#SAP BRIM Accelerator

[commsaquitilabs]

https://www.acuitilabs.com/media/

#AcuitiMedia #Usage-Based Billing Solution #Media and Entertainment Industry #SAP Billing #Digital Transformation for Media #Subscription Management #Pre-Pay and Post-Pay Billing #Revenue and Innovations Management #SAP BRIM Accelerator #Acuiti Labs #Media Industry Technology #Enhancing Customer Experience #Streamlined Billing Process

[inventateqinstitute]

Become SAP Certified to Accelerate Your Career Development

Bangalore, the undisputed IT capital of India, pulsates with the energy of innovation and opportunity. For aspiring tech professionals, it's a city brimming with potential. However, acquiring SAP Training in Bangalore can be a game-changer if you want to stand out in this competitive landscape.

SAP, the world's leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, empowers businesses to manage every facet of their operations—from finance and human resources to supply chain and customer relationships. It translates into a critical need for skilled SAP professionals across industries. With its thriving tech ecosystem, Bangalore is at the forefront of this demand, offering fertile ground for SAP careers.

Beyond High Demand: The SAP Advantage

The high demand for SAP professionals in Bangalore guarantees steady job opportunities. But the benefits extend far beyond that. Here's why investing in SAP training in Bangalore can be a strategic move for your career:

Lucrative Salaries: SAP expertise is a valuable commodity, and companies are willing to pay a premium. Completing your SAP course can translate into a significant pay raise, propelling you toward financial security and a comfortable lifestyle.

Career Flexibility and Growth: Forget about dead-end jobs. The SAP ecosystem is vast and ever-evolving, offering a plethora of career paths. Whether you dream of becoming a sought-after consultant or a specialist in a niche area like SAP Analytics or SAP development, the possibilities are endless. You can continuously upskill and carve your career trajectory.

Future-Proofing Your Skills: Staying relevant is crucial in today's rapidly changing tech landscape. SAP Training in Bangalore is evergreen, guaranteeing your employability and career security for years. Companies across sectors increasingly rely on SAP for efficient operations, making your expertise valuable.

Choosing the Right SAP Course in Bangalore

Bangalore boasts a diverse range of SAP courses catering to all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned professionals looking to expand their skills. Here's a glimpse into some popular options:

SAP Basis: This course lays the foundation for your SAP journey, equipping you with the knowledge to install, configure, and administer SAP systems – the backbone of any SAP implementation.

Functional Modules: Dive deeper into specific areas of business operations with courses like SAP Finance (mastering financial processes), SAP HR (specializing in HR management), or SAP Supply Chain Management (optimizing logistics and procurement).

SAP Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Learn to manage every touchpoint in the customer lifecycle, from lead generation and sales to service and relationship building.

Transforming Your SAP Training into a Lucrative Career

Once you've armed yourself with the power of SAP Training in Bangalore, it's time to translate your knowledge into a thriving career. Here are some effective strategies to help you land your dream job:

Craft a Compelling Resume: Don't bury your newfound expertise! Highlight your SAP skills prominently in your resume, showcasing relevant projects, certifications, and any technical knowledge you've acquired. Use strong action verbs and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate the value you can bring to a company.

Network Like a Pro: The power of connections is undeniable. Attend industry events in Bangalore, join online forums specific to SAP professionals, and actively connect with others in the field. Build relationships, exchange knowledge, and leverage your network to uncover exciting opportunities.

Target with Precision: Research companies that actively utilize SAP within their operations. Tailor your job applications to their specific needs and demonstrate a clear understanding of their business challenges. Highlight how your SAP expertise can address their pain points and contribute to their success.

Showcase Your Skills in Action: Prepare to answer interview questions and demonstrate your SAP knowledge.Practice using the software, be ready to demonstrate problem-solving abilities, and emphasize your understanding of relevant business processes.

Bangalore: Your Launchpad to a Rewarding SAP Career

By investing in SAP training in Bangalore with Inventateq, you're not just acquiring valuable skills – you're opening doors to a promising future in the heart of India's IT revolution. With dedication, strategic planning, and the potent mix of opportunities Bangalore offers, you can "SAP your way to success" and land your dream job in this dynamic city.

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[mugguskincares]

Anti Aging Tips: Proven Tips for Achieving Younger-Looking Skin

As we journey through life, the desire to maintain youthful, radiant skin remains a universal aspiration. While the aging process is inevitable, there are numerous strategies we can employ to help preserve the vitality and luminosity of our complexion. In this blog post, we'll explore a curated selection of proven Anti Aging tips designed to help you achieve younger-looking skin and embrace the beauty of aging gracefully.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Sun exposure is one of the major causes of premature aging, wrinkles, age spots, and loss of elasticity. To safeguard your skin, always wear an SPF 50 broad-spectrum sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Additionally, wear protective clothing and don a wide-brimmed hat for added defense against harmful UV rays.

Prioritize Proper Skincare

A consistent skincare routine is essential for healthy, younger-looking skin. Start by cleansing your skin daily. Dirt, oil, and impurities can accelerate the aging process. Therefore, it's a good idea to wash your face twice daily. Incorporate anti-aging products containing potent ingredients like retinol, red wine, and hyaluronic acid to target fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. Finally, moisturize regularly to hydrate the skin and keep it supple and nourished.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is the key to plump, younger-looking skin. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily to keep your skin hydrated. Additionally, use a humidifier in your home to combat dry indoor air, which can sap moisture from your skin. Hydrated skin appears smoother and more radiant, helping reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Get Plenty of Sleep

7-9 hours of sleep each night is essential for skin rejuvenation and repair. It allows your skin cells to regenerate. During sleep, your body produces collagen, a protein that keeps your skin firm and elastic. Lack of sleep leads to dull, tired-looking skin and further exacerbates the signs of aging, so prioritize restful sleep for a youthful complexion.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Your dietary choices can significantly influence the health and outward appearance of your skin. Incorporate antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fatty fish into your diet to help combat free radical damage and inflammation. Avoid excessive consumption of sugary, processed foods, which can contribute to skin aging and inflammation. Additionally, consider incorporating skin-boosting supplements like collagen peptides or omega-3 fatty acids to aid in nurturing skin health from the inside out.

Manage Stress

Continued stress can inflict notable harm on your skin, leading to increased inflammation, breakouts, and premature signs of aging. Incorporate stress-relieving practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, or immersing yourself in nature to foster relaxation and equilibrium. Participating in activities that bring you joy and embracing mindfulness can also mitigate stress and enhance overall well-being, leading to a healthier, more youthful complexion.

Exercise Regularly

Regular physical activity benefits your health and contributes to healthier, younger-looking skin. Exercise increases blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your skin. It also promotes collagen production, which helps maintain skin elasticity. Do moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week to reap the skin-enhancing benefits of an active lifestyle.

Practice Good Posture

Your posture affects your skin appearance, particularly your face and neck. Slouching may lead to sagging skin and the formation of wrinkles over time. Maintain good posture by sitting and standing tall, with your shoulders back and your head held high. Not only does good posture improve the alignment of your spine, but it also helps to maintain the firmness and contours of your face and neck.

Limit Alcohol and Avoid Smoking

Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking take a toll on your skin, accelerating aging process and causing premature wrinkles, dullness, and loss of elasticity. Alcohol dehydrates your skin, leading to dryness and inflammation, while smoking decreases blood flow, depriving your skin of essential nutrients and oxygen. Cut down on alcohol and avoid smoking to preserve your skin health and youthfulness.

Practice Gentle Skincare Habits

Treat your skin with care to avoid exacerbating signs of aging. Use gentle, non-abrasive cleansers and avoid harsh scrubbing, which may irritate your skin, causing inflammation. Pat dry your skin after cleansing instead of rubbing, and apply skincare products with light, upward motions to avoid tugging on delicate skin. Be mindful of skincare ingredients and avoid harsh chemicals like sulphates that may strip your skin of its natural oils.

Invest in Professional Treatments

Consider incorporating professional skincare treatments into your anti aging regimen to enhance results. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser therapy, and microneedling may help improve your skin texture, fade wrinkles, and accelerate collagen production for a more youthful complexion. You can also use the Best Anti Aging Cream or retinol products. However, consult a dermatologist or skincare professional to determine which treatments best suit your skin type and concerns.

Prioritize Eye Care

The delicate skin around the eyes is prone to wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles, making it a focal point for anti aging efforts. Use a specialized eye cream or serum formulated with ingredients like peptides, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid to target common concerns such as fine lines, crow's feet, and under-eye bags. Be gentle when applying eye products, using your ring finger to dab the product onto the skin to avoid pulling or stretching the delicate eye area.

Conclusion

By incorporating these additional anti aging tips into your lifestyle, you can enhance your skin health and appearance to achieve a more youthful, radiant complexion. Remember that consistency and patience are key when it comes to anti aging efforts, so commit to a comprehensive approach to skincare and wellness for long-lasting results. With dedication and diligence, you can age gracefully and embrace the beauty of your skin at every stage of life. If you want to buy any anti aging products, then visit Muggu Skincare.

#anti aging cream #best anti aging cream #retinol products in india

[mikeduggan]

https://www.acuitilabs.com/products-and-accelerators/

Acuiti Labs business-ready SAP BRIM solutions

Acuiti Accelerators/Products are preconfigured and developed end to end process flow for a specific industry use case. They allow quick enablement of the SAP BRIM environment for the industry.

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[qterblog]

Fat burning supplement Trento

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[small-business-payroll-greer6]

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[acuitilabslondon]

AcuitiPay is a powerful SAP BRIM accelerator owned by Acuiti Labs and it is the world’s first dedicated end-to-end payment, billing, subscription, and data management platform for the connected vehicle. 

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[anlian-aishang]

Kinktober Day 5: Fellatio & Office Sex & Getting Caught

“Levi x reader making out in his office, it gets heated. They get interrupted. In panic, Levi pushes reader under the desk. BIG mistake because reader decides to give him a blowjob while he’s dealing with the interruption. Their goal is to make Levi cum while trying to keep composure. // “What’s the matter Levi? You look…Peaky?.” “Bruised ribs.” He grunted. Could’ve picked a better excuse but thanks to someone beneath his desk, his brain wasn’t working at full capacity. \\ or something like that.”

Word count: 1900

Tags: smut, levi x reader, canonverse, frottage, thigh-riding, fellatio, getting caught, fem!reader

while writing this, i listened to

Remember! Levi hates art theft.

Half an hour, that was all you had.

Dating a captain came with certain qualities, some good, some bad, some that were both, some that became the other. For instance, his schedule was always packed with meetings and formalities, but it meant that he knew how to make the most of every minute. Sex in his office, you used to consider it something you would resort to in a pinch. Now, though, after experiencing it with him, it was something you started to adore - favor even.

The time crunch added speed to the passion you already had for each other. Actions could not afford to be thought-out, too fast to keep up with. Hands tore at all they could. Instead of slow undressing, ripping clothes off or - on days like today - keeping them on.

The stretch of your canvas pants met the folds of his, the space between your legs finding home on his thigh. Outline of his muscle was kind on the eyes, the way he flexed for you even nicer to your sex. A rewarding cycle: how your grind caused an unpredictable shift of fabric on every sway, how each rub brought even more heat to the friction that kindled your fire.

Hands knit at the back of his neck began to tremble. Deep inhales turned to shallow exhales. Cute how you still used your words to tell what your actions already admitted, “L’Levi,” a frantic whisper, “Levi, I…”

Underneath your slit, you felt a hardening - voluntary or not, you did not have the mind to question it. On free nights, he would endlessly delay your climax - make it count. In these flings, he would help you get there - as many as possible. One hand hooked your belt loops, leveraging you along that last distance. One hand cupped your nape, pulling your ear to his lips, “That’s it, come on…” Levi hushed. An order or a plea? His tone brought an adrenaline of its own.

A temperature too hot to handle. An endless pour of sap into your core had filled you to the brim. A warm pot of honey in your center, though sweet, was formidable: a crack in your dams turned to a crumbling of them. Not a drizzle, but a flood of endorphins through your system. Unhinged - your jaw fell. Speechless - your mouth stuttered. A lovely irritation - squinting eyes and fluttering lashes. In the apex of pleasure, you clung to your support - humanity’s strongest.

A clutch so strong, it maintained an imprint on his tan jacket. A flush so infectious, it had already spread to him. Your comedown could barely qualify as one, your uptake expressed before you had even caught your breath, “Your turn.”

Before he could respond, you had already delved to his neck. An indirect yet instant cut-off of his coherence. Even Levi Ackerman had to have an achilles heel, and as soon as he let you in, you were quick to find it. Of course you loved him, it was why you were so dead set on discovering his weakness, even if the feeling it brought could bring him to his knees.

A lick of your lips before you snapped them to his skin. Veins traced by your teeth, painted wet by your tongue. Chests pressed together, you felt his heartbeat accelerate, his breaths turn frantic. How he melted into your hands in a matter of seconds, you could not help but snicker, those wifts landing at the lump in his throat, those currents pushing his composure to the cliffs.

“F’Fuck…!” Levi threw his head back, panting, “Oh, fuck me!”

It was something you would realize and laugh about later, how his heat-of-the-moment cries were the same words he would curse himself with in just a few seconds.

// // //

Another cry of his name, although this one startlingly distinct to yours.

“Leviiiiiiiiii!”

His eyes had been rolled back in pleasure, yours had been shut in focus, but in that moment, eye contact snapped: Was that who I think it was?

His attention darted to the clock, a desperate grasp at denial. 12:45, still 15 minutes left until the meeting…

Who would be 15 minutes early to a meeting?

Only one person.

Footsteps in the hall were giddy, not merely walking closer but skipping closer. Bangs thrown in whiplash as he shot a glance to the door, unlocked.

“Fuck…” Levi whispered, his voice still winded, “Oh, fuck me!”

