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The Seventh Day
Synopsis: The protagonist, a human wizard and “base magic adept” named Zed Starmute, has just become the newest member of a group of mystical travellers known in ancient legend as the Crystalbound, and now readies to fulfill his role as the seventh and final face of its motley crew.
Zed has no recollection of his life prior to his arrival in a small community in the dark of night, where he stumbled upon the local adventurers’ emporium and was taken in by its kindly owner, Eustace Taylor, and he’s been working there ever since, with only the occasional travelling oracle and infrequent emergent talent to keep things interesting.
This short story coincides with the arrival of the elven mage Amethyst, founder and co-leader of the Crystalbound, as she is called to Zed’s adoptive township in search of the “naturally gifted mage,” and presents the first seven days from his perspective, in the form of journal entries.
***
Daily Journal of
Zed Nulvoc ad-Astywn
Year 387 WSE
Third Arc of Blue Frost
***
Month Kedakai | Day Aka-1
—
Well, Journal… here we are at last.
The cryptic message I received from the oracle Emerald seems to be coming true, and not in the way I’d expected. Then again, I’m not exactly versed in the school of Divination, am I? It seems my only talent is cantrips, though that may be due to not having a proper instructor until now.
I’m still at a loss for words about the timing, but more than that, it’s the fact my dream last night involved uncovering amethysts deep inside a cavern on the moon, and today I meet a mysterious person whose name is Amethyst Moondew?! I mean, what are the chances, right?
Hm… maybe this means I’m destined for a life beyond the bounds of Silvertooth, though I can’t help but feel Mrs. Taylor’s grown fond of me. I feel sorry for her son Theodor, since it’s like I’ve stolen his thunder or something… actually, he stares at me every time I arrive for my shift lately. I wonder if…? Nah, no way, José! Who’d be interested in an amnesiac like this goober?
Oh yeah… Amethyst. Heheh… well, I better feed Gilda and change her water. Ooh, I hope Mrs. Taylor looks after her while I’m away. Somehow, I think taking an axolotl with me across the globe might be problematic…
‘til next time!
***
Month Kedakai | Day Taiyo-1
–
WOW, that was a close call!
Context: the party leader… what was his name again…? Eh, I’ll ask him in the morning. Anyhow, he said I wasn’t ready to be an adventurer despite Amethyst explaining about my being a base magic adept. Honestly, there’s no doubt in my mind that Mr. Newt back in Silvertooth’d explain it to him in a way he’d understand.
Even so, Amethyst must’ve said the right thing to her orcborn friend, because he just came in to tell me he’s “considered my proposal” and “agreed to give me a chance” as secondary mage (except I’m a wizard, though the distinction is probably minimal).
As for the others, I’ve never seen such an eclectic bunch of folks in my life… well, to the best of my recollection, at least. Even the other “full” human has a physical characteristic I’ve never seen: slightly pointed ear-tips! Apparently, she (Emily) is a “syl,” whereas I’m a “circa,” whose ears are slightly round-tipped.
Oh, and then there’s Brocc, a gnome who seems VERY interested in me for some bizarre reason… he insists it’s my height, yet his attitude implies he’s hiding the real reason for wanting to be “best buds,” though maybe it’s an omnomno thing? They DO live in large family communities, so who knows?
There’s just one other thing that baffles me about today… exactly WHY is this tavern and inn called The Name Pending? Surely it isn’t a placeholder, considering it’s been around for hundreds of years, right?
’til next time!
***
Month Kedakai | Day Ki-1
—
***
Month Kedakai | Day Mori-1
—
Huh… I can’t believe I didn’t write an entry yesterday. It isn’t like me to doze off and sleep through the whole night prior to midnight, though I did a LOT more walking over the past two days than I probably have since before losing my past… actually, I’m still kinda groggy despite relaxing the whole day at a MAGIC ACADEMY!
Amethyst had me enrolled at Stormshroud Academy for Young Mages, as a formality for becoming her first apprentice. Gotta follow those protocols, I suppose… though I think it’s odd how there was no ritual or ceremony to induct me into the group as the Azurebound.
I mean, if we’re as legendary as everyone implies, why downplay the significance? This whole society is BUILT on festivals and celebrations the whole year, right? I’m looking forward to my first ever Dragon Festival, which is a little over a week from now, between the second and third weeks of Kedakai. Brocc says Ryokorese food is “oishī desu yo,” which I’m somehow able to understand… a clue to my past, perhaps, or just a fluke?
Oh, and I met a wolfborn (half-werewolf, half-human) named Kendall, and his circa human half-sister Laura, during my first lecture here this afternoon. Kendall’s the apprentice to Alek Stormshroud, Academy Master of Illusion and old friend of Amethyst’s. Apparently they were both apprentices to Mr. Newt, with Alek being Amethyst’s successor. Small world, innit?
’til next time (for real, promise)!
***
Month Kedakai | Day Sora-1
–
Oooookay… I’m gonna have to keep it brief, because a LOT has happened today, and I’m STILL trying to figure it all out:
- My familiar egg (obtained late last night) hatched into a silver nanodragon I chose to name “Argen,” for some bizarre reason
- Alek was framed for vandalising the school, which turned out to be his LITERALLY evil twin Lillian, with the latter’s attempt to sway me to his side going about as well as you’d expect
- Apparently, it’s an extremely offensive derogatory insult to call any spellcaster a “cantripper,” which means those two bullies tried (and failed) to provoke a negative reaction from me; honestly, it’s kinda refreshing to be clueless for once, considering the whole “Zednesia” thing I have
Aight, I need a LOT of rest now…
’til next time!
***
Month Kedakai | Day Tsuki-1
–
We’re gonna camp tonight! I’ve never camped before (I think), so this is gonna be exciting!
Bryn keeps trying to stir me up about bears in the woods, but Brocc insists that no wild animal will ever hurt us as long as there’s an omnomno like him in the party, since his kind have a rapport with other living creatures. He still seemed a bit nervous regardless, though it comes across as a level of extreme overprotection that makes even Mak’s “Big Bro” overbearing seem tame!
Speaking of Mak, it’s weird how he sees me as a “kid,” despite the fact he’s maybe a half-decade younger than me, even with human-to-orcborn age conversion taken into account. Also, he keeps insisting I “spill my secrets” on how to make sandwiches… I mean, it’s not like it’s difficult, right? It’s stuff smooshed between two slices of buttered bread. His IQ is high “for his kind” (Bryn’s words), so it doesn’t take a genius.
Oh, I gotta finish setting up my tent, and then Thobrun’s making a traditional Tundwaldunian delicacy called “cockaleeky,” which isn’t what it sounds; it’s actually a hearty chicken and leek broth, and his mother’s recipe includes oats. I can smell it from here, and my mouth’s already watering! Mmm…
’til next time!
***
Month Kedakai | Day Ao-1
—
Star Mute One…
If you find this message prior to the Winter Festival…
Do NOT venture to Goldwaldun…
The fate of your Master…
The mark lain bare…
The Claw of Gold…
She who would be lost…
Alter not the Overlay’s path…
The consequences… are Null.
—J
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A bit of context: this short story is based on the first few episodes of my long-running fantasy series, Chromaia Adventures, which is freely available to read online (link posted sometime soon).
The events depicted take place during the first three stories of season one, Crystals of Silveria, with Zed as the central protagonist, and the journal entry for Day 7 a deliberate and intentionally cryptic hint at a future story arc that ties into the series as a whole.
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