Chapter 2: Adventuring, Probably

She rubbed her arms as the wind cut through her cloak. Another night alone. Another empty stomach. So much for "adventure." Wandering from village to village, she scraped by, surviving on meager pay and odd jobs. Some nights, her stomach was empty; others, she shivered beneath thin blankets.

Why did I have to be so stubborn... Out in the cold like this, with an empty stomach? She shook her head. No. No backing out now. If she gave up now, she'd be nothing more than another foolish child chasing a dream too big for her hands to hold.

A sharp gust of wind brushed against Vaelira's face as she stepped into Eldermoor. Snow crunched beneath her boots, and the faint glow of lanterns lit the small riverside village. It wasn't much—just a handful of wooden buildings with roofs heavily covered in snow—but right now, it felt like the most welcoming sight in the world. Her legs ached and hunger gnawed at her stomach.

She hurried toward the tavern, pushing the door open and stepping into the warmth. The heat inside was instant relief, the scent of roasted meat filling the air. Firelight flickered against the wooden walls as she made her way to the counter, ignoring the glances from the other patrons. With a sigh, she sat down on a stool and ordered the first proper meal she'd had in days.

As Vaelira ate, the low murmur of conversation drifted from nearby tables. She hadn't planned on listening, but certain words caught her attention—missing hunters, strange disappearances, things lurking in the woods. She slowed her chewing, pretending to focus on her meal as she strained to catch more. Another chance to prove herself? Maybe.

"Are you looking for trouble, or just eavesdropping?"

The amused voice cut through Vaelira's focus, making her tense. She turned to see a half-elven man sitting on the next stool. A faint smile was tugging at his lips. His dark hair was slightly messy, his sharp emerald eyes holding an easy warmth. A bow rested casually against the bar beside him, and the worn edges of his cloak hinted at long travels.

Vaelira straightened slightly, narrowing her eyes.

"I can handle myself just fine." The words left her mouth before she could think about them, reflexive pride surfacing. But a second later, she hesitated. This was an opportunity—both to prove herself and to get friendly with someone.

She gave a small nod, trying to sound casual.

Edrin raised an eyebrow, clearly catching the shift in her tone. “Well, if you're heading into the woods chasing whispers and shadows, might be smarter to bring someone who knows how not to get eaten.”

Vaelira let out a soft snort “Oh? And that someone is you?”

He gave an easy shrug, the smile still playing at his lips. “I’m decent with a bow. Sword if needed. Better with getting out of trouble than into it.”

She eyed him for a beat, then looked away, poking at the last of her meal. “But I suppose backup never hurts.”

The man chuckled, resting an elbow on the counter with an easy confidence.

"Just a traveler passing through." He lifted a hand in a casual wave. "Edrin. Ranger, if titles matter." His gaze flicked to her staff, pausing briefly before meeting her eyes.

"And you?"

Vaelira hesitated for only a moment before straightening her shoulders, her lips curling into a self-assured smirk.

"Vaelira," she said, lifting her chin slightly. "A great mage. A specialist in ice magic, if you must know." She let the words hang in the air, watching for his reaction. Of course, it wasn’t a complete lie —she was an ice mage. Just… One still working out the finer details.

Edrin’s lips twitched, like he was holding back a grin.

"A great mage, huh?" He took a slow sip from his drink, watching her over the rim of his cup.

"Well, that’s good to hear. The world can always use more great mages." His tone was light, sarcastic towards the end, but there was something in his eyes—like he wasn’t quite convinced.

Vaelira’s smirk faltered for half a second before she straightened again.

"Doubt me if you want," she said, flicking a hand dismissively. "But when you see my magic in action, you’ll be the one impressed."

Edrin raised an eyebrow, setting his cup down with a small thud.

"Oh, I wouldn’t dream of doubting a great mage." His lips quirked, tone still teasing.

Vaelira narrowed her eyes; Is he mocking me?

