Si & Jay

     “You’re a cheater, Si,” Jay said, staring blankly at the large stack of ceramic blocks with colourful symbols before her.

     Si laughed, pouring herself another cup of green tea, all of her game pieces set neatly aside in pairs. “You’re just jealous that I’m so good at Kou-Jong.”

     Siyana, or Si, the light faerie, and Jerdana, or Jay, the Aisha sorceress, had travelled many miles to find Shenkuu, a land they had not even been sure existed. Illusen had told Si of its existence, and the two, due to Si’s inattention or poor memory, had been incorrectly calling it ‘You’-land, mostly focusing on an incorrect pronunciation of the latter half of the name. The two had crossed a range of tremendous mountains and travelled through a cursed forest, running into the territorial Nuxvare Kougras, and eventually were led by a Juma, a small, auburn, Lupe-like petpet, to Shenkuu’s gates.

     The pair had traversed to Shenkuu in the hopes of finding work for one or both of them, mainly as some sort of sorceress, but it seemed that Shenkuu had no need for such work. A wise society with investments in clever games, healing herbs and potions, geography, and astrology, and knowledge in general, it seemed that the role of a court sorceress felt antiquated, even. Si and Jay had been surprised to learn this and had quickly (quicker for Si than Jay) settled back into the ‘vacation mode’ of their previous weeks of travel to different parts of Neopia together. Still, Jay did not want to give up hope on Shenkuu being the answer to her seemingly meaningless wanderings.

     Jay abruptly stood up. This took a little bit of time since she was still not used to sitting on cushions at a table. She brushed off her robes, though they were spotless, and straightened. “I’m off to look for work.”

     Si did not look up, but fidgeted restlessly with the Kou-Jong tiles, mismatching them, then matching them again, then organizing them by colour. “Jay, I think we’ve exhausted all of our avenues here. I really just think it’s not meant to be. I know you don’t want to hear that, but …”

     Jay stomped her left foot, attempting to hide this by shuffling her feet and shifting her weight to her left foot. She cleared her throat. “I have to keep trying. I won’t know unless I try. I refuse to visit one avenue, say we’ve tried everything, and spend the rest of our time in Shenkuu eating mochi soup and playing Kou-Jong.”

     Without waiting for Si to finish, Jay rushed out, shutting the door a little too firmly, and walking briskly north to the Lunar Temple.

     After Jay exited, Si shrugged, exhaled, and began to set up a new game of Kou-Jong.

     ---

     The walk to the Lunar Temple took a good twenty or so minutes, and during it, Jay rehashed her recent conversations with Si. Si had said that they had no need to check every location in town. They had introduced themselves to the Ruki, Anshu, who owned Remarkable Restoratives, but found him to be self-sufficient in his gathering of herbs and creation of remedies. After asking around a little after the need for magical abilities, Si had given up on their job hunt, and resigned herself to enjoying hikes around the steep mountains, watching the waterfalls jumble about the mossy scrambles of rocks, and, recently, long games of Kou-Jong followed by trips to Exotic Foods. Jay refused to give up. She had visited every house, every business in town in the past few weeks, now with only one option left: the Lunar Temple.

     Though determined, Jay was anything but impractical. She knew that her chances were extremely slim. But she had to try – and her stubborn nature would allow no option other than exhausting, literally, all job possibilities in town.

     Jay was in the middle of crossing a particularly long stretch of one of the suspended wood plank and rope bridges that connected many of the strange mountaintops that held the buildings of the town. She leaned on the rope railing, the bridge swaying slightly with her weight. Below, three different waterfalls all met in a large, singular pool. Ferns grew in large tufts on the edges of the pool, and Hegelobs, small fish-like petpets, swam about in the pool. A flock of Quintilcs flew by, their paper-like wings fluttering lazily.

     Shenkuu is paradise, Jay thought. But I need more than paradise. I need meaning. Purpose.

     Sighing, she pushed away from the railing, walking across the bridge, and reaching the mountaintop the Lunar Temple was perched upon. There was a stone path that wound around the mountainside, doubling in on itself in neat switchbacks. She began her ascent, finding it would take her a little longer than she thought due to the altitude gain.

