An Unlikely Trio

Shynerai traveled as far as he could with one of the Teleportation Seals found on the school grounds that belonged to the Questing Committee, landing outside of Deep city, near the outskirts of Aria.

The nature of Teleportation Seals was among the oldest of the practical applications of magic in the First World. Originally, it was a capacity belonging to the Danu, until the study and experimentation by the Humans of Mort Acysis as well as a group of unnamed Iotenas found a way to master the power.

For the Seals to work, they make use of Spatial-Construction Magic, working to temporarily establish a bridge between two points in reality and materializing the idea with magic, but since such a creation is an anomaly onto reality, the process is constantly requiring a source of power to maintain.

Upon the Seal, a magical formula describing characteristics of the journey between the two points is essential to ensuring safer travel, however too much complexity in the script could increase the magical demands of the Seal, or in worst case scenarios, even tear the traveler apart in an effort to reconcile the conditions of the journey.

With Lotarim's activation of the seal, the blinding shimmer of the growing light of his magic subsided and the brightness accompanying it giving way to the sight of the landscape he found himself in. As he stared off into the distance, through the thickets of tall grass he caught a glimpse of a road that snake off into the horizon.

Opening his Notebook, Shynerai checked the changing of his illusory map, painting a newer image of where he now stood. Aligning himself with the harvest fields of the Arian outskirts to get a sense of where to go next. 

He made his way through the thick brush until he reached a road as far as it would lead him. 

Arian Border: Head South-West. Along with the mention of who would proctor his Quest from the Committee President, Aurelia, his Notebook was loaded with the contents of the Quest. Using the information, his illusory map was updated accordingly, leading him down that long-spanning road.

It would be an hour and a half of walking before he would see any semblance of civilization as the first welcomed sight aside from near-endless grasslands was that of a mounted winged horse forming the sign of the building that he was making his way towards.

'Bellerophon Auto Shop? It doesn't look like there's anyone around.' He thought as he came up to the gate and began looking through the mesh of the barrier.

The site was deemed to be broken up into three main areas, a loading bay, a waste disposal side and the main front with service and maintenance shops, all of which sat within a sizable courtyard, behind the heavy gate.

He continued, before pulling himself from the gate and pacing about the perimeter of the shop, hoping to find any sign of recent activity. When got to the furthest end...he found something quite surprising.

Unsure of how to approach, and with no one else nearby, Shynerai called out to the figure that was standing against the wall of the shop's back entrance. Beside her was a large red door with rusted edges that was only briefly opened before slamming shut by the time Shynerai had reached the stranger.

"Excuse me...do you perhaps know if this shop is open?" He asked with a curious look as he tried to peer beneath the figure's hood.

"I can't really say, why do you ask?" The figure responded briefly, but it was enough to spur his interest even more. Abandoning his earlier reservation, he continued his exchange with them.

"I...was supposed to meet someone here and together we were to find a means of traveling–"

"Oh. You're headed to Whitewater Port aren't you?"

"How did you–"

"Kiara sent me. Guess that makes you...Astrapordt?" The figure turned to him, removing their hood.

"I am Shynerai Astrapordt, yes. It's a pleasure." He offered his hand and while he tried introducing himself.

"I'm Meira, Meira Euryale."

"It's nice to meet you...Ms. Euryale...Euryale...hmmm?" 

'It's almost surprising how much she looks like him…' Shynerai's gaze flickered between her various features, piecing together an image of what the model for an elf would be. For most of his life, the only image he had of a pure-blooded elf was that of his mother, though her sun-kissed tan and snow-white hair was in stark contrast to what he was seeing.

In either case, Shynerai was assured of the fact that Meira was certainly an unparalleled beauty. Noting the piercing glare of her deep crimson eyes.

"Don't bother, just call me Meira. Anyways when you're done staring you can follow me, our ride should be ready."

'How did she...well I didn't expect someone so pretty to be under that hood'

"Hey, are you coming already?"

"Yeah...eh sorry about that" Losing sight of her entrancing golden locks as she entered that now opened door, Shynerai quickly followed, all the while reminding himself not to stare.

"Mech-Five...you in here, old man?" Shynerai heard her yelling out in the room as he entered through the door.

