In a desperate attempt to save her dying mother, Spinel Crystal chases a rumor into the unknown Magical Realm, a place beyond time. There, she finds much, much more than she ever bargained for.
*thunder booms*
Spinel: Gah! She wasn’t kidding about bad weather after dark! *deep breath* You’ve got this, Spi.
Spinel: Okay…okay. Listen, I know–I know I don’t have any magic, or special prophecy, or–or however this really works, but I–I need to do this, so please. Please, let me through. …please?
*thundercrack*
Spinel: Whoa–
Spinel: Was that a sign? …Okay, I’ll just–I’ll take it. Here we go.
Spinel: …what the hell…what is this place…
*high pitched noise*
Spinel: Ah! Stop–stop it!!!
???: What in all the Realms–oh no.
???: Oh, child–hold on. Hold on…
Spinel: Make it stop! Please!!
*ringing stops*
Spinel: ..what…what the hell was…who…
???: Be calm. You are safe now.
???: Can you stand?
Spinel: I…I think so…ow. What was that?
???: A defense measure. My apologies, child.
???: Come. The pain will fade with time and rest.
Spinel: Who are you?
Stone: My name is Stone Silverwater.
Spinel: I was…looking for your books, not…
Stone: Not for the sage himself? Yes, I do believe that. Here–mind your step.
Spinel: wha…what is this place?
Stone: A sanctuary.
Spinel: Wait–you’re the sage? Stone Silverwater, who vanished a thousand years ago?
Stone: Yes.
Spinel: This is insane. How can you be the same–there’s no way.
Stone: I assure you, there is a way. I will answer your questions but please–oh, oh dear…
???: Father!
Stone: Everything is alright, my child! We have a visitor.
???: I noticed! Is she…is she alright?
Stone: The strain of the alarm, I am afraid. She will recover with rest. Can you prepare a bed?
???: Of course.
???: But…Father, you said the portal was closed. That it had been broken when…
Stone: It was. I suppose it must have repaired itself, or–up we come–or it sensed her need. I do not know.
???: But how could it have repaired itself…I don’t understand…
Stone: Neither do I, I am afraid. Can you keep watch over her? I must see to the portal.
???: Of course, Father.
???: …wake up soon. I would love to speak with you…
the next morning….
Spinel: Wha–where am I…
???: It is alright. You are safe here.
Spinel: What happened? There was this horrible noise and then…a man…I don’t…wait. Someone’s…who’s there?
???: Oh–my apologies. I did not mean to frighten you.
Spinel: Uh…you didn’t? I just…I’m sorry, who are you, exactly?
Firefly: My name is Firefly. This is my home, and you have been asleep for the entire night. Now, may I ask who you are?
Spinel: Oh–oh, sorry, I’m Spinel. I…guess i kind of walked through a magic portal?
Spinel: But I sure wasn’t expecting this to be on the other side!
Firefly: No one would be. Father set it up so only those with dire need could ever find their way here. It was meant to be safe.
Spinel: …I…yeah. I guess my need’s pretty dire.
Firefly: Well, you need not be afraid. Whatever you fear cannot pursue you here.
Spinel: It’s not me that’s…*sigh* My Mama’s really sick. I found this old book written by Silverwater but the recipe for a healing potion is missing so I tried to find anything else he’d written and I found the arch instead and…
Spinel: …now I’ve lost a whole night..
Firefly: Time flows very differently here. Only moments will have passed in the world beyond. I believe it is…every hour spent here is a second there. How…your Mama, do you know…
Spinel: they said a week.
Firefly. Then you have the next fifty years within this realm to find what you seek.
Spinel: Wha…that’s…I…
Firefly: You said you sought Sage Silverwater’s healing books? Father is Sage Silverwater. If you speak with him, he will help you or find a way to help you.
Spinel: Will he?
Firefly: You did not come this far to not ask, Spinel. Come–he is normally in the gardens at this hour.
Spinel: What is this place?
Firefly: It was originally a school for training in the use of magic, when the realm outside was a much different world, but now it is a sanctuary for those in need of refuge. And, it is where Father and I live.
Firefly: Father! Spinel is awake!
Stone: One moment!
Spinel: Ah!
Spinel: What the–
Stone: Ha! …There we are, little one. All better now.
Stone: My apologies, Spinel! I did not mean to startle you. This little darling was having a bit of a pest problem.
Spinel: That was–you just used–that was magic!
Stone: Well, yes? What else am I to use?
Firefly: Father, Spinel came here to speak with you.
Stone: Oh?
Spinel: I–yeah, I did, I…Sage Silverwater, do you remember writing a book on healing potions?
