If the presence of the teenage elf witch in training was a shock, then the sudden horse that appeared from out of nowhere charging him was akin to a drug-induced fever dream. The aviankin rolled to the side, dodging Asleipmir’s stampede but taking another firebolt to the shoulder courtesy of Cereste Celestia.

“Halt, evildoer!” She cried, her voice sounding more like a kitten than a ferocious lion. “You won’t be allowed to get away with kidnapping innocent people for your god any longer! My master is here to stop you!”

The Aviankin made a sound somewhere between a growl and an annoyed trill, holding out a feather-covered talon that gathered with a miasma of swirling magical fire - a response to Ceres Celestia’s own provocations. “Look, kid, I don’t know where you came from, but go back to playing with dolls instead of fire. Those that don’t know how to control the match just get burnt.”

Ceres Celestia squealed, covering her hands with her face. Morrigan, clutching the cicada they’d grabbed from their bag. Aw, hell. That was the problem with trying to get teenagers to do your dirty work for them. They were too inexperienced. It looked like Morrigan was going to have to step in. As the cultist threw the fireball, Morrigan broke into a dead sprint and rounded the corner. Their heart hammered in their chest as they drew on something they hadn’t touched in a long time, much less consciously. This ugly, empty feeling in their chest, the absence of where primordial magic, the fabric of life, was supposed to be. Yes, poor little Mana cursed Morrigan was an incomplete person - crammed full of fundamentally broken parts they refused to acknowledge.

They were going to have to use those broken parts now to save their apprentice.

Morrigan drew on that pit in their stomach harder than they ever had, the enchanted tattoos they’d crafted pulsating as they drew the magic from the air like a plant drew magic from the soil.^[1] And as they held their hands out, something… odd began to happen. The fireball fizzled out, losing steam as that empty sphere grew around Morrigan, expanding until it threatened to consume everything in its path. The magic from the cultist’s spell diverted course, flying towards Morrigan - and their tattoos pulsated, a bright glowing color, as the magic fizzled out and disappeared, absorbed by the mana curse.

Morrigan stepped forward, their arms alight with magic, the air around them as empty and hungry as a black hole. Despite the tremble in their arms from absorbing so much potent magic, they flashed the aviankin a nonchalant smile. “Now, why don’t we all take a step back and calm down there, friend?”

The cultist stared at his hand, mouth agape. Perhaps thinking this was a fluke, they tried to summon magic to their fingertips once more - only to be absorbed by the barrier surrounding the charlatan, still pulsating harsh, bright white light like a supernova with the energy that they’d absorbed. And inexplicably, nothing. The cultist blinked, turning up to look at Morrigan. “What… what did you to do me?”

Morrigan inspected their nails. “Nothing you didn’t deserve, squandering your gifts in such an inane, weak-willed way. Really, becoming a follower and not a leader? You wasted your magic, so I took it from you.” They offered him a grin that didn’t look the least bit apologetic. “Now, are you going to be a good boy and surrender?”

From his cell, Javal spoke up, reminding Morrigan that he was there in the first place. Oh, yeah. They were still technically on a rescue mission. Morrigan waved at him as nonchalantly as if they were meeting in a coffee shop rather than in the dungeon of some madmen. “Why, Master Javal Zarrias, as I live and breathe! Fancy meeting you here. Ceres, why don’t you help Ariadne go find the key to this cell? Javal, you sit there nice and pretty and watch the Wizard of the Wastes show you how it’s done.”

“Enough chatter!”

The aviankin charged at them, evidently having had enough of the humiliation. Morrigan lashed out with their tail, jabbing the cultist with the blade concealed on the tip like a scorpion stinging it’s prey. The force of the puncture was enough to rupture a lung, forcing the aviankin to spit out blood and stumble to his knees. Morrigan sauntered to the poor, unfortunate soul and put a hand on his shoulder.

They tilted their head in mock-sympathy, clicking their tongue. “See, this is the problem with you mages.” They whispered, low enough that Javal nor Ceres would be able to hear. This moment of hate was theirs alone. “You grow so fat and happy on your own abilities that you don’t know how to live without them. You’ve never had to struggle like I have. See what happens when we’re all on the same playing field? I’m simply built better. So sorry. Maybe your god will take pity on you and allow you to be reborn so you can try better next time.”

