A Fleeting Image

By: Morpheus King

As the children enter the back of the classroom, they are greeted with an unusual sight. Where most of the classrooms in Caruve’s Preparatory School have little knick-knacks and things that are associated with the subject of study, Professor Markish’s room is fairly plain.

The room itself is mostly rectangular with a large window taking up most of the wall across from the door. Outside the window is a garden full of different flowerbeds and an assortment of brightly colored flowers. There was an area of open grass in the center of the garden wide enough for about fifteen people to comfortably sit. The garden overlooked the Alabaster Lake.

The wall to the right of the door was brick and mortar. No pictures hanging on the walls, no mounts, no accomplishments, no shelves, nothing. It was the same for the wall that the door was on.

To the left of the entrance, were four large glass windows that ran from half a meter off the floor to the ceiling. Outside was another small garden that contained 5 oak trees that were evenly spaced throughout the small garden. In between each of the glass windows there stood a bookshelf that ran nearly to the roof, but there was no ladder insight to be able to grab the books that were on the higher shelves.

Inside the classroom, what made up the main area of the room was an amphitheater-type seating area. There were four levels of desks for the children to sit at. At the end of each set of desks was a stairway leading down to a clear area near the large window. There was a third stairway that divided the desks down the center of the room. It was in line with the door as someone entered, but there was a two-meter platform at the top so people wouldn’t fall down the stairs right away.

Standing in the center of the amphitheater’s lower area was the professor. Instead of being clad in the traditional robes of the Caruve’s professors, this man was clad in simple trousers, a pale red undershirt, and a leather waistcoat. On his right side, a leather-bound tome sat in a holster about halfway up his thigh. On his left hip sat a short sword in its scabbard. The most notable features of his face are his rough beard that reaches a little below his chin, and the two vertical scars that run from just below his right eye and cut into his beard line. His eyes are closed just enough to give him a look of boredom as he looks at the new students with his dull green eyes. His hair reaches to the base of his neck and is pulled back and held there by a leather strap.

Once everyone was seated in the room, the Professor smiles at all of them. Each of the students can tell it’s a slightly forced and uncomfortable smile. Then the Professor spoke. 

“Welcome Class. I am Professor Antorian des Markish and I am the Professor of Danger and Wariness.”

A student raises their hand and asks “Um Professor, isn’t the name of the class Combating Everything?”

Professor Markish smiles at the student and says “Yes, it is. Now then, what do you think this class is about?”

The same student says “It’s a practical class right? Where we learn how to cast spells to combat enemies.”

Professor Markish’s laugh is deep and bellows around the room “This is not a practical class, this is a theory and hypothetical class. If all you want to do is learn how to cast spells, then you must go to Professor Cherush’s class on spellcraft practicality.”

Everyone in the class groans and some people fidget in their chairs.

Professor Markish continues “Because it is still the first day of classes, all of you may leave now if you choose and go to a different class…”

About 30 people out of the 40 in class, stand up from their chairs and start to head for the door.

A wicked gleam appears in the Professor’s eye. “…But remember this, if you do leave before the end of this class, you will not be allowed into any one of my classes again. The charm on the back of your hand will make sure of that. Not this year or for the next 8 years you are here.”

A few of the people hesitate to leave but in the end, all 30 of them leave. As they step through the door and back into the hallway, the door disappears for them and there’s just a stone wall there.

After all those students are gone, Professor Markish looks at the 10 remaining students and motions for them to come in towards the middle and says “Now that all the chaff is gone, gather closer to the front here and I will tell you a story that will truly explain the class to you.”

Once all 10 are closer, the Professor says “Let me reintroduce myself, I am Professor Antorian des Markish as well as Planeswalker Antorian des Markish, I have traversed the planar limits of our reality and our world and seen many different places and many different things. Be they monsters, magic, technology, or other even more mysterious things. And I am here to mentally and physically prepare you for when you encounter things you cannot imagine. Now, listen to my story and find the lesson for yourself.”

Before Professor Markish starts recounting his story, he goes and grabs a small stack of leather-bound journals with the same charm symbol on the student’s hands. “These journals are for you to take notes in. Only you will be able to see what is written in them and only you can open them. Here take one and remember to listen well.”

Professor Markish begins to recount a story:

“One of the most beautiful lands in all of creation is on the Plane of Terradosh. They call it the Fields of Acuaura. It is a place where the sun is never behind a cloud and the moon always shines bright upon it, no matter its phase. And for as far as you can see stretches a field of flowers.

Flowers of all different kinds. Some you know, tulips, daisies, lilies. Many types that I don’t even know the name of. All of it was so beautiful. For the times many I traveled through that field, there was never a cold day. The perfect warmth from the sun and the breeze that would ever so slightly move the flowers. And the fragrance that hung over the field was so pleasant it just made you want to sit there for hours and take it all in.

