Runelord

Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy/Romance

Summary: A Royal Guard for a number of years, Kyle's only goal in life was to continue to serve his Empress. When his actions land him at the head of the most powerful group of mages in the world, however, he will have to learn more about his new companions and himself if he is to prevent a war big enough to encompass his whole world...

Chapter One: The Festival of the Sun

Haaah. Haaah. Haaah.

Mist rose from the girl's lips as she ran down the alleyway. Behind her, a monster lumbered forward, swiping every so often at her back with enormous claws. Several of the slashes came frighteningly close; one of them actually managed to shear through her shirt and lightly scratch her back. The girl didn't slow down as she took a turn, heading deeper into the alleys of the city. High walls rose on every side; she could only go forward without the beast behind her striking her down. Perhaps twenty steps further on, another person appeared out from a door and glanced towards her.

"Out of the way!" the girl called as the monster swiped at her again. "Get out of here!" as she passed the figure, he stepped between her and the monster. There was a quiet rumble. The girl whirled around to find this person, a Knight of some sort, holding the monster back. It had attempted to bash him aside, but he'd managed to get a thick sword up and was pressing against the creature's forefeet. "What are you doing!?"

"You looked like you were in trouble." the Knight answered, voice tense from the effort it was taking to hold back the monster. "Code of the Holy Knighthood, Article Three: Protection of the citizens of the kingdom is the most important duty behind the protection of the Royal Family." the girl just blinked as the Knight shouted and shoved the beast backwards. It stumbled for a few moments before regaining its balance and roaring. "You sure know how to pick your enemies." as the beast charged at him, the Knight stepped forward, bringing his sword up and slashing the beast's front left leg off. Its other forelimb, however, stabbed into his shoulder. The Knight's face twisted in pain, but he wasted no time in ramming the monster with his good shoulder, switching his sword to his better hand, and stabbing through the monster's neck. It fell limp, and after pulling his sword out, the Knight quietly cleaned it off and sheathed it. The monster faded away and vanished. "Are there any other creatures after you, Ma'am?"

"I'm not old enough to be called that! Miss will do." the girl answered. "And how can you ask that?"

"It's only a flesh wound." the Knight answered, looking at his shoulder. "Still..." he reached into his belt and pulled out a small vial filled with a blue liquid. After pulling out the cork with his teeth, he drank the contents of the vial, and the wound in his shoulder healed before their eyes. "Good as new. Now, are there any others?"

"Not that I know of." the girl sighed out. "Thank you for your help."

"Just part of my job." the Knight answered calmly. "Though I'm surprised it managed to get this far into the city. That wasn't a normal animal... did somebody summon it and set it after you?" the girl shook her head. "...I see." he didn't seem to entirely believe her. "Well, then, please follow me. You should be safe once you reach the main streets."

"All right." the girl said. She fell into step beside the Knight, and a few minutes later, she emerged into the sunshine out from the shadows of the alleys. While the air was still chilly, things were much more tolerable here, and a steady stream of people flowed up and down the wide stone road. "What's your name, Sir Knight? You can't be much older than me."

"Hmm? Ah. I am the second son of the Markal family, Kyle. Might I have your name, Miss? I need to file a report with my Commander."

"Fern." the girl answered. "If that's all..." she strode into the crowd, and was soon well away from that part of the city. Kyle Markal, eh? He wasn't a particularly bad Knight, taking down a monster of that sort. Not to mention rescuing her from it in the progress. Fern smiled slightly as she made her way back towards the Inn where she was staying. She'd remember that Knight. If only she could figure out why his name sounded familiar...

Days later, Fern was awakened by the sound of a trumpet echoing through the city. The girl yawned widely as she sat up, then stared blearily out of the window. As cheers began to fill the streets, she remembered; it was the Festival of the Sun. Which, oddly, was held on the shortest day of the year; the Innkeeper of the Plucky Penguin Inn, where she was staying, had mentioned that it was a festival to encourage the sun to start showing itself more instead of continuing to let the night rule; they had the Festival of the Moon on the longest day of the year to switch things around again, on and on in an endless cycle.

Not that anybody seriously believed what they did had an actual effect, but it was tradition and a great excuse to party, so nobody cared about such small details. People had been entering the city for weeks from all around the country to enjoy the festivities. In the cold winter months, it was the best entertainment most people would have. The girl quickly got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. A few conversations died off as she walked in; as opposed to the usual plain outfit she wore, Fern had put on more formal wear in the form of a feathery white gown, almost like a wedding dress but made of tougher material, if wedding dresses left the stomach exposed and had serviceable capes.

