The Storm We Start || Book One

Chapter Twenty-One: Long Story Short-

Noctifer couldn't help but feel a little uneasy as they walked the streets of Langerich once more. There had been a few occasions where he accompanied Ordephus to the town next to the tower, but this was the first time he traveled with them all in disguise. It was a pain remembering all their new names as well. Iver hadn't changed much, only with his blue eyes changed to brown, and held the name of Oriel. He himself now had brown hair and hazel eyes under the alias Nox. Both the legend and the boy had blond hair and blue eyes, dubbed Almar and Azure. But on their way to Langerich, Ordephus had once again taken the mask of Darin. It would have been bad if he were recognized with different hair or eyes, they had all decided.

They had set off a couple weeks prior from the tower, traversing through the snow as it became colder the further north they went. It was mid-snowfall, after all. They would have left sooner, but it was unanimously agreed that they would wait for the boy to fully heal before putting their plans into action. In the meantime, it wasn't as if they were sitting idly, either. Quite the opposite, in fact. Everything was prepared—and Ordephus made a variety of inventions, some of which they had no idea it was supposed to be used for—all they needed now were those who would join them in the battle ahead.

Hence why they were currently standing before the apothecary. Ordephus didn't hesitate to enter, whereas Noctifer warily followed after everyone else. He wasn't aware if they needed any more medicinal supplies, nor could he think of how an apothecary could help them in the first place. It would all be explained soon, however, as Amonis began to speak to them from behind the counter.

"You're back earlier than I had anticipated," he commented with vague surprise, but Noctifer couldn't help but think it sounded ungenuine. That made him narrow his eyes in suspicion. Had he been expecting them? Amonis continued before he could ponder it any further. "So I'll assume you didn't make it to the Feydra Mountains?"

"There was no need," Ordephus replied easily with a grin. "I found something better."

"Oh?" Amonis looked past them to the door, and the open sign flipped over on its own. "Lottie is spending time with her family on the other side of the city. Let's talk in the back."

One by one they filed into the back room. It was smaller than the store itself but still spacious enough to hold the five of them. Shelves lined the walls, filled with ingredients and equipment, some of which they recognized being in the tower's workshop. It was obvious Amonis had been expecting them, however, as all tables had been pushed to the wall, save for the one in the middle that had eight chairs around it. Once they were all inside, Amonis shut the door with a click and turned to give a pointed glare at Ordephus.

"Do you have any idea how much of an uproar you've caused back in Weststar?" he hissed. "You just don't know how to be subtle, do you. How in Amaredeia have you kept your little secret for hundreds of years when you're this dramatic? You wiped out an entire squadron of Order soldiers!" He then motioned to all of Ordephus. "And you're still using this form!"