7.3 - Expansion (Patreon)

7.3 - Expansion

Madison

“Wait, are you for real!?”

Alfira offered her a smile, a nod and an affirmative “Mmm-hmm. The druids taught it to me while you were gone.”

Madison blinked, and then turned her head to look at the small set of squirrels sitting nearby. 

“You can actually talk to them.”

“Watch.” Alfira winked. “I’ll tell them to climb on your shoulders.” And the woman turned, magic… altering her voice into rather ridiculous squeaks and chirps.

The two Squirrels looked at eachother, and then seemingly gave a collective shrug before, running up along her legs to plant themselves at her shoulders.

Madison let out a shocked cry that morphed into a delighted laugh. 

“You have to show me!” She demanded. 

“Of course.” Alfira laughed. “As long as you show me some of your songs. I was told it was quite engaging!”

“So-” She stopped, blushing. “Who sa-” She stopped again, turning to look at Astarion who was sitting at the foot of a nearby tree with a book in hand, Scratch laying by his feet. “Was it you!?”

The Pale elf looked up from what he was reading and shrugged. “It was quite enjoyable, at least seeing Karlach throwing Goblins out of second story windows in time with the musical cues. Endlessly entertaining.”

“I’m not even that good!” She groaned. “It wasn’t even done with electric guitar!”

“Electric what?” He stared at her oddly. “I thought you said your world had no magic.”

“It’s not magic, it’s science.” “Urgh.” The elf groaned. “Are your people as insufferable as gnomes now? A distinction without difference.”

“Oh no. There absolutely is a difference.” She defended. “I just… kinda suck at explaining.”

“Still, please-” Alfira cut in, holding out her, or now Madison’s violin “Let’s have a listen.”

Madison stared at the Violin, still unsure, somehow she felt more nervous now than she had when there’d been a fight going on.

It felt like she had an audience now… and that was nerve wracking. 

But still, she did muster her courage and picked up the violin.

When she played Freebird, Alfira looked delighted and giggled, even with Madison’s mistakes she still clapped when it was over.

“I can see why one would choose to fight with it as backdrop.” She remarked with a smile. “It’s… energetic.”

Astarion snorted out a laugh. 

“Is it from your homeland?”

Madison nodded. She wasn’t sure if Freebird had been composed anywhere near brockton Bay but, meh, semantics.

“What other songs do you know?” Astarion unexpectedly asked. “There must be others in your repertoire."

“Oh yes!” Alfira looked even more delighted if that were possible. “New places and cultures always have such rich music variance, I’d love to hear whatever you can recall.”

Madison blushed, “I-I guess, I didn’t like, come up with any of these though, its all just copied from stuff I’ve heard.”

“Every Bard trades songs, its natural.” Alfira assured. 

Madison shrugged and began to recall songs from home that she might feasibly be able to pull off. 

She ended up serenading them with quite a few, mixing it up. Benny Hill had brought out a laugh, A whole new world from Disney of all things had come sauntering into her head, uninvited, dragging Beauty and the Beast right behind it and Bach’s Violin Adagio II in C minor, the one song she had practically gotten down to muscle memory back when she first started learning made both Madison and Alfira cry. Her from Nostalgia and missing her grandmother, and Alfira just from listening to it. Even Astarion listened to that one with eyes closed and lips sealed, seemingly taking it in. 

Bach just had that effect on people.

As she wiped her eyes Alfira did likewise. “Oh I would love to visit your homeland one day.”

“That won’t be happening.” Astarion’s snickering laugh signaled his return to form before the man let out a gusty sigh. “Gods I’m hungry.”

“Well there’s plenty-” She stopped herself. Because while yes there were plenty of animals around she suddenly realized that the Druids probably wouldn’t look kindly on them making a honey roasted ham glaze out of their buddy Larry the pig.”

Astarion smirked at her seemingly reading where her mind had gone “That’s right my dear you’re relegated once more to hard tack bread.”

“Like you’re not!” She shot back.