With that, they pierced the aviankin’s throat with the Scorpion’s Stinger, frost fire venom spreading through the wound. The corpse was cold before it hit the floor.

Morrigan turned to Javal with a wink, as if that display of ruthlessness hadn’t happened. The charatan, felling the cultist with nothing but their own wits and blade. Not a single spell in sight. “Now, let’s see about finding that key, shall we?”

---

1. Mark of the Mana Cursed

A pulsar gem has been broken down, and its essence imbued into a tattoo needle, allowing the owner to have a magical tattoo etched into their skin. Once per topic, the user can activate the tattoo, creating an anti-magic barrier around them in a ten-foot radius. Any spell that has been cast immediately ends. Additionally, for the next two posts, no one - neither friend nor foe - can cast a spell within that radius.

Javal shouts over to Morrigan as the fight continues, “Hello there Morrigan I am ever so glad that you have heard my call and my honorable pets were able to get you here. I never for a second doubted your abilities and waited here patiently while for some reason the guards couldn’t handle my charming pleas and the three went insane".

Ariadne scurries around the room trying to find the key but to no avail. Javal was slightly disturbed by Morrigan’s display of ruthlessness but he understood that accidents in the heat of battle happened.



Ariadne slowly and with disgust searched the dead aviankin cultists and found the key in his chest pocket.



She opened the door hurriedly and as Javal stood up to walk out Asleipmir and Ariadne jumped on with happiness tackling him to the floor.



He laughs, “Well it appears you guys missed me”, he then gets up and bows at all of them, “Thank you very much for your help saving me from this prison".

He stretches a bit and then says, “We have to go get Nadia. I heard the guard say she was imprisoned along with the valuable noble hostages about 5 rooms down to the right".

Joy of joys, the key to Javal’s cell was on the dead aviankin. Morrigan wiped the blood off their clothes, quite put out that they’d gotten blood all over their pristine Zeinavian silks, while Ariadne hastened to the bars to free her master. There was a CLICK as the mechanism unlocked, and Javal’s door sprang open. Morrigan stood back while the three had their happy reunion. How sweet. The sight was enough to give the charlatan cavities.

Morrigan swept into a low, showman’s bow in response to Javal’s, once all the hugging and happy reunion had come to an end. “Oh, please. There’s no need to thank me. What kind of wizard would I be if I didn’t jump in to help my companions in their moments of need?” Well, they weren’t really a wizard at all, but who was counting? Besides, no one seemed to have noticed their little… trick. So all was well that ended well-

Oh, damnit. There was one more that they needed to say. Morrigan pulled their fan from their belt, delicately waving it in front of their face as their tail flicked behind them in thought. It was growing dreadfully hot in this room, likely because this cave system was in such close proximity to Mount Drakolt. “Five rooms to the right… valuable noble hostages. Do they perhaps think that royal blood will feed their god better than mere commonfolk?” They murmured, unaware that they were practically insulting Javal by saying such a thing.

A few moments later, the sound of footsteps rounded the corner - Ceres Celestia was practically stumbling over their feet, breathing heavily as she approached them. A cloth-covered bundle rested in her hands, almost as big as the miniscule teenager. “I didn’t find the key, but I did find a room containing weapons, so I brought a bunch with me hoping to find Master Javal’s!” She squeaked when she noticed that the taller fellblood was already out of his cell. She dropped into a polite bow, accidentally letting the heavy swords in her hand drop to the ground. “Oh! You must be Master Javal… I’m Ceres Celestia. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Master Moonweaver’s apprentice.”

Morrigan pat her on the back, glowing with pride. “Ceres Celestia here is a stellar student - her help has been invaluable rescuing you from the clutches of these mad cultists!”

Ceres flushed under the complement.

Javal chuckles, “Of course Morrigan I knew I could count on your cunning and magical ability of you. I didn't know anyone better than you to call to help during the moment. I mean telling from your brutal show of magic there I have to say you’ve even gotten stronger”.



As Morrigan drew their fan and cooled themselves off Javal realized that he felt like his skin was getting hotter and hotter due to the warm and volcanic climate. He pushed through this unfortunate roadblock and decided that he can wait a couple more minutes until they need to save Nadia and now.