Stone: I have written many such tomes over the years. You will have to be more specific.
Spinel: The Elixer of Healing.
Stone: ..ah. That would explain why the portal opened for you. I am afraid I will be of little help.
Spinel: What?!
Firefly: Father, surely there must be something…
Stone: Very well. Now, Spinel, I do not say this because I will not help you, but because I cannot. The Elixer of Healing is both difficult and highly personal. It must be crafted by the one who needs it most, or someone desperate to aid them.
Spinel: …I have to make it.
Stone: Yes.
Spinel: How am I supposed to do that? I burn eggs!
Firefly: Well, this did used to be a school! Can we not teach her, Father?
Stone: Well, someone seems very invested already!
Firefly: I am! You know that the portal would not have allowed her through if the need was not dire! Please, Father…there must be something we can do.
Stone: That depends entirely on Spinel, my dear. This will be a long and difficult road. I cannot say you will succeed, and it will be dangerous. Even knowing that–
Spinel: Teach me. Please, I–if there’s anything I can do to save my Mama, I have to try.
Stone: …very well. Come–we will do this properly.
Stone: As Firefly has told you, this place was once a school. A great many students once roamed these halls…
Spinel: What happened?
Stone: …A difference of opinion in methods of teaching. It matters little now.
Stone: What does matter is if you are certain this is the path you wish to tread. Once you set foot on this road, you cannot go back.
Spinel: I’m sure. One hundred percent.
Stone: …very well. Firefly, please, stand back.
Stone: Breathe in…yes…yes, I see now. I understand…very well.
Stone: Magic is in all of us, in the world around us. The power that flows through the Watcher’s creation is the power that courses through us in turn. This power now flows through you, Spinel Crystal. May it guide you, and may you guide it, as the rivers flow to the sea.
Spinel: That was…it was like…
Stone: Yes. *chuckle* It can be quite overwhelming at first.
Firefly: Father.
Stone: But I think I have a way for you to settle into it faster.
Stone: I realize this may seem a bit ridiculous, but allow the magic to guide you. It knows where it wishes to go and will guide you.
Spinel: With goofy poses?!
Firefly: Just allow it, Spinel!
Spinel: Uh…okay. Okay, here I go…
Stone: Now, let it go!
Spinel/Firefly: Ha!
*explosion*
Firefly: What…
Stone: Again!
Stone: Do not try to fight it! Let the magic take what shape it wants!
Spinel: Oh, Watcher, is this normal?!
Stone: Yes! Let it go, Spinel!
Firefly: It is alright!
*thud*
Firefly: Oof!
Spinel: Whoa–that was–that was amazing!!
Spinel: Wait–wait, oh, Watcher, are you okay?!
Firefly: Oof…fine, fine. That was a very good first duel…
Spinel: Wait–wait, oh, Watcher, are you okay?!
Firefly: Oof…fine, fine. That was a very good first duel…
Firefly: But are you certain you have never had experience in magic before? For your first attempt, that was…
Spinel: Beginners luck!
Stone: Hm…come along now, you two. I believe there is a library with your names on it.
Spinel: …I can’t read these titles. What are they even in…
Firefly: Elvish, mostly, but some runic as well.
Spinel: Uh…
Firefly: They were the most common written languages when Father still walked the mortal plane. I can translate anything you find.
Spinel: You know how to read these?
Firefly: Read, write, and speak. Elvish, runic, and that of the Fae as well. I knew all three before I arrived here.
Spinel: Wait, so, you can speak a language that’s nine hundred years old. …And you did before you got here. How–how does that work?
Firefly: Much the same as you know how to speak your language: taught by those who care for you.
Spinel: But that–you–you’re nine hundred years old?!
Firefly: …Well, yes? I told you that time does not flow the same. Come–there may be a recipe we can try downstairs.
Stone: Potion-making is an art form.There are no hard and fast rules; everything here relies on your instincts, not your training.
Spinel: Great…I failed art…
Spinel: It’s like cooking, though…isn’t it?
Stone: It is. And like with cooking, following the recipe to the letter does not always get you what you need. Watch the potion, child. It will teach you.
Firefly: Or it will blow up in your face…
Stone: Very amusing, my dear, very amusing. *sniff* Add mint.
Firefly: Yes, Father.
Stone: There, now, you must let it rest. Keep the fires burning, but you may resume the mixture in the morning.
Firefly: Great! Spinel, come with me. You could stand to let off some steam.
Spinel: Are you sure about this?
Firefly: Certain. Now–defend yourself!
*explosion*
Firefly: Again?! Watcher–again!
Spinel: That does it!
Firefly: Oof!
