RP:The Cake Less Traveled

Summary: On a rainy day, Odhranos finds himself playing storyteller to a young lady so eager for worldly tales that despite her considerable sweet tooth, she airily ignores her chocolate cake...

The Dancing Destrier

Odhranos wraps the furs tightly around himself as he trudges through the pelting rain that batters down from a leaden sky, turning streets into rivers and eaves into waterfalls. It had been months since the villagers of Xalious witnessed a downpour quite this bad, doors and windows were shut and shored up around the town, and the streets were empty save for the howling winds and sheeting rain. Through the midst of this monsoon, a lone soggy figure meanders through the water as if lost, draped in furs that have long since soaked through and now bear the weight of a few cubic metres of water down on the mage’s shoulders. Useful for warding off the biting cold of Frostmaw, the furs are all but useless in the rains of Xalious, as Odhranos begrudgingly notes, tugging his hood further down over his forehead in a vain attempt to keep the water from hitting him in the eye. A futile endeavor, as the hood itself drips and one could be easily mistaken to think the terramancer is crying, what with the sheer amount of water running down his face. Approaching the Dancing Destrier, likely the one dry haven for a wanderer in this weather, Odhranos reaches for the door, pushing it open as little as he needs to get inside, but to enough keep the ungodly flood at bay. The terramancer stands dripping in the doorway, a puddle rapidly forming beneath his feet as he peels the sodden hood back from his face. Sven above, it’s unholy out there.

Elhaym || Emeralda van Nisan had just finished baking a lovely chocolate cake in the hope that a stormy afternoon utterly devoid of customers might lead to a busier-than-usual evening. Reaching into her earthen oven with both hands gloved, she set it down on a nearby counter and smiled. It had turned out even better than she had anticipated. The middle-aged, auburn-haired woman was all too tempted to take a slice for herself but she resisted the urge and softly spoke her own praise for it. That was when she heard the slight creaking of the tavern door. "Heavens above," she said, "someone actually willing to brave a bit of water for good mead." Emeralda rushed from the kitchen to the bar, and then, seeing the soaked man covered in furs, barked a laugh and grabbed a few towels. "Not to worry," she assured him. "I'll have you dried-up in no time, or your bed is free of charge this time." She recognized him -- after all, Odhranos had been here many a time, if rather sporadically. "Elhaym," Emerald called, wasting no time to request assistance from a dutiful daughter. "Coming," a softer and younger voice chimed in from upstairs. Meanwhile, her mother handed Odhranos most of the towels while wiping up the wet mess beneath him. "What will it be, ser? We have ourselves some duck stew and crusty bread; crisp duck; um, what else? Roasted duck and squash. We have a lot of duck this week," she stated plainly, rising from the floorboards with a chuckle. "And chocolate cake! Fresh as the breeze." Elhaym, in a simple red dress which matched her hair, shined blue eyes on the visitor and fetched a few more towels for good measure. She was happy to see a mage -- she always had been. Mages had stories of faraway lands to share with village girls such as herself.

Odhranos smiles pleasantly as he is greeted, even chuckled at in his sorry state. “It’s days like this I wish I had taken up hydromancy, but when all else fails, a towel will suffice wonderfully.” Odhranos scrubs his face and head, leaving his greying hair messy and bedraggled looking, but a shade less wet than it had been moments ago. “Ahh, apologies Emeralda, I’m ruining the floor. Let me help.” The man crouches, trying to help and rather making a nuisance of himself instead. When he tries to rise, his legs creak as the sheer weight of water in his furs bears down on him, and instead of standing, the mage falls flat on his arse in a gale of laughter. “Xalious bless! I’m like a turtle on his back. Is there somewhere I can leave these that they might dry? I don’t think I’ll manage to wear them a step further.” From his seated position on the floor, Odhranos slowly sheds the hefty furs, layer by layer. Before long, a sizeable pile of wet fur decorates the doorway, while a distinctly smaller looking mage sits alongside them. “That feels a magnitude better. RIght, let's get these out of your hallway. Don’t want to delay any other proprietors.” The terramancer jokes as he pulls the leather strap of his golden cage over one shoulder; odds are he’s be the only fool willing to brave this storm, any sensible individual would be tucked up safe indoors at this point. Positioning the cage on his hip, Odhranos stands and faces the pile, splaying his fingers and coaxing a thick stream of sand from the cage. The sand billows out, diving beneath the pile of furs as it assembles itself into a large tub, big enough to contain the sodden pile, which then sprouts a set of four stubby sandstone legs. “Where to with these, Emeralda?” Odhranos inquires, ruffling his hair as the hefty sandstone tub ambles along behind him like an attentive little elephant. “And the stew would be delicious, anything to get this chill out of my bones!” The mage gathers the last of the towels up into his arms and gives his hair a second scrubbing for good measure.

