"You'll see it in a little bit, but Langerich is built in the center of a crater and holds the largest mana reservoir in Amaredeia. It was once a powerful fortress as well, back when the three kingdoms warred against each other. That's why you saw the ruins further back. They were once the first wall you had to pass to even get near Langerich," Darin explained to Argent. Iver listened as well, interested in the city's history while Noctifer paid more attention to the road. "This is also why it has gained the nickname of 'The City of the Final Battle.' It has been the location of many legendary sieges, and some historians would tell you it was the location of Ordephus and Agkaneel's last battle, leaving behind the mana reservoir."

"It does not seem like a good place to build a fortress," Iver noted, gazing at the steep slopes around them as they descended into the city by a winding road.

"Not for normal soldiers, but for wizards, it's perfect as there's an infinite supply of mana right at the center." Darin shrugged. "There have been occasions where the opposing forces have managed to get it, and that's where the losing battles began, but more than likely you'd be blocked by a barrier before being blasted away."

"Enough of the history lesson," Noctifer cut in, stopping at a crossroad. "Where to next?"

"The apothecary?" Argent piped up, looking up at Darin who nodded in confirmation.

"It's this way," Darin said while pulling to the front, making sure Argent stayed beside him. He was less concerned about if the other two followed or not, but judging by the way people were more eager to get out of his way, he could only assume the swordsmen continued to trail behind.

From the week-long detour, Darin had learned a few more things about the two new, possibly permanent, traveling companions. For one, Iver was the more social and courteous one of the two while Noctifer rarely held back his words. The swordsmen had been traveling together for a while before they rescued Argent and him, although they wouldn't have been there at all if it weren't for them accepting a commission to find and take down a group of bandits terrorizing the area. Noctifer made sure Darin knew that, much to the wizard's annoyance. It was Iver who had to step between them when arguments became more heated until Darin had learned to ignore the needling. Most of the needling, at least. Every conversation with the tall man either sounded like a critique or an interrogation, and it made Darin restless. Darin once joked how the warrior could've been an army interrogator as an attempt to redirect the conversation—Noctifer was getting too close to information he didn't want known—only to be sent a withering glare. Darin immediately shut up after that and refused to acknowledge Noctifer for the rest of the night.

They were just about to exit the shopping district as Darin stopped at a simple door, the sign above it having the image of a mortar and pestle carved into it. The display window had only a few ingredients and potions out on its shelves, seeming to be a bit lacking in its stock. By no means did the shop look rundown, but it wasn't very eye-catching either with its white walls and dark beams. Darin stepped inside, and the rest of them followed. Noctifer nearly had to stoop to enter.

Once inside the apothecary, they were immediately hit with many different scents, mainly flowers, spices, and oddly, pine tar. It made Argent's nose crinkle in distaste at the sudden olfactive assault. There were even more shelves inside, lining both the walls and stacked on tables, all filled with either bottles or little bags. Darin weaved around the table at the center, giving a small smile to the girl standing at the counter.

"Master Alaris!" she exclaimed, hastily putting aside her book. "We were worried you wouldn't make it before snowfall when we heard the bridge collapsed. So you didn't have to travel around the lake?"

"Only a detour into Vecjivi Territory," Darin replied, peering around the shop. "Is Amonis around?"

"Oh! Of course! I'll get Master Rummenod right away!"

Without another word, she scampered into the back room and up what sounded like stairs.

"She left the shop unmanned," Noctifer noted who stood next to the door with his arms folded across his chest. He glanced around the shop and couldn't help but note a lack of items on its shelves. It made sense, though, as it was nearing the evening.

"Don't worry, the shop can protect itself." Darin picked up a potion next to him and threw it at Noctifer before anyone could ask what he meant. "Catch!"

Noctifer's eyes widened in surprise, instinctively reaching out and catching the potion midair, but just as his fingers wrapped around the glass, it sent a jolt of electricity up his arm. With a shout of surprise, he let go. All except Darin held their breath as the bottle hit the wood floor with an awful clatter, but to their relief, it only rolled in an arch before stopping, perfectly unharmed. Noctifer gave the smirking wizard a furious glare. "You son of a—"

"I hope you're paying for that, Darin," a voice from the back cut in, dampening the warrior's murderous intent and possibly saving the wizard's neck. Behind them stood a slight man, his pale blond hair pulled back into a neat bun and his blue eyes leveling Darin with a stern look. He couldn't have been much older than Darin; possibly in his early thirties.

"Only if it broke," Darin replied cheekily, and Amonis rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, business first, talk later." He beckoned the wizard forward to the counter, and Darin began drawing the glass orbs out from his bag.

