Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith

Rindiri sprinted through the narrow passage, dodging a puddle of mud. The shouts and running from behind were distancing slowly. She dashed around the next intersection into a wider alley, then continued through another set of passages that were so narrow she felt her shoulders bump into the buildings on either side.

She slowed down to a normal walk when the voices were completely gone, trying to regain her breath.

Since when are those Nioxes that fast? she thought, recalling the two that ran after her.

Towering and with slightly chipped bone masks, arm-length horns, and a ridiculously muscular physique, they had still moved with flexibility that rivaled the best sail cleaner she had ever seen. The way they had managed to climb up the building towards her hiding spot would probably give her nightmares.

It took her almost half an hour to navigate back to the small Rabble District, huddled between the least of the smaller harbor districts and the poorer merchants quarters. As she walked through the dirty, narrow roads, she barely noticed the feces, dirt, and worse things that streamed through a half-foot-wide channel. She quickly made her way to an abandoned, boarded-up building. Its roof was partially collapsed across the entrance, giving no visible way in, and even a proper inspection would show it wasn't worth the effort to even rebuild.

Rindiri covertly looked around, but there was nobody in this part of the Rable district. She circled to the back and, with a final look, snuck between a few crates stacked on each other into a ramshackle maze. Moving through it, she reached a seemingly dead-end and removed the side of a crate, revealing a pathway. She closed it back behind her and crawled through until she entered the building. It was old and dusty, with a single path through the dust leading to a ladder.

Rindiri climbed down, and when she passed a pair of well-made arrays, a soft chatter came from below. She continued down until she reached a small alcove inside a large room. It resembled an old, run-down inn, with people of many different species sitting around, chatting softly, and looking weary to the bone. If anyone came here, they would be surprised to see groups of purple-haired Yuurindi mixed with others, likely more than they had ever seen gathered in one place.

"Scander is waiting for you."

Rindiri's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't let anything on her face or posture show she'd been startled. Instead, she slowly turned her head, searching for the one speaking. It was only because she knew what to look for that she saw the small figure hugging the back wall. Two piercing purple eyes set in a face that looked younger than she knew it was drilled into hers.

"I'll go there now, Dagger," she said. "How are the others?"

"The shitty ship is almost repaired, and everyone is patched back up, captain."

There was a slight emphasis on the final word, and Rindiri allowed the humor to reach her eyes as she grinned at Dagger. She'd told her crew not to call her that while here, but her second-in-command knew exactly when they were alone and delighted in using it when and where she could.

"Good job. I'll return after I'm done," she said.

Dagger nodded and faded into the shadows, almost as if she had a shadow walker card. Rindiri knew it was all fake. Her first mate's card allowed her to have people's eyes drift away from her, making it look like she wasn't there. Although she only had a single soulcard and was far from her next heartcard, she had proven incredibly capable.

Still, I wish she wouldn't delight in trying to jump-scare me.

As Rindiri walked into the room, a few of the people she passed, especially the other Yuurindi, greeted her. She only nodded as she tried to prepare for the upcoming chat. A tiny part of her was trying to tell her something would happen, but she squashed it relentlessly.

Through a hallway and then further down, she reached an old door that had probably been gilded long ago. Sadly for the one who'd made it, the inlaid riches had been long since dug and scraped out, leaving a thick wooden slab with spiraling patterns on it.

Rindiri hesitated, then knocked and waited.

"Rindiri?"

"Yes."

"One moment."

Rindiri took a step back, pushing down the sadness she felt and berating herself. Was she twenty years old? A minute or two passed, then the door opened, and a young Yuurindi woman walked out. With her clothes still slightly out of place and her hair in disarray, it did little to hide her beauty. She glanced at Rindiri and nodded.

"He is ready for you, elder."

Rindiri nodded back, knowing the young one meant it well, no matter how it stung.

Aging is harsh, she thought as she walked into the room, trying to keep her annoyance at bay.

