17 min read
The Trade of a Lifetime
October 20, 2018
◈ WHO: The Trader & Ryder (Rapidashtrainer & Skyeforge)
◈ WHEN: Late into the night on October 20, 2018
◈ WHERE: Some old ruins Ryder stumbled across in the forest near his home.
◈ WEATHER: Cool, and getting cooler by the minute.
◈ WHEN: Late into the night on October 20, 2018
◈ WHERE: Some old ruins Ryder stumbled across in the forest near his home.
◈ WEATHER: Cool, and getting cooler by the minute.
“Practice makes perfect.”
That phrase was something that Ryder had heard many of times before. Life had been quiet for the little frei in the recent month. He was trying his best to get out, make friends, and keep his mind off of everything that had happened over the course of his short life. The frei had been through a lot already. From learning and controlling his magical abilities, to completely losing sense of who he was as a living creature and not having the ability to do anything whatsoever. The dark life of the poor boy had been kept a tight, sealed away secret from many, except a select few he trusted with those sorts of details.
Ryder needed a getaway, yet again. He couldn’t take being cooped up in the house any longer. He had his fill of his video game, and everything seemed to bore him. It was time to at least attempt some magic. This time he took to the forest later in the evening, just before the sun was to set. He told Reuben he would be back before sundown, but that wasn’t about to happen anytime soon, as he found his way deeper into the forest which seemed to surround the Rothmore estate.
The frei had been going over his spellbook time and time again as he floated deeper and deeper into the forest. He tried anything he could to gather the magical will within him to produce even a sliver of what he used to do. Alas, he was unable to conjure even a single horn atop his head. With frustration abound, he had a feeling that Erryd would pop up at any moment; but he didn’t. For once in his life, whilst he was failing at something, Erryd kept silent. Why? What had prompted his sudden departure? The questions crept into his mind but as soon as they appeared, they vanished. Ryder wanted nothing to do with them. He was glad to see Erryd wouldn’t show his face today. He wanted to wallow in his sorrow alone.
It wasn’t long, however, that something caught the boy’s eye. As he floated through a deep, unknown part of the forest, the frei could see a glimmer in the distance. The moon shone brightly through the trees and Ryder found himself treading across an old ruin.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” he said to himself as he floated amongst the dew-covered grass and foggy atmosphere, looking up at the moonstricken beams. This place was definitely magical, and gave the frei a bit of a confidence boost when it came to his magical abilities.
It was at this point that the toadstool placed his satchel on the ground and pulled out his old spellbook once more. Here was the place that something magical would happen. He just knew it.
Slowly, silently, cold wispy tendrils of fog began to curl up to the old ruins. The cacophony of sounds one usually associated with forests grew silent;-reduced to only the occasional flutter of wings as a bird took flight to safety.
The Trader could feel it. A customer. A person with a yearning. A person that a barter, a trade could be made with. In short, a potential client.
A wide grin began to spread across the Trader’s shadowy features as a pair of hands as dark as night manifested themselves only to rub each other gleefully. It has been a while since he had done a deal. Not from the lack of people who needed, desired, wanted something; there will always be such people, but rather because the cascading effect of their granted wishes were...lackluster, inadequate, insufficient...miniscule. Those kinds of trades were self limiting and therefore...boring.
But over here…
“You called?” the Trader enquired as he loomed silently over the figure of…
Then grin widened. A familiar physique at any rate.
“I have come to provide solutions. What is your problem?”
The Trader could feel it. A customer. A person with a yearning. A person that a barter, a trade could be made with. In short, a potential client.
A wide grin began to spread across the Trader’s shadowy features as a pair of hands as dark as night manifested themselves only to rub each other gleefully. It has been a while since he had done a deal. Not from the lack of people who needed, desired, wanted something; there will always be such people, but rather because the cascading effect of their granted wishes were...lackluster, inadequate, insufficient...miniscule. Those kinds of trades were self limiting and therefore...boring.
