[🌱Little Sapling AU🌱]

Each time I get this line from the asura reveler who is wondering about the Pact Commander by the gate in Hoelbrak I remember my thief is now an Antiquary and goes around with Ritika by her side.

So I had to draw this.

And they are hard as rocks as well. Happy Dragon Bash! :)

“Hmm... There’s so many things... They look so tasty.” Novni murmured as she drifted over the food stall’s merchandise. This was her first ‘Dragon Bash’, or whatever everyone was calling it. Cyrus said it was a celebration of sorts. A place where people came together and played games. Or something like that. When they’d entered the city, it didn’t take long for her to become separated from her keepers. Novni was very good at disappearing. Even Alice couldn’t find her sometimes. That made her smile. It was fun teasing Alice. She giggled a little, thinking about the rest of the crew’s reactions to her disappearing. Novni could see in her head just how everyone would be. Moryggan would just scowl, and then throw her nose up in irritation. She never got used to Novni being around. But that was okay. Tenna wouldn’t care; she’d just laugh and run off herself, with the others shouting after her to not set off any fireworks that had munitions in them. Alice wouldn’t be bothered. Novni didn’t quite understand how, but somehow Alice could almost always keep an eye on her without looking at her. So she bet the guardian was keenly aware of where she was anyway...and just wasn’t saying anything because she too, liked teasing the crew. Verula had actually left the ship this time, intending to use the Dragon Bash to relax a bit and have a few drinks. She probably would shake her head and mutter, after learning Novni ran off. But she wouldn’t come after her. And then Cyrus. She could absolutely picture Cyrus pushing his glasses back up his nose while taking a deep, long-suffering breath, before exhaling heavily and shrugging. Not like he could control her in any way. She could almost hear the ‘...as long as she doesn’t steal anything or hurt anyone...’ She was still giggling when she spotted a row of items on one of the counters, and leaned in for a closer look. They were so pretty looking. Shiny wrappers... “Ooh... what are those?”

The shop owner jumped when she realized Novni was standing right there beside her; she hadn’t heard the little sylvari approach at all. “Oh! Sorry! I didn’t see you there!” “That’s cuz I was being se-cret.” Novni replied cryptically, eyes entirely focused on the rows of candy. “What are these?” “Those are a speciality of Dragon Bash!” The owner smiled. “We sell them all year round, but they get more in demand during the festival.” She started pointing out the various kinds. “...and those are Zhaitaffy chunks in the wrappers there, and those big blue spheres are Jorbreakers. Well, blue is all I got left, anyway. No one really wants Ice-Dragon colored Jorbreakers.” She shrugged “It’s a...sore subject. But non-Norn don’t mind them.” “I’ve never had any of these before...” Novni admitted, stroking the wrapper of a Zhaitaffy with a bandage-covered finger. “Oh, is this your first time, dearie?” The shop owner blinked, before plucking one of the candies off the shelf. “I keep forgetting that you sylvari might look like adults, but that you could be on your first week away from the Grove. Here you go. Give it a taste. Free of charge.” The candy dropped into Novni’s cupped hands, where she stared at it for a few moments, before unwrapping it. It was a little thing, colored yellow-green with green striping, and felt a little soft in her fingers. She carefully popped it into her mouth, and gave it a slow, speculative chew. Immediately her eyes widened, the flavor of pineapple and lime filling her mouth. It was tangy, but sweeter than any fruit she’d ever had! The shop-owner chuckled, seeing the signs of a new customer in the instant flare of Novni’s natural purple-white glow. Sometimes sylvari were so easy to read...

“It’s... so good!” Novni whispered, mouth-watering from the delicious candy. Her eyes darted to the racks of candy, and then back to the shop owner. “How do I get more?” “Ah, well... there are events around here that they give them out at, but if you’re not up for that, I do sell them. I got a big stock in back. They’re pretty cheap.” The little sylvari thought about that, while she finished chewing the delicious treat. She felt so giddy now; there was no way she could know that she was just starting a sugar rush. It was so far outside her experience and knowledge. She swallowed the last of it, and then pulled a bag off her belt. Opening it, she reluctantly nudged the coins inside, suddenly worried. “Cyrus gave me some money for food and drink. And some for ‘other stuff’, he said. I didn’t know what he meant. But...I think I do now.” The little sylvari pulled a few coins out. “I...don’t know money very well yet. I don’t want to use up all of it so... how much of this Sai-tavvy can I get with these?” “That’s ‘Zhaitaffy’, dear.” The shop owner gently corrected her, before looking at the cash she was being presented with. “Well, let’s see you got....” She blinked. The girl had only pulled five coins out, but they were ALL gold coins. “Uh.... I don’t think I have enough stock give you, for all that coin.” The Shop owner checked her tallies, did a visual check as well, before coming to a conclusion. “I-I can give you all the Zhaitaffy I have for six of those gold coins. I’ll be giving you a bunch of change though.” Novni considered it and then nodded. As the owner plucked the coins delicately from her hands, Novni asked “How many do I get for that.” The tender paused in her change-counting for a moment. From a box under the counter, she pulled a leather bag with a good Holder sigil embroidered into it, and started pouring the racks of Zhaitaffy into it. The bag was rated to much more than was going to go into it...and the cost of the candy itself covered the value of the bag, so she didn’t mind losing it. “....You just bought a little over six hundred pieces, child.” It took a few minutes, but soon the racks of taffy were gone, and a decently heavy bag was held out to Novni. Before she could take it though, the shoptender pointed at her. “A fair warning, little sprout. You just got your first taste of heavily concentrated sugar. Maybe more than you’ve had in your little life. And you just bought a cart-load more.” The woman’s eyes were fiery and full of warning. “Do. NOT. eat more than a few of these at a time. They might be just sugar, but too much of anything is BAD for you. Do you understand?” Novni nodded, and the woman handed the bag over. “Good... now, I need to get back to the booth. You bought out half my stock; I need to make sure the rest sells too!” Novni thanked her quietly and dashed off into the rest of the market, already pulling open the bag, plucking out a candy, and unwrapping it. “...so sweet...”

