From Fish to Friend – By Kristen Elizabeth
FROM FISH TO FRIEND
BY KRISTEN ELIZABETH
A loud boom can be heard for miles. Avylerie stands in a cocoon of smoke, pastel pink hair frizzy and full of lightning. “Oops,” she sighs, pointed ears drooping with disappointment.
The shriek of a phoenix snaps her to attention as its large wingspan shades her from the glowing double-suns.
The gusts of wing wind blow the sizzling smoke away as the large beast lands just outside of the crater Avylerie created.
She stands ramrod straight as the phoenix’s rider dismounts.
Wizard Drak looks upon the magic-induced mishap.
“Care to explain what happened?” his smooth voice questions, a hint of amusement in his tone.
“I think I added too much snapdragon powder?” Her response comes out as more of a question than a statement.
Wizard Drak looks over the disheveled young elf-witch. “I would say that, as well as a few other items. What exactly were you attempting to accomplish?”
Avylerie shrinks into her shoulders, “I was creating a new spell…”
Wizard Drak says nothing, only staring at the young elf-witch with his piercing violet eyes. “While I admire your tenacity,” he starts a small lecture, “you should have had one of the Ladies, if not a Warlock, here to supervise.”
Avylerie hangs her head in shame. “Yes, Wizard Drak.”
The older elf-wizard chuckles. “Do not look so down. I was looking for you. Tonight, as you know, is the Half-Blood Suns Arrival.” Avylerie nods her head in acknowledgement as Wizard Drak continues, “As such, there is a lot to prepare. However, we are missing the rubision; I want you to go harvest it.”
Rubision is a rare flower that only blooms for two weeks in a cycle-year. The red petals and white stems are used in many magical spells, most of which are only of knowledge to Wizards and Witches. Avylerie curtsies low to Wizard Drak to show her respect. “I accept the mission, Wizard Drak.”
Wizard Drak looks to the double-suns and notes their position. “You do not have a lot of time; you must be back before twilight with the rubision. This cannot be late, do you understand?”
Avylerie nods, “Yes, Wizard Drak. I will be back in time.” She darts off into the woods back to the Elf Coven Headquarters.
Wizard Drak studies the crater carefully.
“Such power, that one.” His phoenix companion trills in agreement.
“Let us get back to prepare, yes?” He mounts atop the great phoenix and shakes the reins.
The whoosh of wind diminishes any lasting smoke and sparks from Avylerie’s spell-gone-wrong.
In the center of the rock-laden crater sprouts a nameless blue flower.
Avylerie bursts through the coven doors, almost hitting another elf in the process. “Oh, sorry!” she exclaims.
The almost-victim curls their lip. “Watch it, Avylerie!”
Avylerie waves a half-hearted apology and scurries to her quarters.
The room she calls home is modest, only housing a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk with a matching chair.
Avylerie prefers it this way – less items to worry about means more time for spell casting.
She ruffles through her wardrobe, opting for a simple tunic and leggings to wear for the trip.
She grabs a traveling satchel and fills it with her necessities.
A small booklet of notes – check. A glass jar to house the harvested rubision – check.
A small wrapped package of dried fruits for snacking – check.
All she needs is a map to the exact location of the rubision plant.
Avylerie wastes little time as she races through the corridors to the library.
She knocks three times before entering. “Ardus?” she calls. No answer.
“Ardus?” Avylerie raises her voice a bit higher. “Are you here?”
A loud snore alerts her to his presence. “Ardus!” she shouts.
The snoring stops and a tumbling of books follows. “Ow!”
A tall, lanky elf with pine-green hair emerges from a strewn pile of books. He fixes the crooked spectacles atop his nose and bows to Avylerie. “Ah, young Avylerie and totally not Wizard Drak. To what do I owe you for this expected visit as I was not sleeping on the job?”
Avylerie chuckles with amusement. “That is completely believable, Ardus. I am not at all aware that you were sleeping.”
Ardus rubs at the back of his head, smiling sheepishly with blushing cheeks at Avylerie. “Okay, my cover needs work. How can I help you?”
“I need a map to the rubision plant. Wizard Drak is tasking me with its harvest for the Half-Blood Suns ritual.”
Ardus nods, “Sure. One enchanted map coming right up!”
