(Path of the Dragon Mage: Exiled) 38. Corvus's Future (Patreon)

Thankfully, the rain did not return during his long trek to the village. The clouds broke up and scuttled quickly across the sky, pushed by high unseen winds. With the moon revealed, Corvus was able to see the road ahead and walk faster.

He grew nervous when, after cresting a low rise, the Compass Rune began pointing in a more northerly direction. Meanwhile, the road continued due east.

He shook the rock as if that would help. Then, after placing it on the ground to reset the spell, he once again directed it to find Larissa. 

Again, the needle pointed North-East.

Curious, Corvus reset the rune once more and then requested it locate Duckwater Village.

Now the needle pointed straight east, exactly along the track along the road. This was a rune meant for dragons in flight and did not follow human paths, but the roads around here were straight.

The conclusion was obvious, and a little unsettling.

Larissa was not in the village.

But... she was the village's only Long-Eyes. Surely, the guards needed her to watch along the wall? What could have pulled her away from such an important duty?

The only thing he could think of was that the guards were searching for the escaped blue feral dragon. Hopefully, she and her dragonets would be far away by now.

He had little choice but to follow the direction the rune pointed. Now, he traveled more cautiously. The last thing he wanted to do was run into a patrol of village guards with a dragon egg in his bag. 

Larissa had helped him once. He couldn't expect her to do it again.

He needn't have worried. Larissa found him first.

Corvus had been crossing a stubby clearing that was somehow bare of sagebrush but filled with clumps of short, spiky grass. Ahead, more of the unnaturally tall sage loomed in a line as if the boundary had been cut by an invisible knife.

A small figure stepped out of the brush and stared at him.

Corvus stopped, surprised into grabbing the two machetes he'd slung by his hip before setting out. He had a higher level in Short Sword, but he instinctively trusted his dual welding more.

The figure didn't bother pausing. She strode out into the clearing as if she didn't have a care in the world — or, she could see any danger coming from literally miles away.

"Larissa?" Corvus breathed. He broke into a jog. As he drew closer, he saw it was indeed her.

She wasn't wearing her guard uniform. Just a simple, but well made tunic and ankle-length skirt. With her silvered hair pulled into a bun, she looked the picture of a matronly grandmother.

"Well, I see you survived your adventure," she said once they were within speaking range. "I admit, when I saw you flying off on that dragon, I half expected you would end up in its stomach by the time night was done."

"No, she was too grateful for that." He grinned. "Did anyone else see me escape?"

She snorted. "Of course not. Just because guards have working eyes doesn't mean they use them."

He looked around. "How did you know I was here?"

She gave him a very direct look as if that was a stupid question.

Corvus blushed. "I meant, how did you know I'd come to see you tonight?"

"I didn't. I spotted you a ways out." She gestured broadly behind her. "I figured if you lived you'd come back eventually after all, there aren't many Pathwalkers."

And she could see the intentions of a person, Corvus remembered. One look and she would know that he was looking for her.

"But what are you doing away from the village?" he asked.

She spread her hands. "It's my day off. I usually spend it grinding. Have to get to level seventy-three somehow."

"Grinding?" He looked around. "Grinding... what?" Surely, not flour. He only vaguely knew how the concept worked, but was certain peasants needed access to wheat and a stone.

Larissa slanted a sideways grin at him. "It's old Path-speak. I'm gathering experience points to reach the next level. You don't reach the high levels by sitting on your rump, and level seventy-five is sure to be a hoot. All the fifth levels are."

Larissa — well, her milky eyes didn't focus on him, but he felt her intense interest. No doubt with the ability to see intentions she knew that he had questions, perhaps even that he wanted to confide in her. But she wanted him to ask, first.

"I'm having trouble with, um, an aspect of my quest," Corvus said. "And no offense, Lady Larissa, but it is of a sensitive nature. I... need to know if I can trust you,"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, then you're in quite the pickle, aren't you?"

"What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "Either you trust me and see what I can do to help — if I'm able and inclined, mind you — or don't, admit you came all this way for no reason, and try to work out your quest on your own."

"Can you give me any assurances that I can trust you?"

Her gray eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. "Other than saving your bacon the other week with those dragons? That stunt caused quite the kerfuffle. You were lucky I was able to point out a small warren of Jackalope nearby to take the guard's attention that night. Jackalope have to be stomped out, right quick, before they breed and wipe out anything eatable within miles."

He wasn't sure where to start with that, so he didn't. And of course, she was right. He had come to her for help. It was borderline insulting that he ask for assurances.

"Then I place my life in your hands," he said as he pulled the bag of holding around to his front.

"You do have a flair for the dramatic." Her brows crinkled. "Strange…. I can't see what's in that bag of yours. How—" She stopped as he pulled out the copper and gold dragon egg. Then she inhaled so quickly it was almost a gasp. "That's not one of the blue she-dragon's eggs!" It wasn't a question. Larissa stepped back, blank eyes wide. "Well... well, well, well."