“Aha… yes, you’re right. It’s a collective you.” 

Why did he sound nervous?

“Urgh.” Even Alfira seemed to lose her lustre at that. “What I wouldn’t give for a roasted chicken…”

“Shut up.” Madison said miserably. “You’re only making it worse.”

Hard tack. 

Days of Hard tack…

Urgh…

“Lets take your mind off of it.” The Tiefling Bard consoled, reaching down to her pack and pulling out… another booklet.”

The woman suddenly looked nervous. “I…” She cleared her throat. “Well, after you left I…” She kept hesitating, Madison waited patiently.

Astarion… less patiently. “Yes, go on-” He needled. “Full sentences.”

Alfira huffed. “I started worrying… we were all going to die-” She focused on the booklet. “I started thinking about what I might leave behind and the list was embarrassingly short. So, I wrote this, a spell book, with some of my favorite spells. I figured, if the worst did happen and the Goblins got in  I’d place it hear, beside this tree. Hopefully, you or someone would eventually find it. So…” She shrugged and held out the book to Madison. “Here…” She smiled. “It was meant for you anyway.”

Madison blushed again and reached for the book, almost with leaden fingers. 

Alfira had been worried about dying and made this… for her?”

The book was made of paper and leather, but it felt heavier than lead in that moment. 

“I follow the Glamour school.” Alfira confessed. “So most of my spells focus on illusions and such.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.” She admitted. 

The Bard shook her head. “You don’t need to say anything. Lets start practicing shall we?”

“And with that I’ll leave you two to it.” Astarion got up, groaning. “See if I can find something to eat around here.”

Madison watched him go, eyes narrowed at his retreating back. 

“Come on.” Alfira urged. “Lets’ see what spells you can learn.”

—

Alfira’s new spell book had a collection of several spells, mostly focused on illusions and “Charms”, nothing in terms of things that did direct damage.

Which was fine, ideal even. Madison really really didn’t want to hurt anything. Sophia and Taylor could have that wheel house. Even just the memory of that redcap dying ontop of her sometimes filled her nightmares. The thought of actually stabbing someone or something physically repulsed her.

So yeah… charms, misdirection, illusions and so on, those sounded just perfect as far as she was concerned. 

It took her several hours of practice just to pick up the one spell. But she had a list now, a goal to work towards.

And when they practiced they even drew a crowd of small animals with their music. It made her giggle, remembering the classic cliches of Disney princesses. 

But still, now it was time for the real test.

“Scratch!” She called, “Here boy!”

The White lab mix came trotting out of the underbrush, tongue lolling out, tail wagging, it made Madison smile.

“Hey buddy!” She exclaimed, kneeling down to scratch at his ears and pet him. “You understand me right?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” The dog’s voice echoed in her head and Madison had to squeal, even as Scratch’s tail ceased wagging in what looked like abject confusion. 

“Oh my god! It worked it actually worked!”

“I’m not sure what’s happening.” The Dog said slowly. “But if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

She squealed again and pulled the dog into a hug which he accepted with the air of a good boy that was just happy to be here!

Oh god, she had to try it on everything!? Where was Sir Loin!?

Wait… did Astarion eat her?

He better not have!

Before her thoughts could wander frantically in the direction of Glorious Revenge for Sir Loin, she noticed something, or rather someone.

Taylor wasn’t too far away, apparently having finished or at least taking a break from her practice with Karlach and Halsin to head over towards the eastern bluffs. Towards the river.

Maybe Madison was stupid, maybe she should just leave well enough alone. Taylor had made her feelings quite clear when Madison mustered the courage to seek her out last time. 

But… well…

She looked to Scratch. “Hey buddy… you mind helping me with something?”

Scratch’s tail wagged happily. “Of course.”

He really was the best boy!

And Madison now has access to the greatest ability in the game!

The ability to talk with Best Boy!

Next chapter is Taylor and it will conclude the first "Day" back at the Grove. And then, then the fun will really begin :3