Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith-Chapter 301: Drinking

"And you are sure they are Oculithar?" Marble asked.

"Of course, I'm sure!" Ambraz snapped. "Besides Brazardion having shown me images about them, what else do you think they could be?"

Irwin sat at one side of the table, watching the Ganvil, now in his working form, mouth in a thin line, glaring at Marble. The ancient Fiz'rin stood before him, arms crossed, with a dubious look on his face.

"Don't act so annoyed, youngster! In all my life, including my travels across The Portal Gallery, I've never seen one or met someone who has seen one!"

"Young?!" Ambraz almost choked before he snorted. "Well, Grandpa, just because you didn't pay attention doesn't make us liars!"

"I'm not your grandpa, and I didn't call you liars! I'm just wondering if you didn't just mistake some Chaos being for one of the most legendary powerful things that we know of," Marble said, dropping his arms and jabbing a finger in Ambraz's side.

"They were young ones," Ambraz said, haughty. "I didn't even tell you about the big one we saw that attacked the exit portal corridor when we traveled through it!"

"You… Charbull-shit!" Marble said. "There's no way you'd survive that!"

Irwin sighed as he leaned back, watching Ambraz go in a slightly more over-the-top retelling of what had happened back then. Ever since he'd come out and started helping Irwin with answering the council's questions, he and Marble had been butting heads, culminating in the ten-minute argument about Ocullithar.

"Sorry about this," Jiretta said from beside him, smiling wearily. "Marble is the oldest of us and usually not even on the council."

Irwin waved it away. He didn't blame her, as she'd tried to make Marble be quiet a few times, only for the other Fiz'rin to tell her to shove it, get up, and start another argument with Ambraz.

It's almost like he doesn't like Ganvils, Irwin thought, turning back to Jiretta and deciding to ignore the ongoing argument.

"So, was there anything else you'd like to know? Otherwise, I'll be heading to Hind's house," Irwin said.

Jiretta looked at the other members of the Fiz'rin council. Irwin sensed a slight tremor through the soulforce that surrounded them, so light it was barely perceivable.

"No, that's all," Jiretta said, smiling at him. "Thank you for all the information. Still, I hope you don't mind if I come to find you if there's anything else?"

Did they just communicate somehow? Irwin thought, wondering which of them had a card to allow that.

"No, that's fine," he said, turning to look at Ambraz and Marble. "What about…"

Jiretta sighed. "I now remember why we were happy that he withdrew after our last crisis was averted," she muttered.

She rose and walked to Marble, moving between him and Ambraz just as he seemed ready to object to something again.

"We are done for now," she said, looking at Marble, who simply raised an eyebrow.

"About time. I was getting tired of this," he said, turning away and walking back to his chair.

Irwin watched him sit down, barely believing it. Just like that? He'd been arguing with Ambraz for half an hour…

"Thanks for the conversation, Ganvil," Marble said. "Perhaps I'll come find you again in the future."

Irwin snapped himself out of his own stunned surprise, sensing the roiling mass of annoyance, anger, and disbelief pulsing within Ambraz. He quickly got up and walked to the Ganvil and put his hand on the other's smooth surface, trying to pull him back into his soulscape. Ambraz resisted for only a moment before snorting and vanishing from his spot.

"Thank you again for answering our questions about the current state of the Portal Gallery," Jiretta said. "I hope we can speak again in less… strenuous circumstances."

Irwin nodded, turning to the door.

"Well… we still don't know where the kid is from," Marble said, causing Jiretta to groan loudly.

Irwin held back a grimace as he opened the door before looking back.

"Talk to you soon," he said, smiling at Jiretta before quickly closing the door behind him when he saw Marble's eyes narrow.

He stared at the smooth surface for a moment before taking a deep breath and turning to the room he'd entered. Boohm stood there, grinning at him widely. There was no sight of Zender, but before Irwin could ask, he heard the young Yuurindi's voice from outside.

"Zender must have some kind of scent to him," Boohm said, surprisingly soft and conspiratorial.

Irwin had an idea what he meant, and with a nod at the clerk, he walked outside to find he was right.

Zender stood a little bit away, surrounded by a group of seven Fiz'rin girls who looked to be his age, a few almost as tall as Irwin and towering over the younger boy. He didn't seem to care as he smiled up at one while he told her about one of the worlds he'd been to with Irwin and the others.