     ---

     The Lunar Temple towered above the rest of Shenkuu on the tallest mountaintop. Conifer trees stood guard outside, while strange, knobby, crooked-growing trees peeked around corners. The Temple was a deep, rusted red with ornate gold lining the rooftop and the observatory tower. A huge, gold flag with a waxing crescent moon on it flapped wildly in the wind.

     Jay pushed open the rounded wooden door, finding the inside much smaller than she had imagined, and completely dark. The entry room seemed to have no natural light, and all candles were unlit.

     “Hello! Is anyone here?” Jay called. A moment passed. A few moments. A few minutes.

     Well, that’s it, then. Nothing left, I suppose, Jay thought.

     “Yoo! Yoo-hooooo!” An echoing voice rang from a floor above. “Shut the door!”

     “But – the light – ” Jay began, but shut the door anyway. As soon as she did, a trap door, somehow fitted into the stone ceiling above, dropped down, and a clunking wooden plank and rope ladder dropped from above.

     “Climb up!” The mystery voice called.

     Jay clambered up the ladder, accepting a paw up from the mystery voice. A long, silky white beard slapped her in the face as she was pulled into the room.

     “Ah! My apologies. I sometimes forget how long my beard is. I haven’t trimmed it in twenty years.” Now in a well-lit room, she could see the identity of the mystery voice. An elderly Gnorbu with a long beard in cerulean robes grinned at her. Though he was quite old, his eyes were bright and vibrant.

     The room was spacious and sparsely furnished. An armchair and small table made up the bulk of the furnishings. Bookshelves, pots of scrolls, and potted plants lined the walls, what little walls there were – most of the room was lined with large windows. A large telescope occupied most of the centre of the room. Another wooden board and rope ladder led up to the observatory, a small dome-shaped area completely made of glass.

     The Gnorbu waited patiently as Jay stood, turning in circles, taking it all in.

     “Welcome,” He said finally, tapping his curved, gnarled cane on the floor. “I am the keeper and sole observer of the Lunar Temple. I am an expert astronomer. Have you come to learn astronomy? Or just perhaps to seek my wisdom?”

     “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m Jay – I mean – I am Jerdana. I’m sorry to say that I’m not here for a pupilage,” Jay said, shuffling her feet nervously at the instant look of disappointment brought on by her words.

     “I am in search of work,” she continued. “I am a trained sorceress. I was wondering if you would require my work, or if you knew of anyone in town who would.” Jay stood up straighter, attempting to appear as professional as possible.

     “Ah,” The Wise Gnorbu sighed. He walked over to one of the great windows facing south. “I’m sorry to say that your services will not be needed here for a long, long, while. This town is self-sufficient in that way. We pride ourselves in being able to exist without magic. I think one day this will change. But small towns, especially ones mostly kept secret, are such as this.”

     He shook his head. “I can sense you have great power. I know you will find what you seek, someday.”

     Jay looked up from her feet. “Do you … know magic?”

     He winked. “Perhaps, a bit to help with the chores. I am a creature of science, however; her call has been much more enticing.”

     Suddenly, the main entrance door clapped open, slamming against the stone wall. A voice rang from below, heavy with urgency, “It is your son! He has become worse; you must come immediately!”

     “Well, you must excuse me, Jerdana. I must go – my son has been extremely ill these past two weeks. We can talk more another day, I hope,” he said, and began to clamber down the ladder.

     Jay followed quickly down the ladder, shutting the main door behind her. The Wise Gnorbu was already a quarter kilometer down the path. Jay jogged to catch up, panting, “Please! Let me go with you. Maybe I can help.”

     ---

     The messenger, it turned out, had been Si. Jay had not recognized her voice due to the echoing effect that the stone walls and many floors created. Si had been contacted immediately and asked to send the message, since she was the only individual in town who would be able to deliver the message quickest, as she was the only one able to fly to the Lunar Temple.

     When Jay and the Wise Gnorbu arrived at his home, Si was already waiting for them outside. Si and Jay were ushered inside, through the sitting room, then kitchen, to a dimly lit bedroom where two candles were lit. His mother, a purple Gnorbu, and Anshu were the only others there.

