Despite everything, the wolves, whatever Mendax's intentions were, or if Lacuna and Sitis were in a committed relationship or not, Fluentem stood before them.
A city from before the liberation of Aeternitus, it had been the main port for the land in antiquity. These days, Ardere city held that honor, since it was placed in a peninsula that was between both the rivers of the east and the west that were the veins of trade for Aeternitus.
So now, Fluentem clung to fame with its university and its history. Just from the architecture the city favored, one could see its residents as a thoughtful people.
Triviis was built with wood, but Fluentem preferred stone. And unlike the brutality of Nix, this stone was carved and engraved.
Few restrictions had been placed. Towers reached into the sky, mythic heroes and plants crawling their sides the same. More still suggested the ocean with ripples and waves from stone.
It was not enough to endure, it was a requirement to endure with grace.
This seemed to be what the city was saying at a glance.
As Aureum saw the towers of the city, she felt no awe, only relief. The past week wore her like a rag with holes. She looked forward to becoming a stranger nobody bothered with again.
I should pick up an instrument or something while I'm here.
There had to be other ways to deal with the boredom of the road.
As long as Mendax left her alone.
In the little time the group had before reaching Fluentem, Aureum avoided Mendax.
Almost murdering him had been a mistake, but there had been true intent for harm. The hair-thin line she'd come face to face with scared her.
Her suspicions weren't cleared. Guilt awoke her to the consequences, but common sense still had reign.
Yet she could no longer put the brunt of her hatred for Nix on Mendax's back. Not without solid evidence.
Sitis had little to say about anything, which was no surprise.
"Stop kicking the bee's nest," he had said. "Even knowledge needs the ability to act on it."
Aureum was more than happy to comply at this point.
The future problems of what she would do if Mendax stayed on her tail were for the future Aureum. First, she wanted to sleep in a bed and take a thorough bath. If anyone jumped her in the middle of that, then they would be at risk of their life.
After stating their purposes at the gates, the group took a breather.
"So, do we go our separate ways now?" Aureum asked.
Lacuna glowered at Aureum.
"No! We have to at least eat together."
"Sure. Maybe. If we can eat nearby."
Lacuna looked at Sitis before giving a wide grin.
"It's been a long time since I've been home, and my family didn't spend a lot of time at any restaurants. But there's one we were fond of."
"Oh, good. Is it nearby?"
Lacuna began walking.
"The food is amazing! I'm sure you'll love it."
"But is it nearby…?"
Sitis followed Lacuna.
That's the problem with having a couple in a four-man group, half of the votes are locked in. In other words, Aureum and Mendax had no real choice but to follow along.
It was not nearby.
A small, dingy building that overlooked the wide river Vena was where Lacuna led.
Fortunately, it wasn't the kind of restaurant with lines outside the door. Aureum's legs wouldn't survive the wait.
Inside the tables were few. Not being dinner, they had the place to themselves. They were served plates of warm food without much fuss. It tasted good to boot.
Surprisingly pleasant despite first appearances.
With the food and the end of their trip of tribulations, it was impossible for anyone to remain sour. Talk was loud and energetic.
"I think I'll sleep for a week after this," Aureum said.
"I just want everything to be normal for at least a month," Lacuna said.
"I'm looking forward to the University."
The last speaker was Sitis.
Crazy.
"You need to see a doctor first!" Lacuna said. "We should have headed directly to one, actually—
"Most of the healing is already done. And I'd like to eat real food before the doctor can suggest anything to me."
"What are you all going to do here?" Aureum said. "There's the river, and the University but. Ahhh! I don't really know what else there is to do."
"I think we told you that already," Sitis said.
"Yes, you'll be going to get an education we know. And Lacuna will be going to her home. But what's the first thing you'll do?"
"Find a doctor," Sitis said.
"You're no fun," Aureum said.
"Well, I guess I'll play it by ear?" Lacuna said. "There's too much I want to do."
"You can't decide on what to do first?"
Lacuna shrugged.
"There's so many old friends I want to check up on. That will probably take up my first week."
