The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 14 pt. 2

Edwin watched out the window as the scenery passed by.  It was a rather grey looking day outside, and not just because the windows were fogging up.  Edwin would have called it cloudy, except that there would have to be distinguishable clouds for that to be the case.  No, this was more like an even coating of bleakness that stretched and billowed from one horizon to the other. The only interruption was by the bright splotch where the sun was sulking.

The ride was short, but Edwin got out of the carriage like a man who had been on a long journey.  He yawned wide and stretched, skeleton cracking as his joints expanded.  Ariel quietly took her customary seat upon Edwin’s shoulder. He did seem to notice, his mind had been racing for the duration of the ride, and it did not show any signs of slowing down just yet. He felt worried, but of what he could not really pin down.  Edwin passed it off as the sort of feeling one gets when in unfamiliar territory, or when meeting new people, and he was doing both. Ariel rubbed his shoulder reassuringly, Edwin was glad she was there.

“You okay sweetie, you’re awfully quiet?” she said.

“I’m nervous, when I’m around pretty girls I act stupid and that goes double when I kinda like them too, you know?” Edwin said.

“Oh yes, when I like a girl I can hardly contain myself.” She said with a wink that was a little too cute.

“Really? I’m having an emotional crisis here and you’re making jokes?” Edwin said with a wry smile.

She stuck out her tongue and flew a lap around Edwin’s head.

Edwin threw his hands up, “Fine, fine, I get it… I should calm down, it’s no big deal, right?”

“He’s not stupid after all! …You know, Edwin, I’m not sure why you’re so darn self conscious all the time. You’re really freaking cute.”

Edwin rolled his eyes but blushed all the same. “Whatever you say half-pint.” He paused, grinning, “So, I guess we should get this over with.” They set off towards the main keep.

Edwin looked around absorbing the scenery surrounding him.  There were soldiers doing this and that. Some intense looking drills were going on nearby. The ones that most impressed Edwin were the casters practicing their spells.  They paired off and one would use a weak offensive spell while the other would use defensive wards to fend them off. So many colors and the raw power being handled with such ease and skill, it was mesmerizing. Edwin wished he had been able to learn to control fire magic. He looked at Ariel and asked, “Did they have to go through similar the same sort of training we went through to awaken their magical potential?”

“Sort of? Um, how do I explain this… What I was doing for you was shock therapy to open latent powers you were not aware of. Most military trained spellslingers knew of their powers before they began training, that is, they had been awakened naturally. The military also has aptitude tests that put recruits through rigorous training which exposes what magical talent they may or may not have, and then they send them to specialized training based on their skill set.”

“You know… It just occurred to me, how is it that you know so much about the military and magic, while we’re on the subject. You’re very matter of fact about what you claim to know.”

Ariel giggled mischievously, “Oh my, you silly little boy. A lady has her secrets. I suppose I should tell you more about my past, but alas, that is a long story and I am famished. Ask me again sometime when I am not so hungry.”

In addition to the pyrotechnic display going on, the view of the place was quite spectacular.  The fort's outer wall seemed to stretch on forever toward the mountains to the north and the south.  The great Malkadian wall it was called. This fort was one of several along the length of the wall, one at each of the Three Great Gates. Edwin, knew a lot about the wall from school, but seeing it in person was much more impressive. Its high crenellations seemed to tower over the landscape while the towers that occurred regularly down its length were rivaled only by the mountains in the distance for height. There was a great gate there facing the wild lands to the east, the visage of two great armored guards stood holding the gates with strength hewn from the very mountains that birthed them.

As he was thinking this, two familiar faces appeared from behind the door of a nearby building.  Parker and Isaac ran over with faces glowing, damp hair jangling, and smelling very clean. Parker was a husky bright eyed fellow with extra thick glasses that made him look kind of goofy. Isaac had an athletic build and sharp jaw line that made him look like he was born to wear a uniform. Edwin had met them when he was ambushed several weeks ago and they had become fast friends.

Edwin jogged a few feet to meet them yelling, "Hey guys!  Wasn't sure if you'd be here tonight."

"Awe, what? And miss a visit from the big guy? Never!" Issac said.

"How have you guys been?" Edwin asked.

"Well, pretty busy, haha." Parker said.

"Yeah, the General has been riding Parker pretty hard ever since the promotion." said Isaac.

"Promotion?" Edwin said with a confused look on his face.

“Yeah, I got promoted and assigned to be the general’s personal assistant. You would not believe how much busy work that job entails. Every time I turn around he has more forms and paperwork to be filed or fetched.” Parker said, “oh, but don’t take me wrong, I love the job. Getting to serve General O’Connor is quite an honor, and this experience will help me out quite a bit when I eventually apply to become an officer.”

“Our boy is going places, Ed. Better watch out or he’ll start having us call him sir.” Isaac said with a sly wink.

Edwin laughed, “Well, congratulations Parker. I feel bad for not knowing about this sooner.”

“Haha, no worries man. Frankly, I’ve been so busy with the new position that I have not had time to go telling people about it yet.” Parker said.

Edwin smiled and nodded, and then a quizzical look came upon him. “So, uh, what are you guys doing here anyway?”

“Well, for starters, we kind of live here.” Parker said.

"We've also been invited to dinner with you and the general, looser." Isaac said as he punched Edwin on the shoulder. Edwin shoved him into Parker who shoved him back.  They bounced Isaac back and forth a couple times and laughed.

"I guess we should get going" said Parker.

They led Edwin to the main keep and standing outside waving at them was Keely.  She was more beautiful than Edwin remembered.  Her lavender hair was down and she wore a lacy black dress which complemented her already slim figure quite nicely.  Edwin was feeling very under dressed at this point, but it was a bit late now. 

As they approached Edwin’s eyes met with Keely's. The glance quickly turned into a stare and Edwin felt his heart skip a beat or two. "Wow you have pretty eyes" he blurted out before he could stop himself.

Keely blushed for a moment and said, "Do you really think so?"