     “Thank goodness you’re here,” said the Mother, greeting the three. “Please, if you can do anything – anything at all – to help him. At first, we thought it was just a normal case of the Neo Flu, but now he has a fever that is only worsening – and – ”

     Si put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll help.”

     Jay nudged Si with her elbow, whispering to her, “I’m going to need some help. I’ve never done any sort of healing work.”

     Si nodded. “Me neither. Together?”

     Jay smiled. “Together.”

     Si turned to Anshu. “What kind of healing ingredients do you have? Just give me one that is the most natural. Like a mushroom or something.”

     He nodded. “A mushroom I can do,” he said, handing Si three Dried Black Mushrooms from a cloth belt he wore around his waist.

     Si held the mushrooms out in her palm; Jay placed her paw pads-down on top of the mushrooms.

     Si began:

     Mushrooms of this sacred land

     Here I ask for your helping hand

     Jay continued:

     Bring us fortune, bring us health

     Minerals of earth you hold in wealth

     Si continued:

     Take my light, shift with me

     Change to what you need to be

     Jay continued:

     Ocean waves of mirth

     Maple leaves anew birth

     Looking at one another, together, in unison, they chanted:

     Heal with love and light

     Make his future bright

     Shutting their eyes, the room filled with light that was blinding for a moment, then dissipated. The three mushrooms had morphed into one mushroom, a beautiful golden colour with the patterns of moons on it.

     Si handed the mushroom to the Wise Gnorbu and said, “Grind this to a powder with a mortar and pestle, mix it with water, and give it to your son to drink. He will be healed by morning.”

     ---

     The Wise Gnorbu’s son was happy and healthy by morning, filled with more energy than ever before. The town council had a meeting after this event, unanimously deciding to hire a town sorceress, just for these types of situations: emergencies. It seems the town was ready to accept magic sooner than was previously thought.

     Anshu brought the news to Si and Jay, telling them that they would be willing to hire one of them as town sorceress. He left them to decide over their Kou-Jong game.

     Jay and Si were silent.

     “You should have it!” They shouted at each other in synchrony.

     “Ha … ha. Okay, but seriously. You deserve it, Jay. I don’t want it,” Si said.

     “But you love it here! And you’re so good at Kou-Jong,” Jay returned.

     “You love it here, too. How can you not? But I don’t want to spend the rest of my days here. I enjoy travelling. And being here has helped me realize something. I want to travel more. I have more things I want to see. Like Terror Mountain,” Si said, waggling her eyebrows.

     Jay laughed. “You know what’s funny? After all of my knocking down doors here for a job, I don’t want the job either. We’re spoiled, aren’t we?”

     Si shook her head. “We’re the worst. Oh … you’re a secret town that doesn’t like magic? Now we made you like it? Just kiddinggg we’re leaving. Bye-uh.”

     Jay rested her chin on her paw. “How are we going to tell the Wise Gnorbu we’re leaving? And how are we going to find a way through the forest again?”

     “He’s gonna ask us for some of those mushrooms to keep here,” Si laughed. “Maybe some to grow his beard longer, too.”

     ---

     Si and Jay spent another week in Shenkuu, enjoying the scenery, Kou-Jong, food, and learning about astronomy from the Wise Gnorbu. The town did not seem to mind that the two had rejected their job offer – in fact, the town was pleased with it. With the crisis averted, they felt that they didn’t need a sorceress after all, anyway. Time fades all, including the sense of imminent doom that appears when a crisis occurs, after the crisis is quickly resolved.

     It turned out that the two needn’t have worried about passing through the cursed forest and mountains, either – Shenkuu had a fleet of ships they could use to bring them back east, as thanks for their good deed.

     ---

     “It feels weird being back here. Exactly in the beginning,” Jay said, bending one of her ear stalks down so she could scratch her ear.

     Si and Jay were in the Haunted Woods, once again, this time sitting on a bench in the town square.

     “I dunno,” Si said. “I just kinda like it here. It’s weird. And spooky, obviously.”

     “A light faerie that loves the Haunted Woods. You weren’t kidding when you told me you were an odd faerie when I first met you,” Jay said, chuckling.

