pain. He was pinned and terror bled into his eyes afraid what would come next.

[Mistress Sheena]

Gwolimes: A creature that Celerina knew all too well. Her days in the wild with her clan came rushing back into the front of her mind. Her instinctive tactics for handling this beast had overridden her current trace of thought. She’s had this beast for dinner many times before, and therefore knew how to expose of it fairly quickly. As it came rushing toward her, her mystifying grey eyes suddenly became clear and stared into the eyes of the Gwolime coming at her. She didn’t hesitate to charge straight at it, bringing out her two swords. One enveloped in flame, and the other in ice. She used one blade to burn the fur and flesh. She used the ice to relieve their pain so they would not make any futile moves.

She leapt in the air, traveling over the beast, and landed on one foot. She then made another leaping dash before the beast could turn around and swiftly inserted her blades into its flesh, incinerating its skin and freezing its blood flow all in one swift cutting through its muscles and bone, into three individual pieces. Her stomach called for food because she had forgotten to eat breakfast before she left, so she started to dine on the tasty meat of the roasted Gwolime. Then she heard a familiar voice scream. She shook her head and looked towards its owner Andromeda, who seems to be in a heap of trouble with two Gwolimes. He had already taken care of one, but it seemed to still be in the world of living, clawing into his skin. She quickly made haste to Andromeda, and immediately froze the nearly dead Gwolime so it would not make Andromeda suffer, while making a swift kick into the stomach of the remaining one, and then slitting off its head onto the ground with her blade of fire. Her eyes were that of a crazed wolf who had been starving for years and now was taking out its frustration upon its prey. Her Wolten instincts had been in hiding for far too long and now they resurfaced and wanted revenge.

She breathed heavily through her nose and looked deep into Andromeda’s eyes, slowly adjusting her eyes back to their normal state. She blinked a few times and smiled at him, helping him up and sitting him down somewhere safe. She then got the crazed look into her eyes once again as she peered into Matoena’s direction, watching her fight off the rest of the Gwolimes. She wanted to go hunt more prey, but her legs would not allow her to move. She closed her eyes and calmed herself, sitting down next to Andromeda and taking a sigh of relief as she was able to save the man she liked from being killed. She rested her head on his shoulder, giving off a weak smile, waiting for Matoena to finish her share of the beasts. Celerina was curious to see what type of fighting style Matoena used on such brute beasts.

While leaning on Andromeda, she said “I’m glad…that you’re okay… I wouldn’t know what I would do without you…” Celerina trailed off; softly speaking “I think…I love you…” she closed her eyes, resting her energy.

[Andromeda]

The claws rake through his skin so easily as blood soaked the beast’s claws. His teeth ground together in pain as he tried to use his knees to push it off him, but it was a gwolime. They were almost the height of a man standing and it was probably two or three times heavier than he was. In spite of all the effort he had, his knees were just not strong enough. His feet gave one last push trying to budge it as it suddenly became cold as ice. It’s fur sparkled lightly in the sunlight as he stared into the now frozen gwolime.

Miss Celerina removed the beast from his body its claws still clutched into his skin ripping out as it was taken off him. He screamed watching a thin arch of blood drip from the claws. Andromeda painfully got up with help by Miss Celerina and walked back to the tree that they had been sitting under for lunch. Most of their things had been packed up, though all their things were still left under the tree. But before that he had to mend himself, it was the first time he would actually have to use the healing spells he learned in the basis holy magic class.

Light of Linona, calm of the heavens

Sight of Yuroua, Goddess of Spirit

Heal thyself, mend thyself.

He placed his hands over the area of his chest and stomach where his wounds were. The pain bit through his ribs as he felt the healing magic beginning to work. It would still be a while before he was completely healed, but it would allow him to continue journeying without having to rest. He was glad for having taken that class when he had. It was part of the wizard curriculum to take the basic classes of magic in all fields. After all, a well-rounded wizard is more useful than one that only knows a single spell. Though it was not said when they were suppose to take the classes just as long as they did at some point and healing magic was one of the most important magic for any wizard journeying to know. All though Andromeda had not expected to be using what he had learned so soon, he was thankful for having decided to. It was fortunate for him that the class he had wanted had filled up forcing him to pick something else. He just wish he knew a few more healing spellings to help his recovery, he only knew the basic few taught and practiced by any wizard with her salt.

