《Way of the Will》


 Old Friends

    Lydia was miserable. The seventeen year old sat in silence, staring at a map that hung on the wall at the front of her geography class. She ran her fingers through her long, black hair and sighed as loudly as she could. The small desk, at which she sat, felt absolutely suffocating.


    "Yes, Miss Johnson," her teacher, Mr. Mathews replied without looking up from the papers he was grading, at his own desk. "I know you hate this, and I know you know I hate this. Does that sigh mean you''re ready to have an adult conversation about your behavior?"


    "What behavior?" Lydia replied, not bothering to hide her dislike for her teacher. "I was late for your class."


    "For the eighth time..."


    "It wasn''t my fault!" Lydia snapped. "I swear I leave with plenty of time, I just end up being late... somehow."


    "I¡¯m sure," Mr. Mathews stated, bearing a generous amount of sarcasm. After a moment of silence, it became clear to Lydia that he was no longer interested in speaking, nor was he ready to let her go home. She sighed dramatically once more, and resigned by resting her elbows on her desk and burying her mocha-toned face in her hands. Another hour and Lydia would be free. She just had to be patient.


    Lydia didn''t wait to be excused once her time was up. As quickly as she could, she picked up her bag and stepped lively out of the class and out of her school. It was an older, indoor Highschool, and it felt stale to Lydia. She took great joy leaving it to shrink in the distance as she walked home.


    Lydia took her normal route home, walking down the quiet streets of a lazy suburb. The sound of her footsteps against the cement sidewalk were in competition with nothing but the songs of birds and the hum of a distant lawnmower.


    After a moment Lydia, stopped walking. She felt odd and inexplicably uncomfortable. She looked around her and saw nothing, but still had the uncomfortable feeling that she was being watched.


    With a hesitant step, Lydia continued to walk. She periodically glanced from side to side, unable to shake her disquieting sense.


    Suddenly, a new sound reached her ears. It began as a hiss, like twisting wind, but soon morphed into heavy and deliberate footfalls. It became immediately apparent that someone was following her. Mustering all of her courage, Lydia turned quickly to see who it was.


    A man stood behind her, about fifty feet away. He had a completely bald head, with white skin that looked relatively untouched by the sun. His face seemed to be that of a man in his forties, though he looked drawn, tired, and worn.


    The man''s clothes were not normal, and didn''t seem to belong to any identifiable place or time. His shirt was black with grey, vertical stripes, and it was somewhere between a medieval, belted tunic and a turtleneck; his collar hid all but his head. His sleeves billowed at his forearms. His pants were straight, grey denim, and Lydia saw that they were covering a very long, black, pair of leather boots. Lydia recoiled slightly as the man''s piercing, glacier-blue eyes remained fix in a stare, as he drew closer and closer.


    Without a second thought, Lydia broke into a sprint. Her mind raced as her feet pounded against the pavement. Should she go home? Should she call the police? Lydia didn''t know what to do. She rounded a corner and then another, hoping to lose her stalker. She looked behind her and saw that the man was nowhere to be seen but, just as she started to feel safer, she stopped, nearly skidding to a halt.


    There, not three feet in front of her, was the man. Like magic, he had somehow intercepted Lydia. He wasn''t panting, or sweating; he just stood there, placid, wearing an sinister smirk.


    "What..." Lydia spoke, trying to catch her breath. "What do you want from me?"


    The man simply smiled, made intense, direct eye contact with Lydia, and spoke with a deep British accent: "Everything, my dear..."


    "Jack!" a man''s voice came from behind Lydia. She turned to see another stranger, just as oddly dressed as Jack. He wore a navy v-neck sweater over a white shirt. The sleeves of the sweater were rolled up and gathered at his elbows. His pants were loose and made of a thick, flat, dark green fabric. They puffed out at the bottom and were tucked into brown leather boots.


    The newcomer seemed to be in his forties as well though the lines in his face were an expression of kindness. He had a full head of dirty-blonde hair, and a goatee that matched. All of his hair was cleanly cut.


    "Following me now, Hallast?" said Jack, seeming familiar with the other man. "I''m actually hurt that you didn''t say hello sooner."


    "It''s alright," Hallast addressed Lydia directly, "I''ll make sure he doesn''t follow you anymore... Go."


    Lydia didn''t wait for a better opportunity; she said nothing as she walked quickly away from both of them. She could feel Jack''s eyes watching her as she moved out of sight.


    Lydia made it home safely, thankful that there were no more surprises along the way. She kept a hurried pace, even as she climbed the front steps to the two-story, white house, where she lived with her mother.


    She knew that her mother was not home, and wouldn''t be until later that evening, so Lydia immediately went to her room and locked the door. There she would wait until the sun finally set, and her nerves had finally calmed.


    Over and over again, Lydia told herself that the two men she had encountered were random, and would not be able to find her now. Even if following Lydia was deliberate, she surmised, the nicer of the two men seemed to keep the other at bay, well enough. Lydia was finally able to talk herself into a state of feeling secure and calm. After a moment''s inner debate, she unlocked her bedroom door and went out to the back yard to get some air. The night air often made her feel better.


    She sat down on a bench at the back outer wall of the house, took a deep breath, and exhaled looking up at the stars. To Lydia''s delight, the multitude of constellations were bright that night, and the sound of distant crickets filled the air.


    "Hey there, little fairy," the low voice of Lydia''s mother came from the open back door. ''Little fairy'' was her mother''s frequent pet name for Lydia. When she was a little girl, Lydia was obsessed with fairies. "Heard you had some trouble in school today."


    "You know I don''t like it when you call me that..." Lydia replied as her mother stepped out to join her.


    She was wearing her work clothes, which was a white blouse, a simple brown vest, and matching formal pants. On the right side of her vest was pinned a brass name tag, featuring her first name only: Jessica. Her chestnut hair was pulled behind her head in a ponytail and pieces had fallen, hanging over her tired, ebony face. Lydia could tell that her mother''s day had been a difficult one.


    "Don''t change the subject," her mother persisted, sitting down next to her daughter. "Baby, what has been going on with you and getting to class on time?"


    "I really don''t know, mom," Lydia said with a little more attitude than she had intended. She stood, nervously. "Look, I keep trying to get there on time and for some reason I just can''t. I swear it''s not my fault. It''s been a hard day. I was in detention forever and then this bald white guy started following me like a creeper, and then he just vanished and reappeared and¡ª"


    "Whoa whoa whoa!" interrupted her mother, standing in alarm. "Lydia, what bald white guy?"