"They found us on the way back, right after we left Hind's house," Boohm said, this time not lowering his voice. "I think they were lying in ambush for him."

The group turned to them, and Irwin saw a few of them turn red. It was an interesting view, their pale copper skins going a much darker hue and even gleaming slightly.

Zender came walking over, smiling brightly.

"Captain, I was just telling them about that time we saw those two Niox fight with a group of Viridians!"

"I heard," Irwin said.

He hesitated slightly before deciding it'd be fine. He turned to the girls, raising an eyebrow. "I've got to head back to Hind's house. How about you all show Zender the city? Make sure to bring him back before the final bell because we may have to leave again soon."

The girls jumped forward like hawks, the fastest two taking Zender's hands.

"That is if you want to?" Irwin asked, raising an eyebrow at Zender.

"Definitely, Captain! I'll make sure I'll know this city inside out! Anything special I need to look out for?" Zender said, his grin now so wide Irwin wondered if it was painful.

"Card and metal shops, and see if there's a cardsmith here," Irwin said.

One of the girls crooned while the others gave her jealous looks.

"My aunt is the only cardsmith in Smelter," she said proudly. "I'm sure she will be happy to see me!"

Is she now? Irwin thought, shelving that away for later while memorizing the girl's face.

She walked forward, took one of Zender's hands from a reluctant girl, and began pulling him along.

"See you soon," Irwin said as he tried his best to hold back his laughter when the girls disappeared with Zender into one of the streets.

"You sure it's safe to just leave him alone like that, captain?" Boohm asked.

"Zender will be fine," Irwin said. "He was practically living on the streets when he was much younger and only had a few cards. Besides-" he glanced around the city, soaking in the calm and solid sense it was exuding. Fiz'rin were walking around, most with purpose, but some seeming to just be out for a stroll, and he felt his soulcard begin resonating with the surroundings again. "-besides, I don't foresee any issues here."

Boohm laughed. "I wasn't talking about that. This city is about as dangerous as my aunt Midi's Charcoal soup! No, I meant, what if he gets some of those girls pregnant?"

Irwin almost choked, then gazed at the Onyxian in disbelief. Seeing the massive grin, he realized Boohm was just joking around, and he shook his head.

"I don't think we have to worry about that," he said. "Now, how about you show me where Hind's house is."

"Sure thing, Captain!" Boohm said as he began walking in the opposite direction the girls had pulled Zender. "I also saw a really nice little bar on the way back! Perhaps we can go there to relax later?"

Irwin was about to say they didn't have the time when he stopped. Scintilla had been gone for days, and he would need Hind to guide him to where she'd last been seen. But with her father back, Irwin guessed she'd want to have some time with him. Would it be that bad to leave early the next morning?

It's not like we don't all need a good night's rest.

"Not a bad idea," he said. "Perhaps we can also check with the local merchants and shops for some cards."

"Will do, thought I might need to tone it down a little as we are likely to return here," Boohm said.

Irwin gave him a surprised look, and the Onyxian shrugged.

"It's not like I don't know when to stop," he said, letting out a deep rumbling laugh.

The trip to Hind's house gave Irwin another chance to look around the city. From small restaurants, almost hidden away by multiple larger buildings, to a few busy streets with shops and food stalls, Smelter seemed to have it all.

When they finally reached one of the two branches of the river that ran through the city, Irwin felt calm and at ease.

Hind's father lived just on the outskirts of the city in a sprawling one-story compound with a single tower on the back that had three layers of balconies circling around it. A sign hung above the open double doors that led into the central courtyard, and large blocks, slabs, and piles of stone lay everywhere.

"Oredelver's stone and raw ore," Irwin read, noticing that the latter part had been more recently added.

Three worn carts of a pale, almost white material stood to the side. On the far end of the courtyard, a veranda was attached to a low building, which in turn was attached to the tower. Hind was sitting at a low table across from a Fis'rin that looked like he'd been chiseled from a chunk of dark, copper-holding rock. His face was all flat planes, and he sported a short, rugged, full beard that curled and gleamed in the light.

"Captain!" Hind shouted as she rose, waving him over.

Irwin lengthened his stride, causing Boohm to curse as she had to jog to keep up.