A naturally occurring path wound through the fields, dividing it into 2 with a few man-made bridges spanning some streams that broke up the field’s flower beds.

The first time I was there, I started my journey from the city of Talarius on the western side of the fields. I had planned to get to my destination in the city of Ephernia by cutting straight through the Field of Acuaura’s flowers. But when I told the innkeeper at the tavern I was staying at of my plan, I was advised to take the path. It would add a day or 2 onto my journey, but it was the safer option.

When I inquired why taking a straight path to Ephernia was more dangerous, the innkeeper just said that people who disturb the flowers always end up dead. Be they man, woman, child, or beast. Anything that wanders into the flowers dies.

I inquired about the reason, but he didn’t know for certain. It had always just been like that. Some say it’s an evil spirit that has claimed the field as its own, others say it’s the Lady of the Land’s most beautiful field and she kills any that might injure her flowers. But even if you watch someone pick a flower and see them die, you won’t be able to tell what it is. Even the Talarius and Ephernia’s best knights and the mages of the highest order in the surrounding towns won’t go into the flower fields anywhere but the path.

The people have nicknamed the Fields of Acuaura, the Bloody Field of Flowers because of how many people died there from wandering into the flowers or trying to pick a flower. It is said to be one of the deadliest phenomena on Terradosh.

So naturally, as a man of curiosity, I was intrigued and wanted to learn what was happening there. I spent a few days in Talarius’s library to learn as much as I could about this mysterious phenomenon in the Bloody Field of Flowers. But what I came up with was not enough to discern what was truly happening. Everything I learned was all about the folklore of the people, until one day I was sitting on a terrace of the library reading and saw something in the fields at the edge of my vision.

When I looked in that direction though, I saw nothing. From my vantage point upon the terrace I should have been able to see if something had moved through the flowers, but nothing was moving unusually. I looked for any signs of a person or creature there, but I saw no trace. It’s as if it was just a Fleeting Image from my imagination. I returned to my reading once I was done looking for whatever had been teasing the edge of my vision.

But after a few minutes of reading, I saw it again. That Fleeting Image is just at the edge of my vision. And once again…

Nothing.

I thought that maybe my eyes were tired from reading so many things, so I returned my books to their shelves and left the Library.

I walked the streets of Talarius for a while and then headed for my Inn for the last night of my stay in the city.

At the rising of the sun, I finished packing my things into my traveler’s pack and set off down the path towards Ephernia. Heeding the innkeeper’s words, I stuck to the path that wound through the Bloody Field of Flowers. I enjoyed the warmth of the sun on my face and the cool breeze that flowed over the fields, bringing with it the fragrance of the flowers. I was entranced by all the colors of the flowers in the fields, but I kept my head about me so I would not wander into the flowers.

Even though I was following the path, I would not let my mind wander. If what the innkeeper and all the books told me was even somewhat true, this field could be the end of my journey.

As I walked the path, I felt as though something was watching me. Just waiting for me a chance to attack me. Every story recorded in the library’s records and from the innkeeper all had the same thing in common. Touching the flowers would mean your death. Staying on the path should mean that no harm will befall me.

But the farther I got from Talarius and into the fields, the more I started to notice them. The Fleeting Images appear in the corner of my vision. They were there, floating just out over the fields of flowers. Every time I turned to look, they would disappear. Over time, I was able to make out more and more features on whatever they are by catching glimpses of them.

Whenever I was able to discern anything, I would unbind my traveling tome and make a note of what I saw.”

Professor Markish pulls out a very worn leather-bound tome. Stamped into the leather is the word Terradosh. As the Professor opens the tome, it creaks as if the leather hasn’t been moved for a while and is very stiff. He opens to the first few pages and continues with his story:

“After half a day’s travel, I was able to see their wings. These weren’t evil spirits or the Lady of the Land’s anger, these were creatures roaming the field. This revelation was a slight bit comforting. Because, unlike something that I could not control, this meant that I was in control of what would happen.

From the small glances, I was able to see of them, their wings were large. When in the air, it looked as though each wing was larger than I was tall. But even with these large, impressive wings, they made no more noise than the wind blowing over the field. Maybe it was their wings that were causing the wind that blew the flowers.

From another conversation with my innkeeper, I learned that the path would take me to the northern edge of the fields where there was a small set of woods within a valley in the mountains. And that there was a Tavern set in the middle of a clearing within this valley. It was suggested by her that I rest there because of how unsafe the fields could be. Even with the patrolling guards, which so far I hadn’t seen on my journey through the fields, it most likely wouldn’t be safe to sleep on the path within the fields.

