Alchemist's shopby Aider5ChaptersA normal dayLeaving townA long way from homeTroubled mindNight terrorsNot just alchemyA normal dayPeritia waves to her father as he leaves. Finally, she's alone to run the shop all by herself! She scans the shelves and spots a lack of vitality potions, quickly heading to the cauldron to rectify the issue. Vitality potions are one of the best sellers, they have to remain fully stocked! Before she can finish a new batch there's a ring at the door. She quickly runs to the counter, greeting the customer with a friendly smile and asking what they may need. The young stallion heads out the door up one strength potion and down a few bits. As soon as the customer is out the door, Peritia is back at the cauldron finishing the batch of vitality potion. She fills as many vials as she can before taking them to the front shelves. Just as she's placing the last few vials on the shelf the doorbell rings again. She finishes with the vitality potions and turns to the new customers, greeting them as usual. These ponies are new, she's never seen them before, they must be passing through town. The new customers are a small unicorn mare with knives on both her sides and a strong-looking earth stallion with a greatsword on his back. They're clearly adventurers in need of some magical assistance, which is perfect for Peritia, these adventurers always buy more because of their long journeys between towns. The stallion looks at Peritia with a critical eye as if sizing her up, she keeps her friendly smile on and tries to ignore his staring. The mare eventually asks for a long list of potions, most of which are in the back. Peritia nods to the mare, heading into the back of the store to collect the requested potions. She can't believe her luck, two adventurers on her first day! After gathering all the potions she steps back up to the counter, setting them down and plucking a few from the shelves. The mare smiles at the collection of potions, opening her saddle bag and storing some of them there. The stallion takes the rest of the vials into his own saddlebag. The mare places the needed bits on the counter and turns to leave, but is halted by her partner. She turns to Peritia, her eyes wandering over her features before nodding. The stallion returns to the counter. "Excuse me miss, we understand you are running this shop currently, but we would like to discuss something with you," The stallion says, it's the first time he's spoken since entering the shop. Peritia looks at him suspiciously, wondering what he could mean. Eventually, she agrees to discuss whatever it is he wants. "You see, we're heading very far away and we require an alchemist to accompany us. Might it at all be possible for that alchemist to be you?" The stallion's offer takes Peritia off guard, she knows that things like this do happen often, having an alchemist with you on a long journey is highly advantageous after all, but she didn't think someone would try and recruit her! And on her first day! She takes a second to think before asking if maybe her father would be able to go instead. The stallion informs her that he is too old, but maybe he could take her place at the shop if she chooses to depart with them. She mulls it over for a minute, finally asking how long they'll be staying in town. "No longer than a week if we can, there is no rush to decide." The stallion gives her a comforting smile. She decides to take her time but tells them that she will consider it. They tell her where they are staying and just like that they are gone. The whole thing had only taken 4 or 5 minutes, and Peritia is left stunned afterwards. The rest of the day speeds by like a blur, her mind unable to truly focus on anything but the proposal. As closing time nears, one final customer leaves and Peritia flips the sign on the door. Now she just has to restock the potions for tomorrow. As expected, vitality and strength potions are getting low. She silently brews the two potions, still thinking about the two adventurers. She rushes home after finishing the potions, eager to tell her father all about her day. She rushes in the front door with a bounce in her step, running around to find him. She finally slows down when she finds him in the living room, resting by the fireplace. He looks at her with a knowing smile. "I take it you enjoyed your first day alone?" He chuckles, seeing the light in her eyes and the speed in her steps. She nods furiously as she walks up beside him, receiving a side hug. When her father releases his grip, she starts telling him about the adventurers and how they want her to join them. His face flashes through different emotions, first surprise, then worry, then a hundred tiny specs of feeling she can't quite read. He asks her all kinds of questions, and with every answer, he seems to grow a bit happier. After almost a full hour of talking, they both decide that she should go. Peritia embraces her father in a warm hug before they start to plan. He will have to take care of the shop while she is gone, no problem, he has managed it alone for years. She feels a bit sad that she only got one day of running the shop, but takes solace in knowing she will take it over again when she returns. When Peritia heads to bed that night, she can barely get to sleep. Her mind is buzzing with images of adventure. She can only imagine what might happen, it's such a huge world out there, huge and.. Dangerous. She wonders if there will be any dragons, she loves dragons! They produce all the best ingredients and could.. Kill her without a thought. Then her mind goes to her father, being alone, it’s been so long since he was properly alone, what might happen to him? He says he’ll be fine but… No, it’s nothing to worry about. She locks all her worries away for now, if only to get some sleep. Leaving townPeritia holds her father tight, tears threatening to flow from her eyes, but she holds them back, trying to look brave for him. She's scared beyond belief, her legs are shaking, but she does her best to stay calm, so her father doesn’t worry. Among all the fear, though, is excitement, the most excitement she's ever felt. She's leaving the town for the first time in her life, and not just venturing into the forest to find ingredients, actually leaving, for real! Peritia makes sure her saddlebags are secure before taking her first tentative step out of the door and onto the soil path outside. She turns back and exchanges a final smile with her father before steadying herself and heading for the Inn. The entire walk she thinks about the idea, about how stupid and impulsive it is, about the consequences. She holds herself together in public though, just barely. The Inn is foreign to Peritia, she's only ever seen the exterior, having always had a house to stay in. When she pushes open the door she's met with a hardwood floor and dusty air. She struggles against herself trying not to sneeze. In the corner of the Inn are the two adventurers from yesterday, the stallion intently revising a plan while the mare looks over to the door. The Unicorn waves Peritia over with a smirk on her face. Walking over to the two, Peritia makes to speak up but is silenced by the mare's hoof. She nods towards the stallion, who is clearly deep in thought. Peritia takes the hint, silently standing, feeling awkward. "We can leave tonight if that-" The stallion suddenly speaks up, turning to his partner and spotting Peritia, putting on a friendly smile. "So I take it you've made your decision then?" Peritia nods in response to the stallion's words. "So, what's your name?" The unicorn mare asks boredly as if the standard courtesy is nothing but filler to pass the time. Peritia tries to ignore the mare's tone, keeping a smile on her face as she answers. "Peritia, and you?" She does her best to remain polite and pleasant, a service the mare doesn't return. The unicorn's white fur is dirtied from adventuring, she had noticed this yesterday but had thought nothing of it. It had been a full day since they had come into the shop like that, so that means this mare hadn't bothered washing. Before she could look any deeper into it, the stallion once again speaks up, his voice distracting both mares from their conversation- if you could even call it that. "Peritia, a lovely name! I am Fortis. My partner is Letalis, she prefers Leta for convenience sake, maybe you have a shorter name as well?" The mare gives him a death glare when he exposes her name, but the stallion is unfazed. Peritia already likes this stallion much more than his associate, he actually has some common decency, unlike Leta. She thinks for a moment before answering him. "You can call me Peri, nice to meet you." She extends her hoof towards Fortis, he quickly takes it and shakes it, smiling still. Leta looks on impatiently, tapping her hoof to the ground repeatedly. "Fortis, we have things to do." Leta nudges his side, causing him to stop for a moment, nodding and grabbing the map again. He takes one final look at it before placing it into his saddlebag and heading out the door, closely followed by Leta. "You coming?" She asks as she steps out behind Fortis. Peritia hurries to catch up with them. Peritia follows the two adventurers around for hours as they gather equipment and resources for the coming journey. She decides to buy some ingredients while they're at it. The three sit down at the town's border, counting their supplies. The sun is on the horizon by the time they're ready to leave. "Peri, are you ready?" Fortis calls as he readies to leave. Peritia says she's ready, but even as the town fades into the distance she finds herself staring back at it. Fortis leads the group, Leta tailing him. Peritia follows a couple steps back, still feeling awkward. They walk for a couple hours without any encounters, Peritia can feel her legs cramping and her hooves aching. Thankfully, they soon reach a clearing where they can make camp for the night. Fortis and Leta move quickly, they've clearly done this