"Who's the lucky guy?" someone asked blankly. Fern smiled.

"It's not like that." she answered. "I just thought I should dress up for the festival." there were a few nods at that; most people wore something fancy, and some got creative. The girl sat down on the bench, and before long a plate of food was set before her. Once she was through eating, the girl quietly excused herself and stepped outside. She shivered slightly, but knew that would go away once she started moving around. The festival was from dawn to dusk, and she wanted to enjoy it to the fullest while she searched. Performers were literally at every street corner, juggling swords, torches, and in one case she saw, small children. That was actually rather impressive...

The girl shook her head and continued to walk forward. A few people glanced her way more than once as she went through the streets, but as she reached a marketplace, one of the guards halted her. "Excuse me, ma'am." he said. "Your name is Fern, correct?"

"Yes." the girl answered, puzzled.

"Her Majesty would like to see you." the guard said, pointing towards the castle further up the hill. When he saw the girl's expression, he quickly added, "Oh, don't worry, you're not in trouble. She would just like to meet you. It's not even a Royal Summons, just a request." the guard said. Fern nodded, and after a few moments, began making her way towards the structure. It took her nearly forty-five minutes, but finally, she made it through the gate. This was one of the few days the castle was open to the public, though the presence of guards was quite conspicuous; Fern wasn't sure there was a single room that didn't have a guard inside or at the door. A simple, and apparently effective, warning to troublemakers. There was a small line to see the Empress, and the girl waited there for a few more minutes before finally being escorted into the chamber.

"Ah, you must be Fern." the Empress said, smiling. The younger girl's breath caught; she'd heard stories, but this was actually a case of them being less than the truth, rather than more. The Empress really was beautiful. If she hadn't known better, she'd never have guessed that the woman had had three children before the King had passed away. She'd never re-married. "Are you enjoying your stay in my city?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fern answered, curtsying. "It is a wonderful place, nearly as beautiful as you yourself." the Empress laughed.

"Ah, you flatter me too much." the woman answered. Fern snuck a better glance at her; she was still relatively young, with what age she had resting lightly on her, long hazel hair, and clear green eyes. The stories of kings ready to make war over her made a little more sense now. A blood-red gemstone pendant shaped like a curved teardrop hung around the Empress' neck, resting atop her rather sizable bust. "Still, I hear you had a frightful experience the other day."

"One of your knights assisted me, ma'am, so it was not nearly as bad as it might have been." Fern explained immediately. The Empress nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, come here." she said. Fern stood up and walked several steps forward. "Come here, I said, not wait all the way over there." Fern walked forward until she was so close that she could reach out and touch the most beautiful woman in the world. The Empress unclasped the pendant she was wearing, then fastened it around Fern's neck instead. "Aah, there we go. As I thought, it looks lovely on you."

"Th-thank you, Y-your Majesty." Fern stammered out, thrown off by such an unexpected gift. The Empress simply smiled at her.

"Think nothing of it, my dear. It's only small repayment for the troubles you've had." the Empress answered kindly, as if something so clearly worth a small fortune was easy to give away. Perhaps it was. Fern nodded rapidly, then knelt and kissed the Empress' hand. "Hmmhmm. I shall not keep you any longer. Please, go and enjoy the Festival. And stop by again before you leave; I'd like the company."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fern answered. She curtsied again, then left the chamber.

"Five thousand!" a man said, rushing up to her as soon as the door was shut. Fern blinked.

"Fifty-five hundred!" someone else countered.

"Seventy-five hundred for that pendant!" Fern's hands immediately gripped the present she had received as a small mob of nobles converged on her, each trying to shout a price over the others.

"L-leave me alone!" the girl said, turning around as she tried to find someplace to escape to.

"All right, boys, and you, too, Lady Urilla. That's enough." an older knight, well-muscled and in full plate-armor, strode up to the group and began pulling people back. "You're bothering one of Her Majesty's guests."

"Fifteen thousand!" someone called. Fern paled slightly; that was enough to buy a decent estate. How badly did they want this pendant?

"Shut up!" the old knight roared. Everyone did so. "Now, Her Majesty really seems to like this girl, so you will leave her alone. If I hear even the hint of a rumor of someone trying to take that little rock from her, then I'm going to hold each and every one of you personally responsible! And you know how we deal with thieves!" the crowd slowly pulled back, then dispersed under the vicious glare they were being given.

"Thank you..." Fern whispered.