A tall and lanky Yuurindi man was just sitting down behind a long desk, shelves filled with books and maps of the city lining the walls behind him. Handsome, with a few scars and a single string of gray in his hair, everything about him oozed just the right type of danger. Rindiri knew that even though he was a Yuurindi, many other species had shown him interest over the years.

"Did you find them?" Scander asked, his voice having a slight rasp to it.

"Good to see you, Scander," she said. "And I'm alright! Thanks for asking," she said as she sat down in the chair before him. She did her best to ignore the ransacked bed on the other end of the room or the musky scent that permeated everything.

Scander looked at her sharply, and she held his gaze until he let out a weary sigh.

"Aye, it's good to see you made it out alive," he said, the corner of his lips going up in that half-smile he misused so much. "I'm sorry. It's just been incredibly hectic lately."

Yet you still find time to procreate, Rindiri thought before clamping down on her annoyance.

She knew it was useless. Being angry at him or herself for no longer being the one who held his eye would help nobody. She could not fix how she now looked twice his age, nor could she regain the ability to have children. The fact that he was willing to talk with her like this, as old friends, was probably the best she could hope for.

Still, it stung.

"It's fine," she said, leaning back and taking a slight bit of pleasure in the fact that she could draw things out now. "Your information was sound. The Currant Hunters are hiding out in the lower part of the Skerin Harbor, with six of their ships hidden within two old sheds."

"I knew it," Scander said, his eyes gleaming. "That means they have plenty of supplies, food, cards, and many more things stashed away."

"There's more," Rindiri said, knowing he wasn't going to like the rest of the news. "There were two Deadpact mercenaries walking around. They looked way too chatty, not at all like they were there for the first time."

Scander leaned back, his previous anger fading, replaced by a freezing calm. For those who knew him, that was far worse. If he was acting emotionally, angry, or even happy, most of it was an act. Only when he stopped the act did his true, cold, and calculating personality leak through. Even after having seen it a dozen times, Rindiri couldn't contain a shudder as she saw Scander's eyes turn to a pale white, his purple hair slowly rising to float beside his head.

He was using his card, the one that allowed him to create plans like the one that had gotten them all here safely.

"If they are working together, there is no way my previous plan will work," he said, his gaze seeming to see right through her.

Rindiri waited calmly, knowing he was going through everything and looking for something he might need to change right now. After a few moments, his gaze turned sharp again, and he frowned.

"There is more?"

"Yes. I managed to overhear some of them. They are going to head out next month after they gather enough supplies."

"Did they say where they are going?"

"No, but they were going to meet someone. They didn't say who."

Scander stared at her as if expecting her to say more, but when nothing came, he took a small book from the desk and began scribbling in it. Rindiri kept quiet until he was done, watching his intense focus. It was one of the things that had drawn her to him all those years ago.

"Can you repair your ship in time to follow them?" Scander asked as he looked up.

Rindiri wished she could say no, but she knew that it was the best chance for her crew and those she brought along to survive. It meant he'd give her and her people supplies, and it was probably safer to be out in the storm. Well, as long as she could get what she needed before heading out.

"I still need those runes," she said. "The repairs to the hull are almost done, and the sail will be ready in time."

"You are sure you can't make it without them?" Scander asked, his eyebrows lowering as he held his pencil still above the book.

"No," Rindiri said, not willing to compromise. "If you want me to head out with that many of our people, you know my bottom line."

"Fine. I'll find you a carded runecrafter," Scander said, looking back down. "And that ragtag crew will be enough to power it?"

"Ragtag, you say?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "They are all Yuurindi… you know that, right?"

"I do, but just because they are doesn't make them great sailors or strong-carded," Scander said calmly. "If you had told me they were all from the ancient generation before we were nearly wiped out, I'd have said- right you are. But now?"

Rindiri smirked, knowing he was right.