It didn’t take long. After a near-ravenous devouring of candy, Novni was practically vibrating with sugary goodness and power. She just had to move. Had to run. So run she did. There was something funny now. She couldn’t stop giggling as she darted through the crowds. Everyone was moving so slow. She didn’t even have to shift into spectre to dodge them or move faster. She did anyway though, because it was funny to see people recoil from her green contrail in surprise and in slow motion. The only people who seemed to react at the same speed as her were random mesmers she passed by. They’d be slow at first, but she’d see the twinkle of mesmeric power, and they’d suddenly speed up, matching her until they were moving at normal speed. “Watch where you’re going!” One shouted, but she paid him no mind. There was so much to see in Hoelbrak, and now she had the time to.

She drooped against the table, barely having the energy to pull the huge chair in closer so her tiny body could slump easier. Where did it go? All that energy? It was right there. She almost felt like she could do anything, and then... And then... It faded. Worse than faded. It pulled everything from her. The world suddenly snapped back to normal speed, and then actually became faster than before. Her strength began to falter, and she found she could barely stand on two shaky legs. It took the last of her strength to get to the table and sit down. Worse still, in addition to feeling so physically drained, she felt nauseous, but also ravenously hungry. What did that candy do to her? Novni didn’t understand, but the thought of another Zhaitaffy made her groan. That groan drew the attention of a waiter, who ambled over. Seeing her slumped over the table, hand still clenching a few candy wrappers reflexively, he chuckled and shook his head. “Ah, ya done fell victim to the sugar demon, didn’tcha lass?” He smiled, as she just shuddered and groaned. “Lemme guess; you feel exhausted, sick, and hungry, eh?” “Yesh...” Novni slurred, face half-pressed to the table. She didn’t even hide the fact she drooled a bit, not that she would care. “Shugar...Demun.” “In that case, I know exactly what ya need.” He snapped his fingers. “Bowl of spicy Wurm meat stew, a Norn-sized loaf of bread, and a tankard of mead!” He paused and considered her. “Wait.... How old’r ya anyway? I can’t be givin’ mead to mere sprouts.” “C-c-cyrus shaid I’m shix, er sumfin.” She muttered, pulling her hood over her eyes to keep the light from the torches out. Her head was starting to hurt now too, and the torches seemed way too bright. “No one knows for sure...” “Six for a sylvari?” The waiter mulled the age over. “Well, considering your kind leave the Grove after what, a year? maybe two? I think that means I can serve ya.” He paused, and she moaned again, her little fist stamping on the table in misery. “... I’ll get you a little tankard though. Like the ones I use for the kids. It’s... more your size.” The waiter headed off for the kitchen, casting a bemused, but worried look at the little sylvari. “...Dragonbash can be a great thing, or a hell of a hangover, kiddo.”

The meal did as promised, and Novni no longer felt one step closer to the place of the Voices. Which was good! She liked the Living place. It had good food, like that bowl of soup! In truth, she’d gone through two full servings of everything, including mead, before she’d finally been sated. The waiter was amazed and openly proud of how much she’d taken in! When she was done, he’d laughed mightily and patted her on the back, nearly knocking her out of her chair, telling her she had the appetite a Norn could appreciate! With his help, she settled up her bill, and, feeling refreshed, went to leave. Before she did, though, he pulled a coin from a bowl in the center of the table. It was just an oaken coin, and of no true value, he explained. But it was commemorative and was meant to be a memento of someone’s visit to the Commons pub if they so wished. Since it was her first Dragonbash, he thought it might be a good thing for her to have. As she accepted the coin, he also explained the details of it. “Each year, we change the design on the coin, as well as add the year in Tyrian number. This year, in memory of her, the icon on it is of Owl. Each year, if you come back, you can get a new one, and add it to a collection!” “Neat!” Novni grinned, rolling the coin around her fingers before examining the sigil on it. A feathered face with two, wide, piercing eyes, a sharp beak, and the current year adorned it, while the backside of the coin had a representation of one of the great Lodges. She always did like collecting things.

The sun started to come up, and Novni knew she should meet the others at the Lodge inn. At least some of them would want to get some rest after the festivities, or before going to more of them, and now that she’s gotten used to sleeping with others around, she found she couldn’t sleep easy without them around anymore. The soft whispers of the Voices that followed them all lulled her to sleep a bit better than silence. That, and it’d let her Dreamwalk again. The others’ dreams were SO interesting to watch. ------------------------------------------------------------ Author addition: Okay, the last image here doesn’t fit with the story at all, but it was a REALLY cool image, and I just wanted to show Novni off with it. I’ll never get tired of that pose, and with Novni it’s even spookier with her bright eyes.

The winner takes it all! :)