Chapter 22: Hospitality
Aitheos wasn’t much of a talker throughout the walk. As Yuri led him through the village, he kept most of his thoughts to himself, taking in small details as he went.
He noticed that the people of Redville were very welcoming. Although he was a foreign stranger that looked, walked, and talked differently than them, the villagers still showed him great hospitality as he passed by. Warm smiles, gentle waves, all of which were genuine and from the heart. Sometimes, the villagers would walk up to him and hand him fruit or vegetables as a welcoming gesture. They were often fresh, juicy, and ripe with flavor, and Aitheos couldn’t bring himself to ever decline any of their handouts. By the time he and Yuri were close to Maru’s home, he was already carrying a handful of apples, pears, peppers, and other treats in a basket.
“Has the village always been like this?” Aitheos asked, “or are they only showing me kindness because I am a visitor?”
“They’re always like this,” Yuri responded, “it’s an integral part of our culture. If you see someone passing by, greet them with kindness. If they are hungry, feed them. If they are sick, mend them. If it is raining, invite them to dinner. Redville is built off of principles like that, and it’s why our community is so welcoming.”
“And they do all of this, free of charge?”
“Yes. Redville uses Lumens just like the rest of the world, and most people here have their own money. Handouts like that are to help you feel welcomed. Most of us are raised to be kind and welcoming to everyone we see, even if they are foreign strangers.”
“Your culture must be derived from Floranism then. Beliefs like that are common in countries like Yrium, which are dominated by Floranists.”
“I believe it is, though our beliefs differ a little from traditional Floranism. I’m no expert in that field though. If you want some more details about it, then you might want to ask this family.”
The two of them come to a coincidental stop in front of the Marshall residence. Aitheos looks back at the rest of the village from atop the small hill, then turns around to admire the small wooden home. Though it was much smaller than the homes in Magius, there was a certain nuance to the craftsmanship behind it. As a whole, he admired Redville and the people here. There weren’t many of them, but they made up for their small size with craftsmanship, hospitality, and hard work. Even if this small country wasn’t nearly as powerful as most others, he still found room to admire it.
The windows near either side of the front door were open, the pleasant scent of apple pie and freshly baked bread flowing through the air.
“A band of bakers?” Aitheos inquired, admiring the succulent scent in the air, “it smells heavenly!”
Yuri walks up to the front door, knocking gently.
“The Marshall family has been in the community for quite a while. Although not influential in terms of politics, they are greatly respected for their general hospitality as well as their cooking.”
The door swings open, and Francis stands at the other side with a plate in his hand, a half-eaten slice of freshly baked apple pie on top.
“Yuri?” He calls out, taking a bite using his other hand as he continues to talk with a mouth full of sweetness, “what’re you doing here? And who’s the other guy?”
“I’m Aitheos from the Adventurer’s Guild,” he said, beating Yuri to the punch. “Yuri brought me over here to become acquainted with some of Redville’s warriors. I’m assuming you are one of them, sir..?” His voice trailed off, expecting the warrior to introduce himself.
“Francis. You say you’re from the Adventurer’s Guild? Man, Maru is gonna love this! Come on in you two.” Leaving the door open, Francis gestures for the both of them to enter.
As the two of them step inside, they immediately notice a picnic-like gathering in the living space. The usual couch and coffee table were moved, and they were instead replaced by a much longer oak table with stools on either side. Resting on top of the table were plates of apple pie, sourdough bread, croissants, creamy alfredo, and layered pasta; their flavorful aroma filling the air inside the home. Maru and Tianyu were seated along with Mrs. Marshall, all of them facing the door and savoring each and every bite of their food.
“Yo, Maru!” Francis called out to her, “we’ve got some guests, and one of them is from the Adventurer’s Guild!”
“Really?!” Almost immediately, Maru perks her head up, her face still partially stuffed with a facefull of croissant before she jumps off of her chair and rushes towards the door. She greets Aitheos with a smile that goes from ear to ear.
