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 Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:28 pm
almost thereThe little Lightning girl found him on his way home from his father's shop after a long day of splinting, bandaging, crushing, mixing, and making polite conversation. The first few weren't so bad, but the last drained him like little else. He was so monumentally exhausted that he wouldn't have stopped at all had the child not known his name.
"Master Howth? Message for you!" She stayed close until she was sure he had read the outside of the envelope by himself, then scampered back down the street to join the crowds on the main thoroughfare. Had he known at the time why she had paused, the boy would have been terribly offended, but it would be a long while before Howth learned that intelligence did not always go hand in hand with literacy.
He tried to tell himself that he didn't know what the envelope meant, but in truth he had some idea, an inkling of what he would find when he looked inside. The Academy of Steam wanted the secret of his ink and, despite his recent failures, he still desperately wanted to share it with them. Howth found a sturdy bench nearby and took a seat, straight-backed and on its edge like he was poised to run.
Half a year ago, he would have felt more than worthy of this honor, but a lot changed after Mother came home for good. His current problem was that while he knew that his invention was an impressive one, he hadn't made headway on it in months, not since his parents had shared the news of his future sibling. He'd been distracted, understandably so, but that didn't make his lack of progress any less frustrating. When his ink got too warm there was a chance it could fail, and he didn't know why. It was unacceptable. He was beginning to think it would never be fixed.
By the time he opened the envelope, Howth was prepared for what was inside, for better or worse. It still left him giddy to see the almost-invitation with his own eyes, which he supposed was a good thing. He was to be invited to the Sector of Community at the end of the year, and that was where he would remain, at least until they figured out he was an impostor, a burnt out star. With a shuttered smile, he tucked the letter into his vest and pushed to his feet. It was time to tell his mother. [ 414 words ]
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Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 3:27 pm
proudEvidence of Nnena's former occupation was rarely apparent at home, but when she gave you a hug, you certainly felt her strength. Howth was both comforted and rendered lightheaded due to a lack of air, but he held his ground for the length of her embrace.
"I knew talking you up in Valmon would get the wheels turning," she said, her grin broad as she took a step back and clapped him on both shoulders. "You've never needed help with the brainy part of what you do, just a little push in the advertising department. And it worked! How do you feel?"
"Good. Excited?" He had used the walk home to center himself as best he could, and even though he was still quaking on the inside, outwardly Howth was as calm and stoic as ever. He was determined to see this to its end. No matter how poorly it went, no one could deny him the glory of walking through the Academy's doors at least once.
His mother nodded. "Have you told your father?"
Howth shook his head. "I was given the note in the street. He had stayed behind at the shop to get some work done."
She looked at him, a half smile on her lips and one hand still on his arm. "You're sure you're excited?"
There was a crack in his calm that he quickly patched, but not before his mother noticed. She always did. Howth sighed. "I might be concerned that I'm not what they think I am."
"Oh, honey..."
He frowned.
"Howth. You've made a very important discovery! Everyone from nobles to criminals will want what you have created."
"It barely works. I don't know if I can ever make it better."
"I happen to know it almost always works, and I also know that you will improve upon it in time. So do they. You wouldn't be holding that letter if they didn't believe in you."
A quiet and self-deprecating snort of amusement escaped through his nose. "I'm not quite sure it works like that."
"Then come back home! If they throw you out, come back to me and your father. There will always be a place for you here."
A place filled with toys and tiny clothes and a shrieking infant. Whether she had intended to or not, his mother was growing his replacement at this very moment. Howth knew that thinking that way wasn't fair to his parents or his new sibling, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop himself from doing so if he stayed. He wasn't sure what he might say with thoughts like that bouncing around in his head. Howth smiled, tight-lipped and a little sad.
"Yes. I know. I'm just... I'm just nervous. I'm sure things will be fine once I've got the coat." He had always admired those Academy blazers. Imagining himself wearing one brought a more genuine smile to his face.
His mother shook her head with a slow-spreading grin of her own. "They will be. You'll look dashing."
Howth remained in place long enough for another hug before squirming away. "I should get to work."
"Yes, honey." He accepted the endearment this time, held it close knowing there might be a time in the not so distant future when he wouldn't hear it for a very long time. "I'll call you when dinner's ready."
