Irwin's Journey 450: Hangry

"My Lord. Our spies have reported that the Empress has left very suddenly. The Teleporter reportedly took her and a small squad of guards to an undisclosed location."

Sachindrian looked at the man opposite him for a moment before tapping the table before him. There were dozens of papers on it, including a handful of different communication tablets.

"I see," he said thoughtfully, his eyes lingering on a small note he'd gotten from one of his spies within Cinder Grove. "Tell Findikon and Selderine that I need to speak to them."

"Yes, my Lord!"

Sachindiran didn't respond as his attendant rushed out to do his bidding. Instead, he pulled the note closer.

'The Tutor left. Not sure where, but there are reasons to believe that he is heading for a place within or close to the Empire's borders.'

Sachindrian read it twice before putting it down, staring at the far wall.

"You know where he is going, don't you?" he muttered. "Now the question is, how?"

A short while later, footsteps arrived outside his door, and the door was shoved open without as much as a knock.

"Sachindrian, you asked for us! You planning a party again?" the drawled, drawn-out question came from a small, sparkly-eyed man, dressed in a fine, but slightly revealing tunic. 

If not for the pressure that seemed to come in constant waves or the haze in the air, most would have dismissed him as a young lord or the son of one. Even then, Sachindrian had to school his reaction to the foppish man.

"I'll explain as soon as Lady Selderine has joined us."

"Oh! You wouldn't be planning something naughty with the two of us, now would you?"

"No, Findikon. I would not," Sachindrian said.

The other man sighed. "A shame," he said before walking to a chair and sprawling into it.

It took a while longer until a knock came from the door.

"Enter," Sachindrian called.

A woman dressed in a flowing robe, her dark-blue hair braided in beautiful patterns, and every part of her appearance clearly having been thought about, walked into the room, nodding at him. Sachindrian wondered why not all of the Seven could be as courteous as her. Beautiful, young, and powerful, he always felt a slight urge as he saw her. The only thing holding him back was her tendency to hold deep grudges, not in the least because she was willing to act on them, as the Empress had recently found out.

"Lady Selderine," he said. "Thank you for coming at this odd time."

"No troubles, Lord Sachindrian," the young woman said as she walked to another empty chair. "From Findikon's presence, I take it you have a mission for us?"

"I do," Sachindiran said. "The Empress has left ad hoc, and we have no clear idea where. Worrisome, however, is that the Tutor has also left. With how close these two happenings are together, it is not hard to see that they are related. My spies are on high alert, and as soon as one finds them, I want you to go there."

"With what goal"? Findikon asked, glancing at him. 

As always, Sachindrian was surprised to see the gleam in Findikon's eyes. As much as he was a womanizer and drunk, the man's almost mentally feeble demeaner hid a cunning intelligence. 

"If you can, kill the Empress. If you manage that, this war is over before it can escalate," Sachindrian said calmly. 

Not that long ago, his words would have been considered treason. Now they were the most logical thing in the world, at least, to him.

"Sure," Findikon said, yawning. "And the Tutor? He's supposed to be more powerful than us, right?"

"Those are just rumors. All we know is that he has one or two soulcards, but from what I have learned, he is incredibly sensitive to soulforce. That means one of them is non-combat, and with his odd build, I'd wager his other has something to do with that."

"And his instrument? Soulstrum Guitar, the birdies call it."

As always, he knows more than he should, Sachindrian thought, staring at Findikon.

"My agents within the Card School have reported that he uses it for forging," he said slowly. "It is likely part of his soulforce sensitivity."

"But you don't know for sure," Findikon said, his gaze sharpening. "I'm not interested in attacking random strangers, especially not if they are supposedly the most talented Cardsmith of our time, and might be far more powerful than I am."

"I didn't ask you to attack the Tutor," Sachindrian said, slightly exasperated. "On the contrary. Whatever you do, do not antagonize him. Even if he is personally weak, his ability to reforge cards seems extraordinary. There are even some tiny rumors, still unsubstantiated, that he is actually teaching the Headteacher herself!"

