I woke up to the panicked sounds of the other three, “TALIS! WAKE UP! PLEASE!” Reanne would be screaming, the sounds of her footsteps anxiously waltzing back and forth across the room was worrying, I opened my eyes, slowly sitting upright and I saw everyone worried, even Ayala was in the room with us. “TALIS! You’re awake!” Reanne would shout, jumping onto me and embracing me tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go. “I was so worried!”

“What happened? I could’ve sworn I was outside a while ago…” I’d look around the room, confused by the fact that I was in my room, and not inside the temple.

“Outside? Talis, the guard found you passed out somewhere outside the city and brought you back here!” She’d shout again, the worry in her voice was saddening to hear. I didn’t like seeing her worried like this. “Just what were you doing outside the city so late at night?!”

“I was… Uh… I heard whispers, and I followed them.” Ayala hurriedly left the room, quickly coming back with a glass of water in hand.

“S-Sir! Please drink some water!” She’d bow and extend her hand that was holding the glass, giving it to me.

“Thank you…?” Ayala would bow at everyone and quickly leave, shutting the door on her way out. “The whispers… They called to me; calling out my name, urging me to investigate where it was coming from.”

“And? What did you manage to find, hmm?” Reanne would cross her arms, waiting for my answer.

“I saw…” I couldn’t tell them everything that I had found inside, they wouldn’t believe me if I said it. “A temple to an unnamed God. I followed the whispers of the fallen deeper inside the temple and found a glowing sphere that sat atop a pedestal in the middle of a large, empty room.”

Gasp! “What?!” Reanne was shocked, but she told me to continue.

“I got closer, and I saw… What looked like specks of translucent teal-colored dust, coming towards me; entering my body. I don’t know what it was, but I felt energized afterwards, but suddenly passed out right after the sphere disappeared.”

“Wait! You SAW it?!” She’d suddenly grab both of my shoulders, startling me. “Describe it in more detail!”

“Well, uh… There was a lot of particles? And I couldn’t really feel it, but I could see it and sense it.” I looked at her as I was explaining it, and she was intrigued, her scholastic mind was as curious as a child trying new food for the first time. “It was a familiar feeling, it felt something akin to, if not-”

“Like Numen?” She’d cut me off, and it seems that her curiosity was satisfied. “I theorize that what you came into contact with was a lesser or greater fragment of a fallen God.” She’d pull the blanket that was wrapped around my body as I stood upright, and grabbing both my arms. “Holy shit. It isn’t just one of your arms… But both?!”

I didn’t even notice, but the entirety of my arms had strange, almost ancient runic-like markings engraved onto it. It spanned from my hands, through my arm, and until my shoulders. “Talis is just like Yani now!” Iferos would exclaim in excitement, congratulating me for my newfound powers. “Try using it! Try using it!” He eagerly wanted to see what my powers were. Frankly, I didn’t even know how to use this power.

I extended my arm, holding out my hand and opening it. I channeled the Numen in my Core and thought of creating a small ball of whatever power I had. It felt… Comfortable. More comfortable than when I used the winds, at least. I conjured a small sphere, roughly the size of a rock. What formed from my Numen was a small domain of storms, the outside was transparent, but inside was a raging storm, miniature flashes of lightning and small gusts of wind, all of which were contained by my intent to keep its shape as a tiny sphere.

“Woah…” Everyone got closer to the sphere, staring at it in awe. Apparently, I am now officially the first and only user of this power, which Viella abruptly named as Tempest Magic, which she based off Reanne’s tutoring, wherein the use of Numen is known as ‘Magic’.

“Well… Now that we’ve confirmed that you’re okay, I’ll go out to buy some things we’ll need. I’ll be back before sunset, and you all should be back by then too, if you decide to go out.” Reanne would say, handing all of us ten parths each before leaving. The next to go was Iferos, and since he was still too young to be going out on his own, Viella followed suit.

 It was just me again in my room, but this time the whispers and voices weren’t calling to me now. It was still quite early in the morning, and I needed to go out and buy some things anyways. I took some time by myself to collect my thoughts… What happened last night? My path would be filled with blood and misfortune? Bullshit. I’ll forge my own path.

I left my room and headed downstairs, “Ayala.” I’d approach her from behind, and she’d be startled by me.

“S-Sir Talis! What can I h-help you with today!” She’d say, bowing her head… Again…

“Ah. No need to be so startled, I don’t bite.” I’d jokingly say, “Do you have any places you recommend to purchase some armor, clothing, and weapons?”

She would grab a piece of paper and a quill inside the drawer by her desk, writing down three of the best smithies in Altria in order of closest to farthest. The first wasn’t too far from the inn, about a ten minute walk from here, relatively close to the central area of the city. “Thanks, Ayala.” I’d say as I walked away and exited the inn.