Embarrassed Edwin stumbled over his words, "well yeah, sorry if that's weird or whatever but yeah..."

"Haha, you're cute." she said with a flutter of eyelashes.

"Um, thanks...?" Edwin really did not know how to follow that up and he was blushing bright red, he looked at the guys and they were no help.  They were both snickering and doing a very bad job of hiding it. Arial was giggling so hard she fell of Edwin's shoulder.

When the amusement subsided and Edwin stopped blushing like a peach, Keely led the group into the main keep. They walked through a grand entryway and up several flights of stairs. There were carvings and grandiose statues everywhere, many hallways and locked doors leading to untold mystery and adventure, or so Edwin thought. Ariel helped herself to some of the flowers as they passed by, preferring to eat only the most colorful (and expensive) blooms.

While they walked, Parker turned to Edwin and asked, Is this your first time in a fort like this one?"

"Actually, no. I spent the night in a fort in grade school and I have a couple friends in the army posted at fort Hamilis, I visit them whenever I get a chance.  But, I mean, those forts were nothing compared to this place, still, eerily similar."

"That would be the Ricurian architecture, I think" said Parker, "all of these forts were built at the end of the last century by King Eimohs as a last testament to the strength of the empire when the last of the outsider rebellions were put down."

Edwin cringed a little bit inside at the mention of the outsider rebellions. The Outsider Rebellion was the official name for the great wars of the last century, and that was the name taught in the schools across the kingdom. But Edwin knew them by a different name, The Purge. Edwin's grandfather was one of the last giants left in the land when he died; and that man told tales of the war quite different from the official stories. The injustice of that war was a certainty to Edwin, and he did not like it when people talked about it so casually. He would never let it show though and just said, "Oh...I see."

There was a bit of silence as they entered a waiting room, then Keely piped up, "I'll go and fetch my parents!" She dashed out of the room with a little bounce; Edwin thought she seemed almost weightless as she walked.

Isaac looked over at Edwin and winked, "falling for her, eh?"

Edwin blushed, "No? I don't... maybe a little?"

"I think every guy on base has had a crush on her at one point or another." Parker nodded knowingly.

"And that is supposed to be encouraging how exactly?" Edwin paused. "Is... is she seeing anyone?"

"Not that I am aware of, a few have thought about asking her out but her dad scared em off." Parker said.

"And those who he didn't scare off, she rejected. Cold as ice that girl." Isaac said with a cold glint in his eye.

"Ah… I see," Edwin said with an exasperated sigh.

"You ready for the spring semester at the university? What was it you study again?" Isaac asked.

They all sat down. "I study Structural Magitech Engineering, you know, how to build magically enhanced buildings and stuff. This coming semester is going to be rough, all hardcore magitech classes."

"That stuff is so over my head, I can barely manage simple evocations." Parker said.

“Really?” Edwin thought about the soldiers he had seen coming into the fort. "Don't all soldiers have to be proficient in magic?"

"No, not at all, in fact most are not. But everyone gets tested and trained to the ability that they can." Parker said "Lord knows it can be darn useful in a pinch."

"Can either of you use fire magic?" Edwin said, curiosity growing.

Isaac and Parker looked at each other and kind of laughed. Isaac answered, "Elemental magic is hard to learn if you're not well aligned naturally. I actually specialize in ice spells, which I guess are technically water element. But not fire."

"I'm just not good at magic period." Parker added with an insincere laugh.

"Could you show me something of your ice magic, Isaac?" Edwin asked.

"Um... sure, why not..." Isaac got up and there was a cold, grey light in his eyes, he muttered a short incantation and very quickly made a series of precise movements that threw what looked like slush at Parker's wrists and ankles. That slush expanded and stiffened on impact becoming frozen bindings. Parker was not amused as he wrenched his limbs and broke the ice, it looked painful but Parker was strong and much tougher than he acted most of the time. Almost instinctively he rolled the momentum of breaking loose into a jab at Isaac's stomach which connected with a wallop.

"Ooph, okay... I deserved that one." Isaac wheezed. Parker just smiled as he sat back down rubbing his wrists.

Edwin was greatly amused and thought he would have to get Ariel to teach him those moves later. Keely returned with her parents just as Parker sat down. She kind of looked at the ice on the chair and floor, then at Parker who shrugged apologetically, then at Isaac who just grinned. She gave an exasperated sigh. "I have told you guys no to do magic inside, it makes a mess."

"Don't look at me, Edwin asked for a demo." Isaac chirped back.

The General stepped in and glared down at Isaac, “And do you always follow foolish requests by civilians soldier?”

Isaac sprang up, wide eyed, to attention, “No sir! I…”

“At ease soldier, no harm done, just do not conduct such displays under my roof. Understood?” The general said.

That's when Mrs O'Connor stepped in with her husband. "Ah, young master Felspar, it is a pleasure to see you again. And you as well Parker, Isaac." She gave a little curtsy in greeting.

"It is good to see you again too, and just plain Edwin is just fine with me, ma'am, if it's all the same to you?" Edwin said.

She chuckled and nodded. “Okay, Edwin, thank you for coming all this way to share dinner with us.”

Then the General introduced himself. He was not exactly what one expects from a general. Sure, he looked the part with the ornate dress and squared shoulders, but he had gentle eyes. It felt like he and war would never quite see eye to eye. "Hello Edwin, I am General Andrew O'Connor. I am pleased to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, sir." Edwin said as they shook hands.

"Well, shall we head to the table, I don't know about you kids but I'm famished." Mr. O'Connor said with a wink. Everyone chuckled and followed him.

They went down the hall past a few closed doors and stone passageways that went off to who knows where. Edwin walked with his head practically spinning as he took in every detail. There were interesting paintings all along the hall, a few of General O'Connor in his younger days out on the field of battle. The halls were well lit with retrofitted top notch ELS lighting (Enchanted Light Source). Edwin noted a few of the structural features he was learning about in places. Kinds of bracing that used strong enchantments to reinforce the natural material properties. But he also noted a series of sigils he was unfamiliar with which ran in a continuous pattern along the ceiling and bases of the wall. He asked Mr. O'Connor about them.

