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vvirgils · 4 years

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Chronicles of Straith #2-The Witch’s Dragon:Chapter 5

Chronicles of Straith #1-Fate’s Door///Chapter 4/Chapter 6//Masterpost

Roman and Tyler’s journey went smoothly, the boat taking them down the peaceful river until they crossed into Canea. A small sign with jumping letters greeted them. Welcome to the Magical land of Canea. The letters in “Magical” sparkled despite the many clouds in the sky. Magic lived here, and Roman’s heart jumped at the reminder of Virgil. Maybe they shouldn’t have abandoned her to solve the problem, but…

If Roman brought home some new books and information about sorcery, along with a way to solve the problem in the woods, hopefully all would be forgiven. That was the goal.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Tyler asked, pointing at the small songbirds flying around a tree. Their metallic feathers glinted in the sun, flitting in perfect orbits around the spherical leaves of the tree.

“Yeah, is it sorcery?” Roman couldn’t imagine how else they weren’t running into each other, or drawing geometrically perfect haloes around the tree.

Tyler smiled, a wide grin that lit up his whole expression. “Yep. They’re something of an attraction; the guy who made them lives in a little cabin somewhere in those woods. Sometimes he comes out to tinker with them; they’re his finest creation.”

“That’s…wow.” Roman admired the birds until they fell out of sight, not knowing what to compare them to. “We don’t have anything like that in Straith, that’s for sure.”

“With any hope, you will in the future. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re re-integrating magic, right?” The trees passing reflected on his glasses, olive eyes watching the scenery go by.

“Yeah, my friend Virgil is actually helping with that. Her and, um, Rafaela. They’re leading the whole thing, anyways. It’s going well,” Roman said, resting their arms on the railing. “Although we’re not really using it for anything like art yet. Just stuff like efficiency, helping old people, and challenging biases. It was illegal for a hundred years, so there’s definitely still people who think it’ll kill them.”

“Oooooh, your friend Virgil? As in, the sorcerer who helped free the Dragon Witch?” Tyler asked, turning his focus to Roman. “I’ve read so many different stories since it happened, but I’d love to hear your version of it. It’s actually part of why I signed up to go to Straith, of all places.”

“Would you like an autograph as well?” Roman asked, the sharp sarcasm slipping out of their mouth before they realized their words.

Before they had a chance to take it back, Tyler said, “I think I’m good, I don’t collect autographs. I am intensely curious about what happened, though, so if you’re willing to tell me I’m all ears.”

“Sorry,” Roman said, “It’s a long story, but as long as you promise not to leak it to every paper in Canea, I’m willing to tell you.” Teenage awkwardness overtook whatever social skills Roman had left after a lifetime of isolation from any other kids their age.

“I promise,” Tyler said. He stepped away from the windows on the boat to the chairs, Roman following.

“Basically, it all started with this prophecy that’s been in Virgil’s family for generations,” Roman began, deciding on a whim that it was the best place to start. “She went to work at the bookshop that Logan’s parents run a few weeks before the prophecy said the apocalypse was coming for Straith, basically.”

“Oh, tell me more. I want to know what the prophecy was about.” Tyler listened as Roman recounted the whole of their adventure, reacting at all the right parts. The boat ride passed before they knew it, time flying by until they were getting off at Canea’s capital.

“So, when do I get to meet the king?” Roman asked Tyler, adjusting the straps of their backpack as they walked out of the small river port. It was an offhand question, one whose answer Roman didn’t particularly care about right now.

While it was a small port, the city within a city led into the vast capital of Canea. A description of Chanidy City jumped into Roman’s mind from their old textbook. Chanidy City is full of magic and trade, a place where the wildest of Canea can gather without judgement.

Clockwork creatures darted around the feet of pedestrians, their robotic movements never allowing them to collide. The stands sold things Roman recognized—food, clothes, animals—and things they did not. A man selling what looked like handheld flames had several sewn into his jacket, and they flickered as he moved his arm to wave at passerby. Tyler was saying something, but Roman was too entranced by everything here to pay attention.

