ã€ŠNot (Just) A Mage Lord Isekaiã€‹


 Chapter 1 - No Good Choices

    It''s funny how you could be cruising along the highway one minute, then have a kid step out in front of you while going oh-now-I''m-screwed miles per hour.

    An oncoming truck on the left. A kid frozen up, holding a red basketball directly ahead. A thick forest of trees off to the right. Not a good choice among them.

    Was still an easy one.

    I flew off the right side and slammed into a thick oak tree, certain that that moment, that terrifying choice, was my last.

    However, I woke up. I woke up to a pair of soft brown eyes surrounded by a wrinkled face looking down at me.

    My first thought was that I''d survived the accident and that this was the grizzled face of my nurse, about to tell me how utterly ruined I was.

    "Ah, it seems the young master has deemed himself worthy of joining us this morning after all," a weathered voice rumbled forth as what I soon realized was an older gentleman took a step backwards. "Perhaps this will remind the young lord that staying out until the crimson goddess''s hour the night after his awakening was not his wisest pursuit. You may be a mage now, but that doesn''t mean you have the fortitude of a Dragon-souled, master Perth."

    Despite his resemblance to a certain caped crusader''s butler, I somehow knew this man''s name was Calbern. And he wasn''t a butler. He was Perth''s personal servant, a sort of mentor and aide.

    More importantly, flashes of memory revealed I''d died, bleeding out in the car even as the sirens drew close. But instead of staying six feet under, I''d been reborn in a new world. As a noble of all things. And one who could wield magic. A magelord.

    I''d won the isekai jackpot!

    I hadn''t even needed to struggle to adapt. All the previous host''s memories were there for me to draw on, like a half remembered wiki article.

    "Your young master might not have made the best decisions last night," I admitted, though I wasn''t referring to the copious amounts of alcohol he''d consumed with his brothers.

    No, on the evening of awakening his mana, at the prodding of two of his elder brothers, young master Perth Seleus Aranor had decided he''d take part in a dangerous and legally dubious ritual that would summon a soul from another world. A ritual that, supposedly, would allow him to feed on said soul to grant himself a rare affinity and greater potential than most wizards could dream of.

    Turns out I gave him a bit of indigestion. Even without being conscious, I fought back, his brothers laughing as he writhed on the floor. Not the best of brothers, those.

    Perth had struggled home alone, in enough pain I actually felt a degree of sympathy for him, despite his attempt to eat my soul. Poor kid really didn''t know what he was getting into. My old man may''ve been a right bastard, but he''d taught me to never give up. It seemed that had stuck even after I''d died. At some point in the night, I''d eaten Perth''s instead.

    Rough night for the young master.

    "A promising sign, that the young master can recognize his failings so readily," Calbern said, with a hint of pride in his voice. "Now, if you can gather yourself, your father has asked for you to attend him."

    "My father?" I asked as I tried to recall what I could of the man. As it turned out, it wasn''t much. Sightings at the yearly family shindigs and a single wordless visit when Perth turned thirteen had been the full extent of the unlucky bastard''s interactions with his old man.

    Considering Perth was the only child of his third wife, who had died in an accident when Perth had been young, he''d savored those memories. As a political marriage, his father had apparently had no use for little Perth. I could tell that Perth had been lucky though. His father might''ve ignored him, but Calbern had looked after him as though he''d been his own child. Better than anyone had looked after me, that was for sure.

    Not that Perth had a chance to appreciate it.

    "Yes, it seems your father has decided on your calling," Calbern replied, holding up a set of fur lined robes for inspection. "Not these, I think. Today calls for a touch less color. Can''t be broadcasting your affinity when we haven''t even had a chance to get you properly tested, can we?"

    I simply nodded, allowing Calbern to dress me as I recalled as much as I could of my situation, not bothering to fight off my smile as the green vines that served as laces on my shirt wove themselves together as Calbern pulled it into place. After all, Perth would''ve been just as excited, if for different reasons.

    Looking out the window, I could see flashes in the distance. According to Perth¡¯s memories, those were expected on occasion, as the monsters from beyond the Front tested the barriers containing the chaos at the center of the continent.

    It seemed I''d woken in the kingdom of Arcadia, on the world of Ro''an. One of the hundred kingdoms, though only one of three that bordered the infamous Front. Perth''s father was an Evearl, one of the higher ranks of the Magus Dominus, and one of the few mages to reach the coveted rank of Djinn-soul. Only kings, queens and the handful of Free Walkers ¡ª Dragon-souled mages who called no land their home ¡ª were above his father. Even as an estranged son, I''d basically won the lottery.

    No. Especially as an estranged son. Whatever ''calling'' Perth''s old man chose for me, I''d have access to his vast libraries, years to develop my core and the freedom to explore this new world.

    Glancing towards the flashing light in the distance, I shuddered. If I was an actual heir, I would''ve had duties that bound me to the castle or managing the lands under his old man. Or even being apprenticed to a mage on the Front. I had no desire to be placed somewhere the life expectancy was measured in days for all but the most talented.

    Beyond the safety of the Infinite Rift and humanity''s Barrier Pillars, all sorts of powerful beasts lived, fought and died. Genies, hydras and demons were all known to break free from beyond The Front, fleeing from whatever lay at the heart of the continent, where mana was thickest. Even dragons would sometimes emerge from within the chaos, though the great wyrms were rarely as destructive.

    Calbern tugged on my sleeve, and the fabric tightened at his touch, nature enchantments causing the material to fit me perfectly. As it would with every member of Perth¡¯s family, even the seventh in line. Perth had four brothers and two sisters ahead of him. All but one, his half-sister Nexxa, were from his father''s first wife. That meant the many expectations of their father¡¯s noble scions had long been fulfilled before Perth came into his magic. There wasn''t much between me and my desire to wield mystic forces. Especially because, in addition to his awakened mana, I''d inherited years worth of theoretical teaching about the workings of magic through Perth''s memories.

    Even if those memories were considerably less clear than I would''ve preferred.

    Perth paid less attention during his Wizard theory classes than I did when my old man had droned on about what part was what during our many engine swaps and other grease monkey work. In both our defence, teenage minds did better when we chose the subject of our attention.

    Still, I''d just been pulling wrenches. Perth was learning literal magic! Something he''d been practically guaranteed to awaken as the son of a Djinn-souled.

    "You''re looking rather handsome. I do believe I''ve outdone myself," Calbern said, stepping back so I could have a clear view of the mirror. After one final adjustment of the neck scarf, a simple but elegant strip of cloth that represented my recently awakened core, of course. Even as a ''lowly'' Mage-soul, the simple band of lightly enchanted blue cloth marked me as one in ten thousand.

    As I looked in the mirror, I was shocked at how closely Perth''s appearance matched my own. He had the same piercing blue eyes I''d gotten from my mother, as well as the straight black hair. His chin was a little sharper than I was used to and his cheeks not quite as round, with none of the scars or burns. Wasn''t as fit either. He was also twenty years younger than I''d been when I crashed, though I''d already picked up on that from his memories.

    Looked better than I had when I was twenty-one, but then I''d been drinking every night, doing my level best to obliterate every thought I could. Of my old man. Of his dreams. Of what he''d made me¡­

    Instead, I''d wasted those years of my life. Probably would''ve continued wasting the rest of them if the old man hadn''t up and keeled over from a heart attack. Best thing he''d ever done for me, other than leaving me the shop.

    Still, the old man dying shattered everything I thought I knew. Like when the Titanic sank. Impossible until it happened. It¡¯d been a bigger adjustment than waking up somewhere other than Earth, that was for sure.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Calbern adjusted my collar once more, drawing me out of my thoughts, the scarf having slid slightly as I inspected my new self.

    "You''re a good man, Calbern," I said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. Perth might not have appreciated him, but I already did. The man was a saint, at least in regards to how he''d cared for Perth.

    "I¡­ Thank you, master Perth," Calbern replied, blinking rapidly but otherwise not betraying any surprise at my comment. He''d always been a special sort of upright, so far as Perth could remember.

    "I don''t suppose father gave you any hints as to my calling? It must not be too reliant on my awakening if he doesn''t want to wait until I''ve tested my affinity. Monster hunting in the outer kingdoms, maybe? Or perhaps a place within the shipyards?" It was amazing how easily I could talk as though I was Perth. Then again, my old man had taught me well the value of telling others what they wanted to hear.

    "I''m afraid he didn''t see fit to inform me, master Perth. He did seem rather pleased when we spoke, however."

    Neither Perth or I knew Perth''s father well enough to know if that was a good thing. One could hope. I didn''t.

    "Suppose we''d best get on with it," I said looking once more into the mirror, rather liking who I saw staring back.

    Calbern inclined his head in agreement before escorting me to Perth''s father''s wing of the complex. As soon as we left my room, I had to fight to keep my head from swiveling. While I had access to Perth¡¯s memories, there was still something marvelous about the nature of the estate.

    And nature was the right word.

    The hallway outside Perth¡¯s room was lit not by electric lights or burning gas fires, but by glowing bulbs of florescent plant leaves. Every step was softened by the thin layer of grass that served as both carpet and perfume, the bending of the blades leaving a pleasant, yet subtle floral scent.

    Which served as security as much as a display of skill, the scent alerting the hidden guardians of every movement within the halls.

    Every part of the Aranor estate incorporated some aspect of nature in its motif or its function. And why wouldn¡¯t it, when Perth¡¯s father was the most talented nature mage the continent had seen in a century. And he had expected the same of his children.

    These wonders of magic were considered so crass by Perth¡¯s family, that even his compound had them.

    It was apparent when we entered the main compound. While the flowers in Perth¡¯s section had been well tended and natural feeling, here it was as though nature had been bent to an iron will, and that will had chosen to express itself in the form of a great mural.

    We crossed into the entrance hall, which stretched a hundred feet across, and easily thirty above us. The entire time we remained beneath the empty gaze of a mighty nature dragon. Not one of the Dragon-souled, who were said to be the continent¡¯s only equals to the great wyrms, but the hollow skull of Velor, who Perth¡¯s father had slain during his time at the Front.

    Unable to help myself, I stopped and stared at the magnificent rainbow glimmer of the otherwise obsidian-seeming skull. Material so durable, that even in death, it could resist any blow.

    Calbern moved beside me, not saying a word, but inclining his head ever so slightly further in. His point was clear. Perth¡¯s father was waiting.

    Stepping into a side corridor off of the entrance hall, the decor returned to something more humble, only having the simple lighting and anti-intruder grass.

    Leaving me to wait outside, Calbern stepped inside the study. A room Perth had never been allowed inside, despite spending most his life in the complex. He''d heard his siblings complain about their lessons there, but Perth¡¯s hadn''t even been in the wing.

    Calbern returned a few seconds later, informing me we''d need to wait. Which wasn''t too much of a surprise. I couldn¡¯t allow myself to be late, but even Perth''s eldest sibling, Barreth, had to wait when their father was occupied.

    We didn''t end up waiting long, the door swinging open only ten minutes after Calbern had informed him of our arrival.

    Practically instant, where Perth''s father was concerned.

    I entered the study alone, taking in the austere yet high quality contents. A lone desk, carved from the heart of a thousand year old World tree sat in the center. Behind it sat Perth''s father, on one of four chairs carved from the same tree, his hands folded neatly on the desk while his eyes tracked my entrance.

    He looked barely older than Perth himself, the longer life of a Djinn-souled fortifying his health. Instead of Perth''s raven black hair, his father''s was a rich brown, tinged with emerald green. Eyes of swirling green, the exact shade as those highlights in his hair, took in my every movement.

    Thankfully, I was prepared for this meeting. Calbern had drilled Perth on it repeatedly, and unlike his magic lessons, Perth had paid full attention.

    "Greetings, esteemed father," I said, bowing at the hip while keeping my legs as straight as possible. Something Perth had been incapable of before the aforementioned drills. "I have come to you in the wake of my ensoulment, ready to serve our house."

    "Greetings, my child. I see your commitment, and offer you a choice," he replied, almost causing me to fall over. If Perth had been here, he likely would''ve.

    The calling wasn''t a choice. That''s why it was a calling. The head of the house called his ensouled scions to action and they answered.

    That''s how it had been for every one of Perth''s siblings. Heck, according to what Perth had been taught, that''s how it''d worked for his parents, and their parents before them.

    Despite the instructions Perth had been given to keep his eyes fixed firmly to the floor, I wasn''t able to keep my eyes from flicking upward, to see if perhaps this man was somehow messing with me. Yet all I could see were those swirling emerald eyes staring back, unwavering and resolute.

    Forcing myself to swallow as I returned my eyes to the floor, I waited for another few seconds. When nothing further was offered, I asked, "A choice?"

    "Due to the nature of your post-ensoulment celebration activities, we must make adjustments," he paused then, and I could feel his eyes burning into me. If it''d been Perth, he would''ve started pleading for forgiveness at that point. Even he would''ve understood what his father was saying. I simply remained in position, wondering how much Perth and his brothers had screwed me. "Originally, I was going to do as you desired, and assign you to the Gardeners."