A rarity it was, to have Levi be more panicked than you. Perhaps you knew that getting caught would be much bigger gossip for Captain Levi than it would be for you. Or perhaps it was just the post-coital calm that he had yet to reach. You became his ragdoll as he shoved you under his desk. Unintentionally rough. Adorably tense. His force and his nerves were of no concern to you, you even kind of liked it a bit, biting your knuckle and stifling a laugh.

It wasn’t funny to him, though, especially not as he started to hear the echo of their humming, “Shut up, will you?”

You obeyed in that sense, but already began to plot your deviance. Lips sealed, mind trailed, how long were you posed to be down here? Assuming he couldn’t shoo Hange away, a tall order, that meant the next fifteen minutes at least. After which, the meeting would start, and then what?! Not upset, just curious - for only one of you had finished and why should you have all the fun?

// // //

Of fucking course they didn’t knock.

Staring down daggers as they entered, twisted by his fed-up tone, unwelcoming words were salt on the wound, “Ever tried knocking?”

“Geez!” Hange chastised, “What’s the matter with you?” Crossing their arms, “You never seemed to mind in the past!”

“I do mind, you just don’t care.”

Bickering back-and-forth went on for some time. You could have eavesdropped, but there was something much more pressing - literally, even - a solidity pressed against his pants and level with your gaze. Overhearing the conversation of your superiors would usually be intriguing, but not in this circumstance - a comparison that words were no match for.

The least you could do was be quiet about it: cautious unbuckling, delicate unzipping. Your intruder did not notice at all, Levi himself only noticing, not through hearing, but by the sudden touch of your mouth around his member.

An inhale you saw through the curve of his abdomen. An excitement you could feel arching into the roof of your mouth. An expression you could imagine through Hange’s remark, “What!?” They turned over their shoulders, “You look like you just saw a ghost!”

His jaw had fallen. Eyes had widened. It took him a moment to discern what exactly you were doing, but then he remembered the woman you were - the one person who always managed to keep him on his toes - and it became painfully obvious what you had in mind for him and the foreseeable future. Each second was deliberate as he attempted a return to normalcy.

Though that attempt was futile. Fist tangled in your hair but failed to yank you back. The inclination to stop it had been there, but when it came down to the act, he could not pull the stop. Levi Ackerman was authentic even to a fault sometimes. Unapologetically himself, indulging in what he wanted, even if it meant getting sucked off under his desk while face-to-face with a comrade. Levi cleared his throat and spoke to both of you, “It’s nothing.”

Your libido begged to differ. The tip of your tongue met the tip of his head. His leaking salt the electrolytes that let your mouth run freely. A slow tango to start him off, but still too sprightly for him. Levi crossed his legs in an endeavor to stay grounded, but with the wooden slate blocking his vision, he accidentally wrapped them around you, inadvertently pulling you closer and further down his length. A beautiful mistake.

“Shit…!”

“Did you!?” Hange clutched the folder in their hand, “Did you see one!? I thought you said you didn’t believe in ghosts!”

“For fuck’s sake...” Levi whispered. Speaking to your stimulation, their annoyance, possibly both. Change the subject!

“What are you doing here?” Blushing and breathless, his rage failed to come through. Instead, to Hange, it came across as genuine curiosity - regrettable for him, intriguing for them.

“I thought we could do a last-minute recap of points we want to make at the meeting!”

Last minute.

Underneath the desk, you chuckled. That chuckle was not without consequences, though. With him in your mouth, you could stay silent. For him, however, it was an impossible demand. As you laughed, your throat clenched around him, your tongue danced against him. This sensation he had never felt before, he was helpless to handle it. Consequences unavoidable, he tried his best to navigate them - toes curling, fists bunching, a lip bite - still not enough.

“I thought…” A swallow. Some shivers. “I thought…”

Hange raised a brow.

Then, words strung together. “I thought I’d see you in fifteen.”

“Well I thought we could use a little more review!”

Levi folded his hands and crossed them over his face, an inconspicuous effort to hide his reddened cheeks, the twitch in his lip, “You mean our afternoon of preparation yesterday was pointless?”

As often, Hange ignored him, “What’s the matter, Levi?” They bent at the waist and began a pace towards the desk, much too close for comfort, “You look… peaky?”

His best try at a poker face was undermined by the long pause that preceded his answer, trying to think of something to say, trying to suppress the moans screaming to be released, “Bruised ribs.”

“Really?” Seemed odd considering he had been on infirmary duty lately, “But we didn’t even -”

“Hange!” An uncharacteristic raise of his voice, you felt your panties dampen again, “I said I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”

Smiling around his girth, That’s ambitious. It wouldn’t take that long.

Fingers crawled up his thighs, nails covering every stitch. Left hand rose over his V and landed at his side, a hold reaching from waist to hip trawled him to just that right spot. Right hand wrapped around his cock - lovingly unsympathetic pumping was even more than just the missing thing - it was an addition he could not endure.

“H’Ha…,” Fucking shit! “H-Hah, please…”

Begging sighs. Please hurry up! A desperate plea. Hange, please get the hell out!

It could have just been a fever dream. Maybe just one of those lucky nights where your brain just thought to entertain you. In the morning, you would wake up, tell Levi all about it, and satisfy the fantasy that had been built up all night long. It could have been a fever dream up until that point.

But the pulsation you felt in him was felt vividly in yourself. Sounds fallen past his mouth, bitten down onto his lip, muffled by his shaking hand were sounds you never could have dreamt up. His release was so helpless that you were likewise helpless to swallow it. Had Hange witnessed it or had they left in time? With you under the desk and with him in the throes of pleasure, you were both equally oblivious to anyone except each other, to anything beyond this moment. 

They usually lasted only a handful of seconds, but somehow this one stretched for an eternity. Some sick fate maybe, but maybe even his own fault. 

Both of you recalled all the nights he had previously delayed you, all the times he had overstimulated you, all those dirty words that had tainted the air between you. In his unparalleled clarity, in your completed culmination, you shared the same realization:

Karma was beautiful, it was a bitch, and it tasted so damn sweet.

// Kinktober Year 2 Masterlist //

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[sistertzipster-blog]

Hello my fellow Tumblr, if you are in the mood to have read a taste of my upcoming novel Once She Called Me Darling I have posted both the synopsis and random excerpt from this  tale of tragedy, love and magic! 

Any feedback negative and positive are welcome! Thank you 

Synopsis: 

Many stories begin their tale with a dialogue, an introduction of an event or scene, or a voice that narrates the story in one’s mind waiting for it to unfold into the unknown. My story has been written many times over, it has been produced onto the stage such as Broadway and even journeyed to Hollywood and has been re recreated many times with slightly different twists and subplots.....however despite peoples attempts to portray me in the magical, whimsical, mischievous sense, no one has ever asked ''who is he, how did he become the person he evolved to be?''

Most people are quite content to believe that I was born selfish and disturbed; others simply don't care enough to even entertain the question. They are perfectly happy with that I was a born monster.....someone who his parents abandoned as an infant and left me somewhere. If that were the case I wouldn't be writing any of this....if it were true I wouldn't have gone the great lengths to find myself a home, a haven, the only place I belonged and at great sacrifice.

Some of you probably have guessed my name, and maybe some are left wondering who this very person is dictating their tale onto these pages.....

My name was William Pennington; born in England 1665 the son of a wealthy barrister....we will start when he is at the nice age of sixteen in his childhood home, Cambridge 1681....

Excerpt from Chapter One: 

I woke up to find myself yet again on the mysterious island. Titom was always there to welcome me...''Ah William it is always a pleasure to see you return'' said Titom in greeting. ''Yes'' I exclaimed happy to see my old friend. ''You know, today is my birthday, and I have invited all the creatures here to celebrate with me, would you like to join?'' asked Titom. I nodded excitedly. ''How do creatures such as yourselves celebrate birthdays?'' I asked my curiosity and excitement brimming....''Oh! It is great fun, we play music, build a bonfire, dance around it and eat as many berries as possible! I think you will like it...'' replied Titom. ''I am honored to attend when should I come by?'' I asked. ''We will begin at sunset, you can come with Grigorn, he knows where to meet everyone'' with that said Titom walked away. I felt my blood rushing through my body, I was not only thrilled to be invited to an island event but the atmosphere of the island accelerated me once more and as tradition would have it I ran through the jungle; I even swung through vines, climbed trees and jumped from branch to branch....when I went to the pond to drink some water I had found the goblet sitting there, I assumed I absently left it there and it was sitting by the edge of the pond waiting for me....I picked it up and filled it with the water. I then realized that I should bring some sort of a gift. Although I didn't know if it was custom here to bring gifts I decided to think of one anyway. I tried to imagine something that he might appreciate from England, however nothing seemed to fit.....I decided to walk around the jungle, perhaps it would clear my head and I would come up with an idea.....it was a bit colder today than it was the last time I was here....so I gathered some sticks for a small fire. Even though in England I had never made a fire or camped in the wood I somehow understood survival skills only on this island....when I had gathered enough wood I was about to dump it where I wanted the fire to be....I then noticed something about the sticks I picked.....they were perfect, smooth, and a deep shade of chestnut.....my mind suddenly felt a rush of an impulse a drive that I could not explain.....I placed the sticks down and ran back to the beach.....I collected a few of the most beautiful rocks I could find and tore off a few vines. I went back to my spot and was glad to find that the sticks were still there. I sat down and realized that I needed a small knife and lo and behold a knife appeared in my hands. It was an exquisite carving knife, the hand seemed to be made of some bone and ivory with blue, black and purple designs.....I then began my project. I cut the sticks so that the ends were even, I then placed the sticks I selected all beside each other and cut them to size but each one was taller than the other....I then took each stick and made them hollow.....I set my knife down and began crushing the rocks, this did take some time but eventually the powder was a beautiful shade of green.....I shaved the outer layer of the vine and cut it to the length of the sticks sitting beside one another, when I was satisfied by its size I dipped the vine into the powder and covered it and shook off the remainder dust.....I didn't think it would work but somehow the powder stuck to the vines perfectly and the color was mesmerizing.....I wrapped the vine around sticks and then shaved another part of the vine to create a string like material and tied the green belt around the sticks. They weren't sticking together as I hoped and tried to think of a way to make everything glue together. From the corner of my eye I felt something dripping onto my head. I put my hand on my head and felt something incredibly sticky. I looked up and saw that it was coming from the tree I was sitting under. I thought fast, I grabbed my knife and poked a small hole from the tree and a gush of tree sap flowed out. I didn't need much of it....I then picked up a leaf and used it as a brush that I dipped into the sap and was able to stick all the wooden pipes together plus the vine belt....I was happy with my creation. I then wanted to see if I indeed made a real instrument. I held whatever it was in my hand and began to blow into the pipes. Nothing came out except for air.....I tried again and indeed nothing.....I was disappointed but it still was a nice decorative piece. The earth began to tremble beneath me, I wasn't sure what to do....was this an earthquake? I then heard loud hoof beats and slowly turned to find the centaurs stampeding. I was still holding my instrument in my hands and was cognizant not to drop it as I jumped out of the way. The centaurs must have recognized me for they stopped abruptly. ''You can come out William'' shouted Rumus, the centaur who was close to my age...at least in centaur years. I clambered out and greeted all of them. ''Hi Rumus, how are you?'' I asked, Rumus was one of the friendlier centaurs. He had long brown hair that glistened in the sunlight and his eyes changed colour depending on his mood, that was common amongst the centaurs. ''What brings you to our island?'' asked Rumus. ''I don't know, I just like to visit often I guess'' I replied. It was hard to describe that I was just dreaming and how Rumus wasn't actually real....how would you describe that to a centaur? ''You must be here because it's Titoms birthday!'' remarked Rumus. ''Yes, I even made him a gift'' I said proudly holding up my wooden instrument. Rumus peered at it, and smiled. ''I don't know what it is, but it certainly is quite lovely, I think Titom would like it very much'' exclaimed Rumus. ''Are you attending his celebration?'' I asked. ''Yes, of course, all the creatures celebrate each other even if we don't know them personally'' commented Rumus.....''Would you like to ride on my back today William?'' asked Rumus. I nodded and hopped on. ''So that your extraordinary gift does not break I have a string, made out of centaur mane, how about you tie it around my neck'' offered Rumus. I nodded and placed my gift onto the string, it was very thick but felt silky nonetheless. Once it was secured Rumus immediately took off along with his herd! It was no different than riding a horse, however Rumus seemed to float rather than the bumpiness of a horses gallop. We ran through meadows, streams, and climbed mountains....centaurs ran up mountains with ease as if it were a mote rather than a mountain. This was a unique quality of the centaur, they can gallop up mountains without breaking a sweat, the best though was yet to come....Once we reached the peek of the mountain all the centaurs stood close to its edge. Unlike horses centaurs could jump with grace and with little effort from mountain top to mountain top! The leader always starts and lunged himself and the rest followed. I held onto Rumus terrified yet didn't want to back down. ''Are you ready?'' asked Rumus. ''Yes I squeaked'' Rumus smirked. ''Do not worry human, just hold on tight and if you do fall just simply believe and you can fly yourself to safety.....now lets go!'' Rumus jumped and time seemed to run in slow motion....my stomach flopped and my grip on Rumus's neck tightened.....I was amazed and petrified of the view, I was at eye level with the clouds that were pink and yellow....the mountain tops were far below me yet I could see the exotic flowers waving in the breeze and the rocky terrain. I suddenly felt a diving sensation when Rumus soared downward toward land. I screamed in horror and the most amazing feeling that always felt new even though this wasn't the first time doing this with Rumus. I marvelled at how centaurs could be hundreds of meters in the air and still land on their feet....I fell off of Rumus and laid down on the grass. ''I can always catch up with my herd later, lets take a break!'' said Rumus. We laid on the grass together and gazed up at the sky. ''Do humans have a world like this?'' asked Rumus. ''Not at all, my land is much more boring, we do have creatures there but there is no magical aspect'' I replied. ''Sounds extremely dull'' Rumus remarked. ''Yes, it can be at times, but there we have other yet simpler amusements'' I said. Rumus and I both dozed off, I woke to the hoof of Rumus...''Wake up William.....it is time!'' I then remembered Titoms birthday and quickly made haste. I jumped onto Titoms back and the two of us journeyed to the center of the island. When we arrived I clambered down from Rumus and observed the scene.... I noticed Grigorn and his flock sitting on the grass relaxed, there was the rest of Rumus's herd mingling with the Pegasus. I also recognized the unicorns, griffins, chimeras, jackal-opes and the mermaids, who have the ability to come on land and their fins turn into legs! It was marvelous seeing all the island creatures together in one place. Titom was being assisted by a few jackal-opes with setting up the bonfire. I walked over to him. ''Happy birthday Titom!'' I said. He turned and beamed at me and came over to me. ''William it certainly is an honor to have you at my festivities....come, help me with the bonfire'' Titom suggested. I helped with the bonfire and when it was ready to light a dragon appeared, his name was Kelisius as I recall from my visits beforehand.....he lit the bonfire and the flames danced in the darkness. Other fauns appeared too holding small drums and what seemed to be fiddles, which is when I remembered my gift. I found Rumus and lifted the pipes from the centaur hair that was holding it. I then approached Titom....''Titom, in my land it is tradition to hand a friend a gift for their birthday, thus I made you this'' I then presented it to him. Titom seemed quite amused. ''It is certainly a creative and decorative piece.....it seems like its an instrument?'' Titom asked. ''Yes, yes it...well was....I tried making music from it by blowing into the pipes, but I couldn't perhaps you can'' I said. Titom smiled and began blowing into the pipes.....the music that came forth from the instrument was extraordinary, I had never heard music such as that. Just then the other fauns began tapping their drums and Titom played the pipes merrily. All the beasts began dancing around the bonfire and singing along to the melodies. The tunes were light and full of joy and mystery. Kelisius even did wonderful tricks and visuals with his fire, scenes of fauns dancing jigs, and beautiful dragons dancing an ancient dance from thousands of years ago.....the intriguing mystical images remained in my mind in times to come. 