hundreds of times. Leta rushes out of the clearing and returns with wood for a fire. She's about to head out again when she turns to Peritia. "Alchemist, do you know how to start fires?" Leta's disregard for decency wounds Peritia a bit, but she nods, ignoring it. She opens up her saddlebags and takes out a small red stone, holding it out to the unicorn. Leta takes the stone in her magic, her horn sparking as the stone glows briefly. Embers rise from the wood seconds later, the stone still gently glowing. Leta passes the stone back to Peritia. "Maybe you are good for something, after all." Leta comments, having no care for Peritia's feelings. She's about to respond when Fortis cuts in. "Do not let her get to you, she's cold towards new ponies." His voice is reassuring to Peritia. She sighs, placing herself beside the campfire. "You are not used to long walks, no?" Fortis asks, she looks over, shaking her head. He smiles, pulling something from his saddlebag. Peritia looks on curiously as he places a small cauldron above the fire. He smiles at her knowingly, she smiles back. She could have made a makeshift cauldron, but having a proper one will help greatly. "Make yourself something to keep you going. A vitality potion should do it, yes?" Fortis questions, Peritia nods and starts pulling things from her saddlebags. She passes a blue stone to Leta with a sheepish smile. Much to her delight, the unicorn lights her horn and the cauldron fills with water. It takes no more than 10 minutes for Peritia to make a small batch of vitality potion. She takes out some bottles and fills them up with the red liquid. She uncaps one of the small ones and downs it, feelings her aches and cramps disappear. She sighs contentedly as she places the other bottles into her saddlebags, keeping a couple to go into a special belt. Fortis is the first to retire into his tent. Peritia looks at Leta as they sit beside the fire, neither one wanting to sleep yet. Leta stares into the fire, the image reflected in her eyes. Peritia opens up her mouth, but closes it when Leta gives her a death glare. Peritia looks between Leta and the fire a few times, a question burning at the front of her mind. She inhales deeply, deciding to push onwards despite Leta's poor attitude. "So, how long have you been doing this? Adventuring?" Peritia's voice is shaky, unsure, but it seems to gain Leta's interest. She takes a moment to think before she answer. "3 Years. Why do you ask?" Leta's question comes out confused, as if she find small talk perplexing and alien. Peritia shrugs, unsure what to say. Leta rolls her eyes, getting up and entering her tent, leaving Peritia alone. Peritia sighs, taking a moment to rest in front of the fire before retiring into her tent. She takes off her belt and saddlebag, placing them beside her in the tent and laying down. She closes her eyes, the day flashing through her mind before sleep takes her. A long way from homePeritia wakes up suddenly, a hoof shaking her. She snaps into an upright position, looking over at Leta. Looking behind her, it's clearly early in the day, the sun has barely raised above the mountains yet. Leta doesn't look tired, somehow. Peritia's mane is a mess, frizzy and unkempt from rolling around all night. Her sleep was plagued with discomfort and worry, thinking about her father all alone. She knows she can't run back to him, the forest may not be too dangerous, but it's thick and dark, leaving the group without a map may as well be a death sentence. Peritia spots Fortis sitting by the flickering embers of the fire, reviewing the map. Leta already has all her gear on, she's got that impatient look in her eyes from before. Fortis has his equipment beside him, but he hasn't donned anything yet, too focused on the map in his hooves. Peritia shifts forward and stands, putting on her saddlebags and belt. She takes a minute to fix her mane as best she can, stretching out like a cat. Leta has moved to beside Fortis, watching over his shoulder, waiting for him to finish up. Fortis doesn't take long to be done, rolling up the map and sliding it into his saddlebag before slipping into it. He takes out a compass, takes a second to orient himself, then puts it away and starts walking. Leta quickly follows his footsteps, Peritia trailing behind a bit, like yesterday. After 6 or 7 hours of walking, Peritia decides to try something stupid. She catches up with Leta and gives her a simple greeting, to her surprise she gets a response. She decides to capitalise immediately. "How long have you two known each other?" Questions Peritia, choosing a non-intrusive question to start with. She keeps a smile on her face, exuding her usual friendly energy despite the worry that Leta might outright deny her an answer. "Since we were young. Very young. We work together well, nothing more." Leta's voice portrays her boredom, Peritia takes the hint, nods in reply and speeds up to catch Fortis. Fortis looks at Peritia as she matches his pace, his face softening from focus to a smile. She's put at ease by his expression, returning it happily. "Aah, Peri, did you sleep well? How has travel been treating you? There are many more miles to go, I hope you are not aching quite yet." Greets Fortis, a bit of humour in his voice. Peritia gives a small chuckle before answering. "Yes, I slept great, and the walking has been fine. Where will we be stopping next, if I may ask?" Peritia asks, hoping he ignores the tiredness in her eyes from her restless sleep. Luckily for her, his eyes are not focused on her. "There is a small group that lives on the mountain ahead, if we are lucky we will reach there not long after sunset." States Fortis, looking up through the tiny gaps in the canopy at the snow-capped mountain looming over them. Peritia nods, satisfied with his answer. She slows her pace, letting Leta pass by her and falling back into line behind both adventurers. The forest looks the same everywhere, it's like a maze. Peritia looks up and spots a couple of birds perched on a tree's branches, they soon disappear into the darkness of the forest, behind shrubs and trunks. She sighs as she turns her head forward again, trying to distract herself with something, anything for the long trip still to come. As the sun goes down Peritia looks up, seeing faint flickers of light through the leaves. They must be getting close now, she hopes. Her legs have started to hurt, but she doesn't mention it. She figures that staying quiet will get them out of the forest faster. Fortis suddenly stops in his tracks, Leta quickly moving to his side. Peritia comes up behind the two, confused. Two guards stand before them. She stays behind Fortis, waiting. He's talking to Leta about something. Peritia tries to listen in. "Deceivers." Spits Leta, barely audible to Peritia. She looks to Fortis as he gives a single nod, turning to the guards and asking what they want. The guards ask the adventurers to follow them. Fortis agrees, then the guards turn to start walking. As soon as the guards' backs are turned, Leta's horn starts glowing, a magical aura surrounding her knives. The weapons fly forward in the blink of an eye, lodging themselves between the armour of the unsuspecting guards. Peritia barely contains her scream to a terrified squeak. As the guards fall to the ground, lifeless, they're surrounded by green flames. When the flames dissipate, two Changelings are lying there, dead. Peritia is frozen in place, her breathing hurried and shaky. "Alchemist? Alchemist! " Leta calls, trying to snap Peritia out of it. She fails, causing her to whisper something in a foreign language. Fortis places a hoof on Peritia's back. "They would have killed us, we had no choice. We must climb the mountain and warn the ponies there. Peri, please." Fortis gives her a small shake to accentuate his words. Peritia looks at him, then upwards to the torchlight above. She nods, regaining control of herself. Leta pulls her knives from the Changelings' thick carapace, green blood clinging to them. Fortis smiles at Peritia reassuringly as he starts walking again. Peritia stays silent the entire way up the mountain, she knew there would be fighting, and killing, but it was so sudden. She stares at Leta, at her knives. How many lives have those knives taken? Could they take hers? Would they? Peritia shoves the thoughts away as they approach a gate, surrounded by walls with guards atop them. The entire thing is daunting to behold, each guard aiming some kind of weaponry at the newcomers. A Pegasus wielding a spear steps forward to greet the group. Fortis explains that they wish to stay for a night before passing through. He also mentions the possible Changeling threat. After a few minutes of talking, the gate is opened and the three are let into walls. There are few buildings within, but they are all massive, towering above the entering adventurers. The guard who greeted them quickly rushes off to a military building, leaving them alone. They find that one of the buildings has housing available for the night, they pay the requested price and get comfortable in their beds. Peritia stares at the wall, the image of Leta's knives stained with blood returning to the front of her mind. She's lucky to get any sleep at all that night. Troubled mindPeritia wakes with a start to the sound of shouting and screams. She pulls herself from the bed strapping on her equipment and looking around the room. Letalis is absent from her bed, but Fortis is still resting in his. She moves to the window, looking out to locate the source of the noise. Outside she can see a huge building, ponies sitting everywhere around the inside. In the middle she can just barely make out a red and white blur. Letalis is in some sort of coliseum, fighting something, but Peritia can't see what it is from here. The crowd erupts into thunderous cheers as some mighty beast falls, shaking the very earth beneath it. Peritia steps back from the window, thinking. On one hoof, having such a deadly warrior with her should