"No problem, ma'am." the old knight answered gruffly. "They're all desperate to be seen as in Her Majesty's favor. Children, all of them, however many years they've seen. You hold onto that pendant, and if anybody bothers you about it, don't hesitate to call for a guard." he went back to his post by the doors, and Fern quickly left the castle. Nobody else accosted her about it; apparently, the young nobles had been sufficiently frightened by the warrior. As she wandered the relatively empty street between the city proper and the palace, the girl took a moment to examine her present a little more closely. It was an amazing piece of work, unblemished, and with a faint glow from within. She glanced into the moat as she passed and smiled slightly. It did look rather nice on her, didn't it? The pendant hung between her breasts, and while it probably wasn't going to protect her from looks to that area, her whole outfit was somewhat provocative anyway. It certainly showed more skin than what she usually liked, but it was nice to attract attention every now and then. It didn't take very long to enter the crowd once again. It had been a nice morning overall, and there was still a lot of the day left to see.

Glimpses of the Festival:

A quiz show where anybody could be a contestant if they were lucky, and the cheers or jeers of the crowd determined if they were a winner.

A cooking contest hosted by the best restaurants in the city, proving that there was indeed such thing as a free lunch.

A fighting tournament where the adventurous could show how much skill they had. Rumor had it that those who showed true potential would be contacted the next day and offered entrance to the Knight's training school. A chance to join the nobility.

Conjurers and sorcerers performing elaborate tricks with their spells, including a play where a handsome prince married a beautiful princess only to have the illusion drop as soon as they kissed to reveal a hideous old hag. The crowd loved it.

Fern almost collapsed onto a stool as the sun finally set. She'd had almost no time to rest, sitting down only for that eating contest. There had been so much to do that there was little point in standing around. Not that the festivities were truly over, of course. While all the official events ended when the sun vanished, you would be a fool to imagine that people wouldn't continue to enjoy themselves in the taverns. The Plucky Penguin did serve beer, and that was close enough to draw people in. The common room was packed with shouting and cheering people. Fortunately, though, this was a good part of town, and everybody seemed more intent on enjoying themselves by cheering on the musicians than getting crude and rough. Fern looked over to the innkeeper, who seemed pleased at all the business.

"I've been meaning to ask. What's a penguin?"

"Hmm? Ah, our mascot." he said, pointing to a painting above the door, showing some sort of black-and-white animal walking on something blue. "It's that. They're birds, but they swim in the water instead of flying and live on ice the rest of the time."

"...That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"Isn't it?" the innkeeper agreed, laughing. "I had a friend who sailed when he was younger, and he claims to have seen one in the far south. Brought back a few pictures he made of it, and I couldn't resist when he begged me to name my Inn after them." Fern just grinned as she looked up at the painting. Honestly, a bird that swam in the water she could believe. She'd seen ducks, after all. But living on ice? Insanity. A good sort of insanity, though, the sort of humor you could appreciate without being crude. Louder cheers filled the room as the musicians finished one song and launched into a rousing, patriotic marching song. "Well, back to work. Just call if you need something!"

Fern nodded, then made her way back to her room. The walls of the Plucky Penguin were nice and thick, and while they couldn't block out everything, things were relatively peaceful as soon as she shut the door. The girl fell onto her bed and smiled. Yes, it had been worth it to come all the way here. She'd have to leave in a few more days, but it was still quite an experience. She remained where she was for a few moments, then got up and changed, putting her formal wear away carefully so it wouldn't crease anywhere it shouldn't. The pendant she kept on, slipping it beneath her nightgown before she crawled under her covers.

The next day dawned, and as the rays of the sun hit Fern, the girl quietly sat up and stared out the window. The city was quiet now, and probably would be for another few hours as people managed to get back into form after the Festival. The day after was almost an unofficial holiday; many stores just closed for the day, and of those that did open, there wasn't often much business. Except for the basics, like food delivery. Speaking of food...

It didn't take long for Fern to get her normal clothes on and head downstairs. A few men were still asleep at their tables, but others were happily eating the stews placed before them. Nice, hearty food to build up their strength. Fern accepted a bowl and quickly ate everything it held. Not her usual fare, but tasty all the same and seasoned to perfection.

"Mail." the Innkeeper added when the girl returned her bowl. The girl took several envelopes from him and opened the first, then colored slightly. "What is it?"

"One of the nobles wants to marry me..." she muttered. Probably because of the Empress' present. She went to the next letter. "This one, too."