Javal barely heard Morrigan’s remark only hearing them restate the directions he gave, “Yes we must go at once”, and he was about to bolt away for another rescue before suddenly stopping hearing a new figure appear.



He quickly bows to the floor showing his gratitude, “Thank you very much young one for your help”, he grins seeing all these blades scattered on the floor. Javal smiles proudly to see that Master Morrigan had found themselves a new apprentice in the way of Ceres.



He quickly finds his spotting it at once due to the dull blue runes on the side and small hook although he now had the signature weapon he wasn’t done with all these new ones.



He threw off his coat and wrapped all the random assorted swords into it and carried it by his hand, throwing it over his shoulder.



“These will do nicely for now although by the seems of it they don’t like very durable at all”, he then sprints heading straight towards Nadia determined to save her at all costs.

Morrigan fanned themselves, brushing off the complement with a coy giggle in the way people acted when they truly just wanted more praise. “Why, of course. A great wizard must always keep up with their training.”

Something strange coiled in their gut, though, at the lie. Morrigan had never been averse to twisting the truth to suit their needs, but ever since their adventure in the Yudraehati to save the Phoenix, they’d felt more than a little… odd, using the wizard persona. Maybe it was because of how the other Morrigan had acted, that mirage of how they used to be. They were almost… desperate to the point of being pathetic. Morrigan adored validation and adoration and all manner of attention, but something about seeing how you acted from an outside perspective made their gut coil in disgust.

They could examine that later - or shove it in that deep box in the back of their mind, never to be examined again.

A few moments later, Ceres Celestia returned with a handful of weapons in her hand, allowing Javal to look through them. Morrigan watched curiously, remembering the weapon that Javal favored from their first meeting, back when they fought against the Woodsmen in Moonglade. Perhaps it was their imagination, but Morrigan thought it felt… different than it had in the past. Their arms tingled until the hair stood on edge, an ancient power contained within. Their pesky curse acting up again, they figured. Still, they figured they would ask. “An impressive weapon. Have you upgraded it since last we met?” They asked, their tail flicking around curiously.

Javal quickly gathered up the rest of the swords, though, and they made their way out of the hallway to the room that Javal had seen his retainer, Nadia, taken to. An interesting dynamic, the charlatan thought. How in the world did a royal end up serving someone so decidedly not a royal? Whatever the reason, it was definitely a pain to have to do even more good deeds after they’d already did their quota of good deeds for the day. They were greatly looking forward to a nice drink and a rose petal bath after this…

A few tense minutes later they found a room guarded by two men, one on either side. Morrigan pulled the hood of the cultist robe they were still wearing over their head, watching the stone-still guards thoughtfully. “Alright.” They whispered. “I’ve got a bomb in my bag, if we can figure out how to get inside we can grab young miss Nadia, then we can get out and drop the explosive to cover our escape…”

Javal holds his trusty katana in his hand and throws swords together and stands ready to depart before he leaves he thinks to ask about Morrigan’s question about his blade.



“Oh yeah my blade Katana turned out to be the legendary blade of a triton hero named Theseus and I fought his undead body and his spirit inhabited it awakening its power".


Javal didn’t listen to Morrigan’s words and charged at the guards with a determined look on his face he jumped into the air dropping the weapons on the guards as he did a large horizontal slash across their surprised bodies.



Javal then kicked one of them in the gut followed by stabbing the other who was mid way about to attack Javal’s back in the leg sending him screaming to the ground.



He hit the screaming one with the bottom of his blade and turned to face the bumbling guard holding her hands in the air trying to surrender.



Javal takes a single look at her and says, “Just lie down here next to your compatriot and pretend you got knocked out okay”.



The guard nodded vigorously and made their way laying face first into the ground beside her fellow cultist.



Javal then attempted to cut the iron bars holding Nadia but to no avail he turned to face Morrigan, “Hey Morrigan do you have anything that can destroy these pesky iron bars”.

Morrigan’s brows rose as Javal described the power in his sword. It seemed like every time the fellblood met him, he had something going on with him to make him insanely strong. First, the incident with the owlbear and his dark form, now this. Morrigan was certainly glad to be his ally, and in his grandfather’s good graces. They clapped their hands together, ushering Javal along. “Fascinating… I’m sure you shall have a story to tell me about this once all is said and done and we’ve rescued your lovely lady retainer, yes?”