Firefly: …Watcher, but that is…a lot of grief…
Firefly: No wonder Father agreed…
Spinel: What was that?
Firefly: Oh–nothing. Simply a thought. But that was very good!
Firefly: For your first day as a Mage, you truly are grasping the finer points quickly.
Spinel: Well, I’ve got some great teachers.
Firefly: Well, thank you. And–oh?
Spinel: You do hugs, right? I mean, nine hundred years old or whatever, and–
Firefly *laugh* Yes, yes! Very well.
Spinel: Thanks for the help. It…means a lot.
Firefly: Of course.
Some time later...
Stone: I must say, you have made remarkable progress, Spinel. To reach Acolyte status in only three months…not even my fellows and I could do such things.
Spinel: I’ve got incentive. And I’ve had good teachers, too.
Stone: You flatter us, but I am afraid I can teach you little more of what you need.
Spinel: …What?
Stone: Potion-making is an art form. All that I learned, I learned from my fellow Sages. You have gone so far ahead of what I know that my time as your teacher is nearly over.
Spinel: But then–who else is there?
Firefly: The other Sages. Mandarin, Lace, and…
Stone: …not that one, I don’t think.
Stone: But you are correct, my dear. You both need more than I can teach, and the only ones capable of continuing your training are the other Sages.
Spinel: Could you tell us about them?
Stone: Of course. Many years ago, magic was prevalent in the world beyond this one. Students and teachers, Sages, the Watcher’s chosen, they all led peaceful lives among those with no magic. There were schools for magic in the distant places, but for some of us, that was not enough.
Stone: There were four of us, thick as thieves, that decided we should build a school closest to the heart of magic itself. Where anyone could learn in safety and timelessness. It took us years, but we found it. Myself, Lace, Mandarin, and Venom…we founded this place as the Sages Four.
Spinel: Four? There’s only three symbols…
Stone: …And only three Sages now. The world was not always as broken as it is now. Things…happened, and…well. *clears throat* We went our separate ways. I stayed here, the others scattered to where magic yet lingered in your world.
Spinel: That can’t be many places. Glimmerbrook?
Firefly: The Crystalline Caves, the Sylvan Glade, and…well. There is little left of it now, I suppose.
Stone: Quite right, my dear. The world has…moved on without us. Perhaps as it should have done long ago.
Stone: We were arrogant, naive. Toying with things we did not understand. That arrogance cost many so much.
Firefly: Father…
Firefly: You could not have foreseen what would have happened that day.
Spinel: I’m sorry–what happened?
Firefly: A great battle, the earth itself cracked to pieces by malice and hatred. Those who did not flee were killed. Or worse.
Spinel: Did you Sages fight or…
Firefly: He was no longer a Sage.
Stone: He still had the power of one, so Spinel is not incorrect. However, that is not the matter at hand. In order to continue your training, you must seek out the other two Sages who we can yet call allies, and return them here.
Spinel: Great! A scavenger hunt for people when we already know where to start. How hard could it be?
Firefly: Finding them is only half the battle, Spinel. We must convince them to return to a world they abandoned nearly a thousand years ago! It will not be simple.
Spinel: Neither was finding this place, but here I am, so. We gotta try!
Firefly: *sigh* I just do not want you to get your hopes up. Given time, you may find a solution on your own…
Spinel: And with them it’ll be faster!
Spinel: I’m willing to try.
Firefly: Alright then. Father, when do we leave?
Stone: Now. I’ll tune the gate to Mandarin’s magic. They should be…at least willing to talk after so long.
Stone: Once you step through this portal, you re-enter the outside world. Time will resume its normal flow, so you must be quick.
Firefly: Yes, Father. We understand.
Spinel: Trust me, wasting time’s the last thing I wanna do.
Stone: Very well. Now–stand back. This could get complicated.
Stone: Time and space are irrelevant to your will. Oh, Great Watcher, we beseech you–aid us in this task. Guide our hands so that we may be joined anew!
Stone: Water, Air, Earth, Fire. As all elements are bound together, so too are we Sages Four. I call upon the spirits of the world in this hour of need: seek the ties that bind, and recall our lost ones to our side.
Stone: I call upon thee! Mandarin Ember! Return to the place you once called home, and allow the wrongs to be set right!
Stone: …there. The portal is tuned to Mandarin’s magical signature now. It will hold until they cast the counter spell to return you here.
Spinel: And what if they don’t?
Firefly: That is what the Glimmerstones are for. We will not be trapped, Spinel.
Spinel: Okay. Okay, let’s go.
Stone: Be cautious, my dears. Mandarin’s chosen element is Fire; they can be…explosive.
Spinel: I know the type.
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