Elhaym || Of all the things Elhaym had witnessed from the mages, which wasn't much but it felt like it nonetheless, a four-legged tub apparently made from sand was one of the wildest. Even as her mother continued chuckling along and bantering with Odhranos, Elhaym suffered a brief bout of dumbstruck staring. "Elhaym," Emeralda finally said. "Help the good ser find a nice place to tuck all that away. In the meanwhile, I'll fetch the stew. Maybe I'll find some dry clothing your size while I'm at it!" Elhaym watched as mum disappeared back inside the kitchen. "Right then," the girl said after a pause. "Upstairs with that, if you please!" She was all smiles as she led the way up the staircase and into a washroom presently piled with a load's worth of clothes she had yet to attend. How could she be anything but smiling? Now was her chance and she wasn't going to waste it. "If you're staying, every room is ripe for the taking. One with a window, one with a smaller window, um, one without a window." Whenever she tried to talk up the Dancing Destrier's accommodations, she realized that it just wasn't possible. It was a cozy place, wooden on every side, but it was hardly like the big city inns travelers had mentioned from time to time. But enough of all that for right this moment; it was time to strike. Her heart fluttered and she folded her hands behind her back while she wiggled herself uncontrollably. "Tell me a story!" Those blue eyes sparkled. "Something with lots of magic involved, of course. Oh, and maybe some knights? Or a dragon? Or Larket? I've heard about Larket, you know," she spoke with faux-confidence.

Odhranos smiles towards Emeralda as she disappears off into the kitchen, then he turns to face Elhaym. “I do so please and upstairs it shall go.” The terramancer grins, following the lass as she led the way to the washroom. Odhranos was halfway up the stairs before he heard a sad clunk from behind him. Peering back downstairs, Odhranos realised that the tub was having a bit of difficulty following their ascent, on account of its stubby legs and broad and heavy body. “Ahh, you poor thing, your creator is a sightless nonce. Longer legs, right right.” Once again, the cage at Odhranos’ hip ejects another plume of sand, and suddenly, the tub now has six sprightly legs that carry it up the stairs like a gallivanting calf, trailing Elhaym into the washroom. Once Odhranos has followed, he begins heaving the pile of sodden furs out of the tub, which stands to attention as it is unloaded. “I think, given the state of things outside, I would be best not to chance my luck any further. Perhaps the room with the small window would be nice. I enjoy watching the rain, but a large window often lets out heat a lot faster, and it is desperately cold outside. I’ll want to not catch another cold, or Inks will have my head.” The terramancer is caught off guard by Elhaym’s eager request, and he can’t help but breaking into warm laughter at her enthusiasm. “Magic, dragons, knights AND Larket? That’s quite a lofty request, if I do say so myself. One would be lucky to get a story with any one of those things.” Odhranos straightens, planting his hands on his hips as he stares down the girl, but a playful sparkle in his eye belays his joviality. “What say we make a deal; once I’m sat down with something warm to eat and I’m a bit less soggy, I’ll regale you with the tale of Raiez the Vain. I’d wager you haven’t heard that one, have you?”