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[temptation-narnia-chronicles]

From Upon the Golden Thrones

Episode 7: The Voyage for the Fireflower

      Heavy clouds hung low in the red skies overhead as Captain Guildmore's crew loaded the luggage aboard the Splendor Hyaline. Peter chewed his bottom lip as he watched from the courtyard, turning Eilonwy's words over and over in his mind. It's my job to educate you about what you're all getting yourselves into. She never did give him a proper answer.

     Lucy was absolutely incapable of sitting still. She clutched her cordial to her chest as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, desperate to board the ship. Susan cocked a brow, watching with tired eyes, and sighed in defeat. "Lucy, calm down. Please. If you're going to get this worked up, maybe we should just call this whole thing off" she said, tone desperate but laced with a tinge of hope. How she wished they could call the whole thing off. She glanced back toward Cair Paravel longingly, wringing her hands in the folds of her sheer overskirt. A warm bath and candlelit night alone called to her.       "No! We can't call of the trip!" Lucy shot a glare to the gentle.       "Lucy's right, Su" Peter added. "We've already made the plans. It's too late to turn back now." Despite his words, Susan could tell that he, too, appeared tired and distraught.       "Besides, this is important to Lucy and therefore it's important to all of us" Edmund replied, stepping forward. Lucy beamed, whipping around to face him as he smiled down upon her. So far, he seemed like the only one genuinely enthusiastic about this trip. For everyone else, it was just another chore they were obligated to fulfill.       "Peter, when do you think the ship will be ready?" Lucy then asked, turning to her other brother. She was brimming with anticipation. The High King glanced to the Splendor Hyaline, then back at his sister, biting his lower lip.       "I'll go check" he replied. Sucking in a deep breath, he jogged down the dock toward the gangplank where Eilonwy joined the ship's crew as they prepared for departure. "Hey" he muttered as he snuck up beside her. Taken aback by the sudden company, the huntress gasped and swung a punch, just missing as Peter ducked beneath her blow. "Whoa, take it easy! It's just me!"       "Sorry" Eilonwy replied, though he couldn't tell if she really meant it. "Peter, I'm very busy so whatever's the matter, can we please make it quick?"       "I was just wondering how much longer it'll be" he replied. When she shot him a glare, he quickly added, "For Lucy! She's getting pretty anxious." The moment he mentioned the valiant, Eilonwy's expression softened.       "Shouldn't be too much longer now. We're just getting the last of the luggage aboard. You know, you lot have a horrible habit of overpacking" she said, rolling her eyes as she hoisted another trunk aboard.       "You know, I'm starting to really worry about her" Peter said, almost as if he hadn't even heard the huntress. He glanced at Lucy over his shoulder, still standing there uneasily as if she was required to keep moving or else the world might collapse. "I know this is important to her but she's not handling any of this well and I don't want this to become a problem."       "It won't be if you don't treat it like one" Eilonwy replied, a tinge of harshness embedded in her tone. Peter cocked an eyebrow suspiciously, as if her words were a puzzle that he was trying to comprehend.       He paused a moment before huffing and speaking again. "Eilonwy, you don't understand. I've never seen Lucy like this. It scares me. I'm honestly not even sure any of this is a great idea anymore. At least not if this is how she reacts."       "Peter" Eilonwy sighed, loading another trunk aboard. "This is a good idea because this is what Lucy's needs to do. Regardless of how she's reacting, you have no choice. You have to go. Lucy has to go. She's bringing all of this onto herself, and rightly so. If I was in her position, I'd be the same way."       By now, the High King was pacing back and forth with a very constipated expression. "I would've at least thought she would have calmed down by now. It's the day of the trip. She shouldn't be panicking anymore-- she has nothing left to wait for!"       It quickly became clear to Eilonwy that her friend was not in the most attentive mood this morning. Rubbing her eyes, she leaned against the last couple of trunks and remarked. "Peter, you're a terrible listener when you're worked up. Did you even hear a word I just said?"       "I just don't understand why she's getting so worked up!" he fumed.       "Hmph. In one ear and out the other" Eilonwy scoffed. Not that she was entirely surprised. It wouldn't be the first time he jumped to conclusions and attempted hasty decisions about things he didn't quite understand. As she stood there listening to him ramble on and on about his misconceptions, she began to wonder what it would take to really capture his attention and bring him back to center. After a few more moments, she finally straighened her back, pinned her arms to her side, and announced out of nowhere, "Peter, I had an affair with a sea serpent and am now carrying his tentacled child."       Just as she had hoped, the High King paused midsentence, face flushed and eyes wide. "Wait, what did you just say? Y-you're what...?!" he panicked. A sly smirk graced Eilonwy's lips as she folded her arms and revelled in her success.       "There we go. Now he's back" she said proudly.       "Ellie, that's not funny!" he protested, whacking her lightly on the forearm. "We have a real problem on our hands here and you don't seem to care very much."       "Oh, and my unborn serpent child isn't a problem?" she asked with a chuckle. The High King remained unamused. "Listen, I know you're nervous, Peter, but you're not listening to me. Not that you ever do."       "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?" he shot back.       "Oh, nothing. Like you said, we have a real problem on our hands here" Eilonwy replied flippantly. "I know you're worried about Lucy but I'm trying to tell you that this is only natural. Just don't worry so much and she'll be fine. The anxiety will subside on it's own, probably once we get to Kronne and get all of this cordial business sorted once and for all."       Peter sighed, knowing that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't possibly think of a better plan of action. Lucy was going to react however she reacted and he had no control over that. He just had to roll with the punches and respond as best as he could. After so many months of kingship, he felt he was getting rather good at that sort of thing anyways.       "Now, if you'd excuse me, Peter, I've got some work to do so if you'd kindly...you know" she then said, motioning for him to return to his siblings. Peter nodded a moment, trying his best to feel a little more at ease about the circumstance, but as he wandered back to his family, a thought snagged him backward.       "Ellie, wait! Wait a second!" he called, diving toward the gangplank. "What did you mean about my not listening to you, anyways? I listen to you."       Eilonwy simply waved off his question as she dragged a rather hefty trunk onto the deck. Despite her rejections, however, Peter was not about to settle on a cliffhanger. She had been acting petty for weeks and he wanted to get to the bottom of it, and soon. Without a second thought, he swung around to the other side of the trunk, helping her to push it aboard. "Come on, Ellie, answer me for Christ's sake!"       "You really don't like being ignored, do you?" Eilonwy asked bitterly.       "Please just tell me what you're talking about!" he pleaded.       "And give up watching you beg? I don't think so" she chuckled defiantly. The magnificent narrowed his eyes. He already had enough to worry about, he didn't need to weave through Eilonwy's pesky emotional labyrinth, too.       "Come on!"       "Fine. You really want answers? Then I'll give them to you" she muttered, tugging the trunk the last few inches up the gangplank. The sudden acceleration caught Peter by surprise, sending him reeling a few steps backward. Eilonwy smirked, leaning over the railing of the ship's deck as she looked down upon him. "I have two words for you, Peter Pevensie: Lord Lemuel."       Peter paused a moment, trying to figure out what she meant. "You mean what happened in your room? But I saved you!"       "I'm not talking about that incident, Peter. I'm talking about the one you blamed me for" she replied, now refusing to so much as look at him.       He cocked his head to the side, furrowing his brows in confusion. "Ellie, what do you mean? That was the only incident!"       "No, Peter. It wasn't. Now go run along with your siblings, I have work to do and this conversation is starting to really sap my energy" she replied, waving him off. At first, Peter was slightly offended but he knew there was no breaking her. Eilonwy was tough; it took time and patience to get to her core, even for Peter who he felt she trusted more than anyone. Or at least he hoped. And while he was hoping for things, he also hoped that whatever she was mad at him for wasn't enough to deter her from thinking highly of him, of caring about him, of perhaps even loving him. He doubted she felt that serious toward him but still, he feared the worst regardless. He had no idea what he'd do if he discovered he was at fault for Eilonwy no longer harboring affections for him. But he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. He didn't have the time nor the energy to focus on such negativity. Peter could only handle one dilemma at a time and right now, Lucy was his top priority. He could iron out Eilonwy's troubles later. She certainly seemed to have no issue putting things off, anyways. If she could wait, then Peter could wait.       By noon, the Splendor Hyaline was fully supplied and departing on it's much anticipated journey. Lucy rushed ahead, cordial in hand, nearly stumbling over her own two feet. She was already standing beside the captain when the rest of the Pevensies boarded, her free hand on the ship's wheel as if she planned to pilot the vessel herself. Excitement brimmed from her eyes and flowed through her veins, electrifying her as Cair Paravel began to fade into the distance. The further they ventured, the more productive she felt but with that satisfaction came a sense of fear, as well. As night fell across the Eastern Ocean, the valiant found herself spiraling once again into waves of panic.       "Susan, can I speak with you for a moment?" Lucy asked from the hall. The gentle sighed and set her pen down, immersed in secret paperwork.       "Lucy, it's late. You should be in bed" she replied from the other side of the closed door.       "Well, so should you but that hasn't stopped either of us, has it?" Lucy fired back. "Listen, Susan, I need to speak with you immediately. I need someone to talk to."       "Lucy" the gentle sighed, "If this is about your cordial, you have nothing to worry about. By tomorrow, we should arrive in Kronne and then everything will be all taken care of. Until then, you need to sleep. Please."       Though she didn't want to give up, Lucy knew there was no shaking her sister. Susan was distant and obviously preoccupied-- with what, however, the valiant hadn't the slightest clue. The moment she felt Lucy was far enough away, Susan let her guard down and sank slowly into her nearby chair. A bejeweled finger ran across the pages of parchment sprawled across her desk and a pang of longing struck her chest hard. Lately, she had begun to feel like taffy being pulled in fifteen different directions, never getting a moment to cool down and relax. In the privacy of her bunk, however, she was granted the opportunity to indulge in her own otherwise neglected pasttimes. She needed some isolation, some time to recharge, or else she feared she would implode under the overwhelming responsibility of being both a sister and a queen.       Defeated, Lucy trudged down the hall back toward her chambers. She supposed if she was to feel anxious, then she would just have to face it alone. Nobody else seemed to care very much. Suddenly, however, she got an idea.       "Eilonwy?" she called softly, rapping lightly at the door. The huntress rose from her bed, eyes heavy, and swung the door open. "Eilonwy, can I speak with you for a moment?" Without hesitation, the huntress ushered the little queen inside and motioned for her to sit upon the bed.       "What seems to be the trouble, your majesty?" Eilonwy asked, seating herself on the edge of the bed.       "I don't know, I just...I'm kind of...scared...about tomorrow. I just need someone to talk to about it" Lucy replied. Eilonwy cocked an eyebrow, urging her to continue. With a sigh, the youngest Pevensie drew her knees up to her chest and explained. "Maybe Susan was right. Maybe this is all a huge mistake, that we should've called off the trip. What if these fireflowers don't really exist? And we've come all this way for nothing? I know the idea of not having my cordial terrifies me, but I think the thought of this entire thing being pointless scares me even more."       A sigh broke past Eilonwy's lips. Apparently she was becoming the designated royal counselor, or so it seemed. "Lucy, I know you're nervous. I am, too--"       "You are?" she interrupted.       "Yes. I am" Eilonwy replied. "But there is nothing we can do about what will happen other than to wait and see how everything turns out. I know that sounds horrible and probably doesn't help one bit but we just have to know that whatever happens, it's all for the best." The huntress prayed she sounded convincing, but even she didn't fully believe herself.       Lucy nodded slowly, thoughtfully, before breaking the streak of silence. "Eilonwy...? Can you please tell me the story again? The one about the island and the lady who guards the fireflowers?"       Eilonwy chuckled lightly and crossed her legs at the foot of the bed. By now she figured it was safe to assume Lucy wasn't planning on moving and proceeded to tuck her in and tell her the tale. She listend intently, eyes wide as she pondered whether such a myth really could ever be true. She remembered the illustration Eilonwy had showed her of Iraflora, the flower's guardian, and wondered if she was as steadfast and unrelenting in reality as the story made her seem. If she even existed in the first place, that is. And even if she did, who was to say she would think of Lucy any differently than she had the many lost sailors who searched for the flower before her? They were no doubt mere skeletons on the shorelines by now, bones scorched and loot repurposed.       As Lucy slept that night, Eilonwy rested her head upon the desk in her chamber, watching as the little queen's chest rose and fell softly. She had no trouble with her stealing her bed, but what she did question was what made Lucy confide in her of all people? Tiptoeing across the room, Eilonwy snuck down the hall and gently rapped on Susan's door.       "Lucy, I told you, please go to bed!" she complained, exasperated, as she swung open the door. Her face shone red in the candlelight when she discovered her midnight visitor was definitely not her sister.       "Well, I think you'd be pleased to know your sister finally did go to sleep. In my bed" Eilonwy whispered harshly. She didn't even wait for Susan's permission before pushing past her into the room. Upon entry, the maiden immediately noticed the large collection of papers scattered about. Curiosity seized her as she peered upon the files but before she could get a decent view, Susan swooped in and detracted her attention. "Keeping secrets, are we?" Eilonwy asked slyly.       "No, I don't think you have any right to look upon official government papers, let alone waltz right into my room in the middle of the night unwarranted!" Susan scolded.       "Well, you must be hiding something if you're getting this upset about it" Eilonwy smirked. Susan stammered a moment, face contorting, before crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.       "Eilonwy, it's very late and I'm very busy so unless you have something important to waste my time with, I am asking you as kindly as possible to please leave" Susan spoke. She tried to keep her voice level but it was easy to detect the undertones of frustration wavering in her words.       "What I want to know is what could you possibly be working on here that is far more important than your baby sister's wellbeing?" Eilonwy asked, her query like knives digging into Susan's flesh. Anger rose in the queen's throat but fizzled out before she could make any real use of it.       "That is absolutely none of your business!" Susan replied.       "Really? Because it sounds like a poor excuse to me" Eilonwy shot back.       "Listen, what I do in my spare time is not your concern! Not that I even have any spare time these days" she retorted.       "Oh, now we're getting somewhere!" Eilonwy said triumphantly.       "No, we are not because this is where we stop!" Susan shouted back. "Now leave my chambers, Eilonwy, and that is a royal order."       "Oh really?" Eilonwy taunted. "And what are you to do if I refuse?"       "Then I will have no choice but to call for the captain and have you escorted out!" Susan commanded.       "Fine then. Call Guildmore! Tell him what a nuisance I've become. Better yet, call Peter and Edmund. A true royal removal! I'm sure they'd be mighty interested in your little pet project here!"       "What is your obsession with my private property? Hmm? Why can't you just obey orders? Why do you refuse to obey your queen?" Susan asked, voice rising higher and higher in volume with each level of frustration Eilonwy broke through.       "I refuse to leave until I get an answer! Why are you neglecting your sister?" Eilonwy shouted back.       "Because I'm tired!" Susan finally cracked. "I've hardly had a moment to myself since we began this stupid journey and I'm tired! Ever since we walked through that godforsaken wardrobe, I've been pulled every which way into wars and treaties and now I have an entire country looking to me for guidance when I can't even guide myself! All I want is a smple night alone without anyone asking anything of me! Why is that so hard to ask for?"       It wasn't that Eilonwy wasn't a sympathetic creature, because she liked to believe in some way that she was. However, she found it hard to find sympathy for the gentle as she stood before her screaming in a rather un-gentle fashion. Grimacing, Eilonwy clenched her fists at her sides and sucked in a deep breath. "So you're telling me all of this is just because you're 'tired'? Oh, bullshit, Susan! We're all tired! That's no excuse!"       "You have no right--!" the queen began but Eilonwy interrupted before she could finish.       "You are a queen, Susan! You have a duty to your country, nonetheless your family, and you need to start acting as such! Your sister is passed out in someone else's bed because you turned her away when she needed you! You need to start thinking less about yourself and more about what is expected of you" Eilonwy lectured. It wasn't until she had finished speaking that a bitter taste formed in her mouth and she made a truly horrifying realization: in that moment, she sounded exactly like her mother.       Susan's eyes brimmed with tears but she refused to cry. "I never asked for this, Eilonwy! It's not like I wandered into this country expecting a talking Lion to make me a queen!"       "You act as if you're the only one responsible for Narnia, Susan" Eilonwy fired back. "But guess what? You're not! Your siblings are under just as much stress as you are and I'm sure they all wish they could have a night off to themselves just as much as you do. But you know what they're doing instead? They're signing legal documents and creating organizations and working to better this fucking country. Last I checked, you haven't done a single thing to help Narnia other than the classic group projects."       "You think I don't want to help Narnia?" Susan replied. "You have no idea, Eilonwy. You have no idea how much I want to do but I can't accomplish any of it when people are constantly coming to me for help with one thing or another! Why do you think I've locked myself away tonight? I need a break from the legal matters, the everyday grind, so I can actually work on things that I want to do! If I didn't, I would have no reason to have brought all of this aboard!" Susan shouted. By now, she had given up holding back tears, letting them rush down her flushed cheeks. Her arm spanned across the table to display the books and papers scattered across it, an invitation for Eilonwy to finally take a look.       "Susan, these are architecture studies. What the bloody hell are you doing studying architecture?" Eilonwy asked, confused.       "All those sick and abandoned children in Galma had me thinking about all those who are orphaned or underprivileged in our own country. I've been wanting to propose an idea for an orphanage ever since we returned but between entertaining visitors and all the drama that ensued from that, I haven't had a single second to myself to even so much as think of starting this, let alone giving myself a much needed personal break. Lucy may be queen, too, but she's still a child. There is only so much that she can do and where she falls short, I have to pick up the slack. That's exhausting, Eilonwy. Not that you would understand, since all you ever think of is yourself" Susan explained, catching her breath and wiping her face dry.       Exhaustion overwhelmed Eilonwy's body as she recoiled and shook her head. She couldn't stand to be near Susan for one more second. "I wish you had any idea of how wrong you are" she whispered hoarsely, fists clenched at her sides, before disappearing down the hall. Silent rage overwhelmed her as she barrelled back to her chamber. She couldn't believe Susan had the audacity to assume she was selfish. Other people were all she ever thought about.       As dawn stretched across the sea, Lucy stirred awake to find herself completely alone. A surge of panic rushed through her, leaping out of bed. As she rushed to the doorway, she tripped over a lump on th eground and went tumbling forward. Whipping around, she found a familiar figure curled up on the rug like a dog.       "Eilonwy, what are you doing?"       "Hmm? Oh, I decided I would just let you have the bed and so I took the floor" she explained drowsily. Squinting, she turned to investigate the scene, surprised by how quickly the night seemed to pass, before nodding slowly and hoisting herself off the ground.       "You go ahead and join everyone for breakfast. I'll be down...momentarily" she replied, slinking back over to her bed. Lucy giggled softly at her slurred speech and drunken gait before departing.       Once she left the room, Eilonwy turned to the mirror to inspect her reflection. She wasn't sure what she expected but she certainly found nothing extraordinarily different staring back. If anything, she looked even more gaunt and frail than usual. Rather than dwell on it, she simply shrugged and slipped into the cleanest dress she could find before following in Lucy's footsteps.       "Captain Guildmore feels confident we should arrive at Kronne by daybreak" Peter explained that morning. Eilonwy listened halfheartedly as he and his siblings chatted idly, taking particular interest in every comment Susan made. The huntress was still bitter from their argument the night before and the tension between them now was obvious. Lucy glanced between the two of them, unsure of what exactly had transpired between them. She hated the thought of even more drama but couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was mad at each other for one reason or the other. She did her best not to think too  deeply into it. After all, she had her own troubles to focus on. She didn't want to expend any more energy on anything that detracted her attention from what she needed to do. Her cordial was of utmost importance. Everything else could stand to be ignored, at least to the best of her ability.       The rest of the day proved to be rather mundane, everyone occupied with their own endeavors. Lucy spent much of the day with Edmund, the only one she feared wasn't angry with anyone, and found a pleasant distraction in his company. He understood how nervous she must have been and wanted to do everything in his power to make her feel relaxed during this waiting period, playing chess and card games with her in his chamber and telling one another wild stories.       Eilonwy stood upon the deck as she scanned the horizon for any sign of Kronne. The Seven Isles were growing nearer, faint masses of land seemingly perched on the edge of the world. A shiver ran down her spine at their proximity. Whichever island Kronne was, Maldonado was certainly not very far. Of all the thoughts plaguing her mind, Peter's betrayal was still at the forefront.       As if manifested from her subconscious, the High King suddenly approached to join his friend on deck. He glanced her way as he leaned upon the rail beside her, sucking in a deep breath and struggling to find the right words to say. "I heard about last night" he finally spoke.       "Oh, great. Are you here to yell at me, too?" Eilonwy scoffed.       "You really do only think about yourself, you know that?" Peter grimaced, offended. Eilonwy opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted. "I don't exactly appreciate you barging into my sister's room in the middle of the night and telling her off like that. If you were anyone else, you'd be black and blue."       "Yeah? Well--" she started but was yet again interrupted.       "I do, however, appreciate you defending and looking after Lucy. I didn't exactly appreciate Susan casting her off like she did, either" he spoke. Eilonwy's gaze softened, releasing a sigh as she turned her attention back to the sea.       "I only did it because I was upset. I felt like Susan just wasn't listening. I couldn't understand why Lucy would come to me of all people instead of her own sister for comfort. It bothered me, you know? But I guess it wasn't my job to invade in the first place" Eilonwy replied.       "You're right. It wasn't" Peter said. "Susan came to me this morning incredibly upset about everything you said to her. I can't have you picking fights with my family, Eilonwy" Because someday I hope you'll be a part of it, he thought to himself, eyes glancing to her left hand. He didn't dare express any of this out loud. Not yet, anyways.       With a groan, Eilonwy buried her face in her hands. "I hate all of these stupid rules. I liked it better when society was nothing but oppressed animals" she mumbled. "Humans are far too complicated."       "All you need to do is just say you're sorry" Peter said.       "But it's not that simple" Eilonwy argued.       "Why not?" he replied.       "Because I'm tired of being blamed for everything, Peter. I'm tired of every little thing that goes wrong being my fault. You know what? Maybe I am selfish but that's because I feel like I can never trust anyone to actually listen to me for once" Eilonwy explained.       "Hey, don't you start with that again!" Peter scolded. "I listen to you, Ellie."       "No, you don't" she countered. Glancing to the boy at her side, the defeat on his face convinced her now was the time for truth. She tightened her grip on the rails, leaned back, sucked in a deep breath, prepared herself for the conversation ahead. "Do you want to know why I'm mad at you?" Peter's eyes widened, leaning forward, desperate. "I'm mad at you because you blamed me for what happened at the stables."       "Well, technically it was Everlast's fault, not yours" Peter corrected.       "No, Pete, that's not...that's not the issue here" Eilonwy replied, rubbing her temples. "Yes, Everlast spooked Lemuel and nearly pounded him into the ground but only because she was protecting me."       "Protecting you from what?" Peter asked, beginning to fear her answer.       Eilonwy mustered her strength before replying. "That night...that wasn't the first time Lemuel tried to take advantage of me. It was, by far, the worst attempt, I'll give him that, but not the first. He was suspicious of me from the moment he laid eyes on me. He wanted to take advantage of me, to threaten me for information. He was infatuated with me. That day at the stables, he approached me while I was prepping Everlast. He was...discomforting and eerie. I knew right away that he wanted something from me. And then he...he gripped my waist and lifted me up onto my own horse. As if I was incapable of mounting my own mare. As if he wanted an excuse to touch me. Something tells me that's not the only thing he wanted me to mount. Everlast was only trying to keep me safe and yet when you came running in, you sided with a man you barely even knew! Do you have any idea how much that hurt, Peter?"       The High King's face had grown rather pale as he listened to Eilonwy tell her story, his hands shaking at his sides. He was physically nauseated both by the things she had told him and by his inability to see through Lemuel's facade. "Ellie, I...I'm so sorry" he choked out. He attempted to take her hands in his as a sign of comfort and apology but she quickly rejected his advances. "I had no idea, I just thought..."       "You didn't think, Peter. That's the thing. All you cared about was making an ally. You never stopped to question why Everlast did what she did in the first place" Eilonwy interrupted.       "You're right" Peter sighed. "I should've trusted that something must have been wrong and defended you. If I had, then maybe things wouldn't have escalated the way they did, and I wouldn't have put you in danger."       "It would've helped if you had defended Edmund spy idea, too" Eilonwy added. Peter sighed and rolled his eyes jokingly but it was clear there was obvious upset hidden beneath.       "I seem to really be screwing up this whole king thing, aren't I?" he replied.       "Oh, no, don't you try to get any pity out of me. You knew this would be difficult from the very start" Eilonwy said. She was so tired of everyone's whining. This was life now whether they liked it or not. Obviously Aslan thought they could handle things, so she didn't understand their astronomical doubt.       "That doesn't make this any easier, you know" Peter retorted. "But" he then added after a beat of silence, a small smile creeping upon his face, "you know what does?"       "What?"       "You."       "Me? What do you mean? If anything, I'm certain I just make things ten times harder" she replied, but Peter shook his head vigorously.       "No, you don't. I don't know where I'd be without you, Ellie" Peter replied, placing his hand upon hers. "I know we don't always see eye to eye but...but without you, I don't think things would've been the same. You helped us get to Aslan and defeat the White Witch. You've helped us adjust to life at Cair Paravel these past few months. You've done so much more good than you give yourself credit for."       "Peter, stop" Eilonwy begged, averting her eyes, but Peter gently cupped her cheek and turned her head to face him. Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of him, the look on his face and the glimmer in his eyes. She was terrified of what he was about to say to her. Red flags and warning sirens began clouding her brain, urging her to run below deck or hide in the crow's nest or, at this point, just abandon all logic and jump ship.       "Eilonwy..." he began dreamily.       "Peter, please, don't" she pleaded.       "No, just listen to me. Eilonwy, I--"       Before he could finish, the ship jolted and Eilonwy nearly stumbled into Peter's arms. A faun in the crow's nest cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted a hearty "Land ho!" In a matter of seconds, the door leading below deck swung open and Lucy blurred past the crowd toward the ship's bow. There, stretched out before her, was the most brilliant island she had ever seen. Soft mountains dipped and curved across the landscapes, valleys and shore smothered in the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. Even from their distance, the most glorious fragrance wafted from the fields and enticed Lucy to grow ever nearer. A swell of delight radiated from inside of her as she clutched her cordial to her chest. All of Kronne was in the palm of her hand, awaiting her to step upon it's shores.       "Come on, hurry up! Let's go!" Lucy shouted, tugging on her siblings' hands. She couldn't stand to wait a moment longer, not when everything she had been yearning for was just within reach.       "Lucy, hold on!" Susan replied. "Just wait a second. Nobody said we had to get off just yet." Lucy shot a glare at her older sister, tightening her grip on her cordial.       "But I want to go now! We shouldn't waste any time" she countered.       "I think Susan might be right, Lucy" Edmund stepped forward. The valiant whipped around to face him, almost betrayed. After all that time they had spent together that day, how kind and supportive he had been. Before she could protest, Edmund continued, "Think about it, Lucy. We don't really know for sure what's on this island and if we leave now, we might not be considering the kinds of danger we could run into. Don't you think it would be better if we prepared ourselves first and then set out carefully?"       Lucy chewed over his words a moment before agreeing in defeat. Despite her desperation, she knew that safety was of utmost importance. If not, then that fireflower juice may end up becoming even more necessary.       "I'll head down to the armament and get us some reinforcements" Eilonwy stated. The Pevensies watched her with suspicious eyes as she rushed down into the belly of the ship, face flushed and hands shaking. Peter joined the group shortly afterward looking much the same.       "What has gotten into you two?" Susan asked, equal parts curious and irritated. The look on her brother's face read sweet and hazy but a bitter aftertaste from the night before hung in the back of her throat. She wanted Peter to be happy, of course, but why did he have to be happy with her of all people? The gentle still didn't quite see the appeal.       "Nothing. We were just talking" Peter replied, running a hand through his hair. Susan cocked an eyebrow, hoping for elaboration.       "Did you talk to her about last night?" she inquired. Peter nodded. "And? Well, what did she say?"       "Susan..." Peter sighed. "Must we talk about this now?"       The gentle pursed her lips and crossed her arms, completely displeased. She wanted answers. She wanted to know that her older brother was defending her like he ought to. She was his own flesh and blood, he was automatically required to side with her instead of that crass and crude woman. Peter appeared exhausted, however, and perhaps a little defeated. His eyes darted to Lucy nearly hanging over the edge of the ship, anxious to step aboard the island, and Susan was once more reminded that there were more important things at stake. She would have to shelf the resolution of her disdain for some other time.       Peter rushed below deck, nails digging into his palms, as he searched for Eilonwy. "What is taking you so long? Lucy's getting restless" he called to her from across the way. She looked up at him, bow in hand, and blinked dumbly a few times.       "I'm sorry, did you want to step onto a death island with inferior supplies? Inspection takes time, Peter" she explained, plucking the bow's string to test it's strength.       "Well, while I'm down here, we need to talk" he replied. He came nearer, then rested a hand upon the bow, lowering it from her focus. She furrowed her brows as she rose her gaze up to meet his, a surge of panic rushing through her veins.       "Peter, we have nothing to talk about" she croaked.       "Yes, we do. I never finished saying what I needed to say up on deck" he explained.       "Peter, please, you've said enough" Eilonwy begged. She turned to walk away from him but he snatched her forearm and forced her attention on him. There was a certain wildness in his eyes that terrified her, but it was not of malicious origin. Instead, it was something fond and affectionate, something dreamy and disgusting. Her stomach flipped.       "I'm still not finished" he murmured. "Ellie, there are some things I need you to know. Important things. And if being king has taught me one thing, it's how to decide what's most important."       Oh shit, oh shit, please don't do this, Eilonwy thought frantically. She felt her entire body begin to quake as Peter rose a hand up to carress her cheek. Everything felt hot and cold all at once and suddenly Peter's face appeared grossly unfamiliar to her. She was staring at a stranger whose mere presence made her feel like she was going to hurl. She needed a distraction, a detour, an interruption. She needed an escape.       "Eilonwy, ever since we came to Narnia, you've been there" Peter began. "You haven't always been pleasant company, but you've been worthwhile company and I can't imagine my life now without you. I want your company always. You mean so much to me, Ellie. You're worth so much more than you know, and...and..." Eilonwy's eyes widened, her heart racing and palms growing clammy. "Eilonwy, I--"       "Pete, you better come quick!" a voice suddenly called from the top of the stairs. The pair turned to find Edmund looking rather distraught, an urgency in his tone spelling trouble.       "What's the matter, Ed?" Peter asked, secretly frustrated. It seemed as though every attempt he made to express his feelings was always interrupted in one way or another. Was it really that hard to get some quality alone time with a girl?       Edmund chewed his bottom lip and wrung his hands together nervously. He had no idea how he was going to admit this, but he figured being straightforward was the best possible tactic. "I swear, we only looked away for a second but, well...Lucy's gone."       In a matter of seconds, all thoughts of love and confessions completely disappeared from Peter's brain. His blurred frame raced up the stairs ater his brother, panic-stricken. Bow still in hand, Eilonwy rushed after him. Lucy may have been a brave child but Kronne was no place for venturing alone whether there was really a fiery guardian woman there or not.       Susan was practically in hysterics, scanning the horizon for any sign of their baby sister. There was no way she could've gone very far so quickly and yet there was no sign of her anywhere.       "Are you sure she left for Kronne? Have you checked everywhere on the ship?" Peter asked frantically.       "Well, we haven't checked everywhere but come on, Pete. Let's be realistic" Edmund replied.       "There's only so many places she could've gone" Susan commented, pacing back and forth.       "Yeah, like on that island" Eilonwy interrupted from behind. The gentle groaned and tossed her head back.       "Don't you start" she warned.       "I think Eilonwy might be right" Edmund added. All eyes turned to him. "I mean, think about it: that island is the only place Lucy really wanted to go. She's been thinking about it non-stop for days. We were taking too long so she took matters into her own hands and went out there by herself. It's the most realistic scenario."       Peter's face turned stark white as he slowly approached the railing, gripping the wood tightly. "Then there's only one thing left to do now. We have to go after her." Wasting no time, Peter hopped aboard the last lifeboat, ushering his siblings to follow suit, and began rowing toward Kronne. Eilonwy watched from the side of the ship, shaking her head and sighing.       "Peter, you're being hasty! Just because Lucy is gone doesn't mean you still don't need to prepare!" she called after him. But Peter and his siblings were already too far away to hear her. With a groan, she grumbled something incomprehensible beneath her breath and stormed back to the armament to prepare for battle. She had no choice now but to become a walking arsenal. Nobody else seemed to be thinking ahead. If they were to go on a suicide mission, they needed someone to save their skins at the last second and Eilonwy seemed to somehow fit that role in every scenario. By the time she was finished, she swore she had gained fifty pounds just by the sheer volume of weaponry she had scavenged. Swords, bows, arrows, even a flail, and lastly a collection of kerchiefs, one of which she had already wrapped around her face like a trainrobber.       Upon reaching the deck, she shouted some orders to Guildmore and his men, then swung her way down to the sea by rope and began her swim to shore.       "Alright, I think our best plan of action would be to split up" Peter announced as he rowed onto the beach.       "No, Peter, I refuse to get separated. We need to stick together" Susan demanded. She looked about the island nervously, absorbing the view. It was beautiful, no doubt, but there was something about the place that made her anxious. Or perhaps she was just far too concerned about Lucy to enjoy such a stunning scene.       "Fine, you stay with Ed, then. But I'm going alone. This is a big island and we'll find her faster if we split up" Peter said. Before Susan could protest, he was already trudging through the fields of flowers toward a large mountain in the distance.       The moment they began traversing the island, however, something strange began to take hold of them. A tingling sensation filled their heads, running up from their fingers and toes, through their arms and legs, and then across the rest of their body as all the tension in their muscles melted away. Colors appeared brighter and smells became stronger, especially that of the fireflowers themselves. Sweet and enticing, it lured them forward and Peter couldn't stop himself from reaching down and stroking their satin petals. In all their intoxication, however, they failed to notice the less pleasant aspects of the island. Bones scattered the shoreline, charred flesh tangled up in the gardens. As Eilonwy crawled onto the beach, she caught sight of the royals swaying to and fro and sucked in a deep, frustrated breath. And so it begins, she thought to herself, tightening the kerchief around her face. As expected, she was going to have to swoop in and save the day.       Peter trudged through the fields, hands clenched at his sides, desperate to remain focused on the task at hand. Keeping his concentration became more and more difficult as the further he ventured, the foggier his mind became until he had nearly forgotten what he was there for in the first place. His limbs numbed and breath shallowed, his eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion. With a sigh, he leaned against the trunk of a tree and fought to stay awake. As he began to feel himself slip away, however, a pair of hands reached out from behind and seized him. He struggled in their grasp but he was far too tired and couldn't hold them off. They wrapped something around his face, tying it tightly at the back of his head, before spinning him around to face his captor.       "Eilonwy?!" Peter gasped incredulously.       "You can thank me later. Where are the others?" she asked, all business.       "We split up so we could search for Lucy" he replied.      The huntress groaned and whacked him on the arm hard. "Well that's just about the stupidest idea you've ever had! They could be anywhere! Nice, Peter. Of course you have to make this ten times harder than it needed to be."       "Why do you just automatically assume this was my idea?" he protested. Eilonwy crossed her arms and stared at him blankly.       "Peter, let’s be realistic here: how likely is it that this wasn't your idea?" she countered. Peter sucked in a deep breath and hesitated answering. "That's what I thought" Eilonwy added when he remained silent. "Now, come on. Let's not waste any more time. Sorry to break it to you, Pete, but your siblings may be in no small danger."       It was her use of the word "danger" that truly terrified Peter. He knew this island was questionable at best but with a tone so confident, he knew she must be right. He chased after her back toward the shoreline, beginning to feel his strength return but with it came a swell of terror. "What kind of danger are we talking about here?"       "The same kind I found you in" Eilonwy replied flippantly. The High King eyed her in confusion, silently begging for her to explain. Rolling her eyes, she leaned down and plucked one of the fireflowers from the ground. The moment she did so, a pang of panic surged through Peter's veins as if she had just spit on the Queen of England. "See this? This is danger. This is the worm on the end of the hook on a fishing line. This is what's going to kill you if you don't prepare."       "Eilonwy, that's a flower" Peter replied quizzically.       "I know what it is, Pete! But that's exactly the point. You think these flowers are harmless but here's one thing you don't know: they're hypnotic. One whiff and you're off to La La Land, high as a kite" she explained. Peter paused a moment as the realization washed over him, hand slowly rising to touch the kerchief tied around his face. At least he now understood why he and his friend were made up like thieves. A vision suddenly formed in his mind of Susan and Edmund completely oblivious to the hallucinatory qualities of the plant, stumbling around lost and tired and confused. He didn't even want to think of Lucy in the same state. Their search suddenly felt all the more urgent.       Hours passed with no luck as the pair scoured in the heat for any sign of the others. Even some clue as to where they had disappeared to, such as a cave or abyss, would've sufficed. They were running out of time-- despite their kerchiefs, they weren't completely immune to the flower's affects. Just the sheer sight of them was enough to blur their vision and muddle their thoughts. As Eilonwy forced herself to stay focused, Peter wandered a few feet away in hopes of finding any clues nearer to the mountains. As he did, though, the ground disappeared below his feet and he was suddenly engulfed in darkness.       The High King's startled shout captured Eilonwy's attention but as she whipped around, he was nowhere to be found. She called his name but found no answer. Gripping at her hair, she was immediately overcome with frustration. She stomped over to where Peter had been standing, expecting to find him lying in the grass but instead was met with a gaping hole in the ground. In that moment, her anger quickly morphed into fear.       "Peter?!" she called into the abyss. No answer. She called again but was met with silence all the same. Dropping a pebble into it proved it's depth, the little stone disappearing with an echoed thud. She knew in a moment that there was only one thing left for her to do. Sucking in a deep breath, Eilonwy swung her legs over the edge and dropped down into the darkness.       The tunnel was long and Eilonwy found herself falling for quite a few seconds before tumbling into the hard earth. Once she landed, she was surprised to find that the hole wasn't totally uncivilized. Torches mounted on the walls illuminated a long, twisting corridor ahead. A chorus of voices echoed from the other end. Pulling her kerchief away from her face, Eilonwy snagged a torch and stepped lightly toward the sounds of distress.       As she grew closer, the noise became clearer until she could finally identify the bickering of siblings and the low, gravelly voice of their captor. "...and if anything, I ought to roast you all and leave you to rot like the others" they growled as Eilonwy grew nearer.       "Please, miss! If you let us go, we promise we'll never come back ever again!" Susan begged.       "Oh, how I pity you!" the voice mocked, pretending to break down in hysterical tears.       "If you don't let us go right now, I swear in the name of Aslan, I'll--!" Peter began but was quickly interrupted.       "You'll what? Stab me with that little needle at your side? As if!" she jested. "If not for my flames, that blade would never have been forged in the first place."       Peering around the edge of the tunnel, Eilonwy caught sight of a large cage made entirely of fire burning in the middle of a circular room. And there stood their captor, Iraflora. She was just as the legends said with crimson hair and amber eyes and enflamed feathers breaking through every gash in her sunkissed flesh. She singed the ground with every step she took, every word pouring out of her mouth like molten lava, dark and hard and cracking.      "Listen, why don't we bargain? Whatever you want, we'll give it to you! In exchange for our freedom" Edmund negotiated.       A fiery finger skated down the woman's jaw and to her collarbone in a sensual display of thought. "Why do you think you deserve to be spared any more than the others? What is it that you find so outrageously worthwhile about yourselves?"       "Is that what this has come to?" Peter argued. "Degradation?"       The woman sucked her teeth and raised her eyebrows in displeasure. "I'm just trying to understand where the source of your desperation comes from. I've seen men of the lowest statures beg for their lives far more than you lot have."       "Just, please! Let us go!" Susan pleaded. Iraflora flashed a quick grin in the gentle's direction, then added:       "Except for her. She's become one of the whiniest victims I've found yet."       By now, Susan was beginning to regret this entire trip even more than she already had. Not that she liked to admit this, either, but she was also beginning to regret not listening to Eilonwy about preparing. If only she had thought to bring her horn with her, then perhaps none of this would have become such an event. The blares would surely be loud enough to reach the ship and Guildmore and his crew would come racing to save them. If only.       "There has to be something you want that we can trade you for" Edmund spoke. "Anything in the world, we'll do it for you!" Peter nudged his brother in the arm, terrified he was starting to make promises they wouldn't be able to fulfill, but it was no use. Iraflora was a cruel opponent.       "Anything in the world?" she cooed, tilting her chin to the sky. Edmund nodded enthusiastically. A sly smile spread across her face as she clenched her fists at her sides and screamed, "Then I would love for you all to shut up because the only thing I want involves killing the lot of you!"       If you really wanted to kill them, you would've done it already, Eilonwy thought to herself, rolling her eyes. She pressed her back against the tunnel wall and tried to think of a plan as quickly as possible.       "But how to do it is the question" Iraflora continued thoughtfully. "I can't just extinguish all of you in the usual fashion-- no, no. Where would be the fun in that? After all, if you all insist you're so special, then you deserve a special sendout to match!"       