Chapter Text
The longsword glinted in the fading sunlight as Volt held it’s edge towards the stranger’s neck. Percy, still tense with surprise, stood completely still as he examined the newcomer.
The stranger was wearing a long and rather elegant cloak, which partly covered the multi-colored form-fitting dress underneath. A velvety pointed hat covered their head, dark hair cascading down below their shoulders. Their long hair and wide-brimmed hat shadowed most of their face, although there was still enough of it visible to show the obvious panic in the stranger’s expression. The stranger swallowed hard, slowly standing while remaining mindful of Volt’s sword. They tucked a lock of hair behind their ear, shoulders slumping a bit before they set the fox down. The furry creature took its cue to leave, running back into the bushes with one final squeak.
“Mind if we ask why a Mage is lurking in the foliage?” Percy cocked his head to the side, staring down the stranger. Volt glanced at Percy for a moment, evidently surprised a mage had actually appeared. Their gaze quickly returned to the silent magic user, who sighed heavily before speaking.
“I mean no harm,” they began. “I was… well, I’m not just ‘passing through’, I suppose…” They tensed a bit when Volt moved the sword slightly closer to their exposed neck. “But I mean no ill will. I simply needed a place to stay for a while. No one was in this patch of the forest, and I saw harm in settling my lodgings here for the time being. I had to intention to interrupt you or your peoples affairs, I still don’t.” They finished, eyes locked on Percy as they awaited the Prefect’s response.
“Why comee this far? Did the Counsel send you out this way?” Percy questioned, trying not to show the hint of disdain in his voice. The mage responded with obvious disdain of their own.
“Oh, to gehenna with the counsel.” They said, a slight hint of mirth in their tone. “I have no business with them.” Percy and Volt exchanged confused glances once again, though neither of their guards dropped as they continued to question the strange mage.
“Then, why are you here?” Volt questioned, keeping his sword aimed towards the mage. “You said you were making lodgings… for what? You on the run?” Percy shot his companion a cautious glance. He knew it wasn’t wise to provoke the mage further than they already had. While Percy may have had some experience in magic, he knew full well that they would have been no match for a fully trained spell caster.
“No, no…” The mage sighed. “We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, that’s my bad.” They stepped back from Volt’s blade, adjusting their hat a bit before bowing gracefully.
“My name is Magenta, a wandering witch. It is wonderful you meet you both.” The mage, Magenta, rose meet their eyes. “May I ask your names?”
“…” Volt glanced to Percy, who responded with a nod of approval. “Volt.” The Condor said as they sheathed their sword.
“Perseus Strand, current Prefect of the Avians.” Percy nodded their head in greeting. Magenta’s eyebrows raised a bit, looking Percy over for a moment before he spoke.
“My, I uh… well, this is doubly embarrassing now…” The mage shuffled on his feet a bit, smoothing out the creases in his skirt. “I was certainly hoping to meet you in a more… dignified manner.” He chuckled a bit, his face flush with embarrassment as he glanced away for a moment. The two Avians were even more confused now, exchanging silent words before Percy spoke again.
“You uh, you wanted to meet me?”
“Of course!” Magenta exclaimed. “I’m in your territory, after all. I had hoped to collect something suitable for a gift- perhaps something rare for this region, or would that have been too much?- then travel towards the Capital proper and introduce myself, offer my services, all of that...” He sighed.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way… oh well, at I was able to meet with you at all.” He smiled warmly. “I truly am sorry for trespassing, I meant that earnestly. I simply needed a place to stay for a little bit and didn’t wish to bother anyone… I had figured since no one had found my cabin yet, it wouldn’t be wrong of us to stay for a while well I ah, got my affairs in order, so to speak.”
Percy exchanged another look with his companion, then shook his head. “Look, uh, Magenta- its getting late,” He gestured to the fading orange light above the trees. “how about you come with us, back to the capital? It doesn’t wouldn’t be right to grill you for questions out in the cold.” Volt seemed as if they were about to interject, but a stern look from Percy made the taller of the two go quiet.
“Besides, you said you wanted to… offer your services?” Percy continued. “I feel like whatever you’re offering is best discussed in a proper setting for a meeting.”
“Oh, of course! Thank you ever so much, truly. And you’re right, it is getting rather chilly…” Magenta bowed a second time as he spoke, then stood up and snapped his fingers together. A glowing spellbook painted with runes and symbols appeared in his hands. Percy couldn’t help but take notice of the rather… unusual markings in it, but followed his better judgment and kept his thoughts to himself. Magenta began flipping through it as he continued. “I’ll follow your lead, sir Prefect.”
Percy signaled for Volt to take the lead. Volt nodded, spreading their wings and gaining a running start before they took off back towards Staturaheim. Percy watched the mage for a moment, his gaze lingering as Magenta cast a spell on himself. His body was bathed in soft light for a moment, then the mage took a few paces back before leaping into the trees, hopping across their branches with little to no noticeable effort as he followed Volt’s barely-visible figure in the clouds.
Percy sighed to himself, praying silently to whatever god that the patience to listen that they hadn’t just royally screwed up. After a few seconds Percy broke into a sprint, taking off with a start and gaining speed with the aid of a rocket. Once he’d caught up with Volt, Percy took the lead, leading his companion and the strange wandering mage back towards the city. Silence overtook the two for a while, Volt keeping watch on the mage as he leapt across the forest below them.
“Are you sure its a good idea? To bring him back with us to the capital?” Volt questioned, sparing at glance as his companion after a moment.
“I hope so…” Percy responded, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Best to stay on familiar ground if the worst were to happen, after all…”
“...right.” Volt nodded. The wind overtook the silence that followed.
Percy could only hope that Volt and his concerns were unwarranted.