Strong First Impressions

The two younger knights, Roland and Wayne, chatted in the backyard, passing the time. Meanwhile, the more experienced knights were talking inside, seated around Arthur’s modestly sized table. The former knight of Knottori, Arthur, knew the local carpenter quite well, he knew everyone in the village, so putting in an order for a larger table was probably overdue at this point. However, Arthur rarely had guests, and he lived alone so there was usually no problem with the size of the table or the number of chairs. However, that was before he retired from his duties. Perhaps it was time to find a companion, maybe even start a family of his own. It wouldn’t be easy though, since none of the ladies in Knottori caught his eye, nor did he hear any rumors of them holding an affection for him.

“Well Arthur, maybe you should be looking farther and wider? Maybe take a trip down to Lindow and see if you fall in love or something. Y’know maybe don’t even stop at Lindow, you can go anywhere you want now, and meet ladies from all over.”

Garin, the leader of the small knight group, had listened to Arthur’s problems and gave his thoughts and advice. They had been chatting since the knights returned from lunch at the inn, and were waiting for everyone else to arrive for the planned meeting.

“Ah, I'm much too old for that. Traveling around like that is meant for the young and ambitious. I’m looking for a peaceful life at this point. Still though, Lindow isn’t too far away, and I could visit some old friends, so maybe a trip is a good idea.”

Adrion, who was also seated at the table with Arthur and Garin, spoke up.

“Y’know, we’ll be passing through Lindow while escorting the criminals, so you could tag along with us if you want.”

“Hmm… while it would be nice to have company, my garden is ripening soon. I know it doesn’t look like much, but I’ve been taking care of it for months now, and I don’t want to waste all that.”

Andrion gave a shrug, just as a knock arrived at the door. Adrion stood up and answered it, finding the two priestesses on the doorstep. He welcomed them in, as Arthur and Garin stood up from their seats. Andrion guided them to the table, and the ladies took two of the seats, while the three gentlemen stood. Arthur politely offered water and snacks, but Adeline and Haziel had just finished lunch as well.

The group of five engaged in some light smalltalk. Did you rest well? Nice village isn’t it? How are the harvests looking this year? Anything interesting going on with the church recently? Such questions were asked until Haziel suddenly turned away from the group and faced the door. Adeline noticed the change in her partner, and asked her what was wrong, stopping the current conversation in its tracks.

“I feel something. Something is out there.”

Garin was immediately alert.

“Is it dark magic?”

“No, no, it doesn’t feel like that… it feels… almost bright and… comforting? I’ve never felt something like this before, I don’t know what it is. It started off tiny, but its growing, so it’s coming closer”

“Better to be ready then. Arthur, tell Roland and Wayne to get in here.”

Arthur went out the back door while Garin and Andrion started to equip the light armor they brought. Rosand and Wayne rushed in, and Garin told them to get ready as well. Soon, all four of the active knights were armored, with their sheathed swords at their sides. Arthur soon joined them, wearing his old equipment too. None of them could feel anything coming, but they knew to trust in Haziel’s abilities.

“How close is it now?”

“I don’t know! The feeling is growing stronger and stronger. It’s like the sun rising! Oh gods it must be very powerful, please be careful, and run if you have to.”

Garin went over to one of the windows at the front of the house, and looked for the source of this panic. He saw three figures coming down the road. He squinted to try to make them out. It looked like… Rosalind and Earnest, dressed plainly, but Garin couldn’t make out the third figure, who was dressed in a robe and large hat.

“Oh gods, I can see it directly now. Dazzlingly bright, so bright that it nearly seers my sight. It’s the shape of a person, and it's walking towards us now.”

Garin figured that the “feeling” that Haziel was talking about was coming from the third figure, and based on how they were dressed it was likely that they were a magic user of some sort. Hopefully a friendly one, based on the two knights walking with them, but Garin had no way to be certain. He could only watch as the three reached the door and knocked.

Everyone in the house froze for a second, not knowing what to do or what to expect. Should they answer the door? The fact that the knock came was almost a surprise, they were thinking in the back of their minds that some magic would blast the whole house down. But here they were, untouched, with a stranger at the door.

Another knock came, followed by Rosalind’s voice asking if anyone was home. Garin was the only one to unfreeze. Everyone’s eyes watched his back as he went over to the door, and answered it, while keeping one hand on the handle of his sword. He opened the door just a crack, and spoke through it.

“Who the hell did you bring with you!”

Rosalind was taken aback by the aggressive, panicked voice of Garin, but gave a straight answer.

“This is Coltia, a companion of Earnest’s who helped defeat the misfits. She is an ally.”

