Like something I wrote?As we leave Rina's house, I feel an immense hesitation inside me. I've only spent a couple of days here, and most of that was spent recovering, but it has been the most magical time of my life since leaving home. It's like leaving home again, I muse, as the three of us begin to walk down the mountain. This morning's trip downhill is completely different from my journey uphill two afternoons ago; the company provided by the two of them and the warm clothing they graciously provided me are an equal contribution to the favourable incline.
In what feels like no time at all, a town becomes visible behind a treeline not far off. I'm shocked by the size of the town, and its visible abundance. Even from this distance it has a clear hustle and bustle to it, which both excites and scares me. To take my mind off the incoming massive change of scenery, I ask Rina "So, this is really your mountain? Does that mean you placed that trickertree there?" She looks mildly offended for a second, but that gives way to a laugh after a moment "Heavens, no. What kind of monster do you think I am?" She laughs again "Truth is, I don't have as much control over my domain as I used to. Critters like that have started to slip through on occasion. But rest assured, I set that right!" At this, Charcorn wildly fans out his arms, indicating something rather explosive.
As we approach the great wooden gate Rina exclaims ", I welcome you to the town of Endlewood."
I'm utterly enthralled by all the shops and activity in this town. It's seemingly impossible to take four steps in any direction without the senses being greeted by a new delicious-smelling street food, beautifully coloured and fashionable clothing displays, or the sound of children's laughter that spells a healthy and safe community. Seemingly every stranger we pass by is particularly interested in Charcorn, who pays them no mind; though I rather suspect he enjoys the celebrity of it as he movies with more of a flounce than usual.
As we approach one particular store, which looks noticeably less populous than all the others, Rina gently grabs my arm to stop me. "Say, , do you by chance know your affinity yet?"
It's totally embarrassing to admit it, because every other witch and wizard figures out their affinity long before they ever start learning magic formally. I nervously respond "Uh . . . no. I don't know what mine is." Charcorn makes a sound that tells me he's trying not to laugh at me, so I squat down and poke his arm. He could at least try to hide it better.
"Well, no better time than the present. Come!" and her hand is now properly grasping my arm as she pulls me into the stall.
An old man with a moustache sits at a counter inside, sipping tea. The store is mostly empty aside from the single counter which has a glass display under it, filled with a small number of clearly magical objects such as goblets, feathers, and grimoires. He looks up as we enter, smiling gently. "Well, of all the things I was expecting to see today, Rina entering my store was not among them. Welcome to you--and to your company" he adds after seeing me.
"Max, old friend, this girl needs to figure out her affinity. Can you prepare a goblet for her?"
He looks more than mildly surprised "She seems a little old to be doing an affinity test. Hasn't she got any inclination at all?"
I don't react to the comment. I'm used to it by now, I was turned away from several apprenticeships after hearing similar ones after all.
Rina, however, looks rather annoyed by the comment "Don't be rude. Just help her out, will you?"
"No offense intended. Alright, I'll be just one moment here" he says placatingly, and a moment later he pulls one of the goblets out from the counter, fills it with water from a nearby tap, and places it on the countertop. Then very slowly and with more care than I know to be necessary, places a single brilliant green feather onto the water's surface. He then explains "Now then little lady, just hold your hands above the water and focus your gaze upon the feather. Hard as you can, now."
I step towards the counter to begin.
I grit my teeth and push my will towards the feather. After a minute the water slowly trembles. Another minute goes by and the water begins to roll in a thorough boil.
dfgdfgdfgdfgdfgdfg
As my attention flickers, from the sound of a cart's wheels turning outside, a woman coughing in an alleyway, the sounds of my companion's feet against the floor of this room, I begin to notice that the feather is almost 'responding' to each of these distractions. It does so by taking flight above the goblet's water, swiping in directions that somehow match each of these sounds.
There is only a brief pause in the room before Rina speaks, "I had a feeling about you, . One Windcraft affinity wielder knows another." She winks and pats me on the shoulder.