"Oh, those? Well, at the time this fort was built those designs you see were a popular architectural feature and were often found in structures with a Ricurian design. It is purely aesthetic though, unlike the reinforcing runes you see on load bearing pillars and walls. Some commanders cover them up, but I like them... The design harkens back to the glory days when forts like this one served a purpose, not just here gathering dust." Mr. O'Connor replied with great passion.

Edwin nodded, soaking in every word that was said. One thing did not sit well with him though, the markings along the walls were too exact to be purely aesthetic. He recognized many words of power in the runes, and the sigils seemed loosely based on, or similar to, ones he did know about. But then, good art often imitates reality. Edwin filed this away as something to look into later, maybe ask Ariel about when he got a chance.

Finally, General O'Connor led them into a large, ornate room. Long tapestries and banners flying the colors were strewn about the walls and along one side there was a massive map of the kingdom. In the center was a long table covered in a black table cloth with purple trim and golden tassels. The plates and bowls were ornately decorated with gold and amethyst and there was a beautiful statue of a dragon for a centerpiece. Edwin, Isaac, and Parker all let out a collective gasp at the setting.

"Wow..." Edwin said.

“Thank you Edwin, this is my personal dining hall. Come all, have a seat.” General O’Connor said as he pointed everyone toward their seat for the evening.

At this moment Ariel decided to pop out and say hi. "Sweet digs yo, this place be ill" She said to the General crossing her arms and making gang signs. Edwin would have evaporated with embarrassment if such a thing were possible. He glared at Ariel, his eyes asking desperately what the hell was wrong with her.

The General crumpled up his face a bit in surprise and confusion, "and you are?"

Edwin interpreted Squiggers as she was about to reply, "THIS, is my familiar. Her name is Squiggers... er, well, it’s actually Ariel but she prefers Squiggers for some reason."

Squiggers floated above Edwins shoulder and made an ornate bow, "at your service sir."

General O'Connor nodded, "well, greetings to you too little one."

Squiggers laughed quietly and whispered to Edwin "young people these days..."

Keely, being somewhat eager to start the meal, lead, or dragged, as the case may be, each person to their seat. A servant came to take people's orders and conversation ensued as the entrees were cooking. As it always is when dining with a friend's parents, it starts out with the women folk asking about all the various and sundry aspects of one's character. Where the subject goes to school, where he works, what his family is like, what his hobbies are, how he met everyone, and if he knows so-and-so. All of this, of course, being interrupted by stories, only loosely related to the topic, by the men in an attempt best one another. Once or twice, Squiggers got up and did a jig on the table, much to everyone's delight. Finally the food came and everyone dug in heartily.

"So, Edwin," The General began, "You were told why I invited you here tonight?"

Edwin looked over at Parker, who just shrugged. "Well, I was told it was related to the incident in the road several weeks back. But not much else."

The General wiped at the corners of his mouth, "I wanted to thank you for saving my daughter's life. What you did was brave and I am indebted to you for it." The very air in the room seemed to grow heavy, Parker and Isaac exchanging looks. The General continued, "I heard that your jeed died in the incident, for that I am truly sorry, but the military will provide you with a new one should you request it."

Edwin smiled and blushed a little bit. "Well, thank you very much, sir. But I am sure that anyone with the capability and opportunity would have done the same. As for the jeed, my father's insurance has already replaced him."

“Has he now,” the general paused deep in thought for a moment, “well, son, what would you consider as a reward for your service?”

Edwin sat there with a dumb look on his face and the room grew uncomfortably quiet. Then an idea occurred to him and he spoke before he had time to actually think about what he was about to say. “Well, sir, what I would like is to ask your daughter out on a date… if she wants to, I mean.” Edwin immediately regretted saying this as it was coming out. What was he saying, he barely knew this girl, and she probably didn’t like him at all. Oh, how embarrassing.

The General paused a moment upon hearing Edwin’s request, he smiled, and then he threw back the most enormous and hearty laugh. “I like you boy” he said between chuckles. Everyone else was somewhere between being confused, taken aback, and laughing just because it was so hard not to join in. After a short duration of this, things settled down and General O’Connor turned to his daughter, “Well, Keely, what will you say to the boy? Will you go on a date with the young man who saved you?”

Suddenly everyone was staring at the girl who turned bright red and seemed to be trying her best to disappear. “I… I, um…” She seemed to be having a million thoughts at once and of all things, she burst out in tears and ran from the room. Her mother looked rather surprised and chased after her making apologies as she went.

Edwin sat there utterly dumbstruck; Isaac and Parker sharing similarly shocked looks.

“Well, I did not expect that...” Said General O’Connor, “I am sorry, Edwin, that was very rude of my daughter, I am sure she did not intend to offend in any way.”

“Was it something I did?” Edwin asked in slight delirium.

“No, I do not think so. I must apologize for my daughter. That was most rude.” General O’Connor said glancing toward the door Keely had fled through.

Parker decided to try and break the tension, “Girls, huh? Weird…”

Everyone looked at him like he was an idiot for a second, and then burst out laughing. Isaac quickly changed the subject to sports and things settled down. Ariel flew off without anyone noticing to follow the fleeing females, while the men remained at the table exchanging stories. Edwin was still very embarrassed and confused, but Keely’s father didn’t seem to care, if anything he seemed to have been almost happy to see that Edwin was interested in his daughter. But why had she burst into tears like that? It made no sense to him and he felt like it was somehow his fault. Edwin began rehearsing apologies while talking with the guys about various things. Finally, he excused himself and left the table to find a restroom where he could be alone to compose his thoughts.

Tales of D&D: "Enter, Orf the Berserker"

Orf was lazily soaking in the pale moonlight by the edge of a lake when he noticed a little green fairy approaching over the water.  He stood slowly, his mail shirt jingling as the giant rose.  The massive axe upon his back glittered dangerously as he stood.  Orf was a half-giant berserker on a quest to find the best beer in the world, a quest which he had finished just a few hours before.

