Realm of Monsters

Stryg’s numb feet slapped on the pavement as he dashed across the cobblestone walkway. Professor Loh stood in front of a luxurious red carriage, pulled by two well dressed centaurs. Her arms were crossed and she tapped her foot as Stryg ran up to her.

“I told you to meet me here right after class. I’ve been waiting for 15 minutes. You’re late on the first day as my apprentice.”

“Sorry, I got caught up with-”

“I’m not interested in your excuses nor in your apologies. What I want is for you to follow my orders. Do you understand?” Loh glared.

“I understand...master.” Stryg forced the word out. He was uncomfortable with the term. He wasn’t anyone’s servant. One of the main points of learning magic was to have others serve him. Yet, he needed to obey. Stryg always wanted a proper teacher ever since he was a child. He had once been stuck with the eccentric goblin Sigte, who had taught him how to read and write. While the skill had become useful, Sigte was dead. He clearly hadn’t been strong enough. This drow was powerful and she was willing to teach him. He couldn’t miss this chance. 

“Good, now get on,” Loh commanded and entered the carriage. 

Stryg got in without another word. Once they were both seated, the centaurs started pulling the carriage. Loh took out a small journal and began to write in it. Stryg was exhausted, but it didn’t stop him from looking out the window and watching the people pass by. 

“Where are we going?” Stryg asked in curiosity. 

“You’ll find out when we get there,” Loh answered without looking up.

“...Master?” Stryg sat back down.

“What is it?” Loh said in a mildly annoyed voice.

“Today I learned about the gods. Specifically, about how they aren’t real.” 

She raised her head, “Who taught you that? Professors aren’t allowed to say anything of the sort.”

“Rime did. But afterwards, a classmate told me that the gods are real, he even showed me a painting about them. I guess what I’m trying to say is, are the gods real or not?” 

Loh closed her book and sat back in her chair. “What do you believe, Stryg?”

“I was raised to believe in the gods, honestly I didn’t know there was any other way until today. I was taught how Lunae watched over all the goblins from up in the night sky. My people told me that I was a bad omen sent by the moon goddess herself. A cursed existence.” Stryg looked at his hands. “I was different from the rest. A freak. Everyone believed mother moon hated me. Even I did… I still kind of do. But, then I came here and I found out that I’m a mageborn. The moon is only supposed to bless those she favors with magic, so how can I have magic if she hates me? I… I don’t know. I don’t know if the gods are real.”

Loh sat quiet as she watched his expression. “...Stryg, you’re free to believe whatever you wish. If you want to know my theory, not a fact mind you, I think the gods, or the beings we call the gods, did exist at some point. My best guess is they were powerful magi that held great influence during their time. People told stories about them long after they passed from this world, embellishing their heroics and eventually a religion was formed around them. Until the person was forgotten and a myth stood in their place.” She blew air from her mouth, pushing a strand of silver hair from her face. “Who knows, maybe the gods are real and the drow are screwed for being a bunch of atheistic assholes. I rather choose to believe in my own theory instead.”

Stryg pondered her words. He looked out the window to the sight of crowds milling about. “That’s good enough for me,” he whispered. 

The carriage stopped in the middle of the street. “And this spot is good enough for me. You can get out now, Stryg,” Loh said.

Stryg nodded, stepped outside, and looked around, “This is the trade district, right?”

“That’s correct,” Loh said as she rummaged through her purse. 

“What are we doing here?”

“We aren’t doing anything. You are going shopping for some items I need. You may be my apprentice, but you’re still my assistant as well. I was going to show you the shop personally, but you were late, and now I have things to do. So, you can go shopping by yourself.”

“But, I don’t know the district very well, or any district for that matter.” Stryg frowned in worry.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out, you’re my apprentice after all.” Loh smirked. She threw him two golden coins and a rolled up paper. “There’s the list of what you need to buy and where to find it. The coins should be more than enough. You can keep the change. Get yourself a drink or something. Just make sure to have the stuff on that list on my desk by morning.” Loh closed the door and the carriage was off.

Stryg was left in the middle of the street, picking up the coins and paper from the ground. A few people gave him odd glances as they walked by. He sighed, why did he have to be late for everything.

Stryg stood up and began wandering through the crowds. Some of the streets were covered in large buildings, with people standing outside promising only the best of goods. Another street was filled with food stalls, like the ones Karen had once shown him. He tried asking an occasional passerby the directions to any of the shops on his list, but they shook their heads and went on their way, some even just ignored him. They all seemed too busy to bother with a stranger. He asked some of the owners of the food stalls if they knew, but they refused to tell him anything unless he bought something first. Their food did smell good, but Stryg wasn’t sure how much money would be left after buying Loh’s items. He couldn’t risk buying something now and coming up short later. He didn’t want to imagine what Loh would do to him if he failed his first official task as her assistant. 

After an hour of roaming the busy streets of the trade district, Stryg came across a road with far fewer pedestrians. The buildings here were all made of stone and each door was blocked by people, mostly orcs, Stryg noted. They didn’t wear the armor that Stryg had come to associate with the guards of Hollow Shade, but they were most definitely some kind of guard, judging by the swords held at their waists. 

“Hey, what are you staring at? If you have nothing better to do, scram,” one of the orcs said.

Stryg realized he had been staring at the orc, perhaps the guard felt intimidated. Or maybe he just didn’t like him, probably the latter. Stryg didn’t have time to waste with the orc. He was about to turn around when he caught sight of the name that hung on the sign of the building, “White Rose Cauldron.”