    "Some creepy guy who dressed like he was at a Renaissance fair," Lydia said, turning back toward her mother. ??There was a look of panic on her mother''s face.


    "Did you get his name?" Jessica asked, swallowing her words as if she were afraid to ask.


    "Yeah, actually," replied Lydia. "His name was¡ª"


    "Clever Jack," came the voice of the stanger as he suddenly emerged from the darkness at the far end of the yard. ??"''Ello, Jess."


    "You get the hell out of here!" Lydia watched her mother visibly shake with rage as she spoke to Jack.


    "You know him?!" Lydia asked, feeling confused and more than slightly panicked.


    "Your mother and I go way back," Jack answered, stepping slowly closer to them as Jessica moved in front of Lydia, taking a protective stance. "I''m actually a little hurt that I haven''t come up in conversation, before now. We were dear old friends."


    "My friend was a good man," Lydia''s mother spat at Jack, "not the monster you became!"


    "Oh come, now," Jack continued, despite her, "I don''t want to hurt anyone. All I want is to help your daughter get better at time management."


    "I told you to leave!" cried Jessica. Her rage was still palpable as Jack stopped a foot in front of Lydia and her mother.


    "And how WILL you make me?"


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.??Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning materialized in a flash, from behind the Jack. Just as quickly, Jack turned as strange glowing, purple symbols appeared in mid-air, around him, while he raised his hands. The symbols seemed to create some kind of barrier, which protected Jack from the lightning.


    Lydia felt like she could pass out. She could not, in her mind, justify or comprehend what had just happened.She watched as Hallast, the man who had earlier saved her from Jack, stepped into view, appearing from nowhere. He waved his hands while strange crossing and looping lines appeared around him, golden and glowing. Lettering that was foreign to Lydia popped into existence, too. All of it seemed to be made of some kind of energy.


    Jack immediately responded to Hallast, manifesting dark circles around himself, which grew into clouds of black. The dark clouds rushed toward Hallast but were quickly destroyed by beams of light coming from Hallast''s hands. Three golden, upward pointing triangles appeared around Jack. He waved his right hand upward, splaying his fingers toward the sky, and three purple triangles, facing the opposite direction appeared around him. There was a sudden explosion of fire, water, and steam as the world disappeared into a silent fog.


    Once the steam had cleared a little, Lydia watched, wide-eyed, as the two men stood, staring each other down. Both of them were standing very still, while neither appeared to be even slightly winded by the fight.


    "I have to say I''m disappointed," Jack finally said. "When I fight you, I expect the Stormcaller. Those were the elemental tricks of the boy I once knew."


    "I''m not here to hurt you," Hallast stated plainly. "Take the hint and leave."


    "You couldn''t make me before," Jack spat menacingly, "and you can''t now."


    Lydia watched in terror as Jack began waving his hands in the air, spawning a set of strange crooked letters, in the same glowing purple energy. Though she didn''t know what they meant, the sight of the symbols sent shivers down Lydia''s spine. Hallast seemed alarmed by them too.


    "Isa Gar!" Hallast yelled, suddenly. A flash of blue flew through the air ripping through the dark letters, and straight into Jack''s hand, which was now frozen and shaking.


    Abandoning using the incapacitated hand, Jack gritted his teeth and tried to continue his work with the other. Hallast did not allow this, drawing a series of intersecting lines and dots, in golden energy. He pulled the energy into a ball with his right hand and threw it at Jack.


    In another flash, Jack''s letters were gone.


    "Not fast enough, Jack," Hallast taunted his opponent. "You can''t win."


    Jack looked down at his shaking, frigid hand with a furious sneer. He shot a venomous glare at Hallast, and finally ran into the dark, vanishing.


    All was silent. Hallast continued to stare at the spot where Jack had vanished, perhaps watching to make sure he didn''t return.


    "Hallast?" Lydia''s mother broke the silence. Hallast turned, seeming almost surprised to hear his own name. A smile slowly grew on his face.


    "Jess," he acknowledged her in a familiar tone. "It''s been so long... I''m sorry to turn up like this. Are you two okay?"


    "We''re fine," Lydia''s mother replied, "just a little shaken. Do you know what Jack is doing here?"


    "I can only guess," Hallast replied gravely, turning back to face the spot where Jack had vanished.


    "Guys," Lydia interrupted, folding her arms nervously. "Can we maybe take this conversation inside, please?"


    "Yeah," replied Jessica, looking around with her guard still clearly up. "Yeah, I think that''s a good idea."


    The three walked through a set of white french doors that lead directly from the back yard to the kitchen. Within, there was a small table, which accommodated them all easily. Once they were all seated, Jessica cleared her throat and leaned in to begin the conversation.


    "Sweetheart," she began, keeping a very ginger tone while addressing her daughter, "This may be very hard to understand, but I want you to try to keep an open mind about what we''re going to tell you."


    "I mean," Lydia replied without missing a beat, "it will be hard to top what I just saw out there... whatever that was."


    "She sounds open," Hallast added to the conversation with a smirk, sitting back in his chair slightly.


    "Well to start," Jessica began, glancing down nervously, "this is my very dear friend, Hallast Etalie. To other sorcerers he is know as Hallast Stormcaller." Lydia snorted a laugh when she heard his title. Jessica looked at her, wide-eyed, as if surprised by her daughter''s sudden rudeness. Hallast just smiled wider at her reaction, amused by the young woman.


    "Sorry," Lydia corrected herself, immediately. "It''s just... Well, that name''s a little over the top, don''t you think?"


    "I didn''t pick it," Hallast answered without commitment.


    "Hallast, Jack, and I used to study magic together," Jessica continued despite her daughter. "We all have a complicated history... But, the important thing you need to know is that, in a former life I was a sorcerer."


    "You mean," Lydia said, struggling to wrap her head around what she was being told, "you can do the things I saw outside? Mom, that''s amazing!"


    "I could once, yes..." Jessica''s eyes seemed to sadden. "But I can''t anymore, baby." Lydia had never seen her mother look as sad as she did when she said those words. Magic must have meant a great deal to Jessica.


    "That was also Jack''s fault," Hallast elaborated, adopting a darker expression. "Speaking of which: Did you recognize any of the symbols he was using, Jess?" Jessica shook her head, staring into space as she thought about it.


    "No," she finally said. "It''s been so long, anyway. I wouldn''t know a thorn from the symbol of Jupiter... Hallast I need to ask you for a favor."