But as the sun was sinking low on the western horizon, I noticed another interesting thing about the creatures before I left the path. Around where their head should be, it looked as though there were small wisps of smoke swirling and shifting around them. As I quickly looked towards one to try and get a better glimpse of this smoke, it looked much more ethereal than natural smoke. It had a slight reddish glow to its base or center like there was a fire hidden within the creature, but that may have been from the red rays of the sinking sun.

As I came to the edge of the forest, I took one last look over the fields before heading into the forest. Looking over the fields, I could see clusters of fireflies gently floating over the field. It seemed like they were clustering to avoid certain areas. And they didn’t move sporadically as expected but in groups.

It was as if they knew or could sense where these creatures are. I stood there for a little while, watching the firefly clusters float around each other. It looked like a highly choreographed dance. The clusters would swirl and dance with themselves before moving to join another group in their dance over the flowers.

While I was standing there watching the fireflies dance, I noticed that some moonflowers began their nightly bloom. Their pale white petals reflect the moon’s light to light the field. As the moonflowers bloomed, so did the nightshades. Their dark violet petals give way to a nearly pink inner petal to give the field a pinkish-purplish hue. They helped light the field along with the fireflies and it gave the whole field a mysterious, ethereal glow.

Standing there looking at the beauty of the field at night, I made a discovery. In the light of the moon, I could see them more clearly. These creatures stalked the field and only appeared as a Fleeting Image at the very edges of my vision during the day. I could vaguely make out the shape of them. I saw one’s shape turn towards me and I felt a familiar cold run up my spine. Like a knife’s tip just skirting the outer layer of my skin.

They didn’t want me there and my body knew it. I quickly turned and headed for

the tavern in the woods to rent a room for the night and log what I had seen into my journal.”

Professor Markish pauses and looks over his students. He sees bright eyes, confused eyes, and questioning eyes. He says to his students “Looking at all of you, I can see the intelligence behind your eyes. I see that some of you would try to have the courage to attack and some of you would have let the fear consume you, but I challenge you to think differently and separate your feelings from your actions. Now then, let’s continue with the story.”

Professor Markish takes a drink, looks at his watch, and then continues his story:

“I walked deep into the forest until I came to a clearing, where a lone 2-floor building stood on top of a hill. It was a warm charming place made of stone and wood. I could see whisps of smoke rising from its chimney and the warm orange glow of firelight danced through the windows. On the plateau of the hill around the building, there were a few carts staked into the ground.

As I approached the building, I noticed there were no guards around the building. I assumed it was because the creatures in the field would never come this far and that there were no bandits that would be able to survive in this small valley. But as I came closer to the building, I finally noticed something in the shadow of the building, near the carts. 2 men, dressed in all-black armor were watching me approach.

As I approached the building and the carts, I saw them move from the wall of the tavern to between the carts. I just walked past the carts and headed for the entrance of the tavern. I paid them no mind but I kept a close eye on their movements.

Opening the tavern door I was greeted by an eerie quiet. Nothing like the other taverns I had been to on Terradosh. Silence held heavy over this place and the only things that were breaking that silence were the popping of a wet log on the fire and the light tapping of the tavern keeper’s boots as she walked the floor to bring drinks and food to guests.

Looking around the room, I saw 3 sets of people. I assumed each group was an owner of the various carts outside the tavern. From what I remember, the groups were very plain. Nothing to distinguish themselves from the others in my memory. The tavern keeper was a beauty though. To me she is perfection, but I do not want to digress very long on her.

I paid for a room for the night and sat at the bar gathering my thoughts and taking notes on the creatures that I saw in the field. When the tavern keeper, Edenia was her name, saw my notes and drawings, we struck up a conversation about the things we’ve seen and places we’ve been.

Edenia and I made small talk until the moon was high in the night sky. She showed me to my room and left for her own next to mine. I lay in my bed and thought about our conversation and what different locations she suggested. Quickly I faded off to sleep with Edenia on my mind.

I woke as the sky was warming from the first rays of dawn over the mountains. I quickly got up and put on my traveling attire and headed down for a warm meal and light conversation with Edenia. After my meal, I said my farewells to Edenia and promised her I’d be back to tell her about all my travels. Then I took my leave from the Tavern and headed through the forest and back onto the path towards Ephernia.

As I came to the beginning of the path, I felt that chill run up my spine again.

I looked around for any sign of the creatures, but I saw the oddest thing. Nothing other than flowers. I stood there for a few minutes, waiting for them to show themselves at the edges of my vision. But they never showed. Then I heard them.

