Breaking Through by ProbablyIX

Clara carefully stepped through the undergrowth, trailing after Mary’s more determined stride. The ginormous red wooded trees seemed to lean overhead, making Clara feel smaller than she already did.

She glanced up at Mary, the tall warrior’s presence soothing her nerves.

It had been early afternoon when the two of them left for the forest. Clara had stayed up late with Charles, and slept in late as a result. Mary had her bandages checked over by the old healer – who always seemed to rise early no matter what – and was deemed strong enough for travel, allowed to leave bandage-free.

Mary had spent the next hour bartering for food and other basic supplies from the villagers. Most were hesitant in the wake of the giant’s attack, but she managed to scrounge up enough to last at least a month.

Meanwhile, Clara was woken by Charles, and had quickly begun gathering her things. It had been a struggle to choose what to bring and what to leave behind. Beyond the essentials, she had eventually settled on just bringing two books: her personal notebook, full of studies of the divine, and a newer book she had purchased from a passing merchant. It was a fantasy story, detailing the history of a world of people attuned to the five elements and how their oppression from the stars became oppression of themselves. She hoped it would be enough to keep her relaxed during moments of quiet.

Once everything was gathered into her pack, Clara dressed herself for travel. She kept her favourite black dress, covering her shoulders with a heavy mantle of the same shade. Considering the undergrowth, she chose a pair of thicker boots she had rarely worn, alongside tall, thick socks to protect her legs.

Inspecting herself in her mirror, Clara’s eyes flicked to her burns. They were still an unfamiliar sight on her body. She felt at her reddened skin, feeling the minute difference in texture and sensitivity. Charles had healed her well, though the superficial mark would likely never leave her. 

Mary had returned a few moments later, and, seeing the heavy bag Clara was laden with, offered to carry it for her. Clara was about to reject the offer, not wanting to impose, when Mary simply stuffed the pack into the mouth of her bag, shrinking it down to miniature size within. Clara was surprised it fit, but didn’t complain. They left not long after.

The crunching of dead leaves underfoot brought Clara’s mind back to the present. She hurried to keep up with Mary. The quiet buzz of wildlife surrounded them as they pushed through the warm colours of the autumn forest. Rain had eluded this part of the world for a while, so the ground was dry underfoot. A sweet smell drifted upon the slight breeze, released from the decaying fallen leaves. Streaks of light pierced through the thick canopy overhead, casting mottled shadows upon the landscape.

Blessedly, the ginormous trees created a landscape that was easy to navigate at their human sizes. Rather than claustrophobic and winding, the larger scale created larger open spaces between the trees, dotted with massive fallen leaves. It was a surreal sight. Clara felt as if she had stepped into another world, or been shrunken down to tiny size. Only the occasional bush, or smaller juvenile tree granted her a sense of normalcy. The leaves varied in size, some only slightly larger than normal, but others grown to huge size, larger than her entire body. Even the grass seemed taller, though if that was because of the trees, or a trick of the mind, Clara didn’t know.

They had been walking for a few hours now, and she was grateful for her staff. It’s bell swung gently as she walked, taking some of the weight off of her feet.

Movement caught her eye as lesser spirits flit about all around them. Bulbous decay spirits sprouted like mushrooms from the undergrowth, feeding off the withered arboreal castoffs that blanketed the ground. Tiny wind spirits swam on the breeze in schools, swirling about joyfully. At the bottom of each sunbeam, a light spirit could be found, pooling it’s amorphous form in the warmth. Leaf-like forest spirits scuttled about on spindly legs, some being chased about by tiny cackling fey spirits.

The spiritual world teemed around them. Even after so many years of training her sixth sense, it was hard for Clara to contain her awe. Something about the wild forest drew the spirits in droves, and she found herself taking mental notes of all the types she’d never seen before. Mary didn’t seem to notice, ploughing onward carelessly through the undergrowth. Clara knew from experience that those with a dulled spiritual sense were discomforted or even disturbed when she mentioned the spirits around them, so she kept it to herself.

Clara’s eyes flicked back towards Mary. The muscular woman must have been over six feet tall. Clara just barely came up to her chest. Mary’s deep red hair and brown leather vest made her a good fit among the warm autumn scene. Clara let out a small smile while the warrior’s back was turned.

A flicker of movement drew Clara’s eye back toward Mary’s hair. Clara trot closer to get a better look. As she was considering telling Mary about the bug in her hair, a new arrival gave her pause.

A fragile rage spirit manifested itself nearby, fluttering down toward Mary. It was the shape of a butterfly, deep red in colour. When its wings unfolded, an orange, eye-like pattern was revealed, resembling a baleful glare.

The new arrival gently set down atop Mary’s nose, gently waving its wings up and down. As if she could feel Clara’s gaze, Mary glanced back at her questioningly. The movement stirred her passenger, who took off back into the air, returning to settle down elsewhere on her face. More movement stirred, and Clara finally spotted them.

The delicate spirits were all over Mary’s head, nestled in her hair. Some were shaken loose by her glance, fluttering about her face. They were drawn to and fed off of anger, but Mary’s face was neutral as she raised a questioning eyebrow Clara’s way. She looked back with wide eyes.

“What’s up?” Mary asked, keeping her eyes on Clara. She snapped out of her staring, shaking her head.

“N-nothing.” Clara blushed. She felt guilty. The spirits had shown her something that Mary clearly put a lot of effort into hiding. Clara lowered her gaze.

Mary returned a bemused expression. Showing a slight smile as she shrugged to herself, facing forward. A dozen of the rage spirits took off and fluttered away, seemingly no longer interested in the woman.

They continued on in silence for a time, eventually met with the sound of flowing water slowly rising in volume. Eventually they emerged into a well-lit clearing in the forest, through which a humble stream carved its path.

Mary slowed, scanning the environment. “Let’s rest here for a minute, refill on water.” She suggested. Clara was happy to agree, glad to rest her tired soles. This was probably the longest she’d walked all at once in her life. Frustratingly, Mary hadn’t yet broken a sweat. They settled by the banks, and Clara eagerly drank from her canteen after Mary retrieved it from her pouch.

They sat in silence a while, as they refilled. Now and then, Clara could just barely spot a group of river spirits rushing past, racing one another down the flow. Mary chugged the last of her old water with a sigh, before leaning forward to refill it. Clara went to do the same, before pausing, glancing back at Mary. Despite all her confidence the day before, she still found striking conversation difficult. At least Mary had seemed content with the silence. Still.