    "For you," Hallast replied, "anything." There was an odd tenderness in Hallast''s voice. Lydia couldn''t help but assume the two had been extremely close.


    "I want you to teach Lydia magic," Jessica requested, plainly. There was a short, stunned silence between all three, sitting at the table. Lydia felt her heart flutter with a mix of excitement and terror. The idea of learning magic was interesting, but being volunteered with so little conversation about it scared her.


    "Why?" Hallast finally asked.


    "Because it''s magic, and awesome," Lydia couldn''t help but blurt out.


    "If Jack wants Lydia, he must know something we don''t know," Jessica began to reason. "We teach her magic, see what she can do, and level the playing field."


    "I don''t know," Hallast said, giving Lydia a skeptical look from across the table. "I can already tell she''s not like you, Jess."


    "Excuse me?" Lydia said, more than slightly stung by his words. Hallast just shrugged, unphased by his own insensitive bluntness.


    "You''re right," Jessica replied with a smile, "She''s more of a dreamer, like you were, once upon a time."


    Hallast smirked at the sentiment, seeming amused. He stroked his goatee and hummed contemplatively. No one spoke, at the table for a long time. He scratched his head and sighed, wearing a pained expression. Lydia saw that he was struggling with something internally.


    "Look," he finally said, "it''s been a long night; let''s just sleep on this for now. I will stick around for a couple of days, if that''s okay. I''ll keep an eye on things, while we figure this out."


    "Please do," Jessica said, seeming somewhat relieved by the idea. "We have an extra bedroom."


    So it was decided that Hallast would stay with the Johnson family. Jessica helped Hallast get settled while Lydia got ready for bed.


    Though she desperately tried, Lydia could not sleep at all. What she had seen changed her entire perception of reality. Magic existed and she could learn it. Also, knowing that someone so unbelievably powerful was after her made Lydia''s stomach churn. Unable to sleep, Lydia went to her bedroom window and opened it to get some air. The chilling breeze of the evening rushed in, and refreshed Lydia, as she sat on the sill.


    "You know something, Jess," Lydia heard the faint voice of Hallast from the yard outside. "I can see it in your eyes. Why is Jack interested in your daughter?"


    "I honestly don''t know," replied the voice of Lydia''s mother. "But, Jack said something that makes me think..."


    "What was it?"


    "He said," Jessica hesitated, "that he wanted to help her with time management." A long thoughtful silence followed this.


    Though Lydia couldn''t see either of them, she could tell that the two were on the same page. They both now knew something she didn''t and it made her feel uneasy.


    "If he thinks she''s a-" Hallast began but didn''t finish.


    "I''m scared for her, Hallast..."

 Crossing Paths

    Lydia awoke the next morning hoping that everything she had seen the night before had been a dream. She got dressed and went downstairs only to be severely disappointed by the sight of Hallast, sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of what looked like tea. He had a book in one hand and sipped his tea with the other. The pages of the book gently turned themselves as he read.


    ¡°So,¡± Lydia began, catching Hallast¡¯s attention, ¡°You¡¯re still here¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hallast replied with a forced smile. ¡°If you were hoping that you imagined last night, you¡¯re out of luck.¡± Hallast¡¯s book slapped itself shut and floated away from his hand, landing softly on the table.


    ¡°That¡¯s really cool,¡± Lydia couldn¡¯t help but praise his magic. Hallast smiled at this, saying nothing, choosing instead to take a sip of his tea. ¡°Any sign of tall, dark, and disturbing?¡±


    Hallast chuckled at Lydia¡¯s description of Jack.


    ¡°No,¡± he replied, putting down his tea as Lydia joined him at the table. ¡°But I¡¯m sure he hasn¡¯t given up yet.¡±


    There was a long silence between the two. Lydia had so many questions for Hallast, but she didn¡¯t know quite where to begin. Why the sorcerer said nothing was a mystery to Lydia.


    ¡°Hallast,¡± Lydia went out on a limb to begin the conversation, ¡°was my mother really what you said she was?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he replied, with a widening smile, ¡°she was better than that. She did beautiful things for others, and she never broke any laws doing it.¡±


    ¡°Magic has laws?¡± Lydia asked with a short, surprised laugh. Hallast shrugged and shook his head slightly.


    ¡°Lets say that the universe has laws,¡± he explained. Hallast sat back in his chair a little and looked down, thoughtfully. ¡°But your mother always found balance. She never wanted anything in return or any kind of recognition. She was¡­ is a beautiful person.¡± Hallast sat forward a little, and Lydia caught a moment of sadness behind his eyes, before he forced another smile.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t she do magic, like you?¡± Lydia couldn¡¯t help but ask. Hallast¡¯s expression deepened and his brow furrowed. The question seemed to make him uncomfortable.


    ¡°That¡¯s a sensitive subject,¡± he finally replied. ¡°I think Jess should be the one to tell you that, whenever she¡¯s ready.¡±


    Lydia was sure that it would be a long time before that happened. Her mother had done a wonderful job convincing Lydia that she had only ever aspired to work in the world of finance, for as long as Lydia could remember. Not once had she ever seen anything even remotely magical.


    ¡°Do you think I could ever be as good as she was?¡± Lydia hesitated to ask.


    ¡°Honestly,¡± Hallast stated, ¡°I don¡¯t know. But, if I were you, I would try.¡±


    Lydia, for the first time in her life, felt the sudden weight of her mother¡¯s legacy. It was a Legacy she never knew existed, but now it was there, very tangibly on her shoulders.


    ¡°I want to learn¡­¡± Lydia stated, resolutely.


    ¡°You really do?¡± asked Hallast skeptically, before he took a sip of his tea.


    ¡°All of my life,¡± Lydia explained, ¡°I have never felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. I have always felt like a piece of me was missing. When I see you do what you can do, I feel connected to it¡­ I feel like it¡¯s a part of me already. I don¡¯t know if that makes any sense.¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Hallast said, smiling. There was a warmth in his voice. ¡°You are actually a little like your mother.¡±


    There was a sudden release in Lydia¡¯s chest and her eyes blurred with tears, which she hadn¡¯t expected.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she smiled as she spoke.


    ¡°I may be willing to teach you what I know,¡± Hallast said. Lydia couldn¡¯t help but give a small squeal of joy. ¡°But, I want you to do me a favor first.¡±


    ¡°Anything!¡± Lydia replied, without thinking.