mean she's safe. On the other hoof, though, what if somehow she managed to get on Letalis' bad side? Peritia shivers at the thought, doing her best to suppress it. She looks over at Fortis, then back out the window at the sky. The sun is just above the mountain peaks, the skyline filled with the reds and purples of sunrise. Peritia decides to take a quick look around the small mountain-side village. She's surprised to find that the local store has some basic alchemy supplies in stock. She picks up a few things and packs them into her saddlebags. The cheers of the coliseum spectators fill the air, a constant background noise as Peritia moves around to each building. The buildings are mostly wooden, though the coliseum is almost entirely stone, it seems likes it's carved from the mountain instead of constructed. Peritia finally looks up at the imposing stone walls, admiring the intricate markings on the coliseum. She recognises some of them as alchemical symbols, ignis shows up a lot, used to symbolise the fiery passion within the coliseum. The gates of the coliseum are the only metal in the whole thing, they're open and inviting, but Peritia turns and returns to the Inn. She heads upstairs to check on Fortis. He's still in bed, seemingly peaceful. The cheering from the coliseum rises suddenly, then finally dies down. Peritia sits on her bed as Letalis enters the room, wearing a big smile. The blades of her knives are clean, reflective and sharp. She walks over to Fortis, giving him a small shake. He wakes immediately, giving her a questioning look. She nods and he crawls out of the bed, donning his gear. Suddenly the three are leaving, ponies flood the streets as the coliseum empties. The adventurers step through the massive gates of the village. A few ponies offer a goodbye to Letalis, given her performance in the coliseum. She gives a simple wave back as the gates close. Fortis starts walking down the mountain, followed by Letalis and then Peritia. It's not long before they're back in the forest, and then out of it once more. Rolling fields stretch out before them, bordered by rising mountain sides. Far away, on the opposite edge of the plains, is a thicker, darker, more dangerous forest, Darkwood forest. Peritia has heard of it, heard stories of adventurers lost in it, never seen again. It has a reputation for being dangerous and uncontrollable. Slowly, the group crosses the vast terrain. Peritia stops for a short bit a few times to collect plants for potion making. It's not long though before they've reached the edge of the forest. Peering in, they can only see a couple metres before everything fades into the shadows. Fortis turns around to face Peritia. "Be on your guard, Peri. I'm sure you're aware of the dangers ahead." He warns, turning and taking his first step into Darkwood Forest. Peritia sticks much closer to Letalis and her much closer to Fortis. Losing eachother would surely be deadly in a place like this, for Peritia at least. They walk for hours, or what feels like hours, the trees completely block out the sunlight save for the tiniest speck here and there. Without the sun for reference, the passage of time may as well be non-existent. Tiny critters scurry away as the adventurers pass by, towering over them. Only the sound of their movement comes out of the darkness. Occasionally a larger animal will emerge for a second, then hurriedly dash back into the safety of the dark. Eventually the forest starts to darken further, the sun setting. Remaining together, the three gather firewood and set up a campfire for the night. There are no clearings in Darkwood forest, so they choose a spot with a bit more space and set up tents for the night. Peritia curls up on her side within her tent, alone with her thoughts. She's had plenty of time to consider and, given where they are right now, having Letalis around isn't so bad. She closes her eyes, the dream realm enveloping her. Night terrorsPeritia wakes up in the middle of the night with a gasp. Her dreams have not been kind to her tonight. It takes her a couple minutes to collect her thoughts. After pulling herself together, she sits silently in the tent. She gets a shock when she hears sounds outside, cautious footsteps of a large beast, slow and patient breathes. Peritia goes completely quiet, frozen in place. She wonders if it's a timber wolf, but they always hunt in packs, so it can't be. Before she can figure out what the stalking creature might be, she hears it leaving. With a relieved sigh, her head falls against the ground and her eyes close. She soon returns to the realm of dreams, with a bit of trouble. When the sun rises the next morning, Peritia is the first to get up. She makes sure her gear is secure before stepping out of the tent, immediately moving to wake Fortis. She doesn't feel safe alone here, especially not after last night. Fortis awakens after a small shake, looking surprised when he sees Peritia before him. He stands slowly and puts his equipment on, yawning. Soon, Peritia is brewing potions. Fortis keeps watch while Letalis rests. She must have exerted herself too much yesterday to be this late to wake. Thankfully the potions don't take long and soon the sleeping warrior is up. Peritia gives a stamina potion to Letalis to get her going. She is reluctant to take it, but it doesn't take much to persuade her, she's too tired to be stubborn. With Letalis awake and Fortis prepared, the adventurers head off to leave Darkwood forest. As the dying fire leaves their view, the darkness envelops them once more. It's still early in the day, but you wouldn't be able to tell. They walk for hours once more. When Peritia agreed to come, she hadn't considered how much walking they would do. It's not too much for her, but it does get boring fast. The edge of the forest approaches mercifully quickly, the darkness disappears into the light and they each give a sigh of relief having made it through without incident. As they start walking again, Peritia turns back to look one last time at the forest. When she peers into the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes peers back. She jumps, increasing her pace until she's beside Letalis. Peritia gets a weird look for her actions, nothing more comes of it though and soon she returns to the back. The three are much further apart now that the shadows do not threaten them. For some reason Letalis seems to dislike being too close to Fortis while walking, Peritia has adopted the same attitude towards her. They've started crossing more plains now, Darkwood forest in bordered by them. Peritia remembers reading somewhere that the forest's spread threatened to swallow a nearby village once, but it was contained by a masterful mage, allowing it to grow into the huge town it is today. Her spell has lasted over a century and shows no sign of faltering. She wants to meet that mage, who's magic is so honed and knowledge so vast as to prevent an entire forest from growing. Maybe she will, now that they're here. The town quickly approaches, only a few kilometers from Darkwood forest. It's a sight to behold, Shadowedge. It acts as a trading hub, buying supplies from the East and periodically sending caravans through the deadly forest to sell their products. Much of the growth to the West is owed to Shadowedge, even Peritia's hometown would not be possible without it. As the group grows nearer, ponies come into view, rushing around the busy streets. Pegasi fly above the rest, even the skies are packed around the town. A couple of guards notice the adventurers, walking over to greet them. Fortis seems to be occupied scribbling down a list of some sort, so Letalis steps forward to explain who they are. The guards don't seem to find any reason for doubt and return to their posts, allowing the three to enter Shadowedge. Soon Fortis is finished and he starts walking. As soon as they enter the streets they're again closer to eachother, the crowds are thick and they need to stay together. They come to a quieter part of the town, sitting down to discuss the plan. It seems Fortis wishes to spend a small time here restocking, he says it is his first time here and that there is much they need to see, for adventuring purposes of course. Letalis is given a list of items to purchase, she leaves quickly, not seeming to admire the town as much, Fortis takes his own and Peritia is left to explore leisurely. The two adventurers split off in two different directions, not looking back. Peritia stays for a moment, feeling lost before something clicks in her head. She jumps up excitedly, heading for the heart of Shadowedge, the mighty mage's tower. The tower wasn't always the centerpiece of the town, but after the protection its inhabitant has long provided, houses have been built around it, being closer to the tall construction apparently made ponies feel safer. Peritia rushes up the stairs to the large wooden double doors, there's no need for them to be so big, or so beautifully decorated, but the fact that they are makes it feel like she's standing outside the chambers of a royal. In a way she is, she thinks. This pony had protected this town for many years, is that not worthy of a crown? Before she can pursue the thought, her hoof has knocked against the door. A magical blue aura surrounds the handles of the doors, pulling them open slightly. Light shines from the other side of the doors, silhouetting the head of a figure. Peritia's heart pounds in her chest, her voice unable to work. Luckily, the mage seems happy to be the first to speak. "A visitor? You... You aren't from around here, a trader perhaps? No, you do not haul around products. Hm? Potions? An alchemist, perhaps? Ah, yes, I see now, a young alchemist come to me to talk. Please, come in." The mage figures, her fast speech giving Peritia no time to answer. She doesn't bother though, stepping inside as the doors open further then close behind her. She is bathed in a blueish-white light as she enters, looking up she spots a glass lamp