“Mary?” Clara asked timidly. Mary glanced to her as her canteen burbled, slowly filling with fresh water.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a- um… well, a plan?” Mary raised an eyebrow. “For finding your father’s killer, I mean. She could be anywhere, and I-I just wanted to ask if you knew where we were going.” Clara clarified. Mary smirked.

“It’s a little late to be asking that now, isn’t it?” She said. Clara blushed. Luckily, Mary didn’t seem bothered. “We’ve only just entered the giant’s forest. From what I know, most giants live a lot further south.” She explained, thumbing in the direction. “I’m thinking we just keep heading that way for now. When we’re closer we can try and follow the foot traffic back to their town and start eavesdropping. Once we’re inside, we can steal food and water so that shouldn’t be an issue.” She mused. “Then, I’ll just… investigate.” She said with a shrug.

Clara nodded slowly, mulling the plan over. Mary’s nonchalance worried her a little, but her plan made sense. Though, the thought of being surrounded by giants at all times, hiding under tables and stealing to survive made Clara shiver. She didn’t dare imagine what would happen if they were caught. She raked her mind for something to distract her from the idea. The Mary leaned down, screwing the lid of her canteen back on as she brought it up from the water. As the bent, the afternoon light gleamed off of the silvery hilt of her sword.

“Oh!” Clara exclaimed, causing Mary to look at her again. “You never got the chance to explain where you found your equipment!” She said, her mind attaching to the new topic. Mary let out a sigh, just slightly louder than the noise floor of the stream. She took a long moment, staring into the waters. Clara waited patiently, curious toward her response.

“They were made by my father.” She finally said. Clara winced. She hadn’t meant to reopen old wounds. She waited again for Mary to say more, but she remained silent.

“…Your father made them?” Clara prodded. “Was he a mage?” Mary simply nodded.

“Good at transmutation.” She stated. “Made them before he died.” Clara could feel Mary growing distant. But her curiosity gnawed at her. Her father? If a human mage was capable of magic like this, surely she would have heard of them by now. Especially if he was murdered by giants; the news could have started a war. There was something Mary wasn’t telling her. She opened her mouth to speak, but Mary beat her to it.

“What about you?” She asked, brushing the topic aside. “Falx is a shade of death, isn’t she? I figure most of her clerics would be morticians, not healers.” She reasoned, her eyebrows questioning. Clara’s suspicion still wriggled in her brain, but the chance to talk about her faith overpowered it.

“W-well, yes, she is.” She started. “But her role is guiding lost souls into the afterlife. She and her angels keep busy all over the world, helping people to let go, and move on.” She explained. Mary cocked her head.

“But how does that apply to being a healer? Isn’t that more, like, doing funerals, fighting off grave robbers, and stuff?” She asked. Clara frowned.

“We definitely do those sorts of things,” She answered, choosing her words. “But healing has always been my family’s focus.” Mary looked at her, confused. “Beyond just guiding souls to the afterlife, Falx cares about when someone dies.” Clara explained. “It’s said she carries a long list that details the time of death of every person yet living.” She quoted. “It puts her off schedule when people die prematurely, so healers like us do what we can to prevent that.” She finished. Mary nodded slowly, deep in thought. “Though, when people do die, this staff acts like a kind of beacon. The bell blows brightly to lost souls, and it keeps them near, so they don’t get lost.” Clara placed a hand on her staff, resting in the grass beside her. Its wooden frame was inlaid with lines of silver, twisting along the natural grooves. Mary followed her gaze.

“What kind of wood is that?” She asked, an odd look on her face. “I’ve never seen it before.” Clara blinked.

“It’s driftwood.” She answered. “Wood that’s washed up on the shore.” Mary nodded, understanding. Clara smiled at the polished staff fondly. “…It’s supposed to represent how things lost to the depths can still find their way back eventually.” Her expression fell a little. “It… reminds me a little of, well, me.” She said. “How I survived after losing my parents.” She cupped the smaller bell around her neck. “Turning to Falx helped me process that loss.” Her smile came back. “Knowing that she and her angels were out there, guiding my parents to where they belong… It helped.” Mary nodded, solemnly.

Mary opened her mouth to speak before freezing. She snatched up her things, and placed her spare palm on the ground. It wasn’t long before Clara felt it too. Tremors shook through the ground, soft at first but growing stronger. The stream began to shiver with each booming step, and a distant – but rapidly approaching – voice could be heard. Clara’s blood froze.

Mary cursed. “We should hide.” She said, rising to her feet. She twisted her gaze around the clearing, looking for someplace out of view. “There.” She pointed toward a collection of low bushes on the edge of the treeline. She dashed toward it, leaving Clara’s field of view.

Clara was frozen. Her heart pounded in her ears. Her chest hurt. She couldn’t tell if she was breathing too quickly, or not breathing at all. She felt her palm ache as she gripped her staff with white knuckles. Darkness closed in around the edges of her vision. Her focus was locked on the distant treeline, where the approaching giant could be heard, crashing through the foliage.

Oh gods. She couldn’t move. She was going to be caught. She was going to be eaten again. She-

A sharp, stinging pain flashed across her cheek, startling Clara from her panic.

“Clara!” It was Mary. She had slapped her out of her shock. She spoke in a shouted whisper. “What the hell are you doing? Come on!” She pulled on Clara’s arm, dragging her to her feet. Clara was in a daze as she stumbled along, half-dragged by Mary until her adrenaline kicked in. The two of them sprinted back toward the treeline as the booming footsteps grew louder.

Mary dove into the bushes, dragging Clara in with her. Clara scrambled her legs inside, panicked. Mary curled up, hiding her large frame to the best of her ability.

The next moment, a giantess crashed out from the foliage with a huff. Clara froze, her hands over her mouth to keep silent. With terrified eyes, she took in this new behemoth.

A thin dress wrapped her hourglass figure, looking far too precious for this deep in the wilderness. Long, straight, pale hair framed her elegant features, clearly very well-maintained. Her skin was pale, with a dusting of blue that sparkled over her spotless complexion. Thick leather sandals wrapped her feet, tearing up the bank of the river as she strode into the clearing.

“Ugh! I can’t believe those two!” The giantess scoffed, indignant. Her voice was booming to Clara, carrying a haughty attitude to it. The kind of voice that insists it’s better than you.