Orf was totally enraptured by the little green glowing thing that was yelling something at him.  He decided to grab at it but it began to fly back to the middle of the lake.  Orf would have none of that.  He swam swiftly after the little shrieking speck.  Eventually they reached an odd tower and the fairy flew up through a window.  So, Orf followed easily hauling his bulky figure up the side of the structure and through the window.

The fairy was nowhere to be seen and all was silent up there now.  He appeared to be in the top of some sort of stone structure, the walls were about twenty feet high but there was no roof.  Orf wondered at the practicality of having a building in a lake with no roof.  It seemed like one would get rather wet living there.  He made out the shape of a door in the darkness and he walked over, opened it and peeked around whispering "hellooooooo, anybody home?".  No one answered but Orf did notice there were caltrops strewn all over the place.

Orf thought that was also not very practical, someone could step on one and get hurt.  So, he moved them out of the way of the door directly across from him and pushed that one open.  That is when all hell seemed to break loose.  There was a flash of light and a bang like nothing he had ever heard before.  Also, Orf quickly realized he was on fire!  "What the devil is this!  What's going on here!" He bellowed as he swatted at the flames.

A voice yelled out to Orf saying something like, "calm down, who are you?"

Orf turned around and around and did not see anyone, his ears were still ringing from the thunderous noise that had just gone off.  He yelled, "where the hell are you voice?!"  The next thing Orf knew a large tarp had been thrown over him.  This really freaked him out, he tore the tarp off and, not noticing the flames had been put out, swung wildly with his axe.  He managed to hit the door frame putting a huge crack in the wall there.  "Then he yelled out, "who is there, show yourself!"

A voice from above answered coolly, "I am up here you idiot, I just put out the flames."

Orf looked up and saw a cat-person perched on top of the wall.  "Oh, hello there friend!  Have you seen a little green fairy around here?"

The cat person struck his forehead with his palm.  "Are you serious?  Is that why you have been taking down all of our traps?  ....wait... Idiot, did you take the alchemist fire off that door over there too?"

"What alchemist fire?" Orf replied.

The cat-man looked frightened and ran across the wall to peer down into the room on the other side of the door.  As he did so sounds of combat came floating across the night air.  Orf finally put the pieces of the puzzle together, the caltrops were put there on purpose!  It was time to fight stuff!  This got Orf excited.  He ran and started climbing up the wall after the cat-man.  But as he did so he saw the cat-man run past him in the other direction.  Probably to help out his buddies Orf thought.  He heard someone yell "doppelganger", but Orf did not know what this word meant.

Just then he noticed something else.  He barely caught a dark blur go through the cracked door over the remaining caltrops.  He could hear the thing's heart beating in the corner.  Orf knew this had to be an enemy so without a moments hesitation he did a running leap off of the wall, turning in the air, he brought his massive axe down with all the might he could summon.  Whatever unfortunate being had been there was now a red vapor settling on the small crater that had been formed by the impact.

Two more villains stood paralyzed at the door staring at the scene.  There rising before them was a half giant who wiped the vaporized remains off his face with a devilish grin.  He wrenched the titanic battle-axe from the stone in which it was wedged with a grating piercing metal on stone sort of sound.  They cowered as he laughed, the red of the mist now matched the red in his eyes which were now drunk with bloodlust.  The battle had just begun.

The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 14 "Gigantic Nostrils in Space"

It was now Saturday, five days after the incident on the road, and Edwin had nearly forgotten about the O'Connor girl. The news story about his rescue had died down on TV and had been replaced by a story about some cats that could dance. What was now foremost on Edwin's mind was the fact that there was a dragon somewhere out there and it was testing him, Edwin, of all people. He could hardly imagine what it would be like to have a pact with a dragon, or, actually, he was quite good at it as he had been imagining just that for many years now. So, it was pretty much all he could think about pretty much all of the time. In fact, when his mother came and knocked on his door, he was on his bed playing with one of his many dragon figurines.

"Edwin?" she said.

"Yes?" he said as he opened the door and picked some things off the floor so she could actually walk in.

"There is someone at the door for you, says he's brought a message from General O'Connor?  Isn't O'Connor the name of that girl you so bravely rescued" she said with a wink.

Edwin turned a deep crimson.  "Mom!"

"Well, he is downstairs waiting for you so hurry up and put a shirt on." She left Edwin's room, picking up a few pieces of trash and muttering something about a slob on her way out.

Edwin was not sure what sort of message the General would have sent.  So, he got up, put on a shirt, and went down to see the messenger.  When he got to the bottom of the stairs he recognized the soldier immediately. It was Parker Donaldson, he one of the guys who had escorted him home after the incident on the road.

"Parker! Whattup man? Issac here too?"  Issac Kelimba was the other soldier who had accompanied Edwin home.  The three of them had become fast friends and stayed in touch online mostly.

"Haha, hey, Issac's got other assignments today.  But you might run into him tonight."

"Really, what's going on tonight?"

"Well, that's what I was sent here to tell you, actually..." Parker cleared his throat, stood at attention, and gave a rigid salute.   "General O'Connor wishes to send his regards to your family and would like to invite you, Edwin Felspar, to his personal quarters for dinner this evening. The General sends his sincerest thanks to you for protecting his daughter from that horde of brigands that attacked, he would like to meet you and talk about suitable reward."

Edwin nearly fell over laughing.  "Man, you looked so serious saying all that!  ...and what that about the hordes of brigands?  I don't remember having to fight a soul."

Parker blushed but did not seem to mind.  "Hey, it was orders and we got a way of doing things in the military you civvies just wouldn't get.   But, yeah... now that you mention it, I don't remember any hordes of brigands either.  It is what he said though, so... whatever.  Are you going to come?"

"...I ...I'm not really sure.  Will you and Isaac be there?"