There were animals Roman didn’t recognize, and they couldn’t help themself from gawking a little at an orange dragon the size of their fist blowing a flame onto a candle. A creature with four horns let out an ear splitting roar, struggling to be heard amongst the bustle of the market.

“Roman, Roman.” Tyler tugged at the hem of Roman’s sleeve until the young monarch turned back to their traveling companion.

“What? Did I miss something?”

“You’ve just been staring at everything and not listening to a word I’m saying,” Tyler said, waving a hand in front of Roman’s eyes as they turned to stare at marbles stacking themselves into a pyramid atop a merchant’s stall. “And I’m trying to tell you some important things. I know that this place is really overwhelming if you’ve never been here before, but you’re going to be absolutely lost when we get into the palace if you don’t know what’s going on.”

“So, what do I need to know?” Roman asked, trying to ignore the countless distractions assaulting them from all sides. A multicolored spiral appeared at the corner of their vision, and it was all Roman could do to not turn and look at it.

“The king isn’t available to talk to you for another couple of days, I’m afraid. He’s very busy. But in the meantime some of his advisors can show you around, even some who knew your mother personally. If you want, we don’t have to treat you as royal while you’re here. That was Mark’s idea, not mine. He thought you’d be more comfortable not being treated as royalty.”

“That sounds great,” Roman said, a small wave of relief washing over them. A break from all the titles and formalities was a definite perk. They hadn’t realized how much people used titles for a king until they were, well, king. Not to mention that, while they only got small tastes of not being treated like royalty with their friends, Roman could only imagine that it would be amazing full time.

“We’re almost to the palace,” Tyler said, looking at the stalls around him. “Follow me, closely.”

Roman obeyed, following Tyler as he wound around the businesses surrounding the palace until he reached a nondescript door on the side of the castle. Tyler fumbled in his pockets before procuring a key.

He opened the door for Roman. “You first. I think you’re supposed to get a tour from someone else. I’m going to get some rest, travel is exhausting. See you, Roman.”

“See you, Tyler.” Roman stepped through the door to find a red-haired girl in a purple dress that appeared to flutter as she moved, creating an illusion of wind in the low-ceilinged hallway.

“Nice to meet you, Roman, I’m Jessie.” She stuck out her hand to shake, and Roman noticed that her hair had changed from red to purple already. The ends turned blond as Roman closed the door behind them, and not for the last time that day Roman marveled at what magic could create.

They returned her handshake, although it was slightly awkward since Tyler was also trying to push past them at the same time.

“So, you’re supposed to be giving me a tour of the palace, right? That’s what Tyler said, anyways,” Roman asked, trying not to stare too much at her hair.

“Yep! I know this palace inside and out, and I’m probably the youngest staff member, so the king thought we’d get along. I know all the cool spots, just follow me,” Jessie said, walking down the corridor.

Roman followed close behind, trying to match her pace. She was a little taller than them, and obviously enthusiastic, cheerfully pointing out the pictures that lined the walls and where they were going. Roman was still a bit stiff from sitting in the boat, but they managed to keep close.

Eventually, the narrow hallway led way to larger rooms and grand spaces. The opulence of the palace was astounding; Roman was afraid to touch anything. Where Straith’s castle had lamps burning in every corridor, the lighting in Canea varied with every step you took. Some walls glowed, in one room miniature suns fixed themselves to ceilings covered in pinpricks of stars, an anglerfish swam around in the air through a lounge, and the gold accents of fabric wallpaper reflected the light of a windowless room.