Clara flinched at the sudden sound. Mary rested a firm hand on her shoulder, keeping her still. Both of their eyes stayed locked on the giantess.

“’Just go pee in the woods, Steph.’ ‘Noone’s gonna see you, who cares?’” She quoted in a mocking voice as she came to a stop, planting both feet on either side of the stream. “Apparently I’m the only one who cares about hygiene? I’m not trying to splatter piss all over my legs.” She muttered to herself, not noticing her captive audience hidden in the bushes. Clara’s eyes widened. She heard Mary release a soft groan from beside her.

The giantess crouched down, hiking up her dress and flashing the pair as she squatted over the river.

“God’s sake.” Mary muttered.

The giantess let out a small sigh, shuffling in place before releasing a stream of golden urine directly into the river. It made a thunderous noise on contact, churning the once-tranquil waters.

Clara cringed from her hiding spot. It was disgusting, but she couldn’t look away. Mary rolled her eyes at the display, muttering under her breath.

The giantess rested her face in her palm, which in turn rested upon her knee. The other hand held the hem of her dress.

“It’s ridiculous that I’m even out here in the first place.” She complained. “My father’s on the council, why should I have to be on food collection duty?” Her complaints briefly overrode the rumbling sound of her business below. Clara’s stomach turned as the clear water rapidly turned a bright yellow colour. A faint smell trailed into her nose. She thanked the gods they were upwind, lest it be much worse.

The giantess grumbled some more about her circumstances. Her stream finally began to slow, and eventually stop. The last few drops crashing into the river’s surface. Satisfied, she stood back up. She wasn’t as tall as the last giantess Clara had seen, though that did little to calm her racing heart.

Finally, she turned to leave, striding back into the forest. The last Clara heard was her calling out to the others she had supposedly just come from.

Mary blew out a sigh, which Clara took as a que to release the breath she had been holding. Trembling, she looked toward Mary. She was still staring out into the woods, where the giantess had left. Only after five minutes, did Mary finally relax. She rose from the bushes, brushing off sticks and leaves that clung to her. Clara followed suit, her heart still racing from the encounter. Mary looked toward the soiled river.

“I’m glad we got here first.” She muttered with a scowl. Mary flicked her eyes toward Clara, who withered under her dark gaze. “What the hell was that earlier? Are you trying to get eaten?” Mary demanded. “I can’t help you if you get crushed underfoot, Clara. And you can’t expect me to kill every giant that comes our way, what if she called her friends?!” She cried, exasperated. Clara shrank into herself. Mary was right, of course.

“I-I’m sorry… I just…” She trailed off, trying to hold back tears. Memories of the day before kept surging into her mind, overwhelming her with emotion.

Seeing the look on Clara’s face, Mary halted her outburst. “No, don’t be.” She sighed. “You were eaten yesterday, I can’t expect you to just be ok.” She said apologetically. She hesitated a moment, before pulling Clara into an embrace, holding her tight. Clara clung to her, taking deep breaths as she hid her face in Mary’s breast. The larger woman smelled like leather. Clara felt her heart begin to settle as she calmed down.

After a minute, Mary spoke. “I can still take you home.” Mary offered softly. “You don’t have to be ready for this yet.” Clara sighed, blowing out the last of her panic. Taking some more deep breaths, she shook her head. 

“N-no,” She stuttered. “I’ll stay. I-I’ll see this through.” She said, meeting Mary’s sympathetic brown eyes. The tall woman sighed.

“Alright. But promise me that next time we see a giant, you run, and you hide.” Mary said. Her firm gaze carried the weight of her promise to Charles. Clara nodded.

“I promise. I won’t freeze like that again.” She said, gripping Mary’s vest tightly in her hands. Mary nodded.

“Good.” She sighed, stepping away from the embrace. A part of Clara wished she didn’t. “Let’s keep going. We’ll settle down for the night soon, but we should get away from here.” She said, looking back at the ruined stream. “Mostly because they might come back, but also cause of the smell” She scrunched her nose in disgust. Following her gaze, Clara nodded in agreement.

The next few hours passed quickly, as the sun lowered in the sky, drawing long shadows across the ground. The heart-pumping adrenaline from their encounter urged Clara’s legs forward. Their massive surroundings felt less fantastical since their run-in with the giantess.

Mary stopped. Clara nearly crashed into her back. “Here’s good.” Mary said, looking into a large empty clearing that opened before them.

Crouching down, Mary began pulling things from her bag. She pushed giant, discarded foliage aside as Clara watched several metal poles, two thick mats, a heavy blanket, and a large canvas sheet grow back to full size. Over the next ten minutes, with a bit of help from Clara, Mary put together a sturdy tent, tucked away behind the edge of the clearing. She explained that she wanted the clearing for space, but didn’t want to be sleeping out in the open.

Night slowly began to fall as they sat to eat the first of their rations. Dried fruit and jerky was all they could have, since fire could draw unwanted attention. Clara tried to keep her mind off of giants by explaining more about her faith, while Mary quietly listened.

Eventually, they packed up their things and entered the tent to sleep. Mary hadn’t been lying about the lack of room. But after the close call today, Clara didn’t care. Stripped to her underclothes, she huddled up against Mary beneath the thick blanket they shared. Taking in the warmth of her back, Clara sleepily noted Mary’s scent in the air around her. Her rustic, leathered smell was infused into the mats they lay upon. Normally, Clara might have found that a little gross. But after today, it was a comfort.

Mary was asleep quickly. Her body clearly still eager for rest after yesterday’s battle. Scooching up against her, Clara matched her breathing, and let herself slowly drift away.

Hours later, Clara jolted awake. Something was wrong. Looking around, nothing had changed. She was still laying against Mary, who was still deep asleep. Clara’s eyes flicked about, searching for the disturbance. A terrible feeling of dread was swelling within her, but she didn’t know what for. Then she felt it.

A rumble shook through the earth beneath her. Then another. Clara’s blood ran cold. She heard the rustling of fabric from outside the tent as booming footsteps entered the clearing.

Clara reached a trembling hand toward Mary, shaking the slumbering woman softly. She didn’t rouse, too deep asleep to register Clara’s touch. As the booming footsteps stomped around the clearing, Clara could feel a familiar ice entering her veins, freezing her muscles. Heartbeat thundering in her ears, she tried again to rouse Mary before her body stopped moving completely. But again, the muscled woman was fast asleep, completely unmoved by Clara’s efforts.

