Chapter 1: Act 1 – Precursor to Turbulence

All beings, at one time or another, wish to stay cloaked in the night

Those truly great will rise to become the shining light

Lightning crashed down on the land. The worst storm the land of Cavall had endured in ages announced its fury through deafening cries of thunder. The normally pleasant plains and serene forests encompassing most of the abundant continent could no longer be described as such. Amidst the typhoon, a quadruped figure darted between the trees as swiftly as he could. His sheer speed caused clumpy grass and thin roots to break apart upon contact, his paws holding crackling electric power and great inertia.

Crazy woman! So that’s what she’s been planning this whole time! Her ideas can indeed usher in a new era, but the fruits of ambition on such a scale…… does the madness not register!?

The lightning in the skies crackled even louder but the Manectric dared not look up nor hesitate. No, the smallest fraction of a second could mean all the difference. 

Suddenly, dark tendrils lept at him from all directions. The Manectric yelped but quickly transitioned it to a howl. In response to his cry, from the heavens came lightning. The burst of electricity struck his body with a deafening crack. He then expunged it outwards, obliterating the encroaching shadows instantly.

Shit! She found me! Guess subtlety is out the window!

Static crackling loudly around his paws, a burst of speed came from the Manectric. Residual sparks created a clear trail behind him, painting a target on his back. But he made up the unmistakable visibility with speed. Blindingly fast speed.

I’m almost there! Just a little bit further and-

Despite everything, he came to a screeching halt. 

The ground below him shifted entirely. A second ago, the sensation of wet grass and mud on his paws was all he could feel. Now, the texture disappeared entirely. Replaced by a sensation he couldn’t describe in the slightest. All he knew was that he was sinking.

Cautiously, he tried lifting his paws slowly. If this was anything like quicksand, struggling would only make his situation worse. However, he quickly realized lifting his paws upwards was impossible. It felt like an indescribably hard solid was blocking his paws from moving upward. Yet he could not deny he was sinking in.

And so he thrashed wildly, mustering as much force as he could to resist. Lightning crashed down onto the Manectric once more, the nearby area was blinded by the sheer potency of the electricity that surged outwards.

But the Manectric just kept sinking.

No! Not like this!

A feminine voice, playful but confident, pierced the air. “I told you, didn’t I? There’s no use in running from me, silly! Did you really think I’d tell you what I had planned without being sure you couldn’t tattle, you blabbermouth? To think this is how you’d reward all the services I’ve offered all this time. I even gave you the frequent customer discount!”

Manectric felt the pressure on his lower body tighten. It was accompanied by a swift, tight sensation. Once again, he couldn’t compare the feeling to anything else. He wasn’t even sure what it did. At least, not until a few moments later.

W-wha? Why can’t I feel anything? My body- its..  

Manectric tried to utter a roar but all that came from his muzzle was a halfhearted whine. His usually bristling fur went limp, signifying the flow of electricity from all over his body had been stemmed. He continued to thrash, but it was a fruitless endeavor. 

The voice sighed. “I think you’re a smart little pipsqueak, I’m sure you know that Leo. I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble if I didn’t respect you. Why turn on poor me? I was being as honest as I’ve ever been. I’m quite generous and my end of the bargain still stands. I know what it is you desire and I can give it to you. Consider it a care package from me, if you will.”

Leo hacked out a cough. “You’re right. I can tell you’re being genuine. Problem is, that doesn’t even come close to paying the price you’re asking of me. I have my own convictions, yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to turn tail on everyone I care about for them!”

He cast a glare where he assumed the voice was coming from, straight ahead. He figured she must have been guarding the one escape he had. “Not to mention I do not switch my allegiances lightly. I’ll not be swayed from my convictions by ideals so self serving as your own.”

The sound of clapping became audible above all else, even through the striking thunder. The voice released a delighted squeal. “My my! What spirit! I can’t help but be impressed by such a show of bravado in the face of utter helplessness! I suppose I’ve been doing business with too many men of questionable principles that it must have slipped my mind you could be willing to draw a line in the sand. Oopsie!”

Leo let out a weak growl in response. “Do with me as you will, I’ve resigned myself to my fate. But do not think you’ve won here. For his faults, King Albericht does not let ‘disappearances’ like my own go unnoticed. This playpen of yours won’t protect you forever.”

