B3 – Chapter 12: Field Trip!

They were standing in the circles at the marketplace, and Tristan followed Bertram’s lead as he stepped down onto the thoroughfare. The markets were already full, and shopkeepers of all stripes were shouting out their wares as people from all Realms filtered through the permanent stalls and precise grid structure.

Their small group went over to a large covered area with rows of seats and a chalkboard up front. Tristan had noticed it before on his prior visit, but he assumed it was some type of place to make a sales pitch. But now, he saw dozens of students. All dressed in Citadel robes, each with a bag hanging from their waist, and all facing a lecturer.

A half-breed, someone who looked like a pure mix of human and Elemental Realm of Lightning Drakonid, given that his body was fully human save for being covered in scales of a bright, sky blue. He was dressed similarly to Joel, and as the Field Trip Advisor sat down and gestured to the rest to sit, the Half-Breed kept speaking.

“-Now Fulmoss grows on the underside of the rocky outcroppings on the Thundering Plains. You are going to want to look for larger stone chunks that have an overhang. Now, can anyone tell me how Fulmoss grows?”

Several hands shot up, and the instructor pointed at one student who stood and spoke with a questioning undertone – uncertain of her answer. “It is gathered like an icicle from the ambient electrical energy surging through the environment.”

The instructor, who Tristan realized was named Torvald as his name was written on the chalk board in the far corner, shook his head. “So close! Almost perfect!” He tapped the depiction of the Fulmoss that was sketched out – a lumpy moss that looked almost like a pile of fish eggs. “Icicles are an apt comparison, yes, but it is not just made from the ambient magical energy. It stores lightning and electricity! That is why we cannot farm it and must collect it. Without the ambient essence, the moss will not grow. Now, who can tell me one of the uses?”

Again, several hands shot up, and Torvald pointed to a male student who stood and spoke with confidence, “Creating potions that reduce the harm that lightning can inflict. And in Elixirs can provide temporary immunity.”

“Correct!” Torvald fist pumped and jumped off the slight platform, giving the student a high-five before hopping back to the stage.

This guy really enjoys his job, Tristan thought.

Torvald continued, “Now, you are going to be split into…” he looked back over the group of students and spotted Joel, who held up two fingers. “-two groups,” Torvald finished. “One moment,” he added before rushing over to Joel as students all watched. He lowered his voice to a whisper, “Two groups? But we only have one dragonslayer!”

Joel pointed at Tristan, and Tristan waved. “We have another,” Joel stated. “You will take Tristan here along with his advisor, Eloise. I will take Bertram and Rory.”

Torvald looked at Tristan with curiosity, but glanced at the sword that Tristan had leaned against the chair as he could not sit with it on his back. The man nodded curtly and returned to the chalk board, erasing it and beginning to divide up students.

Eloise stood up and gestured to Tristan to stand as she spoke, “I will be accompanying you.”

Felicity frowned, “Getting info, huh? Trying to figure out just what we can do?”

“Precisely,” Eloise stated.

Tristan looked over at Bertram who was still seated, arm wrapped around Rory’s shoulder. “Sorry we don’t get to kill a dragon together.”

Bertram glanced over and shrugged, “There will be more chances. And we might not even see dragons.”

“But I hope we do,” Rory added with brimming confidence.

Eloise grabbed Tristan’s shoulder and turned him away slightly, lowering her voice. “I need to see you on your own, and how you handle a dragon. There are other predators out there besides dragons alone.”

“Like what?” Tristan asked as she began leading him towards the portals to other Realms on the far side of the marketplace from their arrival point.

“Any creature you can imagine from the Mortal Realm could have a counterpart,” Eloise replied softly as Torvald came up closer and joined them. “Perhaps Torvald here could be more informative, being a native to that Realm.”

Torvald gave a brief wave, “Hey there, Tristan, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“What did you want to know?” the half-breed man asked as students followed him in two orderly rows.

“What type of hostiles could we encounter?” Felicity asked.

Torvald looked over at her, and completely unphased by the fact that she was a fairy dragon, talked in a conversational manner. “Oh, well, the Thundering Plains are going to have Boltstallions, there’s always a chance for a Dragon or Goblin tribe, just as with every other Elemental Realm. We might encounter Thunderstompers, or even Stormforged if we are really lucky!”

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“Lucky?” Eloise said with a frown. “Luck would be having nothing happen.” She glanced at Tristan and smiled every-so-slightly, “Well, except for a dragon attack.”

Torvald shook his head fervently, “No you misunderstand! Thunderstompers and Boltstallions are completely harmless unless you really piss them off. Stormforged are…well, it depends on the temperament of their creator.”