But over here…
“You called?” the Trader enquired as he loomed silently over the figure of…
Then grin widened. A familiar physique at any rate.
“I have come to provide solutions. What is your problem?”
Ryder began to take note of the eerie silence that befell the area. It was strange, to say the least, that he would even take this beautiful scene here at these desolate ruins and suddenly feel anything other than happy, inspired. But he did. He felt another feeling that something just wasn’t right.
As the fog crept up more and the dark somehow seemed to darken further, Ryder felt uncomfortable, it was a sudden rush of feelings, but they were feelings nevertheless.
Then, he saw it. The hands and face of a dark shadowy figure looking at him from nearby. He was large, dark, and something about him made Ryder feel weary, but at the same time very intrigued. Was he a genie? He seemed to be birthed of the dark, but aside from that, he watched as the manifested grin shown bright on his face.
Then, the figure spoke. It really was like a genie. Maybe a spirit of the ruins perhaps? Granting wishes and helping people with problems? That didn’t seem very menacing, right? Then he remembered the words of his guardian, “Never judge a book by its cover.”
Those words evoked a special feeling for this dark figure. He was here to help, and for that, Ryder would at least listen to what he had to say.
After swallowing the lump in his throat, he floated closer to the Trader. “I...I have a plethora of problems,” he began. Then he shuffled back and shook his head. No, he couldn’t ask for every problem in his world to be fixed. On top of that, what if this being couldn’t fix everything. No, his main focus was his magic.
“But…” he began, swallowing yet another lump in his throat. “...my issue seems to be one of my magic. I cannot cast my imagination magic any longer. It...seems to have fizzled out and I have tried for a year to get it back. Nothing has worked,” he said, his voice crackling every few words as the nerves began to get to him. But in all honesty, what could this being do for him? Probably just wasting his time. Those thoughts crept up behind the words. He was spouting his problem to a stranger, why? He didn’t really have a definite answer, but who knew what would happen next.
As the fog crept up more and the dark somehow seemed to darken further, Ryder felt uncomfortable, it was a sudden rush of feelings, but they were feelings nevertheless.
Then, he saw it. The hands and face of a dark shadowy figure looking at him from nearby. He was large, dark, and something about him made Ryder feel weary, but at the same time very intrigued. Was he a genie? He seemed to be birthed of the dark, but aside from that, he watched as the manifested grin shown bright on his face.
Then, the figure spoke. It really was like a genie. Maybe a spirit of the ruins perhaps? Granting wishes and helping people with problems? That didn’t seem very menacing, right? Then he remembered the words of his guardian, “Never judge a book by its cover.”
Those words evoked a special feeling for this dark figure. He was here to help, and for that, Ryder would at least listen to what he had to say.
After swallowing the lump in his throat, he floated closer to the Trader. “I...I have a plethora of problems,” he began. Then he shuffled back and shook his head. No, he couldn’t ask for every problem in his world to be fixed. On top of that, what if this being couldn’t fix everything. No, his main focus was his magic.
“But…” he began, swallowing yet another lump in his throat. “...my issue seems to be one of my magic. I cannot cast my imagination magic any longer. It...seems to have fizzled out and I have tried for a year to get it back. Nothing has worked,” he said, his voice crackling every few words as the nerves began to get to him. But in all honesty, what could this being do for him? Probably just wasting his time. Those thoughts crept up behind the words. He was spouting his problem to a stranger, why? He didn’t really have a definite answer, but who knew what would happen next.
The Trader’s grin widened as the youngling expressed his woes. This was simply delightful, fascinating, intriguing and tantalizing. “A break in your magic mojo eh? Can’t seem to have that special pizzazz? A terrible, terrible thing,” the Trader said sympathetically although his expression was anything but emphatic.
“Fortunately for you, I may have the solution to your woes,” said the Trader magnanimously and with the merest inclination of a bow. “But my services aren’t pro bono; free;-of charity. I would require something in return. A small token if you will,” said the Trader with dismissive flick of his hand as though such a requirement was really nothing more than a mere formality in the process of problematic problem solving.