"I don't actually know, the General didn't actually invite us... I could ask though.  Since you requested us...  Guess you'll find out when you get there."

Just then Squiggers popped up from behind Edwin.  "Can I come too???" she squealed.

Parker laughed, "who is this?"

"Oh, she is my familiar spirit.  I forgot I had not introduced you two yet.  At that time she was exhausted after performing a pretty intense healing spell.  Her name is Ariel, but you can call her Squiggers. A real trouble maker she is."  She kicked Edwin at that last remark.

"Well, pleasure to meet you... er, Squiggers?"  Squiggers giggled at the face Parker made saying her name out loud.  "I don't see any problem in you coming... um... do you eat, like, people food?" Parker said.

"I only eat the souls of the damned and drink the blood of crushed beetles!  Muahahahahahaha"  Ariel said as she posed dramatically, cackling on Edwin's shoulder.

Edwin flicked her off and rolled his eyes.  "She does like flower petals and can't eat meat, but whatever they're having should be fine.

Squigers mumbled something about beetle blood not being as bad as it sounds as she hovered back onto Edwin's shoulder to pout.

"Well, I'm sure something can be arranged, haha." Said Parker.

Edwin noticed Parker was starting to glace at the door.  "I guess you have to get going then?"

"Yeah... sadly, I have to go join the patrol out on the highway."  Parker already looked bored out of his skull just thinking about it.  He brightened though and said, "I guess I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah, remember to get that permission and I guess I'll see you then... oh wait, what time should I be there?"

"Oh, that's right!  I completely forgot that part, totally unprofessional!  They will send a carriage for you latter, should arrive around five."

"That works for me, take care bro."

"You too.  Bye!"  Parker gave a salute before leaving to high-tail it down the street where the rest of his troop were begrudgingly awaiting his arrival.

Back in his room, Edwin began sorting through his laundry trying to figure out what to wear. He first sorted out the things that could not be mistaken for clean along with the things which should have been clean but had remained in contact with the dirty articles far too long.  Then he organized what was relatively clean by amount of wrinkles.  Of that lot, he had to decide if he would dress up more or keep it kind of casual.  He figured to make a good impression he would wear a nicer polo that fit him fairly well, not so loose as to look baggy but loose enough not to show off every fat roll.  He then found some pants to match, blue jeans of course.  That was about as nice as he could get, nothing else fit, or it would fit just as long as Edwin refused to breathe or move.  Edwin stood in front of a mirror to see how he looked.  The fact that Keely would most certainly be there was the furthest thing from his mind, or so he wished.  He sucked in his stomach and tried various poses to see what angles he did not look like total dough-boy from and after flexing a few times he swore he would start to work out.

Now, what to do for the rest of the afternoon?  This was sometimes a very hard thing to figure out. Some days, it was as simple as, I want to shoot virtual stuff - video games on the scryver console. Others, he preferred to talk with friends online.  Sometimes, and increasingly rarely of late, he would read a book.  If nothing else, he would listen to music and write or draw. Whichever hit him as the best outlet for whatever creative impulse he had at the moment. Of course, heaven forbid he should clean his room or do something constructive, that was always out of the question.  Edwin sat down, thought a moment, looked at the mess in his room, and began drawing.

He did not really know what he would end up drawing, but the shapes were flowing unusually well that day.  Edwin realized pretty quickly that he was drawing a dragon, but it was very different form his usual drawings.  First of all, 90% of his dragons were left-facing profiles and this was from behind. Secondly, the proportions seemed much more natural and organic. Usually Edwin took a fair amount of artistic license and drew in a cartoon like style.  The most unsettling thing though, was when he finished, he could have sworn he saw the dragon move, or more precisely, blink.  He shook it off as having stared at the paper too long.  In the end, he was quite happy, it was possibly his best work yet.  He could not help wishing it actually was real.

After drawing Edwin played some games on his scryver console and the time flew by.  It was late afternoon when Edwin saw the carriage come up.  It was really ornate, jet black with gold or gold colored trim.  On the side was the purple shield of the Imperial Army.  This all seemed a little fancy to Edwin, but this was a general's house he was going to after all. Feeling like royalty Edwin quickly put his stuff away and tucked in his undershirt. He rushed down the stairs and out the door yelling a brief so long to his family. Soon he was riding in the little carriage toward the army base and the general's house.

The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 13 "Temptation"

Edwin sat up and rubbed his eyes.  It felt like he had been asleep for a very long time.  His nerves were on fire like he was just waking up from being numb.  But when he glanced around he suddenly realized that something was off.  He could not place it exactly, but there was something wrong with the world.  It felt... upside down.  Like the world one sees when peering between ones legs.  The trees grew down, reaching into the sky far below.  It felt like there was some mysterious force holding him to the ceiling.  Edwin was afraid to jump lest that force let go and he should fall down into the sky.

"What is this place?" he whispered in awe.

"This is your mind." a voice replied.

"Wha... who are you?" Edwin said, his heart begining to race.

"I am whomever you want me to be, Edwin." said a feminine voice.  This confused Edwin.  The voice had not been female before, but neigher had it been male.  There were certainly not two voices.  It was like, a new attribute had been appended to the voice.  It was taking shape.

"Where are you?" Edwin said as he glanced around nervously, trying to pinpoint the origin of the voice.

"I'm right here" she said softly.  Edwin turned around and took a step back in surprise, it was Keely.  Only... it was not.  She was either Keely with different features or Keely's body without being her.  That is to say, physical manifestation of Keely and the idea of Keely resided in the same presence, but never at the same time.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"  She asked.

"I'm... why are you here?  ...and where is Squiggers?"  Edwin said, as he took another step back.  As he did so, he tripped on a root or something.

"Oh my!  Are you okay Edwin?" she said with a horrified look on her face.

"Eh... I'm fine." he said blushing.

"Well, okay... who is Squiggers" Keely said with a cute tilt of the head.