"You don’t believe me," she accused, crossing her arms. Edrin chuckled unbothered.

"I believe you believe it."

Vaelira scoffed. "Well, you’ll see soon enough. My magic has already left people in awe."

"Oh, I don’t doubt it." Edrin said smoothly. "I bet there are entire crowds talking about the legendary Vaelira. Songs written in your honor, tales of your heroic deeds, fans waiting in every town. Some probably even here, yes?"

She blinked, momentarily thrown off.

"That’s not—"

Edrin leaned back, grinning,"Where’s the crowd of admirers with flowers and parchment?"

Vaelira huffed, turning back to her drink.

"I don’t have time for nonsense like that."

Edrin chuckled again, clearly amused. But wisely, he let the conversation rest there. Meanwhile, Vaelira stared into her cup for a moment. Could she really pull it off—having people who adored her? Songs that would be sung about her? Would she actually be loved by her village the way she wanted…? Before she sank into these thoughts, she heard a voice.

"Hey, Vaelira, don't daydream about the crowd in your name."

She flustered, shaking her head. "Stupid, you…!"

Edrin laughed as Vaelira crossed her arms, as they then continued to chat and bicker for the night.

Morning arrived cold. Snow crunched softly beneath their boots as Vaelira and Edrin made their way out of Eldermoor, stepping into the frozen wilderness beyond. The sun, barely peeking through heavy clouds, did little to chase away the chill. Somewhere in the distance, a lone bird called out before the sound was swallowed by vast stillness. Nearby, tree branches shifted with a soft creak under their weight of ice.

Vaelira adjusted her grip on her staff, glancing at Edrin as they walked. It felt strange traveling with someone after being on her own for so long—not bad, just different.

"Hunters have vanished without a trace," Edrin said, his voice calm but focused. "The villagers whisper of strange creatures lurking in the shadows."

"Are we sure this isn’t just some old fairytale to keep people out of the woods?" Vaelira asked, stepping over a frozen root. Though, deep down, a part of her hoped it was real. A real danger. A real challenge. A chance to show what she could do.

"It might as well be," Edrin said with a small shrug. "But we won’t know until we check for ourselves."

Vaelira nodded, swallowing the small flicker of nerves creeping in. She wouldn’t mess this up. Not in front of him.

Edrin stopped suddenly, holding up a hand.

"Tracks" he murmured, crouching low. His fingers brushed lightly over the snow, tracing faint impressions in the frost. "Fresh"

Vaelira stepped closer, gripping her staff, tighter as she studied the marks. They were human, but the steps were uneven, as if the ones who left them were moving cautiously—too cautiously. The spacing suggested they were carrying something heavy or dragging something behind them.

The cold air seemed sharper now, her breath visible in quick, steady puffs. A quiet stillness settled over the trees, broken only by the occasional creak of ice-—laden branches. It was as if the forest itself was waiting, watching.

Vaelira stepped forward, gripping her staff tightly. This was it—a chance to prove herself. A chance to show Edrin what she could do.

"Now, hidden beast! You’re mine! Just watch this, Edrin!"

She planted her feet firmly, lifting her staff as cold energy surged through her fingertips. Frost crackled along the length of the wood, gathering into a shimmering swirl at its tip. She thrust her staff forward, releasing the spell—intended to send a burst of ice toward a nearby bush, trapping whatever lurked within.

Instead, the magic spun out of control. A surge of frost erupted wildly, ice spikes shooting in every direction. Trees, ground—nothing was spared. One shard barely missed Edrin’s leg, forcing him to stumble back with a whispered curse.

Edrin steadied himself, brushing the snow from his cloak with a slow exhale.

"You know," he said, glancing at the chaos of ice spikes around them, "Next time, maybe give a little warning?" His voice was dry, but there was an amused glint in his eyes. "So this is the great sorceress, eh?"

Vaelira clenched her jaw, gripping the staff tighter as heat rose to her face, painting her cheeks red.

