The Emperor's Heir

SIX

The next day, Vin took the jewelry, and left for the market. Immediately he displayed them, it attracted a small crowd. Nesine, who was in the market to buy fresh fruits, saw the crowd. She walked over, only to find Vin whom she hadn't seen for a long time, standing right in the centre with beautiful jewelry hanging from his limbs.

Vin, upon seeing Nesine, sent a calm smile her way. She waved, and in a sort of silent agreement, she waited for him. When Vin had sold all the jewelry he brought to the market, they left together. Nesine had earlier been surprised by the beautiful jewellery. Vin brought out a necklace he'd kept aside while he had sold the rest. It had red sparkling stones on it. He showed Nesine, then placed it in her palm.

Looking at Nesine inspecting the jewellery with a mouth open in awe, Vin spoke, "That is to say thank you, for waiting for me."

The young woman laughed, and joked "I will even follow you into the sea, if this is what you give me."

Vin chuckled, "I'm glad you like it." They talked for a long time before going their separate ways. With his heart light, and his pockets heavy, Vin felt it had been a very good day. He returned back home to Jem with an unrestrained smile.

He returned to fishing after the Jewelry endeavour. Vin had made much money selling jewelry, and he felt that he should take some time before going back to the market with more. So, he sold fish again. It didn't pay as much as the jewellery but it was still quite profitable. The people in the market who recognized him, never ceased each day, to ask him to make more jewelry. Vin would just smile and say, "Soon."

It was a week after his jewelry sales, Vin stood on the bridge across the river, with his hook thrown into the water. He was lost in his thoughts as he fished. Suddenly, he felt a sort of quiet all around him. He looked to his right, and saw no one. But, looking to his left, a figure in a black cloak stood still. The unexpected sight, made Vin flinch. He started to gather his magic in his palms.

The figure spoke in a light tone, "You are the Emperor's heir" Vin's eyes grew wide. He felt a slight panic, because he had been very careful in keeping his identity secret. The voice of the figure belonged to a female, but it was rough and slightly hoarse, "It's time you get to work. Your brother plots to rip open the veil when he gains the Emperor's power. You cannot let this happen." Without another word, the figure seemed to fade into nothing in blink of an eye. Vin dazedly stared at where the figure had just been, thinking that he had definitely not imagined the whole thing.

He returned home, thinking about the cloaked figure. He didn't exactly care what his brother did. It was at this point that Vin's thoughts went down a different path. He was royalty, and being royalty had great benefits. Also, he could use his magic now, although his ability was nowhere near Jardius's. Vin tilted his head slightly, thinking, "I could always improve." And, if he could become the Emperor, then helping Jem would be a piece of cake. Was he really going to do this? He didn't know where he would start though.

Lucky for Vin, the figure decided to come again. Of course, Vin would need a lot more information if he was going to do anything. This time, although he was extremely creeped out, Vin didn't show it. He stood there, with his hook still in the water, and looked at the figure. He spoke before the figure could, asking, "Who are you?"

The figure didn't hesitate to answer, "I am someone who would hate to see the Empire fall" a pause, then the figure continued, "You are the only hope this Empire has. Won't you save it from your brother's hands?"

Vin had a raised eyebrow as he thought of how the plot couldn't be anymore familiar. He looked down at the ground for a few seconds, "How can I help?"

In response, the figure held out an arm. Vin saw two items in the palm in front of him; a wooden necklace and a folded piece of paper. Vin didn't want to make contact with this strange person, so he simply muttered a spell, watching the items drift from that person's palm into his own.

The figure did not move, and Vin patiently studied the two items. Then she said, "The necklace is a talisman, and the drawing is a teleportation array. You will go to find the three power stones. They will make you stronger when absorbed all together."

Vin listened carefully, his fingers tracing the patterns on the talisman. "So, what do these stones look like, and where am I supposed to find them?"

The figure did not delay her response, "Each stone is uniquely carved with ancient symbols. One is black, another white, and the last is green" the figure pointed to the necklace "The talisman will lead you to them, it shares affinity with the three power stones. You have all you need, I hope you do not fail."

Again, the figure suddenly disappeared. Vin put the items in his pocket. He couldn't believe he was actually going to do it. To a certain degree, he did not fully trust the figure, but he needed to gain more knowledge of this world, also gain more knowledge of how magic worked here. The figure coming to him just gave him the push he needed. He had a gut feeling that it was going to be a long and risky journey to find the stones.

The next day, after Jem returned, and they had eaten, he spoke, "I will be leaving on a trip tomorrow", Vin felt strange to be leaving Jem like this, he figured he had grown a bit attached.