The voice let out a shrill laugh. “You give that king of yours far too much credit. I’m sure he knows my lair is far more menacing than first impressions would make you think. Unlike a certain fool who showed up with no contingency. Quite unfortunate, you really should have had insurance. Now I’ll have to chart a payment plan for you, with nothing to blunt the blow!”

It was Leo’s turn to laugh, even if it was more akin to a wheeze. “And what makes you think I have no contingency? You know I’m hardly the kind of man to be careless.”

When the voice next replied, her playful demeanor was toned down, instead being more patronizing. “Tsk tsk. Don’t even try to bluff your way out of this one, kiddo. Honesty is the best policy after all. I’ve got eyes everywhere; you were willing to gamble just this once. Especially when I explicitly stated your invitation would be called off should you tell a single soul about it.”

Leo merely let out a faint smirk. “If that’s what you believe, by all means I won’t convince you otherwise. The inevitable fall from grace stemming from such arrogance will be the end of your sorry plot and I await that day eagerly.”

“….. That’s enough from you.” 

A single dark tendril from earlier smacked Leo’s head. He toppled to his side and fell to the muddied ground, silently ending the chase.

A tiny ripple then formed in the very air, a wave of heat exuding from it. A dark purple flame came to life before expanding and creating a figure that towered over the fallen Manectric. A muffled sigh was the first sound it made.

“Seems like I undertook quite the failed venture. I can still turn this to my advantage, but I was quite excited about the prospect of establishing a new partner. It is what it is. Now, what to do from here?” The figure idled in place, small embers originating from her serving as the only light outside of the moon above.

A separate voice cleared its throat, its inflection entirely flat. “Surely you don’t intend to leave the lad here?” 

A faint chuckle was the immediate response from the figure as she glanced downwards. “No, you know full well simply leaving him is not an option. You know what’ll happen if he idles in my domain without the necessary defenses. Letting it have its way with him would be…… less than desirable.”

A separate figure snaked out from the forestry behind her. It being bipedal was all that was discernible. Any other feature was cloaked by a thick gray haze who moved in accordance with its footsteps. “Then what do you propose? You’re constantly on the move and call nowhere but this domain your home. In my eyes, all options before you are unappealing in some regard. Do not forget our agreement means you cannot allow great harm to come upon the boy.”

“As droll and lacking in imagination as ever,” responded the alight figure. Her purple embers swayed with the wind and sizzled with the rain as she turned around to face the hazy figure, and yet they only blazed brighter in defiance against the storm. “I have many associates and acquaintances around the land. I believe the skillsets of a select few have the potential to present us with an ideal solution. I can send you the details in my next invoice.”

“You know I won’t leave you be so long as immediate knowledge of said solution is outside my grasp,” hissed the hazy figure. “You may have convinced me this gambit was a worthwhile endeavor, but his disappearance will make operations on my end so much more troublesome. Explain now, lest I simply let him on his merry way with a hole in his memories.”

A sudden surge of lightning illuminated the skies, complementing an all too keen glare the alight figure cast towards the hazy one. “I’d just explained my distaste for bluffs, haven’t I? Using an ultimatum too, how disdainful. That’s no way to treat a lady of class, especially one you’ve deigned to form a binding contract with. Let me make my terms clearer then. Do not presume you can pass a judgment on Leo’s fate without my mutual consent!”

The hazy figure stood still despite the pelting winds. “You needn’t be so aggressive, I have no intention of reneging on our terms. I ask you to speak to me plainly and concisely. I’ll allow you to keep your secrets as always, but I’m not putting my ass on the line for a plan you’re being coy about. In your terms, I’ll not allow myself to fall victim to entrapment.”

The flames surrounding the alight figure went from bright and pointed to dull and subdued. “Here I thought my heckling would have resulted in more. You truly are droll. But fine. The way I see it, I have three options worth looking into. They are-”

“Wait,” interrupted the hazy figure. “I sense the movements of another.” The haze’s color shifted towards a grayer hue and expanded outwardly. It looked as if the hazy figure was concentrating.

Until the haze compressed in front of the figure to block a projectile, a flaming knife sent its way.

“Let me guess, those footsteps belong to a creature who naturally resides in your domain. And rather than simply tell me that, you thought it proper to throw out another attempt at riling me up?” droned the hazy figure.

