"So, missy." Asked Lindberg. "Can you work with that? The pub's wards kept the demon's corruption at bay, so this might be the only healthy plant in the city."

  Mila inspected the potted fern from up close. Lindberg had presented them with the plant as soon as they woke up, so she was still in her pajamas, as were Kurt and Conrad.

  "Hmm.Yes, I think I can." She paused her inspection before smiling at the elder sorcerer. "Thank you, Mr. Lindberg! I really didn't want to strain any other spirits while their vessels were still recovering."

  "You're welcome." He chuckled. "It's the least I could do for you kids after what help you've lent us."

  Without a word, Mila placed both her hands above the plant, which promptly emitted a clean green mist. After a couple seconds of silence, perhaps wary of another 'zombie tree' incident, she finally began... well, talking wasn't the word for it. It was more like a psychic communication with some mumbling added on top. After she was done, the cloud of spirits emitted a series of clicking noises and promptly went back into its vessel.

  "So?" Asked Conrad. "What did they say?"

  "Southwest," replied the girl. "The... artifact went to the southwest. The spirits are absolutely sure."

  Lindberg seemed intrigued at this."Must be a darn big artifact then, if they're so sure." Then, he smiled warmly. "Good thing they sent you then. I'll see what we can arrange to get you southwest then."

  "Thanks, sir," said Kurt. "We appreciate the help."

  "Oh?" Came Galton's voice from down the hall. "Somebody's in a better mood today!"

  "Yeah, I... guess," Kurt said, turning to look at the sorcerer. "I just needed to put my thoughts in order. Plus, we finally know where to go from here, so that helps."

  "Speaking of which." Interjected Lindberg while looking at the newly arrived sorcerer. "I need you to find these kids a train. Anything that's going southwest, and with plenty of stops, so Mila can ask for as many directions as possible."

  "Will do, sir." Galton said, unfazed. He turned his head towards Kurt. "I've already gotten what you asked me for, by the way."

  What had he asked him for? What was he talking about?

  Oh, the books, ight.

  "The books on sorcery?" Asked Kurt, Galton nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it very much."

  Galton smirked. "Thank Lord Lindberg. It's his old books I'm giving you."

  "I wasn't using them either way." said the man in question. "Better to give them to someone who will actually benefit from having them."

  Kurt looked at him. "Then thank you, Lord Lindberg. For... well, everything."

  The man smiled at him. "No problem, kiddo. Now, all three of you better get prepared. You are going on the first train we can find."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  "This was the first train they could find?" Muttered Conrad.

  "Come on," chided Mila. "It isn't that bad."

  Conrad scowled slightly. "Wait until it starts to smell."

  The train in question had turned out to be... different than what they had expected. Namely, it was a livestock-carrying train, with over twenty closed wagons transporting about half a dozen cows each. The group—all three questers and Galton—was standing beside the last wagon of the train, which, while still a cattle wagon like the other twenty, was clean and empty, annexed to the train just for them.

  Galton bellowed an earthy laugh. "Well, this is the first train going southwest. Just bear with it."

  "We really appreciate it." said Kurt. "Thanks for your help, Galton. And please transmit our thanks to Mr. Lindberg. It's an honor that someone of his importance took the time to help our order."

  "Don't sweat it. Lindberg is about as nice as our commanders get, so him treating everyone as his grandchildren is par for the course for him. Plus, you saved the city's greenery, so that must have endeared you to him. And…well, to me too."

  "Hmm?" asked Kurt. "To you specifically?"

  Galton nodded, smiling very lightly. "Yeah, to me specifically. You see, I…live here. Was raised here. That park where we met? I used to play there as a child."

  "Oh," Kurt said. "So that's why you helped us."

  "Partly so, yeah," said Galton. "And since you helped me so much…"

  He handed Kurt a thin strip of paper with a phone number on it.

  "It's my phone number." he said. "In case you need anything at all."

  "Thank you, Galton. And for the books too. I promise I'll..."

  The train began moving.

  "Shit!" Exclaimed Kurt. "Gotta go, sorry! Guys, let's go!"

  Galton just gave yet another laugh as they rushed to their wagon. Good luck shitting, Kurt heard him shout as they departed.

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  The mystic art of transfiguration is, alongside evocation, one of the two greatest disciplines of physical sorcery. Instead of granting aether the properties of physical elements, which is the domain of evocation, transfiguration centers itself on the manipulation of the properties of physical matter through the infusion of aether into it: Increasing or reducing the toughness of an object, temporarily amplifying or reducing its weight, or changing its shape all fall under the purview of this art. Furthermore...

  Kurt's attention on the book he was reading—The Art of Transforming Matter—began to disperse as its contents began covering the less practical or fundamental elements of the art it covered.

  "So that's what Morgan was using." Murmured the boy.

  "What's that?" Asked Mila from her own 'section' of the wagon. Her voice was somewhat louder than usual, so he could hear her over the noise caused by the train's motion.

  An hour had passed since they departed Boston, the urban landscape being quickly substituted with grassy fields and lush forests.

  "Nothing." He answered. "Just reading some of the books Galton gave me. This one's about shaping matter through sorcery."

  Conrad hummed from the corner he had set his stuff on. "Just wait for our first stop before you begin practicing, lest you blow the train by accident."

  "Don't worry." Retorted Kurt with a smile. "When I blow up stuff, it's always on purpose."

  Conrad chuckled slightly, and the group soon fell into a comfortable silence accompanied by the train's sound. Mila's slightly confused gaze darted between the two of them.

  "You are getting along quite well." She remarked. "Did something happen between you guys?"

  "We... had a friendly chat last night." Answered Kurt. "You know, about my fight against that demon and how I was feeling afterwards."

  "And... how are you feeling?" She asked. "You were quite cranky yesterday, but since you seemed fine this morning, I didn't try to press the issue."

  Kurt took a moment to answer. "I'm... better now. That thing tried to screw with my head before I killed it, and I was still, you know, trying to get over it. I haven't quite managed yet, but the chat I had with Conrad helped me a lot."

  She smiled at him. "Well, if you need another chat, we're both here. I'm just glad you finally managed it."

  Kurt raised an eyebrow at this last comment. "Manage?" He asked. "Manage what?"

  Mila's smile widened, becoming positively toothy. "Whatever could it be? You finally managed to make a guy friend! I'm so proud of you!" That last bit came in a tone more maternal than Kurt was comfortable hearing from a girl about half his size.

  "Hey, come on." he said. "I have other friends already."

  "Nope! You have people you get along with, but no one you make plans with or..." She turned her head to look at Conrad. "... talk with about more heavy stuff. I'm honestly surprised it took you guys this long to start being friends, with how alike you are."

  "And despite my overwhelming charm." Commented Conrad.

  Kurt smirked at this. "Yeah, like trying to split my jaw in two over a spar. That kind of charisma isn't something you usually find in someone who's not in a straitjacket."

  Despite the apparent harshness of his words and the reference to that sparring incident, the tone was devoid of spite or animosity. Any previous rivalry or distate between them seemed now petty and distant, even if barely a couple days had passed since their last spar.

  "Oww, you're already friendly-snarking!" She cheered. "Now you finally have someone as battle-minded as you to talk about... I don't know, swords and wieners."

  "I'm free today for that." Commented Conrad while smirking.

  "Great!" Snarked back Kurt, also with a smirk. "It'll be good receiving tips on polishing from an expert like you."

  Another silence overtook the group. For like two seconds, before they began laughing.