"And what about you?" Mendax said.
"Just heading to the university for a chore," Aureum said. "You?"
"I'm not heading to university," Mendax said, playful. His tone calmed for the next one. "I'll be lookin' for someone. Work."
"Oh."
That sounds nice and opaque.
She'd nearly forgotten all about him. He'd been quiet for most of the meal.
"What the hell is that on his face?"
As the conversation at their table had died down, the other table's conversation became impossible not to notice. They'd entered an empty restaurant, but a few older women entered as they ate.
"You can't say that! It's probably sort of disease."
The second woman's tone was light and happy. They were too wrapped up in their own conversation and meal to realize the other table could hear every word. Or maybe they just didn't care.
"How foul."
"Well, not everyone can be my husband. Now he was a looker in the day. Not that that helped a lick with his hand with money."
The first woman chuckled.
Aureum looked back at Mendax. He cleared his throat.
"Well, this has been a real bash, but I think I'd better stop slackin' and get to work. See you around."
"What?" Aureum said.
Just like that?
"Best of luck on all your journeys," Lacuna said.
Sitis nodded.
Mendax gave a short nod of his own. As he turned away he gave a small wave. With that, he stepped out of the restaurant.
Aureum stood up.
If I can just!
A snake of mana threaded out and stuck to his cloak before the door shut.
The benefit of having wind as an element. It was impossible to see.
As long as she kept it thin, it might be difficult for him to sense. Hopefully.
It would just require constant concentration to maintain it.
Whatever, at least I might get a clue on what he's doing.
Aureum did feel a bit guilty. For as suspicious as he was, he left quite easily. But for her peace of mind, trying this was necessary.
Instead of pondering what was going on, she could just watch him until he revealed himself.
Lacuna pulled on her sleeve.
"Sit down!" She whispered.
Aureum sat.
"If you need help, just ask," Sitis said.
"It's not like that," Aureum said. "But I'll come by for advice if anything comes up."
After that, the mood of the meal was ruined. They finished what little they had left in silence.
Aureum went with Sitis and Lacuna to a doctor. But Sitis said he'd be fine being checked on his own. In fact, he insisted upon it despite protests.
"All right, I'll try to chat with Aureum a bit more before I come back," Lacuna said, a knowing smile on her face.
Lacuna and Aureum wandered the nearby docks of the river bank, the briny air touching their tongues. The smell of fish was cloying. Lacuna breathed it in.
"I didn't expect to feel so at home. I was gone for so long. But all of the memories are flooding back."
The fish smell made Aureum want to gag. Yet, walking with Lacuna like this might not come again for a while. If ever.
"I guess I… I'm glad that journey's over."
There wasn't much to be said. That last trip was rough. Lacuna glanced at Aureum.
"Are you going to become a student?"
"No way!" Aureum said.
At my age? I don't want to be stuck with a bunch of bright-eyed baby scholars!
"A student of the university would get certain protections from the city. Maybe you should consider it?"
"Even if I wanted to, I don't think I meet the minimum requirement."
"Ah."
There's a minimum amount of mana required. It wasn't an exclusive amount, they could have asked for more, but Aureum didn't have it.
"I'll be fine, Lacuna."
"It just doesn't make sense to me how Mendax acted. I didn't want to worry you, but his lack of anger at you wounding him felt like…"
"Like?" Aureum prompted.
"Like he was already guilty."
"Well, I'll figure it out. That's what I was doing, standing at the table. I stuck a bit of my mana on him."
"Will it work?"
"It's worth a try."
Lacuna was silent for a bit, her thoughts getting organized.
"Just be careful."
"Yup."
"I never got to mention how you helped me. I don't think I would have pressured Sitis if I hadn't placed my feelings first."
Aureum stopped.
"Please, tell me everything."
"You want to know?"
Aureum vigorously nodded her head.
"Give me all the details!"
Lacuna's head lowered in shyness. Then it lifted as she spoke in a rush, a wild look in her eyes.