“Fortunately for you, I may have the solution to your woes,” said the Trader magnanimously and with the merest inclination of a bow. “But my services aren’t pro bono; free;-of charity. I would require something in return. A small token if you will,” said the Trader with dismissive flick of his hand as though such a requirement was really nothing more than a mere formality in the process of problematic problem solving.
Ryder watched and listened as the Trader spoke, his voice very sympathetic. He nodded, even though the frei didn’t see any empathy in the beings face, he heard it, and he could understand. His face lit up upon hearing that this being had a solution to his problems, but when asked about needing a small token in return, Ryder’s face fell.
“What would you request? I...do not have much to offer,” he said, obviously downcast, his voice low. His mind fluttered with possibilities. What would he want? What could Ryder even offer? He didn’t know, but he hoped it wouldn’t be too much. Though giving him some sort of solution would be worth it. Ryder continued to think positive.
“What would you request? I...do not have much to offer,” he said, obviously downcast, his voice low. His mind fluttered with possibilities. What would he want? What could Ryder even offer? He didn’t know, but he hoped it wouldn’t be too much. Though giving him some sort of solution would be worth it. Ryder continued to think positive.
The Trader nodded in apparent understanding at Ryder’s lack of offerings. His clients often underestimated themselves and the worth that they hold. This was going to be fun. Like taking candy from a baby or a stroll in the park. [i]Quick thinking now. That’s the key[/i] thought the Trader as he looked over the mushroom frei for an opening, a sign of weakness, an insecurity. And boy were there lots of it. And it all stemmed from…
“How about your insecurities? I could take that as payment. In fact, yes...your lack of magical prowess probably stemmed from it. Like a cork to your potential. Bottling and keeping it all in,” said the Trader as he made an expansive wave in the air, as though implying that all kinds of wonders could be achieved if only Ryder could be more assertive.
“So will you trade me your insecurities young one? They are the cause and the cure of your problems,” said the Trader with a voice that screamed of conviction. “And there is no reason to worry, fear, doubt me. I have done plenty of trades before. There was another. Like you. Half-body. But with white hair. A pale being when compared to your vibrancy,” said the Trader in the tones of a fisherman who has had his fish hooked. “I believe his name was...Xiu. Yes, I do believe so. He had wanted strength and I have given him such. Tell me lad…,”
The Trader’s tone was gentle now, fatherly even. “How is he doing? It has been a while. I am sure he must have mentioned me to you?”
Xiu had not. This the Trader also knew because Ryder was being perfectly naive. Had he known, things would have gone very differently. Nevertheless, name dropping was all part of the business. The grease to the cogs, the oil to the joints. It would place Ryder into a fall sense of security.
“How about your insecurities? I could take that as payment. In fact, yes...your lack of magical prowess probably stemmed from it. Like a cork to your potential. Bottling and keeping it all in,” said the Trader as he made an expansive wave in the air, as though implying that all kinds of wonders could be achieved if only Ryder could be more assertive.
“So will you trade me your insecurities young one? They are the cause and the cure of your problems,” said the Trader with a voice that screamed of conviction. “And there is no reason to worry, fear, doubt me. I have done plenty of trades before. There was another. Like you. Half-body. But with white hair. A pale being when compared to your vibrancy,” said the Trader in the tones of a fisherman who has had his fish hooked. “I believe his name was...Xiu. Yes, I do believe so. He had wanted strength and I have given him such. Tell me lad…,”
The Trader’s tone was gentle now, fatherly even. “How is he doing? It has been a while. I am sure he must have mentioned me to you?”
Xiu had not. This the Trader also knew because Ryder was being perfectly naive. Had he known, things would have gone very differently. Nevertheless, name dropping was all part of the business. The grease to the cogs, the oil to the joints. It would place Ryder into a fall sense of security.