Lucy froze, hands folded tight against her chest. The reality of their situation was really beginning to sink in and the valiant couldn't help but feel like she was very much at fault. "P-please, miss! Spare my brothers and sister, at least. They didn't do anything!" she begged, voice cracking. Iraflora seemed to take great interest in the small queen's sudden outburst, blinking a few times before urging her to go on. "You see, it was my idea to come here" Lucy explained. "They didn't want to, but I insisted! They don't deserve any of this, ma'am. So if you'd please, just let them go and...and take your frustrations out on me."       To say her older siblings were impressed would be an understatement. There was something about Lucy's selflessness in that moment that suddenly made her seem much older than she was. This still didn't change the fact, however, that what she was offering was wrong. "No, we deserve the blame just as much as Lucy does" Peter stepped forward. "If she goes down, we all go down with her." Tears welled up in the littlest one's eyes as her brother smiled back at her with solemn unity. She unclasped her hands to grasp his firmly, Susan and Edmund following suit until the four of them were standing with fingers interlocked staring at the face of death herself. Despite the touching display of family strength, Iraflora's opinion went unchanged. A look of disgust painted her face.       "Alright, if you're all so set on going down together, then I know just what I'll do. I'll go in order from oldest to youngest. That way the last to die will see the first three go before her!" the woman cheered. Lucy tightened her grip on her brother's hand, terror-stricken.       "Don't listen to her, Lucy. She's just trying to scare you" Peter reassured, kneeling down to her level. "She's not really going to hurt any of us" he continued, then turned and glared in Iraflora's direction to add, "Not if I can help it."       "Oh, what a big, strong man we think we are!" Iraflora jested, reaching out to scrape her finger along his cheek. Peter winced as her touch burned his flesh, leaving a nasty scar from his cheekbone to the corner of his mouth. Even then, he refused to let his guard down.       Peter opened his mouth to speak but before he could utter a word, another voice rang from the darkness. "It's not so much the man that's strong but the numbers backing him" it spoke. From the mouth of the cave, a familiar figure stepped into the light. Eilonwy. She glared up at the spirit with all the ferocity she could muster, sword at the ready.       "Eilonwy, what are you doing...?!" Peter called uneasily.       "Well, someone has to put out your fires!" Eilonwy smirked, glancing to the Pevensies. She seemed to find herself rather funny, though Iraflora starkly disagreed. "After all" the huntress continued, "you can only fan the flames for so long."       "You...you wench!" Iraflora shrieked, clenching her fists at her sides. Her hands burned bright white the tighter she held them, growing hotter like metal beneath a flame. She whipped around to her prisoners with wild eyes, screaming, "I see we called for reinforcements! How divine! Now I'll have five to slay!" She narrowed her eyes back at Eilonwy and added in a growl, "Well, you know what they say: the more the merrier." In one swift motion, she lunged forward, fingers itching to wrap themselves around the girl's neck. She erupted in a bright blaze as she connected with the wall, Eilonwy tumbling out of the way just in time.       "Eilonwy, for the love of god, get out of here!" Peter screamed, inching as close to the cage as possible without burning himself. "You're going to get yourself killed! Go!"       "And miss all this? I wouldn't dream of it!" she shouted, ducking and slashing at Iraflora in retaliation.      The spirit shrieked, barely harmed by the blade, her entire body glowing white with rage. "You intruders are causing far more trouble than you're worth!"       "Are you sure about that?" Eilonwy asked, smirking. "Or are we worth more trouble than you think?"       "Eilonwy, I'm going to have to agree with Peter on this one" Edmund called. "She's too strong for you! You can't fight her!"       "If I can't fight her, then what would you say I'm doing right now?" Eilonwy shouted back. "Besides, I think it's a little too late for a retreat! It's either me or her now. One of us has to go!"       Iraflora spouted an endless stream of fireballs in Eilonwy's direction, taking advantage of her rapidly decreasing energy. A grin spread across her face as she then lurched forward with indeterminable speed. This time, escape was futile. Eilonwy slammed to the ground with a hard thud, impacted by the sheer force of her opponent. Iraflora hovered over her, pinning her to the ground, with a devilish smile upon her face. "Any last words, wench?"       Flames licked at Eilonwy's face, searing the tips of her hair and the edges of her clothing. Sweat beaded on her brow as she gasped for breath, desperate to break free but unsure of how. Staring straight at the woman's bright eyes, Eilonwy made a terrible, grating sound before spitting right in the woman's face. A small stream of smoke billowed up from where she saliva had hit. Iraflora shrieked, enraged, and lifted a hand to smite the girl but was suddenly interrupted by a rogue dagger slicing through her arm.       The spirit growled viciously toward her prisoners. "Get away from her!" a voice shouted. Eilonwy identified it immediately: Susan.       "Or you'll what?" Iraflora tested, keeping a firm grip on Eilonwy's wrists.       Susan paused for a moment, trying to find a harsh enough response. "I'll..." she stammered.       "That's what I thought" the spirit replied. As she turned her attention back to Eilonwy, however, the huntress took advantage of the distraction to knee the woman in the chest, loosening her grip and escaping her clutch. The moment she was free, Eilonwy scuttled to the farthest wall of the cave huffing and panting, vision blurry as she searched for her sword on the ground. Iraflora growled, reaching over to pick up Lucy's dagger and stalked closer. She pinned the girl's body against the wall with one strong hand, raising the blade in the other with eyes set on the huntress's chest. Before she could stab, a clinking sound then captured her attention as Lucy's cordial fell to the floor.       "Don't hurt her! Please!" the littlest Pevensie begged. Iraflora's eyes fell to the vial, cocking an eyebrow in confusion.       "What kind of sick trick is this?" she asked.       Lucy inhaled shakily, forcing herself to look the woman right in the eyes as she explained. "It's not a trick. It's an explanation. It's my fault my family and I invaded your island and that cordial is to blame. It was a gift from Father Christmas, in Narnia, along with that dagger, to use in the Battle of Beruna against the White Witch."       "You expect me to believe you four blubbering idiots defeated Jadis?" Iraflora replied. Lucy nodded.       "My brothers and sister and I were sent here to fulfill the prophecy! That two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve would overthrow the White Witch and restore Narnia" she explained. The spirit paused a moment to consider Lucy's explanation, chewing over her words and weighing the supposed accuracy. It was no secret that most anyone knew of the prophecy, but she found it hard to believe children such as these had been the ones to fulfill it. They didn't seem like the warrior types she expected of them. "That cordial was filled with the juice of your fireflowers, and was of great use to me after the battle...and then some" Lucy continued.       "And what happened to it's contents, then?" Iraflora asked.       "I accidentally used it all..." Lucy admitted. Her cheeks burned bright red in embarrassment. "I didn't realize it would drain so quickly. I just wanted to help everyone but...but I guess I got carried away. I didn't want to see anyone suffer. I came here hoping to refill it but...but I don't think I want to anymore. Not if it's going to cause so much trouble. I've been selfish and I put everyone in danger...this is all my fault."       Peter rested a hand on his baby sister's shoulder. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and comfort her, pray that Iraflora would have some sympathy and release them whether they refilled the cordial or not, but he restrained himself in order to give Lucy her moment of brave confession.       "On whom have you used this cordial, anyway?" Iraflora inquired. An obvious interest radiated from her eyes as she began to cool down, slightly releasing her grip on Eilonwy and lowering the dagger to her hip.       "Everyone, I suppose" Lucy replied slowly. "I used it to cure Aslan's army in the Battle of Beruna, and to help the Galmans during their epidemic. I even used it on my brother to heal him when he was wounded by the White Witch's wand." Iraflora nodded slowly as Lucy continued. "But it's not worth all the trouble I've caused. Not if it puts my family at risk. I know how much those flowers mean to you, and if I had something that valuable, I certainly wouldn't want anyone trying to take it from me, either. It was wrong of me to come here expecting you to willingly give me what is rightfully yours, and I know now that my time as a healer is up. After all, nothing can last forever, I suppose...I just...I'm so sorry. For everything." By now Lucy was on the verge of tears but she refused to break down and cry. Not now. She needed to be strong, to let go of such fine privileges with maturity and dignity.       As Iraflora listened to her speak, however, her fury transformed. Rage slowly morphed into a warmth of heart, the kind that radiates from a fireplace in the midst of a brutal winter. She understood now the significance of Lucy's journey, and how she was very much unlike the others who stepped foot upon her island. She fully released her grip on Eilonwy, who watched with awe and mild suspicion, before skating across the room to cradle the cordial in her hands. The cage's fire began to dim as she approached and extended her hands toward the little queen. Lucy hesitated a moment, uncertain of what Iraflora wanted her to do, until the spirit urged her to take it and she obliged.       "Little queen, you are unlike so many others who have selfishly tried to uproot my garden" she said, voice much smoother than before. "You have proven yourself genuine and humble and true, and I commend you for your selflessness." As the last of the flames evaporated into smoke, Iraflora coaxed Lucy toward her. Peter reached out to pull her back but paused and retracted his arm when he realized Iraflora was no longer here to fight.       The valiant stepped lightly, looking up to the spirit with childlike wonder and restraint. "What now...?" she asked quietly. Her brain was having trouble comprehending what was even happening, if Iraflora had truly changed her mind.       "Now" the spirit replied, "You shall get what you desire." She extended a hand for Lucy to take, then shot a glare back at her siblings as if daring them to stay behind. It was a risk they were smart enough not to take. The minute Peter had the chance, he ran toward Eilonwy and seized her tightly in his arms, brushing the hair from her face. Her sweaty brow and dazed expression quickly filled him with concern and he knew right away she desperately needed fresh air. Supporting her with an arm, he followed the others through the tunnel and to the surface.       The sunlight seemed dazzling after having spent so much time down below, but was no doubt refreshing to those who thought they'd never see daylight ever again. Iraflora guided Lucy to a small patch of the brightest flowers, instructing her to pluck the one that appeared healthiest to her. Lucy paused for a moment, considering her options, before leaning down and gingerly plucking the purest one she could find. It's fragrance was so potent that had she not been accompanied by the spirit herself, she surely would've fell over and passed out in a happy trance. Iraflora smiled knowingly as she lifted the bloom from Lucy's grasp, levitating it between her hands mystically. She pressed her palms together and a golden glow radiated from between her fingers. The moment she separated her hands, the flower was replaced with a gelatinous bulb of red liquid. Lucy held her cordial up with wide eyes full of wonder, watching as Iraflora swirled her hands and twisted the juice into the vial.       "So that's it?" Lucy asked, inspecting the bottle. "I can use this to heal any injury now?" Iraflora nodded, satisfied with her work.       "You might need to make use of that a bit sooner than you expected, Lu" Peter murmured, voice hard and mildly shaky. The High King knelt by the shoreline, Eilonwy curled up helplessly in his lap. Raw, red welts patched her skin. Peter could feel her heart racing out of her chest as she swayed in and out of consciousness. No amount of sea water seemed to cool her down.       Lucy rushed over immediately, tipping her cordial and letting a drop of fresh juice seep between Eilonwy's lips. She released a groan as she swallowed, squeezing her eyes shut tight. Her chest shook with ravenous coughs, her throat burning as the juice slid down, like swallowing whiskey. Peter brushed her hair from her face, watching with wide, panicked eyes as her injuries slowly faded into vague marks upon her skin. Eilonwy blinked awake, squinting up at Peter and then Lucy, then shifting her vision to Susan and Edmund alongside Iraflora herself. The moment she laid eyes on the fire spirit, she began to laugh.       "Ellie, what the hell is so goddamn funny?" Peter asked, unamused. But Eilonwy was simply far too delirious to give a proper answer. Lucy furrowed her brows, glad to see her friend healed of her physical wounds but puzzled by her emotional ones. She gazed up at Iraflora, whose face had grown rather pale and saddened.       "You did this to her, you know" the valiant murmured. Iraflora's breath hitched in shock, having not expected such a blunt delivery from the young queen. However, she could not deny the truth in Lucy's words, hollowed by regret knowing she could not reverse her terrible deeds.       "I was only trying to protect them..." Iraflora whispered, gently grazing the flowers' petals. "I had no clue..."       "You should apologize" Lucy stated. Though apologies weren't exactly the spirit's niche, she knew the young queen was right. Mustering her dignity, Iraflora floated forward and knelt down beside Eilonwy. Peter wrapped his arms around her protectively, unsure of what the spirit planned to do, but with one apologetic gaze, she unlocked his trust. Rather than speak, Iraflora closed her eyes and placed a hand upon Eilonwy's forehead.  The moment she removed her touch, Eilonwy snapped out of her trance, gasping for breath as if she had just awoken from some terrible dream. Fear provoked her, instinctively wrapping her arms around Peter's neck and clinging to him for dear life. All he could do was rub her back and whisper reassuring words in her ear, doing his best to calm her down.       Irafora watched the couple for a moment, a pang of jealousy striking her right in the chest. The affection between them was undeniable. She only wished she could've experienced such love. As she watched on, Lucy sidled up to her and silently grasped the spirit's hand in hers. "Thank you" she whispered, standing on tiptoes to plant a kiss upon the woman's cheek. Iraflora's face blushed as the little queen's lips grazed her hot flesh, filling her with a warmth quite unlike the fiery fury she was so accustomed to.       "No, thank you" Iraflora whispered, looking down upon the young girl. "Without your kindness and humility, I may never have felt such warmth ever again." Lucy grinned, pleased to have appeased the woman so, before Iraflora added, "You are welcome to return to Kronne whenever you need, as you have found a friend in the fireflower's keeper. I pray that you may visit again soon, your majesty. It has been so long since I have had the company of a friend. May the great Aslan bless you."       While Lucy was incredibly grateful for Iraflora's kindness, it was the mention of Aslan's name that truly captured her attention. "Do you know Aslan?" she asked. Iraflora nodded.       "It was he who revived me and appointed me guardian in the first place. Without his greatness, I may never have been given such an opportunity. Hence why I take my duty so seriously" Iraflora explained. Lucy nodded in understanding.       "I care for Aslan very much" she replied. "He is a good friend of mine. Without him, my brothers and sisters and I would never have ended up where we are now, ruling Narnia."       "He is great indeed, small one" Iraflora said, closing her eyes and leaning her head back with gratitude. Lucy gazed up at her with admiration, grateful to have found a friend in which she can share her undying love for the great lion.       As the sun set upon Kronne and the Pevensies returned to their ship, Lucy overflowed with happiness. Things certainly did not go as smoothly as she had hoped but she didn't regret one second. Not only did she fulfill her mission, but she reformed a hardened heart and found a friend in the process. She thought fondly of Iraflora as she watched Kronne fade into the distance and a strong hope coursed through her veins that this was only the beginning of a rather remarkable friendship.