    I blinked as I stared at the ground, sifting through Perth''s memories. It only took a moment to realize he had indeed wanted to become a Gardener, one of the plant mages who infused the nature crystals the farms used to encourage growth. But he''d only wanted that because it was the easiest job a Mage-souled could get. Dump mana into a repository throughout the week, drop it off at the Gardens, then sit around and relax. There were Gardeners who did more than that, of course, but that was the minimum required of a noble scion assigned to the role.

    "But now that path has been rendered¡­ untenable." Risking another glance, I caught a hint of a frown, before his face returned to his impervious poker face. "Instead, you must choose a new path. But first, we shall take a little trip. We are going to the Front.¡±

    I was unable to suppress the shudder that went through me at that. The Front was where the ensouled went to die.

    Avoiding such a fate was part of why Perth had been convinced by his brothers that it would be worth it to go through with the ritual that had summoned me.

    I could appreciate the irony, even if Perth wouldn''t have.

    "Yes, you understand what that means. Prepare yourself."

    Despite his words, I didn¡¯t know what I could do.

    The roof of the study peeled open, much like a flower. Perth¡¯s father came around the desk and laid one solid hand on my shoulder. A second later and we started to rise. Below us, a single gargantuan leaf held us up, thin vines strapping my feet to its surface. Before I could take in our surroundings, we were rising higher, moving faster, before we were suddenly shooting across the sky.

    Everything around us was a blur, until it wasn¡¯t.

    The first thing I noticed was the giant pillar rising into the sky. It gleamed with a metallic shine, and if not for Perth¡¯s history lessons, I would¡¯ve thought it a new construction.

    It was one of the great Barrier Pillars that sat along the Front.

    Beneath us, mages cast spells at monsters, culling back the tide. There were thousands of mages, all working to hold it back.

    There were even more monsters. Most of the monsters were fighting each other. And of those that didn¡¯t, the majority of the rest would impact the intangible barrier, only to bounce off and run away.

    But among the untold masses, a handful slipped through.

    And where they did, the mages fought.

    Even as we watched, a hydra pierced the barrier. With seven heads waving in fury, its scaled leg crashed down on a group of mages. From our height, I couldn¡¯t determine their fate, though I suspected they¡¯d be doomed without help.

    ¡°It seems we chose a good moment,¡± Perth¡¯s father said, bringing us closer while raising his hand. In response, the ground below twisted, black thorned vines shooting upward to wrap around the hydra¡¯s many necks. The vines constrained the hydra, and most of the mages escaped from beneath its bulk. Not all though. As the leaf we were on drew closer, I saw a pair of mages still underneath it.

    One was cradling the other, tears running down his cheeks as he held his friend. That his friend was dead, I had no doubt. There was no way-

    The body twitched, then gasped, physically knitting itself together. Then a dozen black vines wrapped around the pair, hauling them to the safety of their colleagues.

    Perth¡¯s father didn¡¯t even glance in the direction of the men he¡¯d saved as he wrestled the still living hydra to the ground.

    ¡°Harvesters!¡± he called. Another group of mages came running at his words, and while he held it in place, started sawing at the hydra. ¡°Good. Watch closely, Perth. This is your fate. You will soon join these hard working mages. Either on the wall, or as one of these fine men who shall ensure nothing goes to waste.¡±

    I swallowed. While Perth¡¯s father was ordering them around like they were nothing, every ensouled present was at least a Pegasus tier. And even with their magic, a single monster had nearly killed them all.

    While they dealt with the cleanup of the hydra, I scoured Perth¡¯s memories for a solution. Some way out of this. I couldn¡¯t be sent to the Front. Perth¡¯s brother had been prepared for nearly a decade before being allowed to go to the Front, and it hadn¡¯t even been his calling.

    My gaze settled on the Pillar.

    There was something there.

    Barreth had been talking with their brother Sosa, he¡¯d mentioned that father couldn¡¯t ever be sent to the Front, because he was a Magus Dominus. That memory triggered others. A Magus Dominus didn¡¯t have to be a Djinn-souled. Any awakened mage could take the oath.

    Instead of fighting on the front, I would serve by watching over Ro¡¯an¡¯s people. I would be sent to govern a domain, an area of land linked to its beacon until my oath was deemed fulfilled. I would be expected to fight, yes, but it wouldn¡¯t be the suicide of the Front.

    The oath came to me, and I found myself uttering the words with surprising conviction as I fixed my gaze on the Barrier Pillar. "Upon the ancient Pillars of Ro¡¯an, I bind myself in solemn oath.¡± Even as I said the words, I could feel something reach out to me, brushing against some intangible part of my being. Doing my best to ignore the alien sensation, I continued, ¡°I pledge my life and the essence of my soul to protect the people under my charge. I shall be their shield, their storm, and their watchful eye, unyielding until my final breath. My lands shall remain pure, free from the stain of corruption and the scourge of monstrous threats. So long as my Domain stands, my vow stands eternal, etched into the fabric of Ro¡¯an.¡±

    I took a deep breath, stealing a glance at Perth¡¯s father, who watched me with narrowed eyes. Yet he did not interrupt as I spoke the final words.

    ¡°With full knowledge of what lies before me, I pledge myself as a Magus Dominus.¡±

 Chapter 2 - Means of Travel

    I felt it in my soul.

    The binding of the oath. The link between me and Ro¡¯an. It sat heavy on my shoulders, like a cloak. And like a cloak, that oath protected me against the storm that would¡¯ve been duty on the front.

    By the time I recovered from the new sensation, we had returned to the study.

    With the sound of shuffling of paper, Perth¡¯s father said simply, "Rise."

    Doing as instructed, I stood. He was turned away from me, and I was grateful for the momentary reprieve even as I took in what he''d laid out on the table. It was a map. A map I didn''t recognize, even as I drew on Perth''s knowledge.

    "Well, my ambitious son," Perth''s father said with a cold chuckle that sent shivers down my spine, "congratulations on joining our ranks, Magus Dominus. And thank you."

    ¡°Thank you?¡± I found myself asking in confusion. There was no way Perth should be qualified to be a Magus Dominus. He''d had a few lessons on governance growing up, but only enough to understand the basics. Under ordinary circumstances, his father shouldn¡¯t be thanking him. Or me, in this case. If Perth knew nothing about governance, I knew less than nothing. Most I¡¯d ever managed was a mechanic¡¯s shop, and I¡¯d been the only employee.

    Given the unfamiliar map, I could discern he¡¯d somehow already made plans for me. I wouldn''t be staying in my father''s domain. And I was committed to Magus Dominus, of that there was zero doubt. There was no running away from an oath sworn on the Pillars of Ro¡¯an. The energy I¡¯d felt had imprinted itself when I¡¯d finished swearing the oath. Something Perth had known about but I only recalled after I¡¯d said the words.

    Even as I contemplated my fate, Perth''s father continued talking. "Yes. It seems my old companion Althon has had a dearth of suitable Magus Domini for the past couple decades. While not ideal, you are no fool. And this would give you a chance to prove you are worthy of the surname Aranor."

    Such words would''ve been enough for Perth to jump in gratitude immediately. Being officially recognized as his father''s son was something he''d only ever dreamed of. Not that his father had actually said he''d get that. Just that he''d be worthy of it. And while I had every intention of going along with his solution, I had questions. The first of which being, "Who is Althon? More importantly, where would my Domain be?"

    A flash of a smile crossed his face, disappearing as fast as it appeared before Perth''s father gestured at the map in front of him. "Althon rules over the Frigid Peaks, on the far side of the continent. Your domain will be there."

    No wonder Perth had never heard of him, nor recognized the map. The Frigid Peaks were on the far side of the continent. That was a journey of years for anyone below Djinn-souled. And even they''d take months flying along the Rift just to get there.

    "What can you tell me? Am I going alone? How am I getting there?" I fired off even as I inspected the map, considering my options. With a trip counted in years, I''d be traveling by ship, most likely. Which would provide me with a great deal of time to work on my magic. Even longer by enchanted carriage or horse, though practice would be harder.

    "You have much more of a backbone than your brothers said. You¡¯re more my son than I had expected," he said, his green eyes catching my own.

    "I suppose I am," I replied, doing my best to hold his gaze as a weight pressed down on me. It got heavier, and I felt my knees begin to shake, but I kept my gaze locked on his. There was a glint to his eyes, and I couldn¡¯t tell if the flash of dark green was real or imagined.

    Suddenly, the pressure eased and he rolled up the map. "Excellent. Send Calbern in after you leave. I will have him gather all you need to know. Also, you may have one boon. Think well-"

    "Calbern. I want him to come with me. As my boon, I mean."

    His eyes narrowed for a moment before he shook his head. "That is no boon. As of your awakening, he has fulfilled his contract. A week from today he shall be freed from my service. If you wish to retain his services after that, you will have to ask him yourself." He held up a hand before I could say anything else. "Wait at least a day before having Calbern ask your boon of me. You will not depart for a month."

    "I¡­ thank you, father." And I really was grateful. For the boon at least. A boon from Perth''s father was no small thing. The logical part of me was already reprimanding myself for my reckless request to bring Calbern. It was drowned out though.

    Calbern might not have raised me, but after peering through Perth¡¯s memories, and seeing all he''d done for the kid¡­ well, I knew I wanted such a man in my corner. Even if I could never tell him the truth about the ritual or who I really was.

    As I stepped outside, I found the man in question waiting, standing at attention.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    "Father tells me you''re no longer his servant," I said, holding up a hand to forestall his words. "I''d like you to be mine but¡­"

    "I''d be honored, master Perth. What, if I may ask, was your calling?"

    ¡°Father wanted me to go to the Front,¡± I said, unable to help myself, fighting down a smile.

    ¡°The Front?¡± Calbern replied, his composure slipping for a second as his eyebrows raised a degree. Then he composed himself, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Wanted you to?¡±

    ¡°I took the oath to become a Magus Dominus.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ that is an ambitious choice, master Perth. Of course I will join you.¡±

    "It wasn''t much of a choice. And thank you," I said clapping him on the shoulder. He raised an eyebrow, and I quickly retracted my hand, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Father wanted me to send you in so you could get the details."

    "Indeed? I suppose I should talk to him then,¡± he said, straightening his back by a fraction of an inch. Then he entered the study, leaving me to wait once more.

    When he emerged, he gave me a slight inclination of his head, ¡°Shall we discuss this in your chambers?¡±

    "Fair ''nuff," I replied, nodding at him to lead the way.

    He raised an eyebrow at me, before nodding in return and guiding us back to Perth''s corner of the complex. Specifically to Perth''s study, where he''d taken most of his classes. To my amusement, Calbern pulled a map down from the shelves, unfurling it on the desk. It hadn''t even been hidden. Perth had just never cared to look for it.

    The map lacked any of the magic I¡¯d come to expect from the world, though the detail was impressive.

    "Your father doesn''t know exactly where Althon will send you," Calbern said as he weighed down a stubborn corner of the map with an old statue. It was of the seven-faced god, the supposed god of magic. Perth had made the thing years earlier, as part of his lessons. Calbern had insisted on keeping it despite how uneven the features were. "But it won''t be along here. These regions are all governed by his own Magus Domini." He gestured along the smoother parts of the Frigid Peaks, the ''foothills'' that bordered the Front, shorter mountains that would be considered tall anywhere else on the continent. Then he gestured towards the far eastern side of the map. "Meaning you''re going to be stationed somewhere higher. And that means we need to be prepared for the cold. And Frost Wolves."

    I nodded. The Frigid Peaks weren''t actually in the north, instead lying in the far east. They weren''t far from my new world''s equator. The frigid part came from their height. They were the highest mountains in the world, and it was said the heavens touched them directly, stealing the weak¡¯s breath from their lungs.

    Poetic way to say there''s no air that high up.

    Calbern and I continued discussing the basics of my preparations which led to him reminding me we¡¯d have to restrict the amount we could bring, on account of the fact we''d be traveling by Gate.

    "Wait, we''re going to take a Gate to the far side of the continent?" I asked, unable to hide my shock. Gates were rarely used. They required incredible amounts of mana. Holding one open for a single minute took more mana than Perth''s father generated in a year.

    "So I''ve been told, master Perth," Calbern replied with a serious nod. "And your father insisted that we bring only what we can fit within the cube."

    Perth''s memories failed me, forcing me to ask, "What cube?"

    "Ah, I suppose your tutor never had reason to discuss the mechanics of gate use with you. It is quite simple, master Perth. Maintaining an open gate is ruinously expensive..."

    I nodded when Calbern paused, indicating my desire he should continue with a roll of my hand.

    "Well, to ensure full use of a gate, a great deal of preparation is involved. Each cube is not particularly large. Suffice to say, the more possessions we bring, the more we shall have to sacrifice comfort. To the best of my recollection, we shall have to endure some amount of time in such a state, so we should choose wisely.¡±

    I simply stared at Calbern for several seconds, before pressing him for details.