"Ah, well. Then all is good," Findikon said. "But, just to be clear. What if he sides with the Empress? The two of us can handle her, but add another wildcard?"

Sachindrian held back a groan.

"You distract him while Lady Selderine finishes the Empress," he said. "Just make sure not to anger him, alright?"

"Sure. Distract him and don't anger him while his potential ally gets killed. Sounds doable," Findikon said, rolling his eyes.

"Findikon, stop being so disagreeable," Lady Selderine said. "You know full well what Sachindrian wants. If we can't get to her without causing issues, we just wait. Perhaps we can take out The Teleporter and leave her stranded somewhere."

Sachindrian nodded appreciatively.

"That would be a good alternative if nothing else," he said.

Findikon sighed, his eyes lingering on Lady Selderine. "Fine. At least I'm being sent somewhere with such a beautiful lady. Perhaps we can finally get to know each other a bit better?"

Selderine's eyes turned cold as she looked at Findikon. "Don't treat me like one of your Ignitzian playthings," she said, her voice frosty. 

"I would never," Findikon said, eyes widening. "You would be hurt from that much heat!"

"Enough," Sachindrian snapped, unable to keep a pulse of force from leaking from his own soulcard.

Instantly, the two turned to him, all anger and hilarity gone.

"Fine, fine," Findidkon muttered. "No need to get angry. Tell me again why you don't just go by yourself?"

"Because if I leave, one of the other Mountain Lords or Ladies will be here within the hour," Sachindrian said. "Now, are you ready?"

"Sure," Findikon said. "I take it you want us to get sick to get there again?"

Sachindrian sighed, glancing at Lady Selderine. 

"I fear Findikon is right. I'll have to ask you two to withstand another teleport from Nimlarel. She will be ready for you as soon as any of my contacts reach out," he said.

"It is fine, my lord," Lady Selderine said.

"Sure. Fine. Getting to puke my guts out after being shadow teleported by The Failure. Sounds like a great time," Findikon said, shaking his head. "I really wonder why I don't join Sandhrina. The only thing she requires of Hilbarin is to keep her borders clear of this entire situation."

Because she doesn't have proof of your disgusting habits, and I do, Sachindrian thought.

He didn't say it out loud, however, instead ignoring Findikon, and keeping his eyes on Lady Selderine.

"If you two could remain ready in the lobby?"

Seldarine rose, nodded, and left without a word.

"Can't I just lie here for a while?" Findikon asked, only to get up when Sachindrian turned his gaze on him. "No? Fine, I'll find a more comfy chair."

A moment later, the door was closed, and Sachindrian rubbed his forehead.

Only a few more days at the best, and some months at worst. Keep it together, and when all is finished, you will be able to reform the Empire into what it should have been, he thought to himself. You can deal with Findekon and the others after that.

--

Irwin reappeared on the final tree of the Grove, and Lejingi let out a moan of relief.

"Please tell me we can rest for a few minutes?" she asked.

"Sure," Irwin said as he watched what lay beyond the Grove. "So, those are the Oxarite Mountains?"

"Yes," the Ignitzian muttered as she sat down with her back against the towering trunk. "They also call them the Cradle, or the original ore vein."

Irwin whistled. "The Cradle?"

"Yes," Lejingi said, seemingly intent on remaining lying down for as long as she could. "The Oxarite legends say that long ago, those mountains didn't exist. They were part of an enormous desert, and at some point, the first spark caused a massive explosion. When it was done, the mountains had appeared, and from deep within, the first of the Oxarites emerged. It's nonsense, of course."

Irwin hummed thoughtfully as he examined the sprawling mountains. They seemed to go on forever, stretching to the left and right so far that they turned into a thin dark line on the horizon. A normal Teinefola caravan would likely require days to cross the stretch of golden-red desert that separated it from the edge of the Grove. He would do it in an hour or so. 