He made his way to his room, his mind preoccupied. He meant to lay out his supplies, to see what he needed more of that he might beg off of his father before he left, but Howth sat on the edge of his bed instead, silent and lost in thought. [ 613 words ]
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 8:49 am
class affinity: treasure hunterHe found them at the market: chalky stones in some of the brightest hues he had ever laid eyes on. A few had come from Yael, the shopkeeper said, the rest from the western continent. They were perfect, just what Howth needed to resume work on his ink. In all honesty, he hadn't felt this inspired in months. But even in the midst of all this positive feeling, he couldn't help the prickles of anxiety that lanced at his brain.
What if none of them worked?
What if he spent weeks distilling, mixing, and testing, only to get nowhere? Howth ran his fingers lightly over the stones, brushing them off on his other hand when they came away streaked with rainbows.
"I guess I'll just... look for more components to try."
It was such a simple answer, yet he couldn't begin to fathom how he was going to see it through.
- - - - -
The next day, Howth rose at his usual time, following his morning routine to the letter. Once he was washed and dressed, he spent another long while staring at his new rocky acquisitions, barely moving save to blink and breathe.
When he finally sprang into action, it was entirely without warning. He grabbed a leather satchel and sloshing skin of water before vacating his house like it was on fire. Howth's parents were occupied elsewhere, so there was no one to question him as he strode purposefully through the door and toward the distant trees.
- - - - -
Howth had never been alone in the woods before. He did spend a few days each summer gathering medicinal plants with his father, but that certainly did not happen so far from the treeline. It was way too dark where he stood now, and Howth found himself both wishing he had brought a torch and recognizing how foolish it would be for him to have one in the middle of a flammable forest.
He knew exactly what he was here for, but he was also fairly certain he wouldn't find it—not with the lack of hours before dusk. On top of that, even if he was able to find a cave this close to the city, it would likely be scoured clean by adventurers more skilled than he.
Howth ceased his forward shuffle. Was he an adventurer now? He didn't think so. In order to do this properly, he would need to find new places to look. He had to explore. To leave Belrea. But what did that mean for his studies? What did that mean for his place at the Academy?
He resumed his half-hearted search for a cavern, a hollow, anywhere he might find stones similar to the ones he had bought, but as he had suspected, there were none. Any mildly daring child had likely come this far, which only served to emphasize his point.
"Go where the bravest children don—"
Howth let out a pained huff and pressed his lips together as something solid hit him on the crown of his head. He glared up toward the trees just in time to watch a bright little... averin, he thought, dart higher into the branches. He considered giving chase somehow, but quickly dismissed the notion as folly. Instead, he looked down, his brows wrinkling faintly when he noticed something glinting in the brush at his feet. Howth kneeled, plucking the item out of its nest of leaves.
It wasn't a rock, but its presence did raise interesting questions. How had this ring made its way into the forest in the first place? Who had it belonged to? Did he care?
No, he didn't think that he did. It was his now, wasn't it?
Howth smirked as he slid the ring onto his finger. He might not have found any ingredients for his ink, but perhaps he had found something just as interesting. [ 643 words ]
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Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 8:22 pm
world event: tendaji treats
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Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 8:25 pm
class growth solo: prentice to collectorQuote: Howth realizes that true exploration and innovation lie beyond the Academy of Steam, and—with a heavy heart—he gives up his spot in favor of adventure. The sun dawned bright and warm, but as the sun crept toward its midday apex, clouds shrouded its shine. Rain soon soaked the city of Valmon and its outskirts, and though Howth had learned the hard way that wearing his best clothing on expeditions was a recipe for disaster, he had yet to experience the singular disappointment that stemmed from exposing an uncured leather satchel to a thundershower. The material might one day be saved by a talented craftsman, but for now it hung from his shoulder, stiff and ruined. He could only hope that the items it held were not equally befouled.
Howth's heart raced as he burst through the door into the safety of his home. He had ran all the way here from the treeline, and he was definitely not used to so much movement. His mother sat opposite the entrance in the family's dining area, idly patting at Howth's future sibling. His sudden appearance would have caused his father to jump in surprise, but Nnena didn't flinch. Though he was usually disheartened by any reminder that he was soon to lose his status as an only child, today Howth couldn't help his adrenaline-fueled grin. It slowly melted back to businesslike indifference as he found a towel and patted his hair dry.