“Fun really can’t exist in your lexicon,” pouted the alight figure. “But you’re right, those footsteps belong to the odd creature I brought up to you last time. Never seen anything like it and I get the impression it’s smarter than the average dungeon dweller, but still nothing to worry about.”

“Even so, I’d rather not take pointless risks. Let us finish this talk in the safety of our usual meeting space.” The hazy figure then dissipated entirely, leaving no trace it had even been there.

“He truly does test my patience, forcing a free spirit like me into even more bothersome routines,” griped the alight figure. “I suppose I can’t blame him too much given how we’ve practically thrown the gauntlet. The king’s mercenaries are a tenacious bunch and fiercely loyal to their own. And speaking of…”

A spectral light flickered around Leo, and moments later his body began floating. The alight figure stood motionless, a particularly bright blast of lightning illuminated the night, revealing a dark metal shining below the flames of the alight figure.

“Messing with wannabe heroes is always good fun. I don’t regret the direction this is heading at all.”

And the two vanished as well, likewise leaving no trace of either individual behind.

Bump!

A young Frogadier yelped out of his slumber as the carriage shook. One of the pair of Rapidashes pulling said carriage whinnied, running a hoof against the ground and kicking up dust.

“Easy, easy,” came a voice from next to him. A Politoed pulled on the reins, slowing the Rapidash’s movements before both settled to a stop. “Stefan hold onto these reins for me, will you? I’ll jump out and see what got the horsies here spooked.”

“Sure thing dad,” replied Stefan groggily as he managed a clumsy grip on the leather. “How far have we gotten since I dozed off?”

“Only about 5 hours worth of travel,” chuckled the Politoed as he unfastened a belt keeping him grounded to his seat. “To think you wanted to bet that you’d make it all the way back to the city without taking a nap. I recall someone being rather grumpy at me for not even humoring the chance.”

“I’d have made it if I didn’t stuff myself to the best damn feast I ever had before we left the farms. How’d your workers make those berries taste so good anyway?” grumbled Stefan.

“Touch of the countryside, lad. Touch of the countryside,” extolled the Politoed as he hopped out of the carriage. “It’s part of why I wanted to get you outside the city for once. City life is nice and all, but I ain’t the kind of father who wants you to only know that. One way or another, you’ll need to get used to the nitty gritty.”

“Because you want me to take over the business one day, right?” replied Stefan pointedly.

Politoed snorted. “If you want to think that, sure. But if you’re serious about joining one of the guilds you better not expect any of the amenities from living under my roof. There, you’ll be treated no differently from a street urchin.” He then moved to inspect the ground beneath his steeds. “Lotsa mud and sticks. Stray branches too. The light rain we had last night must’ve been a storm in this region. Still, nothing serious, Feena’s just being dramatic,” he murmured.

“You know I’m serious!” snapped Stefan, mildly irritated. “You know I’m training when I’m not studying and I only call on the attendants for meals nowadays, that’s it.”

Politoed sat on the floor of the carriage, creating a glistening bubble that he used to wash out dirt on his lower body. “In that case, you’ll be making your own meals too then. With a limited pantry of course. You’ll not always have the cream of the crop available.”

“You mean as soon as we get home!?” gawked Stefan. “No way, you can’t just drop this on me! Karin told me she’d have my favorite stew prepared when we get back, you can’t take that away!”

Politoed’s dry expression morphed into one of bemusement. “How quickly you act as if I have no heart. I must be quite the devil if my own flesh and blood assumes as much from me.”

Stefan rolled his eyes. “Hey, you’re the one dropping a bombshell on me without so much as proper notice! Didn’t you tell me it’s poor form for a merchant to place the deal on the table without easing the customer into it? I don’t see why the same wouldn’t apply here.”

Politoed chuckled and rested his right hand against one of his pink cheeks. “My my, you’ve got me there. Or have you? Think back to my actions these past few days. Once you’ve done that, tell me if you’re willing to die on that hill.” He plucked the reins from Stefan’s fingers, flicked them, and the two Rapidash began to trot forward once more. 

The minutes passed by in relative silence. Even the trots from the two Rapidash were subdued by the muddy ground. Stefan’s eyes were closed in deep concentration, unaware of the clear grin on his father’s face.