“I’m Maru!” She exclaims, holding her hand out for a handshake. Her body became filled with an exotic confidence she’s rarely felt before. Although Adventurer’s typically weren’t anything special, there was something surreal about standing in front of one for the first time. Even if Aitheos wasn’t a high rank, it didn’t matter to her. She would finally get the opportunity to ask questions, hear their stories, and try to make a good impression to see if she could get a recommendation.
“Aitheos,” he said softly, giving her a handshake.
“You should join us for dinner! Mama, they can join us right?” Maru looks over her shoulder at Mrs. Marshall.
“Of course they can, sweetie! There’s plenty of food to go around.”
They all head to the table together, with Aitheos, Yuri, and Francis sitting on one side, with Maru, Mrs. Marshall, and Tianyu sitting on the other side. As soon as Aitheos and Yuri sat down, Maru immediately jumped back up to grab some plates for them.
“Help yourselves,” she said with a smile, “we have lots of food to share, and we can always make more later.”
“Alright.” Aitheos helps himself to a warm slice of apple pie, a cube of lasagna, along with a hefty slice of sourdough bread. “Is it alright if I ask what the occasion is?”
“Nothing too special,” Mrs. Marshall said, “Maru and her friends here are working with the Chieftain to deal with some bad guys. They just got discharged from the clinic, so I thought it’d be a good idea to treat them to a nice, hefty meal before they start preparing for battle.”
“Ah, so these were the warriors you wanted me to meet, Yuri?” Aitheos turned his head to face her.
Yuri simply nods, too busy enjoying her hot and creamy alfredo to say anything at the moment. “Maru,” she mumbled through a face full of pasta, “introduce everyone.”
“Okay!” Maru finishes what’s left of her croissant before she gestures to Yuri.
“That’s Yuri – I’m sure you knew that already. She and her father are the best doctors in Redville, and if it wasn’t for them then I’d probably still be bedridden after the countless fights I’ve gotten into…”
“If it weren’t for me you’d be dead.” Yuri said bluntly, giving Maru a stern stare in a joking manner. She probably wouldn’t be dead, but bedridden is still an accurate description.
Maru nods before then gesturing to Francis
“That’s Francis,” she then points to Tianyu, “and that’s Tianyu. These two are like my best buds! Basically my brothers, we do everything together now, especially adventuring and protecting the village.”
“I recall meeting Francis at the door. Since the three of you like to go adventuring, do you have any ambitions to join the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“Eh,” Francis responded, “haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I just wanna deal with these cultists and bandits first, then I’ll think about it. I’m sure my parents won’t mind if I join though.”
“Where Maru goes, I go,” Tianyu said quietly, “she’s given me purpose, so I will help her no matter what.”
Maru is the first to exclaim, “I do! I’ve been reading adventure stories my whole life, and when I finally learned about the Adventurer’s Guild I’ve been dreaming of joining it ever since. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to impress any of the recruiters, since I’ve heard it’s not easy.”
“Far from it, but you might just be in luck this year. This is the first year in which the Adventurer’s Guild is allowing people to join through an exam rather than selection from a recruiter.”
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“Really? Where do I go to sign up and take the exam?”
“I’m not sure just yet. They were working on the details but they said everything should be ready by the end of this month. The only thing I know is that you’ll need to head to the Guildhall to participate.”
“The Guildhall?!” Yuri exclaimed, “That’s all the way over in Magius! How is she supposed to get over there?”
Francis looks across the table at Yuri. “Isn’t Magius like a whole different continent? That’s a long way away.”
“Well, you can make your way over to Fantasia to try and catch a boat to Magius. It might cost you though, you know the folks in Fantasia know how to cheat you out of a Lumen or two, even if they’re a little hospitable.”
“I dunno if Maru would even be able to make it in time. First she has to go to Fantasia, then she has to take a boat all the way over to Magius, she’s not going to arrive on time to take the exam.”
“Aw.” Maru pouts gently. “Well it’s not the end of the world. Will they be doing the exams next year, Aitheos?”