"It was sunny when I left. Had I known the sky would open up and unleash... all of this... well..." He shrugged, letting out one final chuckle. "I would have been home much sooner."
"But you found something worthwhile."
Howth couldn't quite pinpoint what was going on with his mother's expression. Her stoicism was legendary, and that unflappability usually extended to her features as well. Howth narrowed his eyes ever so slightly as he approached, lifting the strap of his satchel over his head.
"I did." He pulled a small sheaf of yellowed paper out of the bag and lay it gently on the table. Only the very edges were damp. Fortunate.
"It's a cookbook of sorts, though some of the notes seem to be about dyes. I hope it might be helpful in my search for ideal inks."
"Hm. Yes."
"Mother. What's wrong?"
"Trust me. Everything is right. That doesn't mean it will be easy." She smiled. He must have looked even more confused than he felt.
"Your letter came today. The Academy would like you to officially enroll at the start of next week."
Howth swallowed. "Oh."
"Are you all right?"
"Of course." A nervous thrill ran from his stomach to his toes. "Will you excuse me?"
Nnena's smile softened. "I'll be right here."
Howth nearly left behind the papers he had found, returning to gather them up after he had already stepped out of reach. When he finally entered his room and closed the door, the weight of the letter on his desk kept him turned away for quite a while. He could feel its presence, like an expectant pet's stare digging into the back of his head. Howth looked down at his pilfered recipes, still facing the door.
The Academy would give him unlimited resources, time, and teachers. They would let him wander as he pleased in pursuit of his goals. But in the end, all that he achieved would be seen as theirs, no matter how fervently they insisted otherwise. Over the past few months, he had come to realize that he could do it all on his own. While he was certainly still dedicated to the development of his ink, he had inadvertently stumbled upon something he could see himself one day being equally devoted to. He wanted more. He wanted both.
With clipped, precise steps, Howth finally turned and moved closer to the fancy green envelope. He had dreamed of opening it for so long that his hand shook as it approached, though when it got there, he simply pushed the note a centimeter or two away, feeling the paper's texture against his skin. He took a slow, deep breath, then picked it up and tucked it between two random pages that lay open on his desk. It hurt, but not enough to dig it out again.
Howth sighed. It was time to tell his mother he would not be enrolling in the Academy of Steam.
[ 708 words ]
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:04 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:06 pm
adventure: shady dealings
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 3:09 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 5:06 pm
jaslaHowth had been in Yera far too long. He would have returned east months ago if it hadn't been for the poscuta.
It all started with a forest fire. In hindsight, he'd been glad to help put it out, and in one of his more charitable moments he had taken in one of its victims, nursing her back to normalcy in time. He'd had plenty of help, and his genuine interest in the proceedings had endeared him to the non-magical healing community here.
But it was finally time to move on. He had already packed up the things he could control, which left the one he could not. Howth held up the leash he had fashioned from a long, woven rope, variegated blue and brown.
"Jasla."
The poscuta raised her head from the pillow he'd left on the floor for her, eyeing the noose before ducking low again, her wary attention still on him.
"We have to keep up appearances. If you won't accept the leash, then you'll have to be carried." Howth really didn't want to struggle with an animal and his luggage, but thankfully Jasla hated being handled. He made the scooping motion with his arms that had come to signify his intent to pick her up and her eyes widened a fraction. A clear 'no thank you.' But would she follow him instead?
"Coming?" He hefted his hard-sided equipment case and settled the strap over his shoulder. Jasla watched him silently, standing and stretching when he took his first step toward the door.
"Thank you."
She trotted after him, emerging into the sun with a soft sneeze. Howth nodded at the Matori man waiting for them.
"All right," he said. "We're ready."
The man scratched at one of his webbed ears. "Will it behave? I don't want s**t all over my cart."
"I assure you. She has impeccable manners." He hoped. Jasla sat at his feet and yawned. The Matori sighed.