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"Hind," Irwin said with a nod before turning to the other man.

"Captain, this is my father, Dolhelmat Oredelver," Hind said, smiling widely at the man, who'd gotten up and walked towards them.

He was a few inches taller than Irwin, with eyes just like Hind's that gleamed with joy.

"Helm will do," he said in a deep raspy voice. "And you are Irwin, the captain and smith I've heard a lot about in the last hour."

He held out a hand like a slab of stone, and when Irwin grabbed it, he was stunned by the immense force he felt.

"Thank you," Helm said, stepping closer and putting his other hand on Irwin's shoulder. "For saving my only remaining child and giving her another shot at life. I am more indebted to you than you will ever know, and if there is anything I can do, name it."

Irwin found himself having to squeeze back on the man's grip with more force than he'd even had to use with Crithann. He didn't think the other was purposefully trying to hurt him; Helm seemed just incredibly excited.

"Thank you, but it was my pleasure," he said, squeezing a bit harder. "It taught me a lot that will potentially help many others in the future."

The older Fiz'rin's eyes gleamed, and he nodded before finally letting Irwin's hand go. He turned to Hind, putting an arm around her and drawing her close while ignoring her embarrassed look.

"Your captain's got a good, firm grip! I like him!"

Hind snorted, struggling and failing to get free from the one-armed hug.

"You are right, but Dad, you can't keep judging people just by that," Hind said as she stopped trying to get free.

"Bah, sure I can," Helm said as he let her go and walked to Boohm. "I don't think there's been an Onyxian in Smelter since that old Ramburst died over twenty years ago," he said, grabbing Boohm's hand.

"Ramburst? Never heard of him," Boohm said, and Irwin saw the tendons and veins in his neck, shoulder, and arm pop out as he squeezed.

“Ohohoho,” Helm said. "You have a good grip there, young man! Much better than that old Ramburst."

Irwin watched as the two stared off, both grinning like mad as their hands began popping and cracking.

"Dad," Hind shouted. "Don't go and break my fellow crew members!"

"Break him?" Helm said, breathing slightly heavy. "I'd say he is almost a match for me!"

"I don't care, stop it," Hind said as she walked forward and struck her father in the midriff.

The older Fiz'rin grunted and let go, rubbing the spot and shaking his head.

"Fine, fine. Just show them the guest rooms. Make sure you come back right after, alright? You need to finish the story!"

"I will," Hind said, smiling at him, patting him on the shoulder as she walked through a pair of sliding doors that let her walk into a large, messy room. Clothes, papers, books, and lots of stone and ore lay everywhere, while the open kitchen on the far wall was a mess.

Irwin looked at it, then quickly turned to Helm as he recalled something.

"Jiretta said she would be coming here sometime soon," he said.

Helm blinked, and his gaze drifted to the kitchen. He grimaced before nodding at Irwin.

"Thanks for the warning. I better get this cleaned so she doesn't start complaining and trying to hook me up to one of her friend's daughters again."

A short trip through a messy room, a hallway cluttered with boxes, and up a staircase with a thick layer of dust later, Irwin stood in a small room with a balcony, closet, table with two chairs, and a large slab of stone.

"We don't really sleep on beds," Hind said as she pointed at the slab. "That's the best we have, though I might be able to find you an Ignitzian sandbed if you want?"

Irwin looked at the slab, hesitated, then shook his head.

"No need. I should be fine, and if we end up staying longer, it's not too late to find one then," he said.

Hind hesitated. "If you are sure… Did you want to leave after the fifth bell?"

"No. Zender is out in the city, and he deserves a bit of relaxation," Irwin said. "If we leave now, or tomorrow morning, well rested, will not change much. If Scintilla managed to survive until now, these few hours won't matter, and we need the rest."

He knew that, technically, he didn't, but the rest was right.

"Alright," Hind said. "Dad said he wanted to go to one of the nearby restaurants to celebrate, and I'm sure he will be happy that we won't be leaving before we can."

She looked back, and Irwin knew she wanted to head back to talk with her father.

"Go and be with your father. I'll clean up a bit and check on my embers," Irwin said.

Hind was moving before he finished, though she hesitated at the door. "Captain, you probably guessed that there's not a lot of water here… we drink Pyroflux, but I'm not sure if you and the others can. There's something called Sapha. It's a juice made from Puari, and it's probably the closest thing we have to water. I'll get some for you, and perhaps you can try that?"

