Dread Mage

As the sun rose higher, casting a golden hue over the town, Vell and Sonder gathered their belongings.

Inside the inn, the morning was alive with aromatic delights. The fragrant scent of fresh bread, sizzling meat, and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air.

To Sonder, the enticing smells seemed more potent than she had ever noticed. It was alluring, yet the allure of the future called her beyond the mere temptation of a hearty breakfast.

Once they stepped out of the inn, the cobblestones of the city already became unfamiliar.

Vell adjusted the strap of his pack, glancing at Sonder with an encouraging nod. “Ready?”

Sonder took a deep breath, feeling the crisp morning air fill her lungs. “Yes.”

With that, they set off, traversing the winding streets and leaving behind the familiar scenery.

The town’s buildings shrank in the distance, replaced by sprawling fields and forests that slowly stretched out into the horizon.

Each step, just like the last, takes them further from the safety civilization.

“Can you tell me more about the druids?” Sonder asked, curious about them. “What are they like?”

Vell, remembering fond memories, smiled. “They’re a lively bunch, and they do love to sing. To them, the world itself and everything in it is a living being, no matter if animal, plant, or rock. Some can even transform into those forms—strange, isn’t it? To them it’s not magic, but just nature, though that’s what everyone else would call it.”

A surge of anticipation rushed over Sonder. “And they’ll teach me?”

“Absolutely. They're enthusiasts when it comes to imparting their wisdom. But brace yourself—they might have you conversing with trees before you know it,” a playful smirk on his face.

“I wouldn’t mind that,” she replied, “though it sounds… silly.”

They journeyed for hours, the scenery transitioning from the gentle undulations of the valley to the dense undergrowth of the forest outskirts. The air turned cooler, laden with the earthy scent of moss and dew-kissed leaves.

“The Celadon Forest,” Vell identified. Approaching an immense wall of entwined roots and branches, he tapped on it with his staff, “Could you open up for me? I'm a friend of the green wizard. I’ve been here before, so you should know me.”

The very forest moved after Vell said that and opened up a nice path for them to traverse instead of fighting through the tall grass.

Vell led the way, occasionally stopping to point out unique flora or to listen to the distant calls of wildlife.

“Vell,” she began, hesitating for a moment. “What if they won’t train me? What if they think I’m not good enough?”

The mage halted, meeting her gaze. “They won't, Sonder, I assure you. The druids will recognize your potential, as everyone else has.”

Embraced by his words, she nodded, “I’ll give it my all.”

As they continued, the trees began to thicken, their trunks gnarled and ancient, whispering as the wind wove through their branches.

The sunlight filtered down in beams, illuminating the path ahead.

Suddenly, a rustling in the underbrush caught her attention.

Vell stopped and turned his gaze toward the sound. Out from the foliage emerged a creature that Sonder hadn’t seen very often in her life.

It was a small woodland fox. Its fur, a blend of yellow and orange, shimmered in the sunlight, with a look in its eye that suggested more than the others of its kin.

“Hello, Copse,” Vell greeted warmly.