Starry Resonance

"So you're friend Roesia created this space?" Nora said while she looked around in wonder. The group was now climbing down Great Divider. Freya was sitting as far away from Selt as possible while the kid was trying his best to stay awake. Nora and Yvain were sitting side by side holding hands with Nelimir facing them. Roesia, still on Nelimir's shoulder, was bouncing up and down trying her best to answer Nora's question.

"She also created the carriage itself," Nelimir said, nodding. When their ride reached the edge of the wall, Nora had been doubtful as to how it would get down from such a height. But as if to prove its prowess, it immediately started walking down the vertical surface. Nora gasped when the image outside the window turned, while she remained feeling like she was sitting up.

"She wasn't the top alumnus in the academy for no reason," Yvain said, "she actually learned of starlight way before me and Nelimir."

Nora now focused more on the tiny frog. "So she's stronger than you?"

"No, no," Yvain looked down and scrunched his eyebrows trying to think, "If I remember correctly, they taught her how to make use of starlight through engineering and schematics, but she never knew it could actually be directly used by her body." He tried to hide his annoyance, but memories of when Draconian's Tavern was first created came flooding in. "And of course, Nelimir and I were treated like idiots by her when we acquired the knowledge of starlight ourselves."

"It's a closely guarded secret in Empryon, you can't blame her for not telling you guys," Freya, who had been trying to look uninterested in the conversation, chimed in.

"And what about you?! You also knew! After I finally managed to become as strong as you, you pull the rug from under me and start beating me around again." Yvain glared at his master but she just smiled. "It's your own fault for being so weak," she said tauntingly. Nelimir just looked on like a parent looking at their children.

Yvain was about to attack her, carriage be damned, but Nora's head on his shoulder stopped him. "What do you mean it's a closely guarded secret," she asked, trying to calm master and apprentice down.

Freya looked at Nora with an unreadable expression without saying anything but answered not long after. "Normal citizens of Empryon aren't allowed to know of starlight. Only those that practice magic in an institution or join guilds can."

"Am I correct to assume you joined a guild before this one then?" Nora asked.

Freya nodded, but didn't say anymore and went back to looking out the window.

"Are you a citizen of Empryon, miss Nora?" Nelimir asked.

"The outside is it," Nelimir looked at his friend.

Yvain knew what the leader of Draconian's Tavern was thinking. Creating a guild had allowed them to see a bit farther from the confines of their home, and it didn't come as a surprise that there might be humans outside Emryon. It did bring a myriad of questions that needed answering, especially considering the end-goal for the guild.

"We can talk all about it once we get her looked at," Yvain said. He pressed her hand harder and felt her do the same.

Nelimir nodded. "Of course, and we're actually in luck," he said with a mysterious smile. Yvain and Nora threw the man a questioning look. "The goddess of villages happens to be in town."

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They arrived at the front of an unassuming wooden house that, contrary to its appearance, was surrounded by villagers bustling with excitement. Men carrying harvested crops, women with babies, kids with scr.a.p.es here and there, elders wearing somber but reverent expressions. It was the usual kind of group you would find in places like these. Though their point of interest was unusual.

"I'll wait here with Selt," Freya said. Selt was already asleep, but the reason their companion decided to stay was probably because of her out of norm looks. It had caused a big commotion in the village when they had arrived the first time. Some people screaming 'monster' or other hurtful things while running away, and others being too curious for their own good. They should have seen it coming considering how out of the way the village was.

"It shouldn't take long," Nelimir said and got out of the carriage with Roesia jumping off his shoulder to stay with Freya and Selt.

Yvain was about to lift Nora again but she stopped him with a hand on his c.h.e.s.t. "Just lend me your shoulder, it's not too far."

"A few steps won't won't kill me," she said. Yvain wasn't too sure, but he thought he could hear a hint of desperation in her voice. He felt her starting to squirm in his arms and, when he looked at her, found nervous eyes that were looking away from him. When he followed their trajectory he realized she was looking at the group of villagers and realization hit. A cheshire smile beginning to form on his lips, he lifted Nora up. "Neither will me carrying you."

Nora squeaked and tried to push Yvain away to no avail. A part of her felt excitement at the strength of the wall of muscles that wouldn't let her escape. But a larger portion, one that stemmed from her core, didn't want to appear so vulnerable. "Wait, please."

"What?" Yvain stopped by the exit to the carriage.

"I don't want to be carried in front of them," Nora said, looking at the group of people.

"The villagers?" Yvain asked. Nora just nodded. Feeling some shame at how small the problem seemed now that it had been voiced.

"Are you guys coming?" Nelimir had returned when he realized the couple had yet to leave the carriage.

Yvain looked at Nora trying to figure out what to do. He wanted to tease her, but looking at her expression he understood that while she might not take it to heart in the end, it would do more harm than good to force her at this point.

"Let me at least get you off the carriage then," he said and Nora nodded.

Getting off, Yvain set Nora's feet on the ground as she held on to his back. He then grabbed her by the waist and she grabbed on to his shoulder in a half hug.

The door to the carriage slammed behind them and Yvain looked back to see an angry-looking Freya sitting back down. Roesia was striking a muscular arm with her tongue, most likely angry at the amazonian woman for treating her creation so roughly.