"I will need atleast one powerful soulcarded to supply the soulforce. That, or if you can get me soulforce reservoir?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Scander barked a laugh, and he grinned at her. "Aye, sure. And let me get you a few soulcarded smiths with that while I'm at it?"

"Sure, but make sure they have Ganvils," Rindiri replied, matching his grin.

Scander burst out laughing, and she saw it wasn't the fake one he usually used.

"Sure, I'll see what I can do," he said, shaking his head and putting his book down.

They continued their friendly banter for a short while till someone knocked on the door.

Scander's grin vanished, and his gaze snapped to the door.

"Yes?"

"It's me," came a subdued voice.

Rindiri wanted to snap back for the other to leave, and she saw a split moment of pain run across Scander's face. Then it was gone, and he looked at her.

"I'll get you the runes within a few days."

Rindiri rose, knowing she was being dismissed.

"Sure. Make sure you don't run out of stamina," she said, pulling open the door and glaring at another younger Yuurindi woman.

Scander snorted, and Rindiri walked away before she could hear his response. She did pick up a soft whisper from the other Yuurindi, though she acted like she didn't.

Old hag? she thought as she walked toward the basement floor.

She barely held back a burst of laughter. Neither of the two had cards or genetics at her level, meaning in ten years, they would look as old as she did now, and in fifteen, they might be dead while she was still kicking about. Her humor faded as she realized how horrible it was that both of them would barely live to become thirty.

I can't wait to return to Eluathar, she thought. With a little luck, Daubutim had found a world for her and her people, and they could retreat for a few generations, slowly rebuilding what had been lost.

She walked down into one of the well-camouflaged and hidden docks that hung below this layer of Dimarintsia. Made by a group of smugglers that were long gone, they were now being used by her and Scander to hold the only two ships their little group had.

Her gaze locked onto The Sonata, long scars running along the length of her hull, and her main sail nowhere to be seen. She looked as old as Rindiri felt. Dozens of figures moved about on the ship. As she reached the gangplank, she took a look down between the cracks in the double doors that could fall down and allow them a quick getaway if needed. Twinkling lights came from below, from the bottom layer of Dimarintsia.

The Filth, as most people called it, was the only place worse than the poor districts in the layer they were on, but it had a big advantage. There were no patrols, no big players, and very few people who looked up.

"Captain, any news?"

Rindiri locked eyes with a tall, lanky, and gray-haired Yuurindi. Even older than she was, he was of the generation of her mother and looked like the first imperfect iteration of Scander. Slightly less refined, less powerful, and with far less potential in his genes. If she hadn't known better, she'd have expected him to be Scander's father. Still, as she glanced into the glittering, intelligent eyes, she wondered what would have happened if she'd met him earlier.

"Youritz, get everyone working double time on the sail. Scander will hopefully get us the runes within a week and someone to fill them up. After that, we are heading out."

"Where to?" Youritz asked, taking the rest in stride.

Rindiri looked at the distant wall.

"Into the storm," she whispered before quickly filling him in with what she'd learned.

Youritz sighed, then turned and headed below deck in the incredibly overcrowded bowels of The Sonata.

Rindiri barely noticed as she let her mind drift to the future. She'd not shared her real plans with anyone, not even Dagger or Youritz, nor had she told any of them about the hidden world of Eluathar. She barely allowed herself to think about either, as she knew just how small the chances were for her to reach it. What she'd need was a larger, stronger ship that was able to move through the storm. One with enough supplies to reach those far reaches…

One like those The Currant Hunters had.

--

Irwin slammed his hammer down on the card, singing loudly along with the energetic song from the Soulstrum guitar. The card's resonance tried to resist, but he knew that if he let off even a little, he'd fail again.

With intense focus and steel will, he kept the resonance along with those he and Ambraz had planned. Part of him felt Ambraz's help, guiding the song's lowest notes, something he'd proved to be an expert on, and thus keeping the foundation of the card stable.