Elhaym was too busy thinking up her master plan for story requests to notice that the terramancer's tub had sprouted extra legs. By the time everything was sorted and Odhranos' room was decided, the lass nodding along with enough "mhm" and "indeed" to mask her anticipation, she had already shown him to his chosen room and curtsied as though something spectacular had just occurred. And rightly so; as far as she was concerned, a fascinating man had just promised -- promised! -- to regale her. "I'm sure mum has found you some clothing by now. Let's run downstairs as fast as we can so that -- um, your stew doesn't get cold?" Good save, the girl thought. And though she knew not to sprint in true, her pace was fast, as if she were serving multiple customers during a busy day. Sure enough, Emeralda had found a full set of white-tinted cotton clothing for Odhranos, as well as a soft, plush robe. The rain beating upon the roof was no match for Elhaym's mother when she spoke loudly: "And here's your stew, and a complimentary glass of mead, and a piece of chocolate cake besides." The stew was piping hot, with an ample piece of bread at its side. "I'll be having some of that cake," Elhaym said assertively. Her mother turned to object but laughed instead. "Indeed," she gave in. Carving into the moist dessert would normally have thrilled the sweets-loving girl to bits, but all she could think about was who or what a 'Raiez' was, and how great it was that she was about to find out. She took a seat beside Odhranos and folded her hands on her chin, elbows to the table, quite certain that by gazing off into the nearby fireplace she would come across as passive, mature, and patient. It didn't work; her left foot tapped upon the floor and her eyes kept darting back to Odhranos as she smiled awkwardly and did not touch her cake.

Odhranos nods along sincerely, but the slight curl at the corner of his mouth betrays his amusement. “Indeed, yes, the stew. Wouldn't want a cold stew on a day like this.” Following his guide downstairs, Odhranos accepts the dry clothes gratefully. “I’ll just pop upstairs and change before I eat.” Bowing to both women, Odhranos scurries off to his room to change, returning downstairs a lot more respectable than when he went up. Plucking at the white fabric with a speculative face, Odhranos murmurs “Very bright colour…” as he plods down the staircase, crossing the drinking hall with quiet feet before landing into his seat with a weary sigh. “Sven above, I’m shattered.” The terramancer sighs, before he casts a sidelong smirk at Elhaym. “But, not too tired to tell stories, I promise.” Carefully, with almost an air of theatrics, Odhranos picks up his spoon, lifting a mouthful of stew to his lips, which he sips with a satisfied sigh. “Xalious bless your cooking, Emeralda, it’s truly divine.” A beaming smile is offered to the tavernkeep, before Odhranos picks up his bread, tearing a morsel off and dipping it into his soup. “Tell me, Elhaym, what do you know about dragons?” The terramancer phrases the question as an idle inquiry, as he pops the piece of bread into his mouth, chasing it with a sip of tart mead. Awaiting her response, Odhranos tucks into his stew, savouring the warming meal with a content smile.

Elhaym could feel her shoulders slumping in despair when the mage expressed his exhaustion. 'No!' the girl thought. 'Not like this!' But just as quickly as they'd fallen, her shoulders perked right back up when the storyteller -- who promised! -- kept going despite his tiredness. She didn't realize she had frowned until afterward when her frown became a grin. And look at that! He really did promise. "Xalious does bless us," Emeralda called back while cleaning, "though mostly it's to do with fertile soil for blissful crops!" That was mum for you -- she could alternate between a tad boastful and all sorts of humble on the turn of a copper. She always seemed to know when each side suited her best. Odhranos' question caused Elhaym to sit upright like some sort of scholar. At least, that's what those scholarly mage sorts always did, and she assumed the same applied to Odhranos when he wasn't 'shattered.' The bread, the mead, the stew, all of it may as well have been on some other table. Even her own cake seemed almost to disappear. "All sorts of things," the girl replied as she faked the voice and tone of the 'intellectuals' who dined and slept at the Dancing Destrier every so often. "They breathe fire. Or ice. Or both," she added, the pace of her words speeding up uncontrollably with all the excitement of a villager who had never traveled beyond Xalious' town gates in her life. Which, as it happened, described her to a tee. "They're big. The smaller ones are why-burns or somesuch. Or drakes. Also, dragons are so mighty that almost nobody can slay them. And I mean it, too." Elhaym's green eyes shimmered seriously in the tavern's soft, amber light. "Sometimes we get big, burly men who claim to have slain dragons. But I bet they're all full of hot air. Except for this one time." She nodded with her own explanation for emphasis. "A friendly sort of lady with scars from skirmishes said she had killed a dragon. I believed her because she didn't shout it for everybody to know."

