Chronicles of Galadria I - The Other World

by David Gay-Perret

  Chapter 22

  IT took several days for the adolescents to recover from what had happened. But with distance, they were better able to analyze the situation, and this encounter with the other peoples of Galadria made them reflect on the probability of other races existing, such as the dwarves and elves that Zorick had mentioned when he showed them the Book of Eternal Twilight. Up until that point, the four friends had assumed that only humans and orks still remained in the Known Lands, but it seemed that that was not the case.

  It was also at this time that Glaide decided to finally purchase some clothing that better fit with the local color. He announced that to his companions, who commended him for it. Up until then, he had wanted to grasp at that connection with the world of his origins, to symbolize that he did not belong to Galadria, and that he didn’t know what to do to help the people here. But now he felt ready to search for answers, ready to confront the obstacles that were certain to come. Actually, though, Glaide alone had perceived all of this symbolism; his companions placed no importance on it, and the people they met simply took him for a stranger from a distant part of Galadria. Nonetheless, it was an important moment.

  He decided to visit the same boutique that his friends had found, and to take advantage of that to also pay a visit to the armory next door. To his great surprise, he arrived at his destination without once becoming lost. On entering, he was welcomed with a hearty, “Hello!” from the merchant. He greeted her in turn with a big smile, then explained the reason for his visit.

  “Okay. I’m a protector, and I’m looking for new clothing to replace these, which, I have to say, seem to have given up the ghost.”

  The woman opened her eyes wide, stupefied as she noticed the enormous tear at the top of the sleeve. “Was it the blade of an ork that caused all of these tears?” she inquired. “They have no respect for anything!” She let out a great sigh. “Right, so are you looking for similar clothing?”

  “No, no, not at all. I’d actually prefer to have something completely different.”

  “Do you know exactly what you’re looking for?”

  “Umm.... No, to be perfectly honest, I don’t. I just know that I need to be able to move rapidly, and that I need something solid – to protect against blows.”

  The merchant gave a big smile. “Well, then, I have what I call ‘the protector line’: a jacket of thick leather, which provides good resistance against most – though, of course, not the sharpest – blades, short but loose pants made of cloth so they don’t impede your movements, along with light boots, made of supple leather. However, take note that such clothing is very practical in case you have to journey between two towns, on a well-trodden road, but of course, not if you must travel through the forest! You can move easily in them, and they’re resistant to blades, but such clothing will help very little in what I would call ‘hostile terrain’.”

  Glaide had attentively listened to the description of the material. He had promised himself he would no longer think of leaving, but he decided to still keep that hypothetical voyage in mind as he purchased his clothing. He asked the woman if it was possible to change two or three things in the ‘Protector Special’. He explained that he expected to make a difficult journey, and that a few elements in the outfit wouldn’t work well for that. She immediately grabbed a pen and paper and confirmed that she could make whatever he wished to his size.

  “Okay, so this is what I would like,” began the teen. “For pants, I’d prefer something longer, rather than something short, though still loose fitting, and of a similar material to what you proposed. Then, I’d like boots that come up to the knee, made of thick leather, and resistant, so that I can easily pass through brambles or over rocks without any problems. As for the jacket: what you described to me seems perfect, though I’d prefer something sleeveless. Actually, I’d also prefer a cloth shirt to wear underneath, with long sleeves. Also, do you think it would be possible to make a leather bracer – a kind of cuff – to protect my forearms?”

  The woman nodded quickly, continuing to make notes. Glaide knew that such a thing would be less than useful to him, but he’d always dreamed of wearing them! “Oh, I forgot,” he continued. “I’ll also need a couple of little pouches, that I can use to carry herbs, eorens, money, or other small objects. It would be great if I could attach them to my belt.” Here, he made his sword and its belt appear.

  He took it off and handed it to the woman, who examined it briefly before declaring, “Right, that shouldn’t be a problem. And for the colors... What would you like?”

  “Ah, right, colors. Hmmm. How about black for the pants and the shirt, the darkest brown that you have for the boots and the bracers, and a light brown for the leather vest.”

  “Good. Let me just say that an outfit like this should let you travel long distances, or more or less anywhere.”

  “So, it’s perfect then. When should I come back for all of it?”

  “Well, taking into account the fact that I’ll have your belt and sword, I’ll try to complete it as quickly as I can. It’s the middle of the week now... Hmm... Come back in three days. Everything should be ready then.”

  “Perfect.”

  Glaide hesitated to ask for changes of clothing. The two girls had already purchased a considerable wardrobe, while up until that point, Jeremy had been content with just a few pieces here and there. Finally, he made the decision based on his idea of traveling. He would not be able to carry too much on a long journey. Instead, he decided to be content with what he’d already ordered. He could always choose to purchase more clothing in any of the other villages that he would certainly pass through. “And there it is, again I’m thinking of that future possibility,” he thought with a smile. “And I’m not going anywhere yet! At any rate, I already decided to give that all up.”