… And then Javal dashed up and took care of both cultists before Morrigan could enact their plan.

“Javal, wait-!” Morrigan hissed, desperate not to give away their position, but Javal looked like he had this handled well enough. In a few swift blows, he had one screaming and the other crying for his mother.

… Well, that was taken care of.

They found young miss Nadia Sadrine on the inside of the room, behind a series of twisted wrought-iron bars baked into lava rock with no door in sight. Before Morrigan could think too hard about how they were placed in there in the first place, Javal was asking them if there was anything they could do to take care of the roadblock.

Morrigan tapped at their chin, searching through their bag at the request for help. They’d used up most of their corrosive poison reserves, but they had a couple of tonics still clustered in the back. Eventually, they found something that might be useful. “A-ha!” They exclaimed, pulling out a potion that would be rather familiar to Javal, if he was paying attention. Morrigan popped the cork and downed the drink like a shot, feeling the muscles in their arms grow stronger.^[1] Strong enough for Morrigan to wrap their hands around the bars and wrench them apart.

Morrigan looked back to Nadia and Javal, a flippant grin on their face as they wiped a bead of sweat from their forehead from the effort of physical exertion. “That was nothing.” They bragged, despite all evidence to the contrary. “Now, shall we make our dashing escape? Do we have everything?”

---

1. Beist's Transmutation Tonic (Baloth Muscles x2)

“Of course friend Morrigan I have much to tell you once this is all over maybe we can catch up at some tavern”, Javal yells as he runs through the hallway determined to find Nadia.



Javal stood by excitedly waiting for Morrigan to show him their skills, he was sure that they had learned so much more since the last time that they met.



Javal looked over Morrigan’s potion and noticed that it was the same one from before as some sort of graft tonic.



Javal then moved back to give Morrigan space as they pulled the iron bars apart.



Nadia bows towards Morrigan and says, “Thank you Lord Morrigan”, and Javal hands her ray bow.



She shakes her clothes trying to tidy herself from the dirt and says, “Where should we go? The guards should be swarming this place right now looking for intruders”.



Javal looks around them looking for an exit when the idea suddenly hits him, “Why don’t we make our exit”.



He then charges his katana’s blow (1) and lets it go, allowing the katana to drill through a small hole outside.



He then charges his fists (2) and punches the hole creating a larger hole big enough for the 5 of them to squeeze through.

1. Boomerang Arc
2. Bulls Strength

Lord Morrigan? Oh-ho, they quite liked the sound of that. In all actuality, Morrigan Moonweaver was by no means a member of nobility - they just had the wealth, insufferableness, and grandiosity of one. But there was a nice ring to Lord Morrigan. Maybe they’d look into forging documents or something of the like so they’d actually get a title. “Oh, please.” Morrigan said, dipping into a low bow, the same fake-humbleness they’d taken when helping Javal out of his own cell. “It was nothing. I am just happy to assist you and Master Javal in your time of need.”

It was, in fact, not nothing, but a big part of currying favor with others was to make them seem like their power and strength was so great that this much was mere child’s play.

In a sense… it kind of had been. The alchemist had managed to get themselves in here on wit and skill and their own alchemy alone. Huh. Strange, how somewhere along the line, as they’d thrown themselves into dangerous situation after dangerous situation with reckless abandon, Morrigan somehow seemed to have come out of it with a little more strength. Perhaps they just hadn’t noticed it because it wasn’t the kind they’d coveted.

Something to think about after they fled this place. Morrigan crossed their arms while Javal burrowed a hole through the stone wall, somehow large enough for an entire entourage and a horse to get through. The sound of footsteps pounded on the grind - the guards were getting closer. Morrigan waited until everyone was out to pull out their final move, the finishing touch. The piece de resistance. The glitter bomb, a certifiably dangerous bomb designed with enough pressurized glitter to blow the place to kingdom come. Only once they were all safe, and the guards were approaching their escape route, did Morrigan light the fuse and toss it in.^[1]

“Fire in the hole!”