"I had a Puari back in Tiscian's home," Irwin said. "It was fine, though a bit spicy."

Hind's mouth fell open as she stared at him. "You ate raw Puari? Those Ignitzians are so insane! That's hot enough to burn a hole through your tongue!"

"It wasn't that bad," Irwin said as he recalled the fruit. "So, the juice isn't like that?"

"No, no! It's a hundred times less spicy," Hind said, shaking her head in dismay. "But if you can eat that, do you think Zender can?"

Irwin thought for a bit, then frowned. He actually had no idea. Zender's cards should have given him a lot of leeway, but he wasn't anywhere close to what Irwin knew his soulcard gave him.

"We will have to try, but carefully," he finally said.

Perhaps…

He focused on the sweltering part of his soulcard, scanning for the moisture in the air. He was incredibly surprised to feel a large amount of water vapor all around him, especially in the yellowish fumes that circled high above them. Surprised, he focused on his ability and raised his hand. Within moments, a ball of condensed water vapor hovered above it, and drops of hot water splashed on his skin.

"I don't understand how we can water in such places," Irwin said, shaking his head.

Hind was staring in complete wonder at the water. When Irwin's hand was almost full, he brought it to his lips and drank it. It was warm and had a slightly odd taste, but besides that, it was just plain water.

"I think that's the first time anyone has ever drank water in our world," Hind said slowly. "I'll ask Dad. Perhaps he knows how that works. If you are ready to eat, you can find us on the patio."

Irwin closed the door as she left, then walked to the slab. It was as hard as it looked, but as he lay down, he realized it didn't bother him much. Although he'd prefer a sand bed, this would do.

As he thought about water and water vapor in a volcanic world, he stepped into his soulscape.

Let's see how the little ones are doing, he thought.

--

Irwin moaned as he woke up, rubbing his head. His mouth was dry, but luckily, he didn't have any headache. He was just very thirsty. He rose on his elbow, looking around the small room and out across the balcony.

For a moment, he was confused. Then he recalled the previous night.

"I ate too much," he muttered, lying back and rubbing his stomach. Even now, he felt satiated, and recalling the insane amounts of food that he had shoveled down, it was a miracle he hadn't gotten sick. Then he recalled the copious amounts of drink he'd had, and he shivered.

Flashes of the party came to him, and he realized that as calm as the city was during the day, during the night was a different story. Not that it was actually dark during the night. The constant illumination of the lava and fires made both look the same. The only true difference that Irwin had seen was that after the fifth out of the six bells that split the daytime from the night, all shops were closed, few children were seen in the streets, and most torches and public fires were doused.

At least I could still walk in a straight line, Irwin thought, shaking his head as he recalled how he'd had to carry Boohm back.

I knew Boohm would probably drink too much, but Hind?

He shook his head as he remembered her joy, laughing, singing, and dancing while drinking the powerful liquor the Fiz'rin bartender kept bringing. Not that he didn't understand why. She'd returned to find her father after she herself was no longer doomed to die a horrible death.

At least Zender didn't get too much, he thought, as he recalled the young Yuurindi's curiosity at seeing everyone drinking and partying.

For a few moments, he wondered if he could sleep more than he groaned and forced himself up.

Feeling his dry mouth, he focused on his sweltering skill and drew the moisture in the air toward him, condensing it in a ball above his hands. After he'd satiated his thirst, he felt much better, and he walked out of the small apartment. The door to Zender's was a floor below his, and as he passed it, he found the door open and the room empty.

Probably downstairs, Irwin thought, pushing away his worry that Zender had gone out to look for the Fiz'rin girls.

When he walked into the main room that also had the kitchen area, he was stunned to see it almost spotless. Helm was busy in one area, removing a bunch of papers, while Zender was in the kitchen.

"Ah, Irwin," Helm said, his voice even more gritty than the day before. "Glad to see you managed to wake up. I've got to say, you've a good tolerance for Fiz'rin spirits. Have a seat; I'll get you some drinks."

Zender walked over with a weary look. "Do you think Boohm will be alright?" he asked.

"He will be," Irwin said as he sat down. "Just make sure you don't do what he did, alright?"