Two hits later, he finally sensed the card give in. The resonance began shifting into one less strained song, and he sensed Ambraz's joy matching his own. Holding the focus he'd had, he increased his speed and power, and when the final hit struck, the card before him burst out in a bright flash of green light accompanied by the clear chime of a bell.

Irwin stepped back, grinning widely at the card as it shivered and shook before its green light turned into a bright red. The image had changed even more, now showing a sword seemingly growing from a branch, hanging down amidst fiery leaves.

"You were right," he said as he gently removed the card from Ambraz's back.

As he stepped back and rolled his stiff shoulders, Ambraz flashed back into his small shape. Nearby, the tiny embers had been watching with rapped attention, Mia, Flux, and Glow having dragged their upper body out of the Pyroflux river to get as close as they could. Irwin had heard them whisper among themselves constantly, as they had ever since they had met. The other three, much smaller still, hung back, and he could sense their slight jealousy.

"Of course I was," Ambraz said, flying around. "As long as all we need to do is add elements of the cards you already have, forging inside your absurdly stable soulscape is the best we can do! Just don't do it with cards that are anything else, or they will likely shatter somewhat violently."

Irwin raised the card, inspecting it and wondering if their gambit had paid off. It was the single to last of the potential cards they had, and if he'd failed it to…

"So, what does it do?" he asked.

"Not telling," Ambraz said, sounding highly amused. "I'm sure Scintilla will like it!"

Irwin snorted, as that was what Ambraz had said about the previous card, only for Scintilla to explain that the card made her other cards resonate so loudly they tried to push it back out.

"Let's go and see what Scintilla thinks," he said, walking toward the distant house.

"I bet Mamaheat will love it," Mia whispered.

"Of course she will," Flux hissed back. "Dad's crafting is the best!"

"I can't wait till we can get our first cards," Glow muttered. "Think we can get a card that can summon a ship?"

"Dad can make everything," Mia said, sounding incredibly sure of herself.

Irwin blinked at Glow's request.

Could I create a card that summons a ship?

He hummed thoughtfully. If someone had asked him years ago, he'd have said it was impossible, but between his own Soulstrum Guitar, the sword he'd just made, and some other things he'd seen… Perhaps, if he made a ruby-ranked card, focused solely on it, and then added five cards specifically to enhance that card?

Full focus on a single card's element is how they create Inter-Portal Gallery teleportation cards, he thought.

"It's possible," Ambraz whispered in his ear. "But it's going to be hard for the two of us, atleast now. We would need to get one of those living tree seedling cards and go from there."

"Think we could still add beneficial things to it, or would it be like with those teleporters?" Irwin whispered back.

"Whoever gets those cards will never be a powerful fighter," Ambraz replied. "So, I'd think twice before giving Glow one of those. Atleast not for his first card… Besides, if you want to get them the best cards you can make, they will need to have cards that have the types you have, and this would require living wood."

Irwin hummed as he walked toward the house. Ambraz had fixed the damage done and even increased its size to add rooms for the kids. The door was open, and as he stepped inside, Scintilla stopped her pacing, looking at him with wide eyes.

"Did it succeed?"

"If you had stayed to watch, you would know by now," Irwin said, raising an eyebrow.

Scintilla shook her head. "No way, pretty eyes. If I do that and you fail, I couldn't sit down! Besides, what if it's going to make me vomit again?"

As she said that, she walked to the sitting area, thudding down on the couch.

"Fine," Irwin said as he walked toward her and handed her the card.

Just recalling the first card attempt made him grimace, as it had made her so nauseous she'd vomited across Ambraz. Not the Ganvil's favorite moment.

"You succeeded!"

"Maybe," Irwin said, not wanting to bring her hopes up just yet. "There's a small chance it's not sentient… yet."

"It looks like one of those metal trees the Viridians have on their worlds," Scintilla said as she inspected the card. "Alright, let's test it out!"

She raised her hand, which had one free slot left and placed the card above it. Irwin wondered when she'd unslotted his previous attempt and where that card had gone.