    ¡°If you commit yourself to learning magic,¡± Hallast took on a more grave tone, ¡°your life will never be the same. Please, take some time think about whether or not you¡¯re ready for that. It¡¯s a big world out there, Lydia.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Lydia said, honestly. She understood that learning magic would be a serious undertaking. ¡°Can we talk more about this after school?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Hallast, taking a final gulp of his tea. ¡°Don¡¯t want you to be late.¡±


    Lydia left the kitchen and picked up her blue denim backpack, from the hallway. She threw it over her right shoulder as she went out the front door and on her way to school. As she walked along the familiar streets, she felt joyful and excited. She wondered how it be, if she became a sorcerer. She thought about whether or not she would have to keep taking classes in high school. Would she eventually go to college? Did things that weren¡¯t magical matter to sorcerers? Questions filled Lydia¡¯s head, and before she was aware, she had arrived at her school.


    The front of her school had its usual morning buzz. Some students were being dropped off by their parents, some were socializing out on the front lawn, and some were filing through the large wooden front doors, beneath a stone archway and its facade.


    Lydia walked to join her classmates, but as she crossed the campus lawn, the world suddenly stretched and seemed to turn inside out. Up, for a moment, was down. The bright morning suddenly changed to night.


    Lydia dropped her bag from her shoulder. She looked all around in a panic. She began hyperventilating as her mind raced to make sense of what she was seeing.


    Streetlights were illuminated. The school¡¯s windows were mostly dark. The sky was black. Nothing was wrong with her vision; she was sure that it was actually night and that she had missed the entire day. But how? Why?


    ¡°Oh no¡­¡± the now familiar voice of Jack sent a shiver down her spine. Lydia turned to see him standing behind her, blocking the way home, wearing his usual terrifying grin. ¡°Late again, are we?¡±


    ¡°What did you do to me?!¡± Lydia couldn¡¯t help but scream at him.


    ¡°Not much, actually,¡± Jack said with a guffaw. ¡°All I did was a little path-crossing spell to keep you from going to school. You compensated in a really interesting way and now¡­ Well here we are.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± Lydia said angrily. ¡°What do you want from me?!¡±


    ¡°To make you part of something wonderful,¡± Jack spoke more candidly, as he began to walk in a circle around Lydia. ¡°I want to give you something Hallast and Jessica will never give you willingly.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°How about your true destiny,¡± Jack almost whispered as Lydia watched him walk closer. ¡°If you only knew what I know.¡±


    Without warning, Lydia threw her hands into the space between her and Jack and yelled: ¡°Isa gar!¡±


    Nothing happened.


    For a moment there was silence before Jack absolutely exploded with laughter.


    ¡°Uh oh,¡± he continued to laugh as he spoke. ¡°Someone doesn¡¯t know what they¡¯re doing. I¡¯m sorry, dear, but the first rule of magic is: Don¡¯t use other people¡¯s spells.¡±


    Effortlessly, Jack waved a single hand and dark energy encircled Lydia, freezing her in place and sending pins and needles all over her body. She cried out as she tried to fight it, but she couldn¡¯t free herself.


    ¡°If I have no power,¡± she yelled, ¡°then leave me alone!¡±


    ¡°Remind me to thank your mother,¡± Jack said with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m so glad that she didn¡¯t prepare you at all.¡±


    A loud crack shattered the night air and Lydia turned her head to see two long, ribbons of golden light snake violently through the dark. They quickly wrapped themselves around Lydia and then exploded outward, banishing Jack¡¯s spell.


    Lydia collapsed to the ground, but immediately fought to stand and regain her balance. Finally on her feet again, she looked to the source of the spell that had saved her.


    Lydia¡¯s mother stood, under the glow of a streetlight, with one arm raised, looking calm and determined. From her raised hand hung a single gold chain. At the end of the chain was a small glass vial. Lydia couldn¡¯t tell what was inside the vial, but she thought it looked like a lock of black hair, tied in a knot.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Lydia gasped, amazed by the sight of such a powerful woman. ¡°You have your magic again!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not her magic,¡± spat Jack. His tone made it seem as if he had just been insulted somehow. ¡°It makes me sick to see the great Jessica Johnson cling to a reliquary; a shadow of your former will. Could you sink any lower?¡±


    Lydia¡¯s heart sank, for a moment. The thing she was holding must have been helping her cast a spell.


    ¡°You¡¯re one to talk,¡± Jessica retorted, calmly. ¡°Get away from my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Or you¡¯ll do what, exactly?¡± Jack called out, raising his hands in feigned supplication. ¡°You¡¯ll have Hallast sneak up behind me and do all of your fighting? Yes, I know you¡¯re there!¡±


    From behind Jack, Hallast stepped into the light. Lydia was disappointed that Jack seemed to still have the upper hand, but she felt relieved to see that Hallast had come.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.??¡°You¡¯re outnumbered, Jack,¡± stated Hallast, calmly.


    ¡°I think you said that last time,¡± Jack replied, grinning darkly. ¡°And look: I¡¯m still here.¡±


    Lydia saw a flash of fear in her mother¡¯s eyes, as Jack spoke. Hallast began waving his hands and symbols appeared in the air around him. Clearly he was done talking.


    Jack set his spells into motion as well, however this time Jack was slightly faster than his opponent, or perhaps more prepared for a real fight. Lydia couldn¡¯t tell the difference.


    Jack traced two circles in the air and, immediately, a pair of black wolves emerged. The horrifying animals wasted no time in going after Hallast, who quickly changed the spell he was casting, and began throwing balls of fire at the wolves.


    Keeping his enemy effectively busy, Jack wheeled around and set his sights on Lydia. He stretched out his arms and dark red energy seeped out of his chest enveloping his hands. Blood-red snakes appeared and lunged toward Lydia. Lydia quickly turned to brace herself for the attack, but before the snakes could reach her, Jessica stepped in front of her daughter, raised he reliquary high, and produced a beautiful bubble of blue light around the two of them.


    Mercilessly, the snakes bit and pummeled the shield. Lydia watched in terror as her mother¡¯s reliquary began to crack. Jessica seemed to also notice this and her face showed her panic.


    ¡°You can¡¯t hold him off!¡± cried Lydia. ¡°Hallast! Help!¡±


    Hallast was fighting his own battle. Lydia could barely see through the chaos all around her, but it looked like Hallast had destroyed one of the wolves and was entirely focused on defeating the other.


    ¡°You have to run, baby,¡± Lydia¡¯s mother finally said, as a tear ran down her cheek.


    ¡°Mom, no,¡± Lydia said, understanding what her mother intended to have happen. Lydia¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you!¡±


    ¡°Go!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t make me abandon you!¡±


    Snap!


