It was a few more days wait but eventually Syffox and his companions were greeted by members of the city’s lords. They as well had never heard of the Goddess Vantaiga nor did the town’s people know what to make of the forest that was creeping up on to their horizon. However they were a trusting people and welcomed what Syffox had to say of his Goddess of the Forest.
The city of Darebel was curious and easily convinced to know more about the forest; so they built a temple to the Goddess. To show her gratitude Vantaiga gave them a great orchard as a gift. She blessed the orchard so that it would grow any fruit tree that was brought from the forest and planted there.
To the people it became a yearly ritual to go into the forest to search for new kinds of trees. Eventually the orchard became full of fruit of every kind. Even the pomegranate was found and added to collection. The people no longer had to travel to the forest to forage for food; although some still did to see what new treasuries they could return with.
Syffox left behind half of his companions to serve the temple and the people of Derabel. There was much still to teach them about the forest and what it had to offer. The priests and priestesses left behind were sad to part with Syffox, but also excited to preside over such an accepting town.
Syffox was sad to leave behind his young clerics as well but it was the nature of their mission and it had to be done. The city gathered to watch them leave and showered the group with the leaves and flowers of the fruit trees they grew. Syffox’s followers felt very proud to receive such a grand send-off. For Syffox himself however, it was a production he gave polite tolerance to. If he was alone he would have left in the still silence of the night, preferring the tranquility of Silhlotte’s shadows to the ruckus of the crowds beneath Coronus’ stare.
In truth, Syffox’s annoyance came more from a longing to be with his Goddess again. As he left the city he found himself wistfully recalling the feeling of her hair; the warmth of her skin; the softness of her lips. He gave himself a slight sad smile. Those were the sensations of her before she was a Goddess. Before she ascended to contain so much power her presence was almost unbearable; as if looking in to a light that the eyes had not adjusted to. He felt he could eventually become accustomed to that light; all it would take was a bit of time. A bit of time they seemed unable to find.
As the group crossed the grasslands before the forest, Syffox found his longing for her diminished as the height of the trees grew with their approach. The deep sunken feeling in his stomach replaced by the warm elated glow he felt when she was near. By the time they were finally embraced by the cool shadows of the forest, Syffox could feel the arms of his Goddess around him.
He gave a warm smile to himself and spoke a quiet “I’m back Goddess” underneath his breath. Through the rustling of the leaves in the breeze he could hear her reply with a “Welcome back my love; I missed you.”
Underneath the canopy of the forest, the group’s feet felt light. They quickened the pace as they stepped on the soft familiar ground of the forest floor. Despite branches and undergrowth, the group of missionaries moved more freely in the forest. Without any of the hard stones of the plains or desert sands to grind and shift under their feet, they did not have to worry about twisted ankles or aching knees.
Syffox let his thoughts drift back again to his Goddess as he enjoyed the pleasant rustling of the leaves. Despite the cool tranquility of the forest he slowly became aware of some grumbling behind him. He did not often participate in his companion’s conversations when they travelled but he did listen in from time to time. He slowed to be among them before speaking. “Is everything all right?”
They looked amoungst themselves for a moment until one young priest finally spoke. “Everything is fine master.”
His forced smile did not convince Syffox. He gave them a playful smile back, “well that is a lie. What is wrong?”
The young clerics looked at each other again before speaking. “Well we travelled a long way to get to Derabel. We spent a long time in Derabel. And now we have an even longer way to travel across the full length of the forest to Kundz.”
Syffox’s smile broadened. He could see where this was going; but still thought he’d play with them a bit. “Yes it is a long way to Kundz. But what better way to spend our time than travelling through the forest as the leaves change?”
The priest that spoke looked again at his companions, more nervously this time. “Well we were wondering…” He hesitated as he looked to the others for reassurance.
Syffox smiled curiously. “Yes?”
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“Well we were wondering if it’s true that you can travel quickly through the forest?”
Syffox beamed at them. “Why yes we could run to Kundz if you wish. I was just keeping a slow pace so you wouldn’t get tired.” Syffox suppressed a chuckle; it wasn’t what they were asking for.
“Umm, no… Well yes, we could do that… But we heard that you can travel through the forest in an instant.”
Now Syffox allowed himself to chuckle aloud. “Ah, you heard that I can fold the spaces between distances did you?”
The young cleric’s face lit up. “Yes we heard you could Fold. And well, we were wondering if you could Fold us to Kundz?”
“It is true that I can Fold. And yes I could get you to Kundz instantly,” he shrugged nonchalantly, “and many more if I wanted actually.”