    ¡°Well, if the container is of a standard configuration, I believe the cube would be just over six feet on each side. I¡¯ve heard that the minimum sent through are in the order of a hundred such cubes, all loaded days or longer before the gate is opened.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s why we¡¯re leaving in a month? Because we need to prepare?¡±

    ¡°Ah. I believe I should clarify. Every six months the gate is powered up. While I don¡¯t believe there is a great deal of travel, your father has taken such a trip before. Once around your tenth birthday, as I recall, when he took your siblings to the City on the Water.¡±

    I grimaced at that. His father had taken all the other children except Perth and his half-sister Nexxa with him. It had been the most blatant sign of Perth¡¯s perceived value to the man, though Perth and Nexxa had bonded somewhat over the six months the others had been gone.

    Shaking my head, I refocused on the gate. ¡°How do they get so many cubes through at once? That seems like it¡¯d cost insane amounts of mana. Isn¡¯t the cost continuous?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ am unsure, master Perth. I do know that the gate isn¡¯t open for very long,¡± Calbern said, tapping the symbol for the gate on the map. ¡°I¡¯ve never traveled through one myself.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if they¡¯re tied together¡­ Maybe they set them on tracks? Is it gravity fed?¡± I mumbled, pulling out one of the empty journals on the study shelves.

    "I must admit, master Perth, I''m somewhat surprised by your interest," Calbern said as I was jotting down my ideas on how they might handle sending things through the gate.

    His comment caused me to stop, looking down at my notes. He was right. Perth never would''ve expressed interest in the workings of the gate. There were only three things that had ever caught his interest. Pleasing his father, girls who fluttered their eyes at him, and ''hunting''. Though the latter was more of an excuse to drink and gossip with his riding buddies. They seldom caught anything themselves, leaving such ¡®base activities¡¯ for their servants.

    None of his old hobbies appealed to me. Besides, I had a perfect excuse for a change in my behavior. Two even.

    "Well, I wasn''t a Magus Dominus before, was I, Calbern? Can you believe it? And Father was already looking for one," I said, flashing him a smile as I placed my hand on the map.

    "I always knew you had it in you," Calbern replied as he placed a hand on my shoulder, making a twinge of guilt hit me. I wasn''t the Perth he knew and loved, even if I''d already accepted I¡¯d be filling Perth''s shoes. I considered then, not bringing him with me. Would I really be able to lie to such a good man?

    The affirmation I felt when he squeezed my shoulder chased those doubts away. It was greedy, but I¡­ I needed him. I was about to embark on a task neither Perth or I had truly been prepared for.

    It seemed that the answer was yes.

    Yes, I could lie to a good man. And I could do so with a smile on my face.

 Chapter 3 - Appropriately Magical

    Evening quickly overtook us as we talked.

    Calbern escorted me back to my bedroom, where we parted ways for the evening.

    As I watched the magical threads unweave, my attention returned to something I''d been putting off. Just before Perth had dragged my soul into this world, he''d awoken his magic.

    And now that power was mine. Waiting until Calbern finished closing the blinds and bade me a final goodnight was more challenging than I''d expected. But finally I was left alone, nothing but me and the burning curiosity.

    Holding out my hand, I played through Perth''s memories one more time. But there was nothing about casting without a spell, which I hadn¡¯t scribed any of yet.

    Still, there were common triggers for using spells.

    Focus my Will.

    I stared at my palm, letting the concerns of the day fall away.

    Draw the power forth.

    I searched through my body, and found the new sensation, the one neither Perth nor I had felt for most of our lives. It was¡­ well, it was unlike anything I¡¯d felt before. It shared some similarities to when I hit the funny bone on my elbow, except more pleasant. Drawing it to my palm wasn¡¯t particularly hard, unless I thought about it too hard. The moment I did that, my energy returned to its normal flow.

    With the power there, all I had to do was shift my Will and¡­

    Let the Mana coalesce.

    It was different from Perth''s memory. For him, the energy had been as familiar and simple as the beating of his heart. For me¡­ I could feel it tracing down my arm, with a tingling just like when I fell asleep on my arm. That tingle continued up to the tip of my fingers even as I urged my mana to coalesce. And slowly, it did, casting off the faintest of light in the otherwise dark bedchamber.

    Magic.

    I had done it.

    Sure, it was barely the faintest glow, not even as bright as my old cell phone screen, never mind the actual flashlight function. But still¡­

    Magic.

    Unable to help myself, I started dragging my finger through the air, still channelling the pittance of mana, the movements leaving tiny motes of soft white light behind. It was a good thing I''d waited. I''d have completely missed the effects if I''d attempted it during the daylight hours. I might''ve been able to detect the glow on my finger, but it certainly wouldn''t have felt as¡­ magical.

    Even as I continued playing with the motes, my thoughts drifted to what I''d do next. Perth knew most of the basic theory for the first two layers of advancement and had studied several spells he''d intended to add to his grimoire.

    An excellent start, but if I was being flung to the far corners of the known world, I''d need more. My plans extended beyond simply stepping from Mage-soul to Astral-soul. Even the third step, Pegasus-soul, was barely enough. Then again, if I had my way, I''d blow past Pegasus and Hydra-soul straight to Djinn. And at that point, why not keep going until I was Dragon-souled.

    ¡°Keeping it humble,¡± I scoffed to myself, still watching the motes of mana drifting in the air.

    Even my father''s library wouldn''t be able to help me figure out how to reach Dragon-soul. That was the sort of knowledge Perth''s father would kill for.

    Besides I was getting ahead of myself. My first task needed to be inscribing my first spells in my grimoire. I wouldn''t be able to advance my soul without expressing my magic. Which, for the advancement to Astral-soul, meant holding spell impressions inside my soul. And doing that without having them in my grimoire was next to impossible with the tiny pool of mana I''d inherited from Perth.

    Even as I lay in bed contemplating the future, and all the magic I intended to wield, sleep snuck over me. My dreams that night were a weird mix. I was where I¡¯d spent more of my time after my old man had passed, at the garage I¡¯d been raised in. Except this time, instead of pulling apart an old Honda to scrap out, I was carving magic into the side of a scooter. It was supposed to make it shoot out cinnamon flavored bubble gum.

    Like I said, weird.

    I¡¯ve never liked cinnamon gum.

    Once more, I woke to a wrinkled face staring down at me. To my surprise, the dream stayed with me. And there hadn''t been any of my usual nightmares. Or any nightmares at all. Seemed the new world was good for me.

    I dutifully followed Calbern''s instructions once more as he dressed me for the day, once more unable to hide a smile at the way my clothes shifted to fit themselves to me perfectly.

    "Another bit of excitement awaits you, young master," Calbern said, brushing my sleeves as though even a hint of a wrinkle personally offended him. As though the clothes didn¡¯t remove the wrinkles themselves. "It is time to test your affinities."

    "It''d be rather amusing if it turned out I had a strong nature affinity at this point. Not much use for a Gardener in the Frigid Peaks," I chuckled, shifting my shoulders. For some reason the jacket he''d chosen for the day felt tight. It wasn''t nearly as forgiving as the robes he''d chosen the day before.

    "A strong nature affinity would be most appropriate, I''d say. It also has many uses in the healing arts, if you would merely apply yourself. After all, that''s what most of your family has done with their talents," Calbern replied, with considerably less humor.

    "Not Nexxa though. She always liked to be different," I noted as I followed him out the door.

    "Yes, though as I understand it, it took your sister a great deal of effort to shift her affinity to lightning."

    "Not like she could raid father''s library for impressions to build off of."

    "I suppose that''s why she accepted your father''s proposal."

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "What proposal?"

    "Why, to change her calling, master Perth. Did I not mention that she''ll be serving as one of Althon''s new Magus Domini?" The subtle twitch of his lips gave away that Calbern hadn''t forgot a damn thing.

    "Guess we''re not leaving all the family behind then," I grumbled. Perth hadn''t much liked Nexxa, having always felt that she''d been looking down on him. My annoyance was grounded in an entirely different concern.

    She was the only person in the family who actually cared about Perth. And other than Calbern, the most likely to see through me.

    More worryingly, she was an accomplished mage, managing to elevate herself to Astral-soul in less than a year. Something many had assured us was impossible. Especially since she¡¯d chosen to wipe away most of her nature affinity in order to boost her lightning affinity. A very complicated and painfull process.

    All told, Nexxa was a veritable prodigy.

    "Perhaps you will be neighbors. It will be good to have an ally close at hand," Calbern noted as he held open the door for the carriage.

    "Allies, huh?" He had a point. I¡­ didn''t really know anything about politics. Or governing folk, really. Hell, I''d never even made it into high school, never mind graduated.

    What I did know... was machines. The old man had beat that into my head with a wrench. Sometimes literally. And from what I could glean from Perth¡¯s memories, that¡¯d serve me well in my efforts to master magic.

    I also knew how to throw down and how to walk away. Much as I hated the old man and his methods, he¡¯d taught me how to survive too.

    And one thing that helped survive more than anything was to have someone you could go to when everything went to shit at home. Much as it might put me at risk of discovery, having someone I could run to would be good if things went pear-shaped, even if I was banking on her affection for Perth.

    Which meant Nexxa being on the same side of the continent was a good thing. Mostly.

    We remained quiet as the carriage left the estate, my attention reviewing Perth''s memories of his half-sister. Like him, she''d been the only child of her mother, their father''s second wife, though Nexxa''s mother was still alive. Perth even had some halfway fond memories of Nexxa''s mother.

    Not so much for Nexxa herself. Three years his senior, she''d taken her role as big sister rather seriously. Which had caused Perth all manner of headaches. It was rather similar to Calbern, in a way. They''d both expressed affection in ways Perth didn''t understand or appreciate. He¡¯d had good times with Nexxa, even if he hadn¡¯t seen it.

    I was drawn out of my thoughts as the carriage passed through the outer walls of the compound by the ambient mana plummeting. It was most noticeable in the way my core almost seemed to relax, as though it was no longer being constantly assaulted and compressed.

    As I looked back, it occurred to me how perfectly mundane the estate seemed from the outside. It was the height of wealth, but the trappings of magic were all functional, and hidden away inside.

    At a glance, it looked like the sort of place I could find on Earth, even if I''d never be able to afford it. The only obvious thing magical about the whole place was the library¡¯s guardians, whose gaze swept continuously across the estate.

    As we drove past the burgeoning fields into the nearby city, it was similar. I was sure there was magic, but none of it was visible. Even the city looked mundane, if a little more green than I was used to.

    At least it was clean.

    Despite the number of horses pulling carriages, when we stepped out at our destination, there was only the faintest aroma of cherry hanging in the air.

    The building we''d arrived at was, if I squinted, a wonder of magic, at least. Though one subtly done. The Ministry of the Arcane towered over the rest of the city, a single monolith of wood. And while that had impressed Perth, it wasn''t half as tall as the buildings where I''d grown up.

    It was made entirely of wood though, so that was impressive. Looking around, I realized so were all the buildings in the town. Cheap material, thanks to all the Gardeners.

    I followed Calbern into the building, which didn''t even have automatic doors. Thanks to Perth''s studies, I knew such things were possible, even easy, for an ensouled to create. But I supposed such a thing might be beneath most of them.

    There was an attendant dressed in the seven-faced god¡¯s colors, the sparkling white on dark blue looking more appropriate for a traditional wizard¡¯s robe than the neat three piece suit they were wearing. I didn¡¯t have to answer any questions, since Calbern had arranged everything ahead of time.

    The attendant led me to a private room, closed off by a curtain of the same starry blue cloth.

    Behind that curtain, was my first task requiring me to use magic since I¡¯d arrived in this world.

    And it felt appropriately magical.

    Every surface of the room had faint white runes carved into it. And at the center was the skull of an Arcane-wyvern, embedded with dark gems. From that skull extended a dozen snake like tendrils, each with fangs half as long as my forearm was thick, all of them turning to point in my direction the second I stepped past the curtain. Every other second, the skull would release a pulse of white light, casting everything into stark contrast.

    "I shall be waiting for you outside, master Perth," Calbern informed me from outside the curtain, his steps leading him away.

    I simply nodded. I knew what to do. All I had to do was step forward and let them¡­ bite me. Each of the smaller heads was taken from a different mana-sensitive creature, the fangs added afterwards to make testing whatever innate affinities Perth had left me easier.

    While it was possible to increase one''s affinities with dedicated practice, folk''s starting affinities made a huge difference. Especially for those without the necessary resources or desire to improve them. Such as someone as lazy as Perth had been.

    For me, it wouldn''t matter as much what I started with. I intended to be more of an archmage than a specialist, which meant I''d be developing several additional affinities. In fact, I was hoping none of my affinities were too high. If they were, I''d need to put extra effort into the others before I advanced to Astral-soul, to ensure everything was balanced.

    Placing my hands on the central skull, I took a deep breath as the tendrils snaked around my wrist, wrapping tighter. Having secured me in place, they descended one after another, each biting into a different part of my arm. Without my direction, my mana started to move, directed by the tendrils towards their tips before sending it back towards the central skull.

    Despite expecting it, when the mana contacted the skull, I was still shocked when words projected from its empty sockets.