    The reliquary shattered with a thunderous echo and the shield fell in the blink of an eye. One of the lashing serpents whipped violently around and sank its fangs into Jessica¡¯s back, then dissipated, as if it had been nothing but a red cloud.


    Lydia caught her mother as she fell to the ground. Jack looked at them for a moment, seeming to marvel at his own work. Slowly he broke into an manic cackle.


    ¡°You know what that was for, Jess!¡± He shouted at the unconscious woman. ¡°I hope you live to remember it!¡±


    The pained howl of the other wolf pierced the air, which Lydia knew meant Hallast had won, but it was too late. Her mother¡¯s form was limp in her arms and she wasn¡¯t breathing.


    ¡°Mom!¡± screamed Lydia, as loudly as she could. ¡°Mom please no!¡±


    Hallast ran over and huddled over the two. He looked as horrified as Lydia felt, and his brow was furrowed with rage.


    ¡°Hallast,¡± Lydia sobbed, ¡±is she dead?¡±


    ¡°Lydia,¡± Hallast spoke in a calm but hurried tone. ¡°I need you to concentrate for me, okay? I need you to do this for your mother.¡±


    Lydia had no idea what Hallast was talking about but she decided to just listen and trust him. Jack seemed to be in the processes of casting another spell, and she had no desire to find out what it was.


    ¡°Lydia,¡± Hallast continued, placing a hand on her shoulder, ¡°I need you to focus on being far away from this place¡­¡±


    ¡°But I¡ª¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he persisted, ¡±Just want it, need it, feel it, then I want you to see it. I¡¯ll do the rest¡­ It¡¯s going to be okay. Just focus.¡±


    Lydia looked at Jack casting the spell and put every ounce of her focus into being far, far away from him. She could feel her chest tighten, and her body tense with the urgent need to leave. She then focused on seeing Jack as a far away object and, to her total surprise, the world around her stretched as she watch Jack vanish into a tunnel of streetlights, trees, and houses. Everything stretched into lines of infinite length. Everything warped and twisted, and then came back together around the three of them. Instead of sitting on a darkened school lawn, Hallast, Lydia, and Jessica were all sitting in a beautiful grassy glen, surrounded by trees, in broad daylight.


    Lydia felt Jessica stir in her arms, and suddenly where they were didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°Mom!¡± cried Lydia. ¡°Oh my god, please be alive!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Jessica struggled to speak. ¡°You¡¯re safe.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not doing that again, Jess,¡± Hallast smiled as he wiped a tear from his own cheek.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t¡­ If I wanted to,¡± she whispered, forcing her own fatigued smile. Hallast placed an affectionate hand on her head, as she closed her eyes.


    ¡°Will she be okay?¡± Lydia asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Hallast replied, seeming very at ease. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine. We got her here in time.¡±


    ¡°Where is here?¡±


    ¡°Fewer questions,¡± Hallast said as he picked Jessica up out of the Lydia¡¯s arms. Lydia stood up with him. ¡°Let¡¯s get your mother inside and then we can talk.¡±


    Lydia followed Hallast up a path, through the surrounding forest. It wound back and forth slightly until there were no more trees. Lydia gasped as the path became a natural bridge of rock and grass, which was suspended over nothing but clouds. From the moment the three left the forest, Lydia could clearly see that the path they were on encircled an enormous floating island. The island was beautiful and green. Sitting atop the island was a large palace, which looked like it belonged in an Asian country. It had swept tile roofs, which sat above high, red walls. Everything seemed to be supported by thick wooden columns.


    Hallast, still carrying Jessica, led Lydia further along the path. Lydia was pleasantly surprised by the presence of flowering vines, which flanked them on either side, and formed a natural archway. The flowers were a beautiful white-pink, and it warmed Lydia to see them.


    ¡°Are we in heaven?¡± Lydia asked, as the three finally arrived at the palace¡¯s large front doors. The doors opened by themselves, seeming to welcome them in.


    ¡°My heaven,¡± Hallast said with a chuckle, ¡°in a way, I guess.¡±


    They enter a main hall, which was a huge, square room with a very high ceiling. There were doors leading in every direction and a wide winding staircase at the far side of the hall.


    Without hesitation, Hallast took Jessica through the last door on the left side of the room. Lydia followed him into a beautiful bedroom. This did not seem to belong to him, as there were no personal effects anywhere in sight. The walls lacked decoration of any kind.


    Gently, Hallast laid Jessica on a circular bed, with red silk sheets. He felt her forehead, and then covered her with a fuzzy red blanket. Approaching Lydia, he beckoned her to follow him out of the room. Lydia hesitated, not wanting to leave her mother¡¯s side.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Hallast softly reassured her. ¡°She¡¯s safe here. She just needs rest.¡±


    Reluctantly, Lydia obeyed. She followed her host out into the main hall and through a door on the opposite side of the palace. The door led to an expansive balcony, overlooking a breathtaking sprawl of clouds. All around the balcony tables tables had been set with pots of tea sitting on each.


    ¡°You must really like tea,¡± Lydia commented. She didn¡¯t know what else to say.


    ¡°I do,¡± remarked Hallast with a smile. ¡°Welcome to my own personal world, Lydia.¡±


    ¡°You can make worlds?!¡± Lydia said, genuinely impressed.


    ¡°Well,¡± Hallast spoke with what seemed like embarrassed modesty, ¡°just one world, and this is all there is here¡­ I didn¡¯t do it alone either. Planning took ages and a very wise sorcerer helped me out.¡±


    ¡°So my mom will get better here?¡± asked Lydia.


    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Hallast answered with a confidence that comforted Lydia. ¡°This isn¡¯t Earth and Jack currently has no influence here. This place is¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Magic,¡± Lydia finished his sentence for him. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m learning to just go with that.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± Hallast said, ¡°you¡¯re a really wonderful daughter.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Lydia, suddenly feeling put on the spot.


    ¡°Standing by your mother, like that,¡± he elaborated. ¡°Even when you knew she couldn¡¯t protect you, you didn¡¯t leave her side. I¡¯m impressed.¡±


    ¡°I mean, she¡¯s my mom,¡± Lydia said.


    There was a short, thoughtful silence between the two. A light breeze floated through the tea balcony, filling the air with the sweet sent of flowers.


    ¡°Have you put any more thought into your training?¡± Hallast asked, as he wandered over to a table and sat down. He gestured for Lydia to join him. She took a seat on the opposite side of the table.


