Solifan the wizard had done great things in his lifetime but was currently facing the greatest struggle of his life.
"I can't find her!" he shouted, all the while tossing books, clothes and reagents from one corner of his room into another. His long, grey hair was in disarray, his glasses sat crooked and his usually pristine robe was crinkled and stained.
Albor stood in the door feeling uncomfortable. He had never seen his old friend in such a state. It had been some time since they had last met, but in his mind Solifan was still the mage-general of the south. Always in control, of himself, any situation, and powers beyond the imagination of most living beings. He coughed politely.
Solifan froze, turned and, when he recognized his old friend, sighed with relief. "Thank the spirits you're here, you have to help me find her." he gestured towards a rather tidy corner of the room.
Albor eyed the corner with a raised brow and put a heavy hand on his friends shoulder. "Calm down Solí. Who is 'her' and how could she be in a corner of your room?"
"Ah..." Solifan straightened, combed a hand through his hair and adjusted his glasses. "See, after I retired, after a while, I grew a little lonely." he explained. "So I got a cat. Píp."
Albor's eyebrow got quite the workout that day.
"Sooo, YOU can't find a... cat?" there was an undertone of accusation. "Your cat?"
With a disarming shrug and a smile Solifan continued. "I didn't want to lock her in, and the city is dangerous, so Iiii..."
"Yoooou?" the eyebrow curled suspiciously downward.
"I gave her some... protection." Solifan shrugged.
"So she is invisible? Immortal? Tiny? All at once?" Albor's eyes started canvassing the room, their subtle, teal glow indicating that he saw more than just this realm.
"You remember that spirit we saved in Dimkarat? The one that promised eternal gratitude for us and our ancestors?" Solifan had apparently found a very interesting dust bunny between his feet which required intense study.
"Ah yes, they were very thankful for..." Albor's eyes went dim as his mouth fell open. "Noooooo..."
"Well, since Píp is my fur baby..." Solifan's studies continued.
"You made a thousand year old tree spirit from the forests of Dimkarat your cat sitter?"
Solifan slumped into a chair. "Píp and them got along so well, I didn't think they meant it, when they said Píp should visit their homelands, but I've searched the city and my room twice now. In all realms."
Albor felt a familiar tingle behind his ears, the lure of adventure and danger. He took the gnarled staff from the mantle of the fireplace and held it out.
"Looks like we're going to Dimkarat, again."
#microfiction #smallstories #writing #fantasy
