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[i]THE STORY SO FAR...

Stella had journeyed miles from her hometown to the Reynolph Magic Academy to deliver a sample of a netherlily-- a magical plant that turned Stella and her friend into demons. When Stella arrived at Reynolph and found out that the academy had already received many samples and that her journey-- all the hardships and strife-- was for nothing, Stella was heartbroken.

However, while at a cleric's place getting treated for an injury, it was discovered that Stella had a strange tattoo on her body, one she had never seen before! Stella was told that it was likely the work of the gods and that she would need to see an astrologist to parse the meaning of the sudden tattoo.

Did Stella have a divine fate in store?[/i]

Stella waited in the lobby of the Reynolph Magic Academy. The place was just as chaotic as it was last night, but the netherlily crisis didn't seem like it was going to settle down anytime soon so the hustle and bustle wasn't surprising. While Stella waited on a lobby bench, people ran by in a hurry! The girl clipped her legs close to the bench so that no one's feet were to knock her as they zipped across the hallways.

It was odd to see such a kingly estate so frantic. The steps of boots and shoes echoed up the tall corridors.

The authorities that handled services told Stella she was to wait for the seer to get her. After the disappoint of last night, she was bitter and didn't want to interact with anyone there she didn't need to.

"You're back."

Stella knew that voice. She looked over and there was Ilya, the drow. She was dressed once again in that leather armor. And once again, she looked down at Stella like the human girl was defiling the place with her presence.

"Yeah," said Stella.

"Did you come back here to beg for payment?" asked Ilya.

"No," said Stella, her tone assertive, "I'm here to get checked out about something else."

"Sorry girlie," said Ilya, "but you humans aren't able to have natural magical abilities."

It was true. Unlike drow, satyrs, and a few other races, humans weren't able to develop natural magical abilities. Humans had to evoke magic through scrolls and sometimes arcane methods.

The racist tone wasn't lost on Stella, though. She didn't give Ilya the satisfaction and readied her tone before she said, "It's something else.'

Around the corner from another hallway walked in Corbeio, a satyr man in a dark coat with a hood. He saw Stella waiting on the couch and waved at her to follow. The human got up. As she walked past Ilya she shot the drow lady a dirty look, which Ilya returned.

Corbeio lead Stella down the hall without a word. Stella had to speed up her pace almost to a jog to keep up with the satyr's march. He took her down some stairs and to the left to a dimly lit hallway that had more old pieces of armor on the walls than pieces of art. There were stacks of books by unused dressers and filing cabinets.

The door at the end of the lonely hall was medieval-- having a wooden construction and iron bands to hold it together. Corbeio opened it by its metal lever, the steel squeaky as the satyr lifted it.

Inside the door, the room was dim-- only lit by a single faded flame-- but not so dark its features couldn't be made out. There was loads of tomes nestled on shelves. There was a few chairs in the corner but in the center there was a slab of dark granite with a circle on top. Around the circle were several unlit candles and around the slab, placed on the floor, were a few cushions.

Corbeio walked up to a lantern stand beside the slab. He took a stick and prodded at the fire inside and it lit up. He turned to Stella. "I am told your marking was on your buttocks?"

"Yeah," said Stella.

Corbeio waved her over. "Well, let's see it."

The door was left open, letting in light from the halls. Stella walked to the center of the room to join Corbeio and the lantern. She turned her butt towards Corbeio and undid her belt taking a breath in. It was time some light embarrassment.

She unraveled her belt and dropped her pants so the top half of her tattoo was visible.

"More please," said Corbeio.

Stella blushed and dropped her pants more. If the satyr desired it, he could have seen Stella's sex! A satyr getting a glance at Stella's sex. She wished that it wasn't something she had experience before, but her satyr friend Patros back home got a good look of her naked body the day they turned into hideous demons.

"Hm," said Corbeio with a curious tone.

Stella didn't like the sound of that. She asked, "What is it?"

"It most certainly looks like a divine marking," said Corbeio.

"Maybe it's fake."

It was Ilya again. She stood in the doorway, boot against the frame and arms crossed. Stella pivoted her butt away so the drow couldn't get sight of it.

"It's not fake," said Stella, brow bending downward.

"When did you discover this marking?" asked Corbeio, walking over to a table by the wall.

"Just now," said Stella, "a half an hour ago. I only noticed it because a woman pointed it out."

"A [i]woman[/i] pointing it out?" Ilya said with a bemused tone. Stella could feel Ilya imply she was a lesbian with that tone. "Can't you notice these things yourself?"

Stella groaned. "It's not like I'm looking at my ass all the time!"

"Has anyone else seen your buttocks recently?" asked Corbeio.

Stella rubbed her arm. "Yeah. A couple times this last week. If I had a tattoo then, someone would have said something I think."

Ilya scoffed. She said nothing but just by that sound Stella knew it was a knock at Stella's bedding habits. It was embarrassing for Stella even if an hour ago she had a revelation about how being very sexual was fine.

Corbeio took a flint pistol lighter and a candle of blue wax from a table to the side. He lit the lighter and brought it close to the candle. The flame that erupted was blue like the wax, although brighter. Corbeio brought the candle over to Stella.

