Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 77
The packing of the treasure was easily done, and the rewards, for the slaying of the dragon, were incredible. Sekali secretly watched Finyat and Uther rummage through weapons of every kind and armor of various makes and sizes. But none of these was greater than what the Knowledge Master had given them. The gold, silver, copper and bronze, along with many other types of currency, both ancient and contemporary, were put into Aria’s storing pack. With each piece of treasure placed within Aria’s pack, Finyat watched in great interest as it seemingly vanished, as if only a mere coin had been placed within it.
“Aria, one could place enough in this little common looking pack to equip an army!”
Aria laughed. “No, Finyat, sadly enough, there is a limit to the enchantments of this little device.”
Finyat looked at the treasure, only half collected and bit his lip. “How much can it hold? And what makes this pack work in such a manner?”
Aria thought for a moment, thoroughly enjoying this conversation. “I don’t know.”
Finyat frowned, and so she continued, humoring him. “Well, I have filled it as I delivered supplies to all the watches about Utaemia, and this treasure hoard seems about half as much,” she placed a reassuring hand upon his shoulder, “if that is any consolation.”
He nodded suddenly, his spirits brightening. Aria continued. “Within this backpack lies another dimension.”
She saw the confused look upon his face. “We stand upon the earthen plane.”
She knelt and rested her hand upon the ground. “This earth, upon which we all have been born is the earthen plane. It is a setting within one of many realities which exist. The planes are worlds wherein dwell many species, such as us. Dimensions are much different from the planes. Within a dimension there can exist pure element, such as air, earth, fire, water; these are the foundations from which the planes are organized, but there are other dimensions, strange in their existence. Within this pack is the dimension of air, manipulated by strong enchantments, to conform to being altered so that the entrance to it would be the backpack’s opening. It is a type of gate sewn by powerful magic. So the flap that you pull back on a normal pack, to retrieve an item, is indeed the gate to the dimension within this pack. It is quite amazing to think that I carry a permanent dimensional gate upon my back in the form of this common, ordinary looking pack. Well, this is the most simple way I can explain it.”
Finyat shook his head in new wonder at Aria’s backpack. “Amazing!” She laughed and abruptly embraced him.
“Finyat, you are as a breath of fresh air to me. I am glad we travel together.” Finyat did not pass up the chance to return the embrace of an elf princess. He smiled as Aria parted from him, winking at him.
“Shall we finish packing this treasure and be off? There will probably be more to collect . . . somewhere in these grand hunting grounds.”
Finyat stood and nodded enthusiastically, beginning to hum as he loaded the pack quickly, though not too quickly. He did not wish to miss a single copper piece.