holding a flying bug of some description, giving off a strong glow. "Ah, you must be from beyond Darkwood. Brilliant, don't you think? We call them Lumins, they're native to the forest. Very rare, very elusive, but we've managed to collect enough to breed them. They give off such a marvelous light, wouldn't you agree?" The mage admires the Lumin in the lamp for a moment, lost in thought before her eyes snap back to her visitor. Peritia smiles nervously, still unable to speak. She never imagined they'd talk this much. She opens her mouth to say something but is cut off. "Oh, I've forgotten my manners, apologies, I ramble sometimes! You've heard of me, but I'm aware my name hasn't yet made it through the thick darkness. Tuitio, Tio if you wish, you are?" The great mage extends a hoof forward in greeting, Peritia takes it, shaking it carefully before finally getting to say her first words. "Peritia, ma'am. It's an honour to meet you. As you guessed, I'm an alchemist, I travelled from my hometown with two adventurers. They're buying supplies right now. I was wondering if you might know anything that may assist me, I believe we will be staying overnight and I'm not very capable if we face a threat." Peritia introduces herself, posing a question to Tuitio. She does her best to hide her true reasoning for visiting, but the excitement shines through her voice. The mighty mare smiles down at her, her mind clearly full of thoughts. "It is a lovely name you have, your parents must also practice the craft. For an alchemist, what might I have? Training perhaps? There are spells for someone like you, but you aren't able to channel them. Hm.. Give me a moment." Tuitio turns and rushes upstairs, leaving Peritia alone suddenly. She sighs, looking around the first floor. There's a desk to one side with an open book on it, next to it sits a quill in ink and an unlit candle. Beside it is a semi-circular table protruding from the wall, atop it is a simple bit of alchemy equipment and a scroll with some formulas scralled on it. A large bookshelf is built into the wall, stocked full of various books, the bottom shelf is filled with different alchemy ingredients. Looking up, she's surprised to find the walls are covered in beautiful designs. There's a spiral with a menacing eye in the center, a purple portal with a magical glow, the symbol of the night and the silhouette of a pony she doesn't recognise. Soon, Tuitio returns carrying something. Some kind of silver pendant holding a red gem, the gem has a slight glow to it, giving away its magical nature. She gives the item to Peritia to hold. It feels warm in her hooves, a lot of magic flows through this object, she notes. "When you put this on, be prepared. Your body isn't used to the feeling of magic, but it'll adapt with time. Try it!" The tall mare commands, excited. Peritia looks at her, confused at her words. Nevertheless, she trusts the mage and places the pendant around her neck. As soon as the pendant is secured, the gem glows more brightly. A tingling feeling runs all through Peritia's body, from skin to bone, every part of her. She loses track of the world, the sensation growing more intense. She slumps to the floor, unconscious as the pendant works. Not just alchemyPeritia rolls onto her back, keeping her eyes closed as her mind wakes up. The tingling from the pendant has mostly faded, leaving only a dull buzz throughout her body. She feels tired and lazy, her muscles feel sore and a headache is starting to cut through the haze. "Ah, you are awake! A thousand apologies for that, but you should be very happy, I have never seen a pony come to so quickly!" Tuitio sits beside Peritia, finally pushing her to open her eyes and let the blinding light in. After a bit of time adjusting, she tries to sit up, barely managing to not fall onto her face as her balance starts working again. A small potion floats in front of her face, containing a pale blue fluid. Peritia reaches out and grabs the potion, looking over to Tuitio curiously before drinking it. The headache is greatly reduced, soon disappearing entirely, and her whole body relaxes, bringing a sigh from her mouth. The buzz, however, grows more distinct and noticeable. She can't place the feeling, but it's all too familiar. "So... What happened? What does this pendant do?" Peritia questions, looking down at it and poking at it with a hoof, causing the red gem to glow. "That pendant is filled with magic, it flowed through your body and you fell unconscious because it's not used to magic of this intensity. You've been slowly adjusting over time since then, enough to wake up now, not long before you can start using it." The mage explains, her words seem rehearsed, like she's done this before. Peritia freezes in place as Tuitio finishes, her mouth hanging open slightly in shock and awe. The young mare's reaction gets a chuckle from the elder Unicorn, who reaches out and places a hoof on her shoulder, bringing the dumbstruck Earth pony back to reality. She's now got a big, contagious smile on her face. "So you mean... I-I can use..." Peritia stutters, barely able to form words, let alone full sentences, amidst all the excitement she's feeling. Tuitio stands suddenly, turning to head for the stairs, only stopping to motion for Peritia to follow. Soon the two are at the top floor of the towering structure, the walls are lined with racks full of practice weapons, shelves covered in shapes of various sizes and materials and a table holding scrolls that are who knows how old. Already some of the small wooden cubes have been moved to the centre of the room, in front of an excited looking Tuitio. Peritia walks over, sitting down on the other side of the blocks, looking up at the Unicorn with a questioning look. "You can't expect to be any good with magic without some training, obviously! So we're starting with telekinesis, first I just want you to try lifting a block on your own." Tuitio says, seeing the confused look on Peritia's face. She lights up at this new information, her eyes locking onto one of the blocks on the floor before her. The pendant glows gently as she focuses on the block, the magic trying to reach out but falling short and simply sending out a tiny spark. The second time she closes her eyes, trying to relax a bit more and imagine the block, the magic manages to reach the block, enveloping it in a very weak red sheet. When she imagines it moving she feels a small weight in her chest, the magic tugs upwards and then fizzles, too weak to move it. She is disheartened by the failures, frowning as she looks to Tuitio. To her surprise, she is beaming at the display, practically bouncing on her hooves. The tall Unicorn suddenly sweeps the small Earth pony into a tight hug, spinning around a little bit, much to the confusion of the younger mare. "Oh, sorry, you must be so confused! That was great, your first time and you managed to grab it! Look, it may feel like you failed, but trust me, that was fantastic!" Tuitio cheers, finally bringing a smile back to Peritia's face. "I'll do it now, watch and try to follow along." She looks towards the boxes, slowly lighting her horn before wrapping one of the blocks in her blue magic, giving it a second to settle before lifting it and rotating it around. After the block is back on the ground, Peritia takes a deep breath and tries the same, first trying to focus the magic into the gem. The gem glows in response, heating up further. She tries to reach out, successfully wrapping one of the blocks in a magical field, much more opaque this time. She smiles, then attempts to lift it, which she does with a bit of effort. The block is a little shaky in the air and she has trouble manipulating it accurately, but it's working! The block suddenly drops to the ground as the magic's user is nearly toppled to the ground by a bone-crushing hug from their over-excited mentor. This happens a lot more in the coming hours, she's a very hug-gy pony. With a few scrolls packed into her saddlebags, Peritia waves a goodbye to Tuitio, both ponies have smiles on their faces. Telekinesis is used my most Unicorns for a reason, it's easy to learn, during the time they had together her body had adapted more and she had been able to properly control a block of wood. She could even manage multiple at a time, just not separately, they all moved together. She struggled a bit with an off-weight object and heavier ones, but got the hang of it eventually. It's about time for Peritia to meet with the adventurers now, judging by the sun approaching the horizon. The streets are denser than when they arrived, somehow. After a while she arrives back where they had separated, finding Letalis already waiting there. Filled with confidence after the training, she trots over and sits beside the intimidating Unicorn. Despite the usual death glare, Peritia decides to strike up a conversation, besides, she's got a few questions on her mind and time to waste before Fortis arrives. "I noticed your cutie mark, it's fitting. What's your gift?" She asks, a smile naturally coming to her face, the same can't be said for her conversation partner though. "I'm deadly, always. No opponent has ever crossed me and lived to tell the tale." Letalis responds, glancing at Peritia's flank, clearly waiting for an answer. "My potions are a little bit better, a bit more magic goes into every single one." Pride is evident in the young alchemist's voice, she's very happy with her talent and cutie mark. Before a witty retort can be returned, Fortis arrives, cutting his fellow adventurer off. "There is an Inn nearby, come, no time to waste, I've already paid." The stallion commands as he approaches, already turning to leave. Letalis doesn't hesitate, neither does Peritia and before long they're all in their room, ready to rest for the night. Peritia has trouble sleeping tonight as well, though for much different reasons. Her mind is filled with ideas and she's ecstatic as she lies down to sleep, eager for the next day. Sleep comes all too slow to take her mind away from the conscious realm.