"Wh-what are you going to do with that?" asked Stella.

"Do not worry," said Corbeio, "I'm not going to burn you. This aetheraqua candle will show if the tattoo is legitimate."

"Worried that your little charade's almost up?" said Ilya, "You have to pay for fake divinations, you know."

Stella was too distracted to sass Ilya. Corbeio brought the candle down to Stella's buttcheek and it didn't take the candle flame to get very close for the tattoo on Stella's butt to glow a bright blue glow. Even with Stella's butt facing away from her, Ilya saw the light reflecting off nearby surfaces like Corbeio's coat and knew it was coming from Stella's tattoo.

Ilya knew: The human girl was telling the truth.

"It's real," said Corbeio. He blew out the candle, the gust tickling Stella's butt.

Stella didn't know what to think. She was happy that Ilya was wrong about something but now the girl had to contend with the fact that the gods wanted something from her. That had never happened to her, nor anyone she ever knew. Anyone familiar with basic cosmology knew it wasn't the kind of thing that happened often whatsoever!

She breathed heavy and chewed her lip. "But what does that mean?" She looked down at her pants, taking them and hoisting them up.

Ilya didn't know what to think. There she was, right in front of her, a human girl that the gods had a duty for. Stella was a bratty and wimpy girl so what could the stars have need for her?

Corbeio didn't know anything about Stella so his disbelief wasn't as big as Ilya's. He had to admit, Stella didn't seem like the kind of person that the gods would have needed. The fact that he was the seer to make the discovery-- it was going to be a story for late night drinking until the day he died.

He looked around. The room wasn't just for checking to see if tattoos were from the gods; it functioned as a divination chamber and while he had other things to do that afternoon, divine matters took priority and Stella was already present to get things underway.

"If you are not busy," said Corbeio, "I can do a divination right here."

Stella checked herself. She didn't have anything else to do and she didn't need to use the toilet. Now was a perfect time.

"Sure," said Stella.

Corbeio nodded. It was time to get to work.

Corbeio put his stuff away. Ilya entered the room proper and shut the door behind her. The single lantern lit the strange and otherworldly chamber. After putting away the candle Corbeio return to rearrange the pillows on the ground.

Corbeio gestured at a pillow. "Sit down."

Stella undid her knife belt and removed her weapon. She dropped her backpack on the ground with her blade. Corbeio sat himself down on the other side of the table, also picking a pillow as a seat. Ilya settled on another pillow but seated a few feet further back from the slab.

"I've never done this thing before," said Stella.

"We can tell," said Ilya.

Corbeio chuckled. "It can be intense."

"Don't piss yourself," said Ilya.

Stella scowled at Ilya, the drow lady unaffected. Stella couldn't help but worry that urination was a possibility in divination.

Corbeio closed his eyes and placed his hands on the slab in the middle of the floor. He concentrated and the circle on the slab began to glow.

"Put your hands on the circle," said Corbeio, "then close your eyes."

Stella worried it would hurt but she did as Corbeio commanded. It felt tingly but nothing else. She closed her eyes and her vision was visited by swirling sparkles and colors faint in the darkness of her shrouded vision.

It was hypnotizing. The colors danced in front of her. She opened her eyes for a second and the colors disappeared but closing her eyes again and there they were. It was strange but amusing. As Stella settled, a quiet hum rang in her ears.

"I see things," said Stella, "and hear things."

"That's because you are touching the arcane circle," said Corbeio, "We need to direct your thoughts towards the stars in order to listen to the gods."

"How do I do that?" asked Stella.

"Imagine looking up at a starry sky," said Corbeio, "You don't have to [i]actually[/i] look up at the sky-- imagine doing it."

Stella was out on the plains at night. It was quiet. Above her was the night sky, stars twinkling all around. She looked up at gazed at them, stars of many sizes.

"Look deep into the vastness of the stars," said Corbeio.

Stella drew her gaze into it and the stars descended on her. She could make their shapes and touch them. Some were small enough to fit in her hand and some were so large she could even see the most of them where her naked eyes. Warmth came off every one of them.

Between some stars though, there were splotches of distant light-- they looked like veils to Stella. They took round shapes and stood out in the vastness of darkness. Stella was drawn to them and as she peered into the shapes, she saw an image.

"I can see something," said Stella.

"Tell me what you see," said Corbeio.

Stella concentrated. In one of the veils, Stella saw a ruins like the light was some kind of window. Stella peered closer at the ruins inside the image-- it was a temple, maybe, with stone construction. Its yellow bricks and pillars had been eroded by time. Even with the place falling apart, the center room looked impressive and Stella felt like she was needed there-- needed at that temple.

"It's an old temple," said Stella.

Her vision was drawn back from the building and into the sky. Her eyes were carried into the clouds and she looked down at the land below her. The ground was so far off from her perspective, and yet she knew she was looking over the northeastern parts of the land. She recognized Reynolph to the southwest and Lake Pypoli was in the south.

She could feel the distance between her position in Reynolph and the temple in the east.

"East," said Stella, "It wants me to go to a temple in the east."