In re-integrating magic to Straith, Roman wished they’d thought more about beauty. Though they could tell Jessie loved the palace by the way she spoke, her admiration of the magic within the palace felt too casual for such a spectacular place. Roman wanted to capture every part of it in a painting, the way the artworks moved and the sculptures could surprise you at any moment —becoming something else, breaking to reform, vanishing—how the people passing by all wore something magical. Jessie’s hair was in no way an anomaly as they passed through the halls Roman saw clothes that changed as the person moved from one floor to another, a tattoo whispering in someone’s ear, and makeup that matched the mood of the speaker, not to mention the many more pieces of magic that Roman was sure were left unseen.

There was a small museum, and Roman’s heart pinched as they remembered the fateful museum in Straith’s castle where they’d met Logan and Patton for the first time. Yet their emotions took a back seat as Roman read everything they could, soaking in the new information about their motherland.

Jessie watched, somewhat bemused. “For a king, you sure act like a wide-eyed tourist. Not that it’s a bad thing, just interesting. I was the same way my first day here. Unfortunately, you get used to it.”

“I’ve never been here before,” Roman replied, poring over a family tree. “My dad took all the books about Canea off the library shelves, and he never talked about it or my mother. This is incredibly new, and incredibly cool.”

“What was Epos like?” Her tone indicated genuine curiosity, reminding Roman all at once of Patton and his pensive questions.

Roman’s hand froze over a plaque with their mother’s name. “Not a very good father, that’s for sure. He controlled my life, or at least tried to. I’m happy he’s not running the country any more, but it’s a lot of stress to be his replacement. Not sure what he’s up to now.”

“You’re…sixteen, right? That’s really hard, I’m sorry you have to go through that.”

“Seventeen in a few weeks, not that it matters, really. I’m still the youngest king ever, but I’m handling it as best I can. I have people who help,” Roman said, tracing their fingers over the words about their mother.

“Well, I hope this little vacation in Canea is helpful,” Jessie said, walking over from the doorway to stand next to Roman. “There’s lots of royal advisors here who can give you tips, and of course the king himself. Don’t be afraid to ask about your mother either, everyone here remembers her fondly. They’re more than willing to tell you an old story about her, especially since you’re her son.”

“Thank you for that, Jessie, I really mean it,” Roman said, tearing themself away from their mother’s portrait. “So, what else in the castle is there to see?”

“Just your room, I think.” The two exchanged few words as Jessie led Roman to the place where they would be staying.

A mural of Canea done all in gray reminded Roman of the crisis they were fleeing from at home. “Is magic ever just… independent of a sorcerer? Like, do you ever have it go wild, or something? And cause trouble?”

Jessie thought about it for a second. “Well, there’s magical creatures that are created by using magic improperly, that’s the only thing I can think of. It doesn’t happen a lot.”

Trying to sound like they were just asking to satisfy a personal curiosity, not save their country from potential ruin, Roman asked, “What do you do when it happens?”

“Oh, there’s a preserve for the magical creatures to live and be studied. It’s called Lyrwrithe, my family lives up there. Beautiful, in a forest near the lake, way up north. Why do you ask? I hope there hasn’t been any errant magic in the palace to worry you,” Jessie said, gesturing at the perfectly-working magic that surrounded them both.

“Just curious, I guess. I was wondering if there were any hazards of magic I should know about, in case something happens in Straith,” Roman replied, slightly impressed by their ability to come up with the falsehood so quickly, especially such a believable one.

“It’s extremely rare, since most of the creatures are self-destructive,” Jessie said, and their walk continued in silence.

The two reached Roman’s room, and they noticed the few fading rays of sun outside the window. Roman hadn’t noticed the sun setting from within the palace, but that explained their exhaustion. That, and they hadn’t eaten in hours. “When’s dinner?” Roman set their bag down on top of the bed.

“A few hours. Get some rest, someone will call you down soon.” Jessie closed the door behind her with a wave, leaving Roman alone.

As Roman looked around at the fairly normal guest room they’d been given (the only hint of magic was a barely-moving painting), a sense of calm washed over them. It had been a wild day, but the relief of not being king could be appreciated, here in this empty room. They took the scarf off and set it on the bed, next to their bag. In a way, Roman’s mother was with them.

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