An idea wandered inside his head, dancing to the sounds of the forest. The dinner on that Saturday was the same as the others, although they didn’t take long to enjoy a new treat they found in the market: Cookies filled with various flavours. Some recognized, such as chocolate, cream or vanilla, but others were more daring and made their friends jump out of the excitement. As usual, a mixture of fruits and berries, along with other styles, according to different regions of Mithra. Chicken and waffles? Interesting, that’s for sure. Vanilla with sea salt? Curious and delicious, even surprising him. Orange and cheese? The last one he was encouraged to try before his senses ended up overloaded.

Wanda, the lady in charge of the sweet they were enjoying so much, assured them that there was no problem in having a little box to eat at home, although he was always guilty when they gave him things and waited for nothing in return.

“It’s the way they have to support you. They know that our task is not easy,” Ead added.

If he were in his world, he would have paid for that, but at Elthea, everything was different. The Galya elthean helped him with what he might need, but he was terrified to abuse their hospitality, although there was no way for him to earn money either. Apart from the gold, silver and bronze coins (simple to remember), metals, minerals and gemstones were also highly valued, not to mention other precious items. Earning currency came in different ways and according to how their professions were approached, just like in his world. However, there was a slight difference there.

“Students like us often refer to bulletin boards or the Adventurers’ Guild to look for gigs that are suitable to their time and don’t change their daily routine at school,” Rune said.

On the boards, they found errands, quest from Galya elthean in what specific help was needed. The difficulty of these varied according to what was requested, as did the skills of those who accepted it. He had seen one at school and several along the Galya, both in the upper and lower areas, but they were enchanted to show the same information. Instead, the Adventurers Guild was a very different matter.

“There are headquarters in all the big cities and in most small ones,” Aer explained.

They worked similarly to the boards, although they were focused on elthean with more outside experience. As varied as their imagination could formulate, the requests ranged from business aids, the search for food or spices, and even to end dangerous elthean causing considerable problems. Staff were responsible for getting information about missions or rumours from one area or another at each headquarters. After all, they used the messenger arrows to exchange letters from one place to another and be aware of this peculiar work’s news.

“Anyway, you have to complete assignments and missions to raise your rank and do other more difficult,” Leith added.

“And with better rewards!” Rune added.

“Something we don’t have time for,” Ead said.

And even though they tried, his friends were confident that they would not be allowed to enter the guild. After all, their mission went beyond the usual problems that they faced at Elthea. They would be diverging too far from their path, although they were curious about what they could have done on another occasion.

After saying goodbye to Lizzie and Keahi, Finnian washed in one of the bathrooms, thanking for having water to relax with. They were conveniences that he was used to at home, something Finnian miss while travelling, and what he would have to get used to when they left. Then, even when he knew his friends were almost as eager as he was to sleep, he let the idea flow through his lips.

“Why do you want to try using the link again?” Rune said, frowning his gaze.

“We’ve been practising in the last few days, and even though we don’t experience the same as before, I still have a lot to go forward with,” said Finnian.

He could see little snipping through them but always maintaining a high degree of concentration for not changing the vire from one to the other. So much information could stun anyone, and even though his classes had helped him get to control his magic, it was enough that something confused him for ending his concentration.

“The climbing field has taught me that the environment cannot be changed, but what I do with it can,” Finnian said.

He wanted to go back there the next day, that was very clear, but now he needed to try that to make sure it wouldn’t lose control again. His idea, like many others, involved a leap of faith. He would just sit while connecting with Aer, Rune and Leith by covering his eyes with the scarf he wore during training.

“Now, when darkened, there is less movement than during the day. Less information that might distract you,” Leith admitted, nodding while considering the proposal.

“We can try it,” Aer said, “though more than connecting with us….”

“What you’re looking for is learning to use that in our favour, right?” Rune said.

Because Finnian had two eyes and ears that gave him information, each elthean looked at the world differently, uniquely perceiving details. He needed to know how to manage what they transmitted and that the connection was valuable. If not, the link that united them would be more a burden than a strength.

“We have to take advantage of what we have at our disposal,” Finnian said.

“Are you sure it’s a good time? Maybe resting will help you,” Ead reminded him.

Sleeping was not always the solution, or at least when he knew he could do something different and see how it was moving forward. They went out to the backyard, the same one they used to train and where no one could be bothered. Sitting in the meditation area, he covered his sight again, conscious that his companions were around him. He swept away the possibility of even covering his ears but needed to know his surroundings while putting that into practice. And after taking a deep breath, the bond was strengthened.

The view of Rune was defined, allowing him to appreciate the forest even when there was no light around it. The shape of the trees, the branches with their leaves, which were moved by the wind at that moment. This one, which was visible to him, left a trace that his friend could perceive, as was a trail of bright powders that accompanied the air.

Then, as soon as she connected with Leith, the dragon captured more than her immediate vicinity. The aroma of the houses there as they finished dining, dishes that seemed distant and difficult to describe, but that gave it the warmth of the home. At his side, Ead flew quietly without making a noise, something usual in him. However, looking through Aer, he was not seen as a blurb but a hummingbird that emanated life with his mere presence.

“How do you feel?” Aer said.

“He looks calm, in control,” Leith added.

None spoke aloud, although he could hear them equally clearly. The tingling of his body did not abandon him, but that instant was different from the fight against Ailfryd. After a quick gesture, he removed the flock that covered his eyes, for this time to observe the world with his own.

His gaze still blurred; the first instinct was to close them, conscious that his mind alternated between what he saw and what his friends transmitted to him. It was difficult to describe, mainly because that magical act required constant energy and, therefore, more pressure on him and his partners.

“We’re with you,” Rune reminded him.

Calm. Even at an instant where his pulse increased like his nerves, the elthean remained calm. His vision was again the same, although after giving him a push with his magic, the lathe came to life. Or rather, his surroundings showed him what was always there. The trees, the land, the houses, everything was more clearly than before. The life that surrounded them, in so many ways, did not cease to amaze him by how simple they could be but by how powerful they seemed in the shelter of the night.

All that was not due to his magic but to the one shared by the four. The connection, being in harmony, allowed them to observe the world in another way, one that was only available to them. After a wheeze, Finnian let the link disappear, allowing them to breathe without the magical effort it meant.

“Are you okay?” Finnian said, looking at the three of them silently. Even with the strength they possessed, fatigue affected them just as it did him.

“We were going to ask you that,” Aer admitted with a smile.

They were fine, and not even his head hurt, or his ears were ringing, which was a tremendous breakthrough. However, and although He didn’t want to be negative, it wouldn’t be the same as in a fight in a quiet setting. They knew it and yet decided to try it together with him, aware that they should not continue to avoid it.

“That’s why we have to train, right?” Rune pointed out, as quiet as that evening of games.

“There’s always room to learn,” said Finnian, speaking a light smile.

“No excesses, understood?” intervened Ead. “You have already had a jam-packed afternoon. Rest is just as necessary as training if you want to strengthen yourself. “

This was a synonym that the day had to come to an end. The frionach did more than just be your guide or point out the essential details. If he did not have such a link with him, he would not mean that they were not colleagues, although different ones. After all, if I saw from a group of great mentors, I was just doing his job.

“By the way, Ead,” Finnian began to say once they returned to the interior. “Now that I’ve been able to see you better, you’re much more dignified than before!”

“Really?” the hummingbird responded, glowing warmer tones by emotion.

“Not that much,” Rune intervened, releasing a click. “What would you do if they tried to attack you?”

“You’d be surprised. It’s a frionach! What are you expecting? Milk and cookies because he comes in pocket size?” Finnian exclaimed.