    Soul Path: Mage - Tier 1

    Progress: 0/5 First Order Impressions, No Foundational Structure.

    Affinities: 13 Worlds, 11 Nature, 3 Storm

    The results were better than I''d hoped. While my worlds affinity was a little high for my goal to become an archmage, it was also rare. Rare enough I was already adjusting my plans. Thirteen didn''t sound like much, but it was enough that every point of my mana would be worth roughly two and a half of a normal mage''s when casting spells like Gate. Besides, without a high enough affinity, I''d need a Catalyst to even cast the relevant order of spells. My affinities meant I¡¯d always have access to healing and dimensional magics, both very powerful, though also very complicated.

    Needing Catalysts was one of the reasons most mages carried magical staves, swords and wands, since it was an easy way to expand ones repertoire. It was also the reason they wore cluttered robes or heavily worked magical armor, other than the other practical advantages.

    As Calbern had pointed out, my nature affinity would be useful wherever I ended up. Everyone needed to eat and to be healed, even Dragon-souled, and not needing a Catalyst for first or second order healing spells would be a life saver, more often than not.

    Even though it was an uncommon affinity, I didn''t have as much use for storm. Still, throwing lightning around could have some use, not that my affinity was high enough for it yet.

    As I stared at my affinities, I realized I needed to keep quiet about my worlds affinity. Didn''t need anyone asking how I''d gained such a high affinity in something so rare when Perth had never left the city he grew up in, never mind passed through a Gate. Guess Perth''s little ritual did get him the result he was shooting for, even if I was the one reaping what he''d sown.

    Had Perth''s brothers told his father what had happened during the ritual? Was that why he¡¯d been trying to send me to the Front?

    Shaking my head, I realized it didn''t matter. The man was too powerful for me to worry about. Like a storm, all I could do was endure his passing.

    Instead, I needed to focus on my new calling, and everything I''d need to survive it.

    With my affinities revealed, it was time to peruse the family library.

 Chapter 4 - Guardians of Knowledge

    With my affinities revealed, we returned to the family complex and I made for the library after a short stop by my study. With Calbern in tow, who was loaded down with supplies he¡¯d forbidden me from carrying, I stopped outside the massive building. It was the only building in the complex made of stone. And not just any stone. The entrance was gold-threaded marble, while the walls were mana-infused granite. Even the windows were stone, made of some transparent material Perth had never learned the name of.

    Flanking the entrance were what appeared to be two massive statues, though Perth knew they were enchanted guardians. The left was a depiction of the Dragon-souled champion of war and fertility, Felor, a giant axe in one hand with a babe shielded in the other.

    Across from Felor¡¯s statue stood Valos, Dragon-souled champion of sanctuary and strife. Her statue held a great shield in both hands, the edges jagged with several great spikes running down the center.

    As I walked between them, I considered what it meant to have their likenesses guarding the library. Perth''s father had chosen them for a reason, but none of Perth''s memories were giving me hints to what those reasons might be.

    I suspected the answer lay in some of those lessons he''d lost focus during.

    Ignoring the guardians even as their eyes shifted to follow our entrance, I moved inside the library. The halls were familiar, though not because Perth had spent his time studying here. He''d discovered that if he spent his days goofing off in the library, everyone assumed he was being productive.

    He did know where the spell tomes were though, because it was the one section of the library he''d been forbidden to enter. Now that I knew my affinities, that had changed. It was expected I''d spend time scribing my first spells.

    However, the stairs leading upward to the second floor were guarded by a more fleshy, but far more dangerous guardian than the twin golems outside.

    A librarian.

    As I approached, her narrowed eyes tracked my every step. Lady Guniveer was a Mage-souled on the verge of advancement to Astral. And she''d been on the verge ever since Perth had first been allowed into the library on his sixth birthday. She''d also had the same weathered skin, thin grey hair, and penchant for giving sweets to children who didn''t damage her books.

    Perth''s general lack of actually opening any books meant he''d managed to endear himself to Lady Guniveer entirely on accident. That didn''t stop me from taking advantage of her favorable disposition as I approached.

    "Librarian Guni," I said, doing my best to match Perth''s usual tone, though unable to bring myself to include his usual arrogance. "The day for me to choose my spells has finally arrived."

    "Congratulations on your awakening, master Perth. I knew you''d do it," Lady Guniveer replied, nodding her head with a small smile.

    "That makes one of us," I said, shaking my head. Despite knowing he should be guaranteed to succeed, Perth had always harbored doubts. Even after he awoke his magic.

    At her raised eyebrows, I realized that had been something Perth never would''ve admitted, not even to Calbern. He''d worn his arrogance like armor.

    "Anyway, those spellbooks," I said, pushing past my gaffe.

    "Follow me," Lady Guniveer said, waving me forward. I went to follow only for Lady Guniveer to hold up her other hand in front of Calbern. ¡°Ah ah. Only ensouled are allowed entry.¡±

    For a second, Calbern stood silently, meeting Lady Guniveer¡¯s gaze with his own. Then he nodded, passing me my new grimoire and the other materials I''d need for scribing from him.

    Grunting, I adjusted my weight under the load, then moved after Lady Guniveer. A single flight of stairs, and I found myself heaving for breath. I''d need to add daily exercise to my routine. Couldn''t have a handful of steps defeating me.

    Lady Guniveer led me upstairs. At the top, instead of shelves, each book was placed on its own podium. Even then, I immediately realized I had a problem.

    There were too many spells.

    "Well, let''s get started. What are your affinities?"

    Her question brought me out of my stupor, and I shook my head as I smiled at her. "Doesn''t matter. I''m going for a balanced ascension."

    She raised her eyebrow at me once again, but otherwise didn''t comment other than to guide me towards the books I''d need. As we talked, I discovered scribing my spells was going to be a matter of weeks instead of hours. There were just too many I wanted to bring with me.

    Detect Mana was an essential, especially if I ended up in a low saturation area. Phase Hand had all sorts of uses, though most could be handled just as easily by a servant. While time intensive, Bloom would allow me to cultivate otherwise stubborn plants.

    Those were just the utility spells. Arcane Bolt, Spark and Burning Fan were all solid offensive combat options.

    Then there was defense. Shield, Thorns and Dash all appealed to me.

    And these were only the options I came across in my first ten minutes.

    Despite having more options than a scrapper in a wrecking yard, I did choose my first spell. Then I summoned the sort of focus I¡¯d get when working on a custom job in the shop, working long into the night to scribe it into my grimoire.

    Scribing a spell was a task that took most mages weeks to accomplish, especially for their first.

    It was somewhat similar to tracing over line art. Except, instead of a pencil, I was using an enchanted scrivener to set my mana into place. This required precise handling of the scrivener to create exact copies of the runes laid out below. It was surprisingly similar to welding, and it felt as though my endless hours of joining steel to steel lent themselves well to the task.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    After each rune was traced, I had to dust the work with a light coating of the appropriate essence. The Aranor family¡¯s primary source of wealth was the ability to grow most of the common essence materials for the lower order spells. Which meant even Perth had a considerable supply. The spell I was working on required a silver glitter, which carried a strong Arcane essence.

    Despite the meticulous detail required, most of my time was spent perusing spells while eating copious amounts of mana-rich sweetmeats and vegetables. All to boost my pitiful mana regeneration. Which was why my first spell was Mana Draw, a simple mana gathering utility spell. A relatively standard beginner spell for any mage, though many wanted something flashier for their very first.

    In a mana poor area, it wouldn''t even be able to make up for its maintenance cost, but within the compound walls, it would ensure mana wouldn''t hold me back from scribing more spells into my grimoire.

    After I could cast it, anyway.

    The final result took up the entire first page of my grimoire. I ran my hand over the raised runes, the silver now set permanently in my grimoire.

    Despite wanting to cast it immediately, I laid my head down to rest my eyes for just a moment.

    And promptly ended up falling asleep.

    Waking in the library was an unpleasant experience, mostly due to the manner Lady Guniveer chose to employ for waking.

    I''m pretty sure that using a spell to project the music of an entire Orchestra at full blast inside a library is against the librarian''s code, but I¡¯d never spent much time in them on Earth.

    If not, it should be.

    "Good morning, master Perth. While I appreciate your dedication, this is not your personal dreamatorium."

    "Is that even a word?" I grumbled as I rubbed down my cheek, feeling where the runes had left indents.

    "As far as you''re concerned, it is the high champion Dragon-souled of words. Now up with you. You can sleep in your room."

    Nodding, I stumbled out of the library, my grimoire held tight to my chest. It was only as I made it to my room that I realized I''d left all the scribing materials in the library. A problem for later.

    Collapsing on Perth''s bed, I tilted my head and stared at the grimoire. I managed to turn the page, smiling down at the spell scribed there, before falling asleep again.

    When I woke, I found myself curled around the grimoire.

    A subtle jerk at my grimoire made me realize I hadn''t woken on my own. As it was pulled out of my hands, I was spun, revealing the thief who''d decided to relieve me of my most vital treasure. Above me stood a young woman with black hair and eyes speckled throughout with purple. Those eyes were scanning the first page of my grimoire, as the sleeve of her purple and gold combat robes obscured her face. When she moved it, I noted the hair she kept in two tight braids that formed a sort of crown. It was floating half an inch off her head.

    It took me a second to recognize that my accoster was Perth''s sister, Nexxa.

    "Hey, give that back," I said before I could think better of it.

    "Can''t believe you actually did it. Didn''t think you''d have the discipline, Perry," Nexxa said, letting me reclaim the grimoire. "I knew you''d finish in the first week, but only two days? And you went with Mana Draw instead of something flashy. I''m proud of you."

    I didn''t respond for a moment, though not because of her comment. She''d called me Perry. My name from Before. Sure, I knew, intellectually, that she used to call Perth, Perry. But still, it struck me dumb for a moment.

    Then what she''d said caught up to me. I just gave her a small smile as I flipped the book open again. The spell was right there, staring up at me.

    "Well, what are you waiting for? Start casting," Nexxa said, plopping herself down on the bed beside me.

    "What? Now?" I asked, feeling more than a little self-conscious. I hadn''t actually cast a spell before. I didn''t even have a strong enough core to fit a basic tier 1 spell into my soul.

    "Yes, now. How often are you going to have a Pegasus-soul prodigy around to help you through your very first spell?" Nexxa said, her eyes flashing wide to match her grin when I looked up at her.

    I huffed out a laugh as I traced my hand over the runes. "Fine. You win. Any advice, great and wise prodigy of lightning?"

    "Yeah. Don''t go archmage," Nexxa replied, her eyes narrowing. "The librarian told me what you were planning."

    "I¡­ why not?" I couldn''t help but ask.

    "Because that''s not you. Being an archmage takes a lot more work, Perry. And if you don''t put in the effort, you''ll be Mage-soul forever," Nexxa said with a half-sigh at the end.

    "I''ll put in the work," I said, though I could understand her concern. Work effort hadn''t been something Perth had been known for. "It''s real now, Nexxa. Before I awoke, it was all just a fantasy. Now I know what I need to do. Besides, I¡¯m a Magus Dominus now. I¡¯ll need all the magic I can get."

    My words were honest, even if I was talking about my own feelings instead of Perth''s.

    "That''s¡­ that''s good Perry. In that case, we should get started," Nexxa said, gesturing at the grimoire in my hands.

    I nodded, running my hand over the runework.

    "So, I''m sure your tutors told you before you awoke, but you''ll need to imbue the entire spell with your mana if you want it to activate properly," Nexxa said, waving at the page. "When you''re first learning a spell, I find it helpful to picture each rune one at a time as you''re charging them. It makes it easier to form the impression later."

    "Got it," I replied, starting with the central rune. It was the most expensive part of the spell, acting as a sort of battery that would slowly discharge. Combined with another rune that acted as a sort of gate, and the mana gathering array, it would keep the spell running until I canceled it. At least, that''s how it was supposed to work.

    My first attempt at casting the spell resulted in the battery getting too full. Which caused the entire thing to fizzle out in sparks of bright light that left colorful afterimages.

    "Well done!" Nexxa said as I blinked rapidly, attempting to get the spots to go away. "Maybe there''s hope for you yet." She bumped my shoulder, before motioning for me to try again.

    "How, exactly, was that well done?"

    "You managed to manifest the spell! Sure, it went down faster than a virgin on the Front, but it still manifested. That''s the hard part. Now you just need to hold it together. Take my hand."

    "What?" I asked, staring at her hand.

    "You''re low on mana, right?"

    "Yeah," I said, wondering what that had to do with holding her hand.

    "Mana Draw isn''t the only way to boost your regeneration. Perks of studying with a prodigy," Nexxa explained, flexing her hand.

    Accepting her hand, I felt a brush against my Core.

    "Let it in. Imagine your Core has a curtain, and you''re drawing it to the side to let in the light. The light being my mana."

    Doing as she said, I was surprised at how easy it was. Then I felt her mana flow into me. It was distinctly ''sparky'' but my core quickly broke it down, converting it to my own flavor. About half the mana was lost, but I was sure Nexxa didn''t even notice.

    "Good. Now, try again."