The whole group began to smile and speak out excitedly. “Could you Fold us?” “I’ve never been through a Fold.” “I wonder what it’s like…”
Syffox interrupted them. “But you know, I can’t just Fold you anywhere you want to go. Nobody can do that. I have to know where I’m Folding to. If you don’t know where you are going, you could become lost in the Empty Realm and end up neither here nor there, nor anywhere. And quite frankly it has been so long since I’ve been to Kundz, I don’t’ know it anymore.”
The disappointment in the group was audible as they sighed and their shoulders and faces dropped.
Syffox snickered as he held back from laughing at the sudden change in their mood, and the mischief he was inflicting on them. “But you know,” he said with a coy sideways smile. “I can see anywhere the forest touches. So I can go anywhere the forest is. I can’t Fold you to Kundz, but I can take you to the edge of the forest before Kundz.”
The group laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. “So you can Fold us to the boarder?” They became excited again; that would only leave a day’s travel which was nothing compared to the journey that currently stood before them.
“But why would I want to do that? This is the best time of the year to travel the forest. The days are cool, the nights are tranquil, and the leaves are full of color. I can’t believe you would want to pass up the opportunity to travel across the forest at this time of year.”
The group of young clerics stood frozen. Their faces stuck between smiling and frowning. Some tried to stammer a protest. Others wracked their brains to come up with a response to convince him otherwise. And still others merely stayed paralyzed hoping someone else would think of something.
“But I’ve crossed the forest countless times already.” He gave them his familiar reassuring smile. “I don’t need to see it again; and you can always do it on your own another time. I’ll take you to the edge of Kundz if that is what you wish.”
There was a collective sigh of relief and they gave a laughing “thank you” to their teacher, come tormentor.
Syffox beamed as he waved them to his sides. He enjoyed teasing his disciples almost as much as he enjoyed teasing his Goddess. “So everyone gather around and hold hands.”
While the group did as they were told, a young acolyte chimed in; “This is amazing. I’ve never been through a Fold.”
He was quickly cut short by and older Adept, “Don’t be so eager. I have and sending six of us across the entire forest is crazy”
A third added, “I heard of a mage that went mad from a bad Folding.”
Finally a fourth and the most senior of the group stopped them all. “Hush. Let the Master concentrate before we all end up lost.”
Syffox humoured himself with their agitation while they all held hands in a circle. Some were shaking; others were sweating; only Syffox’s hands were bone cold as he drew in the energy around him. He closed his eyes to search out their destination.
The older member spoke out. “Master can we help?”
There were hushed murmurs amoung them telling him to be quiet, but Syffox only responded with a nonchalant shrug and “no.”
There was a tense moment of stillness until a younger member spoke out next. “Will it hurt?” Again more hushes for silence, but Syffox only shrugged with another “no.”
More silence again followed until yet another member, overcome with anticipation, spoke out. “Will it take long?”
Syffox opened his eyes and gave her a broad smile and “no.”
And with a dull ‘thump’, the forest about the group swirled inwards to a blur of green. Then with a rush of wind, it swirled outwards again.
With no other sensation of their travel than the sound, it took the group a moment to realize they were no longer in the same part of the forest. Here the trees were shorter and the leaf litter drier than moments ago.
There were gasps and a few curses from the young priests and priestesses. Some suddenly found themselves so disoriented they fell backwards; while others stumbled around trying to get their bearings. Even the more experienced of them needed a moment to steady themselves. Folding can be unnerving at the best of times, but to find themselves on the other side of the vast forest in the blink of an eye was unimaginable.
Syffox spoke through their confusion. “It’s alright; take a moment to settle.” He gave a small wave of his hand and a feeling tranquility washed over them. They were still confused but now felt they could process their new surroundings calmly.
One of the older priests gave a stuttering breath before speaking. “That was quick. You could have warned us.”
“Would you have liked a countdown before I did the impossible?” Syffox quipped with a smile. “If you don’t know what to expect, it’s best not to take too long expecting it.” He gave his disciple a grin before turning to the rest. “We’ve just completed a season’s worth of travel within a single breath. I think we’ve done enough for one day. Let’s rest here and move on to Kundz tomorrow.”
While his disciples found their focus and set up a small camp, Syffox sat down next to a tree with his wrapped bow across his lap. He mused about the forest and his Goddess while he replenished the magic he consumed in the Folding. He drew in the warmth and energy from the air to fill his store of raw magic within him. Wafts of fog drifted down his body and pooled about on the forest floor. It was a reminder to his followers that even though Syffox made the Fold seem effortless; his magical power was not boundless.
Novicius in Arte Medica A Novice in the Art of Medicine
Medical School is a Warzone. Ashrahan was failing. Then, the System woke up.
Quote: Synopsis: Sleepless nights, borrowed notes, and caffeine. When exhaustion drags Ashrahan to the edge, a silent system awakens, transforming patients into interactive lessons and textbooks into living networks of surgical precision.