'Lots of volcanic activity,' Ambraz said, as his tiny spark hovered beside Irwin. 'We should take a peek inside a few to see if we can find something useful.'

'Only those that are on the edge,' Irwin said, as he turned to look to the right. 'We need to travel for another day along the border till we reach Flamerock.'

The two of them stared out across the vast emptiness for a while, and as he did, Irwin realized he'd missed being able to look this far out. Being within the seemingly endless Grove, with trees blocking his view everywhere, had become more cramped than he had realized.

'Did you notice how simple the names those Oxarites give their cities and towns are?' Ambraz asked. 'The same for their own names.'

Irwin shook his head, not sure how to answer that, or if he should. Luckily, he was saved from trying when Lejingi got up with a loud groan.

"Alright. I'm ready to continue," she muttered. "I'm really sorry about this. You would have been much faster without me."

"It's fine," Irwin said as he walked towards her. "I'd not have seen all the sights we have so far. Besides, it's only a day or two. If I have to, I can always return home by myself in case of an emergency."

"Please don't leave me in Flamerock," Lejingi muttered. "They will ask me to reforge cards nonstop if you do!"

"You could just say no," Irwin said, glancing at her curiously.

"I know," Lejingi said as her shoulders slumped. "But the thing is, they really need my help, and if it wasn't for all their support and contributions, I'd never have been able to join the Card School. They pooled resources for years to get me this chance."

Irwin was about to say something, but the Ignitzian's gaze drifted off as she continued.

"It's just. I want to help them, I really do, but each time I get here, the only thing I do is reforge, reforge, reforge. Sometimes I do more here than I do back in Cinder Grove. There's never a lot of time to look around and be with friends."

Irwin hummed as he looked into the distance.

"They need the cards because of the Burrows?" he asked.

"Yes," Lejingi said. "There's been more appearing again for the last few years. Not enough to cause a true problem yet, but if it keeps going, they are going to have a hard time keeping up. Worse, because of the civil unrest in the Empire, the seven haven't dealt with any of the troublesome Burrows for over a year. Two of them are close to Flamerock."

Lejingi looked at the ground, her hands wrung together. "I… I had wanted to talk to you about this, but… Well, it's never a good time. But, do you think you could make a few heartcards for some of my sisters? Not for free, of course! They have plenty of cards, and perhaps even some rare metal."

"They have no heartcarded Ignitzians?" Irwin asked, slightly surprised.

"There are a few, but the Oxarite Empire was very tight with the few smiths that could make them. I think they didn't like us having that much power. The Viridians are a bit better, which is why we have a few. The problem is that most of those wander the world. They help sometimes, but many are hundreds of years old, and they are tired of the constant fighting."

I never thought about how hard the smaller places on Scour might have it, Irwin thought as he crossed his arms.

"I'll make a few heartcarded when we are in Firerock. But you need to determine who, because I don't want to create a power struggle. Also, if they have cards, ask them if they have any that deal with Soulscape Auras or Soulscape Projections. Soulforce in general, really."

"I'll tell them! Thank you so much," Lejingi said, her face brightening up. 

"Also," Irwin said. "I think we can practice a bit on your own card reforging while we are there. There are some things you can practice to improve to the point that you could do this."

"Heartcards…?" Lejingi whispered, her eyes round.

Irwin stared at her, wondering why she reminded him more of one of his students than another teacher. 

"Yes," he said. "Your heartcard is very balanced now, meaning you should be able to create heartcards within a few years if you practice diligently. Probably only fire and heat types, but-"

"That's fine," Lejingi exclaimed. "Most of my sisters have those!"

Irwin hummed thoughtfully. "My tip to you would be to focus only on fire, heat, and body improvement cards. It will increase the ease with which you can reforge those cards and create heartcards. It does come at the cost of not being able to do others, or atleast not with great difficulty."