    ¡°I still want to learn,¡± Lydia stated plainly. ¡±I want to be as good at magic as my mother.¡±


    Hallast smirked, as if he were amused by the idea. He waved his hand and the teapot on the table slowly rose into the air. A small golden triangle appeared below the tea pot, which then turned into a flame. The water in the pot began to boil. Lydia smiled in wonder as she watched this happen.


    ¡°I have a feeling that you will be.¡±

 Symbols

    The smell of paper filled the air as light streamed through the windows in Hallast¡¯s library. The medium sized spaced seemed well used, and Lydia marveled at the number of books in the circular tower of bookshelves that rose around her. She sat patiently at a wooden desk while Hallast picked a book up out of a nearby cupboard.


    Since yesterday, Hallast had changed into a robe that was forest green, with thick blue trim. The sleeves were long and wide, and the front wrapped around him in a way that reminded Lydia of a Tibetan monk.


    ¡°Are you ready to learn?¡± he asked Lydia as he walked back to stand on the other side of the desk.


    ¡°Super ready!¡± Lydia said, sounding a little more excited than she had meant.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Hallast acknowledged, warmly. ¡°As you can see, there are many books in my library. Most of these contain symbols that may help you in basic spellcraft. However, do not rely on them. They are no more useful in casting spells than a tape measure is in building a house.¡±


    ¡°Books can only do so much,¡± Lydia summarized, ¡°got it.¡±


    ¡°Having said that,¡± Hallast continued his lecture, dropping the book he was holding in front of Lydia.


    Lydia picked up the book and examined it. The cover was a simple; brown and leather, with no title or markings of any kind.


    ¡°This,¡± Hallast explained, ¡°is the most important spell book you will use. It should never be shown to anyone else, ever. That¡¯s especially true for those you don¡¯t trust.¡±


    With an intense feeling of excited anticipation, Lydia opened the book. The first page was blank. The second was also blank and so was the third.


    ¡°Hallast,¡± Lydia finally spoke, underwhelmed, ¡°this book doesn¡¯t have anything in it.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± replied Hallast with a broad smile. ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t written it yet.¡±


    Lydia looked at the book and put it down on the desk. She took a deep, deep breath and then exhaled loudly. She began fanning he own face with her hands as she felt tears forming in her eyes. Hallast looked at her, seeming alarmed.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ Having a bit of a moment, Hallast,¡± Lydia replied, slightly choked up. ¡°I¡¯m just really excited and I¡¯m worried I¡¯ll miss something important while I¡¯m thinking about writing a spell book, so¡­ give me a minute.¡±


    ¡°Relax,¡± Hallast instructed, chuckling.


    ¡°Trying¡­¡±


    Hallast pulled a beautiful wooden pen out of a drawer in the desk. It was a very simple quill pen, with a small brass nib.


    ¡°You are to write in your spell book with only one pen,¡± Hallast continued to explain the basics of using her book.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Lydia, taking the pen as it was handed to her.


    ¡°Keeps you from using a sabotaged pen,¡± Hallast answered, ¡°limits distractions, and generally keeps your energy in one place. So many things can go wrong in magic, why trip yourself with the small things, right?¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Lydia said placing the pen softly on top of her book, trying hard to treat it with respect and reverence. ??¡°How do spells work? Where do I even begin?¡±


    Hallast looked thoughtful, for a moment, then walked over to nearby bookshelf and appeared to be looking for something specific. It took him very little time to find and retrieve a small, gray book. Hallast walked back to the desk and place the volume in front of Lydia. The title on the cover read: Norse Runes.


    ¡°You said you tried to cast a spell at Jack, back on Earth?¡± inquired Hallast.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± replied Lydia, who still felt a little bitter about it not working. ¡°I did the ¡®isaw gur¡¯ thing that I saw you do.¡±


    ¡°Isa gar,¡± Hallast corrected her. ¡°Which are two runes contained in the book I just gave you. Without looking them up, could you tell me what those runes mean? If you close your eyes, can you picture them in your mind?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± answered Lydia, ¡°of course I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You were trying to use a spell,¡± Hallast began to explain in a tone that was kind and patient, ¡°that you didn¡¯t understand, without knowing how to cast it. It has nothing to do with how powerful you are, Lydia. It¡¯s import you remember that.¡±


    Lydia smiled, genuinely appreciating his kindness. While most teacher¡¯s had tried to trip Lydia up with trick questions and belittle her, Hallast seemed to just want to see her succeed.


    ¡°So,¡± Hallast went on, ¡°you see how vitally important symbols are. Symbols are the focal point where energy and intention are one and the same. It¡¯s the language we use to speak to the universe. Your job from now on is to collect symbols that mean something to you, in your book, and study them; understand them.


    ¡°This is also why we don¡¯t let other people see our spell books. If someone uses your spells with the wrong intention, the consequences can be tragic. Also a person who might want to hurt you can make up counter-spells if they know what symbols you¡¯re using. Does that make sense?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, actually,¡± said Lydia picking up her spell book and pen. ¡°Thanks, Hallast. You¡¯re a good teacher.¡±


    ¡°Why thank you,¡± he said, with an all too familiar smirk. ¡°What do you say we leave the symbolism lessons here in the library and take a walk? There is a lot I have to explain, and you won¡¯t find it in any of these books.¡±


    Lydia nodded, standing to leave with Hallast, but still carrying her book, pen, and a bottle of ink with her. She felt attached to the book already. It was hers; special and unique.


    The two walked together, out of the library, into the main hall, and out the front door of the palace. The sun shown brightly, but Lydia never felt too warm as she walked in its light.


    Hallast had led her a little down the path that was covered in flowers, before he began to speak more about magic.


    ¡°More important than understanding symbols,¡± Hallast began, ¡°is understanding the hierarchy of will.¡±


    ¡°Hierarchy of will,¡± Lydia repeated the words, despite not understanding what they meant.


    ¡°Oh we¡¯re already talking about wills, are we?¡± came the weakened voice of Lydia¡¯s mother, from behind them. Both Hallast and Lydia looked at each other with worried expressions, and then turned to see Jessica slowly making her way down the path.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Lydia called to her, simultaneously worried and happy to see her up and walking around. ¡°You should be resting.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lydia¡¯s mother replied with a smile and a dismissive wave of her hand, as she finally caught up with them. ??¡°There¡¯s the immediate will, the true will, the wills of others, and the universal will. Did I forget anything, Hallast?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all of them,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°Do you want to explain to her what all of that means, or shall I?¡±


    ¡°Will theory is a little heavy handed for me, in current state,¡± Jessica stated.