Ten seconds later a burst of glitter and the sound of pained screams echoed through the air.

“Aaaaaaand, scene!” Morrigan clapped their hands together, delight painting their features. “All’s well that ends well, as the saying goes! Now, what do you all say to those drinks?”

---

1. Goblin Slag Bomb

The group descended down the mountain they had escape from and headed towards the city of Darkveil below them. Javal and his crew looked content to be together and united at last, as Javal got his bearings and felt alright he stopped the group to officially thank them for their hard work.



He went to his horse Asleipmir and bowed down as Asleipmir neighed, conveying that this meant nothing while his small smirk told a different story.



He bowed to Ceres and said, “Thank you young one your magical ability is a great one I’m sure Master Moonweaver has much to teach you. Their magic and physical abilities are truly a sight to behold as I’m sure you know, especially from seeing them in action”.





Javal bowed to Morrigan once more, thanking them once more, “Thank you friend Morrigan for everything. I appreciate your help and I knew I was right to entrust my complete safety and well-being into your capable hands".



Javal then walks over to his Prismatic spider as she hopped off Asleipmir’s back and bows to her thanking her for her excellent spy skills and service.



Javal expected nothing back but Ariadne’s usual cries of happiness but was surprised to hear a small female voice say, “You’re welcome”.



Ariadne looked up innocently as Javal’s face was filled with shock, “Woah Ariadne you can speak"?



Ariadne then said shyly, “Yes I haven’t before since no one asked”.



Javal then lets out a loud hearty laugh as he realizes his error.



The group then walks into a tavern in Dark Veil to unwind from their harrowing adventure, Asleipmir, and Ariadne stay behind and enjoy the food Javal bought them.

Ceres Celestia blinked, taken aback as Javal bowed to her. “Who, me?” Her voice was a veritable squeak, almost comparable to a mouse. Was Master Moonweaver’s friend seriously calling her powerful? Frantic, she moved to pull Mister Javal out of his bow. “Um, you don’t need to t-thank me, Master Javal, I’m still just an apprentice. My spells aren’t very powerful…”

Morrigan glanced down at their apprentice. It was… true that they’d only taken her on because they’d relished having a powerful student that they could get to do their bidding when the situation called for it, but that didn’t mean that they relished seeing her talk so poorly about herself like this! They could condone using teenagers to do dirty work, but they drew the line at low self esteem!

Morrigan put a hand on Ceres Celestia’s shoulder, letting out a boastful laugh. “Now, now, there’s no need for modesty, Ceres Celestia! Not just anyone can survive as the student of the Illustrious Wizard of the Wastes!” They figured in this case, the lie wasn’t so bad if it was to help boost her confidence. “So keep your head high, my student! You helped save someone today, and that is worth celebrating.”

“Right…” Ceres Celestia looked down at her staff before bowing in response to Javal’s thanks. “I’m happy to help. It’s nice to formally meet you, Master Javal.”

Morrigan merely flipped their braid over their shoulder in response to Javal’s thanks. “Thank me no more, Javal Zarrias. Of course I would come to the aid of a dear friend and ally in his time of need, and hope that if the roles were reversed he may one day return the favor…”

The unfamiliar voice startled them - with a jolt Morrigan realized it belonged to the spider. “Wait. You could talk this entire time?” Then what the hell had they played charades for?

Morrigan was still reeling over the revelation the entire way to the Dancer’s Den, even as the group secured a table and finally had the chance to relax after everything that had happened.

Nadia sat at a table in the tavern talking with Ceres about her tutelage under Morrigan.



Javal motioned Morrigan to sit next to him at the bar area as he motioned to the barkeep, a rugged halfling fellow with an eyepatch.



He orders a cup of sake and meat skewer and gives the man the appropriate amount of solars.



He then begins speaking with Morrigan, “So my friend how’re you doing? I see you now have an apprentice. What else has changed for you? Have you become stronger?”.



As Javal and Morrigan continue to chat and catch up a fellblood in a hooded robe approaches the two and hands them an envelope.



They then quickly leave the tavern in a almost a blink of an eye.



Javal is confused and asks, “Morrigan do you know who that fellow was? It seems that they recognized us and gave us whatever this is.”