“Actually, I have business here,” Stryg stated.

The guard raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? What sort of business would that be?”

“I have to buy some things on this list. At this place, I think.” Stryg glanced between the piece of paper and the building.

“Uh huh, well, unless you can show me some proper identification you’re not stepping a foot inside,” The guard said with skepticism. 

Stryg remembered the slim metal plate in his pants. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver nameplate, “Will this do?” 

The guard’s jaw dropped wide open when he saw the silver. “Oh, sorry, sir. I didn’t realize who you were, please come inside.” The guard’s back stood rigid as he ushered Stryg through the door.

Stryg followed in without complaint. He now understood what Rorik had meant about nameplates letting one enter places. Then the scents hit him. If the academy’s dining hall was a blissful haven, then this store was hell worse than the lamia cave. The overflowing odors were disorientating. Stryg could smell a whiff of sickly sweet aromas, while being blasted with something pungent and acrid. His eyes began to water from the overpowering scents. This had to be a trap. The guard had brought him in here to kill him. Stryg turned around to defend himself but the guard had already gone back to his post. 

“Welcome to the White Rose Cauldron, home to the best potions and rare ingredients in all of Hollow Shade,” an old drow said, walking out from behind a shelf stocked with labeled glass bottles. “My name is Dextrian, but you can call me Dex. I’m the owner of this fine establishment. How may I be of service?”

Stryg was at a loss for words. He was no longer sure if this was a trap. “I’ve smelled many scents throughout my life, but why does this place smell so horrible?”

“You must have a sensitive nose,” Dex laughed. “This place is filled with various potions, each with their own strong smells. Of course you might be smelling whatever is being concocted from the cauldrons in the back. Who knows? However, I assume you didn’t come here for scented candles.”

“No, you’re right,” Stryg rubbed his nose. “I came here on an errand.”

“Picking up potions for your master, ey? They must trust you greatly to handle potions of this quality. Your integrity must be of the highest value. An excellent example to all servants. It is my pleasure to do business with one such as you.” Dex smiled and bowed his head.

“I’m not a servant,” Stryg frowned. “I’m her apprentice and assistant too, I guess.”

Dex raised his head in surprise, “Oh, my apologies. Most who come here are magi or servants of wealthy families come to pick up one concoction or another. You said you were an apprentice?” Dex sized Stryg up and down. “Ah, of course, I should have noticed from the clothes. A student of the mage academy. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken with a goblin mage. What an interesting day this has turned out to be. Yes, excellent, indeed. It will be my pleasure to do business with a colleague of the craft.” 

“You’re a mage?” Stryg asked. He was uncertain of how to gauge the old drow.

“Of course,” Dex pulled out a mage necklace embedded with a ruby form underneath his apron, “Who do you think made these superb potions? My apprentices? Please, they wouldn’t be able to distill the simplest of bottles on just this shelf.”

Stryg looked around the store. Dozens of shelves filled with glass bottles covered the area.

“So, what can I get for you, Mister... I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name.”

“Stryg, from the Bl- No, just Stryg,” he grimaced. 

“A pleasure to meet you Stryg. How may I be of help?” Dex asked.

Stryg glanced at his list, “Do you have a bottle of lily blight?”

“Why, yes, on this shelf over here. Dangerous stuff. It can give you an extra burst of stamina, even just a few drops more can prove quite disastrous to the body.” Dex walked over and handed him a small yellow vial. “Anything else?”

“You said you’ve spoken to a goblin mage before?” Stryg asked in curiosity. 

“Yes, although it's been almost 80 years since then. There were a few back in the academy when I was a student,” Dex recalled.

“Do you know where they are now?” 

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid they are no longer around. Some died a long time ago, others left Hollow Shade not long after graduation. Though, like I said it's been 80 years. A goblin's lifespan is at best around the same. It is impossible for any of them to be alive today,” Dex explained.

“Oh, I see.” Stryg looked down.

“But, I see that age will not be a big problem for you. I can tell, you're a hybrid. Judging from your looks I’d say one of your parents was a drow. ” Dex rubbed his chin.

“Why do you think they’d be a drow? Drow have grey skin and are far taller than me.” Stryg asked with genuine curiosity. Professor Tuari had made the same conclusion.

“Your body definitely seemed to have leaned more towards your goblin parent’s height. But, not all drow have grey skin. Like most species, they have different skin tones. A drow’s ranges from pale grey, to soft blue, and even a few hues of purple. Despite having an obviously toned body, your short limbs aren’t stocky in the slightest, more lithe, like a drow. Your hair is also grey like a drow. I suppose you could technically be half-frost giant, they too have blue skin and grey hair, unlikely though. Frost giants are quite hostile to outsiders. I don’t see a goblin ever being with one.” Dex drew his head closer, “But your eyes are most unusual. I’ve never seen lilac eyes before, and the way your pupils dilate, extraordinary; most likely a physical mutation based on your hybrid nature,”  Dex smiled. “So, did I guess right?”

“I wouldn’t know.” Stryg rubbed his nose. The scents here were really starting to bug him.

Dex took a step back as if burned. “Ah. Forgive me for being intrusive, I have overstepped my bounds.” Dex bowed his head. “Please, take that bottle of lily blight free of charge. Is there something else you perhaps require?”

Stryg was stunned. Someone actually apologizing to him? Why? As a mage Dex was clearly more powerful than him. There was no need to apologize to someone weaker. After a few moments, he shook his head. This drow was just a strange man. Stryg read his list again. “Do you have… scented blue ore?”