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 Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 3:47 am
A nice steaming mug of cocoa was just what the doctor ordered. Between monster snow owls, haunting skating violinists, time-warping churches and everything else in this city, sometimes just relaxing with a warm drink could make all the troubles melt away. It was working for Mia, anyway. She sat in her favorite cafe near the border of one of the many parks, looking out the fogged windows at the early morning bustle beyond. The little bistro was a recent discovery, but very cozy and the food was great.
A light ringing caused the historian to rub her ears absentmindedly, it happened to everyone after all. The sound quickly faded and she went back to enjoying being bundled with hot chocolate on tap. A few moments later, however, and the ringing began again. Soft at first, but more persistent. A rub didn't fix it this time; the noise only grew in intensity.
"After all this place has thrown at me, now I get tinnitus?" Mia bemoaned her rotten luck as she rubbed more fervently at the side of her head.
The sound, which had evolved to something akin to a chorus of bells, responded with even more ringing. At least that dispelled the tinnitus theory. Whoever heard of bell choir tinnitus anyway? Unfortunately that left one other explanation. Magic, or whatever it was that permeated Destiny City.
Almost in instant response to the thought, the ringing became nearly discordant in the naturalist's head. There was something there in the din, almost like a wordless calling. A summons. Mia knew from recent experiences that it wouldn't die down if she tried to ignore it and go back to her cocoa. With a slight frown she paid for her drink and left the cafe, winding her scarf tightly against the chill wind as she stepped out into the brisk morning air.
The song grew happy, the bells swelling with joy in their harmony. The blonde could almost swear she could make out the hazy outlines of a guiding path, winding its way along through the park toward the woods. With a sigh of resignation, she carefully crossed the street and began trudging through the snow along the shimmering guideposts.The low din of the morning crowd was soon left behind, replaced by only the occasional passerby. Not many people exploring the park at this time of day, after all.
The "felt but not really seen" path seemed to meander on for much longer than Mia would have thought possible, she didn't think the park was all that huge. Still, it was relatively merciful and didn't ensorcell her for hours on end. Soon enough, the explorer reached a remote border of the woods and the caroling bells quieted to almost a whisper. Finally.
In their place, the wisps of the phantom path seemed to coalesce and gather, growing into a beautiful crystalline arch of glittering ice. What seemed to be a slowly shimmering curtain of gently falling frost drifted from its apex. Curious but cautious as her archaeological instincts kicked in, Mia stepped a bit closer and peered carefully around the arch. Nothing, just more snow and the beginning of the trees. With the smallest amount of trepidation, she extended a gloved hand into the curtain of frost.
The bells seemed pleased, chiming pleasantly. There was no resistance, and it wasn't nearly as cold as had been expected. Merely pleasantly cool. Nothing further happened. Still doubtful, Mia took a step back and was reprimanded with a sharp blast of freezing wind that knocked her knit cap away, sending her blonde hair splaying wildly in a short mad dance through the air. The bells grew discordant and louder.
"Not an invitation to be refused, I suppose."
Squaring her shoulders and taming her hair back into place, the historian stooped to gather her wayward cap as she moved forward and through the archway without hesitation. The experience was definitely magical, but pleasant. The frost seemed to settle on her skin and stay, forming a glistening and beautiful layer at some perfect temperature. Hadn't Mia researched something about the fae and enchantments such as these?
As if in answer, a pair of faint voices sounded in place of the bells.
"You're just in time, welcome!"
That didn't exactly discount the "fae pretending to be friendly" theory at all, Mia mused. As expected, there was no one to be seen. The path she had been following, however, was now truly visible and laid in enticing glittering ice blocks that led forward. Onward she trekked into the unknown. At least it was pretty.
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Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 5:09 am
The whole of the scenery had changed since passing through the archway. The path lay clearly before Mia, leading through an idyllic frosted wood. Flickering lanterns lined the walkway, alternating in an alien blue and red glows that cast the winterscape in calming hues. The snow glittered in the light, giving the whole of the area a fantastical appearance. Dangling above the spaces between the lanterns were garlands of a flower unknown to the explorer, and while they looked to be decoration she didn't dare try to stretch up to touch one. She'd been under enchantment before, and nothing was ever as it seemed.
The magical frost coating the glimmered on her exposed skin kept Mia quite comfortable as she examined, but the wonder was short-lived. The bells sounded again, thankfully outside her head this time. Bright and cheerful in the still air they rang. Lifting her gaze toward the call, the displaced adventurer beheld a glorious cathedral looming in the distance. Massive stained-glass windows dominated the masonry, depicting scenes of wintertide beauty courting dancing flames. A singular star hung over the scene, almost austere in its solitude.