    I nodded, leaning forward as I repeated the imbuing process, noting that it felt a little easier this time. We continued like that for several more attempts, each one resulting in another burst of bright light, though each burst did get progressively dimmer.

    A knock on the door interrupted my latest attempt. Thankfully, as long as I didn''t complete the spell, the mana would drain away safely. Another reason it was an excellent starter spell. Most spells didn''t have such a feature built in.

    Calbern entered the room shortly after knocking, bowing towards both of us. "I''m sorry to interrupt, but you wanted me to remind you when your package was ready, Lady Nexxa."

    "Thank you, Calbern," Nexxa said, pushing to her feet. "Keep at it Perry, you''ve just about got it." The last was said while ruffling my hair, which I couldn''t help but flinch away from, drawing a laugh out of her.

    Then she was gone, charging out of the room with an audible crack, leaving a faint purple afterimage behind.

    Nodding to Calbern, I turned back to the spell. Nexxa was right. I was so close, I could practically taste it.

    Also, much as it surprised me, the idea of disappointing her pushed me onward.

    I pushed that thought down, and focused on the runes. There was magic to be done!

 Chapter 5 - More Than Spells

    Despite my best efforts, I didn''t successfully cast Mana Draw until after dinner that evening. Calbern had to practically drag me away from my attempts. It was a good thing he did, because I got it instantly when we returned. I wasn''t sure if it was the frustration of repeated failure, or if I''d really been that close, but either way, having the spell functioning was like finishing a particularly challenging engine swap.

    Satisfying, but with a rather strong desire to have a shower.

    Unfortunately, they didn''t use showers in the family compound. I had no doubt someone had invented them, but the Aranor family only used stone lined bathing chambers with an overabundance of floral soaps.

    And it wasn¡¯t something Perth knew how to do himself.

    Which meant I had to request a bath be prepared for me. It stole away some of my satisfaction, knowing I had to rely on someone else to prepare my bath. Once I had my own home, I had every intention of building a shower.

    Which caused me to jot down a note to add the relevant spells to my grimoire. I¡¯d need something for heating the water, primarily. Technically, I should be able to use a gravity feed, though I¡¯d check to see if there was a spell that could be used to either pump or create water.

    I paused¡­ water creation would be incredibly useful, but Perth didn¡¯t remember anyone ever using such a spell. I¡¯d check, but I also had to spend my time wisely. Now that I had the Mana, the only limit I had to adding more spells was time. While I remained in the compound, I wouldn''t need to supply my engraving supplies but that would change once we left.

    Spells were absolutely the most valuable thing I could bring with me. And I would only be able to take those bound in my grimoire, until I could build a proper library of my own. Letting an unbound spellbook decay under the chaotic mana-swells of the wider world would be far too wasteful.

    I wish I knew more about my future territory, but all we knew was that it was likely to be deep inside the Frigid Peaks.

    As I sank into the waters of the bath, I called on my magic once more, creating the simple motes of light on the tip of my finger. With Mana Draw active, I could keep the simple effect active as long as I wanted.

    Mana Draw felt surprisingly similar to Nexxa''s spell that granted me more mana, except instead of only entering through my hand, mana passed through my entire being. Mana seeped into me much like the warmth of my bath, constantly keeping my Core full.

    As I dried off, Calbern appeared. Tempted as I was to head straight to the library, I allowed Calbern to lead me to bed instead.

    However, a good night¡¯s sleep did not dull my efforts. The moment I was awake, I made to return to the library. On the way, I spotted Sosa lounging directly in our path. Deciding I had no time to waste with Perth¡¯s brothers, I convinced Calbern to help me slip past him.

    After making our way down a back garden path, I snuck under the mighty golem¡¯s mighty gaze before passing by Lady Guniveer¡¯s even sharper one.

    The next few days passed in a flurry of scribing. My second spell was another Arcane affinity spell, Detect Mana. When channeled through my eyes, it would create lights that roughly illuminated patches of mana, and their density. It would be critical to get the most out of Mana Draw once we left the mana-rich regions of the interior.

    It took me half the day to scribe the spell. While I might¡¯ve had the endurance to weld for hours straight back on Earth, the hand I¡¯d inherited from Perth wasn¡¯t as used to it. About halfway through, my hand started to cramp.

    I hadn''t removed all my limitations on scribing spell after spell.

    But that just meant that my next spell was a healing spell that allowed me to cure the sprain of overworked muscles. The official spell name was "Alzond''s Incredible Stress Reduction and Strain Removal Blessing of the Seventh Heaven," but I just recorded it in my grimoire as Minor Heal.

    Unfortunately, casting it successfully took me nearly two hours, so I only scribed the two spells my first day. But as my proficiency improved, so did my speed.

    I added every first order spell that seemed useful to my grimoire, managing to add four spells per day by the end of my first week since I''d taken Perth''s place. These included Eagle Eyes, which allowed me to zoom in my vision, much like the aforementioned Eagle. My first attempt left me blind for several minutes. It was enough for me to hold off experimenting with the rest until after I didn¡¯t have a time limit.

    While I''d intended to continue after recovering from the backlash of Eagle Eyes, Nexxa had returned, and with Calbern''s not so subtle encouragement, had taken me out to the nearby town of Belten. She''d even gone so far as to forbid me from bringing my grimoire.

    "There''s more to being a Magus Dominus than spells," Nexxa said as we got out of the carriage.

    I tugged at the surprisingly scratchy robe she''d insisted I wear. It was leagues below the quality Perth was used to. Even I wasn''t used to something so rough, despite my relative poverty before I came over. Cotton was cheap on Earth. Doing my best to distract myself from the itch, I took in our surroundings. She¡¯d pulled us to a stop in a dark alleyway. Squinting against the darkness, I responded to her earlier comment, "I know. But magic is important."

    Nexxa snorted, shaking her head. "Sure, but you''re not going to be able to solve all your problems with a few spells. Not even father can do that."

    Rolling my eyes, I waved towards the street. "I''m here, aren''t I?"

    Shooting me a giant grin before drawing her hood up, Nexxa led the way out onto the nearest street. She quietly moved into the flow of foot traffic nodding her hooded head towards the workers gossiping in front of us. I immediately recognized what we were doing. We were exploring the city in the guise of workers.

    I didn''t bother pointing out to her that anyone with eyes could tell we didn''t belong. The clothes she''d chosen were too rough for how soft our faces and hands were, not to mention the quality of our boots. We would pass for neither field workers or clerks. But I supposed it was enough for a passing glance. Most of the locals preferred combinations of vibrant greens and muted browns. Our own clothes only had a hint of green on them, which seemed to indicate a lower status. Her normal golds and purples would''ve stood out like a lightning bolt in a clear summer sky.

    Which was the point of the humble attire.

    Nexxa led me to a public bath first, babbling on about the importance of public cleanliness. For a moment, I wanted to dismiss her concerns. Then I considered Perth''s experiences. This would be something he wouldn''t have thought of.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    So, instead of ignoring her, I took out the journal she''d handed me in place of my grimoire before we left, and started taking notes.

    And, much to my chagrin, I realized I knew a lot less about managing folk than I thought I did. I figured all my knowledge from Earth would give me an advantage. And it probably would, once I could incorporate it. But the folk here had existing solutions to problems.

    Like the Mana-reclamation and sewage building.

    Located centrally, it was much less offensive smelling than I''d expected. The single story building was, like the library, a stone edifice in an ocean of wood. The simple unassuming building processed the entire town''s waste into Nature attuned mana stones, which were then used by the Gardeners.

    "So, what spells are they using to break waste down into fertilizer and mana?"

    "Uh¡­ I''m not sure. Probably some nature spells and whatever they use to draw everything here. Maybe something related to air? This is all Gardener magic, not storm."

    "You know, I can''t help but note that this requires magic," I said, unable to keep the smug smile off my face.

    "I¡­ that''s not the point. The point is that it''s a system set up to solve the problem. Not a spell you cast every day. Can you imagine if you had to personally oversee it?"

    At that moment a cart rolled by, its top covered by woven vines. It was escorted by several workers who guided it into a waiting dumping point. They all took several steps back before one of them called out.

    The wrapping over the cart came undone revealing a nasty mess of rotten food and other nastiness. Even from our position across the street, the smell was strong enough to make my eyes water. While we suffered, the workers had already donned green masks that tightened around their faces. The one who¡¯d been calling out orders waved another one forward. They plunged their hand into a pair of unopened flower buds.

    A second later, a massive vine slid down, wrapping around one end of the cart. Then with a slurping sound, the contents were sucked out as the vine moved about like a massive vacuum hose. Several large lumps moving slowly up along the vine were the only indication of the cart¡¯s rancid cargo. Another call from the worker in charge, and the vine retreated. In its place, a set of flowers wove their way above the cart. The workers turned away as the flowers started glowing, until the cart was bathed in a brilliant red light.

    The heat went through our simple clothing, causing me to break out in a mild sweat. Then the flowers finished, the light dimming once more, only the natural light of the afternoon sun brightening the street.

    Only after the flowers had retreated back inside their pods did the workers step forward and claim the cart once more.

    Nexxa and I exchanged a glance.

    Scratching my chin, I nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Casting spells to deal with that every day would be¡­¡±

    "Horrid. Exactly. Now, let''s keep moving," Nexxa said, as I added a note to look up the process to my growing list.

    As our tour continued, I ended up sidetracking our progress when I spotted a merchant with writing supplies on display. I had Nexxa buy me several additional journals, since I still hadn''t so much as handled a single coin. Perth had never handled money either.

    Perth may''ve had lessons on it, but most of his economic memories were more clouded than an oil filter after fifty thousand miles without a change.

    One more thing added to my notes.

    With my stationery needs met, I was prepared to head home when a droning sound filled the air.

    Before I could ask what was happening, Nexxa had shoved me against the stall where we¡¯d been shopping, sending pencils and notebooks scattering.

    ¡°What-¡° I started only for Nexxa to interrupt me.

    ¡°There¡¯s been a breach. Monsters in the city,¡± Nexxa snapped out, her arm held in front of me. ¡°Stay here, I¡¯ll deal with it. Or distract it until someone else can.¡±

    I nodded. I could barely summon a wisp of mana to my fingertip. Doubted I¡¯d be up to facing a monster.

    Nexxa disappeared in a flash of blinding light. With no sign of said monster, I turned my attention to the stand, helping the merchant pick up his scattered supplies.

    Then a scream came from across the street. It was quickly joined by another as a full sized minotaur came around the corner, bellowing at everything in sight. It shook its bull-shaped head, then charged at a man in red. Luckily, the man tripped, and the minotaur slammed into the wall.

    While it was stunned, the man escaped behind it.

    ¡°Come on Nexxa,¡± I muttered, looking around. A boom from a few streets away, followed by several more roars told me she¡¯d probably be busy for a bit.

    What had she said? ¡°Distract it till someone who can deal with it shows up,¡± I mumbled to myself, ignoring the stall keeper¡¯s questions as I ran out into the street.

    There was only one bit of magic I had at my disposal. With a surge of will, I pushed my mana to the tip of my finger, urging it to turn red. I had no such luck.

    Even though I hadn¡¯t turned it red, either the mana or the fact I was running towards it got its attention. The minotaur swung its head around, letting out another roar before charging blindly towards where I¡¯d been standing a second before.

    I huffed out a long breath as I rolled to the side, rubbing at my scraped knee. Distracting it wouldn¡¯t work for long. I¡¯d neglected to consider how out of shape I was when I¡¯d made the decision.

    It was when I spotted the waste cart that I had an idea.

    ¡°God, this is so stupid,¡± I grumbled as I stood up. I took one of my notebooks and threw it in the minotaur¡¯s face as it turned towards me. I didn¡¯t wait to see if that bought me any time as I darted up the street towards the mana reclamation plant.

    Thumping footsteps told me the minotaur wasn¡¯t far behind me.

    As I got close to the plant, I started yelling, repeating the phrase used by the foreman. ¡°Incoming waste, prep for extraction!¡±

    One of the nearby workers jerked their head up. Then they saw the monster chasing me, and, perhaps wisely, decided it was over their paygrade.

    Thankfully, the supervisor came out to investigate who¡¯d been calling out such outrageous lies. He stood there staring as I ran towards him. It was only as I bumped into him on my way towards the giant vine that he snapped out of it, calling out orders as he ran into position.

    I held up my hand, the blob of mana still glowing. And I confirmed that¡¯s what the minotaur was focused on, its wideset eyes shifting as it sniffed the air.

    Then it lowered its head again.

    I didn¡¯t wait, grabbing hold of the vine as the minotaur approached. Unfortunately, the mana-reclamation plant wasn¡¯t designed to suck up charging minotaurs, so the supervisor¡¯s first attempt to grab it failed. I nearly fell off the vine as it whipped back around for another attempt.

    As I was dangling there, my eyes met one of the minotaur¡¯s. That was enough to get it to scream in rage.

    And that meant it was standing still long enough for the vine to slap down on top of it, sucking it inside. When the vine blooped outward underneath me, I finally lost my grip.