A normal dayPeritia waves to her father as he leaves. Finally, she's alone to run the shop all by herself! She scans the shelves and spots a lack of vitality potions, quickly heading to the cauldron to rectify the issue. Vitality potions are one of the best sellers, they have to remain fully stocked! Before she can finish a new batch there's a ring at the door. She quickly runs to the counter, greeting the customer with a friendly smile and asking what they may need. The young stallion heads out the door up one strength potion and down a few bits. As soon as the customer is out the door, Peritia is back at the cauldron finishing the batch of vitality potion. She fills as many vials as she can before taking them to the front shelves. Just as she's placing the last few vials on the shelf the doorbell rings again. She finishes with the vitality potions and turns to the new customers, greeting them as usual. These ponies are new, she's never seen them before, they must be passing through town. The new customers are a small unicorn mare with knives on both her sides and a strong-looking earth stallion with a greatsword on his back. They're clearly adventurers in need of some magical assistance, which is perfect for Peritia, these adventurers always buy more because of their long journeys between towns. The stallion looks at Peritia with a critical eye as if sizing her up, she keeps her friendly smile on and tries to ignore his staring. The mare eventually asks for a long list of potions, most of which are in the back. Peritia nods to the mare, heading into the back of the store to collect the requested potions. She can't believe her luck, two adventurers on her first day! After gathering all the potions she steps back up to the counter, setting them down and plucking a few from the shelves. The mare smiles at the collection of potions, opening her saddle bag and storing some of them there. The stallion takes the rest of the vials into his own saddlebag. The mare places the needed bits on the counter and turns to leave, but is halted by her partner. She turns to Peritia, her eyes wandering over her features before nodding. The stallion returns to the counter. "Excuse me miss, we understand you are running this shop currently, but we would like to discuss something with you," The stallion says, it's the first time he's spoken since entering the shop. Peritia looks at him suspiciously, wondering what he could mean. Eventually, she agrees to discuss whatever it is he wants. "You see, we're heading very far away and we require an alchemist to accompany us. Might it at all be possible for that alchemist to be you?" The stallion's offer takes Peritia off guard, she knows that things like this do happen often, having an alchemist with you on a long journey is highly advantageous after all, but she didn't think someone would try and recruit her! And on her first day! She takes a second to think before asking if maybe her father would be able to go instead. The stallion informs her that he is too old, but maybe he could take her place at the shop if she chooses to depart with them. She mulls it over for a minute, finally asking how long they'll be staying in town. "No longer than a week if we can, there is no rush to decide." The stallion gives her a comforting smile. She decides to take her time but tells them that she will consider it. They tell her where they are staying and just like that they are gone. The whole thing had only taken 4 or 5 minutes, and Peritia is left stunned afterwards. The rest of the day speeds by like a blur, her mind unable to truly focus on anything but the proposal. As closing time nears, one final customer leaves and Peritia flips the sign on the door. Now she just has to restock the potions for tomorrow. As expected, vitality and strength potions are getting low. She silently brews the two potions, still thinking about the two adventurers. She rushes home after finishing the potions, eager to tell her father all about her day. She rushes in the front door with a bounce in her step, running around to find him. She finally slows down when she finds him in the living room, resting by the fireplace. He looks at her with a knowing smile. "I take it you enjoyed your first day alone?" He chuckles, seeing the light in her eyes and the speed in her steps. She nods furiously as she walks up beside him, receiving a side hug. When her father releases his grip, she starts telling him about the adventurers and how they want her to join them. His face flashes through different emotions, first surprise, then worry, then a hundred tiny specs of feeling she can't quite read. He asks her all kinds of questions, and with every answer, he seems to grow a bit happier. After almost a full hour of talking, they both decide that she should go. Peritia embraces her father in a warm hug before they start to plan. He will have to take care of the shop while she is gone, no problem, he has managed it alone for years. She feels a bit sad that she only got one day of running the shop, but takes solace in knowing she will take it over again when she returns. When Peritia heads to bed that night, she can barely get to sleep. Her mind is buzzing with images of adventure. She can only imagine what might happen, it's such a huge world out there, huge and.. Dangerous. She wonders if there will be any dragons, she loves dragons! They produce all the best ingredients and could.. Kill her without a thought. Then her mind goes to her father, being alone, it’s been so long since he was properly alone, what might happen to him? He says he’ll be fine but… No, it’s nothing to worry about. She locks all her worries away for now, if only to get some sleep.
Leaving townPeritia holds her father tight, tears threatening to flow from her eyes, but she holds them back, trying to look brave for him. She's scared beyond belief, her legs are shaking, but she does her best to stay calm, so her father doesn’t worry. Among all the fear, though, is excitement, the most excitement she's ever felt. She's leaving the town for the first time in her life, and not just venturing into the forest to find ingredients, actually leaving, for real! Peritia makes sure her saddlebags are secure before taking her first tentative step out of the door and onto the soil path outside. She turns back and exchanges a final smile with her father before steadying herself and heading for the Inn. The entire walk she thinks about the idea, about how stupid and impulsive it is, about the consequences. She holds herself together in public though, just barely. The Inn is foreign to Peritia, she's only ever seen the exterior, having always had a house to stay in. When she pushes open the door she's met with a hardwood floor and dusty air. She struggles against herself trying not to sneeze. In the corner of the Inn are the two adventurers from yesterday, the stallion intently revising a plan while the mare looks over to the door. The Unicorn waves Peritia over with a smirk on her face. Walking over to the two, Peritia makes to speak up but is silenced by the mare's hoof. She nods towards the stallion, who is clearly deep in thought. Peritia takes the hint, silently standing, feeling awkward. "We can leave tonight if that-" The stallion suddenly speaks up, turning to his partner and spotting Peritia, putting on a friendly smile. "So I take it you've made your decision then?" Peritia nods in response to the stallion's words. "So, what's your name?" The unicorn mare asks boredly as if the standard courtesy is nothing but filler to pass the time. Peritia tries to ignore the mare's tone, keeping a smile on her face as she answers. "Peritia, and you?" She does her best to remain polite and pleasant, a service the mare doesn't return. The unicorn's white fur is dirtied from adventuring, she had noticed this yesterday but had thought nothing of it. It had been a full day since they had come into the shop like that, so that means this mare hadn't bothered washing. Before she could look any deeper into it, the stallion once again speaks up, his voice distracting both mares from their conversation- if you could even call it that. "Peritia, a lovely name! I am Fortis. My partner is Letalis, she prefers Leta for convenience sake, maybe you have a shorter name as well?" The mare gives him a death glare when he exposes her name, but the stallion is unfazed. Peritia already likes this stallion much more than his associate, he actually has some common decency, unlike Leta. She thinks for a moment before answering him. "You can call me Peri, nice to meet you." She extends her hoof towards Fortis, he quickly takes it and shakes it, smiling still. Leta looks on impatiently, tapping her hoof to the ground repeatedly. "Fortis, we have things to do." Leta nudges his side, causing him to stop for a moment, nodding and grabbing the map again. He takes one final look at it before placing it into his saddlebag and heading out the door, closely followed by Leta. "You coming?" She asks as she steps out behind Fortis. Peritia hurries to catch up with them. Peritia follows the two adventurers around for hours as they gather equipment and resources for the coming journey. She decides to buy some ingredients while they're at it. The three sit down at the town's border, counting their supplies. The sun is on the horizon by the time they're ready to leave. "Peri, are you ready?" Fortis calls as he readies to leave. Peritia says she's ready, but even as the town fades into the distance she finds herself staring back at it. Fortis leads the group, Leta tailing him. Peritia follows a couple steps back, still feeling awkward. They walk for a couple hours without any encounters, Peritia can feel her legs cramping and her hooves aching. Thankfully, they soon reach a clearing where they can make camp for the night. Fortis and Leta move quickly, they've clearly done this hundreds of times. Leta rushes out of the clearing and returns