As he got in, he caught sight of Meira alongside a stranger that seemed to be informing her of something. Moving to meet the two, he manages to catch the stranger's attention, who asks Meira about him. Shynerai was a little thrown off by how easily he was speaking to her but kept his surprise to himself as he introduced himself.

"Oh, so you're gonna be traveling with Meira huh. Nice to meet you, the name's Konnor, and this is my family's shop." Surprising Shynerai as he bypassed his outstretched, with an unsuspecting hug.

While appearing no older than either him or Meira by a year or two, Konnor's athletic build was certainly formidable. Easily standing over two meters tall, he possessed his father's bronze tan, a notable feature of most Faltariens from the South along with his dark and wild mane that was kept out of his amber colored eyes by a park of black-lens goggles. 

"...He's a hugger."

"Come on Meira...I'm not gonna give up on you yet" He responded before her burning gaze had him take a step back.

She revealed that Kiara had planned a series of vehicles for them to use, they just needed Mech-Five to approve and sign-off on their choice, so that it was logged with the school. After she finished explaining to Shynerai, Konnor asked them to join him in the garage to find his father.

With the two following behind, Konnor stumbled upon the unused front door, forced open for the first time in months. Hitting the button to lift the door, the mechanism shut before swinging open and locking above them. Once freed from the rust, Konnor called the mechanic.

"Dad.... are you in here? Meira's friend just arrived so they're ready to go."

"Could you yell any louder boy? If they are here, then they can wait five minutes. Uggh, the old girl isn't ready yet. Still waiting...on the replacement clutch plate, the old thing looks like a chew toy"

"So...what should I tell–"

Waving off to Konnor with a spanner in hand:

"There's something they can use under the tarp over there."

"This old thing...well why not", He ran over to the tarp, pulling off the dusty cover to reveal an armored behemoth, a military-technical mobile trailer. The letters on the vehicle were etched in a fading silver tone: G.A.V. Entering the vehicle, its interior was well kept in spite of the rusting metal found across its chassis.

"Hey guys, you might wanna make way, you don't want to get in the way of this beast." Konnor's warning echoed through the metallic body of the towering vessel, before he inputted the ignition commands and placed his Notebook on the dashboard holster.

The roaring boom of the engine coming to life sent out a billowing cloud of smoke that was enough to have him leap to the side in a hurry all as Meira strolled away, only giving notice to the smoke nearing her by wafting it away. The machine pulled out of the darkened garage into the late morning sun that beat down on the shop.

Once he parked it near the gate that was previously closed. Konnor got out and asked them to inspect their vehicle. He intended for them to travel within something more manageable, however since the required repairs for all the other vehicles were delayed by another week, they had very little in the way of options.

Knowing this, he wanted them to understand everything that he thought might be important, calling them to follow him as he guided them around the vehicle.

"It's called the Ground Assault Vehicle or G.A.V for short. They used to be the main transports for traveling beyond the Havens before airships became the safer option. After those Faltarien engineers from the South figured out how to deal with all the airborne pests, they started making fewer of these. Granted, they weren't cheap to maintain or easy to drive, but they were reliable, and were guaranteed to outlast most of their owners."

"It's dad's keepsake from his time as a Guardian." Informing the two as he walked them through the vehicle, showing off the different features of the G.A.V.

"It's older than airship technology, wouldn't this be in a museum?" Shynerai ran a curious hand over the hardened and cold hull of the vehicle, that rumbled and shook as though it were alive and conscious of his touch.

"Older is a strange way of seeing it. But yes, you're right. And while someone out there would love to have her in their collection, she is not for sale, and she would be disgraced if she was to rust away in an exhibit over her duty."

"Konnor?"

"Yeah, Dad, what's up?" Sticking his head out of the window.

"Come here for a minute, I'm gonna need you to do something for me" Meira and Shynerai left the technical and joined up with the two of them, with her making sure that he kept his distance the entire time. 

When approaching them, Konnor turned to him with an unsettled expression. Seemingly nervous from what he was just told, Shynerai asked him if he was okay, shaking him up a little, but enough to make him come to his senses as he told them both that he would have to listen up:

"Meira dear, I'm sending my boy along with you."