As the Trader spoke, it seemed as though Ryder was on the edge of his seat. Everything seemed magical. The way he spoke, the way he moved. The things he knew, even. His insecurities? What was one of his largest insecurities? His poisonous skin...that was the one thing he hated about himself, the one thing that he could definitely live without.
“You...really think it has to do with that?” The boy paused for a moment to think. He clenched his book tightly within his arms. It seemed too good to be true, the Trader wouldn’t be able to truly take away such a thing, right?
Then he spoke more, and this time, about Xiu of all people. “Y-you know Xiu?!” The boy’s voice cracked as he spit out the words. He gave Xiu his strength? It must have been when he was a frei or sigel himself if he was only half-bodied at the time. Ryder’s face lit up. “You helped Xiu gain strength? He is...an adult now, a valsaros as we’re called. And he is very strong.”
Maybe this man was telling him the truth. After all, he knew Xiu’s power and strength, and if he was serious about being able to take away his biggest insecurity, his poison, that would be even better.
“Are...are you sure this can work, though?” He asked curiously, still almost on the edge of caution. He wasn’t one to just jump the gun, he had to think about what possible effects this would cause, but in all honesty, he didn’t really see any negatives in giving up his poisonous skin, even if it didn’t truly help him ‘realize his true potential’ as this man thought it would.
Ryder floated, waiting for any response the Trader could give him, eyes wide and trusting, arms more relaxed as his spellbook fell further away from his body, as if he was opening himself up to trust this stranger.
“You...really think it has to do with that?” The boy paused for a moment to think. He clenched his book tightly within his arms. It seemed too good to be true, the Trader wouldn’t be able to truly take away such a thing, right?
Then he spoke more, and this time, about Xiu of all people. “Y-you know Xiu?!” The boy’s voice cracked as he spit out the words. He gave Xiu his strength? It must have been when he was a frei or sigel himself if he was only half-bodied at the time. Ryder’s face lit up. “You helped Xiu gain strength? He is...an adult now, a valsaros as we’re called. And he is very strong.”
Maybe this man was telling him the truth. After all, he knew Xiu’s power and strength, and if he was serious about being able to take away his biggest insecurity, his poison, that would be even better.
“Are...are you sure this can work, though?” He asked curiously, still almost on the edge of caution. He wasn’t one to just jump the gun, he had to think about what possible effects this would cause, but in all honesty, he didn’t really see any negatives in giving up his poisonous skin, even if it didn’t truly help him ‘realize his true potential’ as this man thought it would.
Ryder floated, waiting for any response the Trader could give him, eyes wide and trusting, arms more relaxed as his spellbook fell further away from his body, as if he was opening himself up to trust this stranger.
“Think? THINK? Boy, I KNOW!” exclaimed the Trader in an almost triumphant manner, his eyes practically gleaming in the gloom of the day. “Insecurities, inhibitions, uncertainties; they are the bane to everyone’s potential. Since you seem to know and look up to Xiu, let me let you in on another little secret, a tidbit if you will, something that would give credence to my name!”
The Trader leaned in close, the grin widening ever so slightly. “Xiu was...uncertain if he would be able to protect his family and came to find me, no different than a soaked puppy he was! In fact, probably no older than you are! And I gave him a trade a wonderful trade! It gave him confidence to face his fear! He stood up to a monster! A ghastly gheist! And he was triumphant! And now you say that he is strong?! Tell me boy, what other proof, evidence and verification do you need? My clientele is vast and I am experienced!”
Then leaning even closer, the Trader pressed his fingers against Ryder’s skin, seemingly unconcerned with the poison that coated its surface. “So will you trade with me~? “
Fingers as dark as night and as smooth as velvet clutched at Ryder’s skin for a moment longer then slowly retracted and with them came a thread of poison, the source of Ryder’s frustration. Twirling his fingers idly as one would with a length of cotton thread, the Trader smiled again. “So, what will you trade me boy~?”