Lejingi nodded fervently, and Irwin realized he'd not really taught the smiths on Scour a lot besides how to grow towards creating Cardseeds. Those were incredibly important, especially to him, but perhaps he should help them with the rest?

"Alright, let's head out," he said, as he made up his mind. 

"Alright!"

--

A little over three days after they left Cinder Grove, Irwin stood on a ruddy and rocky foothill, looking at their destination.

Nestled within a red and rocky foothill sat a bustling town. Partially built into the ground, the ruddy buildings nearly faded into the landscape. The thing that made the town clear as day was the glossy black roofs that reflected the light in a blinding array of squarish shapes. 

It was hard to pinpoint the center of the town, though. If Irwin had to guess, he would point to one of the sides of the hill. It was busier and had one of the few larger buildings. However, due to the oddly organic way walls and small guard towers surrounded it, some seemingly inside other walls, he could just be completely wrong.

"I didn't expect it to be this big," he said, watching dozens of tiny soulforce pinpricks roam everywhere. Some were so closely cropped together that it was hard to determine if there was one strong one or dozens of small ones.

Interesting, there's definitely some soulcarded here, he thought as he noticed four beacons of soulforce. 

They were together in pairs, deep in different parts of the town and surrounded by hundreds, or perhaps even thousands, of others.

Either they are new, or Lejingi didn't know about them, Irwin thought, before he frowned. Or had she lied? No, he doubted that very much. Pushing the worry aside for now, he slowly turned around, continuing his scan of the town.

A squarish set of towers closely cropped together that seemed meant to guard one of the entrances to the town. Far on the other side was something similar, and the third one sat at the edge of the Black Glass Desert.

"Traveling sisters arrive here from other places daily," Lejingi said. "Some leave, but many stay. It's the only known place that is truly ours, and it is one of the few places we can safely keep our young."

Irwin nodded as he glanced at the plumes of thick, yellowish black fog that erupted from different holes and cracks in the distant volcanoes. 

"I can see that," he said.

This would be a great place to live, he thought, taking a deep breath and enjoying the hot, dry air.

"You…? Oh right, of course you would know," Lejingi muttered before smiling at him. "Come, Tutor, let's go and meet my sisters. I'm sure they will be surprised and overjoyed to see us."

Irwin nodded as he followed her down a well-trodden trail that led towards the nearest gate. 

As they moved through the rocky, hilly landscape, he noticed plants everywhere. Thick yellowish vines with purple and orange flowers, and thick-leafed red bushes, were hiding in every nook and cranny. 

Some covered the sides of cliffs that had enough overhang to protect against the powerful glare of the sun. Tiny soulforce signatures moved around the larger vegetated areas, and he was surprised to see a tiny, red-furred animal shoot out from a bush, grabbing a long black insect out of midair, and stuffing it in its tiny fanged mouth before it even landed on the ground. It had long hind legs, almost like a frog, a supple body, and arms with hands remarkably like a humanoid's. Its entire half-foot-long body was covered in thick red fur, which sparkled with flames as it moved. As Irwin watched curiously, it turned around and looked back at him with large eyes. Its fiery pupils dilated, then it dashed back into the bushes.

"What was that?" Irwin asked curiously. 

"Firca! They are native here," Lejingi said with a wide smile. "Many of my sisters keep them as pets, though they only stay for as long as they want. That one must have been hurt because usually they have long, bendy tails."

Irwin hummed thoughtfully as he walked towards the gate, glancing at the bushes on occasion.

I wonder if I can bring those to Eluathar, he thought. The kids would love that.

As they closed in on the gate, Irwin saw a dozen Ignitzians gather there. All wore black breastplates with red lines weaving through them in intricate patterns.

'They are wearing Firesteel armor,' Ambraz exclaimed excitedly.

'I noticed,' Irwin said, examining the Ignitzians. He expected them to be guards, or blademaidens if those still existed here. They carried two short swords on their waist, dangling from long scabbards, and as they closed in, he realized they were all staring at him intently.