“That was just—” she started, then stopped, glancing at the failure.

Maybe… it had gotten away from her. Just a little.

She hadn’t even finished decoding the Lexicon sequence earlier. That’s why the spell fizzled. Or maybe she skipped a rune again.

She forced her shoulders back, turning up her nose.

"It was a test," she declared. "A demonstration of power."

Edrin raised a brow, unimpressed. "Of what, exactly? How to nearly take off a guy’s leg?"

Vaelira scoffed, crossing her arms. "You were fine."

Edrin sighed, rubbing his temple. "Right. Well, since we’re still alive, let’s get moving. And try not to freeze the whole forest on the way."

Vaelira huffed but followed, gripping her staff a little tighter.

As they walked, Edrin slowed his pace, glancing at the trees. "You ever forage before?"

Vaelira scoffed. "Of course I have."

Edrin stopped, reaching down to pluck a small cluster of frost-touched berries from a bush. He held them up. "Alright, then. Which ones can you eat?"

Vaelira opened her mouth, then hesitated. She squinted at the berries, as if the right answer might magically appear. "...The red ones?"

Edrin smirked, tossing a different berry at her. "Wrong. Enjoy the stomachache."

She scowled, catching it before it hit her. "Tch. Whatever. I don’t need berries anyway—I have magic."

"Uh-huh," Edrin said, unimpressed. "And how many times has your magic actually gotten you food?"

Vaelira crossed her arms, muttering, "That’s beside the point."

They didn't speak much after that. It continued to snow as they walked, the only sound coming from their boots crunching through the frost. Vaelira kept her eyes low, embarrassed. Edrin didn't push. He just led the way through the woods until the sky began to dim.

They made camp just before the sky turned fully dark. Edrin worked quietly, setting up a small fire while Vaelira tried to help... and mostly got in the way. She fumbled with the flint, cursed under her breath when the kindling refused to catch, and nearly set her sleeve on fire before Edrin stepped in.

"Maybe stick to freezing things," he said with a grin, tossing her a bundle of dry wood.

Vaelira scowled, brushing soot off her sleeve. "Next time, I'll handle it with a fire spell."

"And then burn the forest down?"

She didn't answer—just crossed her arms and sat back with a huff.

"Hey, Edrin... why did you leave your home in the first place?"

Edrin looked a bit surprised by the question.

"Huh? My folks were adventurers. They loved life, the danger. Me? I just wanted to make sure I was good at something. Turns out, this is what stuck. What about you?"

Vaelira nodded but sat quietly, her amber eyes fixed on the fire.

"It's... Yeah, same for me."

Edrin noticed something in her reaction—no boast, no eye contact and her voice lacked its usual energy. But he didn't press on the matter.

"Anyway, the bow that I have belonged to my mother. And the sword to my father. They both taught me plenty."

Edrin smiled, gently changing the topic. Vaelira looked back at him, a spark of interest returning to her eyes.

"So you're using their weapons?"

"Yeah," Edrin said, setting his weapons aside. "I decided to mix their styles together."

Edrin poked at the fire with a stick.

"You know, for a "great mage", you sure struggle with kindling."

Her eye twitched at this comment.

"I was just being careful."

"Oh, is that what that was?" He tapped his chin. "Could've sworn it was a technique to roast your sleeve first."

She tossed a twig at him and then looked away, but a corner of her mouth twitched upward.

Morning came with more snow and cold. She blinked at the weak light filtering through the trees, curling tighter in her bedroll until Edrin's voice cut through the still air.

"Up. We've got something important today."

Vaelira groaned, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Important like... breakfast?"

Edrin's lips curled into a half-smirk. "Sort of. We're going hunting."

She blinked at him. "Oh. You mean you're going to shoot things while I watch?"

"No," he said, already standing and stringing his bow. "You're going to track, and you're going to catch something. Without magic."