with wood for a fire. She's about to head out again when she turns to Peritia. "Alchemist, do you know how to start fires?" Leta's disregard for decency wounds Peritia a bit, but she nods, ignoring it. She opens up her saddlebags and takes out a small red stone, holding it out to the unicorn. Leta takes the stone in her magic, her horn sparking as the stone glows briefly. Embers rise from the wood seconds later, the stone still gently glowing. Leta passes the stone back to Peritia. "Maybe you are good for something, after all." Leta comments, having no care for Peritia's feelings. She's about to respond when Fortis cuts in. "Do not let her get to you, she's cold towards new ponies." His voice is reassuring to Peritia. She sighs, placing herself beside the campfire. "You are not used to long walks, no?" Fortis asks, she looks over, shaking her head. He smiles, pulling something from his saddlebag. Peritia looks on curiously as he places a small cauldron above the fire. He smiles at her knowingly, she smiles back. She could have made a makeshift cauldron, but having a proper one will help greatly. "Make yourself something to keep you going. A vitality potion should do it, yes?" Fortis questions, Peritia nods and starts pulling things from her saddlebags. She passes a blue stone to Leta with a sheepish smile. Much to her delight, the unicorn lights her horn and the cauldron fills with water. It takes no more than 10 minutes for Peritia to make a small batch of vitality potion. She takes out some bottles and fills them up with the red liquid. She uncaps one of the small ones and downs it, feelings her aches and cramps disappear. She sighs contentedly as she places the other bottles into her saddlebags, keeping a couple to go into a special belt. Fortis is the first to retire into his tent. Peritia looks at Leta as they sit beside the fire, neither one wanting to sleep yet. Leta stares into the fire, the image reflected in her eyes. Peritia opens up her mouth, but closes it when Leta gives her a death glare. Peritia looks between Leta and the fire a few times, a question burning at the front of her mind. She inhales deeply, deciding to push onwards despite Leta's poor attitude. "So, how long have you been doing this? Adventuring?" Peritia's voice is shaky, unsure, but it seems to gain Leta's interest. She takes a moment to think before she answer. "3 Years. Why do you ask?" Leta's question comes out confused, as if she find small talk perplexing and alien. Peritia shrugs, unsure what to say. Leta rolls her eyes, getting up and entering her tent, leaving Peritia alone. Peritia sighs, taking a moment to rest in front of the fire before retiring into her tent. She takes off her belt and saddlebag, placing them beside her in the tent and laying down. She closes her eyes, the day flashing through her mind before sleep takes her.
A long way from homePeritia wakes up suddenly, a hoof shaking her. She snaps into an upright position, looking over at Leta. Looking behind her, it's clearly early in the day, the sun has barely raised above the mountains yet. Leta doesn't look tired, somehow. Peritia's mane is a mess, frizzy and unkempt from rolling around all night. Her sleep was plagued with discomfort and worry, thinking about her father all alone. She knows she can't run back to him, the forest may not be too dangerous, but it's thick and dark, leaving the group without a map may as well be a death sentence. Peritia spots Fortis sitting by the flickering embers of the fire, reviewing the map. Leta already has all her gear on, she's got that impatient look in her eyes from before. Fortis has his equipment beside him, but he hasn't donned anything yet, too focused on the map in his hooves. Peritia shifts forward and stands, putting on her saddlebags and belt. She takes a minute to fix her mane as best she can, stretching out like a cat. Leta has moved to beside Fortis, watching over his shoulder, waiting for him to finish up. Fortis doesn't take long to be done, rolling up the map and sliding it into his saddlebag before slipping into it. He takes out a compass, takes a second to orient himself, then puts it away and starts walking. Leta quickly follows his footsteps, Peritia trailing behind a bit, like yesterday. After 6 or 7 hours of walking, Peritia decides to try something stupid. She catches up with Leta and gives her a simple greeting, to her surprise she gets a response. She decides to capitalise immediately. "How long have you two known each other?" Questions Peritia, choosing a non-intrusive question to start with. She keeps a smile on her face, exuding her usual friendly energy despite the worry that Leta might outright deny her an answer. "Since we were young. Very young. We work together well, nothing more." Leta's voice portrays her boredom, Peritia takes the hint, nods in reply and speeds up to catch Fortis. Fortis looks at Peritia as she matches his pace, his face softening from focus to a smile. She's put at ease by his expression, returning it happily. "Aah, Peri, did you sleep well? How has travel been treating you? There are many more miles to go, I hope you are not aching quite yet." Greets Fortis, a bit of humour in his voice. Peritia gives a small chuckle before answering. "Yes, I slept great, and the walking has been fine. Where will we be stopping next, if I may ask?" Peritia asks, hoping he ignores the tiredness in her eyes from her restless sleep. Luckily for her, his eyes are not focused on her. "There is a small group that lives on the mountain ahead, if we are lucky we will reach there not long after sunset." States Fortis, looking up through the tiny gaps in the canopy at the snow-capped mountain looming over them. Peritia nods, satisfied with his answer. She slows her pace, letting Leta pass by her and falling back into line behind both adventurers. The forest looks the same everywhere, it's like a maze. Peritia looks up and spots a couple of birds perched on a tree's branches, they soon disappear into the darkness of the forest, behind shrubs and trunks. She sighs as she turns her head forward again, trying to distract herself with something, anything for the long trip still to come. As the sun goes down Peritia looks up, seeing faint flickers of light through the leaves. They must be getting close now, she hopes. Her legs have started to hurt, but she doesn't mention it. She figures that staying quiet will get them out of the forest faster. Fortis suddenly stops in his tracks, Leta quickly moving to his side. Peritia comes up behind the two, confused. Two guards stand before them. She stays behind Fortis, waiting. He's talking to Leta about something. Peritia tries to listen in. "Deceivers." Spits Leta, barely audible to Peritia. She looks to Fortis as he gives a single nod, turning to the guards and asking what they want. The guards ask the adventurers to follow them. Fortis agrees, then the guards turn to start walking. As soon as the guards' backs are turned, Leta's horn starts glowing, a magical aura surrounding her knives. The weapons fly forward in the blink of an eye, lodging themselves between the armour of the unsuspecting guards. Peritia barely contains her scream to a terrified squeak. As the guards fall to the ground, lifeless, they're surrounded by green flames. When the flames dissipate, two Changelings are lying there, dead. Peritia is frozen in place, her breathing hurried and shaky. "Alchemist? Alchemist! " Leta calls, trying to snap Peritia out of it. She fails, causing her to whisper something in a foreign language. Fortis places a hoof on Peritia's back. "They would have killed us, we had no choice. We must climb the mountain and warn the ponies there. Peri, please." Fortis gives her a small shake to accentuate his words. Peritia looks at him, then upwards to the torchlight above. She nods, regaining control of herself. Leta pulls her knives from the Changelings' thick carapace, green blood clinging to them. Fortis smiles at Peritia reassuringly as he starts walking again. Peritia stays silent the entire way up the mountain, she knew there would be fighting, and killing, but it was so sudden. She stares at Leta, at her knives. How many lives have those knives taken? Could they take hers? Would they? Peritia shoves the thoughts away as they approach a gate, surrounded by walls with guards atop them. The entire thing is daunting to behold, each guard aiming some kind of weaponry at the newcomers. A Pegasus wielding a spear steps forward to greet the group. Fortis explains that they wish to stay for a night before passing through. He also mentions the possible Changeling threat. After a few minutes of talking, the gate is opened and the three are let into walls. There are few buildings within, but they are all massive, towering above the entering adventurers. The guard who greeted them quickly rushes off to a military building, leaving them alone. They find that one of the buildings has housing available for the night, they pay the requested price and get comfortable in their beds. Peritia stares at the wall, the image of Leta's knives stained with blood returning to the front of her mind. She's lucky to get any sleep at all that night.