Clara felt her body begin to lock up. She twitched as a rumbling feminine yawn shook the tent around her. More footsteps thudded outside, followed by the shifting of clothes and limbs. The sound intermittently carried across the clearing for several minutes. Then, silence.

Clara’s heart thundered in her ears. Her body wouldn’t move. The ragged shapes of fear spirits danced to and fro across her vision, greedily drinking in her terror.

The giant had stopped moving. Clara hadn’t heard it leave.

Shivering and terrified, Clara lay there unmoving until the pale blue light of dawn glowed on the horizon.

~~~        

The creeping chill of the early morning pulled Mary out of her slumber. She groaned, rubbing at her eyes as she rolled onto her back. It was still dark. The only hint toward the time was the faint glow passing through the canvas roof above her. That and how damn cold it was. Still bleary, she rolled over under her blanket, draping an arm over Clara to steal her warmth. Mary paused.

Clara was shivering.

Mary frowned, opening bleary eyes. Clara felt perfectly warm to her. The girl met her gaze with a wide awake stare, the whites of her eyes swallowing her green irises. She gripped at Mary’s front with both hands, trembling. Wordlessly, she glanced up toward the mouth of the tent, clearly terrified. Her fear was sobering, and Mary’s awareness sharpened as she got the message.

There was something outside.

“Stay here, stay quiet.” Mary ordered. Clara mustered a shivering nod.

Slowly, quietly, Mary rose from the mats. Passing off her side of the blanket to Clara, she silently grasped the hilt of her sword, drawing it from its place at her side. The blade was slick with cold perspiration from leaning against the canvas. She lifted the blankets higher over Clara, hiding her beneath them. The girl slowly curled up beneath them as Mary stepped up into a crouch.

Opting for silence, Mary left behind her leathers, taking only her pouch as she slowly stepped through the tent flaps. The cool fabric slid apart with a quiet slithering sound as she crept out into the woods.

A dim, misty blue quietly smothered the sky, colouring the world the hues of pre-sunrise dawn. Taking a few steps forward, Mary stopped when she spotted her.

 Across the clearing, laid against a tree, was a slumbering giantess. Mary’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly analysed her features, but relaxed, disappointed. It wasn’t her.

The giantess had long, fluffy blonde hair, partially tied back. A few loose locks dangled around her soft face, framed by large, round glasses. She was huddled beneath a woollen jacket, though Mary could spot the thick brown pants on her legs as they peeked out from beneath. The jacket slumped a little, letting Mary see the simple white blouse covering the giant’s chest. Slumped over, her limp left hand loosely grasped an open book, its contents unreadable from Mary’s distance. Based on her posture, Mary assumed she had fallen asleep reading. 

Mary stalked forward, feeling the dew wet her bare feet. Hefting her blade, she silently approached the sleeping giantess. Mary’s mind considered her options. This was a rare opportunity. She had more than usual.

The giantess was sleeping, but it was early morning. She may not be asleep much longer. Mary upped her pace. Her first thought was the simplest one. Simply scale the giantess and cut her throat while she slept. Simple and risk-free.

Mary’s next thought was more dangerous. With her blade against the giant’s throat, Mary might be able to finally get some answers about her father’s killer.

Mary stopped, standing at the edge of the giant coat. Faint warmth radiated out from beneath. Both ideas needed her blade close to the giant’s neck. Slowly, she stepped onto the soft fabric, keeping an eye on the slumbering giantess. She carefully scaled the small hill formed by the oversized coat. She walked up the crest of her hips, trailing up the outline of her thigh. Mary was careful where she placed her weight, only stepping where she knew the giantess’ body was curled under the jacket. Beyond her hips, the giantess lay near-vertical. Gripping a loose sleeve, Mary used it as leverage while she lurched up toward the giantess’ collar one-handed. Taking a few steps upward, then throwing her free hand forward for a new grip. Eventually she heaved herself over the top, planting her feet upon the thick fuzzy collar.

The giantess’ warm body heat radiated upward from the gap in her improvised blanket, carrying a faint cherry scent with it. Warm, rhythmic breaths washed over Mary as she steadied herself upon the slumped giant’s collarbone. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Mary glanced to the side, getting a closer look at the giantess’ book. Its edges were worn and patched, showing its age. Inside, she spotted something she recognised. Something she hadn’t seen for over three years.

Arcane scrawls covered the yellowed pages, complete with diagrams and idiosyncratic notation. Mary recognised the familiar pattern of transmutative formulas. Her eyes widened.

It was a spellbook. This giantess was a mage.

Her mind alight, Mary placed her blade against the gently pulsing artery before her, hesitating. If this giantess really was a mage, it bode well for interrogation. She might hold all the answers Mary needed to avenge her father, and could save her from having to scrounge for information later on. Not to mention a bookish giantess might be more likely to fold under pressure of death.

But it was risky. If she fought back and Mary couldn’t strike in time, she’d have put both herself and Clara in terrible danger. She’d never fought a proper mage before. The most she’d experienced was from one of her kills, who surprised her by flinging a magical dart her way in a panic. That, and…

Mary’s grip on her sword tightened, feeling her ill-suppressed rage churning inside. Killing the giant now was easiest. Mary could always go through her things for information after the deed was done. She made up her mind. The giantess would die now.

But before Mary could drag her blade across the throat before her, she stopped. Something was wrong. She realised what when she felt the cold air pressing back into her skin unimpeded. The giantess’ breathing had stopped. Mary froze. Keeping her grip steady, she looked up.

Staring back down at her was a pair of bright blue eyes, wide with fear and fixed on Mary. The giantess was still, not daring move as Mary hardened her expression. It seemed Fate had made the decision for her. Mary cursed under her breath, glaring up at the giantess.

“Don’t move.” She growled, pressing her blade firmly into the giantess’ neck. Mary tensed, ready to kill her at a moment’s notice. Blessedly, the giantess held still, save for a nervous swallow that rippled down her throat. She was frozen, terrified eyes locked with Mary.

Mary let out a quiet breath as her mind assembled some questions.

This just might work.

~~~        

Eloise was terrified.

The last thing she knew she was resting her eyes for a minute, and now the first human she had seen in years was holding a blade against her throat and threatening her life. She felt the cold steel press harder into her skin as she tried and failed to shrink away. The human at her throat glared up at her through dark auburn hair. Strong muscles shifted underneath a simple white singlet and underwear, and a brown leather pouch hung at her hip. How was she not freezing cold? That, and a million other questions buzzed through Eloise’s still-waking mind.