Odhranos smiles as he eats, sipping his stew quietly as Elhaym presents the findings of a lifetime spent among the wayward academics of Xalious. Odhranos finds himself straightening his back in kind, dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief as he leans his chin in one palm, nodding along with each fact that the girl enunciates. “That’s a very good summary of a dragon. In fact, with that knowledge alone, you’d be able to spot one if you saw it flying overhead, which is always a useful skill to have. Particularly if you ever visit Rynvale. Best keep your eyes on the skies in Rynvale.” Odhranos places his spoon gingerly into his soup, and he settles his chin onto the back of his hand as he stares into the middle distance, perhaps seeing something there that only his mind envisages. “Dragons are fascinating creatures. Born as small as a cat, they can live to be a hundred thousand years old, and ever longer if they are smart about it. Masters of the air, sea, and some even masters of the deep underground, dragons are as varied and variable as the snowflakes of winter. No two dragons are alike, except in one regard.” Odhranos raises a single finger, as he meets Elhaym’s sparkling eyes. “Each and every one of them, has the urge to collect. To gather something, it could be anything, but when they find this thing, a dragon cannot help themself but to covet and possess it, collecting it in a horde where it can preside over its treasure.” As he speaks, a small puff of sand bursts from the cage and floats around Odhranos’ shoulders, where it manifests itself into a long snake-like shape, which spreads sandy wings before alighting on the table before Elhaym. The small sand-dragon quests around the table, before it spies Odhranos’ spoon, which causes it to jump in elation, diving towards the spoon, which the mage pulls clear of the stew before a mess can be made, presenting it to the sand-dragon which snaps the spoon away gleefully, scampering to the middle of the table where it curls around its treasure happily. “Many dragons are drawn to the allure of gold, its glittering sheen pleases their eyes and their caves are piled high with treasures like you can’t imagine, coins and jewels and necklaces, each of which would make a king’s ransom on their own. Others, covet knowledge-” Odhranos’ eyes twinkle, it is quite apparent, should the mage be a dragon, what kind of hoarder he would be; “- they disguise themselves as mages and scholars, creeping into libraries where they can read tomes so old and dusty you’d sneeze just by looking at them. These dragons don’t need caves to tuck away into, but ask them any question and they can tell you its answer. For a price, of course.” Odhranos raises his eyebrows, giving the story a suspenseful air, as he leans back into his chair, sipping his mead as he prepares himself. “But there was once one dragon, one in particular that coveted something… different. Mere gold, nor jewels could tempt her, and books were naught but fluttering pages. No, this dragon desired something else.” Odhranos leans his elbows on the table, speaking in a hushed whisper to raise the suspense. “This dragon, desired something more magical. What she truly coveted, more than anything else, were mages themselves. And her name, was Raiez Vayne.”

Elhaym || 'Keep your eyes on the skies in Rynvale.' Elhaym had heard of Rynvale more than a few times over the years, and it just got a whole lot more interesting to her. A hundred thousand years! The girl's head spun just thinking about it. Already more than entranced, she was downright enthralled by Odhranos' sand-dragon. It was everything she'd heard and so much more. And wait -- was it real? Was Elhaym watching a dragon? A real dragon? She had no idea. In a way, it didn't matter. In that instant when the mage's creation admired and acquired a spoon, the bar wench's eyes had never been wider. Nor had she smiled so. If Odhranos had been telling any other tale, the girl who loved stories most of all might have allowed herself to mentally wander and miss one, and that might well have been another new experience entirely. But this was about dragons, and a most peculiar dragon indeed, and Elhaym could keep on gazing at the sand-dragon and its beloved spoon whilst keeping her ears tuned to the summoner himself. "I must know more." The tone of those words almost suggested she herself was a dragon, a hoarder of knowledge, a spying pseudo-scholar. But, of course, she was plain and simple Elhaym van Nisan -- almost every ounce of her as Xalious Village as Xalious Village had ever been. Sans, of course, her curiosity. And right now, she was savoring her curiosity like never before.