"I… Hope you won't hold this against them," Lejingi whispered. "But I fear-"

"Lejingi! Welcome back!" one of the guards shouted as they approached. "Did you finally find a heatbond and decide to arrive early and make us all jealous?"

Lejingi groaned weakly, muttering an apology.

"Don't worry," Irwin said as he grinned at the group of guards.

"As much as an honor as that would be, I'm already heatbonded to another of your sisters," he said. "Thank you for the compliment, though."

A few of the guards began whispering rapidly, while two walked forward, staring up at him.

"Well, someone this big can share heat with any number of us, right?" one of the two said. She grinned, showing razor-sharp canines.

"I fear Scintilla would have our heads if we tried," Irwin said, smiling because he knew they probably thought he was joking. 

"Besides, I'm sure you are all not wanting for attention," added, raising an eyebrow.

The guards laughed and smirked, nodding before turning to Lejingi. 

"Sister, welcome back! How did you manage to get here so fast? Is this your bodyguard?"

"No, no. This is Tutor Irwin," Lejingi said. "He is here to talk with the Blademothers."

"The Tutor? The one we heard so much about?" one of the guards asked, eyebrows rising.

I guess it makes sense they heard about me here, Irwin thought, wondering if it had been Lejingi who had told them.

Again, the guards turned to him, but this time he noticed the teasing hilarity was replaced by genuine curiosity.

"Yes," Lejingi said. "Are the Blademothers here?"

"Yes, they have been having a sparring match over the last week to determine who will host the upcoming Bladegames," one of the guards said. "You made it back just in time, unlike the previous years. Perhaps you can actually come with us and have some fun this time?"

Lejingi smiled and nodded. "That would be great, though I worry the Blademothers will have a long list of cards they need."

"Bah! Ignore them. You don't need to do everything they tell you to," one of the guards called out. 

Irwin grinned at the guards, wondering how much of the pressure Lejingi felt was external and how much was internal.

"Tutor, let me show you to the Smith's quarters," Lejingi said, beckoning him forward.

Irwin nodded at the guards who moved aside to let them pass.

A short while later, they were wandering the crowded streets of Flamerock. Irwin ignored the covert and not-so-covert looks he gained as he towered over the smaller Ignitzians. Instead, he took in the dozens of restaurants, terraces below vine-covered verandas, breathing in the dizzying smells of spicy and charred meat and mushrooms. Fresh fruits lay glistening in bowls, and his stomach started rumbling.

"Tutor, do you wish to eat first?"

Irwin glanced at Lejingi, who was hiding a smile behind her hand. 

"I take it there are restaurants near the Smith's quarters?"

"There are, but those usually are known to be less hot and spicy. If I recall, you prefer the hotter end of Ignitzian cuisine?"

Irwin hesitated when a waft of some unfamiliar scent made it to his nostrils. He felt his mouth start to water and sighed.

"Food first," he decided.

Lejingi smiled, though Irwin noticed a slight relief on her face. Wondering what that was about, he followed her through the town, noticing the ease with which the young teacher navigated. It was abundantly clear that she knew the town by heart, and as they continued, more and more of the Ignitzians waved and greeted her.

Irwin was almost surprised when he noticed the occasional Viridian, Oxirite, and Parealion. 

It didn't take Lejingi long to guide him to a less crowded area of the city and into a small restaurant. As they entered the stone building, the wave of spices made Irwin feel his stomach rumble in anticipation.

"What would you like to eat, Tutor?" Lejingi asked as they found an empty table in the far corner.

"How about you suggest something?" Irwin said, looking around and noticing filled plates and cups. Everything he saw looked great.

"Very well. Flamerock is known for its Burning Gazz…"

Irwin looked at her, noticing the glint in her eyes. 

"It's hot, I presume?"

Lejingi smiled and nodded. "Even a lot of Ignitzians don't like it."