"Popular, aren't you?" the Innkeeper said, grinning. "Well, with that outfit you had on yesterday, you probably could have gotten the prince himself to fall for you." Fern read the remaining messages, then tossed them onto the fire. "You sure? Most girls would jump for a chance to marry a noble."

"It might be nice, but... I have other things to do than be used as a pawn in their games." the girl answered. "I'm looking for someone. Not a husband!" she added, seeing the Innkeeper's grin. "It's... it's a little more important."

"Your brother? Father? Eccentric but very rich uncle who'll leave you his whole estate if you can figure out where he's hiding before the week is out?" the man inquired. "If you tell me who it is you're looking for, I might be able to help." Fern just smiled at him.

"Thanks." she answered. "But... it won't be necessary. I don't know who I'm looking for." she chuckled at the obvious puzzlement. "It's hard to explain... but I should be able to manage it sooner or later. These things have a way of working out, you know?"

The doors were thrown open, and a young man dressed in an outfit that cost more than some buildings strode in. "Ah, my glorious lady! You have accepted my offer?" he inquired, smiling widely. Fern and the Innkeeper looked at each other, then shook their heads.

"Sorry, but I can't accept any offers like that right now." Fern answered. "My fate is already kind of set, you know?"

"Bah! I'm sure your fiancé will be happy with a settlement of three hundred gold." the young nobleman answered, seeming to revel in the attention he was drawing. Fern just grinned. "What?"

"I'm not engaged." she answered. "Rather, not to anybody in particular. I'll just put it simply for you; I won't marry you, and I'm not going to sell my pendant. It was a gift from Her Majesty, and I intend to keep it."

"But-"

"You heard the lady." the Innkeeper rumbled. "I may not be a member of the court, but I don't see what your fascination with that little rock is. If you bought it, then the Empress would probably think that the girl didn't treasure it, and so you wearing it would probably just lower you in her eyes." the young noble just stood where he was, one hand raised, like a statue. "Hadn't thought of that, huh? Trust me, kid. If you want to get on Her Majesty's good side, then learn how to be a man. Stop jostling for position, pick some morals, and hold fast to them. Even if she doesn't agree, she'll probably respect you more for it, and maybe she'll even hear you out if you start to defend your position well."

"Right." the nobleman said. He turned around and walked out.

"That was pretty good." Fern noted.

"Bah, I give the same lecture to the soldiers who come in here wondering why their superiors don't like them. Those kids don't yet understand what makes somebody great, and so they roll in the gutters instead. Besides which, you're paying me so you can stay here. They aren't." he grinned widely and pat the girl on the shoulder. "Try heading up to the Foreign Market today; they don't celebrate the Festival of the Sun like we do, and they should have some good bargains today."

"Thanks." Fern answered.

Before long, she was out in the city proper, heading for the suggested destination. There were few people on the streets now, and most of those who were looked tired, even the guards. The Festival was an event big enough to require the presence of every guard in an eight-hour shift. Very likely, most of them were still asleep.

"Pretty sash! Pretty sash for the pretty lady!" a vendor called as soon as she entered the foreign market.

"Golden rings, bracelets, brooches!"

"Spiced crocodile; a taste you'll never forget!"

Fern chuckled quietly and began to wander through the stalls, nodding to the merchants as she passed them. Something hard struck her nose. The girl shook her head and looked forward; no, she hadn't been struck, she'd struck something. Her eyes widened a moment later as she saw a faintly familiar face.

"Kyle!" the girl said. The young knight, apparently not on duty anymore, glanced over to her. He was examining a sword one of the vendors had pulled out, a slightly curved blade as opposed to the usual straight weapons, and perhaps a bit thinner than the usual. "What are you doing here?"

"Fern, right?" he answered, smiling at her. "I'm not on duty right now, so I thought I'd look around. Razish here has some very nice blades."

"A thousand gratitude’s." the shopkeeper said, his grin the widest Fern had ever seen on a person.

"Have you had any more trouble?"

"None." the girl answered. A faint glow caught her eye, and she looked down to his hand. Screams pulled her attention away, though, and she looked back to find a huge dog of some sort rapidly approaching. The creature was at least as tall as a horse, with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and eyes that burned with dark power. "Um, I... guess I spoke too soon." It was headed straight for her.

"Razish, can I try this out?" Kyle inquired.

"If it is broken, you must purchase it." the merchant answered promptly.

"Good enough." Kyle noted. The Knighthood would pay for it if necessary, as part of operating costs. He strode forward and held the sword to the side with one hand. As the monster bounded towards Fern, he dashed forward. The blade turned white, as if heated in a forge, and there was a crackling sound as it cut through the creature. The two halves of the monster hit the ground and vanished, though the smell of cooked meat remained. "Hey, Razish. What was this sword called again?"