Odhranos can’t help but smirk at Elhaym’s response. “Then, more you shall know.” The terramancer dips what's left of the bread in the dregs of stew, cleaning the bowl before he places it aside. “Raiez Vayne, was a very aptly named dragon. In her human form, she was the most extravagantly dressed, like a noblewomen just stepping out of her carriage. In fact, one could easily think she was a noblewoman who happened to be lost, until they noticed a long, swaying blue tail behind her. Vayne by name, and Vain by nature, Raiez was flashy to a fault.” The sand-dragon coils around the spoon, before in a whisking spiral of sand, it morphs into a miniature lady, dressed in an extravagant dress, sporting a long saurian tail. The small sand-lady paces across the table, with the swagger of one who owns all they survey. “Sometime after the war in Frostmaw ended, Raiez awoke from her cave, far beneath the Xalious mountains, and so she began to hunt. To seek out and to steal away mages. At first, no one noticed. A druid here, a spellblade there. But then, before long, we realised out numbers were dwindling. One by one, we were being picked off and whisked away. And then.” Odhranos pauses for a moment, then adds quietly. “-it was my turn to be stolen away.”

Elhaym || Unlike dragons, Elhaym had seen plenty of ladies. That was just common sense. Yet the girl felt equally absorbed in watching the miniature sand-lady as she was with the sand-dragon. Studying 'her' every motion, Elhaym's grin returned. "Look at her," she dumbly said, as if Odhranos had never seen his own magic craftsmanship. "Beautiful." If the sounds outside were to be believed, the rain was starting to slow down. Mum was going to be much pleased because it could mean that the tavern would soon be bustling with begrudgingly-quarantined patrons who were no fans at all of social distancing. But Elhaym knew what else that meant -- she would be forced to serve food and pour ale and all those other tasks that did not compare with stories. "The Frostmaw War," she enthused. "I've heard of that one. A dragon won the war. A good dragon." Elhaym wondered what a good dragon collected. As soon as Odhranos indicated that he'd been one of Raiez's own kidnapping victims, however, the girl shoved aside all pretense of wisdom and gaped all over again. "Did you cast a spell and put that vain dragon-lady in her place?"

Odhranos ||”Aye, beautiful, and all the more dangerous for it.” Odhranos leans his chin in his hands as Mini-Raiez parades across the tabletop. The terramancer’s ears perk up at mention of Frostmaw’s dragon and he can’t help the smile that tugs at his lips. “Now, that is a dragon worth telling stories about. But perhaps I should focus on one at a time.” The mage chuckles as he takes a drink of mead, dabbing his mouth before continuing. “Did I cast a spell? Well, if I’m honest I should have. Thrown a mountain at her or something. That might have been wiser than what I did do.” Odhranos leans back in his chair and folds his arms, as a sheepish smile crosses his face. “No, unfortunately I didn’t. I was quite like you back then. Dragons fascinated me. The mere sound of one roaring in the distance was enough to get me heart racing. So when one decided to land right in front of me, well, what would you do?” A second spiral of sand emerges from the cage, and before the Mini-Raiez, a robed mage coalesces. Mini-Odhranos stares across the expanse of tabletop as Raiez approaches, and when she stands before him, what does he do? “I bowed and said hello, like any polite scholar would.” The terramancer laughs at his past self, as Sand-Ranos bows deeply to Sand-Raiez.

Elhaym || "I would say h --" Elhaym's intended interruption was in and of itself interrupted by a fit of almost manic giggling when her storyteller said the same. Odhranos was as wise as mages came, she determined. When he said he used to be like her, he meant every word of it. Oh, how she wanted to say so much to him now! She was eager to learn more about Frostmaw's dragon queen. She wanted to know what it would be like to throw a mountain, unaware that that part was likely an exaggeration on Odhranos' part. She wanted to dwell on what a dragon's roar sounded like. None of these things were compelling enough to prevent the lass from leaning forward in her chair, ready for the tale to continue. "And what did Raiez Vayne say? Did she tell you things?" Elhaym gasped. "Stories of her own? Will this be a story filled with stories within stories?" The rainclouds had emptied their cargo; the sun was already beginning to shine, albeit with the oranges of sunset, and Elhaym could hear footsteps before the tavern door swung open. "Ignore it!" She barked far more loudly and aggressively than intended. "Um, I mean." Elhaym batted her lashes and cleared her throat. "I mean, do continue." But Emeralda was already at the bar, greeting the first few arrivals. Three bearded men, whom Elhaym knew as Dway, Bray, and Ermeghay, stomped their way to an empty table. "Lots of duck," Elhaym's mother exclaimed to them all, rushing to take their order. Whatever it was that they were requesting, Elhaym's attention had already reverted to Odhranos.