My mind softens, quiets. The feather responds gently, and begins to rise, being pushed up by a "finger" of the water itself. The water gently rolls the feather around, maneuvering it around the area of the goblet.
sdfgsdsdgsdg
The goblet and all its contents are spilled on the shop's floor. Everyone is staring at me and I'm so embarrassed I could die. I'm about to run out from the shop in tears when I see something . . . the water is moving back into the goblet, along with the feather, as it begins to set itself upright again.
There is, what feels like, a long pause in the room.
Max is the first to speak "How incredibly interesting. Nothing inside the goblet moved a bit until you knocked it to the floor. To show such strength in one category, but absolutely nothing in any other . . . Tell me, girl, can you fly a broomstick?" I sniffle as I inform him "No. I never could. Not so much as the height of a hair off the ground."
Max strokes his moustache thoughtfully and continues "Well, it's no wonder. You see, magic affinities aren't usually hard lines. While each witch and wizard certainly has their dominant affinity, we touch on all of them to do even basic magic. A witch may not be a Gale, but being able to invoke that affinity on a basic level is the driving force behind our flight."
I listen to his explanation, in a mix of confusion and horror, until Rina places her hands on my shoulders and speaks. "Dear , you are a Thread. One of the rarest and perhaps most gentle affinities of all; with the ability to heal that which has been broken. And in such pure form!"
I feel as though she's given me a meaningless platitude. "What good is this boxed up affinity that won't even allow me to fly? What kind of curse is this?"
Charcorn looks on in surprise, his jaw barely even twitching in a munching motion (as it usually does). With that, Rina places a gold coin in the old man's hand and gently ushers me out of the store.
"My dear girl, you are not cursed. You will see that soon enough."
We walk through the town for another twenty or so minutes, taking in all the sights, sounds, and delicious smells. Rina leads us to another store, stops and checks a map she pulled out from her pocket, and announces "This is the place! Come on in." I note the name painted on the archway above the door "Bramwell Copper Cauldron & Dispatch" as we enter.
As soon as the three of us have stepped foot inside, Rina announces a little too loudly "Bramwell! This girl will be serving as your apprentice starting today! Take good care of her. She's a bit of a numbskull, but under your tutelage I have no doubt she'll become . . . something."
A boy who looks just a couple years older than me appears from behind a counter. Despite his immediately noticeable refined appearance and manners, he can't conceal that he's more than mildly shocked. He explains "My father is out of town at the moment, sorry. I'm his son, Arthur Bramwell. How exactly . . . can I help you?"
I look at Rina in slight horror. She whispers "I'm only joking. About the numbskull part, that is" she chuckles, then looks towards the boy "Come now, Arthur here will get you up to speed on work here in the shop. He's finished his apprenticeship, so he'll also teach you what he knows about the Craft."
I try to be optimistic, but I've done this countless times now and it has always ended in disaster. It usually starts out with a tutor or a store owner taking me under their employ, finding "it's not going to work out" after a couple days, and sending me back on the search for the next place.
Rina hands the boy a note and exchanges a few more words with him, and although I don't overhear everything, it seems his father has some kind of long-standing agreement or debt to her. Before too long his perplexed visage turns into one of nods of approval. We all sit at a table in the store as some final things are discussed such as my living arrangements and what kind of work I will be doing. With that done, I say a morose goodbye to Rina and Charcorn. Rina tells me "This is not goodbye, . If ever you want to visit me, come find my mountain after your apprenticeship. Perhaps I may even make a trip back into town before then," Charcorn looks truly amazed to hear that. Rina adds, "And you can see Charcorn every night!"
To this Charcorn nods his head in agreement, and offers me his paw. I squat to take it in my hand and shake it gently. Rina gives me a hug that feels much like my mother's. Before I know it I'm standing in the doorway watching the pair of them walk back in the direction we, as a trio, came from.
[wizard] This shambolic mess is under construction!