Jem looked at him with a blank expression for a few seconds, then smiled, "When will you be back?"

Vin frowned, "I don't know." He was unsure how long he would be gone. It might be a long time before he came back. He could only hope he found the stones in time.

Jem, seeing his frown, misread his words. He thought Vin was leaving, and wouldn't come back. He felt some emotional turmoil, it was hard to describe. He didn't let his smile waver, "Is there anything you'd like me to pack for you?"

With a gaze at Jem, Vin wiped the frown on his forehead, and smiled "It's fine. I will handle everything."

They slept, and Vin woke up, for the first time, much earlier than Jem. He quickly got ready. He had all his clothes packed; he didn't have many anyway. He also took some food. Then he grabbed the box he had been keeping money in for Jem. He placed it on the table with a note. Then, Vin was gone.

He walked in the direction of the forest, in his hand was the drawing of the teleportation array. Vin walked deep into the forest where it would definitely be hard to spot a man drawing on the ground and disappearing into thin air.

He had studied magical arrays before, so it wasn't hard to understand the teleportation technique. The marks were quickly drawn. Vin made sure nothing was out of place. Then he used a knife in his right hand to cut his left palm. He let the blood, drip onto the ground, right in the centre of the array. Then, with his eyes closed, he muttered an incantation under his breath. Vin felt the wind suddenly blow harder, picking up dust and dead leaves from the ground. He kept chanting, and the wind got colder, almost biting. Unexpectedly, the necklace around his neck only grew warmer. Finally it all stopped.

Vin slowly opened his eyes. It was bright under the morning sun. Looking ahead, he saw snow-capped mountains in front of him, and snow everywhere on the terrain. Tall, snow-covered trees were scattered all over, and they swayed slightly in the cold wind. It was a pleasant scene. The air was colder, and this made Vin pull out a jacket from the sack he had carried. The necklace was warm on his chest, and Vin took it to mean he was close to the first stone. Without any direction in mind, he just walked forward.

He didn't know where he was going, but the constant warmth of the necklace reassured him that it was the right direction.

Vin walked for several days, and during this time, he exhausted what little food he had. He scolded himself for not carrying more food. But then, Vin had actually carried enough to feed two people for at least a week; he just finished everything because he had little self-control.

Constantly seeing trees everywhere he went was starting to take it's toll on Vin. And, because he hadn't eaten in a while, it got worse. He got dizzy at one point, and just laid on the snow. He suddenly remembered reading in a book of a bird that often stayed in very cold climates in the empire. Motivated with the thought of roasted bird, Vin quickly got up.

He set his things down, taking the two biscuits he had saved for his dinner, and he set a trap with them.

He climbed up a tree, and laid the biscuits on a branch. He got down, and hid quietly. Vin was brimming with excitement as he waited. He waited for a long time without any luck, and he thought to himself that the bird probably wouldn't come. He realised that he hadn't seen much birds since he got to this forest covered in snow. But, right as Vin had made up his mind to give up on this plan, a bird arrived. It had beautiful gray feathers, and looked luscious from where Vin stood.

With a ready knock out spell, Vin waited for the right moment, then struck. The bird fell down into the snow, and Vin with a smile, went to it. He snapped it's neck and quickly peeled off it's feathers. With some melted snow, Vin had water. After making a contraption to hold the bird, Vin set a fire underneath. He roasted the bird until it looked just right, then picked it up. He divided the bird in two, saving a bit for later.

Vin ate as he walked. The talisman got warmer, and by sundown, when Vin was already on the last half of the bird, he seemed to hear the sound of something approaching his way. Vin finished the last of the bird, and was sucking the bone, when the sound got closer. He paused, and looked. Hoisting up his sack, he walked forward, only to find another man coming.

The two saw each other, and said hello. Before the man could leave, Vin asked, "Please tell me, is there shelter nearby".

In response, the man said, "There's a temple. They don't get much visitors because the place is secluded. But, they provide shelter to those who need it."

Vin, seeing some hope, nodded and said, "Thank you very much." He started to walk on, but then he was stopped by the other man.

The man had furrowed brows on a helpless expressions when he asked, "Did you by any chance see my messenger bird on your way coming? He left my side a few hours ago."

Vin's heart missed a beat, and he subtly hid the single bone in his palm as he asked, "what does he look like?"

The man said, "he is gray."

Vin thought, now I've done it. He quickly shook his head, and when the man's face was down in hopelessness, Vin threw the bone far from his person. He looked left and right, then smiled, and said, "I'll be going. I hope you find your bird."

The man thanked him, and Vin felt incredibly guilty as he walked away. He walked only a little while before seeing a short gate. Within it, sat a large temple.