Chapter 6 (continued)

Age of Solstice, 16:71

Tulasquss, Drazul's Plane

Drazul stopped for a moment. She turned to look towards the kitchen. She felt that it was time to restock and grab other essentials. Drazul also needs to stock up on supplies for Whisper and herself if she plans to continue the search. Whisper has never left the cottage since her arrival and Drazul imagines that isn't good for a growing child. She believes this would be the perfect time to show Whisper around her plane and relay to her the importance of their journey as they are now both involved.

She stood up and motioned for Whisper to follow her into the kitchen. Whisper obeyed, listening to Drazul as she explained to her to assist her in making a list,

"Today, we are going into the city."

Whisper was surprised but also ecstatic. She was beginning to get cabin fever remaining indoors. After they spent several minutes going through the cabinets and icebox, it was time for them to get their coats on. Drazul pointed at Whisper's eye as they were getting dressed. Whisper, having forgotten, hastily put her eye patch on, adjusting her scarf right after. While magic isn't anything new in Tulasquss, they don't need any unwanted attention. Drazul, waiting at the front door, put her hand up when Whisper approached,

"Listen here, Whisper. There's no need to be light fingered when we are in the city. If you want something, you need only ask. You may have whatever you want, within reason." Drazul put emphasis on those final words. Whisper nodded, grinning. Whisper will behave herself--although, she can't promise she won't try anything...but Drazul doesn't need to know that. She put on a slightly oversized coat Drazul handed her, no doubt belonging to another. Drazul, herself, put on the fanciest cloak, with a coat-dress underneath. Whisper thought she looked pretty for just an outing into the city.

As they stepped outside, the morning light greeted them, lighting the Mire in its entirety. Whisper could see the city from their mountain peak and was alarmed to see that there was a tall castle but one she's never seen. In fact, the entire city looked quite different than what she's used to. She tugged at Drazul's cloak,

"Somethin' ain't right. Why is the city like that?"

Drazul squinted before understanding her question,

"I completely forgot, you are not of my world," Drazul put on her gloves, whipping her hair behind as she turned to Whisper, "My Tulasquss is different from yours. Mine, in your eyes, is perhaps more underdeveloped, but it is only so because magic has made everything more convenient. In your world, I believe there is magic but yours is more influenced by science. Your world's reliance on magic is much more tamed than mine."

Whisper's mouth was agape, barely comprehending what Drazul was explaining to her. She was staring at the city, completely flabbergasted. Whisper crouched, her arms hanging from her knees, processing this new information. Drazul stood with a hand on her hip,

"I thought I shared this with you. Must've slipped my mind," Drazul murmured to herself, entertained by Whisper's expressions, then waved her hand,

"No matter. Come on, then. We have errands to complete. Let's go see your new Tulasquss in person, shall we?"

As Drazul stepped forward, she sliced the air in front of her with her hand, opening a tear wide enough for them both to slip through. Whisper, still crouched, was caught off guard and fell backwards. The tear looked like Drazul ripped into reality, making something out of nothing. Whisper was too stunned to say anything. Her attention was transfixed on what was inside the tear. The city was bustling, stalls lined with goods and folk bartering and some arguing. Drazul turned to Whisper, wondering what was taking her so long.

Then she saw Whisper's reaction and got her answer. She waved at Whisper,

"This is how I travel. Come then, on your feet."

Whisper slowly picked herself up, reaching for Drazul's cloak, clutching it absently. Drazul is reminded that Whisper is still a child despite her usually acting mature for her age. She took Whisper's arm in hers in reassurance. Whisper looked up at Drazul, realizing how much she towered over her. After calming down her nerves, they both walked through the tear.

They were now in the Mire Kingdom, emerging from an alley within the city. Whisper's eyes widened as she tried to take in the sights of this new place. It looks like they were near a busy square held for the citizens to open stalls and sell various goods. There was all sorts of things for sale, things Whisper had never seen before. She also took note of the buildings surrounding them, noticing that they were quite medieval. Beyond them were the castle walls, eastward. They were of pure stone and looked old, just like the rest of the castle. She could tell there was history within those walls.

Whisper felt Drazul tug her arm, forcing her to pay attention to her surroundings. Drazul was headed towards the grocer's stalls, pausing to purchase a few things here and there at nearly every stall. Whisper watched Drazul interact with various citizens throughout. It looks like they recognize her, commenting how she doesn't age, practically begging for her secrets. Drazul would shrug, denying such secrets were held before removing herself to move onto the next stall. Whisper chuckled.

Whisper was entertained seeing Drazul in a public setting. Despite her being usually at home and away from people, she can handle herself just fine in a crowd and around strangers. Somehow, Whisper felt relieved. She didn't realize she was nervous for Drazul. Whisper tugged at her coat, moving beside Drazul. She was chatting with a large man who was selling parts of....something. Perhaps an animal? It all looked like organs or venison but she knew it wasn't. She looked at the man and she thought he looked a bit scary, until she noticed he had an eye patch, just like her. She found herself staring, curious.

The man noticed midway into his conversation with Drazul, turning his attention on Whisper, winked and continued with his conversation. Whisper grinned, listening in. The man talked funny, a speech she never heard before. Twas English but older. He sounded posh and queer to Whisper but she knew it was probably due to what Drazul told her before. That this Tulasquss is much different from hers. After Drazul and Whisper bid their goodbyes, Drazul shifted their purchased goods in her hands. Their items were in a hefty basket that Whisper couldn't believe Drazul was able to hold. She was going to offer to carry it but she put that thought away after glancing at the basket. There are times to be polite and this wasn't one of them.

Whisper hooked her arm in Drazul's free arm, following her lead as they traversed the busy square. Eventually they landed near a stage in front of a church. On that stage stood a priest, preaching their lord's gospel. Whisper tugged at Drazul,

"Are ya God's different 'ere, Drazul?"

Drazul hadn't paid attention to the gospel but now she was.

She was glad Whisper brought this to her attention because the priest was in fact not a priest. She paused away from the stage and listened to the priest continue. A small crowd had gathered as the priest got passionate in his performance. Whisper watched Drazul as she carefully listened to the priests words. Whisper couldn't make out what he was saying although she knew that Drazul was suddenly alert. Whisper decided to keep an eye on their surroundings as the priest continued.

The priest was announcing the name of a new God that appeared in the Mire. Drazul suddenly felt her hairs stand on edge. She listened carefully as she didn't want to be swayed by nonsense. The priest wasn't a priest but was, in fact, a wizard. She could feel his magic even from her distance. He was using magic to gather a crowd to force them forward and listen to his gospel. This new God he spoke of was not a God, much to her disappointment. She made sure to remember their name, however.

Jakosh.

She turned to Whisper, who she noticed was keeping an eye around them. She grabbed her shoulder,

"Come, let's return. This is enough for today."

Whisper nodded.