Stratos Aeros Author Page

By: Stratos Aeros

Explorer or Assassin 

It was an odd statue, the man peering through a spyglass in one direction but readying a sword in the other. Aubrey, a bubbly young woman wearing short khaki shorts and a green tank top, studies the brass plaque near the base of the statue. She examines the quote on it, while scribbling in her tattered notebook. ‘Magi Gelan, Explorer and Bringer of the New Land.’

“So what is your theory?” Her intern breaks her concentration.

“Well, the thought is Magi Gelan was commissioned to explore Amassi for new territory in the early expansion period.” She talks as if giving a lecture.

“That is what history has written about him.” He rolls his eyes and raises his eyebrows.

“History is written by those who hold the station. My sources say he was tasked with a different mission entirely.” 

Approaching from across the courtyard with a condescending posture, Professor Cornelius scoffs at her preposterous claims. He finds himself towering over her, then removes his glasses. Wiping them off with a cloth from his pocket, he returns them to their resting place. A sneer forms across his face as he stares down at his former student.

Aubrey blocks the sun with her hand, seeing only his silhouette in front of her. She shrugs her shoulders and continues to scribble her notes. Her intern, Kevin, steps between the professor and his mentor in an act of outdated chivalry. Neither of their postures garner any further attention from Aubrey.

“Your far fetched theories besmirch our work as real historians.” Cornelius demeans her.

“Finding the truth only makes history more vibrant, Professor Cornelius.” A smirk appears on her face as she continues to examine the statue.

“Your opinions are not truth. I await the joy of denying your findings when you publish them.” 

The professor walks off without another word. He has always hated her as a student at Grayfern University. If he had his way, she never would have graduated, let alone be allowed on such ventures. Disputing Aubrey’s publishings has become his new favorite hobby.

Concluding her notes about the statue, she waves Kevin to follow her to their next destination. They make their way through the port town on the southernmost border of Elos. Aubrey follows a poorly drawn map on a napkin from the local cafe, searching for her source’s home. They round the uneven streets and come through an alley to find a pristine white stone house hidden among the rest. The abode is not lavish, but well taken care of for the area it resides in.

Taking a deep breath, she gathers her confidence and knocks on the door. There is a long pause before an older woman dressed in bluish purple robes opens the door and waves them inside. The older woman ushers the two historians to chairs at the dining table and offers them a local tropical juice.

“Thank you for speaking with us, Madam Spriggan.” Aubrey smiles politely.

“Lady Nema is fine my dear.” 

“Of course, Lady Nema, I was told you know more about the historical figure Magi Gelan.” 

“Darling, I know everything about the man. Our family had direct ties to the sea faring captain.” 

“Astounding, could you tell me about those bonds your family shared with him?”

“Dear, I have waited ages for someone to just sit and listen to my stories. Let me tell you the real life of the conqueror.” Her tone lowers on the last word.

“Conqueror?” That word catches her attention immediately. 

The old woman moves slowly towards the bookshelf along the wall. She pulls out a leather bound tome with the crest of the Oak Guild, a green tree centered within a ring, attached to the front. Lady Nema brings the book to Aubrey and hands it to the curious young historian. 

“The Oak guild? I thought Magi Gelan worked for the Maidens.” Aubrey furrows her brow as her eyes catch the book.

“He worked for the Maidens, yes my dear. But his loyalty and belonging was to the Oak Guild. His actions tsunami’d into the Oceanic wars between the Magi Guilds in the early 1500’s.”

Aubrey opens the ancient tome in her hands. She flips in a few pages and scans the first passage that catches her eye:

“Despite having the blessing of Maiden Ara, the oceans seem to spite my venture. A great expansion to new shores is soon to begin, the Maiden Guild and Oak Guild have the intention to quell any competition. I Captain of the Boundless Birch, have been tasked to cleanse these waters of farers that dare to reach the new world before our arrival. Once this storm ends, we lay our sights upon the fleet of the Cloud Guild from the north.”

Her eyes sweep across the pages with wonderment. This diary from the grand figure himself is evidence of the rewriting of the history being told today. Aubrey knows she has to expose this tale to the world of Danu.

“My distant ancestor was the Maiden, leader of the Guild from his diary. She set Magi Gelan loose upon her enemies, a wolf devouring the sea.”

“Why was this erased from common knowledge?” Aubrey ponders aloud. 

“When the war failed, the story was spun to cover up the espionage. He was forged as a hero of discovery. But his true identity, was death on water.” 

“This is your family’s legacy, why are you sharing this with me so freely.” 

“Our story is our truth, it’s time it was told to the world.”

“I will tell your story, Lady Nema.”