He turned his head to try to find Miss Matoena to see how she was doing with the two gwolimes that had went after her. She seemed to be running from them right at the moment he looked. It was hard for him to tell if she needed help or not she was so far away. Though he could see her stop sudden seeing a bright flash leave her palms. The gwolimes were engulfed in flames burned instantly probably leaving nothing more than charred remains. Andromeda was not surprised, she was a Ti of course, so she no doubt had plenty of power to kill such an animal. She was at the end of her training in the Wizardary something like this would probably seem like a quiz for her more than a test of her abilities.

Andromeda saw her starting to walk back to them so he stood up packing the rest of their things into the pack. He still felt a slight pain in his muscles where the claws at dug a little deeper. It would probably healed by the time night fell, and the skin and scars would be finished by the time they reached the town of Qurn. He checked his side for the sword Ehut had given him realizing he had dropped it in the fight. Panic dripped down his face in a cold sweat, as he wanted to run back to the road, but knew he had to walk.

Slowly he went started his way back down the hill to the road holding his stomach with his hand and arm. He knew it was still tender and too much stress would open the wounds. His fingers found him touching his skin realizing the robes and shirt he was wearing was torn. He would have to sew the holes together tonight, would be handy to know cloth-weaving magic. It was often an over looked class that few tended to take because was just an optional class. Though Andromeda began to see how relevant it could be to have such a talent.

Miss Matoena came up to him as he reached the spot where he had been fighting, he knew because of the blood in the dirt. He looked around to try to find the sword, though he had only to listen for the soft hum of magic that was the blade, which had not been commanded to turn off. It was in the grass a small distance the blade giving off the blue light making it easily seen. “Hortornema!” The blade faded away into particles of blue light floating into the air. He bent his legs down picking up the sword hilt retiring it to inside pouch of his robes.

He turned back over his shoulder to find Miss Matoena staring down at him, ”I wonder what she is thinking?” Standing up towards her he was uncertain what she had on her mind though it seemed like she had something to say.

“How deep are the wounds?” she said.

“Mostly just flesh wounds, I think a couple are deeper. I cast a healing spell on myself so I should be fine.”

“Never the less, I cannot have you getting worse slowing us down. Let me look.”

“Umm…I should be…”

“Shut up and lift up your shirt. I have more experience than you do.” Andromeda took a step back not really expecting this to happen. He hardly had much of a choice but to do as she said and lift up his shirt. Taking off his robes he grabbed his shirt up letting her examine his wounds. The skin was still deep red from the blood and incomplete scabbing. She placed a hand on his stomach, Andromeda did not know what she was doing though his face felt warmer suddenly. “Seems you are right, you are healing, probably a little faster than I would have expected.”

”She could tell all that? What magic field did she know? If I may ask?”

“I am a Holy Magic study with enough knowledge in the offensive arts to get by.”

“Oh.”

“Let us return to the road. Hey cat stop sleeping!”

“You think she heard you?”

“Woltens have good hearing.”

“Yes, true.”

Miss Celerina picked up all the packs meeting them at the road, but she gave a look to Miss Matoena like she was a ready to start up their fight from the morning. “You have something to say cat?”

“I have a name.”

“Your point?”

“Use it.”

Andromeda started walking forward on the road hoping the two would just follow him. He did not want to have another fight on his hands just as they had finished one. Though if this continued all the way to Qurn and back it was going to be a really long journey for him. He just tried not to think too much about it and focus on the matter at hand for him, healing and being prepared for whatever else might find them on other road. It should be a relatively safe road, though the Gwolimes proved that safe was not always accurate to what he heard in his classes. They said it was a safe road with very little aggressive wildlife. Which was relatively accurate considering that they had only run across the Gwolimes. But he was just naïve enough to believe that there was nothing on the road that was going to be there to harm them. This was an awakening for him.

The trio continued without any more of an incident, Miss Celerina and Miss Matoena were quiet remaining in respective corners at his side. As the sun fell and the moon rose they sought a place to make camp for the night. Miss Matoena looked around the perimeter while Miss Celerina made the fire. They seemed to be trying to keep a distance between them. Andromeda unpacked their blankets and pulled out a needle from his pack. It surprised him a little that he needed to have a needle and thread, but it was always good to be prepared, and glad he was that he came prepared. He took off his robe and started searching for all the rips to be found in the cloth. As Miss Matoena returned from her perimeter search Miss Celerina pulled out a small bit of the food and some raw meat that seemed to have mysteriously appeared. He soon realized it was probably from the Gwolime from earlier, there had been a strange look in her during the fight that he had not seen before in their few encounters.