Odhranos laughs heartily along also when Elhaym and he come to the same conclusion. "Curiosity and ability will get you far, but a true scholar should always be polite, in my opinion." The terramancer beams broadly at his audience, so rapt in her attention. He is about to continue when he is briefly startled by her outburst, earning her a wide eyed curiosity from the mage. A brief moment passes and so does the expression, as Odhranos smiles gentlyz easing back into his tale. "Well, at first, Raiez asked me if I were a mage. I should mention, we were halfway up the side of Xalious Valley, on a tiny outcropping no larger than this table. Eager to impress, I demonstrated some of my magic, nothing much fancier than what I have shown you." On the table, Sand-Ranos conjures two spheres of sand and presents them to Sand-Raiez, who circles him like a predatory cat, studying him as her tail whisks about behind her. "In return, Raiez demonstrated some of her magic." Sand-Raiez raises her hand above her head, and a spiral of dust whips up about her feet, forming a circle of glyphs above her outstretched hands. "And being the curious mage that I was, I had to stand and best witness to whatever came next." Odhranos grimaces ruefully, then points to the table. Sand-Raiez releases her spell, and Sand-Ranos is engulfed in the swirling maelstrom of her spell. When the whisking sand-runes disperse, all that is left of the mage is a teeny tiny little figure, not much bigger than a grain of rice, splayed out on his back in a tiny star. Sand-Raiez plucks him up, retrieves a small jar from her satchel, plops the mage in, seals the lid, then returns the jar to her bag, mage and all. "Before I knew it, I had become the latest trinket in the dragon's hoard." Odhranos laughs as Sand-Raiez transforms back into a dragon and launches from the table, splintering into dust which returns to the mage's shoulder-slung cage.

Elhaym could scarcely contain her awe. Not only was this story the most incredible one that she had ever heard, but she was privileged enough to witness a mage at work. Work that created for her a visual representation of everything Odhranos was saying. A few times a year, gleemen came to Xalious Village, performing tricks to captivate one's eyes. Just as rarely, the small town would host festivals; musicians had become increasingly common of late, but Elhaym's favorites were the plays put on by traveling performers. In a way, Odhranos' sand show was like what would happen whenever the performers stood behind curtains and waved puppets to and fro, narrating strange and goofy events. In a way. But this was something so much grander, something the girl would not have thought possible if someone else told her about it secondhand. "That's horrible," Elhaym said. "It amazes me that you escaped. I'm so glad that you did." She meant it, too, even if half the reason for it was because she would never have been able to listen and watch here today. "Elhaym!" Emeralda's shout was polite yet firm. "Yes, mum?" Her mother scoffed at that. "You know what, lass. I need your help in the kitchen." As she had predicted, Elhaym was being pulled away by the cruel reality of village life. "Just give me a couple more moments, mum! I swear I'll be right there!" The lack of verbal response from Emeralda as she sauntered between tables and welcomed a few more patrons gave Elhaym the sense that her request had been accepted. "I'm so sorry," the girl told Odhranos. "I must know how this story continues. I simply must. Please say you'll be staying for more than a day." For all her efforts at maturity, Elhaym still knew when to lay it on thick with the pouting when necessary. "Next to the tale of Raiez the Vain, even chocolate cake is as nothing to me." On cue with her claim, the plate which housed her cake lifted up into the air. Elhaym, entirely unaware that this was not Odhranos' doing but her own, marveled and cheered. The plate flew speedily toward the kitchen, cake and all, in tandem with the amateurish arcane will manipulation of an eighteen-year-old girl who had never in her life demonstrated even the least amount of magical ability. Bedazzled, Elhaym watched as the plate of cake soared up higher, arched erratically to the left and then right, and then shattered onto the floor, spilling the cake all over the place. The patrons all watched, wide-eyed, though a few muttered something about mages up to their old tricks. Something suddenly stirred in Elhaym, something like the wind. "That's OK -- you're shattered, I remember!" She stood up, making ready to help clean up the mess, still ignorant to the truth…

