Seethe

The sun was setting as we were getting dragged back to “The Ducklings Nest”. I started to wonder what the deal was with that Warforged, NoName?. The moment I thought of them, they walked over to our table and sat down. When they sat down Gale immediately initiated conversation with them and said “Hey your NoName right? I thought you were just the tavern bard, how can you fight, and how did you cast those spells?”

“Like I told your compatriot before, my specialization does not define who I am. I may be a bard but the stories I tell through the music I make are able to influence our world similarly to magic.” NoName replied.

Gale looked very intrigued as if someone had just told her a family secret. This is a face I knew, I’ve seen many times before; this is the face Gale makes when she learns something new about magic. She starts to mumble something under her breath, I was only able to hear something about how her bladesong probably works similar to NoName’s magic. She then says “Fascinating I’ve heard of bards being able to cast magic because of how the sounds they make flow with arcane energy. But I always thought it was a figure of speech or folklore. I never thought it would be literal magic!”

NoName’s eyes seemed to have shifted, black visors seemed to move in his lens acting like eyebrows. They seemed to make a face of acknowledgement, like they found someone who matched them in skill. After a few seconds of silence, NoName replied “The Spellweaver, Ethora is the reason why. Paladins, clerics, and warlocks all obtain it through a higher force, their patrons. Sorcerers obtain magic through blood, circumstance, or curse. Druids and rangers have it because nature gives it to them, similar to a patron. While wizards and artificers obtain their magic through study.” They say all this fairly fast and seemingly excitedly and continue it with “Some bards, not all, obtain magic through charming the arcane force, through charming and catching the interest of The Spellweaver herself. That is at least how I understand it.”

Gale knows most of this, we grew up together, I know she knows this. But she acts as if this is all new information like she is being taught magic all over again. She starts to freak out but right before she can speak Corrin interrupts with “Okay that’s interesting and all and I think we all understand that, but how did you know how to fight? I understand the ‘be my own person thing’ totally cool, but Warforged aren’t supposed to learn outside their design or something right? Someone designed to be a bard shouldn’t be able to fight.”

Quarry then suddenly and to our surprise shouted, “SHIT OUR FOOD, where’s our food?!” while looking down at our table. Quarry then went to look for June. He found her quickly and said, “Hello June, where's our order, and how much would it be?”

“Oh welcome back ‘Mr. Hero Man’ your order is being prepared and will be brought over soon. When it comes to the subject of the price, your meal has been paid for.” June said to Quarry. “Before you ask who paid for it, it was our Inn’s owner. She would like to thank you for defending Onstrend.”

“Well June may I ask for one more thing?” Quarry asked.“May we each have rooms to spend the night?”

“Of course I’ll bring you your keys when I bring you your food and try to get them discounted as well.” She said, giving him a wink.

“Thank you very much.” He said.

“No problem, it’s my job.” She said with a grin

Quarry looked calm, a little flustered, but I could tell that he was flattered at the thought of thanks for doing his duty as a soldier, at least former soldier. Quarry replied, “Thank you both for your hospitality then.” Quarry then called to us with “Guys our food is on the house because we helped in defeating those bandits!”

Corrin said continuing the earlier conversation “So about the question I asked you earlier NoName? How can you act outside of your designation as a bard?”

“My designation is not as a bard, but similar to that of a soldier; at least this is what I am able to infer. Truth be told, I do not know what my actual designation is. I have lost that data and I am on a journey to try and recover it.” NoName said.

Monsoon with her eyes shining with interest said “Why don’t you join us! My siblings and I are traveling around the continent, we could help you!” she then looked at the others “You guys could join too!”

Me knowing exactly what Monsoon was trying to do said “While I would usually never deny something like having more people around(this was a lie). Monsoon is offering this to NoName for two possible reasons, one to examine what makes him different and two to just examine him in general as in a Warforged test subject.”

Monsoon in a huff contradicted with “Then why’d I extend the offer to the other three huh Seethe! Think about that!”

“Because you read all of Zahar’s journals and want follow in his footsteps, also the idea of more guinea pigs to test chemicals on comes to mind.” I replied.

Monsoon realizing all her motives had been revealed blushed. She then proceeded to hide her face under the table in silence and embarrassment.

“Having an ulterior motive for inviting us huh, did seem weirdly pushy to invite us so suddenly. Though I don’t have any objections to traveling together. Being an adventurer was always an option for me considering I’m looking to protect people in the name of my god. ” Kellen said.

Corrin added “I don’t mind the idea either; I’m traveling with Kellen to go on my own spiritual journey anyway. Traveling with more people doesn’t change the outcome of the journey that much.”

“That was easy, I guess the real question is if NoName is up to it since they were the main target of the question,” I said trying to back to the main matter at hand. “The invitation is open to you as well Liz if you want to.”

“I’m down, I’m kinda just wandering the world since I don’t really have anything to do,” Liz said, surprisingly agreeing to join us. “I have literally nothing better to do, so joining people on a journey might help me kill some time.”

“ I shall join as well, but when I regain my memories, I shall leave.” NoName said rather bluntly, “When I regain those memories or find my true purpose I shall fulfill that purpose, whatever it may be.”

I noticed Monsoon looking more than a little dejected, but I understood why NoName said that. Most people have a reason to do something and that applies to Warforgeds more than anyone. A few minutes passed of us doing nothing when our food arrived along with our room keys. We finished it not long after it had arrived because we were all tired from fighting. When we just about finished our meal someone called out for NoName.

“Hey, you! You’re the bard right, play us some music” A patron at the tavern said.

NoName replied, “You must excuse me, I must finish my job here.” They stood up, pulled a violin case out of their bag and started playing.

Kellen looked at me and asked “Have you ever danced Seethe?”

“Umm….Yeah I actually learned because Zahar, our caretaker, said it would help Gale learn how to do her bladesong.” I answered. Now while I knew how to dance, was I good? No not really, I only learned to help Gale and didn’t take it super seriously.

Liz commented, “You know how to dance too Airhead?”

“What did you just think I was moving on the battlefield randomly? I was doing my bladesong, which is a magic dance of sorts.” Gale replied

Kellen giggled again and said, “I see, well let’s see what you got Seethe.” When she said that she grabbed me by the arm, and dragged me to the dancefloor, and we started to dance.

“So how about it Liz want me to show you what I can do?” Gale said, trying to nudge Liz on.

“Sure why not? Show me those skills of yours.” Liz said with a dry expression and a grin.

Gale grabbed Liz forcefully by the hand making both of them almost fall. The rest of us laughed at the sight. While Kellen initially tried to take the lead, I ended up leading our dance, because honestly she was rather clumsy. Gale meanwhile was gracefully dancing across the floors eventually getting so caught up Liz just sat back down. Despite deciding to sit back down Liz still watched carefully as Gale was dancing. With that, we danced the night away, Gale, Kellen, and I dancing till we were exhausted. Corrin just stood at our table finishing the leftover food and having a good time watching us and listening to the music. Quarry headed upstairs early only listening to the music for a few minutes. Monsoon on the other hand just kept doodling in her notebook, but after a while also went upstairs to her room.NoName kept playing their violin till midnight, never faltering. When Gale, Kellen, and I got tired we sat at our table with Corrin and Liz, and just drank the night away until NoName clocked in for the night. After NoName clocked in Corrin, Kellen, and I followed them upstairs and went to sleep. While Gale and Liz stayed downstairs longer still drinking.I personally stayed up for a bit doing my nightly ritual and thought anxiously of the next leg of our journey.