Morning Fall chapter 8

When I entered the town I saw three friends talking together under a tree. I saw more people roaming the streets and I made the assumption that I had entered near the shopping center. After an hour a guard came towards me. “What is your business here tribesmen of Ash?” He asked. It sounded like he rehearsed the question. “I'm just seeking a cave on an island in the west.” I answered. “Is that all?” “He asked. “Aside from being chased by bandits and taking a stroll through a burning forest. No.” I replied. “ You should come with me.” He said. I fallowed him through the shopping center towards a less busy center. We stoped in front of a large round building. “Chief Conifers inside.” He said. “Ok.” I replied.

The building had a pair of giant double doors. Beyond those doors was a hallway with rooms leading off to other rooms that lead to other hallways. Before I could get lost in the maze of rooms and hallways a girl walked up to me and asked “Are you the one who loves taking long walks through burning forests?” “Yes… Also who are you?” I asked. “I'm chief Conifer and your MorningYew if memory serves you were friends with a Magish.” She said. “I know what your going to ask. What's Magish?” “Am I right?” “Firstly yes what's Magish, and secondly you're chief Conifer?” I asked. “To answer your first question. Magish is short for Lon-Muerto-Mag, and to answer your second question. I am chief Amilia Conifer daughter of chief Daria Conifer.” “Hold on. What happened to Daria?” I asked fear creeping through my word. I was worried because Daria was the first to help raise my confidence after my incident. “Mom died after my brother declared that he was going to be the next chief, but I defeated him and I'm the chief. Plain and simple.” Amilia said. “Now tell me why are you slightly burned and here?” She asked. “I had a run in with a group of tribeless or bandits I didn't stay to ask.” I replied. “Who leads them?” She asked. “A stravk named Darius Pine.” I said and as I said his name Amilia looked like she'd seen a ghost. “You know him don't you… My gods he's your brother isn't he!” I exclaimed.

“Look he had to be outcast it was my first task as chief! He was planning to break the truce between our tribes and… and… he killed my mother!” She said tears filling her eyes. “How could you tell?” “The look on your face, like someone saw the secrets you keep. I know that look all to well. Besides if what you say is true and I don't doubt it is, then you have nothing to cry about.” I reassured her. “If you could answer one more thing for me?” She asked “Sure?”I replied quizzically “Why are you out here?” She asked. I then told her about my incident and about the symbols that took place of the world  when my remaining eye was closed. “Are you Magish?” She asked. “No I've been put through a trial and it showed I wasn't.” “I mean technically the trial was rigged… Chief Conifer could you put me through your tribes trial?” I asked. “Sure, but are you sure you want to?” She said. “I always thought I had proved that I wasn't a Lon… that I wasn't Magish, but now I feel that I need to be absolutely certain.

I was given an open room in the chiefs home so I could rest up before my second trial. Having been attacked and chased didn't shake my confidence, but there was still this feeling like I was still in danger. That night my dreams were filled with Darius, fire, and Fallen when it seemed to get worse the first symbol that appeared, reappeared and seemed to ease my anxiety. Needless to say my dream was like the ocean calm one second then turbulent and angry the next. I awoke only slightly better than I had when I got to sleep. I could feel more of my burns from the fire, but I pushed through the pain. I was greeted by Amilia when I got to the dining hall. “Good morning.” I said my voice sounded hoarse most likely because of the smoke from the fire. “Are you ok? You look like death.” She asked. “I'm fine.” I said “Now tell me about the Conifer Trial.” “The trial is split into two categories. The first is to see if you have magish traits. The second is to see if you have the aptitude for alchaly.” She answered. “What's alchaly?” I asked. “Alchaly is the Conifer tribes version of alchemy.” She said “Ash alchemy is a focus on all three spheres in general alchemy; whereas Conifer alchemy is only focused on the transmutation aspect of general alchemy. We called it alchaly mostly to distinguish between the Ash and general alchemy trees, also its faster to say alchaly than Conifer alchemy.” “You still want to go through with this?” She asked. I took a moment to consider my choices. I could say no and continue on my journey, or I could say yes and find out if I'm normal. Either way my answer was “Yes, and when I pass the trial I'll hold my head up high no matter the outcome.” “That's an interesting way of saying yes but before you can take the trial you need to rest.”she said. “Sorry, I have a flare for the dramatic. Also why?” I asked. “It's always been that way. No one injured my take the trial for fear of loosing a fellow tribesman.” She said. “That just gives me time to learn.” I said. “Learn what?” Amilia asked. “What you talked about earlier, alchaly.” I answered.