His eyes shot open. “Hold on! You suggested I watched and took careful note of how your workers made our meals! At the time, I thought making sure I understood how the harvesting process was all you wanted from me. You even told me I didn’t have to follow you into the kitchens! But not going would have the ‘wrong’ choice, wouldn’t it?” accused Stefan.

“That’s my son! You catch on quick,” praised Politoed. “Yep, I gave em all advanced notice not to make anything too complicated. Because you’ll be making the same meals as soon as you can. You do have weekends off though. Feel free to enjoy Karin’s meals then.”

“Feel free,” repeated Stefan. “I could just enjoy her meals like I used to, but you also expect me to have her tutor me and gauge my progress, don’t you?”

“Expect is a strong word,” droned Politoed. “You are free to spend your days off as you wish. You have other duties as well after all. Delegating activities to another so you may have the time for different ones, that’s a skill on its own too.”

“In other words, a test. A more open ended one,” surmised Stefan. 

“You’re free to see it as such. That’s all I’ll say,” answered Politoed.

The Frogadier crossed his arms and legs both. “Can’t just give me a straight answer, can you? As my dad, aren’t you supposed to guide me when I’m confused?”

“Guidance, I can give. Answers? Not as much. Relying on someone else to do the thinking for you is one way to get your just desserts. As your father, I’m simply not allowing you to skip that vital step,” responded Politoed. His face turned to Stefan and his eyes narrowed. “Now, another thinking exercise. Summarize my thought process ever since you woke up. Take all the time you need.”

Taking the cue that his father’s stubbornness had taken hold, Stefan let out a grumble in protest but nonetheless complied and sat deep in thought. A handful of silent minutes quickly turned into many. Though vigilantly keeping his eyes trained on the path before him, Politoed snuck quick glances at his son’s face. Though frustration was clear through Stefan’s expression, Politoed wore a visage of approval.

Finally, Stefan’s eyes opened. He gazed at his father with a look of recognition, but a slight frown settled on his face. “I don’t need to recite the specifics. I know you’re training me to be your successor, and it goes beyond inheriting your berry business. No, you want me to follow the steps you took to reach success.”

“Now that you’ve come up with a proper answer, no point in dancing around it,” said Politoed as he kept his eyes on the road, which was beginning to clear of any remnant of a storm. “Goes without saying I want to see you succeed son. Beyond raising you being my duty as your father, on a personal level I’d like to see the path before you as clean as I can make it before my role takes a backseat. So I’d like to prepare you the best way I know how.”

“Except I’m not living the same life you have. You told me you’ve always wanted to be a merchant, and I’ve already told you I’m joining one of the guilds to become either a mercenary or a knight. Haven’t decided which yet, but I already know I’m not following your exact footsteps,” countered Stefan.

“Which is why my teachings are intended to be quite general, I’m not unreasonable,” retorted Politoed, firm but keeping his cool. 

“Which is why you’re so insistent on teaching me how to negotiate, complete with mind numbing etiquette and degrading my pride?” snarked Stefan.

“What, you think you’ll get a pay raise from the guilds without haggling with the guildmaster? You think every place you’ll get supplies from will offer a fair market price? If anything, not realizing the utility of my lessons reflects poorly on your plans for the future. To me, it’s beginning to sound like you just want to try something different for the sake of it,” assessed Politoed. A sideways smirk was plain to see as commanded his steeds to take a left turn.

“I, uh- I,” Stefan stuttered. He let out a defeated sigh. “Alright, you’ve got me there. I didn’t think that far ahead. But I can promise you I’m not just interested in guildwork for the sake of being different. I want to be recognized for my own feats, not just because I was born the son of the legendary Finn Redwose.”

“You oversell my reputation, son,” chuckled Finn. “I’m well known by those who live and breathe the state of the markets, but ordinary folk don’t bat an eye when I walk by them. Still, I don’t blame you for your yearnings of independence and definitive self worth. It’s natural. I only ask you to assume better of me. I truly want what’s best for you after all.”

“Sure thing dad,” mumbled Stefan. “It’s just-”

“You’re worried you’ll never be able to live up to my reputation,” finished Finn. “Well, here’s the deal. I wholly intend for you to surpass me. In fact, I’m almost certain you will.”

“You are?” questioned Stefan with both suspicion and surprise. “What makes you so sure?”

“Because you’re already much wiser than I was at your age. I’ve told you I used to be quite the troublemaker, didn’t I?” answered Finn, his sideways smirk returning.