The entire strength of her strong personality was completely focused on him. It was both like a physical weight and an uncomfortable sensation of being examined top to bottom, inside and out. He knew that she saw him down to his heart.

Corvus struggled not to squirm.

"Prince Corvus," Larissa said. "I see you now."

* * *

They walked back across the field in the direction Larissa had come. In one arm, Corvus held his dragon egg. His other was looped around Larissa's in a stately fashion.

She insisted that he tell his story, so he did. He started from the time he had received his first Path message upon receiving the dragon egg, until the other night when the egg revived him from certain death at the cost of her own vitality.

"I don't know what to do," Corvus finished. "I feel like I'm stumbling along my Path without direction, and if I misstep or don't learn my dragon's name soon..." He shook his head.

"I've stumbled a time or two myself." Larissa patted his arm in a grandmotherly type of way. "But as long as you walk the Paths, you are doing as you ought. What you call stumbles, I would describe as... learning experiences."

"Completing Roan's quests almost killed me," he grumbled. "Both times."

"Harsh learning experiences." Another pat. "Let me tell you what I see of your egg."

His breath caught. "Can you see her name?"

She shook her head. "No. But I see the bond between you like a bright golden rope. It's like fire in the darkness — quite beautiful. I also see the dragonet's magical energy radiating out. You say she is weakened? If that is the case, she will be strong at full power."

Corvus nodded, though he couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. The information was interesting… and not useful.

"You said you spoke to the feral blue?" Larissa asked.

"Yes?"

Larissa cocked her head to the side. "In all the time they had that beast no one heard her speak."

"She's not a beast," he said. "And yes, she spoke to me. She had thoughts and feelings—she names her children. No one heard because they weren't listening."

"Or maybe they could not understand dragon-speak. Do you have a dragon language skill?"

Corvus knew he didn't, but he still swiftly checked his skill list to be sure. "No, nothing like that."

Larissa nodded as if half expecting this answer. "It may have something to do with the Path you chose. After all, I had gone almost my entire life without working eyes, and when I finally earned the skills to see... I knew at once what I was looking at."

"You told me you read the menus," he said, a little awed and a little disgruntled he had not guessed this himself.

"Just so."

He thought about it for a moment then shook his head. "I don't see how this helps. I can understand dragons, but I still don't know the name of my own."

She chuckled. "I can't help you there. I don't suppose you can party with your egg and share your experience? Perhaps, power? No, you wouldn't know how, would you? Here." Her blank eyes flicked back and forth. A moment later Corvus received a notification.

Ding!

Larissa (Level 73) has invited you into her Party. 

Accept: Y/N.

"Accept, and I will see if I can bring your egg on in," she directed.

Corvus swiftly accepted.

Larissa went quiet for a few moments, then she sighed. "No dice. It may be because it's still in the egg, or perhaps it's something only humans can do."

His shoulders slumped. "I've thought of a way to force the hatching using rune magic, but it may be dangerous."

"Forcing a creature to come into the world before it is ready is stupidly dangerous," she replied. "What is your idea?"

Corvus quickly described the Ten Elements of Life rune. 

Larissa was not versed in rune magic but having been adopted by a blacksmith family she knew the power of charmed objects.

"Show me how this rune works," she directed. "Can draw it out in the dirt?"

Corvus nodded, letting her arm drop to walk to a clear patch of dirt. He used both hands to draw out the rune to gain his ambidextrous benefit. "The dirt looks bare, but if there are any seeds, they'll sprout up as soon as it's activated."

"There are. Earthworms, beetles, and some grubs as well."

How much can she see? Corvus wondered. Within a minute the rune was done, and he activated it.

As before, the cost to his mana was expensive, and the timer was short.

Spouts shot up out of the soil and grew at a rapid pace, twisting as if reaching for sunlight that wasn't there. Then the small shoots yellowed, withered, and died. The power of the rune cut out a few moments later.

Corvus looked on, frowning. "I could link it with Slow Release rune to measure out the power over a length of time."

Larissa didn't answer. She knelt in the dirt, heedless of dirtying her skirt, and brushed the top of the soil. It crumbled, gray and dead, into dust. All the nutrients had gone to sustaining the growing shoots.

A few inches down there was a short tunnel, and within a mouse, or... the husk of one. The little creature was completely mummified, saved for the bones and hair. Its eyes were pits within its skull.

Corvus caught his breath. "Did the rune kill it?"

"No, it was already dead." She gestured to the gray soil around it. "It was as if the essence of the body was sucked into the plants as they grew... but it still wasn't enough. The seeds needed light and more moisture than they could find during a few seconds of intense growth." 

"It forces growth, but it doesn't provide what sustains it." Corvus felt a brief pang of worry for Roan's CloudStrike, but the twelve month slow-release modifier should prevent the rapid growth. The horse's body could give the growing life inside what it needed.

