Zeph Malston: The Aether Mage

The musical chimes greeted three people walking into the ice cream shop. Two were in a good mood while the third came in with her orange tail hanging down in despair. Bianca encountered a minor problem on the way.

"I can't believe I got a ticket," Bianca g.r.o.a.n.e.d.

"Well, you were going pretty fast." Semara tried to console her.

"I can't believe you're that surprised. With the way you drive, it must happen all the time." Zeph looked around the shop.

A soft "Hmph," was the fox lady's only reply.

The interior of the shop looked more like a fancy bar than an ice cream shop. A smooth and polished wooden counter came out of the wall from the middle of the room and curved toward the back. Behind it stood a gentle-looking bear-kin shifter with greying hair around his temples. He even dressed like a bartender. On the shelves behind him were large glass jars displaying ice creams of different flavors and various toppings. With a small nod, he welcomed them.

After a few moments of appreciating the décor, Zeph had a slightly troubling thought. "Please tell me you two aren't thinking of eating alcoholic ice cream."

"Pfft. Of course not," Biance retorted

Zeph gave her a suspicious look, obviously doubting her.

"I still have to drive home later. This is just the best place for frosty treats in the city." Bianca said while making her way to the counter.

"Then why does this place look like a bar?" Zeph followed after her.

"Well, it does serve alcohol in the evening. We're not staying that late though. I Think Bianca only wants to run around today and get out of the house. We'll probably go see a movie after this." Semara told the young lord as they all arrived in front of the bartender/ice cream man.

"Welcome to the Frosty Flagon. My name's Trevor. What can I get for you folks today?" the Bear-man leaned over the counter with a friendly smile.

After looking at the full menu and some deliberating, they got the house special that Trevor recommended. Zeph was amused by his flagon full of sparkly blue ice cream, and he couldn't wait to try it. This would be his first taste of magically enchanted food, so he was pretty excited. He could feel the magic radiating from both the flagon and the ice cream. "Do we keep the flagons or leave them somewhere when we're done?"

"We get to keep them. You only get a flagon when you get the special and it's included in the price of the order. They're collectible and every location has a different design." Semara explained while she sat down at a nearby table.

"Okay, that explains the price. I thought it was a little too expensive just for enchanted food." Zeph joined her at the table, followed by Bianca. Her attention was on her flagon, and the fox lady's eyes almost sparkled in expectation for her frozen treat.

"It's still on the expensive side. This is a high-quality establishment after all. I just think your sense for money is a little off given your situation." Semara smiled at her friend's hypnotized gaze. It has been a long time since the two came here, and Bianca would always get captivated by the ice cream.

"You're probably right about that. Either way, I'm sure it's worth it if Bianca's reaction is a sign of anything." Zeph went for his first spoonful.

As the ice cream touched his tongue, there was a small spark of magic that connected all his taste buds. It was like he tasted flavors he never knew existed. A shiver of delight went from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. Bianca had a similar reaction. Semara had to hold in a laugh seeing the two fox tails puff out like they had been shocked and then start wagging fast enough to kick up some wind.

Semara would tease them about their reaction, but she was too busy trying to keep her own tail under control. Still, the two fox-kins looked so cute that she wanted to take a picture. Then she noticed Zeph's magic rise for a second, probably to cast a spell. A faint column of light shined down on Zeph. It looked like it came from the heavens him to bless this moment. The musical tones of worship she started to hear confirmed her suspicions. "Okay, now you're just being dramatic."

Zeph held up his hand at her with his eyes still closed. "Shhh. Just let me enjoy this."

A second faint pillar of light shone down on Bianca and the faint sounds of an angelic chorus joined the awe-inspiring tune. Semara's eye twitched. "Oh, come on. I know it's good, but that's a little much," Semara scoffed. A lot of people wished they could use illusion magic, her being one of them. Zeph and Bianca were using it to make their ice cream look like a divine gift. She wasn't jealous that they could make music out of nowhere with little effort... not jealous at all. The wolf girl pouted.

The lights and the sound disappeared. "Party pooper," Bianca giggled.

"Still, this stuff is amazing. I'm using taste buds I never knew I had." Zeph got another spoonful.

"Well, I'm just glad you feel better today." Semara gave up trying to control her tail and just let it do whatever it wanted. It was a little frustrating trying to hold it back when the food was this good.

"Why, what happened yesterday?" Bianca tilted her head. "I thought you had fun hanging out with the guys."

"I did, but something happened at the end of the night," Zeph explained what happened and how it made him feel. He also talked about rethinking his decision to be a valir.