Her eyes darted around the clearing. It was early morning. Just before dawn? A misty blue colour settled over the forest. Where had the human come from? They were close to the border, but this was still deep in giant territory, especially for a human. Scanning the environment, Eloise spotted what looked like a tiny human-sized tent tucked away near the edge of the clearing. Just her luck that she’d picked the one clearing in the entire forest with a murderous human hidden in the underbrush.

Eloise opened her mouth to speak, but only got out a squeak as the human pressed her blade harder. She forced herself to stay quiet. The human hadn’t killed her yet, and Eloise wasn’t going to let her big mouth change the human’s mind. Her pulse racing, she met the human’s eyes. Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm her nerves.

Though, something still prickled at her mind. The fog of sleep still lingered in places, and Eloise felt like there was something here she was missing. Something important.

The human held her gaze for several long moments. Doubt began to overtake curiosity in Eloise’s mind. Was the human just working up the courage to kill her? She swallowed nervously, feeling the blade dig into her neck as her throat muscles flexed. The human narrowed her eyes.

“Who are you?” She demanded. Her voice was low, steeped in threat. She eased the pressure on her blade somewhat, giving Eloise the space to speak. She took a deep breath. Alright. Parley, then.

“Eloise.” She answered, doing her best to project a confidence she didn’t quite feel. The slight shake in her voice betrayed her.  

“What are you doing this close to the border?” The human continued, glaring up at her. Eloise chose her words carefully.

“I’ve been sent out on food collection duty, we all have.” She said, truthfully. A bit of recognition flashed on the human’s face, gone as quickly as it came. She mulled on that for a moment.

“You’re a mage.” She eventually said. It wasn’t a question. Eloise gave a tiny nod. ”Don’t you have better things to do?” The human’s voice was full of suspicion.

“No. Not now anyway.” Eloise said “You see, we’re-“ The human cut her off with a press of the blade. Eloise grimaced at the pressure.

The human shook her head. “Nevermind. I don’t care.” She muttered. Eloise frowned. Why had she asked, then? “I’m not interested in whatever’s going on with you.” The human’s eyes narrowed up at Eloise. “I’m looking for someone. A giantess who murdered my father.” The human said grimly.

Eloise’s eyes widened at that. The odd feeling she’d felt earlier gave way to a slow recognition. A dangerous human, deep in giant territory. Carrying her rune-etched blade like she’d used it before. Most of all, she glared up at Eloise without a hint of fear. Only anger and malice. The last of the sleep fog cleared from Eloise’s mind. This was her. The killer human from the rumours. This was Gutter.

Hope swelled in Eloise’s chest. She couldn’t believe her luck.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Gutter cut her off.

“Long red hair, hanging down past the shoulders. Taller than you, and muscular. Metal armour on her arms and shins. Black clothes underneath and a shortsword.” The human rattled of a list of traits at Eloise, watching her eyes closely. “Sound familiar?” She asked. A hint of desperation coloured the woman’s voice.

Eloise was shocked. It was familiar. “Kathrine…” She whispered to herself, wide-eyed.

“You know her?” Gutter asked, the intensity of her voice matching her expression. Eloise nodded, still processing.

“…Her name is Kathrine.” She repeated. “She’s a member of the council and head of our militia.” She clarified, focusing back on the human at her throat. “And you’re that human from the rumours. You’re Gutter, aren’t you?” Eloise asked. She was pushing her luck, she knew. But she needed to know.

The human scowled, pressing harder against Eloise’s throat. Eloise flinched, letting out a small cry. “You don’t get to ask questions.” The human growled.

“I-I can take you to her!” Eloise croaked, desperate. “I know where she lives, I can lead you right to her!” The pressure on her neck eased, letting her suck in a deep breath of relief.

The human frowned. “Why the hell would you help me?” She demanded, still holding her sword ready against Eloise’s neck.

“You are Gutter, right…?” Eloise asked nervously. The human glared a moment, but relented, letting out a heavy sigh.

“…Yeah. Apparently that’s what you people have started calling me.” She admitted.

Eloise’s heartbeat raced, picking up speed with excitement. She almost forgot about the blade at her throat.

“I’ve been looking for you. I’m a mage, a-a transmuter!” She exclaimed. Gutter raised an eyebrow. “All the rumours mention your magical equipment; that sword changes size when you swing it, right?” Gutter didn’t answer. Eloise continued, unabated. “I wanted to study the magic in them, figure out how they work!” She explained. Gutter’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I-I’m not lying, you can check in my spellbook down there.” She nodded to her left, toward the well-loved notebook.

Gutter glanced between her and her spellbook, weighing the decision in her mind. Eventually, she turned back to Eloise with a glare.

“No sudden moves.” She threatened. Eloise nodded.

The human leapt from her collar, landing on her left arm and sprinting down its length. Eloise tensed, fighting off the ticklish sensation of the human’s feet on her skin. Gutter jumped off from Eloise’s wrist, landing roughly next to her spellbook.

Eloise breathed deeply, clutching her throat with relief. She sat up, slowly stretching. Her body was stiff after being forced to hold still in such an awkward position. Adjusting her glasses, she glanced back toward Gutter.

The human was watching her, suspicion clouding her gaze. Slowly, she raised her blade, dangling its tip over the pages of Eloise’s life’s work. Eloise fidgeted anxiously. Of course Gutter wouldn’t just let her relax.

The human looked down at the pages of her work. Eloise slowly donned her jacket, sliding it over her arms carefully, so as to not startle Gutter into damaging her notes. The human only glanced her way, thankfully. Taking a breath, Eloise took this as her chance.

“Here’s the situation.” She began. Gutter glanced up at her. Her face betrayed her hostility, but she didn’t interrupt. “My people are on the brink of a famine.” Eloise explained. “Our population has gotten too big for our farms to support, and our food stockpiles are running out. All of our normal food sources aren’t enough anymore, and things are already getting bad.” Eloise thought of the red wood walls of the town hall, and the endless meetings they’d been having over the last six months. “The council is starting to get desperate. Like I said, I’m out on food collecting duty. Most people my age are. They’ve sent us out into the wild to gather whatever we can to try and stave off the famine until they can come up with a solution.”