    While I was thankful that the supervisor broke my fall, his grumbling implied it hadn¡¯t been on purpose.

    ¡°Well, that could¡¯ve gone better,¡± I said as I offered him a hand. ¡°You okay?¡±

    He waved me off, grumbling about not being paid enough to deal with unscheduled deliveries and heading back into his office.

    I lingered by the mana reclamation plant for a few more minutes, until Nexxa reappeared in a flash of lightning.

    ¡°Perry? What are you doing here? Someone said there was a minotaur rampaging in the area.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, uh, it kinda stumbled into the mana-reclamation,¡± I said, waving towards the giant vine.

    ¡°Stumbled, huh?¡± Nexxa asked, crossing her arms as she floated closer, sparks dancing beneath her feet.

    ¡°It might have been chasing me at the time,¡± I admitted, with a shrug. ¡°Now, I think I¡¯ve had about enough of the city. What say we go home?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I got what I needed. Plus I should pick up a nice bounty too. Too bad there¡¯s no proof you disposed of the minotaur,¡± Nexxa said, staring at the still slightly bulging vine.

    ¡°Not important,¡± I said, waving it off.

    As I climbed into the carriage, thoughts of the minotaur were already fading from my mind. There was just too much to do to worry about a scrap where I didn¡¯t even get injured. Though I did make a note to check into what was required to make my own mana-reclamation plant. Just in case.

    By the time we returned to the family complex, I''d filled two journals and started on a third.

    Calbern was waiting, as distinguished as ever in his four piece ensemble. "How was your outing, master Perth?¡± he asked, his eyes going wide for a second when I climbed out.

    "Eye opening," I replied as I handed him the second journal, earning a laugh from Nexxa.

    I waved her off as I returned my attention to Calbern. "You''re going to be joining me in the library."

    "Oh?"

    "Yeah, there''s way too much to learn. So, you''re gonna help," I informed him. My old man might''ve been a miserable bastard, but he knew how to delegate the work. A lesson I''d long since learned for myself.

    "I see," Calbern said, squinting as he attempted to read my notes. Which, I''ll admit, weren''t the neatest. Neither Perth nor I had ever had particularly neat handwriting. "I shall require assistance¡­ translating this."

    "Fair ''nuff," I replied already leading the way back to the library. It was time to deal with something far scarier than a minotaur.

    Logistics.

 Chapter 6 - Satisfying Spellwork

    With so much to learn, my next priority was a spell that would help with retaining knowledge. Unfortunately, there weren''t any spells in the first order that would work. Which meant I¡¯d decided to take a risk.

    While it wasn¡¯t possible for me to cast a second order spell, scribing it was technically within my means.

    Normally, second order spells required partial embodiment of the Astral-souled mage¡¯s mana to scribe.

    However, I was hardly the first mage-soul to want to prepare for the future. There were ways around the limitation.

    Like having a helpful Pegasus-souled prodigy supply me with mana I filtered through my own soul before pouring it into my scribing efforts.

    Thus, with Nexxa sitting beside me while munching on the lunch Calbern had prepared for us, I started scribing my first spell of the second order, Memory Palace. I hadn¡¯t found anything that helped with learning directly, but on Lady Guniveer¡¯s advice, I¡¯d checked some of the less centrally placed spellbooks. Buried deep in a book of mnemonic techniques, it promised to serve as an advanced spell version of the same technique. Had the book not been located in the restricted section of the library, I likely never would have believed it could retain such an useful spell.

    Clearly I hadn''t been the only one to think that way, since it''d sat at the bottom of a pile of other books in the back corner, the only books not given pride of place. The early spells in the book had been so useless, that if not for Lady Guniveer¡¯s advice, I''d have given up on the book entirely. That, and the techniques themselves had seemed useful, so I''d started practicing them as I read further. Then I stumbled across Memory Palace, the spell.

    Even with Nexxa¡¯s assistance with the scribing, I wouldn''t be able to cast it without a powerful external mana source or a lot of time spent charging it. At least, not until I ascended to Astral-soul. But since it promised to allow me to recall anything I''d studied in the past, including my Earth knowledge, I considered it a forward thinking solution.

    However, the complexity of even a basic second order spell was ten times the simplest first order. And this wasn''t basic. In honesty, it was stretching the limits of fitting within a single second order slot. Not to the point of leaping up to the third order, but enough that I couldn''t justify working on it to the exclusion of everything else. Especially since Nexxa had more to do than sit in the library literally holding my hand. Since each page had to be complete before I started on a new one, I added one first order spell for each two pages of Memory Palace I finished.

    Another week slipped by, and at the end of it I was only adding two spells per day, between studying other subjects and working on Memory Palace. I say studying, but I was intent on abusing the properties of Memory Palace, using a supporting tier one spell. Review Scroll was meant for error checking spells bound to paper, but it had the effect of quickly scanning through words at a high speed.

    I''d found it in another of those discarded books lying to the side. There''d even been a rather colorful note on the spell.

    Do not use Review Scroll in combination with Memory Palace.

    I entered my Memory Palace after using Godfried''s damnable Review Scroll spell. It turned out that comparing all seven thousand versions of the Father''s Song against each other meant I''d also stored them in my Palace. And like a besotted idiot, I had to check they''d been copied successfully.

    And by the crimson goddess'' beard, did it give me the mother of all migraines when I did. Not that I noticed, at first. Memory Palace may be powerful, but it has the same flaw as most low order memory spells, and leaves you completely unaware of your surroundings.

    I actually consider the limitation an upside, in the right scenario. That said, I recruited Nexxa to test it first.

    Which took a great deal more convincing than I''d expected.

    "Perry, no," Nexxa said, forming a cross with her arms as sparks danced along her fingertips.

    "Why not?" I asked, leaning back from the desk where I''d spent most of the last week, pulling the spellbook away from those sparking fingers.

    "Did you even read this note? It gave a Pegasus-souled a migraine. Besides, it''d take me days to scribe it. I can''t waste that much time on a maybe. I¡¯ve already spent too long helping you with it."

    "Okay¡­ but think about how much Memory Palace will help even if Review Scroll doesn''t work. We''re going to be flung out to the middle of nowhere. We''re not going to be able to come back to father''s library whenever we want. Isn¡¯t that why you agreed to help me in the first place?"

    "I¡­" Nexxa sat down on the bench across from me, her eyes fixed on my face. "When did you go and grow up on me, Perry?"

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Blinking, I looked away, uncomfortable with her scrutiny. As I tried to think of a response, she huffed out a laugh.

    "There he is. Good to know you haven''t completely changed on me," Nexxa said, bumping my shoulder as she looked down at my grimoire. "This is a good idea, Perry, really. The Memory Palace, at least. I''m not going to make any promises about Recall Scroll, though. Not until after I''ve experimented with Memory Palace on its own. Who knows, we might not even need your little work around."

    "Review Scroll," I corrected, before adding. "But fair ''nuff." I looked down at my grimoire. It was a little late for me to make that choice, as I''d already scanned a dozen books with Review Scroll. Every one was a book Calbern had picked out as critical. Still, I''d hold off scanning any more until Nexxa had either tried the combination or I ran out of time to read the rest the old fashioned way.

    A temporary migraine would be a price worth paying to forever have all that knowledge at my fingertips.

    Especially since every book we had to bring physically would take up space in our transport cube. At least we didn''t have to share our cube with Nexxa. Althon had arranged for each of us to have our own.

    The limitation on storage had also made me realize what I wanted to use my boon for. Given the restrictions we¡¯d face, and how far we¡¯d have to travel with only what we could carry, I''d decided to use my boon for something a little more tangible. Something that even the scions of a djinn-souled house would treasure.

    Spatial storage.

    I''d been working through my spells, and the only first order spell for worlds in the family library was Spatial Access, which allowed the caster to access Spatial storage items. If you had the access key. There were higher order versions that existed for cracking said access keys, but the lowest was in the fourth order. And Perth¡¯s family didn''t even have a copy of it, it had just been noted down as existing.

    My only other second order spell I intended to scribe was also a worlds spell. Specifically, Dimension Step. It was the only other option in the family library, so the choice was fairly simple. One of the downsides of a rare affinity. If I wanted more spells, I was either going to have to apprentice myself to a higher-order worlds mage, find a mage who was actually willing to sell their knowledge, or, most likely, I would have to develop my own spells.

    Considering my calling as a Magus Dominus, the first wasn''t really on the table. Even if I ran away and joined another kingdom and hoped they''d offer me amnesty, the oath would weigh on my soul until I couldn¡¯t use magic anymore. Not a chance. Besides, even if the oath could be circumvented, it''d be more likely they''d lock me in a dungeon and use me as a mana conversion method for their own gate spells.

    Maybe I was just being paranoid, but Perth''s history lessons had included lots of examples of mages defecting from their home country only to be used as magic batteries.

    Wasn''t worth the risk. Especially since I was looking forward to the experimentation anyway. The most satisfying part of being a mechanic was when you built something for yourself, something no one had built before, using parts right off the shelf with a little welding to fill in the gaps. I didn''t see magic too different.

    Sure, instead of engines and gas, I was working with runes and mana, but similar principles applied. You fed in fuel, you used machines to shape the result, and you got something useful. And runes were a form of machine, of that I had no doubt. Not in the traditional sense, but much like a lever or pulley, they allowed us to do something that''d be impossible without them.

    Like lift a five ton truck out of six feet of mud.

    Which meant, between Storage Access and Dimension Step, I figured I''d have most of the important bits to cobble together my own Gate spell, eventually.

    By the end of the third week, I''d added both to my grimoire alongside the last of the tier one spells I''d deemed worthy, Assess Self. It was key to my future as an archmage for two reasons. First, it was pretty unlikely I¡¯d have an assessment orb wherever I ended up. Which would make it challenging to ensure my affinities were balanced before I ascended to Astral soul. The other was that since it replicated the process of using the assessment orb, not only could it stress all the common affinities, it was designed to select which ones were being stressed. Combined with the right essence materials, that meant that casting it would let me build up my affinities. However, it was barely a first order spell. The complexity meant that it used up all five first order spell impression slots. And that meant it''d be a long time until I could cast it.

    Nexxa had just come by to tell me of her own success with Memory Palace when Lady Guniveer let us know Calbern was waiting for us downstairs.

    When we descended, Calbern gave me his usual inclination of his head. "I''m sorry to disturb you, Lady Nexxa, Master Perth, but your father has requested your presence."

    Glancing over at Nexxa, she just offered me a shrug before walking past Calbern towards the exit. I slung my grimoire over my shoulder, setting to follow her, Calbern falling in at my side.

    "I''m glad you have been spending time together. It bodes well for your future alliance," Calbern said right as we started down the front steps, denying me a chance to respond.

    Despite my earlier commitment to exercising, I''d let it fall by the wayside as I worked to expand my grimoire. I was feeling even less fit than Perth had been when I first took over his body.

    Nexxa had no such hardships. "It''s honestly been a relief, seeing Perry working so hard. Thought he''d be needing me hovering over him like a momma dragon."

    "Yes, master Perth has truly come into his own since his Awakening," Calbern agreed, a note of pride in his voice.

    The way I was huffing down the stairs somewhat undermined the satisfaction I otherwise felt, but it was still there as we emerged from the library.

    I just hoped that Perth''s father was summoning us for our boons. There was no other reason I could see for it. At least, none that were good.

    That thought was cut off as Perth¡¯s brother Sosa stepped out of a hidden nook, a grin Perth was far too familiar with fixed on his face. That grin had accompanied many of Perth¡¯s worse memories of his brother. Behind Sosa stood several Green Goons, Perth¡¯s nickname for his father¡¯s golem-like plant guards that he¡¯d given all his first wife¡¯s children.

    ¡°Hey brother,¡± Sosa said, cracking his knuckles as he stepped closer, several more of the Green Goons shuffling into place behind us. ¡°I heard you had a boon coming your way. Let¡¯s talk about repaying that debt you owe me.¡±

 Chapter 7 - Better Than A Used Car

    Sosa stood there, the afternoon sun illuminating his cruel grin in all its glory, his goons gathering around us, and all I could think was¡­

    What a waste of time.

    As far as I was concerned, I didn¡¯t owe this clown anything. And Perth certainly hadn¡¯t. If anything, Sosa owed Perth. Perth had done everything Sosa had ever asked from him, all in a bid to get even the faintest hint of recognition from the main family.

    It did surprise me he¡¯d cornered me when I was with Nexxa and Calbern, but maybe that could be because I hadn¡¯t left him much choice in the matter. I never wandered the grounds alone, not since I¡¯d taken my oath as a Magus Dominus.

    With a heavy sigh, I went to open my mouth, but Nexxa beat me to it. ¡°Piss off, Sosa. Perry doesn¡¯t owe you a single discharged remnant.¡±

    It took a moment for Sosa to register that Nexxa had spoken, then another for his gaze to shift to her, his brows furrowing. ¡°Stay out of it, Nexxa. This doesn¡¯t concern you.¡±

    ¡°Like Front it doesn¡¯t,¡± Nexxa said, crossing her arms and tapping fingers that glowed with electric sparks. ¡°You¡¯re keeping us from meeting with father. Who asked for both us, didn¡¯t he Calbern?¡±

    ¡°That is correct, Lady Nexxa,¡± Calbern said, inclining his head towards her. His hand rested lightly on his sword.