  The merchant took his measurements and he paid her what he owed, all while meditating on that idea that he could not seem to let go of. He had always loved those outfits from the Middle Ages, just as he’d seen in films, and he was now impatient to have his own! He looked at his shoes; they were in a horrible state. The soles were coming loose, and holes had begun to appear along the sides. They were obviously not meant for traveling like this. “On the other hand,” he thought with a smile, “Who on earth would have thought that I’d need sturdier shoes, just because I have the habit of travelling between worlds?” He remembered then that his friends hadn’t purchased any boots. Perhaps they counted on purchasing them later? For the moment, the tranquil lives they were living in Shinozuka didn’t justify such a purchase.

  The teen decided then to return to the armory that he had visited before, next door to the clothing shop. Now that he better understood eorens, he was sure that the pits he had noticed in some of the weapons must have been to hold those precious objects. The tinkle of a bell sounded as he entered and the merchant, who was at the very back of the store, waved to him. Glaide approached the counter and said, “I was here a few weeks ago, and had a look at some of the weapons you sell. I noticed some pits in some, and I wondered... Are they for holding eorens, then?”

  “Of course,” the merchant replied, incredulous.

  Glaide realized that he was once again displaying his ignorance! To try to maintain his anonymity, he attempted to repair his error. “Right, of course. I have to say, I’m a protector, and my weapon has no pits of that sort, and since I’ve travelled very little, I’ve never come across such weapons.”

  The man raised his eyebrows, appearing quite astonished. However, he quickly recovered his usual friendly look. The boy’s story seemed a bit shaky, but if the man doubted him, he didn’t let it show, instead saying, “You seem to be ignorant of the role of eorens. However, it is very important to understand what they are capable of, once united with a weapon! If you have the time, I’d be willing to explain it all to you.”

  “Please do,” replied the boy, enthusiastically.

  The merchant came out from behind the counter and went to
find a lance. He carried it to the young man, and the two of them leaned over to look at the shaft, where a pair of cavities of an inch or so in diameter could be found, situated on the end closer to the point, so they wouldn’t make the weapon difficult to hold. “Now, of course, you know that eorens allow their holders to use magic, right?”

  “Yes, of course,” said the adolescent, impatient to learn more.

  “So, you should also know that it’s possible to insert them, once they are cut, in weapons. Look: these cavities are able to hold eorens. In this lance, there are two, but some weapons have many more. It all depends on where you can put them on the weapon. A sword, for example, couldn’t have so many of these.”

  “Right, that makes sense. But why would anyone want them?”

  “You don’t see why?” asked the merchant with a mischievous look. The boy simply looked at the merchant. “Right, then listen up. Here is why they’re useful. An eoren, once fused with its user, gives him the ability to use magic. And that is what happens here. The element which the eoren is imbued with becomes diffused through the weapon. If you choose fire, for example, your weapon will embrace that, setting itself ablaze so that every attack will inflict painful burns.”

  “That’s fantastic,” murmured the young man.

  “Isn’t it, though? You can also combine multiple elements – lightning and water, for example. An enemy soaked with water would be... shall we say... more receptive to a lightning attack!” The two both laughed.

  Glaide had now discovered one more use of those mysterious objects. However, he couldn’t help but think back to what he had been told: eorens drain the planet. However, his curiosity and excitement overtook his reflection, and he hurried to add, “Why don’t the weapons of protectors have such powers?”

  “They’re much more powerful! Do you have your weapon with you?”

  “No, actually. It’s in the boutique next door. I left it there so that measurements could be made.”

  “Ah, well, it doesn’t matter. In any event, protectors can’t use eorens with their blades, whatever the type. It’s the same with other weapons: the weapons from the Ancient Times, or what we call the Golden Age of Blacksmiths. Actually, like great sorcerers and maggs who use the magic of Galadria directly, in the past, it was possible to transfer magical energy directly into a weapon, if, of course you had a magician with you. Today, there are only a few rare objects that are capable of receiving the flux, and unfortunately, the weapons of protectors aren’t one of them, for reasons unknown to me.”

  “So you mean protectors can use neither eorens, nor the flux,” murmured Glaide, disheartened.

  The man nodded, then added, “On that point, weren’t you the one who asked me if I had any katanas?”

  “Right,” exclaimed the adolescent. “That was me.”

  “Ah, I thought that I recognized you. Katanas and weapons derived from them, like wakizashis, can’t be made with cavities like this, so they stopped being made entirely. There is still one place, though, where it seems that they are forging them once again.”

  “Right, you mentioned that before. You added that you didn’t know where that was, though.”

  “Unfortunately. But you should know that if you come to possess one of those rare weapons from Ancient Times, that is very lucky. If you find a magician, you’ll no longer have to worry about your eorens losing strength as you use them, and you won’t have to carry a reserve of them. You can access all sorts of spells and all of the elements, and combine them however you wish, without needing any great number of those cavities. As for the weapons of protectors... I can tell you that they are much more powerful, even if they can’t take on the power of eorens, like modern weapons, or the magical flux, like those of Ancient Times, because with them, it’s possible to use the magic of maggs – white magic.”