"If you say so. Just... get inside and we'll be off." [ 335 words ]
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2022 3:01 pm
unequal tradeMuch to Howth's surprise, Jasla's manners did indeed prove to be impeccable. She spent much of the cart ride curled around his feet, which would have been lovely in a colder month, but summer was slowly fading into autumn and it was still too warm for a furry foot scarf. In spite of all that, it was kind of comforting. He didn't try to move her.
When they reached Edrao, she acquiesced to the leash, likely because she was unnerved by the crowds. Howth led the poscuta to the boarding house where he had stayed the first time he had visited here, dropping off his things and letting Jasla to acclimate to the room while he went to fetch his letters.
The city was bustling, earthlings of nearly every race filling the streets. He wasn't certain how chilly the winters got here, but this time of year was warm enough that the stalls stayed open well into the evening. Howth tried to remain indifferent to the swirling excitement around him, but there was much that caught his eye. Rather than heading for the post depot right away, he mingled among the masses, idly scanning the food carts for interesting snacks.
He had nearly reached the end of this row of peddlers when he saw a familiar Matori woman sitting by herself. She was staring at him with worrying intensity. Or maybe she was just looking at his dagger.
"I remember you." Her voice was simultaneously intimidating and kind.
"Do you?"
"I'm not doddering yet. And I never forget a blade. How has it treated you?" He recalled flailing it at an angry creature deep in an Oban cave. He hadn't drawn blood, but the beast had left him alone.
"I don't do much fighting. But it has kept me safe."
She nodded, reaching into a pouch to her left and pulling out a folded cloth.
"How about an upgrade? I have recently acquired a beautiful piece that would do well as more of a decorative item than a functional one. It's still plenty sharp in an emergency, if you need it of course. And I'll give you a discount for a trade-in."
Howth looked from the woman to the cloth and back again. He liked to think he wasn't grotesquely materialistic, but he did like shiny new things. And depending on the color, this dagger might be the perfect accessory.
"Let's see it." He tried to appear nonchalant, but when he realized he was leaning in with anticipation, he gave up the pretense. The cloth came off with a flourish, and Howth nodded appreciatively.
It had a leather-wrapped hilt, just like his current dagger, but where his blade was solid iron, this one faded between silver and blue and green, pocked with deliberately polished facets that sparkled in the sun. He didn't say anything at all for some time after that, finally reaching out to touch the dagger when the Matori opened her mouth. The old woman sighed out the breath she had drawn to respond and shook her head, clearly amused by her reticence.
"How deep would your discount be?"
She snorted. "Where do you get your money, boy?"
He hesitated. There was a time when he would have said he was a scholar without hesitation, funded by grants and good luck, but now...
"I am an explorer."
"One I fully believe is skilled enough to pay me a reasonable sum. But..." She held up her hand with a spreading grin. "Half price. A quarter off for the trade-in and another quarter for advertising. Give me your word that you will make an appropriate spectacle of your new purchase and direct anyone who asks about the blade to my stall."
Howth nodded. "Half price." He swallowed. "And how much would that be?"
She pointed at the price tag. He found he wasn't breathing.
"Yes. Certainly. I can do that. Completely reasonable." He unstrapped his current dagger and lay it before her, and following only the briefest of pauses, he deposited a handful of coins right beside it, not looking at them once they left his hand.
"Done."
"Done," she said with a smile. "The deal is struck."
- - - - -
With an unexpected new dagger on his belt, Howth approached his original destination—the post depot. He was handed only one piece of correspondence, but it was from his mother and that made it top priority. It was dated six months ago, not because he hadn't checked. Things tended to take a while to get here, even without his lackluster mail habits.
He waited until he was well away from the busy building before he opened the letter.
Howth,
I hope you are making captivating discoveries on the mainland. Your father and I are doing quite well, as is Ianne. She reminds me nothing of you at this age, which has been an unexpected challenge. I know this might not get to you for quite some time, but I anticipate little will have changed at home.
I love you more than the stars.
Mother
At the bottom of the letter in his father's small, neat hand, there was a brief addition.
If you find any local variations of moonwort that might be dried and mailed, I would appreciate you sending some along. I have a hypothesis I would like to test.
All my love.
Howth folded the humid scrap and tucked it into his pocket. He ventured back to his room with a small smile on his face. [ 916 words ]
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