Episode One hundred and Eight-One: Lorestone

“You can add to my knowledge by using magic, or verbally telling me stories.”

My head tilted to one side before a manic grin covered my face. I’d purchased so many audiobooks for Indigo that my collection loomed larger than ever.

Yet, I paused as I was searching on my phone for the first book to play.

Did I want to add knowledge to this strange magic device? Could anything bad happen by increasing its knowledge?

Then again, my world’s knowledge didn’t feel exciting. There were so many books within the shop that contained so much more interesting information on things like magic and other worlds.

My mundane world couldn’t compare.

My journal reminded me of what I should work on, my magic. While the Lorestone, literally, rocked, daily practice was still required for my own talent.

I wished I knew when my next session with the Professor would be. Still, I focused on my bracelet and tried to get my fate abilities to trigger. 

Nothing happened.

Using my magical senses and fate magic, I figured out how to make the wave of golden energy pulse outward whenever I wanted. 

The Lorestone practically glowed in a golden light when I did that.

Now, I had to figure out why. What did the Lorestone know that my magic marked as important?

The sun dipped below the walls of the rooftop deck, and the warmth slowly dissipated.

I chuckled.

“Alright, Betty, I’ll wrap this up.” I stretched, feeling stiff from sitting in the same position so long. A whiff of crunchy leaves caused me to pause. The smell of fall weather was something I missed from my home. That scent couldn’t be explained.

Yet, at home right now, snow would be covering the ground, and I wouldn’t sit outside in the chilly wind.

Maybe next to the woodstove in the kitchen. 

I carried my journal and the Lorestone inside, placing it on the table next to the company chair that faced the windows. The cat tree rested nearby, and light snores came from inside.

A curled-up dark form rested inside the box at the top.

“Sleep well, Cat,” I whispered as I quietly headed to my room. 

I needed a shower, then sleep.

My phone buzzed as an unknown number sent me a link to a massive list of books.

This is Adam.

I sent a smiley face back and hummed to myself as I headed to the shower.

***

The morning arrived faster than I expected as a dragon landed on my bed. It woke me immediately, but I didn’t move. 

Indigo hopped from near my feet to closer to my waist. Then she crawled along the side of me, up to my pillow.

Her tail swished back and forth across my blanket.

As she crept closer, I suddenly reached out to tickle her.

Snorts and laughter escaped as I tickled her belly. Finally, I let up as she nuzzled under my chin.

“I liked the spicy chicken,” whispered Indigo.

This time I laughed.

“There are leftovers in the fridge, if you want that for breakfast,” I added.

“No! Breakfast is best meal!”

Breakfast was the only meal I cooked consistently. The others, I did all sorts of things that weren’t all that complicated, most of the time.

“Alright, I’ll come up with something for breakfast.” I snuggled her a little longer before placing her next to me and sitting up.

“Waffles!” Her wings flared out at the word.

“Waffles it is.” 

It didn’t take long for me to get dressed and head down to the kitchen. Yet, it was empty. I pulled out the waffle mix and got to work since the ones I’d frozen were already gone.

“Hey Indigo, do you want nuts in your waffles?” I called down the hallway.

Chirping came from a distance.

“That’s a yes, by the way.” The Cat leaped onto the counter. “She found the gift from that dragon.”

I ladled some of the waffle mix into the waffle maker. 

“That explains her absence.” I set the timer and flipped the thing over.

Waiting was the hardest part.

“She’s been asking nonstop questions,” in a frustrated voice.

“Did she wake you up?” I asked, turning to give him ear scratches.

Immediately, he purred. “Yes… she is very loud when she’s excited.”

“At least she isn’t asking you questions,” I added as I pulled out frozen strawberries. Next was a small pot that I dumped them in before turning it on low.

The Cat didn’t respond, but he sat, watching me.

I stirred the strawberries, and grabbed a water cup for me, filling it before placing it on the counter.

The timer dinged.

“Hot… hot…” I tossed the waffle onto a plate along with a towel over it so it stayed warm, before I ladled the next into the machine. I added some chopped nuts in this one.

A crash caused me to jump and spin around.

My water glass sank into the floor before reappearing next to the Cat. His paw twitched.

“Really?” I asked, slightly confused.

“I… I couldn’t seem to help myself…” The Cat lifted a front paw and stared at it before setting it down slowly.

I turned to the strawberries before asking, “Are you okay?”

A tiny sigh escaped from him. “I will be fine.”

By the time I turned back, he sat with his back to the water glass, and stared at me.

“Waffles will be good,” he finally said after a few moments. “Why did you pick strawberries?”

“We didn’t have any frozen blueberries. I need to create a grocery list and do an order.”

I gave them another stir. “My brother Umber always used blueberries, but I think it’s because we had bushes. Each summer we’d pick them to freeze. That way we had blueberries all year long for things he cooked.”

“So, tradition.” He leaped to the island and kept his eyes on me.

“I think finances were part of it. We were a large family, and the berries were free, and a treat.” 

The strawberries melted in the pot and slowly warmed. I added a drizzle of honey and mashed them a little with the spatula.

The timer beeped again.

Another waffle completed and a third into the waffle maker.

“What about you, do Fey Lords have siblings?”

To my surprise, he answered.

“We have family, even ignoring the ones we create. Other Fey Lords who have domains which cover our worlds.” His voice remained steady the entire time.

“So you’re all one big, happy family?”

He chuckled deeply as his eyes glowed with the deep green of his magic. 

“Not at all.”