  This made Glaide pause: did this concept hold the secret of the “true power of maggs”, as Drekhor had called it? “What do you mean?” he asked eagerly.

  “Well, it's actually nothing more than a theory, but white magic is of a different nature than other magic. Only the elite few, maggs, can manipulate it, and while only a few extremely talented mages ever manage to work magic without eorens, all maggs are instinctively and immediately capable of it. Furthermore, eorens of all types exist, but I’ve never heard of white eorens. Anyway, I once ran into a disciple of the school of Iretane – I don’t know if you know it; it’s very rare, and is little practiced...”

  At the very mention of the name, the heart of the boy leapt in his chest. “Continue,” he hurried the man, “I know of it.”

  “Well anyway, I met a disciple of this school, and he explained to me that the goal of his training was to one day be able to use white magic through his sword. Thus, even though protectors would be unable to set their swords aflame, for example, they would have access to white magic. I don’t know what would be involved in mastering such a skill – or even if it’s possible to master it – but if the magic of maggs is of a different nature from other types of magic, perhaps it can be used where other magic cannot be?”

  “That would make sense. It would be fantastic to be able to heal others, like they do, and to create protective shields...”

  “Or even just to have a sword impregnated with light... Light that, when faced with the henchman of Baras, would act as an effective and rapid poison!”

  The two paused for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. The image of such power enchanted Glaide; it just had to be possible for him to master it! If he could manage that, even with none but Emily at his side, he would be unstoppable. Was this the key to making sense of his new life?

  He shivered with happiness imagining himself, face to face with an entire battalion of orks. A new Glaide, capable of striking all of his enemies down with a single attack; a simple teenager, capable of any combat, and of protecting those around him... “Could the school of Murockai offer me all of that? Up until now, no one has ever mentioned the idea of combining the power of maggs in protectors’ weapons,” he thought bitterly.

  He thanked the merchant for the information and left, lost in thought. He wanted to tell his friends everything, but he would refrain from talking about the power of maggs. He didn’t want to worry them by showing his passion for Iretane. And he certainly didn’t want to make them embark on another journey, to search for the last master teaching the technique. They were comfortable and safe within the walls of Shinozuka. The adolescent rejoined his friends, who were back at the inn.

  When they saw him arrive, dressed the same as when he’d left, they showed considerable astonishment. He reassured them, though, explaining that his clothes would be ready in a few days. However, he chose not to describe what he’d chosen, preferring instead to surprise them. Then, the young man explained to them in a few words what he had discovered. As he’d decided beforehand, he didn’t mention white magic or the school of Iretane, and his friends didn’t ask any questions. Dinner time arrived, and the group took their seats at the table. Immediately, the conversation took a turn that astonished Glaide. The young people began to speak of their mission, and of what they were supposed to do here.

  “We should be acting like protectors and maggs,” declared Jeremy.

  “It’s true,” agreed Gwenn. “And to that end, we can count on the support of the king and the entire population, alongside our magic and your swords.”

  “But we still know so little about how this world works. It seems like there are so many problems, but maybe they’re all connected somehow,” suggested Emily. “We certainly need to train more, and for several months. Also, I think it would be best if we stay here for as long as it takes to master the style of Murockai.”

  “That makes sense to me. What do you think, Glaide?”

  “Actually, I’m just happy to see you willing to take things on like that,” exclaimed the adolescent. “I’ll leave it to you to make your decisions, but if you want my opinion, it seems like a good idea.”

&
nbsp; “Great,” said Gwenn enthusiastically. “However, it’s true that we still lack knowledge. This business about weapons and eorens is something I’d never heard of, but it’s exciting information. On the other hand, we still know nothing about barbarians, elves, and dwarves, or even if they all still exist.”

  “Right, so we need to diligently keep up frequent visits to the library,” said Emily in summary, “all while continuing to strengthen our powers. “We may also need to consider finding more permanent lodgings.”

  “I don’t think that should be our priority for now,” said Glaide. “This inn is very welcoming, and as long as the king is willing to pay for it...” Actually, he thought that finding more permanent lodgings would be a mistake. The group expected to be here for many months, but things could change.

  “To gain knowledge about Galadria,” commented Jeremy, “I think we’d be better off traveling, meeting people and wise elders, discovering new horizons and new cities!” As Emily raised her eyebrows as if to reply that that was too dangerous, he added quickly, “But I know, I know... We don’t know where to find other schools that teach the Murockai technique, and we really don’t know where to go. That’s why the best solution would be to talk to Rozak and Vizc, and to read more about it all.”

  Glaide smiled and nodded distractedly. The idea his friend had posed was becoming more and more seductive to him. Wasn’t that exactly what he wanted? To see things, to discover things? And once again, he was submerged in doubt. To go, or not to go? His resolution, made a few weeks before, wavered. He could perhaps discover Iretane... and above all, protect his friends. To leave... The more he thought about it, the more it seemed that was the only solution to his worries and his desires. Of course, his fear of the unknown was always present, and adventuring in a dangerous world that he didn’t know made him less enchanted with the idea. However, the discoveries he could make would certainly be incredible!