"Well, I thought what I would do if I ignored what anybody else wanted! And so I told him I wanted to cherish the feelings I had for him, even if he didn't love me back…"
Despite starting with enthusiasm, Lacuna's voice still choked at the end.
So, listening to my advice, she did the exact opposite of what I suggested. All right.
"Did you have to have that conversation in the rain? It's cold out there."
"Well, I—You saw?"
"Just a little bit. You were out there for an hour?!"
"It couldn't have been that long!"
"What were you doing? Trying to prove your love by getting a cold?!"
"No?!"
"Ah yes, Sitis~. You're so handsome~! I can't wait to cough into your mouth tomorrow~!" Aureum clutched her hands up, as if in prayer.
Lacuna couldn't help but giggle between her embarrassment and Aureum's bad acting.
The chat turned much lighter for a while. The two walked up and down the dock.
Aureum stopped. She'd seen Sitis sitting at a bench, waiting.
It would be time for her to go soon.
I'll miss this.
Even if most of the trip had been walking next to Lacuna, she still wasn't sick of it. Lacuna stopped too. She grabbed Aureum's hand.
"How long are you going to be in Fluentem?"
"I just don't know. If I get in contact with Spesavia—my uh, friend—it could be a little or a long time waiting for her."
"Well, before you leave, stop by my address. …I'm sorry I can't invite you to stay with us."
"You should be trying to reconnect with your family, not solving my problems. I'll take care of myself."
"I can hold you to your word?"
"We'll see."
Aureum gave a playful grin as she pulled her hand out of Lacuna's.
They won't take me, alive or dead.
"Don't hold back on waiting till you leave, come visit me if you ever feel the need."
"All right, all right."
Then it was time to return to Sitis.
His diagnosis was he was healing well. The doctor suggested a concoction for him to drink, cleaning a few specific cuts with more care and lots of rest. The last of which Sitis was probably going to ignore as he entered Viadelux.
Fluentem was often referred to as "the University". Technically, its name was Viadelux University, started by twelve sorcerers about a century before to gain a greater understanding of mana and the world. Few colleges came to match it. Few other colleges even existed, as bloodlines clutched their formulas for forming pearls closer than their children.
They entered the grounds of it, but that's as far as they could go together. Enrollment went one way, and Aureum's destination went another. She waved as she left them.
The University's library sat before her. It was an old building. Even with two stories it was shorter than the newer buildings.
Books, scrolls, and tablets from the last decade to the last century were shelved towards the towering ceiling. Of course, the real precious treasures of history were stored away from the public eye. Aureum cut through this hall of books.
She'd never been here before, but it was about as Spesavia had described it to her. That didn't mean she could find what she was looking for easily.
Eventually, the small door she'd overlooked countless times opened up to her, with the help of a librarian. Aureum's name and reason were written down before she could enter.
It was a small room, devoid of books. Smooth, mirror-like stone slabs hung from the wall, a name carved at the top of each. Aureum found Spesavia's.
Imbuing a little of her mana, she used her finger to write on it.
"Aureum. Please come to Fluentem when you can. I'd like to chat."
As the words glowed white on the tablet, she waited.
Letters were fine for most things. Chatting with old friends, discussing ideas or steps with colleagues, or more mundane acts like reserving a ticket at the opera.
However, when your message was urgent, or your recipient could be anywhere from Lapiz to Bonumbas a different kind of message was required.
These conversing stones were one solution to such problems. A stone was filled with mana and split in two at the precise moment. When mana was traced onto one piece, the other pieces showed that reaction as well.
This was the basic principle. From what Aureum could remember it had to be a specific kind of rock, the mana had to reach the correct amount of concentration when split, and many other factors she had long forgotten.
But ultimately it allowed for a message that could appear instantly and be received just as quick.
Aureum waited for Spesavia to wipe away the words, tapping her finger.
She stepped up and knocked her knuckles on the rock. Again imbued with mana.
Nothing.
She couldn't force Spesavia to look at it, unfortunately. No matter what she wrote or how she knocked it. She couldn't even remember if the knocks would transfer.
After another half an hour, she gave up for the night. It was time for a long bath.