"I-it is known as a Katana. From very far away, excellent work." the merchant said, nodding. "It is three hundred-"

"You told me two."

"But the weapon is enchanted!"

"You told be the price was two hundred. If you wanted more, you should have said that to start with." Kyle said sternly, turning to face the vendor. "And I'll pay the amount you told me for it." he took two sacks of coins off of his belt and tossed them to the man; Razish snatched them out of the air as the weapon's glow faded. Muttering darkly, the merchant held out a sheath, and Kyle slid the weapon into it before sticking his new weapon into his belt. "Well, Lady Fern, it seems that you remain safe."

"Mm-hmm." Fern answered. Who would have thought that it could be the very same man she'd met before? Things really did have a way of working out. "However, I'm afraid that I'll have to ask for some more of your time." Kyle simply nodded, and Fern began walking away. The knight fell into step behind her. "I came to this city only partly for the festival. You see, I've been looking for someone." the girl looked over her shoulder. "The next leader for the Council of Mages, actually. I think you have what it takes."

"I'm sorry, but I'm already a knight of Her Majesty." Kyle answered calmly. "While I appreciate your consideration, it would serve you better to look for someone else." Fern merely turned forward again and smiled.

"Oh, I don't know." she answered. "I think the Empress would like having a reliable person leading one of the most powerful independent groups in the world. The Council has enjoyed good relations with your nation for centuries. You'll be able to help many more people."

"Be that as it may, I serve the Empress until she dismisses me." Fern immediately took a turn.

"Then let's go ask her." the younger girl answered. "She asked me to visit again before I left anyway, so there should be no problems." Kyle calmly remained behind the strange girl as she walked towards the castle. She soon found a carriage, though, and paid the driver to take both of them to their destination. With that said and done, the girl calmly walked up to the main doors. "Her Majesty asked me to return to visit before I left the city." the girl said. "Is she particularly busy right now?"

"Your name, ma'am?" one of the guards asked.

"Fern." she informed him. The guard spoke to someone through a small window, and a few minutes later, the door opened.

"Her Majesty will see you now." another knight said. Fern followed him into the throne room, where the Empress was relaxing on her throne.

"Ah, Fern!" the woman said, smiling. "I hadn't expected you back quite this soon, but it's nice all the same."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fern answered, curtsying. Behind her, Kyle saluted. "Anyway, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Oh?" the Empress answered. "Relating to one of my guards?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I came to your city on an errand for the Council of Mages; as you know, we do not select our leader from our normal ranks, but instead find someone who we believe has the right personality and abilities. I believe Sir Kyle Markal has what it takes to be our leader, but he insists that he serves you alone."

"Well, he is one of the Royal Guard. He'd better be serving me." the Empress agreed. Fern blinked. She hadn't known that... but it did seem to explain his fearlessness in the face of monsters bigger than he was. "I would certainly hate to lose his services. On the other hand..." she considered for a few long minutes. "Mmm. Yes, that might be nice. Kyle?"

"Your Majesty?"

"I would like you to go with this girl and see if you can become the leader of her order. You have served me very well for three years. However, you're still young, and it's not good for you to be living the life of a Royal Guard. You should see some of the world, meet new people, and get some worldly experience. Find a nice wife, perhaps. If you can become the Runelord, then you will be in a position to help me even more than you already do."

"Your Majesty, I-" Kyle began.

"No arguments, young man." the Empress answered, raising a finger. "I have plenty of other guards, each of them as loyal as you are, and I will be most unhappy if you don't go with her. I've made my decision. You should be happy; this is a great opportunity for you." the knight took a deep breath, then let it out. "Loyalty is not a bad thing, Kyle, and I do appreciate it. I have no doubt that you can become the Runelord, and someday, you will thank me for this."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Kyle said, a faint trace of sorrow in his voice. He remained where he was as the Empress beckoned Fern over. The girl bent close.

"He's really a nice boy, but a bit stubborn." the Empress said. "Once he accepts the path, though, he'll work as hard as anyone ever has towards his new goal. Just give him some time to get used to it." she winked, and Fern smiled. Then, louder, she continued with, "I am expecting good news from you, Kyle. Do not disappoint me."

"Yes, ma'am!" the young man answered firmly. "If this is your wish, then I shall obey."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fern said.