Odhranos nods in agreement, he is also glad to have escaped. Just as he opens his mouth to say as much, Emeralds calls from the kitchen, no doubt there were tables to be served and general tasks that needed doing, all of which Odhranos had been distracting Elhaym from doing. "I'm not in any rush to go and I've paid for the night, so what say we continue the story when the tavern gets a bit less busy? Near evening time, aye?" Odhranos lifts his tankard and though he plans to lift it to his lips, it never makes it there. Frozen still as the plate lifts delicately from the table, Odhranos watches it glide through the air, wobbling like a drunk pixie as it flies, before upturning and shattering on the floor. The sudden silence that pervades the tavern is deafening, and Odhranos turns with wide eyes to face the unassuming village girl who unknowingly just performed an act of magic before his very eyes. Quick as a whip, he turns his eyes to the stunned and expectant crowd, and he blanches. "Just….uh...just a bit too much to drink, aye! I'm feelin' as wobbly as a newborn calf with this good mead in me belly!" The mage starts off hesitantly, before breaking into a raucous cry, hoisting his tankard aloft, and eliciting a good-natured cheer from the patrons. A rule for all taverns, say anything loud and proud enough with a drink in hand, and you'll get a cheer. With the watchers distracted, Odhranos stands as well. "Ahh, I'll help you." Leaving the table, Odhranos crouches down beside the cake-strewn shards of plate as Elhaym begins picking it up and he whispers in a quiet, but even tone. "Elhaym…" he begins, watching the girl suspiciously; "...have you ever thought about possibly becoming a mage before? Ever thought you had the gift?" Odhranos watches her like a hawk, studying her face for any sign of reaction to what the terramancer says.

Elhaym was delighted to know that tomorrow evening would herald a continuation of Odhranos' tale, though she didn't understand why he felt the need to act drunk when clearly he was not. Was it pride? Did he not want anyone to think that he made mistakes? If so, that was silly, but she could respect it. She never wanted folks to think similarly of her. Seeing someone older behaving in much the same fashion was oddly reassuring. "Oh, thank you," the girl said appreciatively when Odhranos offered to assist her. This may have been doing, but it was still her job and hers alone to react to such matters. His next words, however, nearly blew her away with the fullness of that strange wind she had felt in her chest only seconds prior. "Yes," she instantly conceded. She stared at the shattered plate in quiet shock. "Yes, I've wanted to become a mage. But… but I want to become many things." Why did she again feel the wind? Reaching out her shaking hand, she unconsciously raised two small shards of the plate into her palm. One of them fell into her palm unevenly and drew a tiny speck of blood. She blinked. What else could she do but blink? "I…" She was unable to continue her sentence; she couldn't think of anything remotely intelligible to say. "Elhaym, we need three orders of roasted duck and squash," Emeralda ordered from halfway across the tavern. Far enough away that she hadn't seen what her daughter had just done. That was a relief. "I'm on it," Elhaym replied, searching Odhranos' face for answers to anything and everything. Answers that could not come in the span of time that it took to clean up a plate and some cake. She finished up the task and stood up straight. The wind left her, that uncanny, invisible wind. "T-Tomorrow evening," she agreed, her heart beating faster. "I… um, please enjoy your room." With that, she was off, fleeing into the world she knew, fleeing away from the unknown. It was ironic that all of a sudden a girl like Elhaym would intentionally surround herself in the mundane, leaving behind all the stories, but what else could she do when she couldn't process how her life had just changed forever?

Odhranos watches as Elhaym's expression changes, as she wills the two shards of plate from the ground into her hand, and Odhranos witnesses the dawning of realisation in her eyes, as a sudden entire world erupts into view before this ordinary village girl. "Aye, I'll be here tomorrow evening. But I suspect that what we will discuss then won't be old stories." Odhranos picks up two shards of plate, and holding them together at the shattered seam, they seal themselves together. "No, I think that perhaps we may discuss the beginning of a new one. Until then-." Piece by piece, the plate is reassembled, and Odhranos hands the now restored crockery across to the girl before she flees. "- I'll be around somewhere." Watching her depart, the white clad mage folds his arms with a slight smile on his face. Moving to retake his seat, he pulls his own plate of cake over infront of himself. Yes, indeed, perhaps just now, the quill has reached the end of the first page. The first page of a new story. The Story of Elhaym. As for what kind of story it shall be, well, only time will tell. Odhranos muses loftily as he pops a piece of cake into his mouth. Sven above, it's good cake, he muses. Less loftily. But no less profoundly.