“How about this absolutely venomous coating you seem to have encased yourself in in exchange for absolute confidence~?”
The Trader leaned in close, the grin widening ever so slightly. “Xiu was...uncertain if he would be able to protect his family and came to find me, no different than a soaked puppy he was! In fact, probably no older than you are! And I gave him a trade a wonderful trade! It gave him confidence to face his fear! He stood up to a monster! A ghastly gheist! And he was triumphant! And now you say that he is strong?! Tell me boy, what other proof, evidence and verification do you need? My clientele is vast and I am experienced!”
Then leaning even closer, the Trader pressed his fingers against Ryder’s skin, seemingly unconcerned with the poison that coated its surface. “So will you trade with me~? “
Fingers as dark as night and as smooth as velvet clutched at Ryder’s skin for a moment longer then slowly retracted and with them came a thread of poison, the source of Ryder’s frustration. Twirling his fingers idly as one would with a length of cotton thread, the Trader smiled again. “So, what will you trade me boy~?”
“How about this absolutely venomous coating you seem to have encased yourself in in exchange for absolute confidence~?”
The surprise on the frei’s face when the Trader burst out in triumph. He seemed so confident, something the toadstool lacked. But, the story provided further validated the man’s claims. Xiu was definitely a strong individual, definitely someone who wasn’t in any need of confidence. So it was this man that helped him become the man he was today?
A smile crept up on the boy’s countenance. As the Trader gently touched him, a visible string appeared around the Trader’s fingers. That was his poison, the source of his doubt? It was that easy to take? He knew magic existed in this world, but never in a million years had he seen this coming. Ryder took not more than a second to respond. “Yes! Take it! All of it! I trust you. If you helped Xiu and he turned out the way he did, I am most certain I can be as strong as him someday.”
The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he hoped in the next few moments everything would change.
A smile crept up on the boy’s countenance. As the Trader gently touched him, a visible string appeared around the Trader’s fingers. That was his poison, the source of his doubt? It was that easy to take? He knew magic existed in this world, but never in a million years had he seen this coming. Ryder took not more than a second to respond. “Yes! Take it! All of it! I trust you. If you helped Xiu and he turned out the way he did, I am most certain I can be as strong as him someday.”
The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he hoped in the next few moments everything would change.
The Trader grinned and manifested a small amber bottle not unlike the ones that had the label “drink me” in Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland. Uncorking the bottle, the Trader began feeding Ryder’s thread of poison into the receptacle with apparent ease. Gradually the bottle began to fill until finally, with a rather hard yank, the last of the poison thread was forced out of Ryder’s body and tied to its end…
“That is the metaphorical key to all of your inhibitions,” said the Trader with a grin as he pocketed the item. “The source of your reticence, your resistance and insecurities. This, I shall keep as part of our trade and this…”
The Trader shook the bottle of poison.
“Is my payment for safekeeping the item. A fair trade, deal and barter; agreed?”
“Oh, I would also appreciate it if none of this gets leaked out. Not until the results of the transaction have manifested, shown or express themselves. Not until the effects are startlingly obvious~,” said the Trader with apparent glee. “After all, wouldn’t it be fun to surprise your friends and family? Let them puzzle, ponder and wonder at your improvement?”
“That is the metaphorical key to all of your inhibitions,” said the Trader with a grin as he pocketed the item. “The source of your reticence, your resistance and insecurities. This, I shall keep as part of our trade and this…”
The Trader shook the bottle of poison.
“Is my payment for safekeeping the item. A fair trade, deal and barter; agreed?”
“Oh, I would also appreciate it if none of this gets leaked out. Not until the results of the transaction have manifested, shown or express themselves. Not until the effects are startlingly obvious~,” said the Trader with apparent glee. “After all, wouldn’t it be fun to surprise your friends and family? Let them puzzle, ponder and wonder at your improvement?”