The two sit and talk for several hours as she learns the murky history within the Maiden Guild. Having no magic ability herself, Aubrey is fascinated by the Guilds and how they interact throughout Danu’s past and present. It has become her passion to explore this world of magic.

Kevin, her glorified pack mule and intern, watches out the window. Tapping his fingers impatiently, he scans the street as he hears the conversations carry on behind him. Approaching the house, he sees Professor Cornelius and some local magi bearing the crest of the Maiden Guild upon their clothing. 

“Aubrey, I think we have some unwanted company.” Kevin quietly calls out to her.

She quickly comes to the window and witnesses the impending arrival. Lady Nema glances towards a back window that overlooks a drop off to the street a mere story and a half below. Aubrey nudges Kevin to make his way through and she will follow behind him. 

“I entrust our past in your hands, dear. Many will tell you this is false, but you can change the minds of the world.” Lady Nema clasps Aubrey’s hand then squeezes it before letting them go.

Hanging onto the ledge of the window, Kevin refuses to drop down. Aubrey flings herself out of the window and slides against the narrowly slanted wall. She lands heroically on the street below. Tucking the diary into her sling bag she whistles for Kevin to overcome his fear and join her. 

Finally just losing his grip, Kevin crashes into the brick laid street with a thud. His over packed backpack barely cushioning his fall. He slowly makes his way back to his feet and hobbles after his boss. Aubrey looks back up at the elevated house and sees the Magi looking down at them, having heard the noisy escape. 

The two quickly sprint down the street to try and smuggle away the truth. If this knowledge is to reach the world, they will have to evade their pursuers. Kevin bursts past Aubrey, despite being clumsy he is quite athletic in build. She keeps up as much as she can but notices three of the magi have rapidly gained on her. 

“Meet me at the museum!” Aubrey sends Kevin ahead.

Aubrey rushes through an alley and runs straight into an open fresh catch market. She weaves in and out of the fish stalls. Noticing a globe of water fly by her head and splash in the distance, she sees one of the magi casting spells at her. Aubrey’s eyes widen and she begins to sweat as she rushes for cover.

Ducking behind a stall, she crawls away while out of sight. She switches to another stall and hides behind the coolers of salt water fish. Peering over the top, she sneaks a peek at her hunters in close pursuit. They scan the area as she seems to have slipped away from them for the moment. 

“Miss?” A seller looks down at the intruder inside his stall.

“Sorry, some creeps are following me.”

“Say no more.”

The man grabs a half butchered fish and raises it above my head. He starts ranting and raving. Instantly the Magi’s attention is dragged directly to the fish seller.

“Aye! That lass wrecked half my fish.” He points towards the far side of the market. “Catch her, in the green top! She’s fleeing there by the docks.”

Tapping her with his foot, he signals her to rush away in the opposite direction. The magi turn towards the docks and start running over to search that side of the market. Aubrey leaps to her feet and sprints away as fast as she can. 

“Good luck, miss.” The man whispers as she leaves.

Aubrey rushes onto a main road and sees a trolley floating by on the road. She chases the magnetic vehicle and just manages to grab the handle at the back. Pulling herself onto the floor of the trolley, she lays there catching her breath. 

The passengers give her curious glances and murmur amongst themselves, but she ignores them. She stands and finds a seat to ride the trolley down the hill towards the city’s museum. Aubrey jumps off at the bottom of the hill and walks up to the beacon of wisdom before her. 

Entering the main hall, she works her way to the offices finding Kevin waiting outside of a room. He smiles with a goofy grin as she manages to make it after all. They enter the office and approach a professional looking woman, sitting behind a cluttered desk of books. 

“Aubrey, I heard you were causing trouble today.” The woman greets them before they can even start.

“Professor Rollins, I have it. I have the truth in my hands.” 

The professor looks up at her while still writing on the parchment in front of her. She squints at the object in Aubrey’s hands then goes back to her work. Aubrey lays the book on the desk before the professor. Rollins sets her pen down and takes a closer look at the binding of the old book. 

“This is the diary of Magi Gelan! Words from his own journeys!” Her excitement grows as Aubrey speaks.

“I swear you live to drive Cornelius mad.” She pauses. “But I adore your aspirations.” 

“This is what I want to do now, Professor Rollins, rewrite the history of Danu with the truth!” 

A remembrance of her youth washes over the professor as she examines her former student. The woman opens the book in front of her and delves into the diary’s contents. Then slides it back across the desk to Aubrey.

“I don’t foresee anything stopping you from unearthing our true past, I will see to it that your findings are published if you continue to bring them to me.”

“We did it, Kevin!” She lets out a gleeful squeak.

“Then, what’s next?” Kevin responds.