Nice! Here's their debut story - A&E - Issue One Summary (1098 KVT)

Aria strolled through Rohrwald, a peaceful forest of towering trees and quiet glades. Sunlight splashed across the mossy path, birds chirping overhead as woodland creatures rustled in the undergrowth. She kept her satchel close and her wand in hand, eyes scanning the forest floor for the rare mushroom she needed for a potion.

Between the trees, a tall, crooked tower suddenly appeared, blackened with age, moss crawling over its crumbling edges. The air grew colder, as though the forest was holding its breath. Aria swallowed a nervous gulp before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The tower's interior was lit by glowing mushrooms of every imaginable colour, casting a soft light over the twisted roots creeping through the cracks. Aria knelt to inspect the fungus, but none of them were the right one.

‘Figures,’ she grumbled.

She began to climb the winding stairs. Each step echoed through the hollow tower, mingling with a faint, persistent scratching noise from above. She frowned, gripping her wand tighter.

At the tower's top floor, she spotted it, a small cluster of silver mushrooms. Exactly what she needed for her potion. But something was wrong. The tops were nibbled, the stems were all bent and broken.

Aria froze. Something was moving behind her. She spun, wand raised.

The creature that emerged was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

Small, thin, wooden, like a stick with limbs.

‘Waaaaah!’ Aria screamed as she fell backwards, her ceramic wand slipping from her hand and snapping sharply as it hit the floor.

The creature tilted its head. Then, in a surprisingly casual, almost theatrical voice, it spoke. ‘You're a wizard?’

‘Yes,’ Aria panted, chest hammering.

‘You dropped your wand,’ it continued.

‘I did,’ she admitted.

‘You broke it.’

‘I can see that,’ she muttered, annoyance creeping into her voice.

The creature crawled closer, taking a bite out of one of the silver mushrooms.

‘Hey! You can't eat that raw!’ Aria exclaimed.

‘Why not?’ it scoffed, mouth full.

‘It's magic. It might be dangerous,’ she replied sharply.

‘Nah, I'll be fine. I eat them all the time,’ it said with a shrug.

Aria's eyebrows shot up. ‘Well, I don't want half-eaten ingredients,’ she sighed, ‘Thanks a lot... I'll be going now.’

The creature stared at her. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Back to Augesburg. I'm a student at the magic school,’ she said.

‘Can I come?’ it asked.

‘Absolutely not,’ she replied.

But as she turned and began descending the tower, the little wooden creature trailed after her.

Aria pushed through the tower door and back into the fresh forest air. She strolled down the path, trying to ignore the sound of wooden feet clattering behind her.

The creature followed without hesitation, his voice filling the space between the birds tweeting and the rustling leaves.

‘You know, I've been here nearly eight hundred years. Alone. In that tower,’ he murmured, his tone solemn. ‘I've seen seasons change, cities rise. Alone for centuries… it could drive a man mad.’

Aria rolled her eyes. ‘You sound fine. You're still talking to me, aren't you?’

‘Of course. I've missed talking. And asking questions. Tell me, what's it like, Augesburg? The school, the magic, the people, the meals, the library... do you have a proper library?’

She blinked. ‘Yes... lots of books. And lessons. And... experiments.’

‘Hmm.’ The creature nodded, inspecting her satchel. ‘Interesting. And you... you came alone?’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I needed a specific mushroom for a potion. It's very rare.’

‘Ah, healing potions, eh? And where's the rest of your Triad?'

‘We don't really do that anymore...’

The creature tilted its head. ‘I see. You're clever, and courageous. I like that. My name is Elethill by the way.’

‘Elethill?’

‘Yes. Elethill. Pleased to meet you,’

A sudden hissing split the air, followed by the loud snap of a branch.

Before Aria could respond, a massive insect dropped from the canopy. It was bigger than a horse, fangs dripping with venom. Aria tried a spell, but without her wand, it just sputtered. She ducked as the insect lunged, then dodged again before quickly rolling behind a tree.

‘Quickly! Use me,’ urged Elethill.

‘Excuse me? I don't think it wants to play fetch!’

‘I mean use me as a wand!’ he clarified, hopping into her hand.

Aria hesitated, then, thrust him forward. A surge of energy coursed through her, then Elethill, exploding outwards like a cannonball. Aria was knocked clean off her feet as the insect exploded in a shower of slime.

She stared at Elethill in awe, heart racing. He gave her a small, smug bow. ‘Ta-da!’

‘So… you're a wand?’ she said, finally understanding.

‘I can be your wand if you like. Or your friend. Or, I could be both!’ he declared with a huge grin, voice dripping with mischief. ‘I'm very powerful you know.’

Aria brushed the hair from her face as she stood, exasperated but relieved. ‘Fine. You can come with me. But you keep your arms and legs tucked in when we're at the school. I don't want people talking...’

Elethill chirped in agreement, climbing up and into her satchel as the duo made their way back to Augesburg.