Astral's Adventures

An old man crept down the stairs as Tina grabbed a tea kettle and set it over the fireplace. She sat on the ground defeated as they had no way to start the fire. The old man coughed and wheezed. His vest and his pants were as dusty as the shelves of artifacts were. Astral saw the old man as he grabbed a log beside the fireplace. Setting it inside he tried to ignite it as nothing but sparks sat inside of his hands.

"Ah, another young lad who can't control his magic, Tina-Belle, what is this man?" The old man creaked his old eyes open as Astral kept looking at the fireplace, trying to light the one log on fire.

Tina turned from the fireplace and faced her grandpa. "This man came out of nowhere after some dirty humans tried to kidnap me, and worse." She drops her head as the old man sits down in a chair. His cough slowly got worse as Astral's rage slowly warmed his insides. One deep breath and he ignited the log as he shoveled three more logs in there as the two of them started making the batch of tea as fast as possible.

Astral kept the fire stoked with his magical flames as smoke came out the chimney. The three paid no mind to it as they worked on making sure Gramps could bear talking. The two finished the pot of tea as Astral poured out a cup for the old timer. He bowed as he took it from him. Astral's smile warmed the room as the old man drank the entire glass of tea in a single gulp. Astral poured another glass for him, as well as himself and Tina as the three sat at the table.

"Now tell me, young traveler, why did you help my dearest granddaughter?" The old man's voice sounded smoother and deeper. No longer perturbed by the coughs beforehand. Astral sat backwards in the chair and leaned backwards the tiniest bit.

He drew a blank for all of a moment as his mind was empty. "It just felt right." Astral stirred his tea a bit with a small spoon. "I can't recall who it was or when, but there have been times where I have defended the defenseless. It is the proper thing to do. Sitting back and not acting with the strength to act is a sin."

The old man and Tina both looked at him as his words seemed so old, his experiences extending well past what should be of his age and looks. "Well, if you could burden this old man for some more time, I'd like a favor to ask." Tina's eyes darted back and forth between the two. "She has a magical potential like none that this world has ever seen. If you would be willing to train her, she could escape this lifestyle and live on her path."

Astral pondered for a moment as he dug deep into his feelings, none of it was resonating with him and deep down, spellcasting felt like it was eluding him. "I can change her life in a simple wish, but the training of her will be much delayed, as I do not feel like myself." Astral took a shallow breath of relief. "There is a large hole missing that I cannot find the filling for. But I will try to train her with what I do know." He smiled as the other two felt the warmth of his words welcome to all of them again.

"I would happily take her on an adventure myself, but between the tariffs and my old bones, I am surprised the two of you were able to avoid the guards." the old man chuckled. "Wait, child, how old are you?" The man questioned as Astral started to truly think of his many adventures that he could remember.

"I have no clue, the first thing I remember is waking up in a field of Astrids, Lilacs and Lilies." Astral buried his hands into his face as he had no recollection as the old man slowly slid back on his chair and walked over to a bookshelf. Astral tilted his head as Tina watched in just as much wonder.

Gramps pulled out a worn out book with a leather binding. Opening it to the end page. "The day is three thousand of the second elven age. The humans are holding strong as the hybrids are slowly gaining the power to rebel. There was a shaking meteor that was surrounded by a field of flowers, and a man in the center. We inspected the body as the man was unresponsive. We left him alone as many of the things he wore were radiating a special energy, outside of his helmet." The old man slammed the book shut as it startled Tina.

"How long ago was that, it seems like an unnaturally long time? I had more armor?" Astral was taking a double take as he was padding his body to try and see if there were more things hiding along his body. Astral cracked his neck as he was no longer worried about it.

"We are in the third age of hybrids. They have new leaders and have been dominating the planet, and humans specifically for the last one hundred years. The book, is around two thousand years old." Astral and Tina were sent into shock as there was a knock on their door. Tina grabbed Astral's hand and led him up the stairs. The old man grabbed a walking stick as he slowly approached the door.

Tina shoved Astral into a closet as she grabbed a change of clothes to get out of her worn dress into a more beautiful plain green dress. Astral quieted his breathing as he listened to the conversation downstairs.

"Hello there fine gentleman, how are you on this day." Gramps opened the door to reveal two guards with golden chest plates and red under clothes. "Is there anything wrong?" He questioned them as they pointed to the chimney and the fire.