She shook her head. "I would not use that rune on anything you cared about."

Corvus's shoulders slumped. "What do I do?"

"Why, you figure out her name of course." Briskly, Larissa stood. "And start thinking about out how you plan to keep her alive after she's hatched."

He felt a chill go up his spine. "She'll be the first royal dragon in generations. I'll be next in line to be King."

"My education wasn't so good. Do they allow exiles to take the throne?" she asked, dryly.

"I'll demand a retest of my blood. They'll have to see I'm a son of the true line. They'll—" He stopped, realizing his hands were clenched into fists. His throat was tight, too. Not with anger or offense at the impertinent question … but with fear.

His father didn't want him. His mother would likely try to use him in some scheme. His aunt may not be the kind ally he always thought he was. What if Sunli demanded the secret to hatching a dragon so she could pass it down to her daughter, Starella? What if the King branded him a traitor for taking the egg from the palace? He could be the next Zriah the foolish.

They'd call him something like Corvus the traitor and execute him in public. They wouldn't need any elaborate way to do so, like with Zriah. He had no elemental magic. He had no rune which could save him...

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I can tell you're afraid," Larissa said. "And rightfully so. I wouldn't want to get on the King's bad side."

Corvus only shook his head. He trusted Larissa but speaking badly about his family still felt like treason.

"Show me your sheet," she said, abruptly.

"My... do you mean my skill and attribute menu?"

She nodded. "Because we are linked in a party, you will see an option to make it viewable to a group. It's the best way to see where you're at and where you can improve."

Corvus blinked and did as he was told. Sure enough, a highlighted option asked if he wanted to make his menu viewable to members within his party.

He selected yes.

Larissa’s blank eyes flicked back and forth. Finally, she shook her head. "Your combat skills suck."

He felt his spine stiffen. "As you can see, I have several... obstacles to overcome in order to level—"

She cut him off. "Why in all the many Paths have you spent so much time leveling single-hand combat? You'll never be more than proficient at it, and you have an advantage to dual wielding."

"My Master, Solt—"

Again, she cut him off. "Ah. Say no more."

"You know Solt?"

"I know of him. He's training you for the war?" Again, her eyes flicked back and forth, reading his page. "Yes, that's one of your first step class options, isn't it?"

Now it really felt like she was peering into his soul. Resisting the urge to revoke access to his information, he jumped on the topic. "How do achieve my first class?"

"You'll get it when you've met the requirements for it." She shrugged. "Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes, almost instantly. I have jumped one or two within a couple days."

"But how do I find the requirements?" he asked through slightly grit teeth. Why couldn't she give him a straight answer?

"They're hidden—though obvious in hindsight." She chuckled though he wasn't in on the joke.

"But... but surely there aren't any requirements for scullery boy!"

"Oh?" She turned to him. "Do you think you're too well-bred for such a low-ranked position?"

"Well..." He suspected she could see lies so he went with the truth. "Yes."

Larisa threw back her head and cackled. "You would be lucky to get yourself a prime placement like that."

Corvus breathed out through his nose, keeping his temper in check with a force of will. "Please, explain."

"Scullery boys are hired by estates rich enough to have a large staff. They work in the kitchens. That means three meals a day. Yes, it's scraps from the Noble's meals, but they are good scraps. You'd be grateful for them if you've ever had to go without. As long as you keep your head down and work hard, you aren't bothered. That means time to yourself to practice your little magical runes and access to the noble's private library at night if you're sneaky and smart.  Also, you would be in a prime place to hear palace gossip, which I'm sure you—" She poked his chest with a gnarled finger, "could do with knowing. Yes, a scullery boy would be a very good option for you."

Corvus opened his mouth, found that he had no argument, then closed it again. Finally, he said, slightly strangled, "Those are... good points, but I would rather choose Hedge Witch."

"Not Foot Soldier? Imagine the experience points you'd receive on the front lines."

"Perhaps," he allowed. "But it's not a good place to hatch an egg."

"No, but General Solt doesn't know about your little egg problem, does he?" Larissa raised her hand to poke something in the air, and although there was no notification, Corvus felt his menu collapse in her mind's eye.

She turned to him, utterly serious.

"If trouble comes knocking, you need to defend yourself. Dual-wielding machetes is a start, but I think you can do better."

"What do you have in mind?"

In answer, she pulled a pouch from a pocket within her shirt and pushed it into his hands. "These have served me well. I believe they'll do for you."

Curious, he unrolled the fabric. Secured within, each held in place with its sewn strap, were thin sharp knives. There were several sets of three — each elegant and long, though shaped differently. One set of three was broader with a heavy handle on the end. One set was double-bladed on either side. The third was so thin they looked like needles.

"Knives?" he asked.

"Throwing knives," Larissa corrected. "Let's see if these babies count towards your dual wielding or not."