    Sosa was opening his mouth to speak once again when I beat him to it. ¡°Nexxa is right, Sosa. I owe you nothing.¡±

    Whatever he¡¯d been about to say was lost as Sosa stared at me. I ignored him, and his Green Goons, stepping past them. Sosa wouldn¡¯t dare kill me, not when their father was sending me away. And everything else could be healed, so long as I was on the family estate.

    It was only as we were leaving his sight that Sosa seemed to remember himself. However, by the time he caught up, we were climbing the stairs to their father¡¯s main hall. Arriving outside the Cante''s study once more, I took a moment to straighten my robes. Spending every waking hour in the library meant I''d neglected my appearance somewhat, despite Calbern''s best efforts.

    Nexxa also took a moment, shaking her arms as if getting ready to start fighting. Maybe she was. Perth hadn''t ever seen her interact with their father before.

    Calbern went in first, as was their way, and a moment later led us inside.

    Their father was staring out a massive window I somehow hadn''t noticed the first time I''d been in the office. A rather glaring oversight considering it took up an entire wall.

    "Ah, you''re both here. Excellent," their father said, turning from where he''d been gazing out. As he did so, a bookcase unfurled from above, as though it was merely a curtain, to cover the window.

    I was left blinking for several seconds before I realized he''d continued talking.

    "-some effort, but I was able to secure both of you tier two spatial rings."

    I was unable to help but glance over at Nexxa. Had she copied my request?

    "It was a good idea," Nexxa said, answering my unanswered question and not bothering to lower her voice.

    "Agreed. Given the remote location Althon is likely to assign you, a spatial ring will be a vital resource for each of you. However, you must use them with caution. Even tier one spatial rings are precious in the outer lands," their father said while placing a pair of black boxes with white trim on his desk.

    When he motioned us forward, I traded another glance with Nexxa, whose smile was so wide I was worried she''d gone a mite feral, before taking that step. When I opened the box, I was surprised to find the ring didn''t have the family''s personal crest on it. Instead there was a symbol carved in silver, depicting a wolf howling at the moon, atop a pair of circles, which symbolized wheels.

    Nexxa''s had an entirely different symbol, a golden bird in flight with sparks trailing behind it.

    "Your personal magecrests," their father said, his lip turned up ever so slightly.

    Staring at the emblem, I vaguely remembered when Calbern had asked me what I¡¯d wanted my magecrest design to be. I''d been focused on Memory Palace at the time, and hadn''t thought too much about it, simply re-using the same logo I''d put up at the shop after I took over.

    A smile twitched on my lips as I realized Howling Engines had followed me into the new world, even if only in such a small way.

    "Now, I''m afraid I have other matters to attend to. I will see you both on your departure," their father said, dismissing us with a nod.

    Neither of us dawdled, withdrawing from the room with our rings still tucked inside their cases. Not that I left it there for long. The moment we were outside, I slid it onto my finger, holding it up to the light, Sosa be damned.

    I''d never been much of one for jewelry before. It was dangerous for a mechanic to wear bling. Too easy to take a finger if a wrench slipped and caught it wrong.

    "Not bad. Didn''t really see you as a warg sort of guy," Nexxa said, admiring my ring.

    "It''s a wolf," I said automatically, despite not remembering if wolves were a thing in this world. I assumed so, since they had the word for them, but Perth hadn''t known what they were.

    "Like the winter blessed wolves of the Frigid Peaks? Really going local, huh?"

    I hadn''t considered that there might be wolves where we were headed. Actually, hadn¡¯t Calbern mentioned as much? Either way, I didn¡¯t feel the need to correct Nexxa. Instead, I held up the ring contemplating the storage aspect. A tier two ring was¡­ well, it wasn''t actually that much space. The standard was a little over a cubic yard. Compared to a tier one, it was gigantic, but those held nine cubic inches at most. "What''re you gonna store in yours?"

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "On the way there? Seeds, mostly. A couple tier-3 Magits that''d decay if exposed to the raw manasphere. You?"

    Magits. Magical items. And tier-3, meaning they were sufficiently complex most skilled mages couldn''t make them, not unless they had access to the original designs. And Nexxa not only had access to some, she was bringing two with her.

    "Seeds is good," I said, humming thoughtfully to myself while dismissing my questions about her Magits. "I don''t have any artifacts, so¡­ I guess it depends. Wasn''t expecting a tier-2 ring."

    Nexxa held up her ring beside mine, her fist clenched. "He really came through, didn''t he? You know, I heard that Sosa only got a tier one protection ring for his boon?"

    "No way," I said, shaking my head. Sosa was¡­ well, Sosa. Still, while he hadn''t been a prodigy like Nexxa, as one of their father¡¯s first wife''s children, Sosa actually spent time with their old man.

    Getting a tier one protection ring was like getting a used Honda for your sweet sixteen.

    A big deal if you had an old man like mine. Enough to give you a heart attack in surprise. But with a father like Perth''s, you''d be expecting a Tesla or Mercedes. Course, Perth never heard Sosa complaining, so maybe there was more to it.

    There usually was.

    "Yep. Anyway, I should get testing. Tier 2''s sometimes have stasis effects. If these do, I''m totally loading up on street food," Nexxa said before waving goodbye.

    As I followed Calbern back to my room, I found myself wanting to perform tests of my own. But unlike Nexxa, I''d have to be a little more cautious. I didn''t have the strength to hold onto such a prize, so I was glad it was disguised as our magecrest. If Sosa knew I was walking around with spatial storage, he¡¯d do his best to take it from me.

    Not that I thought he could, but it was better to be cautious.

    The next few hours were both wondrous and tedious. The storage space was exactly as glorious as Nexxa had hoped, holding a steaming cup of tea''s temperature for hours.

    But accessing it required me to channel mana for nearly an hour. Good for long term storage, but not super convenient. Not yet.

    The first time I accessed it, I discovered the rings weren¡¯t the entirety of our gifts. Inside, were five thousand golden coins with intricate thorns carved into one side, with their father¡¯s face on the other.

    "A princely gift, master Perth. And the Thorns should help us procure what we can''t bring through the gate," Calbern replied after I''d told him about the hoard I''d discovered. "Will the stasis effect work on a living creature?"

    "That¡­ is worth testing," I said, looking out into the nearby garden. There were several songbirds outside, but more importantly, Perth remembered pigeons nesting near the stables.

    No one would be upset over a sky-rat if it got hurt during my experiments, least of all, me.

    I had Calbern lead the way to the stables. Once we were there, I spread some of the crackers Calbern had brought with the tea as bait and threw a sheet overtop of it. I was rather proud of my success until I saw Calbern shaking his head at me.

    "What? I caught it, didn''t I?"

    "Did you have to use one of the good sheets, master Perth?" Calbern replied.

    I just waved him off. "You saw me take it."

    "It is not my place to stop the young master from doing something foolish." Considering the small smirk he was sporting, I knew better than to respond.

    Channeling my mana into the glyph while keeping the pigeon from escaping was a test of both mine and the pigeon''s patience. I didn''t hear Calbern chuckle, but I swore I could feel it.

    Thankfully, my struggles weren''t in vain, as the pigeon, along with its blanket-turned-net, vanished into my ring.

    While I started charging my spell to retrieve it, we returned to Perth''s room. Which wasn''t my wisest decision.

    It turned out that living creatures and my ring didn''t mix well. At all.

    "I''m afraid there''s nothing I can do, master Perth. You killed it." Calbern was standing with the sheet held in front of him, running a hand along the torn fabric, ignoring the dead bird lying at the foot of Perth''s bed. Shaking the sheet out one more time, he shook his head. "I''ll see what the tailor can salvage."

    "You do that," I replied as I picked up the pigeon by a single foot and plopped it on my used lunch tray.

    With the limits of the ring understood, Calbern and I resumed our planning, only for me to realize Nexxa hasn''t told me the results of Memory Palace.

    So, we went out to track her down. A helpful servant, a woman with a green vine growing along her forehead, informed us she''d gone into Belten.

    Nexxa hadn''t wasted any time going out to fill her ring.

    When we arrived, it only took Calbern a few minutes to find her. She''d gone straight to a short street crammed full of food stalls. The plethora of spiced and grilling food practically felt like a wall, it hit so rapidly.

    Nexxa was easy to spot, her gold and purple combat robe standing out amongst the greens and browns surrounding a stand selling meat skewers.

    "Hmm. Decided to follow my advice?" Nexxa asked while pulling free a piece of meat.

    "I suppose you could say your advice is why we came, Lady Nexxa," Calbern noted with a slight incline of his head.

    "What he means is you forgot to tell us about Memory Palace," I added while eying the stand. "Though those do look pretty tempting."

    "Right? You have to try the fried dumplings two stands down. They have the best sweet sauce," Nexxa proclaimed while gesturing vaguely towards said stand.

    After loading up on far too many street foods, we returned to Perth¡¯s wing in the family complex. Pulling a pastry from her ring, Nexxa finally gave us a breakdown on Memory Palace.

    "It''s a lot more literal than I was expecting. It takes you into a literal mindspace. And you have to be careful when accessing memories. I ended up browsing through a couple months worth and I got a major migraine after I came out. On the plus side, the mental strain only seems to trigger once," Nexxa explained, taking a seat on the foot of Perth''s bed. Her eyes drifted towards the spots of blood left behind by the pigeon, but she didn''t comment on them, simply continuing. "Anyway, since I already inflicted a migraine on myself, figured I might as well test your Review Scroll idea. And doing one book at a time meant no migraine. When I tried doing two, I got a bit of a headache. Not sure how it''ll work for you though. I''m guessing you''re gonna want to be Astral-soul at least before you even try."

    "Thanks, Nexxa," I replied, jotting down her comments. "Anything else you noticed?"

    "It''s expensive for a second order spell. I could cast three Lightning Storms for the same amount of mana, and that''s a tier three spell," Nexxa replied with a shrug.

    "It is possible the Lady is simply used to casting spells for which she has a high affinity. Unless I''m mistaken, you do not have any Arcane affinity," Calbern said still standing next to the door.

    "Could be. Haven''t needed much utility till now," Nexxa agreed while grabbing one of my journals and cracking it open. Her eyes went wide as she started paging through it.

    I found myself strangely conflicted watching her go through my notes. On one hand, it felt like a violation of my privacy, even if most of the notes were about spells or possible issues we might encounter. On the other, it felt like such a sibling thing to do, I felt a constriction in my chest. A feeling I wasn''t particularly familiar with.

    "Huh. You think we''re gonna need to set up irrigation?" Nexxa asked, stopping near the back of the journal and holding it out towards me.

    It took me a moment to respond, and I coughed to clear my throat before checking my notes. I''d drawn a simple trench with a note to look into more advanced methods in case water was an issue. "I don''t know. We don''t know anything about what we''re going into. And I''m pretty sure irrigation is important, if we end up needing food."

    "Hmm." Nexxa didn''t offer more than that, though once she was done going through the journal, she quickly opened the next.

    Sharing a glance with Calbern, I shrugged before tapping her on the shoulder. "I''m going to head to the library. We''ve still got a week left, and there are a lot of books I want to hit with Review Scroll."

    "Good idea," Nexxa said, standing up and tossing my journal back at me, causing me to scramble to catch it. It slipped, hitting the floor, and I was bending over to pick it up when she paused at the door, looking back. "Well, are you coming or not?"

    As my eye twitched, I couldn''t help but debate whether I found myself more amused or irritated.

    Either way, I put it to the side as I marched with her towards the library.

 Chapter 8 - Petal to the Metal

    The last week before our departure passed nearly as quickly as the three before, though it was far more chaotic. The seeds and other supplies we''d arranged started to arrive, as had a pair of seven foot wooden cubes with matching dimensions to the one we''d be using to pass through the gate.

    That had been my idea. I''d had to deal with packing materials into tight spaces often enough to know that just working on the dimensions rarely worked out the way you wanted it to. It was always better to work with a model.

    Good thing I did, because fitting both of us in with everything we''d planned to include turned out to be even more of a headache than I''d expected. How does a world have the ability to send folk across thousands of miles in an instant, but not have tie-down straps?

    Seeing Nexxa work with her own box answered that question instantly. She used magic to secure her stuff in place. And while I could''ve asked her to help us with ours, I instead ordered several simple rings and used them to create a simple friction lock.

    "Very good, master Perth. Now that I''m looking at it, I believe the furniture delivery uses something similar," Calbern noted.

    "Would''ve been helpful two days ago," I muttered under my breath. But I wasn''t particularly upset. The problem had led to me adding yet another set of books to review for my Memory Palace.

    "Finally got it all locked down, huh?" Nexxa''s voice drifted over from where she was laying atop her own cube, her arm dangling down the side.

    "Yep. I think¡­ I think we''re actually ready. And with two days to spare."