Irwin's smile widened. "Then let's go with that."

Lejingi hid a smile behind her hand again, and Irwin did his best not to roll his eyes.

'You are enjoying this too much,' Ambraz said, his own hilarity evident. 

'Perhaps,' Irwin replied, leaning back and waiting for Lejingi to order their meal.

--

"He arrived," Empress Salezina said, glancing at Vaidara.

The only one of the seven left to her nodded. "Then we should go and meet him right away, Empress."

Empress Salezina looked at the one she saw as her sole friend, and the only one she had trusted.

"Zou made poor choices again. I worry," she whispered, showing a side of her she usually hid.

"There was no one else to send," Vaidara replied softly. "Empress, the others left, I was still recovering, and we needed someone with soulforce senses sharp enough to determine who we were dealing with. Who else?"

"I know," the Empress said,  sighing softly. "And now we deal with the mess."

"Let us hurry before those two traitors find him," Vaidara whispered. 

The Empress took a deep breath,  and the softness that had been in her gaze receded, replaced by a well-trained coldness.

She rose and marched to the door with Vaidara behind her. Pulling it open, she saw the nine Magnetizion Shadowguards who had been ready to follow her. Had she known the Tutor would have been late by over a day, she would not have had to hurry as she had. 

"We are going to meet the Tutor," she said. "As you know, Findekon Bluefire and Lady Selderine have arrived here. It is why we have been teleporting around whenever they threatened to get too close. Now, however, we have no other choice but to confront them."

The nine guards, all wearing armors that included a metal and leather helmet that covered their faces, rose and bowed lightly. 

"We live to serve, we die to protect," they said as one.

I wish you didn't have to, Empress Salezina thought.

"As dangerous as it is, do not be the first to engage. I was warned that The Tutor does not deal well with aggression. We are not to be the ones who aggravate him."

At least not anymore.

"We will not make a move unless you are attacked," the leader of the guards said.

"Good. Then gather so Vaidara can teleport us."

The guards moved like a single unit, gathering around her, all with their backs to her. 

"Vaidara."

The world around them changed into a misty unreality, and for a few moments, movements flickered, growing faster than slower. Then a flash and a hiss came, and they appeared in the middle of a small restaurant, immediately crowding the small central area. Igntizians at the nearby tables all looked up, startled, but Empress Salezina barely noticed. All she saw was the mountain of a man sitting behind an impressive plate of food, a fork filled with darkly charred meat halfway to his mouth. 

Salezina barely believed what she saw. She'd heard that he was big and different, but even sitting down, he was as tall as she was, while there was nothing blue or silver about him. From his burning eyes and dark, fire-filled hair, to his burnished pale coppery skin, he looked nothing like an Oxarite. 

She was about to speak when a swirling shadow filled the back of the small restaurant. It lasted for a mere moment before three figures appeared. One, a cloaked and hooded, small figure instantly dropped to the ground, making soft choking sounds. The other two, a short, annoyed-looking man and an imposing woman, ignored their companion. The tall woman stepped over the figure, her eyes glaring as she looked at the Empress.

"No more running," she hissed. "You will pay for getting my father killed!"

The Magnetizion Shadowguards around Selderine spread out, shortswords raised. The small man with the blue hair raised his hands, deep blue fire licking around them, spreading rapidly. 

Empress Selderine cursed the two before her, feeling a sense of anger and sadness as the figure on the ground groaned in pain.

Why did her ability have to recover right now? she thought.

"Please, sto-" she began, when a wave of overpowering pressure slammed down onto her.

She had only a moment to see the three members of the seven stagger to their feet before an angry voice boomed through the sudden silence.

"What exactly are you all doing?"

Using every scrap of her power, Empress Selderine managed to turn her head to see that The Tutor had risen to his feet, towering over everyone, his eyes flaring with anger as he gazed at them.

I guess Baytim was right, she thought, feeling a shiver of fear run through her.