Foraging (Breathing Bridges)
Typically Valerian didn’t leave her cottage, it wasn’t as if she were an introverted individual, no quite the opposite actually, she preferred to stay put where she could be in control of the variables and environment around her, out here in the middle of nowhere she lacked control and that always made her slightly on edge. It couldn’t be helped though, the breathing bridges or so they were called were a wonder of this world and sure she’d gotten Echo to investigate but seeing this place for herself and recording the little things Echo would’ve missed on her report made the trip somewhat worthwhile. On the bright side in all her 157 years on this earth she’d never actually visited the area herself, she was still a young witch afterall there were still some adventures to be found even after so long.
“What a fascinating place” She hummed to herself as she overlooked her surroundings, her Vikai Cheasterfield had dropped her as close as he could get before going back to the skies to watch over his master. It was rather beautiful here she had to admit, the grass was a vibrant and rich shade of green she’d only ever seen from around The Harrow, the moss that clung to the rock faces surrounding the small pools that seemed to flood the grass patches was also a gorgeous colour. She particularly liked that factor, the shallow and deep pools here had grass on the depths of their floors, something Echo made a note of but looked far more beautiful in person, it was almost as if this place were a beach and the sand had been replaced by grass, Valerian may or may not have made a mental note to herself to use that idea in her own garden she liked it so much.
Checking Echos notes over she decided to activate the enchantment sketched into the spine of her book, running a slender finger down the old wooden column. The runes were almost invisible until they glew a soft pink before enveloping the bottom of the book, keeping it floating in place even as Valerian let it go to reach for a feathered pen in her breast pocket, she did the same thing with the pen and it was soon floating alongside the book, waiting for her to speak so it could record anything she may need, as she walked it just hovered before her, keeping up with her strides.
“Make a note that the soils here are clearly imbedded with the same magical essence we see celebrated at the flower festival” She spoke to herself but the pen's enchantment worked smoothly and wrote down when she’d said. “Make a note that Echo’s previous theory about this place perhaps being a nursery for Harlu’s” She added. Echo had been right about this place it definitely had a deep sense of magic and history here and although right now no Harlu’s played within the pools of water she knew it was far from hatching season, those little whales would now be flying through the skies over the world, probably triple their size too Val thought fondly. She continued on though, cross examining Echo’s notes with her own to combine them into something more tangible, Echo was a brilliant assistant Valerian couldn’t fault that but she made notes on rather useless things that for Valerian were rather obvious. The rich soil here was clearly magical which is why Sacred Blue Datura could be found blooming here in times of the full moon, something every witch should just know and not to mention her findings of Scented Hornsbreath, it was a well known fact they grew here.
“I mustn’t be so harsh” Valerian sighed to herself, as often as she could she had to remind herself not to be such a know it all, she had lived almost 4 of Echo’s lifetimes, probably more, of course she’d know more that’s why Echo was her apprentice. Not that that was the souls reasoning for Echo being her apprentice, the fluffy too good for her own sake Aphex was truly gifted when it came to magic and Valerian wanted to make sure she could not only control and defend herself but also to use that and her witch findings to continue Valerians work in this world when she finally passed, if she ever decided to that is.
She owed too much to leave this world just yet anyway...
“How beautiful” She couldn’t help but mumble to herself having completely gotten lost in her own thoughts, placing a hand on her hip as she looked out over her surroundings. Waterfalls fell just to her right, the water so clear you could almost see through it. Reaching out with her other hand she let the water run over her palm and through her fingers, watching as the cold water bent and shifted around her seamlessly, honestly she always envied those with the magical skill to manipulate water, or to cast magic in general that is, Valerian may have been a witch but without her ruins she held no power but her knowledge, she knew this but other did not, and that’s how it should be.
“Missssstresss Valerian” one of her three snake tails spoke up, she looked down at the three who’s mind all acted as one, even if they preferred to talk individually, probably a mishap from carvings runes into her own flesh. “Have you forgotten what we have came for?”
“What we truly came for” The next snakehead added whilst the third began to nod.
“Yessss yessss we owe the ssssshadow man” It said before all three bowed their heads as Valerian tutted, they knew their place thankfully and didn’t dare speak another word against their maker.
“I am well aware” Valerian grounded out as she snapped her book closed and disenchanted them before putting them away again.
Yes the real reasoning behind this trip and this search was for that fool of an Aphex, the shadow man…
Taliesin Blackherth, one of the Beaked Devils disciples and annoyingly the most powerful Aphex that Valerian had ever come across. Sure Tal was… Well Tal, but the Aphex still held so much power and place, when he asked for a trade of power she didn’t think much of it, a few runes here and there in place for him in exchange for a favour later on, honestly she should’ve known better.
She simply sighed and reached into her other breast pocket to pull out the enchanted pair of glasses she’d created just for this specific mission, if you could even call it that. They were enchanted with runes to help her locate a very specific item, something she’d personally only come across once which was how she was able to enchant the runes but she still had to wonder.
What on earth did he want with an afflicted item such as The Reptilian Eye Brooch?