#t: futgt #t: futgt c: seven #narnia #the chronicles of narnia #fanfiction #narniaff

[realtor10036]

Silicon Valley Shake-Up: These Are the Next Top Tech Towns

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/iStock; realtor.com

Like most of America’s true paradigm shifts, the growth of Silicon Valley’s tech industry started with lots of slow-burning embers—then exploded into a full-scale conflagration seemingly overnight. It took its name from the semiconductor businesses that seeded a patch of Northern California in the 1960s, attracting brainiacs from around the world. But the modern history of the place really began in 1976, when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak first huddled together in a stuffy Los Altos garage to invent a cool, affordable personal computer, the Apple I—and a company that borrowed its name.

Ever since, Silicon Valley has been the engine of tech innovation in the United States, powered by life-changing ideas, optimism, bushels of venture capital cash, and lots and lots of coders, engineers, and developers.

And something else, too: nosebleed-inducing real estate prices. That has led to a national quest to find the next Silicon Valleys—the ones that America’s up-and-coming tech talent could actually afford to live in.

The harsh truth is that even the decent month’s salary earned by many skilled Silicon Valley workers these days barely covers one of those fabled Los Altos garages. The sky-high prices may explain why the number of folks moving to the region dropped by 27% from 2012 to 2015, according to the latest data from the think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley.

“Silicon Valley is still the hub it’s always been,” says John Reed, senior executive director for the tech recruiting firm Robert Half Technology, headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. “There are other markets, though, that are bringing on tech professionals at a greater pace.”

Of course, some of those alternate tech meccas—Boston, Seattle, Denver—already have prices that rival the original valley. So where are the next tech superhubs—the cities bursting with opportunities, fun, and affordability?

“You may get paid a little bit less if you take a job in, say, Austin, but the cost of living is so much lower,” says John Boitnott, digital consultant for Entrepreneur magazine. “And you’ll be able to have a better existence.”

So, as an upstanding service to the United States’ fastest-growing industry, our data team ranked the 500 largest U.S. cities by these tech-savvy factors—and then eliminated those where housing affordability is out of whack, even for a decently paid engineer or developer.

Percentage of employment in the tech industry

Share of technology/engineering jobs out of all job postings on indeed.com and Dice.com

Operations of major tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, and Cisco

Number of startups per capita

Number of tech companies per capita, including smaller ones that may not be household names

Tech crowdfunding projects and tech meet-ups per capita

Real estate and rental affordability (based on 28% or less of an average engineer’s salary)

Got all that? Put on your best wearable tech, and let’s check out these 10 cities to get your geek on.

1. Austin, TX

Median home price: $392,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $87,600

The annual South by Southwest Interactive Innovation Awards in Austin, TX

Katrina Barber/Getty Images for SXSW

In 1967, IBM was the first big tech corporation to open its doors in Austin. It took some time, but the gates have since opened wide. Titans such as Google, Apple, and Facebook now compete for the most promising grads from the University of Texas–Austin. Local endeavors like RetailMeNot, an online coupon company, and HomeAway, an Airbnb competitor, have grown into multinational firms.

And each year, the South by Southwest conference brings thousands of attendees together to celebrate emerging (and sometimes whimsically emerging) technologies. This year, the Austin company Kasita, a builder of smart tiny homes, made a big splash.

The startup energy is palpable when you enter Capital Factory, a renowned local incubator brimming with code-wrangling and device-juggling folks. For as little as $350 a month, they get access to co-working space, meet-ups, hack-athons, and, best of all, frequent happy hours with like-minded engineers.

Austin has seen more upscale restaurants lately, where investors close big deals, but great $3 taco places still abound. A home goes for $392,000—not exactly cheap, but still way less than half the price in San Francisco. And most of these properties are stand-alone houses with yards out back. Prices in the city had been rising in the double digits for the past few years, but the appreciation slowed to just 5% in 2016.

Oh yeah—it’s a cool and welcoming place, too. “Different lifestyles are celebrated here,” says Paul O’Brien, a startup consultant and entrepreneur at Austin’s MediaTech Ventures. “That comfort with so many different perspectives enables us to try new things and be creative.”

2. Atlanta, GA

Median home price: $349,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $85,000

Atlanta Tech Village office spaces

Google Maps

Atlanta is (almost) a secret in the tech world. It’s one of the few cities to have Google Fiber’s gigabit-speed service—roughly 50 times faster Wi-Fi than the rest of America. It flies. Also speedy: the path to homeownership. You can score an affordable home, within either the thriving city limits or the suburbs, a co-working space for $300 a month, and a sweet, low cost of living.

The city pulls talent from top-notch schools like Georgia Tech to feed its long list of Fortune 500 companies. The fertile Southern soil has generated nearly 2,000 tech companies.

“We have a growing startup community with a lot of momentum,” says David Lightburn, co-founder of Atlanta Tech Village, a co-working space where established entrepreneurs serve as mentors for newbies. “It’s a community that’s very pay-it-forward—with successful entrepreneurs who are willing to give back.”

Entrepreneurs often get their start at Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, which claims to be the largest and oldest campus-based tech incubator in the country.

3. Minneapolis, MN

Median home price: $280,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $84,600

Minneapolis boasts a certain coolness factor (and we’re not just talking about its ungodly frigid winters), plenty of tech talent, and an exciting startup culture. That may be because the city is the home of a dozen universities, including the University of Minnesota, which churn out highly educated tech workers.

Lots of early-stage tech companies here revolve around the health care industry, thanks to local big businesses like the Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth Group. But new business ideas spring up every day from locals, including SportsEngine, which helps sports leagues manage websites.

These startups are moving into old warehouses and historic buildings across the downtown area. Co-working spaces like COCO and Restore Colab provide affordable open-space workstations, along with conference rooms, whiteboards—and those ’70s faves, beanbag chairs.

“What they call ‘Minnesota nice’ is real,” says John Malone, a software engineer at Apruve, a financial tech startup in Minneapolis. “The startup culture here is very positive, with everyone trying to help each other out. It’s a different work ethic [from Silicon Valley]. Things are flexible.”

4. Raleigh-Durham, NC

Median home price: $330,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $87,500

The campus at Duke University

Jim R. Bounds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

There may be no better place to launch a tech career than the Research Triangle Park, one of the world’s most prominent research centers for biotechnology and engineering. It’s home to Fortune 100 companies such as IBM, Cisco, and Sony Ericsson.

Raleigh and Durham form two points of the Research Triangle; Chapel Hill is the third. Housing prices in Raleigh-Durham are low, and the stock of homes is beautiful, from sleek apartments downtown to Georgian-style homes in the suburbs. Just a few hundred dollars can get you a desk at the area’s many co-working offices—even one in the basement of a renovated tobacco warehouse. How’s that for an entrepreneurial spirit?

And when folks aren’t coming up with the next Tinder or smart home appliance, they can relax at the Boxcar Bar + Arcade. As the name suggests, the joint boasts two dozen beers on draft and more than 70 arcade games. Bring on the Ms. Pac-Man tournaments, stat!

5. Pittsburgh, PA

Median home price: $179,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $74,800

Uber’s self-driving car program in Pittsburgh

ANGELO MERENDINO/AFP/Getty Images

When Uber chose to test its robot-driven taxis in Pittsburgh last year, many wondered why it wasn’t happening in San Francisco. But the Steel City is the home of Carnegie Mellon University, where the technology for the autonomous taxi is being developed.

The onetime manufacturing hub has become decidedly high-tech in recent years. Google and Intel already have a foothold here, and the German software company SAP and virtual reality headset provider Oculus are setting up new offices. The city has also spun off noteworthy startups like the artificial intelligence company Argo AI, which just received $1 billion from Ford to develop—you guessed it—self-driving cars.

And the best part about the city may be its very low cost of living. Homes are affordable, and two-bedroom rentals go for an average of $822. Meanwhile, a ticket to Thrival, a terrific festival that mixes innovative robotics and biotech projects with concerts, will set you back just $35.

6. Chicago, IL

Median home price: $299,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $85,100

Groupon headquarters in Chicago

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Silicon Valley ideas meet the Midwestern way of life in Chicago. This has created a low-key and collaborative startup community.

Excelerate Labs offers a nationally acclaimed accelerator program driven by Sam Yagan, co-founder of OKCupid. Each selected company gets $75,000 in cash to build product for a final demo in 13 weeks. And a rich stream of talent comes from renowned universities like Northwestern University and the University of Chicago.

“Affordability is certainly one perk among many” in Chicago, says David Kalt, founder of Reverb.com, an online marketplace for music gear. “At the end of the day, you want to spend your money where it can make the most impact—on your product and your people.”

Chicago isn’t known for turning out “unicorns” (companies valued at $1 billion) yet. But Groupon and Grubhub were founded there, demonstrating that it is possible to hit it big in the Windy City.

7. Tempe, AZ

Median home price: $320,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $80,200

In the “Silicon Desert,” Arizona State University is a powerhouse of technology advancement. Innovators create wearable tech for the visually impaired through the sense of touch, and develop 360-degree sensors for driverless cars. The ASU Research Park is a 30-year university and industry collaboration, with tenants like GoDaddy, a web hosting company.

West Coast tech companies are taking note. The digital satellite telecommunications company ViaSat has set up a new research facility in the Research Park. Amazon leased offices last year and is now recruiting 70 software developers.

Every February, entrepreneurs converge on nearby Phoenix for the five-day PHX Startup Week, featuring educational events, one-on-one mentor sessions, lively debates, and competitions.

Oh, and it’s free.

The housing market also looks good for buyers on a budget. They can snag a spacious, single-family house with a stunning desert landscape in the low $300,000s.

8. Salt Lake City, UT

Median home price: $328,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $78,400

The RootsTech conference is held annually in Salt Lake City.

George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images

It’s not just ski bums and bunnies who love Salt Lake City. Coders, self-starters, and angel investors have also become fans. Blue-chip companies like eBay and Adobe have offices in the city, reaping the benefits of a skilled workforce, low taxes, and cheap real estate.

That has led to an overflow of entrepreneurs. Venafi, which protects digital keys, heads up a thriving cybersecurity sector. Instructure, an online course management system, is among the hottest unicorns in edtech. Plenty more “soonicorns”—startups with the potential to become unicorns—have attracted investment from the likes of PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

When they’re not coding, techies can show off their true colors at the local version of Comic Con, at the “Dawn, Day and Night of the Running Dead” zombies vs. humans 5K-ish race, and the Salt City Steamfest, a costumed festival of 19th-century mechanics. Nerd-tastic!