Eloise bent down, retrieving a small leather pouch that sat at her hip. Prying it open, she showed Gutter the meagre collection she had found so far. About a handful’s worth of random fruits, vegetables, and wild game. The human stared inside with an unreadable expression. Like she was looking for something.

“…There have been a lot more raids against human villages near the border, haven’t there?.” Eloise murmured, guessing at the source of Gutter’s apprehension. The human nodded, a grim anger settling on her features.

“Yeah.” She muttered tersely.

Eloise sighed, grimacing at the confirmation. She needed to explain. “Some of us think they can solve the famine just by eating more humans.” She hesitated. “Oh, that’s because-“

“Eating a human lets a giant go without food for a month. I know.” Gutter interrupted, raising her free hand. Eloise blinked in surprise. She’d thought most humans didn’t know about that.

Shaking off her surprise, Eloise continued. “-Yes. So, some people think if they can just catch more humans, we won’t have a problem.” She said.

“And you don’t?” Gutter’s question was asked with a hint of surprise. She shot a raised eyebrow up at Eloise.

“No, I don’t.” She replied, meeting the human’s gaze. “It’s just not sustainable. At best it’d just postpone the famine a little longer. And at worst…” She frowned. “Humans were already valuable enough as a luxury. If we started to rely on them- er, you as a primary food source, then it could drive a wedge between the rich and poor. The less fortunate would be damned to starve even faster.” She concluded, her voice grim. “That, and…” Shame crawled over her expression. A bad memory threatened to resurface. “…It’s just cruel.” She said.

By the look on Gutter’s face, Eloise could tell the human didn’t believe she meant that last part. Though, Gutter didn’t question it.

“You sound like you have a better idea.” She said, almost like a challenge. If it was, Eloise took it.

“I do.” She replied. Eloise pointed down past Gutter toward her spellbook. “If we’re really going to solve the famine, we’ll find the solution in there.” She proclaimed. “The answer lies in the breakthrough all us transmuters have been seeking for decades: Figuring out how to make transmutative effects permanent.” Gutter glanced between her and the pages, confused.

“If magic can work, then why can’t you just make food bigger with magic, then eat it?” She asked like it was obvious.

Eloise shook her head. “That doesn’t work. Growing anything larger with magic conjures extra mass to fill the space. Which is great, but once the spell wears off, the conjured mass vanishes. Along with any nutrition it gave you.” She explained, adjusting her glasses.

“Use magic to grow seeds bigger, then use them to grow big food.” Gutter countered, pointing her finger up at Eloise. She wasn’t smiling, but Eloise could swear she caught a hint of smugness behind the human’s eyes.

Eloise smiled, holding back a laugh. “Sorry, but no. That doesn’t work for the same reason. Besides, the spell wouldn’t last long enough for the seed to grow in the first place. Trust me, I’ve… actually tried it before.” She muttered that last part, blushing slightly. Gutter went to open her mouth, but Eloise cut her off. “And before you ask, no, we can’t just use magic to conjure food out of thin air. Just like before, conjured mass is impermanent, and whatever you eat just disappears from your digestive system.”

Eloise was delighted. It had been months since she’d been able to discuss her craft with someone who took interest. Though Gutter wasn’t the most animated speaker, the standoffish woman seemed like she was actually interested, even if she refused to show it. Eloise continued.

“Cracking permanence is the single biggest problem in magical theory among my people.” She said, pushing her glasses up the ridge of her nose. “The first person to figure it out will immediately get the head arcanist’s seat on the council! …So they say, anyway.”   

Gutter was looking at her with an unreadable expression. “So that’s your goal, then?” She asked.

Eloise nodded. “Cracking permanence will finally allow us to actually grow giant-sized food.” She said. “With it we can stop the famine, and save gods know how many lives.” She hesitated. “…The lives of both of our peoples…”

Gutter stood quietly. At some point in the conversation she had lowered her sword – Eloise hadn’t even noticed. The human’s face was blank. Her brown eyes were on Eloise, but her mind seemed elsewhere. Finally, she spoke. 

“So what does that have to do with me?” She asked, returning to her suspicious demeanour.

Eloise blinked. “R-right.” She shuffled slightly closer, stopping short as Gutter shot her a warning glare. “I wanted to look at your equipment. All the magical items I know of need to be constantly maintained by re-casting the spell that enchants them.” Eloise explained. “But based off of your questions, I’m… guessing you weren’t the one to enchant your gear.”

Gutter nodded, confirming her suspicions. The human seemed uneasy, but Eloise was too invested to ease off now.

“Then tell me, who enchanted your equipment? Could you lead me to them? If I asked, would they teach me what they know?” Eloise asked, excited. This could finally be the breakthrough she needed. In her fervour, she loomed over the human. Gutter’s posture tensed, and she looked away from Eloise’s intense gaze.

After a tense moment, she spoke. “They were made by my father.” She answered,  her expression dark.

Eloise’s face fell. Her father. Who was dead. She groaned out a frustrated sigh, shoving her glasses up her face as she rubbed at her eyes with her palms. Of course.

Wait. Her father? Eloise frowned. “Your father made them?” She questioned, her glasses falling back down into place. “I thought you humans didn’t have arcane magic like we do. Let alone magic that’s better than ours…” Gutter refused to meet her gaze, visibly uncomfortable. “Unless…” Eloise’s mind began connecting the dots. She leaned down suddenly, moving her face close to the startled human.

“Your father, what was his name?!” She asked.

“W-what?”

“Was it Hugo?!”

The colour vanished from Gutter’s face. She stumbled back, wide-eyed. “How the hell do you know that?” She whispered, her voice barely carrying across the morning stillness. She looked horrified.

A million questions exploded through Eloise’s mind. But seeing the state of the woman below her, she explained.

“Hugo was the former head arcanist! H-he was one of the best mages we’ve ever known! He was my hero growing up!” She exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. Gutter hung on every word, frozen in place. “One day he just vanished into thin air. I’d always wondered what happened but now I know!” Eloise moved a hand over her forehead, brushing her hair back. “He’d just ran away, across the border. H-he must have been living with humans, but was still practicing his magic.” Her eyes widened. “He must have solved permanence.” She whispered. “Or he was damn close to doing it. And now-“ She stopped.

Her excitement shattered. And now he’s dead. She thought. Eloise deflated, the revelation washing her good mood away like cold water. A deep sadness settled in its place. She glanced down at Gutter.

