There are some moments in life where it just seems like the world is trying to point you in a direction. Despite how adamant you may be about going any other direction, the world keeps turning and pointing you in the direction that it wants to you go.
For example, Alix woke up early in the morning to go shopping at Omnicia with Kent. Alix needed some more sorcery catalysts to practice her spells and needed new ink to write said spells onto the catalysts. She entered the shop and immediately grabbed what she needed from the familiar sections before heading to the counter where she greeted Miade, the only employee of this establishment.
While Alix was setting all of her stuff on the counter Miade noticed the book at Alix's hip. "Is that a new book?" Alix looked at Miade confused before recalling the book within her satchel.
"Oh, this? Yes, I checked it out from the library because a bothersome fellow stopped me from reading it." Alix grabbed the book out of her bag and showed it to the shop clerk. "Have you read it before? It's about the town on the far edge of Pesin, Amal." Miade shook his head.
"I've never read that one in particular before, but I do know of the town that you are talking about!" Alix shrugged and put the book back in her bag and waited for Miade to tell her the cost of her items. Miade asked for the payment and started placing all of Alix's items in a cloth bag. Just as he went to hand her the bag he pulled back.
"Ms. Ren?" Alix with her hand outstretched looked at him confused.
"What is it?"
"Have you heard about the monster that roamed in the town of Amal?"
"No, why are you bringing it up?" Alix was trying her best to be patient with the man but she really just wanted to get her things and go.
"Really? It's quite the interesting thing, I'm surprised!"
"Well, I've never heard of it. Now can you just give me my things so I can go?!" Miade moved to give Alix her bag again but when Alix almost had it he pulled away. She clicked her teeth in frustration.
"So you've never heard of the Living Thunderbolt? It's said to be an incredible creature, though none have ever gotten a clean look at it. It moves incredibly quickly, you see, like a-"
"Like a bolt of lightning, I get it! Now give me my things, I have to get to class after this!" Miade nodded and moved to hand Alix her stuff again. Alix wasted no time in trying to snatch the bag out of his hand. When her hand found no purchase, however, she realized that she'd been duped again.
"I think it would be interesting to see a creature like that with your own eyes! Some say that it's a terrifying Nightmare Category monster and others are willing to bet that its just a Firma Category. I do wonder though? What do you think?" Miade held the bag with his arms folded as he looked at Alix.
Alix stood stomping her foot repeatedly on the ground as her aggravation had reached its peak. "I DON'T CARE! JUST GIVE ME MY STUFF!" Miade looked at the girl confused when he noticed that he'd still had her bag.
"Oh dear! You should have told me that I hadn't given your bag yet! Why did you let me ramble on like that?" Miade handed Alix the bag without a second of hesitation. Alix glared at the man like she was trying to stab him through.
"Yeah..." She said through gritted teeth. "I wonder why I didn't just ask for my things?" Miade looked at Alix with an innocent face.
"What's got you so frustrated, dear customer?" Alix took a deep breathe in and let go of most of her rage.
"Nothing, I'm just questioning the reason I came here today." Alix turned around and walked out of the store meeting Kent, who had insisted on waiting outside. Kent grabbed the bag from Alix and noticed that she seemed to be in a sour mood.
"What's got you so fed up?" Alix glanced at him lifelessly and just shook her head.
"Don't worry about it. We should just go." Kent nodded and the two returned to the tavern where Alix dropped off her bags, grabbed her monsters and left.
You see that? The second annoying interaction in relation to Amal that Alix has had within two days! Though, she blamed her self partly for the second interaction. She was the one that kept the book with her which prompted Miade's yapping so, there was really nothing to be done in that situation.
It's probably just a coincidence.
Later that day, Alix and Eric were doing research in the library. Alix made it a point to come here at least once a week with the boy seeing as she'd promised to help him master his magic. They were looking through historical documents in the back of the library's second floor.
For months they'd searched this area, looking for anything in relation to the Runic clan or a cultic crusade of warmongers but found little in relation.
"This is boring!" Eric groaned. "We haven't found anything in the last few months! Are you even sure that they have anything on Runic magic?"
"They should." Alix answered while pulling a dusty book off the shelf and flipping through it. "This place prides itself on its massive well of knowledge including even the faintest of rumors in case that can be of use one of the students." Alix rolled her eyes as she realized this book had nothing useful either and placed it back onto the shelf.
"Didn't you say Runic magic was forbidden or something? What if they aren't allowed to have any information on it?" Eric was no longer looking through the shelf dedicated to magic history and instead started looking through random stories on a different shelf.
