((Stupidly long post incoming. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.))
Glaive's Journal 20th Sandstone, 257
I spared with Falcata outside the barracks today. She is unbelievable skilled. I was able to force her to a draw though. She didn't keep track of what my magic was doing, and I got her from behind with her own axe. She is skilled but I worry about her one day having to fight somepony with magic. But afterwords we fell onto the grass and watched the clouds. We talked and she said that she wanted to try and help me get there. It's an amazing thought. I've looked up for so long and now to finally be able to go... But preparations must be made. I'm too heavy for her to carry on her own. But I think, with some practice I can make myself effectively lighter, by pulling myself up with my magic, so that she could carry me. I also know that a spell exists that allows the target to have the pegasi's ability to stand on clouds.
I don't know that spell, but I hope that one of the caravans soon will carry a book with a copy of it. Once I have that, we are going to the sky.
Glaive's Journal 8th Obsidian, 257
I've been practicing my telekinesis for several hours everyday, my lifting strength with it is almost enough. To reduce my weight by effectively half. The problem isn't the weight that I can lift is too small it's just harder to apply that force to yourself. Though not impossible, magic is funny like that.
Glaive's Journal 11th Obsidian, 257
Glyph, one of those ponies in Stiletto's camp, along with Kat, have managed to convince Virtue to build a sort of kindergarten to watch over the young ones while the parents are working. While the idea has merit, and it is something that is needed, I don't much care for the ponies who will be running it. I fear that they may plant some less favorable ideas in the heads of the foals. I hope they would not be deceitful enough to try and do that on purpose, but it does look suspicious.
18th Obsidian, 257
The caravan from Coupledye arrived today. I had a look through all of their goods for every book they brought, their was only two. The Metaphysics of Mathmatics, and an old battered spellbook. The first was a highly technical mundance tomb that I had no iterest in, but the old book, it had some potential, unfortunately, the book seems to be written in Old Pony, and I can only make out a few words. If only I had a dictionary of Old Pony words, I might be able to make sense of it.
I sent a letter with the caravan to my father. I told him all about Falcata, and Dawnpick, and everything that has happened so far. I also requested that he send a few books here, as we don't exactly have a library. I requested a copy of the Old Pony textbooks he taught me from, but I hope to get this translated before the year is up and the caravan returns.
22nd Obsidian, 257
More thieves, attacked, I managed to kill two of them, Falcata got the other, I don't see why they keep trying. Not one of them has ever comeback from here successful.
18th Slate, 258
Construction has finished on Glyph's stables. I still don't like the idea of him and Kat looking over the foals. I think I'll help out, when I have time. I don't know much about raising foals, but I know a lot of old stories that I can share with them. Good stories, with good morals. Maybe that'll help counteract Glyph and Kat's influence.
12 Felsite, 258
I found Flux in Falcata's room today. Flux one of Stiletto's "friends" I suspected he was trying to seduce Falcata. I trust Falcata not to fall for it, but I didn't take kindly to him trying. When I heard that he gave her the beautiful lyre she's been playing, that was too much. I told him to stay away from her and that we wanted nothing to do with Stiletto's debauchery. He kicked me, hard. It broke my bum leg. Didn't hurt to bad, but I tossed him from the room with my magic. Falcata started yelling but when I tried to put weight on the broken leg, it snapped completely.
While I was in the hospital with Panacea Stiletto came in and started asking questions. She didn't know what had happened. I told her, the truth. Curse my honesty. She started flying and her magic went crazy she looked like she was on fire. She was yelling supernaturally loud, and in a threatening tone. I scrambled for something to defend myself from the crazy mare, while we continued to debate. I grabbed a chair but she crushed it like it wasn't there. How can anypony fight something like that. If she could do that to lump of wood, I can only imagine what she could do to a pony. Still I wasn't going to be intimidated by her and grabbed a scalpel. She eventually cooled down and left.