"Mech-Five...that can't –"

"Listen, the old girl doesn't have a driving A.I and spirit enchantment and none of you are even old enough to drive so Konnor, you're going with them"

"...it's not part of the Quest!"

"Ms. Euryale... I mean Meira. If it's only to get us to Whitewater Port, then it should be fine?"

"Fine, get ready. I want to head out in twenty minutes." She eventually gave in with a heavy sigh as she made her way to the G.A.V. After getting their supplies packed and refueling, they set out.

Making their way past the final borders of the Arian region into Nycerii territory, Konnor warned them that if they want to travel to Whitewater Port in their time frame then they will have to camp at night.

This was because the path that they want to take is known for being Nycerii territory.

While Shynerai began running through the Quest log as he mentioned that their mission had to be finished as soon as possible when came across a harrowing detail. Leaving them with no other choice but to end up taking the route.

They took the path far south until sundown, with much of the trip being through rough grasslands surrounded mostly by wetlands and barely any roads to move along. 

Despite it being between the Rylev and Falsetti kingdoms, the Nycerii territory had no recognizable civilizations, something Shynerai noted as the shimmering coat of a prowl of violet Achrominae running beside the G.A.V caught his eye only a few kilometers within the territory.

Sometime after, the trio pulled over to make camp near a collection of Swordoaks, a rare sight outside of the Havens of the Falsetti Kingdom. These trees grew to impressive size, and were known for their razor-sharp leaves and the dense steely nature of their wood.

Because they were so hardy, they always grew in large groups, with their towering size limited only by the available space around them. Seemingly sprouting near the edge of some denser but smaller woods. 

With Konnor's help, Shynerai began setting up camp while Meira was atop the G.A.V, scouting their area. With the rustling branches and breaking twigs calling to her attention in the descending dark, she moved into the canopy of the trees, hoping to get a better look at their camp.

After returning from her task, she joined them in the camp, finding Shynerai preparing what looked to be dinner and Konnor tinkering inside of the vehicle. Seeing how they were both busy, she instructed them to be on the lookout, warning that they were still in the open as she went to get cleaned up.

With the last of the preparations for their meal complete, Shynerai's work was enough to draw Konnor away from his. Having revealed a meal that seemed far too luxurious for a camping trip, garnering even Meira's curiosity as she wandered out of the vehicle after washing up, she asked where he picked up his talent for cooking.

He responded with an awkward stammer for a moment, telling her that he needed to learn how to make something decent during training as a child or he would have starved. His words made Meira raise an eyebrow as she was reminded of what Lucianan had told her before she left. 

Konnor's overzealous excitement eventually brought her out of her head as he began merrily serving the group.

After the dinner, Shynerai opened his pack and was once again going through his Notebook with the Quest Log being the focus of study while Meira and Konnor left to get some sleep inside the G.A.V, with Konnor sleeping in the passenger seat. 

Mulling over the details of the document with the wording of the request appearing somewhat odd to him.

A-rank Quest: Request for Investigation, by MayorLudleef of Whitewater Port.

Investigate the recent disappearances around Whitewater Port and find out why shipping in the area has been shut down.

By 03h45, they were all resting, as Shynerai was sleeping in front of the campfire when the sound of tussling in the nearby bushes woke him. Before he was completely awake, shadowy figures of strange shapes draped in dark and tattered cloaks, covering what looked like gray vestments, were quick to restrain him with a knife to his throat.

With him slowly coming to, the cold touch of jagged steel against his cheek shattered the somnial peace...as his eyes suddenly burned up with the brilliant white flames that were being birthed by his silent incantations.

The flaring heat from his flames threw off the attackers binding him in a frenzy. The rising chaos, the group of shadows split in their approach as they moved towards him and the G.A.V.

In their moment of distraction, Shynerai head-butted the assailant behind him, leaving the figure reeling in agony as he staggered back, the result causing the blade to cut at his cheek. Ignoring his injury, he lunged at the G.A.V and kicked one of them against it.

The others tried to retaliate by firing a barrage of firebolts at him, but the strength of Beowulf was more than they expected with all the spells whizzing past him as he tore up the camp in a hazy blur. Though his movements were not solely in an attempt to protect himself, with his vivid speed, managing to disrupt any of the attacks that would have charred the vehicle.