"Forbidden in the idea that the clan's ideology was corrupt and destructive. You are not allowed to learn the magic but you can still read about it and hold books that have information pertaining to it. It's the same with Witchcraft, a similarly 'forbidden' form of magic."
"Witchcraft is forbidden?" Eric sounded truly shocked making Alix slowly turn to face him.
"Yes. Do you know someone that practices Witchcraft?"
"W-well-Hmm? OH, LOOK AT THIS!" Eric suddenly shouts trying to change the subject. He pulls a book from the shelf for Magical Fiction to show Alix. As he pulls out the book, a person appears out of nowhere and glares at him.
"Keep quiet! Others are trying to read!" The man hissed at Eric. The boy shrunk back and nodded to the man. The man kept his intense gaze focused on Eric as he walked past the row of shelves until he vanished from Eric's sight.
"Keep it down, next time. Now what did you want to show me?" Alix walked over and snatched the book out of Eric's hands. Eric was still a bit shaken so when the book left his hands he looked at the girl blankly.
"Wha-oh! Right!" Eric let out a breathe and returned to what he was saying. "This book, its title is, The Devils Living Beneath a Monster'sTown!"
"It is a catchy title but I assume you are relating this to the fact that the Runic clan were also called Sanguine Devils in the past."
"EXA-" Eric caught himself before he screamed too loud. "Exactly! The title of this also reminds me of how in my hometown there was a story the kids heard about, The Devils Living Within the Mountains' Hollow Husk. The title of this book reminds me of that a little bit." Alix turned to Eric.
"So it was in your hometown that you gained the brand of the Runic clan!" Eric nodded.
"Yeah." He seemed rather solemn as he answered but that wasn't important right now. Alix opened the book, if it had any information of the Runic clans old stomping grounds they may be able to go get Eric another piece of the brand! Alix starts reading.
Children beware! How you laugh and dance around the town's circular square! When the sun falls and Blaze is wrapped up for the day, you should turn around, go home, this is no time to play! You groan and kick as your parents call you, but know that it is for protection that they enforce your curfew!
Deep beneath the land we call home, there are tales of bloody devils waiting for night so they might roam! They look around, late at night, for any meek prey for them to bite! So in your bed you should now crawl.
For there be devils hidden beneath Amal!
Alix stared at the book blankly as she read the final line. She read it twice more to ensure that she wasn't imagining the final words. "...devils hidden beneath Amal." She read aloud proving that those words were in fact there.
"Amal?" Eric cocked his head to the side. "Where's Amal?" Alix closed the book. Her jaw became set as she pondered why this was the third time that she was hearing about the town of Amal in the span of two days!
"Mama Wolf, something wrong? Do you not like the town of Amal or something?"
"No, it isn't that." Alix replies exhaustedly. "It's just-I don't have the spare time to go off on a voyage to Amal at the current moment yet I continue to hear interesting facts about the place as if the gods themselves are telling me to go!" Alix shoves the book into Eric's hands.
"Wait, what am I-" Eric starts asking but gets stopped by Alix.
"Keep it! We'll go to Amal eventually but I just need to find time that I don't currently have! Keep that book and read through it a few more times. It may have something that can give us a hint on where else the Runic clan may have stayed." Eric nodded.
"Okay, then I guess I'll see you at work Mama Wolf?"
"Yes, you will Holiday. And I expect you to have learned something from yesterday." Alix marched away from Eric, gathered her things, and left the library.
Three times. She'd gotten information about Amal three times.
First was Denver, which happened purely by chance as she didn't see what book she grabbed. The second with Miade in Omnicia this morning because he saw the book which spurred the man into recalling a story he'd heard. And now with Holiday and the Runic clan.
What sort of sick domino effect is this? It's like Yoer Groger's theory of Cascading Transcendence. The idea that when one sets a specific mana reaction in motion, corresponding reactions will automatically trigger with increasing intensity whether the creator wants it to or not!
One more time. If Alix heard about Amal, even one more time then...she didn't know what was going to do!
That night Alix and the others all worked the night at Hedgie's inn. She took orders and served drinks inside with Alice. Holiday worked the grill while Tyrant delt hands and served drinks on the outside. Hedgie was there with him giving out bar snacks and such.
It was a very productive night that ended nicely. Everyone returned to their rooms as they all now stayed within the Tavern belonging to Hedgie. Alix rested nicely, not a single thought of Amal in her mind.
She, suddenly, felt cold and a bit damp. It was like her body was surrounded by water. She squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to ignore the feeling but things then started to get loud. She heard laughing and yelling that was so obnoxious she couldn't help but wake up.