Later I met up with Falcata, I thought she'd be angry, but she was just happy I was okay. I love her. She's the most amazing mare I've ever met. I have something I want to ask her. But it needs the right setting. I think the clouds will do. Anything less wouldn't be fair.
14th Felsite, 258
At Falcata's urging I went to talk with Flux. I admit that do feel a little guilty about the whole ordeal, not about what I said but how I said it. I did provoke him. I went there and Stiletto was in the cell with him. I didn't want to talk in front of her, but, for some reason I went along with it. I apologized to Flux for provoking him and he apologized for kicking my leg. When I left I told Virtue to let him out in the morning.
16th Felsite, 258
Stiletto is throwing a party in honor of Flux's early release, I don't know if I want to go. I don't want to see Stiletto, and the emotions from the fight with Flux haven't really faded in it's entirety, but Falcata left about a half and hour ago. I guess, I'll go. Just need to get ready.
16th Galena, 258
The zebra caravan arrived earlier, I went down to talk with them, during Falcata's shift. I looked around and sure enough they had what I was looking for. A raw uncut diamond from their homeland. I have been saving my money for some time for this, so I bought it right away. It was expensive but I'll all be worth it. I took the gemstone to the jewler's here in town. I talked with the owner Quartz and arranged a deal with him to cut the gemstone, I told him I'd pick it up in 3 days. After that, I ran back to my room, to retrieve something from the locked chest under my bed. I pulled out a piece of great grandpa's axe. It put my family where it is now, and now it would help to strengthen us once again. I made my way to the smelter's where I saw Flux hard at work...
(The following is a scene Khenal and I did in private chat, released here for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.)
_____________________________________________
(The following scene involves,
and
)
On the 16th of Galena a few hours after the zebra caravan had set up to trade, Glaive walks into Flux's work area. He has a bit of cloth that seems to be wrapped around something solid, floating nearby him. "Hello Flux." he says.
Flux starts, not expecting Glaive of all ponies to walk into his smelter.
"Um, heya Glaive."
"Flux,I got some work for you." He makes his way to a table and places down
the cloth, he unwraps it and reveals a large shard of bismuth bronze. It
is clearly from a larger object, but is difficult to tell what. But the
metal is old and worn, and not as strong as it might once have been.
Flux looks at the bit of bismuth bronze and gives a low whistle.
"Oh, wow. That must have been from something /huge/..."
Glaive responds "This was part of my Great Grandfather's Battle Axe, it was enormous. He was a mighty warrior and made most of our family's fortune as an adventurer. But I...er it is broken beyond repair now."
Flux gently prods the piece with a hoof.
"Um, if you want it reforged, I'm... not the right pony..."
Glaive "I know that, I don't want it reforged. I want something new made out of it, but first I need this piece smelted down into something the metalcrafter's can work with more easily, and if possible can you strengthen the metal, so that is strong like it used to be, and not
brittle from metal fatigue?...I'm having something made for Falcata."
"Aahh..."
Flux nods in comprehension.
"I think so. Do you want it weapon grade?"
Glaive "It isn't for weapon...It's for a piece of jewelry. The axe's name was Widowgrief, my Greatgrandpa used it in the Old wars to slay many foes and then as an adventurer to make his fortune. This metal has built my family to what it is. But it has caused enough grief. It is time it was used to strengthen our family without killing. To make a wife, not a widow.if you take my meaning."
Flux 's eyes widen and he gasps, looking at the bit of metal in a new light.
"Jewelry... Um, yes. I can do that."
Glaive "Thank you Flux. How much will the work cost me?"
Flux 's mind races with all the tricks he can think of to give the metal a better lustre when polished.
"Um, nothing, Glaive. It, um, won't take too long to smelt this properly. I should be able to sneak it in between steel orders."
Glaive smiles, "Thank you Flux, that's very generous. But don't tell Falcata, about this I want it to be a surprise, okay."
Flux nods.