“Possibly. If everything goes well I’m sure they will. I think they should, since it’s a better method than the recruitment recommendation and it provides more opportunities.”
“I’ll be okay then. Besides, I only just recently became a Mage, so I’m probably way behind everyone else taking the exam. If I can’t take it this year, then I can spend that time training and getting ready to take it next year.”
“Oh?” Aitheos raises an eyebrow and looks at Maru, “you only just recently became a Mage? How old might you be, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I’m twenty three. I know it’s a little surprising, but let me explain really quickly. So, when I was exploring the nearby mountains for the bandits that were stealing our crops, I accidentally fell into a hole. I found a fancy looking staff sitting in an altar and so I decided to grab it. When I did, it ‘awakened’ my Magic basically. Since then, I’ve been able to use it pretty consistently.”
“That is… interesting.” Judging by the tone of his voice, Aitheos’ curiosity was clearly piqued. This would be the first time he’s heard of something like this. Most Mages naturally uncover their mystical abilities at a younger age, and then progressively become more accustomed to their Magic. From how Maru was describing it, however, she had a much more explosive and abrupt awakening.
“Do you have the staff with you?”
“Yes!” Maru gets up out of her chair and rushes towards her room. Seconds later, she walks back toward the table with the obsidian staff in her hands.
Aitheos gets up from the table, stepping away while gesturing for Maru to come closer. “Over here. Let’s not disturb their dinner.”
“Here you go,” she said, extending the staff toward Aitheos as if she were handing it to him.
From where he was standing, he was able to feel the intense amount of Magic Energy radiating from both Maru and the staff. It was rampant, unstable, and steadily increasing like a storm brewing over warm ocean waters. Aitheos gently takes the staff out of her hands to examine it closer. When he did, that energy faded away as quickly as it came. The staff produced no energy and Maru produced very little in comparison, so little that he could barely sense it.
There was a very clear connection between the two of them, but the fact it even existed is what made it so interesting.
Aitheos hands the staff back and looks down at her, noticing the thin blue aura tracing her body.
“Your Magic Color is blue, so you must have Lightning Magic, correct?”
“Mhm! Er – how’d you know that?”
“By looking. Mages have the ability to sense Magic Energy in its raw form, and most are able to see the natural color of someone else’s Magic Energy, which can help deduce what their Magic is. Since you’ve only just recently awakened your Magic, you probably don’t know how to even activate that, do you?”
“I mean… I know how to cast a spell. Is it kind of like casting a spell?”
“A little bit, but you’re missing a core aspect of Magic.” Aitheos looks over back at the dinner table. “Excuse me, Mrs. Marshall. Is it alright if I take your daughter outside for a Magic lesson? It won’t take long, ma’am.”
“I don’t mind at all!” She exclaimed, suddenly getting up out of her seat with her plate in her hands. “I’d love to come and watch. I don’t know anything about this Magic stuff, so there’s no harm in learning.”
“I’ll come too,” Yuri said as she got up.
“Me three?” Francis stands up, plate in hand.
“I’ll be curious to see how another master does his teachings.” Tianyu says, standing up as well.
“Consider it a party then!” Maru exclaimed, rushing towards the door, “I’m kind of excited.”
Aitheos chuckles to himself, a smile on his face. It warmed his heart to see someone so eager to learn about Magic, especially with ambitions so great.
“Who wouldn’t be? You’re about to see a whole new world.”
The light of the evening sun acts as the perfect backdrop for a lesson in Magic. The group steps outside, most of them taking a seat in the soft grass with their plates while Aitheos rests on a nearby rock. Maru sits directly in front of him, placing her staff beside her. The others stayed off to the side, stuffing their mouths with the food they brought with them.
“Alright, Maru, about how long have you had your Magic?”
“A couple of weeks now. Why?”
“Over the past few weeks, have you been experiencing the peculiar or eerie feeling of someone watching you? A set of eyes tracing your every move, a second voice in the back of your head?”