Zender snorted and shook his head. "That stuff is no good! It smells and burns through your throat as if it's real lava," he said. "I can't understand how or why anybody would drink it."

"Probably good to remain like that," Irwin said, though he remembered how he'd thought the same thing long ago. For him, things had changed back on Scour, courtesy of Scintilla.

As soon as he thought about her, he focused on Zender.

"Can you go and see if Boohm and Hind are awake?"

"Sure!" Zender shouted, turning around and dashing out of the room.

"Ah… too bad. I'd hoped he could help me with a few more things outside," Helm said as he put a plate in the center of the table. It was filled with fruit slices, some bulbous root that was steaming hot, and a leg of something that apparently had green scales.

Just looking at the food made Irwin slightly nauseous, and he quickly looked away.

Helm moved to the other side and sat down, grabbing one of the bulbous roots and chewing down.

"I know how you feel, but it's best to eat some of those," he said, pointing at the slices of fruit. "They will help digest all the heavy stuff you ate yesterday."

Irwin sighed, gingerly grabbed a small slice, and stared at it. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been unable to eat something.

"You are leaving today?" Helm asked.

"This morning," Irwin said.

"Good. I've got everything we need ready," Helm said, staring at him calmly.

Irwin had just taken a small bite from the slice of fruit, and he looked up, startled. Was he implying he was going?

"It's not that I don't trust you, or Hind for that matter, but neither of you has a lot of experience in the burrows, let alone the depths below them," Helm said. "I've been there nearly every day of the last few decades and even survived being lost there multiple times. If you need to find someone who's been blown along by the ashwinds, you will need a scout."

"And that's you?" Irwin said, nodding appreciatively.

"No," Helm said with a grin. "But I'm the only one that can find you one in time that actually knows what they are doing."

Irwin thought for a bit before nodding. "That would be great."

"Glad you feel the same," Helm said, leaning back in the massive stone chair.

A short while later, Hind came back down, rubbing her head and grimacing at the sight of food. Still, as she walked to the table, she took a slice of fruit and sat down next to her father, giving him a small hug.

"Irwin is fine with it," he said, nudging her.

"What, you asked him already?" Hind stuttered. "But we said I'd talk to him!"

That was a question? Irwin thought, recalling the words Helm had said and finding them more like a statement.

"It's fine," Helm said, finishing the root and taking up a slice of fruit. "Besides, we can leave as soon as Boohm is ready."

"He should be down here soon," Hind said before turning to Irwin. "I hope you don't mind, captain. But my father is useful to take along, and it's likely he can find us a scout much faster than I could."

"It's fine," Irwin said, cocking his head. "Why wouldn't I want him along?"

Hind sighed, looking at her father wearily. "So, you didn't tell him before you asked?"

Helm chewed another slice and shrugged. "Slipped my mind."

"My father has a little feud going with the Cavernous Insects, and they have his smell spread across their hives. If he is spotted, they will start sending out raiding parties to kill, which is why most other burrow delvers won't go with him."

Irwin lowered his hand to the table, the fruit in it forgotten. He was about to say something when Boohm and Zender entered the room, with the Onyxian rubbing his head and moaning loudly.

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"Who said it was a good idea to finish that last bottle of Lava Honey?" he asked as he crashed down on a chair. He looked at the food, turned ash-gray, and closed his eyes. "Please… no food."

"Captain, even with my father's feud, he is still going to be faster than the alternative," Hind said. "Still, I can understand if you don't want to risk it. We can still go alone."

"Nope. Irwin agreed," Helm said as he got up. "I'm going to get the things and load up the ship. Zender, can you come and help me?"

Zender looked at the ceiling before giving Irwin a pleading look.

Irwin barely noticed as he looked at Hind.

"What can you tell me about those Cavernous Insects?" Irwin asked.

"They are a collection of names for all insects that live in and below the burrows," Hind said. "There's hundreds of species, some small, others big. The weakest are of little concern, but the stronger ones are as strong as a soulcarded."

Irwin leaned back, looking at Boohm, only to find him still with his eyes closed. He hesitated as he thought about searching through the burrows, which he still had no idea what they looked like, with the potential of being attacked by hordes of insects.

"Captain, I think it's probably best to take him," Hind said. "If only because he's probably going to chase us otherwise."