"They're a bit jostled, but still usable," Amonis admitted, carefully placing the plants back into the spheres before sealing them up with a wave of his hand. "So what happened? And don't think I haven't noticed the lack of use of your right arm."

"He threatened to tie it in a sling if I couldn't keep it still," Darin said, motioning to Iver who was talking adamantly with Lottie, Amonis' apprentice. They both appeared to have an encyclopedic knowledge of botany, as Darin could barely pick up on what they were talking about. Noctifer continued to stand by the door, glaring daggers at the back of the wizard's head, while Argent wandered around the shop.

Amonis gave Darin an exasperated look. "Ok? And? That doesn't answer my question as to why."

"It was an untreated unseelie bite," Darin confessed, continuing quickly when Amonis began narrowing his eyes. "I was going to get it checked once I got to Langerich, but I wasn't expecting the bridge to be damaged."

"Oh? It didn't collapse?"

Darin shook his head. "I talked to the bridgekeeper, and he said it should be repaired before Snowfall. There was a ferry up near the edge of Vecjivi Territory." He chuckled. "They scammed me out of a few extra slivers, but it was faster than going around Lake Erra."

Amonis hummed, glancing past Darin to look at the tall man standing by the door. "I don't recall you ever traveling with more than one person. Why the change?"

"Ah, that. It originally was only one. I took Argent—" Darin waved his hand in the direction of the boy who turned to look at the mention of his name. Argent went back to his wandering when he realized they were only talking about him. "—on as my apprentice, and—"

"You took on an apprentice?" Amonis' brow raised in genuine surprise. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"Indeed I did, only to get you to stop bothering me about it," Darin said cheerfully, earning a small scoff. "Anyway, we had an unfortunate run-in with a group of bandits, and it was the two swordsmen who saved our necks and your ingredients. After that, they offered to become a sort of bodyguard, you could say, since I've run out of mana potions, and I was worried about my ability to protect the boy. In exchange, I provide their room and food. They remind me of parasites now that I think about it." He ignored the growl from behind him. "Speaking of mana potions, I see your shelves are empty of it as well, and I'll assume you have none in the back."

"King Ragvnarch is determined to end the uprising quickly, thus has ordered every mana potion of a sellable quality in Loten to be sent over to Paraglia," Amonis replied with a grimace. "I'm sure you've noticed the change by now. In a twisted sense, I've actually been getting more profit from it—hence my low stock—since wizards are getting injured more often due to running out of mana mid-journey."

"And the Alliance dare to act outraged at the uprising while they're at it," Darin muttered darkly. "Did they really expect the dragonkind to sit passively as they are branded and sent off to work camps?"

"Keep your opinion to yourself and out of my shop, please," Amonis sighed, looking at the door once more. "You don't know who could be listening."

"You're right, you're right..."

"Moving on," Amonis went to work on counting the coins he owed for the plants, "where did your sword go? Don't you carry one for the very reason to not get caught defenseless without mana?"

Darin groaned. "You can also thank the same unseelie that bit me for that."

Amonis gave him an astonished look before bursting out laughing. "Are you serious?"

"Unfortunately."

"I can't believe your awful luck this time around!" He continued to laugh at him, putting his face in his hands while Darin watched with an irked expression. After a minute had gone by, the laughter having been reduced to snickers, Darin rested his elbow on the counter and propped his chin on his hand.

"If you're done laughing at me," he said, holding his other hand out with his palm up, "can I have my money now?"

"Hold on, I need to recount." Taking a deep breath, Amonis went back to shuffling the coins around, his lips still pulled into an impish grin. In a sweeping motion, he dropped the coins into his hand before placing them in Darin's waiting palm, adding with a smirk, "There are a few extra picks for your trouble."

"I don't need your pity," Darin countered petulantly but deposited the coins in his coin purse. "How's Areniah doing?"

"She's...well..." Amonis' lips pressed into a thin line, and he rested his hand on the counter, clenching into a loose fist as he searched for the right words to say. Immediately, Darin straightened.

"Is everything alright?" he asked seriously, keeping a close eye on his friend's facial expressions for any signs of distress. Amonis waved his hand in denial.

"I apologize, I made it sound like something had happened. She's doing fine." Amonis gave a bitter laugh. "I should be happy about it, but it's hard when you know she could be better."

"Who is Areniah?" Iver asked Lottie quietly, overhearing the other conversation.