"Squiggers... she's my familiar.  We were... training..."  Edwin paused.

"Training?  For what?" she said eagerly.

"I... don't know."  Edwin was dumbfounded.  He had no idea what he was training for.  He felt it was incredibly important that he know this, but he could not remember.  Edwin screwed up his face trying to think, what was he doing?

"Edwin... are you alright?"

"I... I'm not really sure, to be honest."  Edwin looked down at his forearm, there was no tattoo.

"I'm worried about you Edwin, you seem ill."

"Maybe, I don't feel ill though..."  Why was there no tattoo?

Keely walked closer and said innocently, "I could, make you feel better..."

Edwin's heart skipped, "h-how do you mean?"

Keely batted her eyes and said, "oh... I think you know."

"Wha... who are you?  Are you an appirition here to torment me?  Is this some kind of nightmare?"  Edwin's heart was now about to beat out of his chest.

Keely slipped off a strap on her dress, "oh, this is certainly a dream.  But it is hardly a nightmare.  You've probably figured this out by now, but, I was born from you.  Deep inside you know you want me, and here in this place, you can."

Edwin felt like he was going to pass out.  Keely was right there, all he had to do was take her and live out this wild fantasy.  The choice stood before him like a flood gate.  He could open it and be swallowed forever by whatever lies inside, or he could run.  Edwin tried to think, he tried to reason with himself.  But his head was spinning in circles.

"What are you waiting for?  Just do whatever your heart desires, there's nothing to think about here.  Come and live out your wildest fantasies with me here in the forest!"  Keely said as she climbed on top of Edwin.

Suddenly something occurred to him.  She said to do "whatever your heart desires", and she claimed to be born from his own desires, but Edwin had never once actually wanted Keely like this.  Sure this thought had come up before, but then he had vigously beat it down ashamed something so perverse could come from his mind.  Why was this any different?  Edwin made up his mind.  He tossed Keely off of him and ran.  He ran with all his might.  He ran like he had never run before.  Tree limbs tore at him, roots threatened to topple him, but he just kept going.  He ran until he could no longer see straight and he fell in a heap.  With his lungs on fire, his muscles burning, and head throbbing, he lay there in the dirt panting and in pain.  The upside down world was spinning around him, and everything was burning.

Burning?!

Edwin sat up, and looked around.  Everything was burning.  Ashes filled the sky below and were pulled to the ground by that same mysterious force holding Edwin to the ground.  The ashes covered everything.  Through the swirling black specks Keely came walking, or floating.  Edwin could not tell.  He was too weak to move, all he could to was cry out, "go away you demon!"

Suddenly, even before Edwin had shouted, a bright flash emanated from where Keely's presence was and two words were spoken by a deep booming voice that seemed to originate inside Edwin's head, "YOU PASS."  The instant after the echoes died, Edwin felt his world shift to black again as the upside down world burned away.

The next thing he knew he could hear a familiar voice screaming his name.  This time the voice felt real.  Who could it be he wondered.  Then his memory flooded back to him like the water rushing past his head.  Edwin's eyes flashed open as he yelled a string of barely perceptible words at the top of his lungs.  Flames exploded forth in every direction, the water around Edwin was vaporized in an instant.  Heat coursed through his body as he stood up, it felt like there was an inferno inside of him and it was all he could do not to let it all out at once.

Then, as soon as it all happened, it stopped.  And there, where he stood, was a massive blackened crater.  Edwin then realized that he was holding a sobbing Ariel in his arms.  How long had she been like that he wondered.  Edwin stroked her head and hugged her tight as he took a seat by the now reforming creek.  He whispered, "I'm back."

At this a new wave of tears hit Ariel.  "I thought I lost you Edwin... you were taking so long to complete the test... and then our contract was severed... and then your heart stopped... and... and..."

Edwin gave Squiggers a squease, "It's alright now, I'm back."  Edwin let her calm down a moment before continuing, "When you say test, do you mean the thing with Keely?  You set that up?"

"Keely?" Ariel said surprised.

"...yeah, I was in some weird world, I can't even describe it.  It was like this one, but not.  And there was Keely, or, I think it was her.  And she uh... well she pretty much offered to have sex with me... but I ran, then everything was burning and a voice said 'you pass'.  Then I woke up and everything exploded."

Ariel looked puzzled.  "Edwin... that was not the task I had you doing...  do you not remember anything before that?"

"...um... no.  All I can remember is you screaming and then Keely, then you again."  Edwin sighed in frustration.

"That's strange..." Ariel said lost in thought.

As they had been talking Edwin had been looking at the little crater and the singed tree limbs nearby. "...did I do this?"

"Yes, and you nearly burned me alive too, I was not expecting that from you...  in fact, it should not have been possible.  Your contract with me had not been reconnected at that point.  Edwin... I think..." she hesitated.

"You think what?" Edwin was painfully perplexed.

"Well, here, lets try to use a basic fire spell."  Edwin slid his fingers down his forearm and let Ariel's spirit merge with his.  He let her craft the spell and form the words for him, but nothing happened.  Edwin could feel the power welling up somewhere, but there was some sort of gate locked tight that was holding it back.

"What was that?" he asked.

"...Edwin.  I can't be sure, but I think it is possible you were just chosen."

"Chosen?  What, like another contract?" Edwin said with a smile.

"Um... yes.  It is entirely possible that you may have just formed a partial contract with an elder dragon."

Edwin's brain exploded.  He dropped Squiggers and lay there drooling.  He had always dreamed of meeting an elder dragon.  Most said that they died out long ago, but Edwin was not convinced.  So, the idea of haivng a contract with one was a little bit too much for his brian to handle.

"Wait, didn't the dragons die out ages ago?" he said, once the neurons were firing normally in his brain again.

"Psh, even you don't believe that story, Edwin.  But if you want the facts, they have hidden themselves away and usually take the role of guardians of some sort.  Being able to take whatever form they wish is certainly helpful.  They usually don't make contracts though.  My guess is that a newborn, probably not even one hundred years old yet, has chosen to test you."