The fire gave him enough light through the twilight and moonlight to finished mending his robe. He pulled off his shirt and started to sew the threads together while he slowly nibbled on some of the dried meat from his pack. Thoughts drift around in his mind not really thinking on too much for long casually thinking about what Qurn would be like. He wondered if it was straw huts and wooden houses like he had seen in some pictures. It always seemed really primitive to him to see houses like that. They would fall down in a strong storm, be burned in a fire with ease and provide very little protection in the cold seasons. It was hard to imagine not have the protection of the shield that the city had, that held out the elements and even maintained an average temperature in the whole city that made seasons something that he only could watch or briefly experience. He thought about actually having to live in the weather when he was going on his travels as a wizard. That is when he would really find out if he had what it would take to become a true wizard. The Apprenticeship was a long path and he knew that it would be a while before he was a real wizard by certification. It was an exciting thought, when he suddenly pricked himself with the needle.

He realized that he was daydreaming and managed to sew into the wrong area of his shirt. There was now extra stitching where he did not need it. He pulled the needle from the thread and started to use it to rip out the mistake. Backtracking on the stitches he began to look down more being concerned about the stitching he pulled out. When he caught something in the corner of his eye he stopped. It was his stomach, he looked at his skin to only notice that there were no more red marks, scars or anything close to resembling wounds. Miss Matoena was right about healing faster than normal. This was certainly puzzling to him that his body healed so quickly. “Umm, Miss Matoena.”

“Yes…what is it?”

“My wounds are completely healed.”

“I thought there was something strange about you, guess your healing magic is stronger than I give you credit for.”

“I guess I should be thankful.”

“Hmm…”

Andromeda went back to working on his shirt finishing it a little while after the two women went to sleep. He gave a look around the camp before resting by the campfire. In several degrees Miss Matoena would wake up to take watch, but in the mean time he would have to entertain his mind and wait for his time to be up. There was very little to do but just think and keep an eye on the two of them. Miss Matoena seemed calm and peaceful asleep, unlike when she was awake; she always seemed ready to return a strike upon her. It made him wonder what it was that made her like that. Women always seemed to be on edge, though it could just be because they held some prejudice against men. He knew that there were mistakes in the past, but he tried to look past those things, it had been thousands of years since the Fall of Men and the Race Wars. It always seemed like it was the men that never forgot about the times and provoked confrontations with the women. Which in turn lead to debates, fights and what seemed like a general mistrust of each other. He had always the impression that women were ones that tried to forget about it and the men always brought it up, probably the reasons to the edginess of women. That could be why Miss Matoena is always on edge, though it was no doubt primarily Miss Celerina that she was on edge about. Though even in the meet he had with them back in the council building, she seemed on edge. Made him wish he was not a man to see how she would be around him, it was a curiosity he had to wonder if things would be better, different or anything if he was not man. But he probably was not the only one to have such thoughts. It was true that men had little to no political power, they could own businesses, run for the council, be wizards but it was not often that men really came to a position where their voice was heard. Even after seven thousand years they could not regain the lost status. Though he did wonder if they had maintained their status how would things had been different, he probably would not be alive or at least have the same life. However, in contrast if women had always been in charge the wars and fighting that Linona had known probably would never had been experienced and peace would have continued on. It was definitely something that would keep anyone thinking for a long time, philosophers and historians had been pondering the same thing for millennia’s without much of an answer. But it was all speculation anyway. Some believe that peace however wonderful can never last forever, that something would have happened, if it had not been the men it would have been someone else. It is a little cynical, but you cannot give it some measure of logic, because there had been peace for a long time even after the ending of the War of Tainted Gods. It seemed like they were defeated, but something returned, no one knew what it was everyone just assumed it was a messenger or underling of Qours that decided to take revenge. That will probably be the largest blank the history of Linona, no one knew why and most did not care afterwards to try to find a reason.

Time continued to pass in his mind; he had completely forgotten what time it was until he looked up to the moon finding that he was a little a late to wake up Miss Matoena. He went over to her; she seemed to wake up before he even had to do anything. She took over watch while he went to sleep, in several more degrees Miss Celerina would take over for the remaining part of the night until morning. Andromeda lay down on his blanket with most of his mind clear of thoughts already worked around in his time on watch. He fell asleep quickly.