Blog Post

Blog Post 52: The Adventure Shop: Part 19

11/13/2023

Carnelian reviewed the stones she placed before Dahlia. Making Dahlia take note of their value, how they could be used, and how to spot the real from the fake. 

Carnelian made Dahlia study the real raw gems until Dahlia could identify each for what they were. 

Dahlia in turn taught Carnelian all she had created, while in turn Carnelian showed her skill as a chemist as she taught Dahlia the reaction of elements Dahlia had never come across on her own. 

Dahlia looked up, hoping that there would be a letter soon from Aster and found her thoughts often off of her lessons and onto him. Wondering what he and the others were doing. What they could have discovered.

“Dahlia! I swear! Keep your head on what you are doing!” Carnelian shouted as Dahlia looked back at the chemicals becoming unruly in front of her, “You daft girl! Stand back! There is no stopping what you did now! Stand back before it hurts you!” 

Carnelian pushed Dahlia out of the way as she began to place new elements into the mix that took the wild concoction to a small bubble before them. 

“We will be done today. I have a feeling that playing with elements that could kill any one of us here at this moment is not smart with your head a million miles away.”

“I am sorry. I normally have more moments of focus, but Aster’s letter is supposed to come any day now. He promised it would be soon. And as much as I appreciate all of you,” Dahlia let her thought trail off as Carnelian smirked.

“But you are bored and you don’t want to stay here any longer? That you are feeling slightly trapped?”

“Not trapped. I know I am here for my benefit, but I may be feeling as though it has been too long without exploring anything. Even with the knew knowledge you all have given me.” 

Dahlia looked up into the leaves as the sun danced between them as the air played with its limbs. “It is beautiful here.” 

“Yes, it is. You know that is why many end up staying. There is a peace here that seems to not be found outside of its borders. I was planning on leaving at one point, but I came to like it here. I,”

“Dahllia! Dahlia!” Marianna called running to her waving her hand in the air, “It is here! It is finally here!” 

Carnelian smiled as she nodded to the letter, “Go get it and see what he says.” 

Dahlia ran to meet Mariana as she saw the letter and Marianna handed it over as soon as Dahlia was in reach.

Opening the letter she saw her name on top in Aster’s handwriting, 

“Dahlia,

I am sorry it has taken so long to write. Our progress has been slow and it has taken a while to get anywhere.

Recently we have taken up doing odd jobs for whoever will pay in order to continue to finance our travels. With our skills the work is easy and we are able to work and continue. 

It has been a long while, and my thoughts have often gone to you. I am glad of your recent letter and that you are not bored while you have been healing. I look forward to you joining us again soon. Everyone else misses you too. 

There is some good news we have come across on our journey. In one of the towns we have come across some information of a woman asking about how to release power from a moonstone. Since it is a banned technology we had to come across the information in a less than stellar establishment. 

So we have discovered that she has not been able to access your power. We have the opportunity to get back the moonstone before she has found a way to access it. We have found that as long as you are still alive the moonstone will not allow anyone else access to your power. I do not believe the woman knows this as I believe she thinks you died in the fire. 

With this knowledge in our favor it is more important for you to stay in a safe location out of any wind that could shift in her direction. So for now I ask that you please stay there. Where you are now and do not attempt to leave. As long as we have this advantage we may be able to save you and your magic.

Which brings me to my second line of good news I have for you. With the wind that we have caught of the womans whereabouts we know where she is going next and plan to find a way to follow her from there in plans to understand her full abilities. Once we have more information we will be able to discover a way to confront her.

Dahlia, we are closer than we have been to getting everything back that you had lost. Please stay safe until then. We do not want you placed in any danger if the woman in yellow discovers you are alive. 

On that note, I am hoping by the next time I write to also have a name for the mysterious woman who has caused such upheaval in our lives. 

I look forward to your next letter. Stay safe.

Yours,

Aster”

Dahlia raised her head to look into the leaves as she groaned. 

“What’s wrong?” Marianna asked. 

“Aster told me I can’t leave.” Dahlia sighed.

“When has anyone telling you what to do ever stopped you from doing what you want?”

Dahlia looked pointedly at Marianna as it dawned on her friend, “Besides me. When would you ever listen to Aster?”

“Because he has a very good point.” Dahlia replied, handing the open letter to Marianna. 

Marinna read and then handed the letter to Carnelian, who then handed it to Xaxol, then it went to Psyche, Brawn, Mistral, and then finally to Bart who took the letter.

“You were connected to a moonstone as a babe?” He asked, looking over her with wonder.

“I was. It was,”

“Yes, we all know. My crew secured a few in my more dastardly days.” He noted, watching the shock in her face at what that meant. “It was also before I was aware of how the power was gained.” 

“I was connected when I was young and people sought my power and it cost my family their throne. When I was old enough I left to protect them. I stayed hidden until the woman found me.”

The group stayed silent as it settled in what the moonstone meant in my life. 

“So you are meant to stay here until they are ready for you to come to claim your power?” Bart asked.

“Yes, despite what I would prefer I do not want to worry them and if the woman finds out I am alive,” I paused, not sure how to complete the sentence.

“She will kill you to take the power for herself.” Mistral looked sadded as she watched me. “But do you think that is the best way to do it?” 

“I am not sure. Even with how all of you have helped me, my body is weak and I can not use my magic. I am scared without it that I would be more of a hindrance than a benefit if I left. And if she found out about me, that would put everyone else in danger.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Aster, are you seeing this?” Pertinax asked, motioning his head to the official looking group that wore normal cloaks.

“Yeah, those are not just adventures. Even the grouping says military training. The way they are looking around the market.”

Riskar came up and motioned to the group of presumed soldiers, “Have you hear what they are asking? They are not very subtle.”

Riskar shook his head smirking as he looked at the other two waiting for an answer.

“What are they looking for?” Aislin asked as she materialized out of no where.

Pertanix jumped, “I hate when you do that!” He said an octave higher than he usually spoke.

“I am sorry.” Aislin smiled mischievously, as her wispy voice conveyed emotion that her smile did not.

Riskar rolled his eyes at the exchange before turning to Aster, “They are asking about a shop keeper tied to a moonstone.” Riskar looked at the group of soldiers before turning back to Aster, “I think they are looking for Dahlia. They know she is alive.”

“We need to get a letter to the Mother Tree, now!”