The streets of Yellowfield in the morning are crowded with the noise of overlapping conversations flooding the air. Gossip of guards and adventurers, haggling between vendors at the market stalls, and the constant trodding of hopeful fighters, mages, and clerics. Amongst these sounds Roze found herself again, a sheep in wolf’s clothing. After taking in the familiar sights and sounds of Yellowfield, Roze thought of nothing more than accomplishing her next goal: gaining an apprenticeship with the Questing Beasts.
As Roze took her final steps away from the flowing grain fields that shaped her towards that gates of Yellowfield, she took a final moment with her only memento from home. A photo of her, her parents, and her only brother.
“I will find you”, the only thought that courses through her in these moments. She clasped her photo closed and stowed it securely in her pack. She quickly made her way through the town's gates and stopped briefly to inquire with the guards.
“Excuse me, you wouldn’t happen to know where I can find the Questing Beasts?”
“It’ll be easier for me to mark your map.” He responded gruffly.
After drawing a quick circle and labeling a few streets for her, the gatekeeper returned the map to Roze and looked at her for a moment.
“You don’t particularly seem like a seasoned adventurer, no offense. I hear the Questing Beasts are the best of the best. Can I ask what business you have with them?”
“You may not,” Roze responded quickly “And I assure you I am particularly capable of seasoning any adventure. Don’t be so quick to judge.” Roze nodded in thanks at the guard for the map before turning and taking her leave for the Knights of Yellowfield guildhall.
As she approached the guildhall, Roze was taken aback by the overly gilded nature of the building. In direct contrast with the simple but elegant masonry of the neighboring buildings, The Knights of Yellowfield Guildhall was an ode to sculpting, featuring a short colonnade leading into the grand double doors of the guildhall. At the end of the walkway meeting the street stood two large bronze statues resembling lions, one holding a globe and the other a sword.
I should have been kinder to the guard. She reached into her pockets searching for one of the many religious relics she held for this purpose.
If any of you care, I would love some support right now. Her prayer was met with a disconcerting silence.
As she prepared herself to knock on the door, she found it pulled open for her almost expectantly. Pushing past her, with no regard for her presence, was a small group of individuals. The looks on their faces were overflowing with hope and youthful exuberance. She could hear the sounds of the supplies shifting and settling in what must have been freshly packed bags. Each of them was nearly glowing with an adrenaline only found at one time in a person’s life, the beginning of a quest. Roze felt her fear begin to melt, replaced by a new feeling springing forward. She stopped to feel the power that poured through her blood. As she looked at the doors, they threw themselves open in her presence and she walked into the guildhall. Her voice boomed as she spoke
“I’m looking for those who call themselves the Questing Beasts.” She looked around and saw the bewildered looks upon the guild members' faces. An air of silence filled the room until one member pointed to the courtyard doors.
“Thank you,” Roze responded before sauntering to the courtyard doors.
As she stepped out into the breezeway, she saw them. The air of preeminence wafted from them and filled the yard. She stopped and observed them for a moment. The only sounds were the occasional bird, a fountain in the center of the courtyard spitting water, and their laughter just distant enough to not grate the ears. Roze noted how warm each of their voices seemed and approached them.
“Hello. My name is Roze Gardens and I would like to become your apprentice. It doesn’t matter who’s as I will be equally successful regardless.”
The three adventurers stopped and looked at each other for just a moment before exchanging smiles.
The first adventurer to speak, an elf who neglected to fully look at Roze, said, “I would, but I don’t think she is going to be a good fit with me.”
“I have some extra time and I can always use the extra assistants.” Roze looked at the second person to speak. He was a smaller elf in dark lime robes with hands covered in a rainbow assortment of rings and gems. As the elf stood to address Roze, he was halted.
“Wait.” A single word by a soft voice however, the voice seemed to almost ring like a silver bell. “There is something I am curious about. Besides, my last acolyte recently decided to retire from the guild to pursue a career with the sage so I am in need of an apprentice.”
The woman speaking now was a small, stout dwarf. Dressed only in her common clothes Roze was able to see the clear outlines of muscle pressing underneath.