My first stop was a pretty small shop owned by an Elf by the name of Elindal, Ayala noted it as the most ‘underrated’ smithy in the whole city. I started making my way there… Wait. How do I get there… It says on the paper it was on Alatrea street, and I have no fucking clue where that was. “Hello.” A man in a suspicious looking tattered cloak, wearing a white mask with the symbol of a snake wrapping around itself engraved onto it would approach me. “You seem lost, traveler. Is it your first time in Altria?”

“Oh… Uh, yes it is.” I’d answer him cautiously, examining the surroundings and noticing nothing too out of place. “Do you perhaps know where the Alatrea street is?”

He would stay silent, before waving his hands at me, gesturing to follow him. We walked through dark alleyways and through the bustling streets, eventually making our way to where I needed to be. “Thank you for guiding me, may I ask what your name is?” I’d ask as politely as possible, but he still wouldn’t talk back to me. “Alright… I’ll be off then. Safe travels, sir!”

As I was leaving, making my way through the densely populated area, he would say something familiar. “…Unfortunate hero.” I’d immediately look back to stare at him, only for the people walking past us making me lose sight of him, and he vanished without a trace.

What he said had to be a coincidence, right? There’s no way he would know what happened in the temple… I decided to move on and pay no mind to what had just happened and walked around Alatrea street, which spanned a long straight path that went towards the central area of the city.

The busy street reminded me of Trazia; of back home. Countless people walking around, minding their own businesses, children running around and playing despite how many people there were, without a care in the world. It was peaceful, to be in an area without war. After quite a while of walking, I came across the smithy. The outside looked run down, as if it was on the verge of closing, but as soon as I stepped in, it seems that wasn’t the case. “Oh! A customer! Welcome, welcome!” A tall Elf with beautiful fair skin would say, extending his calloused hand towards me.

“Hello! Is this er… Elindal’s Smithy?” I’d ask, looking around and realizing how stupid I sounded, as I was surrounded by weapons and armor.

“Yes! Please feel free to look around to see if you’d like anything!” He’d say excitedly, it seems I was his first customer today.

I looked around, and compared to the exterior of the smithy, the inside was mesmerizing, to say the least. The shelves the held the swords were just as beautiful as the blades themselves, and the armor that was being displayed was… Ethereal. The intricate designs and engravings that were on them made them look as if they were made by a Dwarf, who were known to be the best of the best when it came to craftsmanship. And for an Elf to be this good? It was unimaginable.

I’d take my time searching for a sword that felt right, but none of them seemed to be the right one for me, even if they were made by a master. “Are these, perhaps not to your liking?” Elindal would ask me, grabbing the glasses placed on his desk, putting them on, and coming closer to me. “Hmm…” He’d immediately grab both my arms, “You have a lost temperament, don’t you?” His curiosity would be piqued at the markings that spanned the length of both my entire arms, “Follow me.” He’d lead me into another room in his workshop that lead down a staircase and into a large basement, where all his tools and equipment used for forging were. “Would you mind using your Numen?”

I’d hold out my arm, creating a concentrated bolt of lightning that I could hold. “I’m not too sure on how to use it properly… I only got it recently.” I’d tell him.

“Interesting…” He’d say, “This is my first time working with someone who didn’t use normal temperaments of Magic, but I could make equipment that’s best suited to you and your abilities.”

“How much would that cost, though?” I asked him, I’m sure this would cost a fortune and would take a significant amount of time to create, which wouldn’t be very favorable for me.

“It’s on the house. I’ve always wanted to forge something imbued with someone who possessed a unique ability such as yours.” He’d say, patting my shoulder and heading towards his anvil. “Before I start, what type of weapon would you like? And what type of armor too?” He’d grab a long string just near to his anvil, getting the necessary measurements to make everything a perfect fit for me.

“I’d like a single medium length sword, preferably one that was light-weight yet could pack a hefty punch. As for the armor, I would just like something that doesn’t restrict my movement too much, something imbued with my Numen too would be nice.” I didn’t know if I was asking for too much, but I felt quite embarrassed.

“Alright, I see the vision of what you’re asking for. Come back in two days’ time, I’ll be needing you to imbue it with your Numen, after all.” He’d smile and wink at me, telling me to go find some proper clothes since I looked like a beggar.

I exited the smithy and quickly looked around for any clothing shops. Seeing one just across the street, I hurriedly walked inside only to be met with the judgmental gazes of the people inside, thinking I was someone who couldn’t afford anything inside. I picked out a nice pair of brown pants, a beige shirt, a leather cloak, and a pair of black shoes. I brought them all to the cashier, and she’d immediately ask, “Sir, can you even afford any of these items?”

I pulled out a single parth and give it to her, and she would be shocked. “O-Oh my! My apologies for my rudeness, dear customer!”

“Keep the change.” I’d tell her, immediately going into the fitting room and changing all of my worn out clothing with this new, fresh set.

I quickly left the shop and looked around, I still had plenty of time to kill, so why not go sightseeing around the city? I walked around, coming across the central plaza and noticing a poet who was speaking the tales of the Gods. That’s interesting…