     “That’s right. And now you’re stuck with her. Mwa-ha-ha-ha,” Si said, and poked Jay’s arm.

     Jay shook her head. “Well, I was going to go for a walk around the Woods, maybe hunt for a camp spot for tonight. Are you going to go gamble?”

     “Suuuure am. I didn’t win all of this NP playing Kou-Jong on the boat ride for nothing. Now I’m gonna blow it all on Coconut Shy and scratchcards. Oh, and spooky sweets (duh).”

     “Meet back here in two hours?” Jay asked.

     “You got it!” Si called, already walking towards the Deserted Fairgrounds.

     ---

     Though the Woods were slightly creepy and, of course, ‘Haunted,’ they were surprisingly easy to navigate. The trees that never seemed to be able to grow leaves well helped – the Woods never had a full canopy to block out sunlight, even in the middle of summer. Aside from that, the trail system within the Woods was well travelled, and spots to camp were quick to find. In fact, it was pretty easy to see a lot of things far away in the Woods.

     Jay was rounding a corner in the east side of the Woods, when she spotted a campfire in the distance. With two hours of spare time, she thought she might as well say, ‘Hello.’

     As she grew closer, she saw that the inhabitant of the campsite was a single traveller – a white Lupe, dressed in a plain, tattered brown shirt and matching pair of trousers.

     “Hello!” She called, walking to the edge of the clearing. “May I sit with you? I have some time to eat up while my friend entertains herself at the Deserted Fairgrounds.”

     The white Lupe looked up at her from his pensive staring into the flames. Though he was young, his eyes were a heavy grey and bore the appearance of wisdom. He smiled, gesturing to the seat beside him. “Of course. I always welcome company when I am travelling.”

     Jay sat down on the other end of the fell tree that he was perched upon. A few moments of silence passed, but a comfortable silence, a calming one.

     “Did you already have supper? I can share some of my rations if you need any,” Jay said, casting a sidelong glance at the Lupe’s worn appearance.

     The Lupe smiled. “No, thank you, I should be fine on what I’ve brought with me. That’s very kind of you to offer. I am Altador, by the way. And you are?”

     “I’m Jerdana. My friends call me Jay.”

     Altador smiled again. “Well, perhaps someday we can be friends. What have you been searching for on your travels?”

     Jay shrugged, fidgeting with her skirt, tucking it under her. “That’s the thing with weary travellers, right? We’re all searching for something,” Jay said, and paused.

     “I’m searching for work, but not just any job, I suppose, but one with a true purpose. My friend Si and I, I thought, were searching for the same thing. But it seems she wants to do more wandering. Our methods are a bit different. I’ve been doggedly hunting for something, while she is sort of … floating.”

     Altador inclined his head towards her, now appearing curious, not just polite. “A true purpose? And what sort of purpose?”

     Jay kicked at the dirt with her feet. “Something … good, I suppose. I want to create goodness. I suppose everyone does, really, right? Unless you’re aligned with dark magic. But I was given a gift of magic, as well as the privilege to complete an apprenticeship. And I … I’m alright at magic. So I want to create good with it, especially when there are so many magical forces that abuse their gifts and privilege. I want to help others.”

     Altador grinned, shaking his head at the fire. He opened his mouth to speak, but just at that moment, a chorus of sing-song howls rose from behind them. Werelupes were common in the Woods, but one always had to be wary of them, especially when the pack sounds as close as this particular group were.

     Jay and Altador stood up abruptly, spinning around, just as five Werelupes crashed through the leaf litter and fell trees, surrounding them and their fire. Two of them were the typical Werelupe colour morph: auburn and brown, while two were a greyish shade. The one that appeared to be the leader was a deep onyx; this Werelupe led the pack in synchrony, forcing the circle smaller and smaller around Jay and Altador.

     Jay, unperturbed, began to recite a spell. As she did, her staff, which she felt lucky about bringing along with her on her walk, floated up from its resting spot and into her right paw. This time, Jay spoke the spell aloud.