"Still getting fae vibes," Mia murmured, gathering her coat more tightly about her despite the lack of a chill.
Knowing she stood little chance of finding her way out of a localized anomaly such as this on her own, or risked an aggravated response if she did anything other than follow the path laid before her, the naturalist decided that the best path was forward. It would sate her admittedly peaked curiosity while hopefully appeasing her unseen hosts at the same time. Her boots clacked and echoed on the crystalline brick, carrying her toward the glowing edifice that beckoned.
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Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 5:58 am
In moving closer to the cathedral and the tolling bells, Mia noticed that the garlands of red and white flowers were gathered more thickly. They ran right up to the front doors of the building, a massive mahogany affair of twin barriers standing firmly shut. All about the portal the flowers grew in a cheery wreath of color. The woman moved along the last of the path, bringing her to the entrance.
Before her stood a decadently garbed man in robes of the same hues as the flowers, an admittedly towering and magnificent hat bedecked in shining gems dominating his appearance. He lingered at a podium, a very long list falling over the side of the platform and spilling along the ground. Mia stood patiently before the stranger, waiting. She had the feeling that those here favored the "don't speak unless spoken to" rule. As she was wholly at the mercy of whatever powers were at play here, she remained silent.
The moment stretched into several, and still the only sound was the scratching of the man's quill against parchment. Occasionally he would lift his gaze to regard her over the rimless lenses of his elegant glasses, then return to reviewing his list. Self-restraint eroding, Mia chanced a light clearing of her throat.
"Excuse me," she prompted softly, giving a little wave.
This finally elicited a response, and the stately man lowered his paper to give the archaeologist his full attention.
"Hm," he answered, his voice seemingly heavy with exasperation or possibly fatigue. "Are you here for the flames or the ice?"
Not quite expecting the question, Mia held her tongue. If this truly was some realm of the fae or something similar, even the most innocuous of questions could result in deadly outcomes. Or so she'd read. She was really sure she believed in fairy tales, but Destiny City seemed determined to make a believer out of her. Would the answer of fire or ice determine the method of some manner of torture?
"Ahem," the chancellor tutted, disdain and annoyance beginning to spread across his features.
"I'm sorry, I just..." Mia began, but was cut off by the man lifting a single hand.
"Flames, or ice? A simple question with a simple answer."
The blonde looked down at the lingering frost that still clung to her forearm, winking innocently in the lanternlight. It had kept her comfortable and caused no visible harm thus far. Her decision was made.
"Ice," she answered, more confidently than she felt.
The man nodded, seemingly satisfied as he scribbled something to the list. With a practiced motion, he reached into a basket and produced one of the flowers from the garlands strung about. A reddish one, though of an even more vibrant hue than the decorations. The edges seemed as though they'd been scorched by flame. Not wanting to offend the man further, she took the boutonniere.
Immediately a burning sensation spread from the touch of the flower's petals, the searing feeling shooting up her arms. It reminded her of the hellish carnival of Halloween prior. Despite the pain, Mia's skin did not burn, but nor could she free herself from the offending plant. The gatekeeper seemed wholly unconcerned by her predicament, instead opening the towering doors that led into the cathedral.
On a whim, Mia managed a feeble smile as she passed.
"Thank you, I like your hat," she complimented with a point of her empty hand.
She tugged open the top of her coat to reveal yet another holiday sweater, this one denoting a mummy made out of gift wrap and ribbons. She managed to dial up her smile just a bit more, and quite possibly imagined the ghost of a smirk flit across the robed man's features before the doors swung shut. To the right, shadowy figures bearing flowers akin to her own filled the pews. Great, more shadow creatures... though these seemed rather disinterested in her arrival. An open seat on the last row lay just before Mia.
She quickly took the available slot, and instantly felt relief from the burning flower. It was though some unseen force had gently doused her hand in cool water. The historian didn't have long to appreciate the feeling nor admire the decor inside the cathedral as the bells sounded once more. They were much louder this close.
As one, the host of guests turned their heads to regard the doors through which Mia had just passed. Curious, the human trespasser did the same.
As one, the
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Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:41 pm
The symphony of tinkling chimes continued to ring out their happy cries, heralding the arrival of something obviously important. Hopefully, Mia thought, the entire reason she'd been summoned here. And so it was, she suddenly knew. She felt like she'd had an invite to this wedding (for that was what it was) for ages. In place of cautious skepticism, a thread of warm happiness needled its way through to the out-of-place adventurer.