    ¡°Very well,¡± said Hallast. ¡°Do you have anything you¡¯d like to teach your daughter?¡±


    ¡°I have something, yes,¡± Jessica answered, simply. Without saying anything more, she began to walk slowly up the path, back toward the palace. Without questioning, Lydia and Hallast followed her.


    It took a little time and effort, but eventually Lydia¡¯s mother had led them through the main hall of the palace, up the winding staircase, and onto a rooftop garden, which Lydia discovered was at the very highest point of the palace.


    The garden was simple, yet beautiful. Green grass covered a rectangular area, and a set of circular stepping stones laid a path that went around a medium-sized oak, and ended at a fountain. The fountain seemed to be a simple, round, stone pool, from which water voluntarily leapt from the center without the help of pipes or hoses.


    ¡°What is this?¡± she asked as the three approached.


    ¡°This is my favorite place,¡± Lydia¡¯s mother said in a soft, almost reverent tone.


    ¡°I let you visit once,¡± Hallast said, ¡°and already you have favorites.¡±


    ¡°Hush,¡± Jessica replied with a slight chuckle. ¡°This is a scrying fountain. It helps us see what we¡¯re searching for.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s very limited,¡± Hallast added, ¡°and mostly has a mind of its own. Your mother has most of the luck using it because she only ever watches one thing.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± asked Lydia.


    ¡°Take a look,¡± Jessica beckoned, pointing to the rising and falling water.


    Lydia walked closer to the fountain and looked deeply into the water. At first it seemed like a chaotic mess of reflected light, but soon the light shifted and the image of a middle-aged woman appeared. The woman had a necklace with a tiny gold acorn charm hanging from it. She wore a long, casual-looking dress, and seemed to be sitting at a desk, writing something.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± asked Lydia, not taking her eyes off the image. She was afraid it might disappear if she looked away.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± her mother answered, ¡°but she loves magic. She hasn¡¯t had a day of magical training, but she reads books about magic. She thinks about it all the time, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Lydia looked at her mother, finding herself confused and surprised by the sudden sentimentality. It was a whimsy that had never surfaced before that moment.


    ¡°How do you know that about her?¡± Lydia asked.


    ¡°Because,¡± Hallast entered the conversation, not even glancing at the fountain, ¡°we¡¯re all that way. Your mother is looking for people with magical potential.¡±


    ¡°So why doesn¡¯t someone teach her?¡± Lydia continued her line of questioning.


    ¡°Most sorcerers aren¡¯t taught,¡± Hallast explained. ¡°Magic is mostly discovered. We each make our own magic, in our own way.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± Jessica cut in, ¡°I¡¯m sure this woman makes magic, for someone, somehow. It¡¯s in her heart, or we wouldn¡¯t be watching her now.¡±


    The image of the woman continued to bubble and churn in the small pool. After a moment, Lydia observed the image suddenly magnifying the acorn charm, which hung around the woman¡¯s neck. Lydia wondered if it was somehow important to the woman. Maybe she believed it was magical.


    ¡°Mom,¡± Lydia turned her attention to her mother, ¡°Is it hard not having magic anymore?¡±


    Jessica smiled and wrapped her arms around Lydia in a warm hug. Softly, Lydia¡¯s mother kissed her on the forehead.


    ¡°Sweetheart,¡± she cooed, ¡°I still made something magical, after I lost my powers. I got to see that magic grow into an amazing young woman.¡±


    Lydia gave her mom an affectionate squeeze, before their hug ended. She felt moved by her mothers words, but she was also a little embarrassed.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.??¡°I think,¡± Hallast said, smirking slightly, ¡°that the point Jess is trying to make is an important one: Magic comes in a lot of forms. As you study it, don¡¯t get tied up in theory, or you might miss a chance to make your own kind of magic.¡±


    ¡°Hallast can teach you a lot,¡± Jessica concluded the sentiment, ¡°but always remember that magic begins with what¡¯s in your heart.¡±


    Lydia said nothing in reply, simply nodding in quiet acceptance.


    Jessica and Hallast let the lesson rest for the day, leaving Lydia to her own thoughts, on the rooftop of the palace. Lydia took a seat beneath the oak, placing her pen and ink beside her, before she opened her new book.


    The blank pages were milky parchment, without lines. Lydia thought that it made sense, given that she was expected to drawn symbols in it. She flattened the book¡¯s spine, keeping it open to the first page. Lydia thought a proper title would be appropriate. She dipped her pen in the ink and began to write in slow, careful strokes:


    Lydia¡¯s Spells


    To Lydia¡¯s surprise, the letters morphed into a set of symbols that looked nothing like the letter¡¯s she had written. After changing their shape, the letters traveled around in a circle, following one another in a chain that curled into a tight spiral. Though the words had morphed Lydia still, amazingly, recognized what they meant.


    This, she realized, must be another way of protecting her book against prying eyes. Anything she wrote would be turned into words only she could read. Hallast clearly wasn¡¯t messing around when he said no one else should be shown her spells. Lydia was relieved to be so protected while she was learning magic. She longed to write more in her magic book, but she had no idea what sorcerers wrote about. Hallast had told her to collect symbols, but she wasn¡¯t sure which ones.


    She sighed, and closed her book. Carefully she put the cap back on her ink bottle. Lydia decided to take time to enjoy the midday sun. She remained beneath the oak and eventually fell asleep.


    After a while, the sun began set. Lydia woke, and found that she was very hungry. She gathered her things and walked back down into the main hall of the palace. The voices of Hallast and her mother came from the door leading to the tea balcony, so Lydia went out to join them.


    Both were sitting at a table, illuminated by bright candles. Hallast was eating what looked like a hearty bowl of stew, while a pepperoni pizza sat in front of Jessica, looking very out of place.


    ¡°Right on time,¡± Hallast said, as he seemed to catch sight of Lydia. ¡°Please, join us.¡±


    Lydia felt a little dazed from having just woken up. Without a word she placed her things down on another table and took a seat with her mother and Hallast.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t want to wake you,¡± Jessica said, placing a hand affectionately on the back of her daughter¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯m glad you found your way here.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I slept,¡± Lydia finally said. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how tired I am.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised,¡± Hallast said grabbing a pitcher of water and a glass from the other side of the table. He placed the glass in front of Lydia and filled it for her. ¡°It¡¯s kind of like jet lag. We¡¯re on a different world now; it¡¯s hard to adjust.¡±


    Lydia thought this made a fair amount of sense. When they had escaped Jack it was night, and she had no idea what the time was in this new place. She took a drink of water, and then looked around for an indication of where she could get food.