"Master Rummenod's daughter," she replied in a low voice. "She was born with bad legs, and they've been giving her pain since she was young. No one can seem to figure out what's wrong, not even the renowned elven medic, Tarkana. There are only ways to manage the pain. The poor master has devoted himself to research since then, and I believe he's getting close to the solution, but it's resources he lacks. Until now, at least. Master Alaris, I believe, has been sent by Ordephus himself since he brings back what Master Rummanod needs for his research; may Ordephus bless him."

"Ah...It must be hard for the family." If even Lady Tarkana could not heal the child, Iver thought, then it must truly be serious.

"What do you need? Have you any more leads?" Darin continued, unaware of the side conversation.

"I've found notes from an old healer a few hundred years back mentioning something called the 'philosopher's flower.'" Amonis gave a one-sided shrug and crossed his arms. "It's obviously a nickname, but I have yet to find what its modern name is."

"I know it," Darin declared. "Not its modern name, though; it's still referred to as the philosopher's flower down in Paraglia. It's rare, but I know it grows along the Feydra Mountains in valleys like Agkaneel's Demise. In fact, its blooming season should start soon, right? Why didn't I think of it before? I suppose it sounds like an old wives tale, but with a name like that, it must have some sort of miracle truth to it."

Amonis stared at Darin as he rambled. "I thought you didn't know anything about botany."

"I don't, but I know where to find things," Darin grinned. "I'll leave tomorrow."

"Wait, what?" Amonis stepped around the counter in case he had to stop the other from doing anything rash, scolding, "It'll be blooming for months; you don't need to go right this second. Snowfall will begin soon."

"But if I leave now," Darin said, packing the empty orbs back into his bag, "I'll miss the worst of it by the time I pass the Paraglian border."

"Yeah? You and what mana?" Amonis challenged, putting one hand on his hip and looking at Darin with a raised eyebrow. Darin stopped and gaped at him, visibly trying to come up with a solution before deflating.

"We can accompany him," Iver stepped forward impulsively. He understood Darin's need to help a friend, especially when it involved a child with an unfair start in the world. Almost simultaneously, Darin and Noctifer—the latter had only just begun paying attention to the conversation—rounded on the elf, both with expressions of shock.

"Wait a second—"

"Iver, I don't think—"

Both stopped and sent a glare in each other's direction. I'm not traveling with him. Argent not-so-discreetly stepped away from the danger zone. With a heavy sigh, Iver stood between the opposing forces and faced Noctifer.

"We are travelers with no destination," Iver reasoned. "There would be no harm in following Darin as protection, and it would be for a good cause."

"It's because I have money, isn't it," Darin deadpanned behind him, and Argent began snickering. Iver had the audacity to turn to Darin with a sheepish smile.

"It is nice to not have to sleep outside all the time," he admitted. Noctifer gave a grunt before leaning back against the wall, his arms tightly crossed as he looked away. While the attitude peeved Darin, Iver knew it was Noctifer's way of saying, "Do as you wish."

Darin threw his hands in the air. "Parasites. The whole lot of you."

Noctifer rolled his eyes at the wizard's dramatics while Argent continued to muffle his laughter behind his hand.

All the while, Amonis rubbed his jaw while considering the offer carefully. He had always been worried about the other man and his loner tendencies; always traveling alone to foreign and dangerous places. Why he had suddenly taken on an apprentice, he would never know. But he wouldn't question it, either. Darin was an impulsive man, after all, and no one could quite put a finger on his reasonings. If it needed a boy and unfortunate circumstances for him to finally acquire a proper traveling party, so be it.

"If you insist on going now," Amonis said, catching Darin's attention by resting a hand on his shoulder, "at least stay in Langerich until you've regained all of your mana."

"Maybe we could also plan our route into Ormath," Iver added before Darin could object again. "You said only Loten is being used as a supplier, so perhaps in Ormath there are some reservoir cities with mana potions there."

"The closest city I can think of is Weststar, and I'm no traveler, but I think you could make it there and down to Paraglia before the snowfall becomes too heavy." Amonis ignored Darin's protest. Instead, he tightened his grip on the other man's shoulder and said with finality, looking at him dead in the eyes, "You are not traveling down to Feydra Mountains without any mana potions. If you do, remember that I am just as capable of making poison as I am with making medicine."

Darin gulped and wisely kept silent. He didn't even dare turn to glare as he heard Noctifer mutter, "So that's how you shut him up."

"We will make sure he does not," Iver assured with a smile.

"We?" Noctifer hissed at the elf, but by this time, Iver was immune to the warrior's subtle threats.

Why me, was all Darin could think as he slowly accepted his fate.

Word count: 2833