Edwin's brain exploded again.  Once he was sober again and had wiped up all the drool, he asked, "So, where is he?  How do I complete this contract thing?  And why can't I use fire magic?"

Ariel rolled her eyes, "well, I have no idea where he is.  Probably long gone by now.  The way you complete the contract is, well, you wait for him to test you until he is satisfied, then he will make his presence known.  The reason  you cannot use fire maigc is you never completed my training.  The dragon, for whatever reason, took control during your trance and tested you.  The fireball you saw when you regained conciousness was the dragon's magic flowing through you..."

"So...  what you are saying is, you have no idea when I'll get to ride a dragon and shoot fireballs."

"Yep." she said with a wink.

"You're so useless, you know that?" Edwin said, sticking his tounge out at Ariel.

At this they began a series of insults that culminated in another tickle fight.  After they had both laughed till it hurt to even grin, they headed back home.  It was dark now, but the moon was full and bright illuminating the path home.  When they got back, they found out that the back door had been locked.  They must have forgot Edwin was not in his room and locked up for the night.  So, he and Ariel had to fuble around the yard to find the spare key to the front door.  Evenutally they found it and crept inside.  Edwin did his best to move to his bed in silence, only knocking over a couple chiars and stubbing his toe once.  Finally he was in bed and drifting off into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of the adventures that were to come.

The Chronicles of Edwin, Ch. 12 "Fire and Ice"

It had been a while since he had left that strange scene on the road, well, okay, three days.  But to Edwin, it felt like weeks.  The attack, the damsel in distress, the comedic duo that escorted him home... it was a little hard to believe that actually happened, it was too much like the movies.  Edwin was enjoying the news, however.  The big story right now was the mysterious attack and the unnamed hero that saved the general's daughter.  Plus, they kept playing a clip of Keely.  Edwin had to admit, he was quite smitten with her.

Squiggers jumped up in front of the TV, posed like a model, and made a big show of blinking her eyes.  "Edwin's in love!" she said mockingly, drawing out her vowels.

Edwin threw a shoe at her which smacked the TV with a hollow clang.  Squiggers stuck her tongue out and started prancing around the room, "Keely and Edwin sitting in a tree K I S S I..."

Whump!  Edwin tackled her, slid a finger along the faint tatoo on his arm and she disappeared, her spirit merging with his through the contract.  Just then Edwin's mom walked in.  "What was that noise?"

"Sorry mom, I tripped."

"You alright?"

Edwin laughed, "it's me mom, built like a boulder, nothing's gonna hurt me."

She smiled, "I'm more worried about the house than you, I mean, are you doing okay?"  she nodded at the TV.

Edwin understood what she meant, "I'm fine mom, it was just a Jeed."

His mother knew better than to take that at face value, but she decided it would be better to let it be.  She smiled, "well, okay.  We'll go out shopping for another one once your father finishes this project."  She came over and gave Edwin a hug before leaving.

"Thanks mom..." he said as she left.

Edwin had told her about most of what happened, how the Jeed had died and how he met the O'Connors.  He left out the fact that he was rather infatuated, though.  Edwin still wasn't really comfortable talking to his parents about girls.  It just was not a subject that came up in the house a lot.  Of course, Edwin guessed that his mom probably knew anyway.  She would make awkward comments during the news like, "oh, she's cute, Ed, and you saved her?  haha" then she'd elbow him.  Why are moms like that?

Edwin whispered, "Ariel, I summon thee."  Edwin's tattoo glowed and out popped Squiggers with a sparkle.

"What'd ya do that for?  ...big meanie"

Edwin sighed, "come on, you know I hate being teased like that."

"But you do like her.  Why so embarrassed?"

"Meh, I don't know, I just am... okay?"  Edwin paused, "haven't told anyone but you anyway."

Squiggers laughed, "haha, even that is only because I can read your mind through the contract."  She nodded at the tattoo with a smug look on her face.

Edwin turned off off the TV and slouched down in his seat.  His features were lost in thought for a few moments then he asked, "Squiggers, do you think I'll ever see her again?"

Squiggers tried to keep a straight face, then burst out laughing.  "Bahahaha, you're hopeless!"  Edwin shot her an evil look, to which she retorted, "you'll see her again on the 10:00 news!  Baha-whoa!"  She barely dodged Edwin's other shoe.  Before she was up again Edwin had caught her.  She could feel the terrible twitching torturous tickling hands of doom descend upon her.  "Oh no!  Stop it, bahahahahaha, sto-ahahahahahaha, oh please, wheehehehehehe..."

The two of them rolled around as Edwin tickled Squiggers and she tried to escape.  Finally they both fell in a heaving heap.  Squiggers was want for breath for all the laughing, and Edwin for all the tickling.  As they both lay there, eyes glazed and staring through the ceiling, Edwin said, "You know, I was fine before I met Keely, and nothing has actually changed.  So, what is it about her existence that troubles mine so greatly?"

"Emotions, Edwin, are something we do not have control over.  Thoughts and actions, however, are a different story.  They are what give our emotions shape and power.  You need to stop fixating on the problem and let the solution work itself out by the will of the Great Designer."  She let her words sink in then continued, "Come on, let's go train by the river, that should take your mind of things.  Maybe you'll even get the hang of fire spells" she said with a wink.

Edwin sprang to life at the mention of fire. They both got up, Edwin grabbed his things and yelled to his mother as they bounded out the door.  "Going out, be back for dinner!"  With that they were gone.  He and Ariel went tramping out through the woods behind Edwin's house to an old secluded spot they had found a while back.  It was a ways off from any houses and was by a little creek.  It was a natural clearing by the creek bed that was good for all sorts of exercises.  The steep bank on the other side and the larger rocks made for a good place to practice balance and the like.  Plus with ample brush and fallen branches around, there were ample supplies for a natural training ground.  But most importantly, it was very private.

They finally arrived and Edwin asked, "you finally going to teach me some magic today?"  Edwin's face exploded with anticipation.