"What does the temple look like?" asked Corbeio.

"It's old and broken," said Stella, "It looks ancient. It's made of stone."

There was a chuckled from Ilya.

Stella's vision drew her out of the veil. The veil returned to the shape in the night sky, no image in its form. The stars backed away from her, shrinking to the sizes of specks they were before. Stella was drawn out of the sky, back down into to the ground and the stars hung above her.

"I think..." said Stella, "I think it's over... whatever that was."

"You can open your eyes," said Corbeio.

The room came back to her. How long was that vision? Maybe a minute? It was long enough for the room to feel non-existent and seeing the place again-- the burning lantern and shelves of tomes-- it was like waking up from a dream.

Corbeio took his hands off of the circle and so did Stella.

"Very impressive," said Ilya, sounding like it took all her willpower to not speak during Stella's trip.

Stella checked herself. Her body was fine. She shifted on her seat. "Were the gods speaking to me?"

"Yes," said Corbeio, "Do you believe they want you to head there? To this temple?"

Stella nodded, getting up. "Yeah. The temple's over..." She instinctively knew which direction the temple was. It was a force inside her head pulling her towards it. She pointed at a corner in the wall, aiming her finger at a temple that was miles away. "It's over there."

Corbeio got up, too. He nodded and stroked his chin. "Yes, I have heard of this. The gods have imprinted upon you, giving you a holy sense of direction." He chuckled.

The feeling was vibrant in her mind. There was a sense tugging on her, even when she stood idly in the middle of the room, that importance was speaking to her.

"Guess I better head that way..." said Stella, trying to convince herself more than anything.

"Yes," said Corbeio. He turned to Ilya. "Perhaps the royal guard could offer this young lady some protection?"

"What?" said Ilya, getting up and walking to the door frame, "Whatever for?"

"This is a matter of the gods," said Corbeio, "I do not know what it entails but it must be of great importance so any protection is warranted."

Ilya sighed and dropped her arms. "I suppose you're right," she said, her volume barely reaching the ears of Corbeio and Stella.

The divination was done and no more magical services were needed so Stella left the astrologist's room, Corbeio staying back to write up a quick report. Stella walked down the halls with Ilya at her side. Ilya kept a couple feet to Stella's side like she didn't want to be associated with the girl.

"I'll spare three of my men," said Ilya, "No more."

"I'm gonna guess that these men are the screwups of the squad," said Stella.

"There are [i]no[/i] screwups in my squad," said Ilya, "I command the royal guard and every one of my soldiers is a top of his class soldier."

Stella sighed, holding her arms closely. Glancing over at the walls, she passed by some large paintings of mountains. There were doors but they were windowless and shut tight. She peered over at Ilya. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I am Ilya," said the drow lady, not turning her head to face Stella, "I am general of the royal army."

The two walked without a word. That section of the academy was quiet and no one was running around like the other parts.

Ilya glanced over at Stella. As Ilya saw it, the human girl had unfeminine features and no strength in her body.

"Can't see why the gods would task a [i]human[/i] with any important task," said Ilya.

"Well, they did!" said Stella, "Me. Not [i]you[/i]."

It felt good to shove that in Ilya's face but then came the worry. Why would the gods have something in store for Stella? Would it be dangerous?

Ilya took Stella out of the academy and brought the girl to the barracks on the western side of town. It was where Ilya's squadron was staying and the general, reluctantly, introduced three soldiers to Stella.

There was Lorf, an orc. He was a swordsman and carried a heavy blade. His metal armor clanged with every one of his steps.

Joining with him was Sarlo, a hobgoblin swordswoman. She wore leather armor and wielded two blades. She had sharp features and gazed at everyone with a piercing gaze.

Finally there was Halmesh, a lapid magician. He wore a blue silk coat over a golden vest that hid some leather armor underneath. His pants were black and he wore no shoes.

But what was their destination? Cart drivers preferred not to drive out in the middle of some vague area. While in the barracks, Stella was given a map. She looked at it and she got a sense of where she needed to be. While her eyes rolled over the geography of the region, a remote area around a small town called Hokely spoke to her. That's where she needed to be. The temple was somewhere in that area.

The three soldiers were practically at her command so she had to make a real decision on where they were heading. Hokely was as good as any place to make the official destination, so Stella declared they were en route to the little town.

Ilya was gracious enough to pay for the cart fare towards that direction and the academy parted with some money for Stella and her companion to help take her the rest of the way. Stella doubted it would be enough.

The group followed Stella but were too quiet for Stella to hear their chatter. At the cart yards, Stella met with the driver: a human man about Stella's shorter size. After loading up the vehicle with the crew's supplies, the team was off!

The cart left the road that Stella rode in on last night. Even with its larger size, the cart was cramped. It was slightly larger than Jillas' ride from yesterday but other three took a lot of room so most of the space was being used up. With the cart carrying five people, it needed two horses!

It was intimidating to be traveling with the other three. Stella felt out of place and she found it hard to believe it was only that morning where she woke up with a pain in her loins. She got an embarrassing fright on the way to the healer's. Now? She was practically leading a small squad to destinations unknown! It had been quite the day!

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