The entire room glowed in a deep red as the card sank down, and Scintilla muttered something about ruby cards like candy before she let out a deep hiss. She closed her eyes and leaned back, putting her head on the edge of the couch.

What happened? Irwin leaned forward, a slight worry growing. Had they made a mistake? Did it do the same thing the previous one did? Was it that stupid fifth card she just didn't want to unslot?

Scintilla didn't say anything for a minute, and Irwin was about to ask what was wrong, but when her eyes shot open, she bolted from the couch.

"Is it wrong? Quick, usnlot it!" Irwin hissed as he rose with her, watching her worriedly.

Scintilla ignored him, raising her hand, and with a flash, a long curved sword appeared. The blade was odd, the edge made of gleaming dark-red metal, while the back was wooden. Finger-tip-sized beads of the same red metal ran along the spine of the sword, creating a beautiful pattern. The sword guard, also made of metal, was shaped like a leaf that curved backward across a dull wooden handle, while the tip of the leaf connected to the pommel. The pommel was larger than Irwin had seen on most saber-like swords and was made of wood, with a tiny stem on the end, almost as if it had been cut from a tree.

"It's very weak," Scintilla said softly, almost reverently holding the sword and stroking its spine and sides. "But Leafbrand is very happy to be here.

"Leafbrand?" Irwin said, sitting back down, relieved that nothing bad had happened. "So it's compatible with your other cards?"

"Yes…" Scintilla said, sounding hesitant. "But my fifth card doesn't resonate that well with it."

"I hadn't expected that," Ambraz said as he landed back on Irwin's shoulder. "Kid, take out the book, and I'll show you what we made!"

Irwin summoned the small booklet in his hand from where it had been in his room, reveling in how much better he was becoming within his soulscape. He put it on the low table, and Ambraz quickly landed on it. The book glowed for a moment, and Irwin grabbed it as soon as it was done, flipping to the last page.

Card: Leafbrand

Type: Sentient, Firesteel, Ruby, Reforged by Irwin Roddington

Owner: Scintilla

Leafbrand is a card that borders the line between plant and mineral. Made of a combination of Firesteel and Volcano Wood, it gifts the wielder the ability to temporarily take some of the qualities of either.

Passive: Increased strength and agility

Active: Summon Leafbrand

Active 2: When Leafbrand is summoned, the wielder's other cards are greatly boosted

Active 3: When Leafbrand is summoned, the quality of either Firesteel or Volcano Wood can be enabled

"By the Flames of Aghos!" Scintilla snapped as she looked over his shoulder. "I want to try that third ability!"

"Of course you do," Ambraz said, sounding smug.

Irwin ignored the Ganvil, watching Scintilla as she closed her eyes. Her skin slowly changed, turning into a darker, gleaming version of what it had been.

Scintilla examined her skin, her smile turning almost voracious when her nail seemed unable even to scratch it. As she looked up, Irwin knew from the gleam in her eyes and the voracious grin exactly what she wanted.

"UGH! I- I'll go and play with the kids!" Ambraz snapped as he flew through the room.

Irwin barely noticed, using his control over his soulscape to close the door and dampen any sounds.

"I've always wondered what this felt like," Scintilla said as she walked towards him, the sword almost forgotten in her hand. Her breath came out in sharp, ragged bursts.

Irwin didn't say anything, nor did he have to.

Hours later, they were lying in their room, the pale sand scattered across the ground.

"I want you to use my new card as the base for my heartcard," Scintilla mumbled. "Okay?"

"I'll try," Irwin said, arms behind his head, enjoying the weariness in his body. "After that, we should leave."

"I know," Scintilla murmured before starting to softly snore.

Did she even hear me? Irwin wondered, smiling at Scintilla as she lay curled up against him.

As he lay there, his other self was sitting with the others in the small diner.

"We are going to leave in a day," Irwin said, causing the others to share worried and excited looks.