Stefan laughed, with high pitched croaks serving as the interlude between waves of laughter. “Right! I can’t even imagine you pulling off what you’ve told me. I’m still not entirely sure you’re pulling my leg, but you don’t exactly gain anything from lying to me!”

For his part Finn remained composed, though a faint nostalgia crept into his voice. “Yup, at your age I could fight damn well and was quite the trickster, but in just about every other category you’d trounce my younger self soundly. I didn’t know the first thing about cooking. I had street smarts, but my book smarts were sorely lacking. And proper etiquette? Forget about it! I could’ve made a sailor blush with the way I ran my mouth back then!”

“I can’t see that from you, I just can’t!” insisted Stefan.

“In that case, your words only affirm how much I’ve changed since those days. Perhaps I could have done better, but no point in dwelling on the past. Best to look forwards.”  He paused. “And I mean that literally too. Evelum is just straight ahead.”

The Frogadier’s laughter ceased as his eyes shot open. He propped himself up to get a better view of the grand city. Its majestic stone walls reinforced by refined steel stood tall. Even from the vantage point of an elevated hill, he could barely snag a peek into the city itself. What he could see however, was the tall and grandiose castle perfectly centered by Evelum’s circular perimeter. The castle’s central spire was said to be so tall it could reach the clouds! Of course that was merely hyperbole, but the fact remained there was no artificial structure anywhere in Cavall that could match Evelum’s central castle.

Stefan’s jaw dropped. “You know, I could always see how much taller Caergel Castle was compared to everything else. But seeing it from here? How was such a wonder even built!?”

“It’s really amazing how a little change in perspective can feel so drastic, eh?” mused Finn. “Alas, I don’t think we can afford to take in the sights. The city itself is still quite the distance away and we can’t go any faster with how delicate our cargo is.”

Stefan went silent for a few moments, clearly pondering something. Once the carriage began tilting downwards, his voice rang out. “In that case, would you mind if I stayed here for a few minutes? I can catch up.”

Finn raised an eye. “I suppose you could catch up easily, couldn’t you? I understand where your wonder is coming from too. Very well, but just in case…..”

The Politoed unfastened himself and began to float. He left the carriage and directed himself to the wagon being pulled. Multiple barrels were safely secured by thick strands of rope. He began to undo the bindings of one specific barrel. Swift as a flash, he undid the bindings, took out a single green and somewhat spiky berry, and redid the bindings with his psychic powers.

He floated back to the carriage, offering the berry to Stefan. “A Salac, just in case. Use it as you see fit.”

Stefan’s mouth went agape. He was wholly aware of the value of the berry he now held in his grasp. Though caught unaware he stuck the berry to his frubbles, unfastened himself, and prepared to leap out of the carriage. “Thanks dad! I’ll catch up with you real soon!”

“Stay safe!” shouted Finn.

Landing safely on the grass, Stefan meandered up the slopes of the hill. Upon reaching the pinnacle he spotted a young tree still in the process of growing, but tall enough to serve as a better vantage point. Grinning, he leapt to the base of the tree and began climbing. Nimbly, he went from branch to branch and had no issue with establishing a hold on the bark when necessary. Within a minute, he was at the top.

Though the city itself didn’t change, Stefan couldn’t stop himself from gasping in amazement as he observed Evelum. From the greater height he could spot, though barely, the bustling plazas and stone buildings of the southern quadrant. The quadrant most intertwined with the lifestyle he sought out.

Away from his father, he allowed a smidgen of doubt to appear on his face. I don’t have to risk it. I can have a fun and easy life just by inheriting dad’s wishes. I don’t even hate the prospect of living as a merchant. I’d still get to travel the world, meet so many different people, but….

Stefan shook his head. Just because my path diverts now, it doesn’t mean I can’t fall back when the life I’m chasing turns out not to be for me. I still want to try forging my own path on my own merits; for my own reasons. 

He sat on a branch, simply gazing straight at the grand city. He looked downwards and saw his father’s carriage nearing the bottom of the hill. Maybe I should start catching up. Actually, nah. I have a better idea.

And so he remained on the branch for a few minutes, enjoying the view and silence. Once his father’s carriage was no longer in sight, the Frogadier jumped down onto the branch below him and began his pursuit.