"Well, I think you should still be a valir. Just focus on fighting wild monsters and stuff. Unless another war gets really bad, you won't be forced to fight people. After all, you're the Young Lord of Asperitus. It's not like you'll be bossed around by anyone and made to fight," Bianca said.

Semara nodded. "Besides, you'll have plenty of time to think it over. I, for one, think you're handling you're situation really well. It has only been a few months since you came to her. Just relax and enjoy the day. I'm sure Ms. Mischeif over here has other activities planned."

Bianca grinned with a suspicious twinkle in her eye.

Their support helped alleviate some of Zeph's worries and he could feel the stress fade away. "Thank you two." He put his arm around Bianca and gave her a quick hug, and then got up and gave another one to Semara.

Semara enjoyed the embrace but it was interrupted when she heard the sound of an audience making a noise like they were watching cute and cuddly baby animals hug.

"Awww!" Bianca joined in with her illusion spell.

Semara glared at her best friend. 'I wonder if everyone else's best friend is such a pain in the b.u.t.t or if it's just her.'

__________

Ivy was almost done getting dressed when she heard Lili knock on her bathroom door what must have been the eighth time. "Hold on, I'm almost done." She finished combing her hair. "Why does my best friend have to be such a pain in the b.u.t.t," she sighed.

Lili was waiting for her in her room. "Finally! I was so bored. C'mon let's go over to Zeph's." Lili said while reaching her hand out to grab her HEBFF (Half-Elf Best Friend Forever.)

"We go there almost every weekend Lil. How about we do something else?" Ivy stood still, resisting the surprisingly strong girl's pull on her arm.

Lili dropped Ivy's arm and looked at her in shock. She quickly put her hand on Ivy's forehead to check her temperature. "Mom, come quick! I Think Ivy is sick!"

Ivy pushed Lili's hand away. "I'm not sick you doofus."

"But, you never turn down a chance to see Zeph." Lili gave her a half-lidded stare. "What's going on?"

Ivy sighed. "Remember how mom and grandma have me doing mental exercises to get the family curse to stop affecting me so much?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm just now starting to get some results and I wanted to use this weekend to make some more progress. If I see Zeph now, I'm worried that I might lose that."

"Oh, I see." Lili rubbed her chin. "Yeah, I get it. You don't want to relapse into crazy stalker Ivy," she said while nodding.

"I was not a crazy stalker!"

"Really? What about that notebook with Mrs. Ivy Malston doodled in it over and over again?"

"That's normal. Girls do that all the time."

"Twenty pages, Ivy."

"Okay, so that might be a little much."

"Front and back."

"Okay, so I have a problem. But, I'm trying to fix it. So, can we do something else today, like go to the entertainment plaza downtown and watch a movie?"

"Sure, I do want to watch Burn-omancer 3: the Final Burnaning."

"That's not the movie's name. It can't be."

"Eh, whatever the name is, it's supposed to be the most explosive movie this year. Oh! We should get your grandma to take us. She loves action movies."

Ivy shook her head. "Grandma went to the forests to help grandpa Eli look for the demon guys this weekend."

"Hmm, maybe mom will let one of the maids take us."

"Why not invite her?"

"Have you met my mom? She'd be all 'My goodness how unsavory. Darling this show is much too violent' and never let us watch it."

"Hmm, I can see that happening. Why don't we just watch something else?"

"Ooh, what about Whispers of Shadows. We haven't seen a scary movie in a while, and, my hair is white now. So, I kinda look like the ghost girl in the movie if I wet it down over my face. We could prank some people and scare 'em."

"I don't think your mom would let you do that either."

"Oh yeah. Maybe we can get one of the maids to take us instead. Mom's feeling embarrassed about her new baby belly anyway, so she probably doesn't want to go out at the moment." Lili giggled. "It's not even that big right now, but it'll be hilarious in a few months. She'll look huge!"

"Um, Lili," Ivy tried to interrupt and pointed at the door behind her.

"I can see her waddle now," Lili chuckled. "Can you imagine the stuff we can get away with when she can't get out of the chair to see what we're up to?"

"And what kind of stuff would that be my dear?" a new voice asked from the doorway.

Lili's eyes widened. "Uhm… Hi Mrs. Alcott. What's up?"

"I came over because I heard you yelling about Ivy being sick. Is she okay?"

Ivy looked at her nervous friend and almost laughed. "No, I'm fine mom. It was just a misunderstanding."

"Oh, that's good. You two have a good time." Tara left her daughter's room.

"Phew," Lili sighed in relief. "I'm glad that was your mom instead of mine. She'd probably make me do dishes or wear a frilly dress when we go out later for talking about her weight."

"Those seem like good ideas honey. How about you do both?" A very familiar voice sounded out in the hallway as Lili's mom walked into the room.

"Eeep!"