Javal then opens the envelope and finds a letter addressed to the two from his grandfather.



“Dear Javal and Morrigan.



I hope this address finds you two well however the men of letters have made their next move. We have found one of their members through investigation and are assigning you to travel and defeat them”.

After an intense round of… gratuitous flirting with the bartender for free drinks and a bowl of spiced Zeinavian soup, Morrigan finally made their way back to where Javal, Nadia, and Ceres Celestia had settled. The young apprentice was conversing animatedly with the older elven woman, so Morrigan settled next to Javal and took a long swig of their rainbow-colored whiskey. The drink almost certainly had not been rainbow-colored when they procured it.

“Courtesy of the Mage’s Guild, my friend!” They boasted in response to the question about their newfound apprenticeship. Truth be told, Morrigan had not asked for a student - but apparently they were so good at pretending to have magic that the guild saw fit to allow a student of the Arcane Academy to train under them. A funny twist of fate, considering they really had no value to offer, but Ceres had improved by leaps and bounds. So much so that the academy was already considering sending them another student…

Morrigan fell silent and swirled their drink when Javal spoke next.

… Stronger.

An interesting word, really. The dictionary definition spoke of physical prowess. The societal definition spoke of magic and mana and the ability to bend reality to one’s will. Morrigan Moonweaver was neither of those things. Stunted growth, mana-cursed. But what they lacked in that department, they made up for in cleverness and boldness. Those were never particularly things that Morrigan had valued before outside of the money it could make them. As long as they could remember, they’d always been chasing the most recent scheme, the best way to make money and gain influence. Adoration was what they’d truly wanted, and the ability to be seen as a god when they’d been denied even the barest attention their entire life. Nothing else compared.

Interesting, though, that it was only when they’d let slip those ambitions, finally begun to put time and effort into curating alchemical growth, hell, even skill with the blade, that Morrigan first felt what it meant to receive praise in all its earnesty. Not just from Javal, either. From Kvasir, who’d complemented their wit and alchemy in all its oddities. Cantio, who’d complemented their fashion sense and storytelling abilities. Shitakibo, who’d admired their growth.

Javal, the swordsman grandson of Ozdemir Bram, believing that Morrigan was strong.

Funny, the twists and turns that life took.

Morrigan tapped their claws along the table, tail dragging along ash-covered floors beneath them. In one confident swing, they propped their feet up on the table, finishing off the last of their drink. “An alchemist’s work is never done, Javal Zarrias. I’ve never been content sitting still - truly, what hasn’t happened since last we met? I’ve spent my time garnering alchemical power and doing work for the guilds, even rescuing a phoenix from its immortal trappings in this very country. Though I doubt that is nearly as interesting as your tale regarding the sword, which I believe I was promised… hm?”

They paused when another fellblood in a deep, crimson robe approached them, holding out a slip of paper.

“Oh, no, I don’t do autographs.” Morrigan insisted, waving their hand to dismiss the intruder.

The fellblood rolled his eyes under the hood of his robe and handed the envelope to Javal instead.

To Morrigan’s surprise, though, the letter was not a blank slip of paper waiting for their signature. Instead, the contents were from a familiar name, though one Morrigan truthfully had not seen since their first meeting with Javal. A summons from Ozdemir Bram, the man who’d once tasked Morrigan with bringing out the darkness in his grandson. Given Javal was being kidnapped by cultists and still rescuing maidens from villains and whatnot, Morrigan figured they’d been a bit… lacking in that department. The summons, however, was addressed to both of them.

“The Order of Letters, again?” Morrigan huffed, flipping their braid over their shoulder. Ugh. These troublemakers. The last time they’d toussled with these jerks, Morrigan’s beautiful visage had nearly ended up in some Woodsman’s trophy room! Morrigan normally wouldn’t have bothered complying to anything they were ordered to do, but… well, they were petty. With a wave of their hand, Morrigan stood, pushing their chair in with a flourish of glitter. “Well, no rest for an alchemist, as I said before. Always something to be taken care of, and I daresay that you and I are the only ones powerful enough to take care of it. That is, if you’re up for the challenge.”

They offered Javal a sharp-toothed grin - a provocation. They already knew that Javal would rise up to meet the danger, though, no matter what happened to him.