"Alright, that's enough! Everyone back to your homes. The goddess of villages will give her services again tomorrow." A deep raspy voice came from the entrance to the house in front of them. A collaborative groan rang out from the villagers, but they still dispersed, going back to whatever tasks they needed to finish before turning in for the day.

Nelimir still approached the home, so Yvain followed behind with a hopping Nora.

"Didn't you hear me? Come back tomorrow," the man said. He was about as tall as Yvain and gave the impression of someone used to bloodshed, which meant Nelimir reached up to the man's chin and gave the sense of a young man about to face off a bear. But his friend stood in front of him all the same, with the smile he would offer anyone that hadn't done him wrong.

"Did you already forget about me, Michael?" Nelimir said.

"Unfortunately not. What do you want?" Michael said, his face impassive.

"Just a few minutes of the goddesse's time, it won't take long." Yvain didn't miss the look Michael gave him before looking back at his smaller friend. Nelimir noticed too and quickly added, "don't let that blockhead bother you, he currently has his hands occupied."

Micahel scoffed but promptly got out of the way to let the trio in.

"Did you do something to him?" Nora whispered.

The small group found themselves inside an extremely modest house. Probably more modest than even the homes of the villagers. It didn't have any of the normal amenities, but its walls were covered with jars of all shapes and colors. It wasn't the kind of place someone would reside in the long term.

The smell of herbs was strong enough to suffocate and Yvain found himself trying to hold back a frown. Nelimir and Nora seemed unbothered for the most part.

In the middle of the room, a woman that seemed to be in her late fifties was sitting in a desk, grinding down what Yvain could only guess to be something that came out of the jars. She looked like any village mother in her late years, having the same calm nature that seemed to pour naturally out of them. Yvain took notice of how clean she looked despite the state of their surroundings.

"Set her down on the bed," the goddess spoke first, pointing at a small mattress that was on the ground at the opposite end of her.

Nelimir gave Yvain the go-ahead while he spoke, "We're sorry to disturb you like this. We were hoping you could look at our friend here."

"I know. She has a fractured femur," she said, getting up from the desk while carrying the bowl she was using for her work.

"How did you know?" Nelimir said. Yvain couldn't stop himself and laughed. His friend sounded just like Selt when something got him excited.

The goddess looked at him as if she was used to his outbursts already and with a sigh said, "I saw you three outside my abode bothering poor Michael. I've already told you, I may be a goddess but I'm not all-powerful," the woman sat down next to Nora who was lying down on the mattress, "can you be a sweetheart and uncover her leg for me?" The woman smiled at Yvain. He had only met Michael when the man tried to rough up Nelimir for being too forceful. But this woman gave him the feeling like he had known her his whole life. It made him feel nothing but goodwill toward her.

Nodding, he easily ripped apart half of Nora's pants to reveal her milky t.h.i.g.h.

Nora at least looked like she was seriously thinking over her answer. "It's...kind of like a chain reaction. I trust you, so by default I trust your friends. And out of all three of you this goddess is definitely the least harmless," she said, laughing at the end.

"Please, call me Lydia," the woman said before she began slathering a sweet-smelling paste all over Nora's t.h.i.g.h. "These two really did a number on Michael. They think that just because they learned a bit of starlight they can bully those weaker than them."

"I'm sorry," Yvain said, truly ashamed of what he had done, even if it was an accident.

"Don't say sorry to me, say sorry to Michael. He's a bit rough around the edges, but his heart is in the right place." As Lydia put more and more of the paste over Nora's t.h.i.g.h, a tame sort of green glow was starting to appear. "If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be able to go from village to village tending to those that need my help." Despite the seriousness of her words, Lydia didn't sound to be truly angry at them.

"It's my fault, Lydia," Nelimir said, looking as abashed as Yvain. "I'll admit, I've gotten a bit ahead of myself in my excitement to learn about your race and brought some unnecessary troubles to you. If there's anything I can do just let me know."

"As long as you understand," finished spreading the contents of her bowl, Lydia stood up and went to her desk, "And I'm human just like you, nothing more nothing less."

"What exactly did you put on my leg?" Nora asked, curious at the paste's purpose.

"Let it sit overnight. The healing properties of the medicine will seep into your leg, setting and healing your broken femur in the process." Lydia said. She then pointed toward the door and with an apologetic expression said, "Now if you would be so kind, I got an early morning tomorrow."

Yvain quickly went and helped Nora stand up. Thinking about how she had constantly been kissing him on the cheek, he went in and did the same to her. The softness of it made him want to take a bite. "You were very brave," he said.

Nelimir shook his head, a sense of melancholy washing over him at watching the couple flirt. "Enough of that, let's get out of here. We need to get up early too."

As the trio was walking out, Lydia's voice stopped them. "Nelimir, if there is something I would ask of you, is to quickly be done with your business and leave this village and never stop in anyone like it again." Lydia looked as kind as she had at the start, but a sense of pressure could be felt coming out of the motherly woman now. "I sympathize with your dreams for the future, I really do. But they will bring an ocean of enemies intent on sweeping you away." With that, Lydia went back to putting away her materials.

Yvain saw his friend stand still at the exit, his smile now gone.

When Nelimir moved again, it seemd as if a weight had been set on his shoulders. "Come my friend, we start early tomorrow."