9. Madison, WI

Median home price: $269,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $74,000

Madison has been an epicenter for big-brained Midwesterners since the University of Wisconsin–Madison was founded in 1848. But its startup tech scene has really just ballooned in the past decade. Since then, Epic Systems, a health care software firm, and EatStreet, an online food-ordering venture, have become household names.

On the UW-Madison campus, one floor of student housing is set aside for student entrepreneurs to foster close collaboration. Gener8tor is a hot spot for early-stage companies on the prowl for office space and mentorship. The accelerator invests up to $140,000 in each high-growth startup multiple times a year.

10. Richmond, VA

Median home price: $205,500 Average salary of engineering jobs: $84,900

Attend just one session of 1 Million Cups Richmond, a weekly event for entrepreneurs to meet and exchange ideas, and you come away feeling hell-bent on staking your own startup claim in this historic Southern town. The scene is backed by a state tax credit that encourages early-stage investment in tech startups, and talent from schools like Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond.

The nonprofit group UnBoundRVA has a program that guides entrepreneurs from low-income communities, who get business training and hands-on guidance in launching their companies within a year. Incubators like Lighthouse Labs and the Annex provide office space, mentorship, and funding to fledging companies.

The city also has a wealth of hippie outposts where the tech-obsessed can hang. The Galaxy Diner cooks up sci-fi-themed morsels like Nuclear Waste Burgers or Super Nova BLTs into the wee hours. Because Nuclear Waste Burgers are best consumed very late at night.

* Data: realtor.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, indeed.com, Dice.com, CrunchBase, AngelList, Kickstarter, Meetup, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Cisco.

The average salary of engineering jobs is weighted-average calculated, using median occupation salary and share of occupation out of total jobs, from Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The post Silicon Valley Shake-Up: These Are the Next Top Tech Towns appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com®.

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Silicon Valley Shake-Up: These Are the Next Top Tech Towns

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/iStock; realtor.com

Like most of America’s true paradigm shifts, the growth of Silicon Valley’s tech industry started with lots of slow-burning embers—then exploded into a full-scale conflagration seemingly overnight. It took its name from the semiconductor businesses that seeded a patch of Northern California in the 1960s, attracting brainiacs from around the world. But the modern history of the place really began in 1976, when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak first huddled together in a stuffy Los Altos garage to invent a cool, affordable personal computer, the Apple I—and a company that borrowed its name.

Ever since, Silicon Valley has been the engine of tech innovation in the United States, powered by life-changing ideas, optimism, bushels of venture capital cash, and lots and lots of coders, engineers, and developers.

And something else, too: nosebleed-inducing real estate prices. That has led to a national quest to find the next Silicon Valleys—the ones that America’s up-and-coming tech talent could actually afford to live in.

The harsh truth is that even the decent month’s salary earned by many skilled Silicon Valley workers these days barely covers one of those fabled Los Altos garages. The sky-high prices may explain why the number of folks moving to the region dropped by 27% from 2012 to 2015, according to the latest data from the think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley.

“Silicon Valley is still the hub it’s always been,” says John Reed, senior executive director for the tech recruiting firm Robert Half Technology, headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. “There are other markets, though, that are bringing on tech professionals at a greater pace.”

Of course, some of those alternate tech meccas—Boston, Seattle, Denver—already have prices that rival the original valley. So where are the next tech superhubs—the cities bursting with opportunities, fun, and affordability?

“You may get paid a little bit less if you take a job in, say, Austin, but the cost of living is so much lower,” says John Boitnott, digital consultant for Entrepreneur magazine. “And you’ll be able to have a better existence.”

So, as an upstanding service to the United States’ fastest-growing industry, our data team ranked the 500 largest U.S. cities by these tech-savvy factors—and then eliminated those where housing affordability is out of whack, even for a decently paid engineer or developer.

Percentage of employment in the tech industry

Share of technology/engineering jobs out of all job postings on indeed.com and Dice.com

Operations of major tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, and Cisco

Number of startups per capita

Number of tech companies per capita, including smaller ones that may not be household names

Tech crowdfunding projects and tech meet-ups per capita

Real estate and rental affordability (based on 28% or less of an average engineer’s salary)

Got all that? Put on your best wearable tech, and let’s check out these 10 cities to get your geek on.

1. Austin, TX

Median home price: $392,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $87,600

The annual South by Southwest Interactive Innovation Awards in Austin, TX

Katrina Barber/Getty Images for SXSW

In 1967, IBM was the first big tech corporation to open its doors in Austin. It took some time, but the gates have since opened wide. Titans such as Google, Apple, and Facebook now compete for the most promising grads from the University of Texas–Austin. Local endeavors like RetailMeNot, an online coupon company, and HomeAway, an Airbnb competitor, have grown into multinational firms.

And each year, the South by Southwest conference brings thousands of attendees together to celebrate emerging (and sometimes whimsically emerging) technologies. This year, the Austin company Kasita, a builder of smart tiny homes, made a big splash.

The startup energy is palpable when you enter Capital Factory, a renowned local incubator brimming with code-wrangling and device-juggling folks. For as little as $350 a month, they get access to co-working space, meet-ups, hack-athons, and, best of all, frequent happy hours with like-minded engineers.

Austin has seen more upscale restaurants lately, where investors close big deals, but great $3 taco places still abound. A home goes for $392,000—not exactly cheap, but still way less than half the price in San Francisco. And most of these properties are stand-alone houses with yards out back. Prices in the city had been rising in the double digits for the past few years, but the appreciation slowed to just 5% in 2016.

Oh yeah—it’s a cool and welcoming place, too. “Different lifestyles are celebrated here,” says Paul O’Brien, a startup consultant and entrepreneur at Austin’s MediaTech Ventures. “That comfort with so many different perspectives enables us to try new things and be creative.”

2. Atlanta, GA

Median home price: $349,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $85,000

Atlanta Tech Village office spaces

Google Maps

Atlanta is (almost) a secret in the tech world. It’s one of the few cities to have Google Fiber’s gigabit-speed service—roughly 50 times faster Wi-Fi than the rest of America. It flies. Also speedy: the path to homeownership. You can score an affordable home, within either the thriving city limits or the suburbs, a co-working space for $300 a month, and a sweet, low cost of living.

The city pulls talent from top-notch schools like Georgia Tech to feed its long list of Fortune 500 companies. The fertile Southern soil has generated nearly 2,000 tech companies.

“We have a growing startup community with a lot of momentum,” says David Lightburn, co-founder of Atlanta Tech Village, a co-working space where established entrepreneurs serve as mentors for newbies. “It’s a community that’s very pay-it-forward—with successful entrepreneurs who are willing to give back.”

Entrepreneurs often get their start at Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, which claims to be the largest and oldest campus-based tech incubator in the country.

3. Minneapolis, MN

Median home price: $280,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $84,600

Minneapolis boasts a certain coolness factor (and we’re not just talking about its ungodly frigid winters), plenty of tech talent, and an exciting startup culture. That may be because the city is the home of a dozen universities, including the University of Minnesota, which churn out highly educated tech workers.

Lots of early-stage tech companies here revolve around the health care industry, thanks to local big businesses like the Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth Group. But new business ideas spring up every day from locals, including SportsEngine, which helps sports leagues manage websites.

These startups are moving into old warehouses and historic buildings across the downtown area. Co-working spaces like COCO and Restore Colab provide affordable open-space workstations, along with conference rooms, whiteboards—and those ’70s faves, beanbag chairs.

“What they call ‘Minnesota nice’ is real,” says John Malone, a software engineer at Apruve, a financial tech startup in Minneapolis. “The startup culture here is very positive, with everyone trying to help each other out. It’s a different work ethic [from Silicon Valley]. Things are flexible.”

4. Raleigh-Durham, NC

Median home price: $330,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $87,500

The campus at Duke University

Jim R. Bounds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

There may be no better place to launch a tech career than the Research Triangle Park, one of the world’s most prominent research centers for biotechnology and engineering. It’s home to Fortune 100 companies such as IBM, Cisco, and Sony Ericsson.

Raleigh and Durham form two points of the Research Triangle; Chapel Hill is the third. Housing prices in Raleigh-Durham are low, and the stock of homes is beautiful, from sleek apartments downtown to Georgian-style homes in the suburbs. Just a few hundred dollars can get you a desk at the area’s many co-working offices—even one in the basement of a renovated tobacco warehouse. How’s that for an entrepreneurial spirit?

And when folks aren’t coming up with the next Tinder or smart home appliance, they can relax at the Boxcar Bar + Arcade. As the name suggests, the joint boasts two dozen beers on draft and more than 70 arcade games. Bring on the Ms. Pac-Man tournaments, stat!

5. Pittsburgh, PA

Median home price: $179,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $74,800

Uber’s self-driving car program in Pittsburgh

ANGELO MERENDINO/AFP/Getty Images

When Uber chose to test its robot-driven taxis in Pittsburgh last year, many wondered why it wasn’t happening in San Francisco. But the Steel City is the home of Carnegie Mellon University, where the technology for the autonomous taxi is being developed.

The onetime manufacturing hub has become decidedly high-tech in recent years. Google and Intel already have a foothold here, and the German software company SAP and virtual reality headset provider Oculus are setting up new offices. The city has also spun off noteworthy startups like the artificial intelligence company Argo AI, which just received $1 billion from Ford to develop—you guessed it—self-driving cars.

And the best part about the city may be its very low cost of living. Homes are affordable, and two-bedroom rentals go for an average of $822. Meanwhile, a ticket to Thrival, a terrific festival that mixes innovative robotics and biotech projects with concerts, will set you back just $35.

6. Chicago, IL

Median home price: $299,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $85,100

Groupon headquarters in Chicago

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Silicon Valley ideas meet the Midwestern way of life in Chicago. This has created a low-key and collaborative startup community.

Excelerate Labs offers a nationally acclaimed accelerator program driven by Sam Yagan, co-founder of OKCupid. Each selected company gets $75,000 in cash to build product for a final demo in 13 weeks. And a rich stream of talent comes from renowned universities like Northwestern University and the University of Chicago.

“Affordability is certainly one perk among many” in Chicago, says David Kalt, founder of Reverb.com, an online marketplace for music gear. “At the end of the day, you want to spend your money where it can make the most impact—on your product and your people.”

Chicago isn’t known for turning out “unicorns” (companies valued at $1 billion) yet. But Groupon and Grubhub were founded there, demonstrating that it is possible to hit it big in the Windy City.

7. Tempe, AZ

Median home price: $320,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $80,200

In the “Silicon Desert,” Arizona State University is a powerhouse of technology advancement. Innovators create wearable tech for the visually impaired through the sense of touch, and develop 360-degree sensors for driverless cars. The ASU Research Park is a 30-year university and industry collaboration, with tenants like GoDaddy, a web hosting company.

West Coast tech companies are taking note. The digital satellite telecommunications company ViaSat has set up a new research facility in the Research Park. Amazon leased offices last year and is now recruiting 70 software developers.

Every February, entrepreneurs converge on nearby Phoenix for the five-day PHX Startup Week, featuring educational events, one-on-one mentor sessions, lively debates, and competitions.

Oh, and it’s free.

The housing market also looks good for buyers on a budget. They can snag a spacious, single-family house with a stunning desert landscape in the low $300,000s.

8. Salt Lake City, UT

Median home price: $328,000 Average salary of engineering jobs: $78,400

The RootsTech conference is held annually in Salt Lake City.

George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images

It’s not just ski bums and bunnies who love Salt Lake City. Coders, self-starters, and angel investors have also become fans. Blue-chip companies like eBay and Adobe have offices in the city, reaping the benefits of a skilled workforce, low taxes, and cheap real estate.

That has led to an overflow of entrepreneurs. Venafi, which protects digital keys, heads up a thriving cybersecurity sector. Instructure, an online course management system, is among the hottest unicorns in edtech. Plenty more “soonicorns”—startups with the potential to become unicorns—have attracted investment from the likes of PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.

When they’re not coding, techies can show off their true colors at the local version of Comic Con, at the “Dawn, Day and Night of the Running Dead” zombies vs. humans 5K-ish race, and the Salt City Steamfest, a costumed festival of 19th-century mechanics. Nerd-tastic!

9. Madison, WI

Median home price: $269,900 Average salary of engineering jobs: $74,000

Madison has been an epicenter for big-brained Midwesterners since the University of Wisconsin–Madison was founded in 1848. But its startup tech scene has really just ballooned in the past decade. Since then, Epic Systems, a health care software firm, and EatStreet, an online food-ordering venture, have become household names.

On the UW-Madison campus, one floor of student housing is set aside for student entrepreneurs to foster close collaboration. Gener8tor is a hot spot for early-stage companies on the prowl for office space and mentorship. The accelerator invests up to $140,000 in each high-growth startup multiple times a year.

10. Richmond, VA

Median home price: $205,500 Average salary of engineering jobs: $84,900

Attend just one session of 1 Million Cups Richmond, a weekly event for entrepreneurs to meet and exchange ideas, and you come away feeling hell-bent on staking your own startup claim in this historic Southern town. The scene is backed by a state tax credit that encourages early-stage investment in tech startups, and talent from schools like Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond.

The nonprofit group UnBoundRVA has a program that guides entrepreneurs from low-income communities, who get business training and hands-on guidance in launching their companies within a year. Incubators like Lighthouse Labs and the Annex provide office space, mentorship, and funding to fledging companies.

The city also has a wealth of hippie outposts where the tech-obsessed can hang. The Galaxy Diner cooks up sci-fi-themed morsels like Nuclear Waste Burgers or Super Nova BLTs into the wee hours. Because Nuclear Waste Burgers are best consumed very late at night.

* Data: realtor.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, indeed.com, Dice.com, CrunchBase, AngelList, Kickstarter, Meetup, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Cisco.

The average salary of engineering jobs is weighted-average calculated, using median occupation salary and share of occupation out of total jobs, from Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The post Silicon Valley Shake-Up: These Are the Next Top Tech Towns appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com®.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2pVB8M2

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