The vengeful human was visibly shaking with emotion. Anger and grief were written across her face. She refused to meet Eloise’s gaze, but Eloise could tell she threatened tears.

“I’m… I’m sorry...” She said quietly. She reached out toward the human, but stopped herself.

Her thoughts turned darker, Gutter’s rage seeping into her by proximity. Katherine… The human couldn’t have been describing anyone else. Katherine had hunted down Hugo and murdered him. But why? What reason could she have had to kill such a wonderful man?

Eloise steeled herself. She had a personal stake in Gutter’s quest now. Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind. She would help the vengeful human find Katherine. She’d have to settle for learning whatever she could from Gutter’s equipment.

She opened her mouth to speak, before the thud of approaching footsteps cut her off.

~~~        

Mary whipped around toward the sound, holding her blade before her. Above her, the giantess – Eloise – quietly panicked. Shifting in her stance, Mary stuffed down her roiling emotions to focus on the imminent threat. Feeling them writhing in her chest, she was only mostly successful.

The giantess cursed under her breath. “You need to hide!” She hissed down at Mary, her blue eyes frantic behind her glasses. Mary scowled up at her. She was being awfully chummy for someone whose life Mary had been threatening a moment ago. Mary could tell the giantess assumed she’d already agreed to the bargain.

Still, the giantess was right. Mary tightened her grip on her sword, but held still as Eloise leaned down. Her giant right hand slowly descended over Mary like a loose dome, hiding her from whoever was about to crash through the brush. Mary crouched low as Eloise settled, leaning on her left elbow and hovering over the open spellbook. If not for her stiff posture and anxious expression, she’d almost look like she was just reading.

Mary turned, peering out through the gaps of Eloise’s fingers at the clearing beyond. It was hard to focus with body heat radiating off the giantess’ warm palms. It had been a long time since Mary felt safe this close to a giant, and today was no exception. Still, she took the gamble. Fighting the newcomer was dangerous. She didn’t have the upper hand here, and if the blonde giantess turned on her, things would get ugly fast. If Eloise could get rid of the approaching giant after a bit of conversation, it would save them both the trouble.

Mary took deep breaths as she kept her heartbeat under control. Patience was on her side here. She tried not to linger on the faint cherry scent that hung in the air around her.

A sandalled foot emerged from the treeline, followed by the same bratty giantess Mary and Clara had seen the day before. She flicked twigs from her long white hair, her pale blue features scrunched up in annoyance. She was muttering under her breath about the woods as she entered the clearing.

Then, in an uncaring step, Mary watched as her tent disappeared under her right foot.

The crunching sound of twisted metal barely registered in Mary’s ears. Apparently it didn’t register to the giantess either. The sound similar enough to the crumpling undergrowth to go unnoticed to her ears. Behind her, Eloise gave a slight wince.

Mary felt numb. Clara was still in there. Mary had explicitly told her to stay in there.

The rage that normally burned so hot inside of her was icy cold in Mary’s veins. Thrumming through her as she stared at where her tent once stood. Her heartbeat pounding in her ears, it took everything she had to stay frozen. Her muscles screamed at her to move, to cut through the hand before her and run howling at the careless giantess.

But, coiled like a spring, she waited. Gods, it hurt, but she waited. The giantess would get what she deserved. Mary just needed her to get closer.

 The giantess continued into the clearing, unaware of her actions. Her grey eyes scanned across the clearing, before settling on Eloise. The blonde let out a frustrated sigh, squeezing her eyes shut as if mentally preparing. She turned her blue gaze up toward the newcomer with a scowl.

“Stephanie.” Her greeting was as cold as her glare, clearly displeased by the giantess’ arrival.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, returning a look of distain. She placed a hand on her all-too-perfect hip. “Ugh. It’s just you, Ellie?” She said, her voice dripping with venom. Mary felt Eloise bristle at the nickname. Stephanie’s expression settled into an uncaring mask as she started picking at her nails. “I heard you talking, I figured Sandy would be with you.”

Eloise glanced away. “I was talking to myself.” She lied. Her expression darkened as she looked back. “And why, exactly, would I be with Sandy?” The question was laced with hostility as she glared up at Stephanie.

The bratty giantess scoffed. “Because you two are fucking?” She rolled her eyes at Eloise’s glare. “Gods, are you still not over what happened? It’s been like, a month and a half, get over it already.”

Eloise was trembling with anger now. “She punched me. In the face. Stephanie.” She hissed. Her voice shook a little as she spoke.

Stephanie leaned back with an exaggerated groan. “You are such a drama queen.” She groaned. “Honestly, I can’t believe Sandy would go out with such a wet blanket.” She mocked.

Every word that came out of the giant bitch’s mouth made Mary want to cut her open more. Her blood boiled with barely contained wrath. She forced herself to wait. Peering through Eloise’s fingers, she tried to spot any sign of her tent – or what was left of it. Infuriatingly, Stephanie’s legs kept blocking her view. Mary’s arms began to shake with the exertion of holding still.

Eloise sighed, keeping a handle on her emotions. “What are you even doing out here?” She asked.

Stephanie sniffed, displeasure coming over her elegant features. “Same thing everyone else is doing.” She said like it was obvious. “The council wants us gathering food, and apparently I’m no exception.” She scoffed. As if the very idea of being forced to work was a personal insult.

“You’re not wearing a gathering pouch.” Eloise noted, eyebrow raised.

Again, Stephanie scoffed. “As if I’d actually stoop to gathering like some damn nobody.” She flicked her hair off to the side. “I’m leaving that to Isa and Melons. I am committed to the much more noble task of keeping directions.” She gloated.

Eloise rolled her eyes. “In other words, you’re letting them do all the work.” She said. Stephanie just answered with a sneer. Eloise kept at it. “You know, for someone so precious you sure are up early.”

Stephanie shifted, scowling. “As if I could get a good night’s sleep out here in this godsforsaken wilderness.” She muttered, clutching her dress around her body, shivering. She looked back down at Eloise. Mary’s skin bristled as her unknowing gaze passed over her. Stephanie smirked. “How about you?” She snarked back. “I bet you’ve stayed up all night ‘studying’ .” She mocked, shaking jazz hands. The giantess stomped closer. Mary tensed. “You and your mind-numbing magic books, I’m surprised you don’t pass out reading them.” Stephanie leaned down, her pale hair hanging in curtains around her smirking face. “Could I borrow this one? Maybe reading it could help me fall asleep.” She said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Her hand reached down, grabbing at Eloise’s spellbook. The blonde giantess cried out, leaping up to shove Stephanie away. The dim blue light of dawn washed over Mary as she was revealed from her hiding place. Her muscles screamed.