As one, the blue and red flowers held by the guests began to twirl and rise into the air of their own accord. They danced above, gathering and conglomerating into one awe-inspiring bloom. With a flurry of petals the enormous flower burst, raining down a spiraling deluge of color. At that very moment, the doors to the cathedral burst open in a shower of light. Mia lifted a hand to shield her gaze, but still could only behold two pulsing orbs of luminescence: one blue, one red. She was sensing a theme here.
The lights danced playfully around each other as they moved slowly down the aisle, darting hither and fro through the air. Despite being the sole focus of everyone's rapt attention, it was apparent that the eldritch glows only had room for each other in their swirling procession.
Fire and ice, came the thought. Separated by fate and chance, brought together through love and determination.
Mia wasn't sure how she knew this, but she didn't much question it. She didn't have thoughts to spare, considering the lights had coalesced into radiant beings shrouded in glittering bejeweled robes of impossible beauty. If this was a fae wedding and she was hopelessly ensnared by the magic, at least it was a feast for the senses. Even the dour officiant from the door was smiling at the display.
The two elementals, or whatever they were, began speaking in a flowing, lyrical language. No one seemed to know what they were saying, but the emotions behind the words were evident: joy and happiness. The feeling was completely infectious, and in a moment of spontaneity Mia gathered a nearby handful of flower petals from the ground and tossed them back into the air to join the continuing storm of them. The man in the amazing hat pronounced the two beings wed, and the guests erupted into applause as they stood. The archaeologist joined them.
A moment later she was glad they did, as at a snap from the fiery being the pews vanished and were replaced by tables and a buffet. Lively music bubbled forth from somewhere unknowable, and the last of Mia's suspicions melted away in the warmth and song. If something horrible befell her now, it wouldn't be so bad really. Out of all the strange things that had happened to her in Destiny City, was it so outlandish to think that one would be a little more innocuous and joyful during the holiday season?
Mia allowed herself to swept into the song, dance, food and drink. She couldn't well hold her alcohol, but that didn't stop her from partying late into the night with the other guests. It was all a wonderful, befuddled haze of fun that sadly came to end far too soon. The shades began to filter out to the forest path one by one, and the human among them sighed. It was time to go.
Before she could make it to the door, however, the historian was stopped short by the wedded couple themselves. The two bowed, the gems on their garments as bright as stars when they caught the light. Mia still couldn't understand their words at face value, but she knew she was being thanked for her attendance. With a smile, she returned the gesture and stepped outside feeling all fuzzy.
The trip back down the path was uneventful, the glow in the lanterns much dimmed from before. As she crested the last rise to behold the arch that had brought her here, the adventurer was treated to one last glorious sight: the first rays of the rising sun set the ice of the portal aflame in light, glittering like diamonds. She knew it would take her home. Exhausted but pleased, she stepped forward into the curtain of frost.
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Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:51 pm
Mia was immediately gripped by an intense feeling of vertigo. This wasn't the pleasant transition that had brought her to the enchanted realm of ice and snow. This was a blizzard, beyond it only a black void. And she was free-falling through it. The freezing wind bit straight through her clothing, the frost that had kept her so comfortable before had disappeared along with the rest of the magic.
In a moment of panic, the woman realized her fears might have been right all along. Merriment, then death by some fantastical means. That was her last thought before darkness claimed her.
The distant, muffled sound of a snuffling. Something wet touched the nape of Mia's neck, followed by more snuffling noises. Then an unmistakable lick. Waking with a start, the explorer pulled her face from the snow only to behold the happy panting grin of a Labrador mere inches from the tip of her nose.
"I'm sorry!" came a call from a boy nearby. "He really likes to make new friends. Snoofs, let's go boy!"
The dog bounded happily back to his owner, and the pair turned back toward the park path. For that's where she was, apparently. Back in the park where she'd first found the arch. With a groan she stood, her whole body aching as if she'd spent all night at a frat party. Not that she'd know anything about that. But her memory was clear, and after all the various happenstance in the past few months it couldn't all be chalked up to hallucinations and mental breakdowns.
"One day, I'll find out just what you are," Mia panted breathlessly, jabbing a finger at a nearby city clocktower.
Nine chimes were her answer. It was still morning. She'd left the cafe at roughly 8:30. Seriously? No time had passed at all? Or maybe a full day. She didn't know.
The rest of the morning and afternoon passed in a blur of fatigue and pajamas in front of the TV, and sleep came quickly to Mia that night. The next morning, a glimmer on her bedside table pierced through the fog of sleep that hung heavily over the blonde's lidded eyes. In wonder, she reached out to grab it...
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