    ¡°You must be hungry,¡± her mother offered, picking up on Lydia¡¯s cues. ¡°What would you like?¡±


    ¡°Are there burritos around here?¡± Lydia asked, only half joking.


    ¡°Great idea!¡± exclaimed Hallast. ¡°You¡¯re going to make me regret my stew. Imagine it for me, okay?¡±


    Lydia, was excited to play along with more magic. She closed her eyes tightly and imagined a large chicken burrito, from a place where she had eaten, back in her home town. Suddenly Lydia could smell what she had been imagining. She opened her eyes to see the exact burrito she had wanted, sitting in front of her on a plate. Hallast was wearing a smug smile, clearly watching Lydia¡¯s amazed reaction.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Lydia finally said. ¡°Why would you ever leave this place?¡±


    ¡°One day I won¡¯t,¡± Hallast replied, ¡°but fate has a way of taking you from the comforts of home. It does get a bit lonely here, I must admit. It¡¯s downside of having a world that is held together by your will.¡±


    ¡°Will?¡± Lydia repeated Hallast¡¯s last word, as she picked up a knife and fork. ¡°You two mentioned will before. It sounds important. What is it?¡±


    Hallast reached out a hand and slowly pushed Lydia¡¯s glass of water toward the edge of the table before giving it an extra tap, making it slip off the edge and fall toward the ground.


    In a flash Lydia became tense and her heart jumped as she reached out to catch it. The glass froze in mid-air and Lydia¡¯s heart was pounding. She froze with it, afraid that if she moved the glass might continue it¡¯s trip toward the ground and shatter.


    ¡°Put it back up on the table,¡± Hallast requested calmly.


    ¡°Umm¡­ How do I do that?¡± Lydia spoke through nervously gritted teeth.


    ¡°Want it, feel it, see it,¡± Hallast stated, putting emphasis on every word. ¡°Trust yourself. It will work.¡±


    Lydia focused on nothing but the glass, she imagined that it was connected to her. She quickly found that she could feel a connection between her and the glass. It was real. Slowly, she sat upright and the glass rose with her. She pointed her right index finger at a spot on the table, and the glass slowly obeyed, placing itself where she had pointed.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Lydia¡¯s mother breathed, genuinely in awe of Lydia. She looked at Hallast with an expression somewhere between alarm and confusion.


    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Hallast said, warmly. ¡°Did you feel it? That rush from the panic of seeing your glass fall? There¡¯s a bump of adrenaline and then something takes over.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lydia replied, still slightly stunned by what she had just done. ¡°It was in my chest.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hallast confirmed, with a little more excitement. ¡°People often say they feel it in their chest. That is what we call certainty. By putting you in a situation where you didn¡¯t have time to think, I forced your two wills to establish certainty. They became one will and you were met with no resistance from my world, so your magic worked instantly.¡±


    ¡°You might have to start over,¡± Lydia¡¯s mother, finally chimed in. ¡°This time without being dramatic, please.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Hallast agreed, scratching his head as he thought. ¡°Okay¡­ So everything in the universe follows a pattern of what we call the hierarchy of wills. You have two wills. The first is your immediate will, which constitutes your main motivation to do most things. If I want to take a walk, my immediate will coordinates energy to my body to do it. Simple, right?


    ¡°Now your second will is called your true will, which is much more complicated. Imagine the most practical individual in the world, living inside your brain, trying to keep the peace between you and the rest of existence, and she isn¡¯t very talkative at all.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like my subconscious or something,¡± Lydia offered.


    ¡°It¡¯s energy within you that is motivated toward not just what you want,¡± Jessica helped to elaborate. ¡°It plays to what you are meant to do and what is best for you. Even if it¡¯s unpleasant in the here and now.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Hallast corroborated. ¡°When your two wills¡¯ energy are flowing in the same direction, it¡¯s powerful. When they are in conflict, it¡¯s impossible to do magic.¡±


    ¡°I think I understand,¡± Lydia said, trying to wrap her head around a new way of looking at things. ¡°So why can¡¯t anybody just do magic, if they¡¯re a really balanced person?¡±


    ¡°One person¡¯s certain will isn¡¯t the full equation,¡± Hallast said, taking a sip of stew from his spoon. ¡°As your mother mentioned earlier there exists the will of the other people around you, there is also the will of the universe, which might fight you if you don¡¯t communicate properly and establish certainty with it.¡±


    ¡°The universe has a will?¡± Lydia asked wide-eyed.


    ¡°I mean,¡± Jessica shrugged as she spoke, ¡°It is energy, and it is flowing in a direction. It doesn¡¯t think, but its energetic path is set. Rules come from that path. Physics and other elements in play aren¡¯t just going to do what you want. Hallast built this world, so the rules are largely his, which is how you so easily stopped the glass from falling.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Hallast confirmed. ¡°The rules on earth are not as kind. To project our energy in the proper direction we follow the mnemonic device: ¡®What Fantastic Sorcery¡¯ or ¡®Want it, Feel it, See it.¡¯ This gives us an easy route toward certainty.¡±


    ¡°Why use symbols?¡± asked Lydia, feeling slightly confused by the concept. ¡°Why not just ¡®WFS¡¯ all the time?¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± Hallast explained, stirring his stew idly, ¡°symbols are the way we see the universe and therefore the means by which we communicate with it. It projects our own certainty into a language that interacts with the world around us. It¡¯s the best way we have to express complex instructions and ideas to the universe.¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± Lydia said, abandoning her fork to pick up her burrito and take a big bite of it.


    ¡°I think,¡± Jessica began with a chuckle, ¡°that you¡¯ve exhausted your pupil, Hallast.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Hallast laughed, looking slightly defensive. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you aren¡¯t a part of this, Jess.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s cool, guys,¡± Lydia responded with a mouthful of burrito. ¡°You just keep changing the way I perceive reality, but I¡¯m probably not being slowly scarred by it.¡±


    The three laughed and continued to enjoy their meal. Afterward they each went to their individual rooms in the palace. Lydia sat on her simple bed, in her simple room. She opened her spell book once again and turned to the third page and wrote at the top of the page:


    -Symbols-


    The word became the mysterious lettering, as it had before. Just below, she drew a picture of an acorn. Lydia was inspired by the woman she had seen in the fountain, and decided that this would be her symbol for hope.