Troubled mindPeritia wakes with a start to the sound of shouting and screams. She pulls herself from the bed strapping on her equipment and looking around the room. Letalis is absent from her bed, but Fortis is still resting in his. She moves to the window, looking out to locate the source of the noise. Outside she can see a huge building, ponies sitting everywhere around the inside. In the middle she can just barely make out a red and white blur. Letalis is in some sort of coliseum, fighting something, but Peritia can't see what it is from here. The crowd erupts into thunderous cheers as some mighty beast falls, shaking the very earth beneath it. Peritia steps back from the window, thinking. On one hoof, having such a deadly warrior with her should mean she's safe. On the other hoof, though, what if somehow she managed to get on Letalis' bad side? Peritia shivers at the thought, doing her best to suppress it. She looks over at Fortis, then back out the window at the sky. The sun is just above the mountain peaks, the skyline filled with the reds and purples of sunrise. Peritia decides to take a quick look around the small mountain-side village. She's surprised to find that the local store has some basic alchemy supplies in stock. She picks up a few things and packs them into her saddlebags. The cheers of the coliseum spectators fill the air, a constant background noise as Peritia moves around to each building. The buildings are mostly wooden, though the coliseum is almost entirely stone, it seems likes it's carved from the mountain instead of constructed. Peritia finally looks up at the imposing stone walls, admiring the intricate markings on the coliseum. She recognises some of them as alchemical symbols, ignis shows up a lot, used to symbolise the fiery passion within the coliseum. The gates of the coliseum are the only metal in the whole thing, they're open and inviting, but Peritia turns and returns to the Inn. She heads upstairs to check on Fortis. He's still in bed, seemingly peaceful. The cheering from the coliseum rises suddenly, then finally dies down. Peritia sits on her bed as Letalis enters the room, wearing a big smile. The blades of her knives are clean, reflective and sharp. She walks over to Fortis, giving him a small shake. He wakes immediately, giving her a questioning look. She nods and he crawls out of the bed, donning his gear. Suddenly the three are leaving, ponies flood the streets as the coliseum empties. The adventurers step through the massive gates of the village. A few ponies offer a goodbye to Letalis, given her performance in the coliseum. She gives a simple wave back as the gates close. Fortis starts walking down the mountain, followed by Letalis and then Peritia. It's not long before they're back in the forest, and then out of it once more. Rolling fields stretch out before them, bordered by rising mountain sides. Far away, on the opposite edge of the plains, is a thicker, darker, more dangerous forest, Darkwood forest. Peritia has heard of it, heard stories of adventurers lost in it, never seen again. It has a reputation for being dangerous and uncontrollable. Slowly, the group crosses the vast terrain. Peritia stops for a short bit a few times to collect plants for potion making. It's not long though before they've reached the edge of the forest. Peering in, they can only see a couple metres before everything fades into the shadows. Fortis turns around to face Peritia. "Be on your guard, Peri. I'm sure you're aware of the dangers ahead." He warns, turning and taking his first step into Darkwood Forest. Peritia sticks much closer to Letalis and her much closer to Fortis. Losing eachother would surely be deadly in a place like this, for Peritia at least. They walk for hours, or what feels like hours, the trees completely block out the sunlight save for the tiniest speck here and there. Without the sun for reference, the passage of time may as well be non-existent. Tiny critters scurry away as the adventurers pass by, towering over them. Only the sound of their movement comes out of the darkness. Occasionally a larger animal will emerge for a second, then hurriedly dash back into the safety of the dark. Eventually the forest starts to darken further, the sun setting. Remaining together, the three gather firewood and set up a campfire for the night. There are no clearings in Darkwood forest, so they choose a spot with a bit more space and set up tents for the night. Peritia curls up on her side within her tent, alone with her thoughts. She's had plenty of time to consider and, given where they are right now, having Letalis around isn't so bad. She closes her eyes, the dream realm enveloping her.
Night terrorsPeritia wakes up in the middle of the night with a gasp. Her dreams have not been kind to her tonight. It takes her a couple minutes to collect her thoughts. After pulling herself together, she sits silently in the tent. She gets a shock when she hears sounds outside, cautious footsteps of a large beast, slow and patient breathes. Peritia goes completely quiet, frozen in place. She wonders if it's a timber wolf, but they always hunt in packs, so it can't be. Before she can figure out what the stalking creature might be, she hears it leaving. With a relieved sigh, her head falls against the ground and her eyes close. She soon returns to the realm of dreams, with a bit of trouble. When the sun rises the next morning, Peritia is the first to get up. She makes sure her gear is secure before stepping out of the tent, immediately moving to wake Fortis. She doesn't feel safe alone here, especially not after last night. Fortis awakens after a small shake, looking surprised when he sees Peritia before him. He stands slowly and puts his equipment on, yawning. Soon, Peritia is brewing potions. Fortis keeps watch while Letalis rests. She must have exerted herself too much yesterday to be this late to wake. Thankfully the potions don't take long and soon the sleeping warrior is up. Peritia gives a stamina potion to Letalis to get her going. She is reluctant to take it, but it doesn't take much to persuade her, she's too tired to be stubborn. With Letalis awake and Fortis prepared, the adventurers head off to leave Darkwood forest. As the dying fire leaves their view, the darkness envelops them once more. It's still early in the day, but you wouldn't be able to tell. They walk for hours once more. When Peritia agreed to come, she hadn't considered how much walking they would do. It's not too much for her, but it does get boring fast. The edge of the forest approaches mercifully quickly, the darkness disappears into the light and they each give a sigh of relief having made it through without incident. As they start walking again, Peritia turns back to look one last time at the forest. When she peers into the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes peers back. She jumps, increasing her pace until she's beside Letalis. Peritia gets a weird look for her actions, nothing more comes of it though and soon she returns to the back. The three are much further apart now that the shadows do not threaten them. For some reason Letalis seems to dislike being too close to Fortis while walking, Peritia has adopted the same attitude towards her. They've started crossing more plains now, Darkwood forest in bordered by them. Peritia remembers reading somewhere that the forest's spread threatened to swallow a nearby village once, but it was contained by a masterful mage, allowing it to grow into the huge town it is today. Her spell has lasted over a century and shows no sign of faltering. She wants to meet that mage, who's magic is so honed and knowledge so vast as to prevent an entire forest from growing. Maybe she will, now that they're here. The town quickly approaches, only a few kilometers from Darkwood forest. It's a sight to behold, Shadowedge. It acts as a trading hub, buying supplies from the East and periodically sending caravans through the deadly forest to sell their products. Much of the growth to the West is owed to Shadowedge, even Peritia's hometown would not be possible without it. As the group grows nearer, ponies come into view, rushing around the busy streets. Pegasi fly above the rest, even the skies are packed around the town. A couple of guards notice the adventurers, walking over to greet them. Fortis seems to be occupied scribbling down a list of some sort, so Letalis steps forward to explain who they are. The guards don't seem to find any reason for doubt and return to their posts, allowing the three to enter Shadowedge. Soon Fortis is finished and he starts walking. As soon as they enter the streets they're again closer to eachother, the crowds are thick and they need to stay together. They come to a quieter part of the town, sitting down to discuss the plan. It seems Fortis wishes to spend a small time here restocking, he says it is his first time here and that there is much they need to see, for adventuring purposes of course. Letalis is given a list of items to purchase, she leaves quickly, not seeming to admire the town as much, Fortis takes his own and Peritia is left to explore leisurely. The two adventurers split off in two different directions, not looking back. Peritia stays for a moment, feeling lost before something clicks in her head. She jumps up excitedly, heading for the heart of Shadowedge, the mighty mage's tower. The tower wasn't always the centerpiece of the town, but after the protection its inhabitant has long provided, houses have been built around it, being closer to the tall construction apparently made ponies feel safer. Peritia rushes up the stairs to the large wooden double doors, there's no need for them to be so big, or so beautifully decorated, but the fact that they are makes it feel like she's standing outside the chambers of a royal. In a way she is, she thinks. This pony had protected this town for many years, is that not worthy of a crown? Before she can pursue the thought, her hoof has knocked against the door. A magical blue aura surrounds the handles of the doors, pulling them open slightly. Light shines from the other side of the doors, silhouetting the head of a figure. Peritia's heart pounds in her chest, her voice unable to work. Luckily, the mage seems happy to be the first to speak. "A visitor? You... You aren't from around here, a trader perhaps? No, you do not haul around products. Hm? Potions? An alchemist, perhaps? Ah, yes, I see now, a young alchemist come to me to talk. Please, come in." The mage figures, her fast speech giving Peritia no time to answer. She doesn't bother though, stepping inside as the doors open further then close behind her. She is bathed in a blueish-white light as she enters, looking up she spots a glass lamp holding a flying bug of some description, giving off a strong