NOW

Mary leapt up, slashing at the giant hand descending toward her. Her blade leapt out, flashing across Stephanie’s palm. Hot blood flicked out across the grass, the blade slashing a deep wound across her skin.

The pale giantess shrieked, stumbling backward and clutching her hand. “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

Behind Mary, Eloise snatched up her spellbook, holding it close and watching with wide eyes.

Mary dashed forward with a howl, fury pounding in her veins. Stephanie glared down at her, panic in her eyes. With a cry, the giantess lifted her right foot into the air before slamming it down toward Mary.

Mary spun out of the way as the sandalled foot crashed into the ground, throwing up dirt and clumps of grass. Using the momentum, she slashed her blade across the giantess’ heel. The sword leapt out, cutting through the leather straps of the sandal, but only leaving a shallow nick in the pale blue skin. Mary cursed under her breath.

Still, it was enough to spook the giantess. Stephanie cried out, staggering away from Mary, glancing at her heel. “Who the FUCK do you think you are!?” She shrieked, her lower eyelid twitching.

Not missing a beat, Mary pulled a javelin from her pouch. The displaced air ruffled her hair as it grew. It’s iron tip shining in the rising light. She readied the weapon, turning toward Stephanie with death in her eyes.

The giantess paled. Trembling, she slowly retreated backwards into the woods. “I-I’ll get you for this!” She cried, glancing at Eloise. Her voice trying to project a confidence that didn’t show on her face.

Mary stalked forward, keeping her in range. Stephanie matched her pace for a step, then spun, sprinting away into the forest. Mary’s grip on her weapon tightened, but there was nothing she could do. Eventually the thumping footsteps faded, the giantess vanishing into the woods.

 Mary puffed, her breath fogging in the cold air. Her heart was thundering like an engine, filling her limbs with energy. It was too much. Mary closed her eyes, forcing her anger out from her with each exhale.

Behind her Eloise released a long breath. “Gods…” She sighed. “She is going to be pissed.” She muttered.

As Mary’s pounding rage began to fade, a creeping dread started to take hold. Her blade tumbled out of her fingers.

“Clara!” Mary ran back towards what remained of her tent. A confused Eloise shuffled along behind her.

Mary skid to a stop. Before her was a mass of twisted metal poles and torn canvas. Her tent had been stomped into the soggy ground. Pressed into the centre of a giant footprint. Her heart raced. Dread and guilt pounded through her so hard her bones hurt. She staggered down into the depression, and, dreading what she’d find, pried open the twisted mess.

Seeing inside, Mary gasped in relief. Pressed into a small cavity between the mats, a shaking, terrified, but blessedly unharmed Clara looked back up at her. The crumpled metal poles had been pressed into a web-like dome shape, protecting the timid healer from harm. Mary felt an odd sense of gratitude toward the ruined thing.

Mary reached down, taking Clara’s hand. Heaving, she pulled the trembling cleric out from the wreckage. With Clara steady on her feet, Mary trapped her in a tight embrace. Squeezing the girl tightly, Mary let out the last of her fear in a sigh. Her breath fluttered over Clara’s dark hair. It struck her then just how terrified she had been for Clara’s life. Clara’s trembling slowed as she leaned into the embrace, taking deep breaths.

“I-I’m okay.” She murmured, shaken.

A shadow fell over the pair. Mary could sense Eloise’s curious gaze bearing down on them. Noticing the change, Clara glanced up. Her panic returned as she shrieked at the sight of another giantess looming over her. Shrinking back, she cowered behind Mary. Mary turned, meeting the bespeckled giantess’s wide eyes.

Then, of course, the questions started. “Oh my goodness there was another human in the tent!? Who is she? Is she ok?” Eloise’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, her breath puffing over the pair in bursts. As she went on, she slowly peered around Mary, trying to get a better look at Clara’s cowering form. Mary’s ears tingled. They were still ringing from Stephanie’s shrieking.

Mary raised a hand, halting the flow of questions. Eloise stopped, looking at her curiously. “Eloise. Listen.” The giantess blinked at her name, quietly waiting for Mary to continue. Mary sighed. She couldn’t believe the way things had turned out. “…I’ll accept your offer.” She relented. An excited smile crept over the giantess’ features. “I’ll let you look at my father’s work, let you try and figure out how he did it.” Eloise nodded along, eagerly. Mary’s expression darkened “In exchange, you lead me to Kathrine, and I get revenge for my father.”

A grim look settled on Eloise’s face. She nodded. “…I will. If Katherine really killed your father, then it’s personal for me, too.” She said.

Mary nodded. The deal was made. She hoped she didn’t learn to regret it.

As quickly as it darkened, Eloise’s expression brightened back up, and she continued launching questions down at poor Clara. “So Gutter’s been travelling with an accomplice? Since when? Are you new? What’s your name?” The questions flowed out from her like a tide. Clara struggled to stay afloat, starting back at Eloise with eyes like dinner plates.

Mary sighed, frowning. This was going to be difficult.  

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Translator's Note:

A bit more to talk about this time. Even beyond quirks of translation, I could wax arcane about things like Clara's remarkable sixth sense, or the nature of Voeul's gods and spirits. However, that isn't what I'm here for, and here are others more qualified for that anyway. 

I'm still looking for the merchant that sold Clara her 'fictional' 'novel'. I have no idea how that story found its way to Voeul, nor why its retelling is so accurate. I would blame its 'main character' if I didn't know for certain he was - like most - unaware of this system. My next best guess would be Comet, but god help anyone trying to get ahold of her. 

• The word 'Eavesdrop' is an English term of interesting origin. It has been used in place of a Vratan word of the same meaning. 

• The term 'Spellbook' is a direct translation. 

• Various expletives have been translated to suitable English counterparts. 

• The term 'Drama Queen', in a quirk of translation, is actually nearly untouched from the original language. 

• Use of the phrase 'Jazz Hands' is, while accurate to the gesture Stephanie made, technically inaccurate. Jazz has sadly not yet come to Vratan. 

• The single mention of the word 'Engine' is also language-inaccurate. Vratan's grasp of thermodynamics was not quite there yet at the time this story takes place. 

As always, if you have any questions about this chapter's translation, feel free to ask.