In the distance, I heard a sound I know all too well. A scream. One filled with panic and fear. I ran in the direction of the scream, towards Ephernia, until I saw it. A large column of swirling smoke. Smoke so dense I could barely make out what was inside of it. It appeared to be a group of horsemen inside the column. Within the column of smoke, I could see 3 other things.

Creatures with large wings, connected to bodies that were about half the size of a normal human. And just above the silhouettes, I saw a bright reddish-orange glow that helped define their shape even more. Because of the thickness of the column, I wasn’t able to see anything more detail than the silhouettes of their bodies.

But as I drew closer to the column of smoke, I could feel it in the air. The air around the column was stifling. Not from the concentrated column of smoke, because the smoke was all contained within the column, but from the feeling of the air. There was an immense amount of rage and hatred and bloodlust that filled the air.

Even for a seasoned Plane Walker like myself, I had a hard time breathing. I had to calm my nerves before I was able to help with the situation at hand. Once I was able to gain control over my breathing and my emotions again, I called on the power of the forest to help me calm the creatures. A warm breeze swept over the area from the forest that borders the fields.

The air around the column of smoke slowly becomes less stifling and the emotions in the air began melting away. As the emotions calmed, the column of smoke also began dissipating as if the creatures were touched by a calming hand. Inside the smoke where the horses had been panicking and trying to tear away their reins from their riders to run, there was now a sense of calm and tranquility as the panicked neighs subsided.

After a few minutes, a feeling of peace and tranquility returned to the field of flowers. The warm breeze kept lightly blowing across the flowers and making them slightly sway with its gentle touch.

When I approached the group of horsemen, I saw why the creatures had reacted that way. A horse and its rider were laying dead at the edge of the path. The horse must have disturbed the flowers and that caused the creatures to attack the group. The group of riders wore breastplates of a white rose on a green background. It is the symbol of Ephernia’s ruling family, the Ephorica family.

As I kept approaching the group, the horsemen were very apprehensive towards me. Their hands gripped the handle of their swords and two had an arrow knocked onto their bowstring. I raised my hands with my palms out to show I had no weapon and told them that I am a scholar studying the fields and would like to look at the corpses. The lead horsemen nodded and motioned me forward. He also dismounted to inspect them next to me.

The horse’s head was separated from its body by a large gruesome wound through its neck. As I got closer, I could see that it was a single cut that caused the horse to be decapitated. The rider had been bisected through their chest. Another, single clean cut that was able to make it through the rider’s armor and cut deep enough that only the corpse’s spine and breastplate were holding him together.

It was amazing the precision and strength of these creatures. They can cut through solid iron breastplates and a horse’s thick neck so easily and they can use their smoke to disorient and cause panic among their prey.

I made notes of it in my journal and gave my condolences to the lead horseman and took my leave.

As I continued on my way to Ephernia, I noticed a change in the creatures. They were back to being just Fleeting Images at the edge of my vision, but they were much more wary of my presence. Like they could feel some of the residual mana I had absorbed from the forest to calm them.

Unlike the day before when they would pay me no mind as I walked the path, now they watched with an unnerving intensity. After that incident, I now know how much of a danger these creatures truly are.

By late afternoon, just before the sun began to set, I reached Ephernia and found a nice cozy little tavern to stay at near the edge of the field. Not as nice as Edenia’s in the forest, but more than enough to enjoy my time at. I looked over my notes that I had taken on the creatures of the Bloody Field of Flowers and was able to discern much about the creatures.

A few days after I started my stay in Ephernia, the knights came back from what I presume was a trip to Talarius and I was called for a meeting with the Ephorica family. But that is a tale for another time.”

With this, Professor Markish closes his journal and looks around at the 10 students that were sitting there listening to him talk. He looks at their faces full of questions and disappointment at where he ended the story.

Professor Markish then says to the students. “I will not take any questions after telling you this story. I want each of you to come to your conclusion about the meaning of the story I’ve just told and why I have told it to you. Do not talk to the other students about this story, come up with it on your own. Make a note of it and we will talk about what all of you came up with next week. I want you to use this first week of classes to reflect on the story I have just told you and the reasoning and lesson behind it. I also what you to explore the different types of classes that interest you this week. You are here to learn within the safety of this school. You never know what may save your life out there. And remember this, what is said in this class is not meant for the ears of those who chose not to stay or attend. If you talk to anyone about it then, you will not be allowed back to this classroom.”

One of the students asks “I know you said you won’t take any questions Professor, but why wouldn’t we be allowed back in the classroom if you talk about what was said here?”

Professor Markish smiles “That charm on your hand that I mentioned, it reads the intent of your heart. If you tell people about what is said in this class, while not in this room, then the charm will disappear and you will not be able to open your journal and the entrance will not open for you. Now then, class is dismissed.”