The Caster felt the air pressure drop considerably in his attempt to reach the castle, forcing him to the ground. Whenever he got within distance, the space seemed to stretch away from him. In his journey he wandered and stopped upon a sentry, a red flare shot from his horn when the sentry spotted him. Shortly after, a group of soldiers appeared within a single flash.
A white stallion dressed in heavy armor and with a commanding aura stepped forward, “And what do we have here?”
“A small group of pegasi that were heading in the direction of the capital, Captain Shining Armor Sir,” the one who shot the flare declaired.
“I see; so who might you five be?” Shining Armor asked.
“Outside my family and followers, I’m referred to as Ashen Cloud. The black one with the white mane and tail, he is Brightened Night; the dark blue one with a silvery main and tail, she is Canyon Fall; the solid red one is Cooling Fire; and lastly, the orange one with a deep magenta mane, tail, and streak down her side is Tempered Forest. We are small group of skilled tradesponies who left our clan to find work since we have fallen on hard times as of late,” Ashen Cloud replied formally with his hoof mad small repetitive motions on the ground, the respective ponies stepping forward and back when called.
“Might I ask where you are from and what skills you possess as tradesponies?”
“Of course! We are part of a closed village that lies between a barren snow land and a wide plains far north of here. As for our roles within our village, Brightened Night is an excellent carpenter and has built most of the tools we use as well as our village head’s current house; Canyon Fall here is a cook with outstanding talent able to turn most anything into a delicacy; Cooling Fire is an innovative tailor; and Tempered Forest is our prized blacksmith. I am their overseer, negotiator, master, and…”
“Master?” Shining interjected.
“A trainer of sorts; I’ve taught them their basic skills, trained them, and helped perfect their art. I’m a prodigy within our village who has taken up each trade and skill we have and I’m currently looking at becoming the next head of our clan.”
“Oh, then you wouldn’t mind showing me your skills then. I might even hire you right here,” Shining offered.
“A show of skill is nothing. However, I must decline the job, at the moment as it is my task to see that we make it to the capital. Now, what skill would you like displayed?” Ashen offered.
“For now, that can wait. If you won’t accept my job offer now, then a few of my men will escort you to the capital. If you are as skilled as you claim, then we will undoubtedly meet again.” A trio of two pegasi and a unicorn stepped forward before Shining Armor disappeared and the sentry continued his route.
Alone with his three escorts, he halted the movement of his hoof, the rune he had been working on. Instantaneously, the pegasi and unicorn’s movements halted, suspending them. Passing the invisible line the sentry had walked, he felt a thin film give way and let him pass. The special area rushed at him, becoming denser than the thin area he had experienced earlier.
Glancing at his escorts, he muttered to himself, “Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting.” Tossing a stone, he disrupted the circle that was causing the suspension of the trio. He let the trio follow him as he once again took to the air with his own companions. His path was reset due south, slightly off course as he eyed a pair of long metal tracks and the white cloud emanating along it.
Upon inspection, the cloud raised from a set of large metal box that moved along the tracks. The speed with which it moved fascinated Ashen, and set up careful calculations. As his hooves touched the contraption, however, he was immediately sent rolling along its top, skidding to a stop by digging his hooves into it.
“You know, there are easier ways of getting on a train,” Ashen’s guards said through a flashing light.
“Yes, but this way is better training. Unfortunately, I didn’t calculate my landing quite correctly, and this is easier that flying non-stop.” Ashen put his head down and looked out at the passing forest and mountain. A small figure flew by his vision as the train over took it. With quick action, he stood up and discerned it as a lone pony proceeding weakly along before it disappeared around the mountain. When the train was visible to that spot again, the figure was gone.
“Small figure, most likely a pony around five. Follow it,” Ashen ordered one of his companions in private.
“We can’t let him leave,” the escorts stated, blocking Cooling Fire’s path.
“And I do believe, you don’t get a say in the mater. Et auferte omnem curam belli Refrigerationem ignis. * And then put away all thoughts of Cooling of fire. *” Ashen cast. The three guards all froze as Cooling Fire flew off. Upon coming back to, the guards peacefully resumed watch and Ashen’s mind wandered around the figure he saw. He couldn’t be sure, but the fact that his follower complied with the request helped solidify his hypothesis about it. He played with the thoughts and possibilities play around as he continued to watch everything pass by.
The figure flew from his mind as he felt himself pass through another dimensional barrier. He found it peculiar that a high-level incantation spell was not only set up and sustained in two different places and with two different intents, but the feel of them as he glided through them were identical. ‘Whatever or whoever had placed them must have considerable stamina and power,’ Ashen thought to himself, ‘And I know of two possible candidates for it.’