Vaelira froze halfway through tying her boots. "Without magic? Are you mad? I don't even know how to use half the stuff you carry!"

"That's the point," Edrin said, tossing her a simple wooden spear. "You never know when you'll be too drained or too rushed to cast. Basics matter."

She stared at the weapon like it had personally offended her. "This is a stick."

"It's a tool. You're smart, you'll figure it out."

Vaelira muttered under her breath, "I should have frozen him..." but followed him into the forest anyway.

The forest was ever so white. Snow clung to the trees and muffled their steps as they made their way deeper into the woods. Vaelira walked behind Edrin, wooden spear in hand like it was a cursed branch. Every now and then, she gave it a look of pure disdain.

Edrin raised a hand and crouched suddenly. Vaelira copied him—well, more like dropped into a crouch with far less grace and nearly slipped doing it.

"See those tracks?" Edrin whispered, nodding toward a set of light prints leading through the snow. "Rabbit. Not too old."

Vaelira squinted. "Those tiny dents?"

"They're clearer if you actually look."

She rolled her eyes but leaned forward, studying them. To her surprise, she could make out the shape now—two small front paws and longer back ones, pressed into the snow.

"Huh. That's... kind of neat," she admitted under her breath.

"Follow them slowly. Stay quiet. Step where I step."

She tried. Really. But the first branch she stepped on snapped loud enough to make a crow flap out of a tree nearby. Edrin winced and gave her a sideways glance.

"I said quiet."

"I am quiet!" she hissed back.

"Right. Like an avalanche."

She grumbled under her breath, "I swear..." and tried again. This time she managed a few silent steps, though her balance with the spear looked more like she was holding a broom.

Edrin knelt beside a log and pointed. "There."

A rabbit sat in a patch of thinned snow, nibbling at something beneath the frost. Its ears twitched, but it hadn't noticed them yet.

"What do I do?"

"Slow. Get closer. Stay low. When you're close enough, throw the spear. Don't overthink it."

"Don't overthink it? How am I supposed to analyze my action—just ignore my brain?"

"Then try underthinking, it might help." He chuckled underneath his breath.

She looked at the rabbit, then down at the cursed weapon in her hand. Don't overthink it Vaelira, just move in, throw and... Hope for the best. How hard can it be to throw something like this?

Vaelira moved forward, each step slower than the last. Her grip on the spear tightened, sweaty despite the cold. The rabbit was right there. Still nibbling. Still unaware.

She raised the spear.

Stepped forward.

Shifted her weight.

And promptly slipped on a hidden patch of ice.

With a yelp, she tumbled sideways into a bush. The rabbit made a run for it. Snow exploded into the air.

"By the stars—!" she shouted, flailing to get upright again.

Edrin was already laughing as he walked over, offering a hand to pull her up.

"You said not to overthink it!" She snapped, brushing snow from her face and cloak.

"I didn't say crash into a bush like a blizzard," he said, still grinning.

Vaelira groaned, rubbing a sore spot on her hip. "That rabbit's lucky I didn't have a spell ready."

"No, I am lucky you didn't have a spell ready. I still need all my limbs."

She shot him a glare, but couldn't help the frustrated sigh that followed. "So what now?"

"Now we follow another set. We'll try again."

Vaelira groaned but nodded. As much as she hated to admit it... this was a challenge she couldn't magic her way through. Not yet.

They tracked another rabbit not long after. This time, Vaelira crouched slower, steadier, eyes locked on her target. Her throw was wild—but lucky. The spear flew into the snow beside the rabbit, which bolted—only to slip on a patch of ice she'd disturbed, knocking itself out cold.

She blinked. "...That counts, right?"

Edrin laughed. "Sure. Let’s call it strategic chaos."

Vaelira stood over the unconscious rabbit, brow raised.

"Strategic chaos," she repeated with a smirk.

Maybe she was getting the hang of this adventuring thing.