Moving in between them, in the confusion he caught them just as they tried to cast another bolt and broke their arms before a second blow to the stomach launched them towards the bladed assailants who were waiting a chance to strike, knocking foe after foe into coals of the campfire. The resulting shrieks and panicked woes alert the entire campsite.

The sound of a burning panic woke Konnor and Meira. Konnor was the first to exit the vehicle with the nearest assailant taking notice and pinning him to the ground.

As he knocked out and extinguished the burning attackers, a cloaked assailant rose beside the G.A.V, trying to shake off the numbing blow before him along with his somewhat conscious partners decided to leave with the hostage. Though Shynerai didn't notice them, seeing only Meira as she left the vehicle in a daze.

When she saw all the commotion, she scorned Shynerai, asking him what happened as well as where Konnor went.

Shynerai answered that he was inside the vehicle with her but she responded to him that he came out before her when they heard the fighting while trying to make sense of what happened himself. 

Turning around, Shynerai tried to locate him, noticing the smug look on the bladed assailant's bleeding face.

Shynerai confronted him, warning them to tell them everything they know but he refused.

Meira pushed the Daumier aside, sending him away while she took over. While he would have liked to pretend to ignorance, the guttural cries his sharp ears caught made him aware that she began torturing the man...

Taking a little over ten minutes before he eventually revealed everything...with the condition that he isn't left alone with her anymore, a statement that had beads of sweat running down his cheeks after hearing. Meira told him that they have to go and save him but Shynerai refused. Reminding her of their mission and its urgency.

Meira answered with her frustrations made bare about his selfish nature–but he interrupted her by telling her that she will have to continue the rest of the trip on foot as soon as it's daybreak.

He remarked that they won't be getting far without any wheels so she just needs to go on ahead and he'll catch up once he gets Konnor. Their campsite isn't safe anymore and the only way she'll be okay is by heading for Whitewater, it was closer than trying to turn back.

Shynerai could tell that Meira didn't agree with the plan wholeheartedly, but he had to set off, as Meira got ready to head out before daybreak.

Meira traveled for almost two hours until she noticed the shape of a vehicle in the distance. When it arrived to her, she's relieved to find it's the G.A.V, with a slightly beat-up Konnor smiling like an idiot at the wheel.

When she got in she found the captured assailant both restrained and gagged.

Far too tired from her walk to care...she simply accepted his presence and then proceeded to question Konnor on Shynerai's whereabouts. Konnor closed the door and gestured to the back of the vehicle.

When she turned back she saw Shynerai drying himself off while half-naked with most of his damp hair covering his eyes. Because of this, he could barely see Meira and simply continued to walk towards Konnor, whilst repeatedly asking him if he had found Meira yet...but coming to a stop once he had bumped into Meira.

All the while she was unable to move as she found herself far too flustered at the sight of the young Daumier. By the time he had stopped, she was already in contact with him. Her hand was on his chest and her eyes were firmly fixed on his visage draped in his white bangs.

Only once her eyes met his emerald ones did the sight return her to her senses before knocking him to the back of the vehicle in an act of aggression that shook the G.A.V, prompting Konnor to warn them not to break anything. 

Shynerai groaned from the impact but felt somewhat at ease as he noticed how Meira's behavior was so reminiscent of Vaceris. After getting dressed he went to the front of the vehicle to ask Konnor how far the town might be.

Looking at the illusory map on the dashboard, Konnor assured him that they were about a half-hour away from reaching the Port.

Meanwhile, Shynerai took the time to question the captured assailant about their attack. The cloaked figure again refused to speak once more until Meira joined the two all the while masking her sinister intent with an unconvincing expression towards them.

A sudden chill ran down his spine at the horrific sight...and so he began to answer.

Shynerai wanted to know why they attacked them and he replied stating that they were sent to kill anybody that was trying to gain access to Whitewater Port.

Curious about this, he asked why and after blood began spilling from the captive's mouth, he told him that it was an order they were given by... a Forsaken Mage

"Forsaken? You mind explaining what that is?" Shynerai pressed for more information.