Embers in the Dust
Defenses Down

After a long and lengthy set of classes, Myla and Leaf sat on a bench outside the learning hall. Across the large grassy space between two buildings, Sam and Emmi were running around, doing various exercises. Enjoying the warmth that Berkton Academy gave them, they watched as other students passed by on their way to class or to the cafeteria hall where lunch was bought.

“Do you miss home?” Leaf asked.

“Home, or VerdantKnoll?” She answered with another question.

“Either.”

“Sometimes. Both places had a sense of structure that made it easy to know what each day would bring. Since the carnival, we’ve just been on our own. We knew when and where we’d perform, but how long we stayed in each town changed by the weather and how long it took to get to the next place.”

“Do you regret leaving?”

“This feels like you’re projecting.”

“I guess I am a little. I don’t miss the people, but being back has been nice. We’ve had a lot happen lately, so it’s been pleasant to relax some.”

“You call this relaxing?” Myla asked while pointing to their stack of books.

“In its own way, ye-.”

Leaf’s voice trailed away as he stared up at the sky. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly. Looking up, Myla didn’t see anything, so she turned back to him.

“What?”

“You didn’t see that?”

“See what?”

“The protection… it was gone for a moment.”

Leaf stood quickly and yelled over to Sam and Emmi. They ran closer, and when in speaking distance, he talked again.

“We need to go to the others. Now.”

They grabbed their things and made it out of Berkton Academy and into the next district. Walking faster than she was used to seeing him, Leaf practically ran to Lyrical Lute. Opening the door, she saw that Lyla, Rhokhishi, and Mr. Muffins were sitting around the dining table. While Mr. Muffins had a look of confusion on his face, Lyla and Rhokhishi were shocked by something.

“You saw it too?” Leaf asked.

“Yeah. What was that?” Rhokhishi replied.

“Something must have broken through the defenses. But it went back to normal almost immediately.”

“Also… Do you remember anything from last night, sis?” Lyla asked her.

“No?”

“Here.”

Myla felt her mind connect to her sister’s, then she reached out to the others to share what Lyla had seen. Like a blast knocking down a brick wall, she felt something shatter in her mind, before flooding with images of a vision. She could see that she had been there, but she didn’t remember this vision.

This was last night?

Yeah. I don’t know why, but when the protection thing over the school opened, it came to me as if it was new.

Sam stood there quietly, not fully sure as to what they were doing, and Myla jumped in to explain.

“We have the ability to share thoughts, Sam. Do you mind?”

“Sure?”

With that, she closed the connection with the rest of them, and opened one with just Sam.

It probably feels odd, but you get used to it.

This is like how I talk to Emmi! It’s more emotions than words though.

She is an emerald dragon, isn’t she? She can connect to others, right?

Yeah.

Myla closed the connection, and watched as Sam’s face revealed her thoughts as an epiphany took over her.

“Wait! You’re saying that all those times you’d just be standing there not talking… You were doing that?”

“Yeah.”

She connected her mind to her sister’s again.

Why would this vision be hidden? Why wouldn’t Yla have tried to push through?

I don’t know.

As they started to talk, Myla could feel someone else connecting to her mind. It felt like a gentle nudge, as if someone was lightly tapping onto a window to be let in. Carefully, she opened communication with the other person. His voice came through low, and she immediately recognized Odin’s voice.

I am nearby, and would like to talk to you, if you have the time.

Who the fuck is that? Lyla’s thoughts screamed out.

“The Allfather wants to chat with us.” Myla said aloud.

“Sure. Crazy stuff happening, so he might be behind it. Let’s hear it from him.” Mr. Muffins replied.

We’re at Lyrical Lute. We’ll expect your visit.

She closed her mind, stopping all connection with others, and tried to wrap her head around the fact that Odin, a god, asked permission to talk to them. Even more, he didn’t try to push into her mind, but waited. It surprised her. She sat down next to Lyla and waited for him to arrive.

It wasn’t Odin that opened the door of Lyrical Lute, though, but rather a smaller, squat gnome in his usual waistcoat and sling wrapped around his arm. At the sight of Humboldt, Mr. Muffins stood and grabbed a second mug to pour coffee into.

“Humboldt! We had dinner planned for later. What are you here so early for?” He asked.

“I just thought it best that I stop by and say hello.” He replied.

Myla looked at him carefully. He seemed off from his regular self. Slightly out of breath and starting to form sweat on his forehead, she felt suspicious of his random visit. Connecting her mind to Lyla, she told her as such.

Maybe you should dive in and see what he’s thinking?

Carefully, as to not make a motion of it, she felt herself start to reach the surface thoughts of Mr. Muffins’ friend. They were slightly jumbled, but as she patiently waited, they started to focus.

The academy defenses…

Odin, here?

I’ve to move quickly.

“Why does it bother you that Odin is coming here?” She asked him bluntly.

Humboldt’s eyes widened in shock for a moment, before realizing what she had done. Calming himself, he looked around to the others before replying.

“A strange phenomena happened at the academy this afternoon. For a brief moment, the defenses around the academy dropped. While many of the Dragon Keepers and Deans are investigating the various sigils that keep the protection up, some were asked to look into various groups that could be seen as possible perpetrators. I was sent here. I didn’t want to make a fuss out of it, as I trust you all completely, but there it is. I came to make sure none of you were involved.”

“Fully understandable, Humboldt. You were only doing your job.” Mr. Muffins replied, waving away any accusation he heard.

“Honestly, it’s a relief that we were able to get to it so quickly. Now I can spend the rest of my afternoon studying and resting before dinner. I appreciate your ability to understand.”

“Friend, we just wish you would have been more open about it. We know you’ve got business to do. Here, let me walk you out.” Mr. Muffins added, again wiping away any doubt that Myla was showing on her face.

Myla watched as the two walked across the room towards the door. As he opened it for Humboldt to step through, he stopped. Humboldt held out a small stone and placed it into Mr. Muffins’ hands.

“I know that the time between talks is always far and few. I want you to have this, because, whatever happens, I want you to know that I’m always here for you.”

“Humboldt? You make it sound like you’re leaving again.”

“Not just yet. But today will be my last day here in Berkton for a bit.”

“Well, be safe, friend.”

“You too, Barthemus.”

With a slight hug with the one working arm, he pat Mr. Muffins on the back a couple times, then let go. Outside, he made his way across the street, then through an alley, before turning and disappearing into the city.