Ryder’s eyes widened at the sight of the brown bottle manifested by the Trader. It would soon contain all of his hesitation, metaphorical or not. The Trader pulled the thread from Ryder’s body. As he did, the frei felt a release of power. Slightly weak, but over all he felt an instant sense of calm come over him. It wouldn’t be apparent if it worked until he tested his powers, but the boy felt very free, whether it was all in his mind or if the feeling was true and real, wasn’t discernible.
“A fair trade, deal and barter; agreed?”
Ryder nodded and a smile grew upon his face. As the Trader stated the caveat, he couldn’t speak about this meeting to anyone, at least not right away. Ryder willingly agreed, and couldn’t wait to begin practicing magic again.
“So, you took away my inhibitions, my biggest insecurity, yet I do not feel much different. And you have decided to keep the bottle with my poison as compensation?” He reiterated the terms of the deal.
“When shall my power return? What am I to expect in the coming days?” Questions suddenly flooded his mind, he wanted to make sure he wasn’t being completely duped, after all, and the boy needed reassurance that this was a legit transaction.
“A fair trade, deal and barter; agreed?”
Ryder nodded and a smile grew upon his face. As the Trader stated the caveat, he couldn’t speak about this meeting to anyone, at least not right away. Ryder willingly agreed, and couldn’t wait to begin practicing magic again.
“So, you took away my inhibitions, my biggest insecurity, yet I do not feel much different. And you have decided to keep the bottle with my poison as compensation?” He reiterated the terms of the deal.
“When shall my power return? What am I to expect in the coming days?” Questions suddenly flooded his mind, he wanted to make sure he wasn’t being completely duped, after all, and the boy needed reassurance that this was a legit transaction.
“You are already asking lots of probing questions,” said the Trader with a smirk. “ I would say the effects are already starting to make itself apparent,”
Thin threads of shadows were already beginning to swirl around the Trader’s legs, signaling that their time was at a close. “The poison is my payment for my end of the trade. Do NOT think to question me,” the Trader warned, his tone suddenly guttural. “You have agreed on a trade and I have sealed the deal. I do not do go back on my words neither will I do refunds,”
Shadows rise up and engulfed the dark figure. Then there was no one.
Thin threads of shadows were already beginning to swirl around the Trader’s legs, signaling that their time was at a close. “The poison is my payment for my end of the trade. Do NOT think to question me,” the Trader warned, his tone suddenly guttural. “You have agreed on a trade and I have sealed the deal. I do not do go back on my words neither will I do refunds,”
Shadows rise up and engulfed the dark figure. Then there was no one.
Ryder suddenly felt as though something was wrong; but before he was able to respond to the Trader’s words, the dark figure was gone. Ryder looked about the area, hugging tight to his spellbook. What had just happened? Ryder couldn’t help but feel totally taken aback, but...had the Trader just really done as he said? Did he truly take the poison from him? So many questions flooded the frei’s mind.
He had to know.
The frei rushed home to find Reuben sound asleep in his bed. The frei floated silently over to his guardian’s side, his heart racing within his chest. With a quivering hand, the toadstool slowly reached out towards his guardian’s cheek. He brushed the back of his hand against it slowly, crinkling his face as he did. Had the magic of the Trader not worked, Reuben would writhe in pain soon enough.
To the raevan’s surprise, his guardian didn’t wake. He rolled over and continued to sleep just fine. Ryder looked down at his hands, the poison...it was gone, truly gone. The Trader had done it! This would be the beginning of something so magical.
He had to know.
The frei rushed home to find Reuben sound asleep in his bed. The frei floated silently over to his guardian’s side, his heart racing within his chest. With a quivering hand, the toadstool slowly reached out towards his guardian’s cheek. He brushed the back of his hand against it slowly, crinkling his face as he did. Had the magic of the Trader not worked, Reuben would writhe in pain soon enough.
To the raevan’s surprise, his guardian didn’t wake. He rolled over and continued to sleep just fine. Ryder looked down at his hands, the poison...it was gone, truly gone. The Trader had done it! This would be the beginning of something so magical.