Chapter Text
Bryon did not like to consider himself a man of routine, but he found that he was. It was less that he was consistent in when he did things more that he was consistent where he did them. Though he was not blind, the mask he wore at all times left him as if he was. The thick material filtered out even the brightest of sunlight and left his world in the dark. It was a necessary price to pay in order to utilize his lackluster Windwhispering abilities and it was one that he has accepted.
It does not mean it is always easy. Such as right now, as he entered the township proper Elona made a series of small clicks with her beak to warn him of the toys some children had left out. Had his companion not been so keen eyed, he would have stepped on them and hurt himself (and likely broken them) as there was no way for him to know they were there. They laid silently in a patch of grass, his ears unable to hear their inaction and his toes easy to trick with lush foliage. The perpetual frown on his face was natural, the corners of his lips eternally tugged towards the ground, but in moments like that it came easier. He tried not to be sour. They were only little children, they were still learning.
Once he was safely inside he set Elona off to be free in the sky and do as she so pleased. There was a familiar path that he always took so he could find his way home. He knew exactly where everything, down to the smallest pebble, was and the other villagers kept it clean for him. He walked home, ear twitching at the excited chatter of voices in the distance. Ah, Eironn was home. It sounded like he was telling Parisa, Kaffra, and Florabelle of his journey.
Bryon often worried that he brought the mood down during happy occasions, so he elected to head home to freshen up first knowing he might miss the happy moment up ahead.
“Magister!” The hypogean standing before Ivy boomed, hand aloft as she dangled from it. “I think it’s time you stopped getting in my way, hm?”
With a flash of light, she was falling. As she slammed into the ground she could see Eironn, the great warrior of the Dark Forest and her recent travel companion, strike their foe. But the damage had been done. Ivy went to open her mouth and all that came out was a thin, reedy, song.* It’s melody danced up and down as she continued trying to speak. Eironn turned back to the Hypogean in a flash to demand answers but the space before him was empty, enemy gone.
“Come on, Ivy,” he said. “I know someone who can help.”
That was more or less how the mage ended up in Lunadorf. Upon arrival at the Camelousse post in Holistone, they found the Mystic House gone. Valen informed them that Magister Merlin had been sent out on another journey and had been gone long enough that, as sometimes happens, their house had up and disappeared.
“You’re more than welcome to wait, but I don’t know how long it will be before the Magister returns,” Valen said. Eironn turned to Ivy, as if to ask her what she wanted to do before thinking better of it.
“We appreciate the offer, but knowing what I know about the Magister I think it’s best if I take miss Ivy over to the Dark Forest. I must continue on my quest, but my friends there will be able to watch over her until Merlin returns,” he said.
“All right,” Valen said, looking over to Ivy. “I’ll go make sure there’s a boat waiting for you at the docks.”
Ivy opened her mouth to thank him, and to chide Eironn for not letting her talk, but all that came out what the delicate chime of a piano.** Valen paused, surprised at actually hearing and seeing the phenomenon the Wilder had described to him. Then he smiled, nodded politely with a suave twinkle in his eye as he turned on his roguish charm.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Magister Merlin will be back in no time,” Valen said as he turned away with a wink.
Not long after that the trio was aboard a small fishing boat and making excellent time. The wind at their backs, the sun shining above them, and fish bouncing on the waves. In front of them soon stood the sandy beach found right at the edge of the most massive forest Ivy had ever seen. Even from far away she could see the size of the ancient trunks, branches extending into the sun, and a canopy filled with vines and flowers. Unconsciously, Ivy opened her mouth to remark on the Forest’s beauty.***
The inhuman sound startled the captain. He whipped around to see where the fluted noise was coming from. He found nothing but one of his passengers with their mouth open, the song coming from there. Despite knowing better, his panic made him jump up at the sight. The boat immediately capsized, sending all four of the group into the water. By the time Valen, Eironn, and Ivy had righted themselves, the captain was already in the boat and rowing away.
“Hey!” Valen shouted.
“Wait, come back!” Eironn shouted.
“Oh no! I’m not letting that thing back into this boat! And I don’t want you two, either!” The captain shouted.
Ivy remained quiet. She watched sorrowfully as the boat sped away.
“Ugh, what a jerk,” Valen groused. Then he rotated back towards the Dark Forest.
“Well, at least we’re not too far away. You two can swim?” He asked.
“We can,” Eironn confirmed, quickly detailing an adventure that involved you and some others you were helping swimming across some rivers and a lake.
“Great, come on.”
With that you were off. It only took a few minutes before everyone was able to touch the ocean floor with their feet and walk the rest of the way onto land. Once there you dried off, said your goodbyes to Valen as he went to go find Korin and secure a way back to Holistone. Then it was into the woods as you travelled to Lunadorf where Eironn was from and where his friends all lived. Well, all of them except for Lorsan, who was out on an adventure of his own. Ivy had heard of Lorsan from Eironn before and in that moment she had wished it was him she was travelling with instead. Usually Eironn’s frequent silences didn’t bother her, but without use of her voice she wished something could reliably make up for it. Not to mention chatterboxes often spoke for others without meaning to and Ivy was beginning to resent her friend for his awkward look-look away he did before he spoke for her. Not the two of them, just her. He meant well. Ivy knew he did. And she loved him for it, but it still hurt. It felt like the longer this went on the less agency she had. A gentle hand touching her arm brought her from the frustrations she was spiralling into.
“Are you alright?” Eironn asked, brow furrowed. Ivy gave a nod.
“The way that man spoke about you was horrible. I promise none of the Wilders will feel or act the same way.”
Ivy trusted Eironn when he said that, but she still didn’t feel like it was wise to open her mouth anymore. She nodded again, not having a way to really communicate her feelings. They had tried paper and pen before but it was messy and cumbersome, not something easily passed back and forth while walking.
A hawk, or a falcon Ivy wasn’t sure, screamed overhead.
Ivy’s mouth made a shape as if she was saying ‘oh!’, but nothing more than a rush of air passed through. A gasp, that she could still do. She and Eironn both smiled and watched as the bird quickly disappeared.
Smiling, Ivy followed behind her friend and companion as he lead her into the town. Lunadorf, her temporary new home.