"I'm insulted!  Don't tell me you have not enjoyed learning my enhancement techniques?  I worked hard to teach you those..."

"Hard you say?  You sat and ate grapes while I did all sorts of absurd tasks that I'm pretty sure you made up on the spot!  ...where the heck did you get the grapes anyway?"  Squiggers points to a grapevine nearby.  Edwin just blinked, not quite sure when that had appeared or if it were even real.

"Whether I was eating grapes or not is not important.  It's time to learn some new spells!"  She said, emphasizing the end of her statement.

"But... hey?!  you...  Oh never mind.  Fire spells...  what grueling task would you have me do today then?"

"Strip."

"Strip what?"

"Gah, no, I mean get naked..."

Edwin blushed.

"Oh geeze, you'll keep your drawers on."

That still wasn't doing it for Edwin.  "Why on earth would you have me strip in the woods in the middle of winter?  What if someone walked by?"

Ariel laughed, "you know nobody comes around here, and besides, I'll be on lookout."

"Fine, but it's still ridiculously cold.  I'm wearing two jackets for goodness sakes!"

"Edwin, do you know how you learn to shape flames?"

"Of course not."

"You have to freeze, I mean really freeze.  Like, you'll probably risk hypothermia and death if you fail this test."

Edwin's heart stopped for a second.  He had never thought about the inherent risk in learning to use magic.  In magitech devices all the reactions are controlled in a medium, often crystals and energy conducting metals.  But if too much energy went through at once or the magical equations were off the wires could vaporize or the crystals explode.  Edwin tried to shake the unpleasant thought of exploding there in the woods.

Ariel watched Edwin think and when she thought he had really understood what was going on she continued.  "Fire magic is one of the most powerful and most destructive, but it is also more risky.  I have seen several talented wizards freeze to death trying to learn just the basics.  But you have two things they did not."

Edwin perked up at this.

"First, you have the blood of an ancient race of giants running in your veins.  That is a powerful magical catalyst..."

"Wait, I thought the giants were powerful earth magic users, not fire."  Edwin interjected.

"Well, that is true, but earth and fire are related and many forget that in The War of Three Continents, it was the giants who raised volcanoes from the earth, combining fire and earth for devastating results.  But also, the giants are one of The Hunted, during the great purge of the last century it was the giants who bore the brunt of the killings since they were among the most conspicuous of the sapien races, and the most peace loving.  During that time something snapped in the hearts of those gentle beings.  They say that it was like watching an explosion in slow motion when a pure blooded giant's composure finally broke.  There were not many who were witness to the giant's wrath and lived to tell the tale.  To bring this back to you, Edwin, you are one sixth giant.  Your great great grandfather was a pure blooded warrior giant, and that fire of his burns in you.  The aim of this training is to wake it up."

"...and to do that I have to freeze because?"

"Your body's natural bent for self preservation will seek to compensate for the cold, but when it can't you will either die or be forced to tap a new resource of warmth."

Edwin was beginning to piece things together.  "You said I have two things going for me that others did not, what is the second?"

Ariel laughed, "me of course!  Our contract lets me help you form the spell correctly, so you can avoid any unseemly syntactical errors.  Plus, once you have made the connection with your own inner flame you will be able to connect with mine which is considerably larger."  Her eyes twinkled dangerously for a moment and Edwin wondered for the first time, was she as benign as he had assumed?

They talked a bit more about the details and Ariel described more precisely what Edwin would have to do.  Finally it came down to the decision.  Edwin was apprehensive.  It is not easy to consciously strip down to nothing and submerge one's self into the icy creek water till hypothermia sets in and hope that ones mind is able to connect with his inner flame and then repel the cold just in time to live.  But Edwin had always wanted to wield fire.

"Squiggers... if I do die... what would happen to my parents, my brothers, and friends?"

Ariel knew what he was getting at.  Being privy to his most private thoughts had it's advantages at times like these.  "Well, first off, I do not think you will die.  But should that happen, you know I've shared your mind long enough to know what you would want to tell those you leave behind.  ...I probably should not say this, but I know you feel that this risk is somewhat irresponsible given your situation.  Even though you won't admit it to yourself, you are a very responsible person, other people are always a burden on your heart.  I want you to complete this training, Edwin.  I have a bad feeling about what the future holds and I've been intending to teach you these techniques for some time.  I believe that the incident where you met Keely and your Jeed died was not an isolated one, and I would like to prepare you for whatever the future holds."


Well dang...  Was all that went through Edwin's mind at that point.  "That's all a little..."

"...hard to take in.  I know, and I can't explain any more than that right now."  Ariel paused to gather her thoughts, "so, will you follow through with this training?"

Edwin, who had sat down some time ago, stood up and stretched.  "I don't see why not."  He winked as he took off his shirt and jacket.  In a matter of seconds he had stripped down and was standing at the edge of the little creek wondering what the best way to get in would be.  Should he walk in and lay down in the deepest part in stages or just go all in at once.  He was starting to shiver rather violently already and it wasn't two moments longer that he got fed up with thinking and just rushed in.

His body fell into the freezing water with a massive splash.  The initial shock of the cold took Edwin's breath away and he gasped sharply for air.  He was waiting for that peaceful feeling one gets when one gets used to the temperature of the water, like when the family would go to the beach over the Summer.  But that feeling was not coming and Edwins heart was pounding out of his chest.  He began to shiver violently shoving some of the sharper rocks in the creek into his back drawing blood.  Everything in Edwin was screaming at him to get out and find warmth, but Edwin refused to get up.  He could feel his heart and the large arteries feeding his brain with life sustaining blood.  His extremities were shutting down, the nerves were shutting off cause of the pain of going numb.  Edwin tried to think of Keely, of his family, of the instructions Ariel had given him but it all faded into the dull thud of his heart surrounded by the rushing of the freezing water.  Edwin could barely make out Ariel desperately shrieking his name as his consciousness shifted to black.