It’s been a long day of searching for one specific large tree, in a MASSIVE FOREST of trees…Voll Basin. On the up side, Frieren has been in an especially good mood getting to go on one more adventure with Eisen, a hunt for the one true grimoire of Flamme, the legendary mage.
But alas, they would soon find the tree and another sunset would settle over their adventure. But just as they begin to leave, intent to pick up the warrior’s pupil ‘Stark’ before setting their sights on Aureole, Eisen would recall one more important detail…to inform Frieren of-!
”Hold on a moment Frieren-! There’s one more I believe you should be aware of…”
. . This would get her attention, but he would go on to speak with a certain…wariness
”Stark is not the only one who may interest you. As you may recall, Himmel took up an apprentice after our journey…well the man was an exemplary swordsman and knight, at least so Hieter would write from the Capital...”
But unfortunately the man was cursed to meet an untimely passing, leaving Himmel’s will and teachings to the man’s own boy…and let’s just say that the young man has some…spirited things to be said about him…
. . According to Eisen, the young man was incredibly talented both tactically and in regard to swordsmanship. But issues arose when his father who had learned and documented all the teachings he received from Himmel, was unfortunately struck down by remnants of the demon kings army. Leaving only the young man to learn from his father’s many records to grow strong on his own.
But the issue with a prodigy who learns too much too quickly, behavior can very quickly sour if left unchecked. And this unfortunately what seems to have happened as the young man regularly causes issues in the region while brandishing the name of his father’s mentor like it’s his own calling card…
. . Nevertheless, she and Fern would bid the Dwarven warrior a farewell before the two mages left to continue their journey. Continuing to teach Fern and eventually collecting Stark as well. Frieren would continually contemplate the implications of Eisen’s tip. She was happy that her friend had his legacy carried on…but that also carried the risk of having this apparently rambunctious youth track mud all over it…
But as they near the rumored village where the great ‘Apprentice of Himmel the Hero’ resides, the elven mage wouldn’t be able help the internal sigh as she and her party made their way through the town gates…
”This place is rather lively… Frieren would observe as she survey the town. Plenty of houses and buildings all around, a fair amount of people roaming the streets as they’d go about their days.
”Alright, I’m going to go ask around the libraries about our local celebrity…and maybe check out a few grimoires…while you two! ask around the streets.” Giving the Fern and Stark a smirk while the other two react accordingly.
. . The two teenagers had no shortage of complaints about their leaders obviously biased plan, but still, they were left to walk the dirt roads…Fern leading the two with an annoyed pout while her master got to relax and read in a library, being able to personally swear that she saw a smirk on the elves’ lips as she trotted towards the library.
Meanwhile in contrast, Stark trembled with nerves whenever he was shot an annoyed side-eye by Fern, deciding to walk several steps ahead of her knowing she was in a bad mood and how intimidating the purple clad mage could be when she was upset -specifically with her master. So instead, Stark took the lead, his battle axe easily clasped onto his back as he went asking around with locals for any information on the apprentice. Since the red-headed warrior had a naturally likable charisma about him, people were glad to talk to him as he went about helping with any labor they happened to need help with, meanwhile letting Fern stew in annoyance several feet behind him as she carefully observed the town…
but even with their new method, progress was slow going...
. . .