glow. "Ah, you must be from beyond Darkwood. Brilliant, don't you think? We call them Lumins, they're native to the forest. Very rare, very elusive, but we've managed to collect enough to breed them. They give off such a marvelous light, wouldn't you agree?" The mage admires the Lumin in the lamp for a moment, lost in thought before her eyes snap back to her visitor. Peritia smiles nervously, still unable to speak. She never imagined they'd talk this much. She opens her mouth to say something but is cut off. "Oh, I've forgotten my manners, apologies, I ramble sometimes! You've heard of me, but I'm aware my name hasn't yet made it through the thick darkness. Tuitio, Tio if you wish, you are?" The great mage extends a hoof forward in greeting, Peritia takes it, shaking it carefully before finally getting to say her first words. "Peritia, ma'am. It's an honour to meet you. As you guessed, I'm an alchemist, I travelled from my hometown with two adventurers. They're buying supplies right now. I was wondering if you might know anything that may assist me, I believe we will be staying overnight and I'm not very capable if we face a threat." Peritia introduces herself, posing a question to Tuitio. She does her best to hide her true reasoning for visiting, but the excitement shines through her voice. The mighty mare smiles down at her, her mind clearly full of thoughts. "It is a lovely name you have, your parents must also practice the craft. For an alchemist, what might I have? Training perhaps? There are spells for someone like you, but you aren't able to channel them. Hm.. Give me a moment." Tuitio turns and rushes upstairs, leaving Peritia alone suddenly. She sighs, looking around the first floor. There's a desk to one side with an open book on it, next to it sits a quill in ink and an unlit candle. Beside it is a semi-circular table protruding from the wall, atop it is a simple bit of alchemy equipment and a scroll with some formulas scralled on it. A large bookshelf is built into the wall, stocked full of various books, the bottom shelf is filled with different alchemy ingredients. Looking up, she's surprised to find the walls are covered in beautiful designs. There's a spiral with a menacing eye in the center, a purple portal with a magical glow, the symbol of the night and the silhouette of a pony she doesn't recognise. Soon, Tuitio returns carrying something. Some kind of silver pendant holding a red gem, the gem has a slight glow to it, giving away its magical nature. She gives the item to Peritia to hold. It feels warm in her hooves, a lot of magic flows through this object, she notes. "When you put this on, be prepared. Your body isn't used to the feeling of magic, but it'll adapt with time. Try it!" The tall mare commands, excited. Peritia looks at her, confused at her words. Nevertheless, she trusts the mage and places the pendant around her neck. As soon as the pendant is secured, the gem glows more brightly. A tingling feeling runs all through Peritia's body, from skin to bone, every part of her. She loses track of the world, the sensation growing more intense. She slumps to the floor, unconscious as the pendant works.
Not just alchemyPeritia rolls onto her back, keeping her eyes closed as her mind wakes up. The tingling from the pendant has mostly faded, leaving only a dull buzz throughout her body. She feels tired and lazy, her muscles feel sore and a headache is starting to cut through the haze. "Ah, you are awake! A thousand apologies for that, but you should be very happy, I have never seen a pony come to so quickly!" Tuitio sits beside Peritia, finally pushing her to open her eyes and let the blinding light in. After a bit of time adjusting, she tries to sit up, barely managing to not fall onto her face as her balance starts working again. A small potion floats in front of her face, containing a pale blue fluid. Peritia reaches out and grabs the potion, looking over to Tuitio curiously before drinking it. The headache is greatly reduced, soon disappearing entirely, and her whole body relaxes, bringing a sigh from her mouth. The buzz, however, grows more distinct and noticeable. She can't place the feeling, but it's all too familiar. "So... What happened? What does this pendant do?" Peritia questions, looking down at it and poking at it with a hoof, causing the red gem to glow. "That pendant is filled with magic, it flowed through your body and you fell unconscious because it's not used to magic of this intensity. You've been slowly adjusting over time since then, enough to wake up now, not long before you can start using it." The mage explains, her words seem rehearsed, like she's done this before. Peritia freezes in place as Tuitio finishes, her mouth hanging open slightly in shock and awe. The young mare's reaction gets a chuckle from the elder Unicorn, who reaches out and places a hoof on her shoulder, bringing the dumbstruck Earth pony back to reality. She's now got a big, contagious smile on her face. "So you mean... I-I can use..." Peritia stutters, barely able to form words, let alone full sentences, amidst all the excitement she's feeling. Tuitio stands suddenly, turning to head for the stairs, only stopping to motion for Peritia to follow. Soon the two are at the top floor of the towering structure, the walls are lined with racks full of practice weapons, shelves covered in shapes of various sizes and materials and a table holding scrolls that are who knows how old. Already some of the small wooden cubes have been moved to the centre of the room, in front of an excited looking Tuitio. Peritia walks over, sitting down on the other side of the blocks, looking up at the Unicorn with a questioning look. "You can't expect to be any good with magic without some training, obviously! So we're starting with telekinesis, first I just want you to try lifting a block on your own." Tuitio says, seeing the confused look on Peritia's face. She lights up at this new information, her eyes locking onto one of the blocks on the floor before her. The pendant glows gently as she focuses on the block, the magic trying to reach out but falling short and simply sending out a tiny spark. The second time she closes her eyes, trying to relax a bit more and imagine the block, the magic manages to reach the block, enveloping it in a very weak red sheet. When she imagines it moving she feels a small weight in her chest, the magic tugs upwards and then fizzles, too weak to move it. She is disheartened by the failures, frowning as she looks to Tuitio. To her surprise, she is beaming at the display, practically bouncing on her hooves. The tall Unicorn suddenly sweeps the small Earth pony into a tight hug, spinning around a little bit, much to the confusion of the younger mare. "Oh, sorry, you must be so confused! That was great, your first time and you managed to grab it! Look, it may feel like you failed, but trust me, that was fantastic!" Tuitio cheers, finally bringing a smile back to Peritia's face. "I'll do it now, watch and try to follow along." She looks towards the boxes, slowly lighting her horn before wrapping one of the blocks in her blue magic, giving it a second to settle before lifting it and rotating it around. After the block is back on the ground, Peritia takes a deep breath and tries the same, first trying to focus the magic into the gem. The gem glows in response, heating up further. She tries to reach out, successfully wrapping one of the blocks in a magical field, much more opaque this time. She smiles, then attempts to lift it, which she does with a bit of effort. The block is a little shaky in the air and she has trouble manipulating it accurately, but it's working! The block suddenly drops to the ground as the magic's user is nearly toppled to the ground by a bone-crushing hug from their over-excited mentor. This happens a lot more in the coming hours, she's a very hug-gy pony. With a few scrolls packed into her saddlebags, Peritia waves a goodbye to Tuitio, both ponies have smiles on their faces. Telekinesis is used my most Unicorns for a reason, it's easy to learn, during the time they had together her body had adapted more and she had been able to properly control a block of wood. She could even manage multiple at a time, just not separately, they all moved together. She struggled a bit with an off-weight object and heavier ones, but got the hang of it eventually. It's about time for Peritia to meet with the adventurers now, judging by the sun approaching the horizon. The streets are denser than when they arrived, somehow. After a while she arrives back where they had separated, finding Letalis already waiting there. Filled with confidence after the training, she trots over and sits beside the intimidating Unicorn. Despite the usual death glare, Peritia decides to strike up a conversation, besides, she's got a few questions on her mind and time to waste before Fortis arrives. "I noticed your cutie mark, it's fitting. What's your gift?" She asks, a smile naturally coming to her face, the same can't be said for her conversation partner though. "I'm deadly, always. No opponent has ever crossed me and lived to tell the tale." Letalis responds, glancing at Peritia's flank, clearly waiting for an answer. "My potions are a little bit better, a bit more magic goes into every single one." Pride is evident in the young alchemist's voice, she's very happy with her talent and cutie mark. Before a witty retort can be returned, Fortis arrives, cutting his fellow adventurer off. "There is an Inn nearby, come, no time to waste, I've already paid." The stallion commands as he approaches, already turning to leave. Letalis doesn't hesitate, neither does Peritia and before long they're all in their room, ready to rest for the night. Peritia has trouble sleeping tonight as well, though for much different reasons. Her mind is filled with ideas and she's ecstatic as she lies down to sleep, eager for the next day. Sleep comes all too slow to take her mind away from the conscious realm.