“Yes!” Maru exclaimed, promptly nodding. It’s happened a few times before, most notably in her fight against Manho and when she was creating her first Magic Circle. Tianyu explained the concept to her, saying that Magic was like an entity that shared your body, but Maru still never understood the concept fully. She felt like there was something missing, a piece to the puzzle she hadn’t discovered yet.
“When Tianyu was teaching me about Magic Circles, he explained that ‘Magic is like an entity that shares your body’ or something like that. During my fight against Manho, it felt like something other than me was controlling my body.”
“It’s safe to say that was your Magic. Tianyu was right, it’s true that your Magic shares your body, but it’s important to understand that it’s as much of an individual as you are. The way you act, think, and improve over time can influence your Magic, but it’s still capable of having its own thoughts and actions. Getting to know your Magic is one of the most important parts of becoming a stronger Mage.”
“The closest I got to something like that was when I created my first Magic Circle. I didn’t really know what to do, so I just kind of let my Magic guide me.”
“That’s a good thing!” Aitheos exclaimed, chuckling lightly, “that means it’s taking a liking to you already.”
“Mine must hate me then,” Yuri muttered, “it’s been dead silent since I started using it.”
“Well, there’s probably a reason for that. Your Magic is a reflection of your inner self. If you aren’t an extroverted type of person, then it’s likely your Magic is no different.”
Yuri nods gently to herself. While she certainly cared about other people, especially her peers, she often kept her deepest feelings secluded from the rest of the world. If she were her Magic, she wouldn’t want to talk to herself either.
“I’m going to show you a special way to interact with your inner powers. ‘Resonance’ is a state of equilibrium between you and your Magic. You could think of it as a state in which the two of you become one.”
All of a sudden, Yuri became curious. She quickly finishes her food, placing her plate on the ground and walking over towards Maru, taking a seat beside her in the grass.
“Are you joining me?” Maru asked, a smile on her face.
“Yes. I don’t think I’ve done this before, so I’m going to give it a try.”
Francis sits on the other side of Maru, his plate no longer in hand. “Same here. It seems pretty cool, getting to meet your Magic and whatnot.”
“So this is a first for all of us then? That’s so cool! I honestly thought you guys would’ve already gone through this whole ‘Resonance’ thing.”
Aitheos gets up and steps away from the rock, taking a seat in the grass across from them.
“The first thing you should do is find a comfortable position in an equally comfortable place. It can be any position, anywhere, as long as you feel safe.” Aitheos crosses his legs, placing both of his hands on his lap while waiting for the others to follow.
Maru lays down on her back, the grass acting as a soft bed while she looks up at the sky. Francis does the same, while Yuri remains seated in the grass with her legs outstretched.
“Now try to empty your mind,” Aitheos continued “focus on one thing in your cone of vision. Tune out everything else. Then, once your focus has shifted to that one thing, envision your Magic coursing through whatever you’re looking at. Try to feel its presence and let it pull you into its world. The rest is in your hands.”
Maru stares at the sky above, tuning out the sounds of nature around her. She continued to stare for seconds at a time, her focus periodically broken by her own worrisome thoughts.
She blinks a few times, closing her eyes tightly before opening them again and adjusting her focus. A gentle breeze glides by, breaking her focus again. Her wandering thoughts begin to fade as she gives in to the sounds of nature around her. She relaxes her body after a few deep breaths, staring at the pillowy clouds as they pass by overhead. The gentle breeze suddenly grows stronger, howling in her ear as the world around her starts to grow dark. The bright sky shifts in shade, slowly turning into a midnight blue as silhouettes of dense black clouds block every ounce of light from the sun. All she could hear were the bellowing roars of thunder, the gentle tapping of raindrops entrancing her mind. Feeling drowsy, her eyelids became heavy and slowly began to close, but she forced them open with the little consciousness she had left.
Between the darkened clouds, a glimpse of cerulean light pierces through. Its presence was eerie, like a singular eye gazing down at her. The light fades as quickly as it came, replaced by a bright flash of the same color. A deep bass of thunder followed, and her world suddenly went dark.