     Fire crackling, burning trees

     Bring these foes to their knees

     This must be quick, time is minimal

     Calm these furious animals

     Though short, Jay’s intentions and fervour were enough to do the trick. A pale blue light emanated from her staff, surrounding her and Altador. The light was blinding, and all seemed to grow quiet as both of their ears filled with a ringing sound. The light took a moment to disappear, but once it did, it revealed only the fire: still strongly snapping and popping as it burned damp portions of wood.

     The Werelupes has disappeared into the sunset.

     Altador looked at Jay in amazement. “I owe you my life,” he said. “I have a job offer for you.”

     ---

     Jay hurried back to the town square, a new giddiness in her stride. Si was sitting in a patch of grass under a tree in the square. She had spread out a patched red and gold quilt, and before her were an assortment of goodies from town: candy corn, chocolate ice cream apple lanterns, ghost cupcakes, and marzipan Mortogs. A Mini Evil Coconut stood watch beside the treats, a prize no doubt from Coconut Shy.

     Si smiled lazily at Jay as Jay plopped down onto the quilt. “Heya. How was the walk?”

     Jay couldn’t contain her excitement and was almost shaking with happiness. “I have a job!”

     Jay proceeded to tell Si about Altador, the Werelupes, and his proposition for her to be Altador’s new city’s sorceress.

     Si laughed, mouth full of candy corn, and rolled onto her back. “That’s amazing! How come we never thought of you working for a new city!” Si kicked her feet around, nearly hitting Jay.

     “Watch it, big-feet!” Jay laughed, and flopped onto her back, too.

     “Do you … do you think it’s risky to do this? Put my trust in a Lupe I just met? What if the city is a hoax? Or it fails? What if …” Jay trailed off, brows knitted.

     Si muscled herself up onto an elbow, turning to look at Jay. “Jay, you have to take a risk. Any job is a risk. This could be something fantastic. And if it’s not? You send me a letter and I’ll meet you there. Then, we can travel somewhere else together.”

     Jay sat up and clasped her paws together tightly on her lap. “You could come with me, you know. Altador said he wants a council to lead the city, and you could be part of it. We don’t have to separate.”

     Si looked at Jay, whose eyes were becoming dangerously watery. “Jay, I would love to. But I can’t. I don’t feel like this is the move for me right now. I have other places I want to see … namely, Terror Mountain. Maybe when it feels right for me. You’re my test Meepit, anyway.” Si winked.

     “I’m going to miss you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and the only one that really believed in me. Do you know I actually spoke my spell aloud in front of Altador, a stranger?” Jay said.

     “You’re my best friend, too, dude. I’m so proud of you. You’re going to do amazing things, no matter where you are,” Si said.

     The two embraced, packed up their supplies, and set their camp up for the evening in the Woods.

     ---

     Jay left in the morning, agreeing to meet Altador on the road west of town. He wanted to search for a spot for his city across the western mountains, and he felt reassured in this when Jay had told him she had just successfully crossed that very same mountain range. Si said goodbye to Jay at their camp, wanting to sleep in a little more before setting out for the day. She gave Jay one last hug, and handed her a packet of parchment, envelopes, and stamps so they could exchange letters. She also gave Jay her map.

     “Add the new city on here and send it back to me when you can. Then I can come visit you! Plus, I can just buy a new map from Neopia Central,” Si said.

     After a final embrace, the two separated, Jay hurrying off to meet Altador, and Si flopping back onto her bedroll.

     Once their camp was out of sight, Jay stopped, suddenly getting the urge to look at her map, though she was in no way lost. She unfolded the map, flipping it over, where, scrawled in Si’s handwriting was written:

     Si and Jay

     Wandering sorceress queens

     Friends forever

     ---

     Epilogue:

     Jerdana went on to become the powerful and successful sorceress for the city of Altador.

     After travelling around for six more months (and finally getting to see Terror Mountain), Siyana heard of King Altador once more from Florin the Kacheek, after saving a town from bandits and gaining her renowned title ‘The First to Rise.’ She joined the council of Altador, and the rest of that story can be read in The Book of Ages or told to you by King Altador himself.

     Siyana and Jerdana are still best friends, who now occupy their days protecting Neopia and Altador, playing pranks on King Altador when he gets too crabby, and planning their next grand adventures together.

      The End.