“Oh, I’m not really the fighter type. I think the wizard is more my expertise. You see, I’m actually a sorcerer myself so I think it would be much more advantageous-”
“Do you want an apprenticeship or not?” The dwarf retorted whilst rolling her sleeves up. With skin exposed Roze could now make out the scars running across her skin as well as the crest stitched into either sleeve.
“You worship the Yellow Hare? Aren’t you supposed to be more ‘I commune with the celestial divines and restore with my divine light?’ Those are a lot of scars for a healer.”
“Step on the grass. You don’t have to beat me for your apprenticeship, just a short spar. I’ll know what I need after that.”
“Okay, fine. Have it your way then.” Roze swallowed her apprehension and reached behind her back. From beneath her cloak, she retrieved two identical daggers, each one held with intent to draw blood.
As Roze locked eyes with the woman before her, she stepped forward onto the grass slowly. The moment her sole touched the greenery, the dwarf raised a single finger pointed directly at her and flicked it towards the sky. As Roze followed the gesture, looking up she saw, bellowing down, a pillar of flame directly on top of her. Roze jumped to the side dodging the bulk, of the flame barely escaping incineration.
“Have you lost your mind?” She screamed as she sat up. She had but barely finished the sentence before seeing the spectral javelin being hurled at her face. Roze screamed and covered her eyes waiting for the end to take her. Instead, she was only met with the same silvery voice goading her.
“Is that all I am to expect of you? You’re no sorcerer, just some cocky street magician. Now get up you charlatan.”
Roze felt herself fill with rage. The angrier she felt, the more her magic welled within her. As she felt her power flow through her blood. She heard a voice that she has grown accustomed to.
“Do not let this woman taunt you. Defeat her, silence her, kill her. Don’t you want to see your brother?”
Roze stood up locking eyes with the dwarf. Her daggers dropped into the dirt as she raised each of her arms. Her voice cracked with power as she screamed “Do NOT taunt me.”
As the words left her mouth, shadows swelled from the earth taking the form of grasping arms that reached and pulled at the cleric. The hands clawed away at the skin and tried to pull her down. Roze began stepping towards her, malicious intent dripping off of her.
“ENOUGH,” A voice called from just behind Roze as her spell was shattered in her eyes. She spun around to see the mage looking just past her at the dwarf. When she turned back to look at the dwarf, she saw what caused the duel to be canceled. The look of disgust and horror within the clerics' eyes.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered the words so gently it almost felt reassuring. “You should seek an apprenticeship elsewhere. There is no place for you within the Questing Beasts.” The cleric walked past Roze, leaving her there bewildered and angry.
“I don’t understand. I did what you asked. I fought you like you wanted and I was good. Why won’t you take me in? What did you want from me? Are you just playing with me and wasting my time? Because I have REAL goals and REAL things I need to do. I’m not here to just play around in pointless duels with you just for you to tell me no.” Roze spoke for so long she couldn’t stop herself from yelling and she never even noticed when the tears came.
“Like I said, I’m sorry, but I can not train you to control your power and neither can Fay. You need to figure this out on your own.” The dwarf finished her piece, turned, and sat back down at her table where she was quickly joined by her companions.
Feeling the conversation was not going to turn her way, Roze turned and stormed back to the courtyard doors. As she reached them she stopped and listened for a moment.
“That girl is no sorcerer I want to train. You heard the same thing I heard. Sorcerers are always wildcards in the source of their magic, but hers are something darker. We can’t risk empowering that.” The conversation came to an uncomfortable silence followed by the sounds of the courtyard door closing.
As she wandered the streets confused and dejected, Roze stopped at a small cafe in the market commons near the square. As she sat staring into her tea and pondered whether it was worth anything to keep searching, her reflections were sharply disturbed by the sounds of yelling.
“STOP! Comeback! Please!”
Roze turned to see what was happening, but before her eyes could adjust back to reality, her gaze met with two small hazel eyes. The eyes grew into the rest of a form as Roze was sitting face to face with a small black cat. The cat, in mid-leap, continued its path forward across each table on the patio like a frog across lily pads leaving Roze, and the rest of the cafe patrons, standing feeling confused and not for the first time that day.
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