Amethyst

Chapter 16: Preparation

Chapter 16: Preparation

   I’m not sure how long I spent in the Jackguar stables, attempting to influence the newly enhanced abilities, since my merging with my birthstone, of my Medurian aura. From the stories I had heard from others in the Opal City, specifically from who had completed their passage on the surface, that our aura abilities were a small magical ability compared to some of the others that existed.

   By practicing the influence and sway of my aura over, what may have been several hours, I really began bonding with Citrine. For a large disobedient jackguar of wild blood stock, he was actually quite a sweet boy. Within the time that had passed I had mucked out his stables, laid soft fresh bedding for him and changed his water for a fresher pail.

    Somehow, I hadn’t heard the approach.  The Elder High Sage spoke haughtily, “… so this is where you have been.” A small gasp escaped my lips and my stomach quivered briefly. Her words startling me, as they were completely unexpectedly. Not seeing who was behind me, Citrine leaped from resting to his feet, I had blocked his view until he once again towered over me.

    Turning to face the Opal Sage, I smiled, “I decided bonding before beginning passage was a good idea and it was a good decision. He’s lovely.” As I said it, I petted the bottom of his neck where I could reach.

    “It is good to see him behave for someone. What a curiosity that the Earthen Goddess would tell you your mount and give him a namesake.” The Opal Sage remained stoic in stance and even facial expression, only her tone let anything away, “I, myself chose a Goldhorn Antelope.”

   Was that nostalgia I heard flicker in her voice, or was it something else? “What happened to it?”

   The Elder High Sage squeezed her eyes shut before she answered, “She died during my passage, child. Towards the end of my journey... I owe me being here this very day to my mount’s sacrifice.”

   “Oh, Elder… I-“ I wasn’t even sure where to begin. The dangers of the process of completing a passage, the dangers of the surface, these were well know.  Yet I hadn’t even considered the possibility of my mount dying.

    Taking a long hard look at Citrine, a lump formed in my throat. Now that I had bonded with my jackguar to a familiar level, if something were to happen to it on my passage now…

    The Elder High Sage interrupted my thoughts, “A certain Sage suggested you might be interested in these?”

    As I turned to see fully, certain that I already knew what the Elder Sage had in her hand. “Yes, actually.” Why had the Aquamarine Sage not delivered it herself?

   “Sister Sage Aquamarine is aiding Sister Pupil Chalcedony with the beginnings of her dexterity improvements.” At that, there was a hint of a smile playing the corner of the Elder Opal Sage’s lips. Alongside, the faintest glimmer simmered across the Elder Sage’s eyes as she wiggled her own overreaching fingers. “Meaning, she is… unfortunately, unavailable to deliver these to you.” Pulling two small scrolls and holding them out for me to take.  From the angle, I could see the extensive callouses on the tips of her fingers, were ones which spoke of years of the intricate stone art that the Old Sages were so known for, in the Opal City. The look of aversion must have been transparent on my face as she lowered her hands and became entirely stoic yet again.  

   The process of the Old Sages elongating fingers for dexterity was kept shrouded in mystery from average citizens, such as myself. There was a good reason for keeping it that way, I was sure. Maybe it was a very bloody or painful affair. A shiver ripped through me at the very thought.  Causing me to clench my own fingers into fists briefly, before taking the documents from the Elder High Sage, “Thank you. I hope that the process went well for Chalcedony.”

   Stepping out of Citrine’s stable, I headed the small desk I had spied earlier, while taking care of Citrine and getting to know my mount.  The desk was seated at the end of the stables, beside the walls where reins and saddles hung in preparation for use.  As I opened and lay out the parchment scrolls, I wondered briefly if the desk was used for saddle and rein repair work.

   Speaking largely to myself, I began studying the scroll with the copper colored handle, a map on which a small rectangular shape, off the center, represented the Opal Cathedral.

   This time I had heard the shuffling of the Elder High Sage approaching so it didn’t catch me off guard at all, “The savannah is over here.” Pointing onto the map, with the top of her fingernail, of her drawn-out index finger. The rest of her fingers were still curled under her palm as I looked up to her and then back down to the map, where she pointed. “It is to the south. About a weeks ride on a jackguar such as your own.”

   “What’s in that direction? What is there?” I enquired. The likelihood that the Elder High Sage would know, I wasn’t certain but how much harm would it be to ask? Right?

   Without looking at me, the Elder High Sage squinted her opal shimmering eyes at the page, “This is the area the Drellamon people still roam.” Tapping her finger against the material of the map, she continued, “They have creatures called: skeeters and honudin. They’re similar to how we choose jackguar or goldhorn, however, beware that the venom of a skeeter can kill a jackguar.” The Opal Sage grew quiet in contemplation… “I wonder,” she muttered to herself, perhaps she though she was talking in a low enough voice I couldn’t hear her. If that were the case then the Elder High Sage was very wrong, “…why would the goddess give you a namesake jackguar to send you there?  To have you experience loss? I can’t understand why this would be within the Amethyst’s direction.”  

    Her words caught me with horror. Horror which sunk unto my gut with each word she uttered. Eventually, after a long time of silence, I mustered the strength to meet her eye to eye. “I am so sorry, Child.” She put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently, her long fingers making me feel slightly nauseous, before the Elder High Sage turned and began to make her way back out of the jackguar stables. Stopping on her way at Citrine’s stable, lingering there until she shook her head and continued on her way.

   Stairing at the little indent her nail had left in the fabric… This was the direction I was going? Was all that I would find there death? So early on in my passage? I sat there the rest of the night. Studying the terrain and landscape, the other scroll held information on more than just the two creatures that Opal, the Elder High Sage had mentioned. If I could be prepared, then I would have a better chance of ensuring that Citrine wouldn’t die and would live to be able to continue on the rest of my passage with me. As ones mount is supposed to. As a true companion in the trial.