Ardus closes his eyes and breathes deeply.
Avylerie can feel a tingle in the air – magic.
When Ardus opens his eyes, they are glowing a dark sapphire blue.
A piece of parchment floats from somewhere deeper in the library to Ardus’s awaiting hands.
The parchment glows as writing appears in gold symbols before settling into a detailed map.
Ardus grins as the light of magic fades from his blue eyes.
“All done! One map, courtesy of the best librarian.”
“You’re more than just a librarian, Warlock Ardus.” Avylerie winks at the male elf as his ears flame red with embarrassment.
“No need for formalities, Avylerie. Now go before you lose more precious time.”
With her supplies secured and the magic map floating by her side, Avylerie leaves the compound and begins to trek through the forest towards the only plot of land on which rubision can be found.
She keeps note of the position of the double-suns in the sky – there is only a few hours to find the flowers and make it back in time for the ceremony.
Avylerie stops in her tracks and studies the small area marked on the map.
The map shows a path through her home forest, across a bridge over a large river, and down a small trail in the opposing forest. Time is of the essence, so Avylerie calls upon her magic, feeling the tingling sensation that comes with power flowing through her veins.
She keeps the mental picture in her mind and slowly chants a spell in a long-forgotten language.
With the right cadence and pronunciation, she can be in that small area in no time.
Avylerie feels the warping of time and space as she is plunged through particles of nothing and everything all at once.
A smile lights her face as she opens her eyes.
She is not in the forest – she stands atop the bridge over the large, ravenous river.
The map failed to mention that the bridge is old.
Avylerie can see a few holes in the wooden planks and stones missing from the supporting sides.
She can feel the shakiness beneath her feet – the current of water below vibrating the bridge supports.
Avylerie keeps to her toes, being light on her feet to not put so much weight on the decaying wood.
She walks forward a few steps this way before the shaking intensifies.
Crashing water fills her ears and she looks behind her – the bridge is slowly collapsing.
Unable to wait any longer, Avylerie sprints a mad dash to make it to the other side.
Crumbling wood and stone hit the waves of the river, rapidly catching up to the young elf-witch.
She can see the other side, but her footing is off and she falls.
The water is ice-cold as she hits the surface.
Tendril-like fingers grab at her, dragging her down into the current below.
She struggles to break the surface, a moment where she can breathe fresh air again.
Avylerie gasps and water fills her mouth, the saltiness coating her tongue and burning her nose.
She can feel defeat calling to her lowly, tempting to make the struggle disappear.
It calls to her like a siren – sweet, syrupy, delicious solitude.
Her body moves sluggishly as it attempts to leave the strong currents, but it is of no use.
Black spots cloud her vision, and she feels that it is all over .
A flash of lilac and silver catches her eye as she feels a mighty thwack against her back.
Avylerie hacks up water as she finally breaches the surface. “Grab onto me!” a voice calls to her, and she complies. Her grip falters on slippery skin, but she grabs onto something solid against it.
Her cloudy vision is filled with lilac and silver.
She blinks rapidly and rubs at her eyes to clear them of the salty water.
Her left hand is clutching a large fin and the slippery skin is covered in scales.
A giant fish. She is holding onto a giant fish.
The current is still strong, but the fish holds its own against it.
They bob and weave with the water and come to a gentler area of the river.
She is brought to the muddy shore. Avylerie is coughing as she crawls onto more solid ground, salt coating her taste buds.
She attempts to scrape her tongue against her teeth, spitting the taste away with little payoff.
“I’m glad I caught you in time,” the voice says.
Avylerie turns her head and screams in fright. A giant fish is looking at her, head slightly dipped as if it’s thinking she’s the crazy one. “How are you talking to me?” She places a hand over her heavily beating heart.
The fish grins as well as a fish face can. “I was not always a fish. My name is Niko. Are you okay?”
Avylerie blinks slowly, rubs her eyes, counts to ten, all the things she can think of to ensure this isn’t a dream. “You’re a talking fish. Or I’m going crazy.”
Niko’s fish head tilts even more, looking like a confused were-puppy. “I am. Are you okay?”
Avylerie stares at Niko and his hypnotic scales. The light of the double-suns make him look iridescent and ethereal. “How did this happen?”