[KEEPERS] Prompt 2

“Excellent,” Khaldor exclaimed as he put down the quill he was writing with, “Thank you for adding to our knowledge.”

“You’re welcome,” Alowyn beamed, “Is there anything else you need from us?”

“No,” Khaldor said, glancing towards the two ill-mannered vayrons, “I’ll show you the outer halls for the time being.”

Khaldor led the group toward the outer halls and explained what they could find there. He told them about crystals with etchings on them, or there would be many haedians mingling around who would be happy to talk to them. Garmr was already groaning about having to socialize, but Herja wouldn’t have minded either option. Alowyn was eager to talk to the Haedians of this clan. Khaldor left them to discuss their options in the Halls. 

“Crystals,” Garmr huffed, “I don’t want to talk to anyone.”

“Why did you come on this adventure?” Alowyn asked through clenched teeth. 

Garmr didn’t answer, and truly Alowyn didn’t need to ask, she knew why. Wherever Herja went, Garmr would follow. 

“Let’s not get into this now,” Herja sighed. 

Alowyn shook her head and then said, “Fine, let’s try to decipher the crystals.”

The trio wandered to one of the shelves nearby and pulled some crystals off. Alowyn gently placed the large crystals on a table close to where they stood. Garmr and Herja followed suit. They turned the crystals around in their paws and claws trying to get a good idea of what the crystal might hold. Every crystal had a different sequence of runes etched onto the surface, but none of the three could determine what they meant. 

Garmr tried various tapping rhythms to see if that would somehow unlock the crystal, but nothing happened. Herja tried the same thing, but the closest thing she got to a reaction was a slight glow that quickly faded. Alowyn didn’t try anything at first, she looked around to see how the haedians of the clan were viewing the crystals, but it was hard to determine what they were doing. 

“Maybe we should ask someone,” Alowyn suggested. 

Garmr made a noise that made his opinion very clear. 

While Herja said, “We can try some methods like the Tranquil clan used when they worked with crystals.”

Alowyn paused for a moment and then nodded, “Oh, that’s a good idea.”

Garmr and Alowyn watched as Herja closed her eyes to focus. Herja focused on the magical glow she had seen earlier and imagined it growing. The glow in her mind expanded to surround them completely and images weaved through the glow to tell a faded story. However, when she opened her eyes there was nothing there. Herja hummed and moved the crystal around, it was glowing again, but nothing more than that. 

Alowyn, seeing the glow, felt they were heading in the right direction. She tried the same process, with her eyes closed she envisioned what she thought the magic would look like. Glowing ribbons of colour pulled away from the crystal and rippled as they weaved out of the crystal to wrap around the space. However, like Herja, when she opened her eyes there was nothing. Alowyn’s yellow crystal didn’t glow either, unlike Herja’s. 

“What were you thinking of?” Herja asked.

“I viewed the magic like ribbons or vines,” Alowyn answered, “How about you?”

“Just an expanding glow,” Herja said as she looked down at her crystal. 

Garmr listened to what they were saying and decided to try something different. Herja and Alowyn were still thinking to themselves when they felt the air around them heat up. Garmr’s idea consisted of him forcing his magic inward on the crystal, unlike Alowyn and Herja who used a method of gently pulling the magic out. Garmr stared hard at the crystal as he thought of his fire magic forcing its way through the crystal’s magic. He didn’t stop his efforts until he saw a small crack forming near the center rune. 

“Stop,” Alowyn gasped when she noticed the crack forming. 

“Let’s just ask someone.” This time it was Herja who suggested it and Alowyn hoped Garmr would be more receptive. 

“Fine.” Garmr hissed hotly. 

Alowyn nodded and quickly moved away to find a haedian that would help them before anyone changed their mind. She came back in less than a minute with a happy haedian in tow. The grey haedian was more than happy to help them unlock some of the crystals. 

“It’s a little different for everyone,” The haedian started, “But it helps to have a question, a story, or a time period in mind that you want to know about.”

Herja gave the method a try and sure enough the glow she envisioned expanded around the group as visions of haedians moved around them. It told an impressive story of the start of their clan. Their helpful haedian explained and pointed out some things that might have interested them. The three travelers watched on in wonder. 

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