"I promise. Um... come by in a few days, I should have it smelted by then."
Glaive "Alright, I think Falcata has a shift when I'm off in 3 days. I'll come by then okay? And thank you again, but remember, it's a secret to everypony." Glaive begins to leave.
Flux wraps up the chunk of bismuth bronze to hide it.
Flux "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
Glaive glances one last time at the old shard, remembering the stories, remember how HE broke the family heirloom, and feeling a twinge of guilt at having it melted down like common scrap, but he knew it would be worth it. He exits the smelters workshop and heads toward home.
__________________________________________
17th Galena
I've been trying to understand the spells in the book I acquired, but I can't remember enough of my Old Pony lessons to make sense out of any of them, so I went to Baroness to request her aid.
__________________________________________
(Another scene from the IRC. This one is
and
)
Glaive approaches Virtue's office, a tattered old book with a black leather binding held in his mouth. He knocks on the door.
Virtue takes one more look at the stock record she was updating and looks over to the door. "Come in!"
Glaive enters the room, he takes the book from his mouth with his magic and closes the door behind him. "Baroness," Glaive bows, "I have come to request your aid in something."
Virtue gives him a nervous smile. "There's no need for the formalities, Glaive." She eyes the book. "How can I help?"
Glaive takes the book and lays it before her. He flips it open to a page that has a detailed drawing of a Unicorn walking in one of the pegasan cloud cities. "It's about this book. It's a spellbook I bought from the caravan, but I can't read it. It's all in Old Pony, and I only know a few words. I know you are no unicorn, but I thought you might be able to help me translate it.
Virtue cocks her head and pulls the book closer. "Well, you're right about one thing... I don't know a bit about magic... but I do know a bit of Old Pony." She looks away thoughtfully. "It's ages..." "I'm not really sure what I'm looking for here... the spell, that is...."
Glaive is a bit disappointed. "This is the spell I am most concerned with. I think it is the Cloudwalking spell. though I can't be sure. I know enough about magic that I think could work out the spell though, if I understood what it's trying to tell me to do,
but it's probably pretty heavy on the jargon, that you might not know....Do you perhaps just have a dictionary or text book for Old Pony? If I had that, I might be able to do it myself. I sent a letter to my dad asking him to send me some of his books, but they won't arrive for months, and I'd rather not wait that long.
Virtue "Hmm, perhaps... let me see if I can find it..." She stands and moves over to a bookcase to her side. From the dozens of books on the shelf, she pulls two thick dusty tomes down and places them on her desk. "I think it's one of these..."
Glaive approaches the desk and blows the dust off the books and examines them.
Virtue "This one..." she says, pointing to the larger, "...is a dictionary. And the other is a bit of a learner's book on the subject. For grammar and syntax. I admit it's been decades since I've looked in either, but maybe they can help you." her expression grows a bit worried. "I... don't think you'll find anything about magic in them, but maybe it would be enough to get you started..."
Glaive lights up, "These are exactly what I need. If you don't use the books anymore, might I buy them from you?"
Virtue she gives him a warm smile. "They're yours, I haven't had a use for them in ages."
Glaive bows to Virtue yet again. "Thank you Baroness, you are too kind." he rises. I must go I have much work to do. He levitates all three books and starts toward the door.
Virtue cringes mentally at the bow but maintains her smile. "You're quite welcome Glaive. Good luck to you, if you have any trouble, I think Panacea might know a bit of Old Pony herself."
_______________________________________________
30th Galena, 258
I have spent the last 2 weeks with my head in these books, and practicing what I could understand. I think I have the cloudwalking spell down. Plus my telekinesis is stronger than ever, and the item is ready. I am ready to go to the sky with my love. As soon as we have a mostly clear day, with a few clouds to sit on, we shall try it. I'm excited but also really nervous. If I mess up the cloudwalking spell, or don't have it right, or can't keep up my magic long enough, best not to think about it.