"Oh, I think this will help me, too, or I'd never let you have him." the Empress answered, smiling. Fern and Kyle left the throne room, and as soon as each of them had gotten their things, they were on their way out of the city in a hired carriage.

"You are a surprising woman." Kyle said eventually, looking out of the window. "Few would dare to approach Her Majesty in that manner." Fern just smiled. "...What does it mean to be this... Runelord?"

"The Runelord must be able to hold the Council of Mages together. That is, to inspire enough respect in each member to get them to pledge their loyalty to him. He must be strong enough to fight in battle beside, or even ahead, of them, and to settle disputes with a fair and just hand. He must be strong, courageous, and honorable."

"And how do you know that I can handle this job, Lady Fern?"

"Well, first of all, you're unfailingly polite." the girl answered, smiling. "You don't hesitate to fight to save others, either, even when it's seemingly dangerous. And you're certainly powerful enough to defeat some of the nastier monsters."

"...You summoned those creatures, didn't you?"

"Heh heh heh." the girl said, rubbing the back of her head. "You caught me. Though I did it with the talismans I was given. I thought that it would be a good way to test you; they wouldn't have actually hurt anyone, but you didn't know that, and you beat them anyway."

"That first one stabbed me in the shoulder."

"Okay, they wouldn't have actually killed anyone." Fern corrected. "They're not weak creatures, though. But I really do think you have what it takes to be the Runelord. You're going to be responsible for the lives of many people; the position isn't that of figurehead. So, would you like to get the most important part done before we go any further?"

"Hmm?"

"You see, it's kind of important that we get this little ceremony done." Fern explained, smiling slightly. "You'll get through it just fine, though. Stay there." she moved over to him, then gently kissed him. A glow surrounded Kyle before she pulled away, then pulled inwards until all that remained was a shining mark on his hand. The mark sunk into his hand and stopped glowing. "There. You certainly have the aptitude for the sort of magic you'll be learning."

"...I am not in the habit of accepting kisses from ladies." Kyle noted. "Do you not have a man you're interested in, or one your parents have chosen?"

"Not at all." Fern answered. "Or, rather, mine really is a matter of fate. The Runelord is bound to not marry, just like the Council's members. Instead, the Runelord, always a man, may be with all of the Council members, who are always women." Kyle frowned. "Not quite the normal custom in your nation, or in any others, really. But we don't care about customs in other parts of the world; we're our own nation, and we decide things for ourselves. It's not simply tradition, however. It's meant to show unity, so that the Runelord doesn't simply pick one area. I never told you my full name, did I?"

"You did not."

"It's Inferno Satori. I'm the Blazing Witch, head of the fire witches, and on the Council."

"I see, Lady Inferno." Kyle answered. For the rest of the trip in the carriage that day, he asked questions, seeking knowledge about the Council, what his duties would be, and what the other members of the Council were like. Fern rather enjoyed the chance to teach someone practically from the start, and she could already tell that he was considering what he had been told and looking for ways to improve on it. Near evening, their carriage came to a stop in a trading town.

"Thank you." Fern said, slipping the driver a few extra silver as a tip. The man just smiled, tipped his hat, and got their things down. "Well, we're here."

"Linkal?" Kyle inquired. The town had gotten its name from the fact that the roads passing through it linked the capital city with the three other major cities in the nation. It linked all of them.

"Close. This town links to the mages area, too. It's practically impossible to walk or ride there." the girl answered. Kyle remembered what she had told him earlier that day; the Council of Mages, and all the schools of magic under them, existed in a valley cut off from the world by high mountain ranges that lacked passes. Trade and travel was accomplished entirely through spellwork. Fern hummed happily as she walked through the town, followed by her companion. Eventually, they came to an ornate building, almost a temple, near the center of the building. She calmly walked up the steps. "I'm back, and I've found a suitable candidate." she announced.

"Welcome back, Blazing Witch." the two guards said together. Kyle noticed that both of them were female. They pulled their staves back, and Fern led Kyle into the building. A number of crates were stacked against the wall, but at the other side, a large round portal showed the afternoon in a very different place.

"How is it afternoon there?" Kyle inquired.

"The valley's quite a long ways away." Fern answered. "Let's go." she seemed to grow more relaxed as they got closer, and let out a happy sigh as she walked through the portal. There were no flashing lights, no funny sounds, or even a ripple. It seemed like there was simply a hole in the world that led from here to there. Kyle shrugged, and the coachman set their things down before heading back outside. "Don't worry, they'll get our things. Come on; I want to introduce you to everyone."

The potential Runelord stepped through the portal and into his new life.