Rosalind could see Garin’s eye through the crack in the door scanning over Coltia. Coltia only responded with a polite smile. Garin looked back at Haziel, who was practically shaking in her seat. She had said earlier that the feeling was very powerful, but it wasn’t dark magic. Rosalind called her an ally, but who knew if Rosalind wasn’t being manipulated and controlled.

But… then again… what would be the point in that? Thankfully, Garin had a wealth of experience that allowed him to think under pressure. If Coltia was so powerful, why bother controlling a knight to fool others? Cunning and deception were tools for the weak to overpower the strong, and from how Haziel was acting, Coltia must be very strong. Garin arrived at the conclusion that Coltia was probably an ally, and slowly opened the door.

Rosalind, Coltia, and Earnest stood outside, peering through the doorway at the concerned faces looking back. From Garin’s “welcome” it seemed like something was wrong. It was Haziel who made the first move, getting off her chair and getting onto her knees facing them. She put her hands together with the fingers interlocked and brought them in front of her face, as if to pray or to beg.

“Please… please don’t hurt us!”

Coltia looked slightly amused by the priestess-in-training, and gave a casual response.

“Now why would I ever want to hurt you~?”

A moment of silence passed before Adeline stepped in front of Haziel, putting herself between the two of them. She boldly, yet politely addressed the cause of their concerns.

“Hello Coltia, I am Adeline, priestess of the Lindow church. Apologies for the cold welcome, but our friend Haziel sensed an abnormal amount of energy coming from you. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you please introduce yourself to us?”

Coltia curiously leaned to the side to look at Haziel, who moved in the opposite direction to keep Adeline between them. Coltia cracked a smile, as if she was looking at a cute pet acting shy, and decided to honor Adeline’s request.

“Well, since you all seem so interested in me~ I am Coltia, just a traveling sorcerer’s apprentice seeing the world for the first time. I stumbled into Earnest in Lindow, and decided to help him with his little magic problem. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt anybody, especially not someone as cute as the little one back there. Could she indulge me with an introduction? I’m curious as to what she sensed.”

Adeline checked on Haziel behind her. Despite the fact that half her face was covered by her hood and blindfold, Haziel was visibly nervous.

Rosalind could see her hiding behind Adeline, and thought that Haziel resembled a baby deer, clinging closely to its mother with shaky legs. Why was she so scared of Coltia in particular? Well, then again, Rosalind had seen what Coltia had done to the misfits during their interrogation, but Haziel and the rest of them had no knowledge of this. They seemed to be wary of her before she arrived.

The room was waiting for Haziel to introduce herself, but no words left her mouth, so Adeline took it upon herself to introduce her.

“This is my companion, Haziel, who was sent here to help Earnest. She is a bit of a specialist with magic. She has been blessed with insight beyond sight. While her eyes are blind to the world that you and I observe, she perceives the hidden flow of magic. She is still in training, but I’m sure you recognize her potential.

Coltia looked at Haziel with more intrigue and curiosity than before.

“Indeed, she is very interesting. Tell me Haziel, what do I look like to you?”

After another pause, it seemed like Adeline was going to have to answer for Haziel again, but she emerged from behind Adeline and cautiously addressed Coltia with a shaking voice.

“It’s… It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Your whole body is glowing with blinding light. It is more intense than the most violent flame, but as controlled as a stream of water. It is scorching and blinding, but at the same time warm and comfortable. …Who… What are you?”

Both Rosalind and Earnest were surprised by what Haziel said. To them, Coltia was a traveling companion, an ally, a friend. Certainly strange and eccentric in her own ways, but hardly as… intense as Haziel was describing. Coltia herself seemed almost flattered by Haziel’s description, and decided to answer her last question.

“What am I~? Well I wish I knew~ My master found me abandoned and raised me as their apprentice. Surprisingly, it’s not an uncommon story among magic types, maybe since many of them have little time or interest in romance to bear their own children. Anyways, I’m sorry I don’t have a good answer for you~”

Rosalind felt like the knights and priestesses were starting to lower their guard a little, and that it was time to vouch for Coltia.

“It seems you are all quite concerned about Coltia. Let me lay your worries to rest. She is an ally of mine. She helped free me from the foul magics that harmed me, and my rescue would not have been possible without her. I should say that I trust her with my life, and I believe that Earnest shares my sentiment.”

Earnest seemed a bit caught off guard when his name was called, but he quickly joined Rosalind in supporting Coltia.

“Uh, yeah! What Rosalind said is true, Coltia is with us.”

Most of the tension seemed to have left the room with Rosalind and Earnest’s endorsements. Garin let his hand fall from the butt of his sword, and addressed the new arrivals.

“Okay, if you trust her, we will too. Sorry for the cold welcome, we were just a little… overly cautious. I’m sure you understand, since we were all called here to combat dark magic. Anyways, come in.”