Bernard and the militia moved to the side and let Lumina and Eldin pass through into Woodvale. Her ears were picking up the usual sounds and activity she had almost forgotten about in the last two years.
The sound of logs being processed in the nearby lumber mills, random conversations filtering in about what people were doing. The smell of freshly baked apple pastries immediately caught her attention. She couldn’t help but meander over to the pastry shop and stare at all the different treats offered in its window.
“Still got your sweet tooth. Berries and hunting weren’t filling enough out in the wilds?” Eldin said sarcastically as he watched Lumina start going through the shop and selecting some pastries to eat. He knew that they needed to get a large amount of shopping done, but watching his best friend get excited about something as simple as pastries was mildly entertaining.
Despite the easily sidetracked friend, and the number of supplies needed to buy, Eldin continued to think about the spell his dad showed him. The answer was in chapter 1 of that book, he just didn’t know where. Before he knew it, Lumina was tapping him on the shoulder, a pastry in one hand and a turnover hanging out of her mouth. “You, k?” She mumbled as she grabbed the pastry from her mouth. “I’m fine. Just lost in thought is all.” Eldin replied as he waved her off before continuing further into Woodvale.
Both of them stopped in front of Peter’s General, Woodvale’s largest store. It sold a little bit of everything. The three-story building was made of brick and wood. It was about the size of a football field and had loading bay doors along the back side, and two large double doors for the entrance. A single guard stood near the entrance to assist whenever an argument or some other issue arose.
The two went towards the building, Eldin noticed the guard stare in surprise as Lumina walked by; she on the other hand didn’t even realize that someone was watching. “What’s on the list?” She asked as her eyes wandered about, excited that there were so many things to look at.
“Well, we need to put in some orders for more casks of Moondew, get some preserved foods like jerky, and restock on flour and beans. You know, the usual stuff.”
Making their way through the general store, they began checking items off the list. The heavier items being promised to be delivered later in the day. Eldin was getting slightly annoyed by the amount of time the shopping was taking. Lumina constantly got distracted by the various merchandise the store offered, especially when she found the clothing section. He had to literally drag her from the textiles so they wouldn’t spend an extra hour or more inside the store.
Once outside Peter’s General, Eldin let out a sigh of relief. The hardest part of the endeavor was complete. All he had to do now was relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Making sure to be back home later in the day when all the supplies they bought would be delivered. His parents had left on an errand, leaving him alone with Lumina. One might find her active personality a little annoying, but he found it quite the opposite.
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Home had become quite quiet once she and his mom had left on their training adventure. It made for a great study atmosphere without any random surprises or noises. The only downside was that life tended to fall into a boring lull without a little chaos mixing it up.
Eldin happily followed his friend all through Woodvale as she began to reminisce with and greet various people. As he passively moved along with Lumina, his mind went back to the current puzzle at hand. He began reciting a part of chapter one in his head.
Fire: Its fervent heat is able to melt any element to its basic components allowing greater control over what could be created or fused.
Water: As a liquid, it has the ability to take any shape or form and combine any component with another.
Earth: It’s strong structure and rigid personality made it perfect for creating molds that could contain and maintain whatever shape or structure that was created.
Air: Like water, it could take any shape or form, but lacked the unique property of combining. This near matter-less structure allowed it to provide direction to without restricting its movement.
Light: Omnipresent and bright, anything caught under its glare would be revealed. It’s believed that all life has light in order to know truth.
Dark: Existing wherever light isn’t, anything shrouded by its power becomes impossible to see or differentiate. While generally seen as the antithesis to light and truth, it forces one to fail and learn.
Energy: Without form and existing in literally everything. This element was the most powerful and volatile of all. However, when harnessed and contained, provided power and life.
Of all the elements, Energy, Light, and Dark are considered the greatest of the seven. All sentient creatures require at least these three working in conjunction to provide life and conscience.
Eldin knew that the answer was within the knowledge he just went over. Though how this information would be the secret to better control the elements he still wasn’t sure. Once again, he was jolted from his thoughts, and found himself face to face with Lumina. He reactively took a step back when he realized their noses were nearly touching.
“You, ok?” Lumina asked once again as she continued to stare at him, “You’ve been spacing out a lot today. What’s on your mind?”
Despite being a few inches taller than her, Eldin had always been treated as the little brother. Ever since they started surviving together under Milli’s training, Lumina had taken it upon herself to play the older sister. Always making sure that he was doing well. She was two years older than him, but at their current age; it just felt weird now that he was 18. “I’m fine. Just something my dad told me during my final test.”
“That again? Must have been quite important or confusing if it’s making you space out this much.”
Eldin conceded, “Dad showed me a really amazing spell and told me that the secret to being able to do something like that was in chapter one of our book on elemental basics.” Lumina nodded, “I thought your control on the elements was already incredible.”
“It’s not enough. From what I experienced, the difference in mastery was as plain as light from dark.”
“Well maybe we can do some brainstorming after we finish here in Woodvale.” She replied as she started walking off again.
Eldin continued to follow, trying to keep his mind off the perplexing clue given to him. The two eventually found themselves in front of Jack’s Tavern. Woodvale’s finest and only tavern. Known for its delicious seared steaks, and the place to go when you have something to settle. Or want to see a bar fight break out.
The building itself was made from highly dense ironwood, Woodvale’s primary export. The tavern was a single story, wide building with windowless windows. Its entrance consisted of a double-swinging door, and a brightly lit billboard on the front depicting a lumberjack cracking a cask with an axe.
Both Lumina and Eldin looked at each other as they finally caught the smell of that signature steak. Constant banter and roaring laughter could easily be heard outside as all the patrons were in a jolly mood. “It feels good to be back.” Lumina said with a smile as the two walked into the tavern.