"Can you tell them to keep it down, Mo?" Alix turned to her sibling as he floated alongside her as always.
"Keep it down! Oh, wait they can't understand us!" Mo reminded his sister making Alix roll her eyes.
"Yeah yeah, I get it. I can't stand these pirates! Where are they even takin' us this time?!" Alix looked but couldn't see much from where their tank sat on the deck. Mo shrugged.
"I don't know? They said something about a cliff, I think?"
"Well that doesn't tell me anything at all!" Alix yelled swinging her fins wildly at the water.
"No, but it does explain that huge shadow that's coming up!" Mo pointed out as a massive landform blocked out the sky as it appeared. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Alright men!" The captain of the crew called out. "Get ready! We're gonna get up that ledge and find the treasure hidden within Amal!"
"Captain, how are we gonna get up there?" The first mate asked with a worried expression.
The captain smirked. "We're gonna climb of course!"
"Umm, can mortals climb that high?" Alix asked her brother.
"The captain probably can! I don't know about the others though?"
Alix shook her head. "I doubt it." She floated staring at the captain as he was getting yelled at by his first mate. A common sight for her and her brother.
Wait? Brother?
Mo isn't Alix's brother? Well, not her real brother at least. Also, she wasn't a fish on a pirate ship. A fog started rolling in and covered the entire ship making it hard for Alix to see. What in the world was-
*BOOM!*
Alix jumped as the sound of thunder rang through the air. She looked around panicked as she was no longer on the ship but the fog was still present. All around her she heard cries of battle but she could see nothing. She scanned her surroundings as something felt incredibly off.
"Where's Mo?" She asked aloud though none were around to hear. She searched all around but couldn't see her brother anywhere. "Mo? MO? MO WHERE ARE YOU?" Alix screamed like she'd never screamed before.
Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. She searched and searched, dashing through the fog as she looked. She had to find him! She had to!
She kept calling for him through the fog but there was never any answer. She ran until the fog finally cleared up a bit ahead of her.
Through the fog she now saw the captain fighting someone but couldn't tell who it was? That didn't matter to her though, as if the captain was here then Mo would surely be close! She scanned the surroundings and it didn't take her long to see Mo floating within his Abyssal Sea.
A smile spread upon her face. "Mo-"
*BOOM*
Lightning shot through the air blinding Alix. Her ears rang from the thunder but that didn't stop her from moving. Everything would be okay if she could just get to Mo. Things were always okay when they were together. They were the best team that was ever created!
Alix's vision slowly cleared up. "Mo, I'm here!" She announced but when she'd met eyes with the spot where Mo was once floating she could no longer see him. She was confused for a moment when her eyes naturally trailed down and saw a sight that horrified her.
There on the ground before her, charred like wood caught in a wildfire was Mo.
Unmoving.
Alix heard her heart beating in her ears. It was louder than ever before.
Her breath. Was she breathing? How could she be breathing at a time like this! Her entire body started to tremble as she fell to her knees. Feelings of despair and rage rose from deep inside her chest! They wanted to come out, they needed to get out!
In an intense, guttural voice Alix screamed.
"MOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Her eyes shot open but she was still screaming at the top of her lungs. All of the monsters in the room awoke in a panic.
"WHAT? WHAT?" Mo shouted while scanning the surrounding for danger.
"Allie? Are you okay?" Nuka asked.
"Savior, why are you crying?" Alix stopped screaming but still seemed to be out of it. She looked around the room franticly, like she was trying to find something.
"Mo? Mo, where are you?!" Mo, realizing that Alix was having another panic attack, flew out of his bowl into Alix's view.
"Hey! Hey! I'm right here, Alix! I'm safe, see? Nothing's wrong! We're all good!" Alix stared at Mo in silence as relief washed over her face. Tears continued to fall from her eyes as she reached out and hugged him tightly. She also grabbed Nuka and Trouler for extra comfort.
At that moment, the other residents of the tavern came bursting into Alix's room. With Hedgie at the lead.
"Alix! Are ya okay girl?" Hedgie went to rush to Alix's bed but stopped when she saw her tightly holding all of her monsters. Kent, Eric, and Alisa all rolled in after her.
"Is she okay?" Kent asked.
Hedgie nods and turns urging everyone out of the room. "Let's leave her alone. I think she just had a really bad nightmare." Everyone nodded and went back to there rooms, leaving Alix alone in her monster's embrace.
'Okay.' She thought with determination.
'Now, I have to go to Amal!'