    Calbern gave a slight nod of his head.

    "Nah. We just got all the boring logistics stuff done. Still need to put you through your paces," Nexxa said, somehow turning the swing of her arm into a grab, flipping into a backflip that carried her down off the box. It was the most athletic display Perth or I had ever seen out of her.

    "My paces?" I asked, frowning as she stepped forward with lightning crackling.

    "Yep. Can''t have you going out into the wide world not knowing how to fight," Nexxa said, a far too wide grin stretching across her face.

    "I know how to fight," I said, clenching my fist. I certainly knew how to take a punch. My old man had beat that into me.

    "What you and your friends used to do after drinking isn''t fighting," Nexxa said, pushing my shoulder as she walked past.

    ¡°I took down a minotaur,¡± I pointed out.

    ¡°You got a vine to eat it for you. Come on, we''re gonna get you a blasting rod."

    "It would behoove you to take the Lady''s advice on such matters, master Perth. Other than your father, none in your family have more experience with combat magic or monsters," Calbern said, nodding in Nexxa''s direction.

    Nexxa had stopped at a nearby gazebo, looking back at me.

    I just grunted as I moved over to join her, Calbern trailing close behind me.

    She took us back to her wing of the estate, the first time I''d been there since arriving in my new body. It was considerably less green than the rest of the compound, though there were still a lot of gardens. But there was also a sand pit for sparring, as well as a target range with high stone walls and a dirt packed floor.

    Inside was even more bare than Perth¡¯s, with only a few flowers to illuminate the way. Nexxa brought us to her study, where there were several monster parts scattered around. They were all carefully encased in enchanted wood and glass frames, but there was no sense of organization to them.

    "If we had more time, I''d want to work on your footwork, but for now, making sure you''re not useless when shit hits the mana-dissolver takes precedent," Nexxa said, walking along a rack holding two long flower capped wooden staves. Pulling one off the rack, she held it out to me.

    Perth had seen a few of these blasting rods, as she called them, but he''d never held one. It was heavier than I expected, and the entire length was engraved with runes. Even the flower.

    "Never point a blasting rod at something you don''t want to destroy," Nexxa said, gently swinging the end of the rod towards the floor and away from her and Calbern.

    I nodded. That made sense. I didn¡¯t point the plasma torch at anything I didn¡¯t want to burn either. Same principle, I figured.

    While I''d been inspecting my rod, Nexxa had handed one to Calbern.

    At my look, she explained, "You don''t have to be a mage to use a blasting rod. Just to charge them. That said, I don''t recommend handing them out to anyone you don''t trust. A blasting rod in the wrong hands can kill a mage as easily as anyone else. Well, unless they''ve reached Hydra-soul. Now let¡¯s get to the pit."

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    So said, we followed her back out to the pit.

    ¡°Okay, this part isn¡¯t too tricky. See that cord wrapped around the bud? That¡¯s your safety. If its there, your rod will be as useful as any other long stick with a pretty flower on the end,¡± Nexxa said, tugging at the knot on her cord. The second she did, the flower blossomed open, the green leaves revealing eight purple petals, each of them with pink runes that glowed brightly.

    Nodding, I pulled my own cord, discovering my rod only had two purple petals. That seemed low, so I sent my mana into the rod, feeling for the draw. It didn''t take long to find it, and the rod almost immediately sapped my entire mana pool, leaving me wavering unsteadily.

    In exchange, it grew a single purple petal.

    "Oops, forgot to warn you," Nexxa said as I felt her hand on my shoulder. "These''re set up to be easy to charge, but with your puny mana pool, they''ll drain you dry."

    "Got it," I replied, unconsciously using the rod to steady myself before quickly pulling it back up and pointing the flowered end down the range. Despite the rough treatment, none of the petals were damaged.

    "Good instinct there. You don''t actually have to worry about it going off yet. You won''t be able to trigger it until I key it to your mana signature," Nexxa said. ¡°I want you to both get comfortable aiming them first.¡±

    Then she proceeded to arc the rod over her head, spinning it in a short circle before bringing it down to point in the direction of our targets. On the far end of the range were glowing green statues shaped like warriors, all holding different weapons. The most basic of the Green Goons served as our targets. A single purple petal broke free of her rod, zooming downrange to smash into her chosen Goon in an explosion of pink light.

    The backdraft had me taking a step back at the unexpected pressure.

    Half the Goon was gone as she lowered her rod.

    ¡°Both of you need to do that movement ten times with the flower pointed in roughly the right direction. Then I¡¯ll attune them,¡± Nexxa informed us, before waving at us to begin.

    "Uh... do we have to do the spinning thingy?" I asked, feeling a little uncomfortable with basically waving my arm in the air.

    "Yes," Nexxa said, raising her eyebrow at me.

    "Okay then," I said, deciding an explanation could wait.

    It took me nearly twenty tries before Nexxa was satisfied with my performance. Calbern had got it in ten. Once I was successful, Nexxa held her hand over mine where I was gripping the rod. After a second, I felt a jolt pass through me and my awareness of the rod expanded.

    I now knew I had thirteen full strength shots available, and twenty-two when the rod was fully charged. It seemed the petals were a bit of misdirection, since the leaves would be shot after the petals were used up. I also knew how to trigger the rod. All I had to do was squeeze a pair of carved flowers on either side of the rod as I was charging up my shot, then release when I was on target.

    As she was casting her spell on Calbern, I held the rod over my head, then spun it around, priming it to fire.

    I chose a Goon holding a shield, flipping the rod forward and let off a test shot. A bright pink petal burst from the end of the rod, rocketing across the range to slam into the target, exploding in the same brilliant flash of pink light. This time I was prepared for the backdraft as it swept over me.

    When I looked down the range, the target I''d been aiming at was completely intact. A Green Goon two to his left who''d been holding a bow was now weaponless, the pieces lying on the ground.

    "Quite the demonstration, master Perth," Calbern said as he stepped up beside me, leveling his own rod at the statue I''d hit. "That gentleman seems to have a rather nasty sneer. Perhaps we can fix that."

    With that, he spun his own rod. It should have looked ridiculous. It didn¡¯t.

    His movements were tight and controlled, and when he flicked the rod forward, releasing the petal, it shot across the range and smashed right into its face. As the shockwave washed over me, I kept my eyes on the target. Calbern had wiped the sneer off its face, just like he¡¯d said.

    And the face off the statue, while he was at it.

    "Great shot! If I''d known you had such good aim, I would''ve stolen you from Perry when father released your contract," Nexxa said, clapping Calbern on the shoulder. "Now, since you''ve both figured out how to shoot on your own, I''ll just show you how to lock the safety in place so you don''t blow your own foot off while you''re sleeping."

    "Is that something that happens?" I asked, suddenly a little worried about the bundle of flowers attached to the end of my blasting rod.

    "Not if you wrap the safety!" Nexxa replied with a too wide grin.

    Thankfully, locking the safety was as simple as winding the self-tying cord around the petals, and tucking the cord into the loop. Holding it upside down, I was amazed at how it refused to obey gravity¡¯s call. The little loop only moved when I touched it. Even Calbern couldn¡¯t move mine. The second the safety was ¡®wrapped¡¯, all the volatile pink writing faded away and my awareness of the rod disappeared from the edge of my mind.

    Nexxa had us go through each step, including destroying the statues, twice more before she was satisfied. Then she charged both our blasting rods to full, which brought mine to twenty-two petals with an even twenty for Calbern.

    Once they were fully charged, we took turns shooting down the range, adjusting to taking shots while dealing with the windup and blowback. The blasting rods had a rate limit of roughly one shot every three seconds, thanks to the windup.

    "There are better rods out there, but I could feed an Evarl''s Domain for a year on what a tier two blasting rod costs," Nexxa said as she was recharging our rods once more. As an experiment, I''d tried filling mine again, and my full mana pool had still only granted a single charge. Nexxa didn''t even seem to notice the drain. "Okay, that''ll do. Now, make sure you keep them tucked away in your storage till we get through the Gate. I''ve heard Gates can mess up the rods. Rather you arrive on the other side as pretty as you are now, even if that''s not very."

    "Appreciate it," I said, giving her a smile as I ran my hand along the rod. "And I will."

    To my surprise, Nexxa ended up joining us for dinner after I''d stored the blasting rods.

    "You know, I''m glad you''re both going. Didn''t really think about how different it was going to be when I told father I''d be a Magus Dominus," Nexxa said after Calbern had taken the dishes away. "Thought I did, but after everything we''ve been talking about¡­"

    "Yeah. I don''t know if I''m ready either," I said, letting out a long sigh.

    "You will both prove exemplary," Calbern said, having returned without me noticing. "So long as you continue to approach the challenge with the diligence you have shown thus far, your people will be lucky to have you."

    "Thanks, Calbern," I said, giving him a weak smile.

    Despite his reassurances, or perhaps because of them, Nexxa and I continued discussing all the things that could go wrong, and what we could do about them.

    Much like before, we spent the next couple days together, revisiting the library, reviewing our manifests and practicing with our blasting rods.

    Then finally, after a month of preparation, it was time.

    Tomorrow we¡¯d be leaving for the Gate.

 Chapter 9 - Dauntless

    The gate was located a six hour ride by carriage from the family compound.

    But before we left, there was a minor obstacle in the way.

    Sosa.

    He was harassing Lady Guniveer. They stood facing each other, surrounded by Sosa¡¯s Green Goons. I could¡¯ve continued on my way, not said anything. After all, I was leaving in less than an hour. After that, I¡¯d never see either of them ever again.

    ¡°-been giving him unrestricted access,¡± Sosa¡¯s voice got louder as I stepped closer.

    I was alone. We¡¯d had one last session at the practice range. Nexxa had gone off to gather her Magits and Calbern was packing up the few clothes we¡¯d be taking with us. I¡¯d been heading to the library to say goodbye to Lady Guniveer and thank her for her help, only to discover she wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°When lord Aranor hears about-¡°

    ¡°Father won¡¯t care. Half-casts like you are less important than mortals. At least they still have potential,¡± Sosa said, the slur causing Lady Guniveer¡¯s gaze to sharpen.

    Still, she wasn¡¯t in the library. And Sosa was right. Their father wouldn¡¯t care. Not enough to save her from a bit of rough handling.

    My grip tightened around the blasting rod, but I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d even need it as I pushed my way through his Green Goons. Not to deal with a punk like Sosa. It could prove useful if things went sideways though.

    ¡°Perth?¡± Sosa said as I stepped between him and Lady Guniveer.

    ¡°Step back, Sosa,¡± I said, meeting his gaze.

    ¡°The Rift do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Sosa asked, his eyes flicking to Lady Guniveer before coming back to me. ¡°If you think this is enough to-¡°

    ¡°Just get on with it,¡± I said, well aware that I had a carriage to catch.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re so much better than me,¡± Sosa said, shoving at my chest.

    To my embarrassment, I stumbled back a step, nearly knocking Lady Guniveer over despite bracing myself. I¡¯d really let myself grow too weak over the last month. Mentally reassessing how much I might need to rely on the rod, I addressed his statement, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m better than you.¡±

    The way his eyes flared as he clenched his fists suggested he didn¡¯t exactly believe me. Which was perfect. I¡¯d rather he took a swing at me rather than Lady Guniveer. And better that he do it himself rather than get his Goons involved. Still, it seemed he¡¯d need more.

    ¡°Why would I worry about someone who¡¯s never going to matter to me?¡± I asked him, setting my feet further apart as his nose flared out. ¡°Sosa, I don¡¯t even think about you.¡±

    It was enough. Sosa swung at my head. It was slow and sloppy, like he¡¯d never thrown a punch before. He was going to hurt his hand more than me.

    That wouldn¡¯t do.

    I tilted my head forward. As his fist struck my nose, I turned my head with it, but only enough to mitigate the damage. He needed to feel like he¡¯d won, like he¡¯d taught me the lesson I deserved.

    But only for a moment.

    Blood sprayed from my nose as I collapsed, making sure it looked far more painful than it was. I held my nose, but remained silent.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Sosa said, but the words died on his lips as I met his gaze with my own. Then I stood back up, a single groan escaping me as I placed myself between him and Lady Guniveer once more, my grip wrapped firmly around the blasting rod. That had been his only free hit.

    Just as it had with my old man, my silent glare unnerved Sosa. He left quickly, his Green Goons trailing behind him.

    With Sosa dealt with, I cleaned the blood from my nose then turned to Lady Guniveer. ¡°You okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Perry,¡± Lady Guniveer said, a hand reaching for my face before she stopped herself with a shake of her head. ¡°It¡¯s you that needs to be careful. Sosa has it in his head that you¡¯re stealing from the family. If he convinces your father¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be gone in hours. And I¡¯ll let father search me, if that¡¯s what he wants. I¡¯ve nothing to hide,¡± I said, glancing at the retreating backs of Sosa¡¯s Green Goons. ¡°Are you going to be safe here?¡±

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Despite the way it looked, I¡¯m quite capable of taking care of myself. Sosa will soon find his little green toys have lost all their strength,¡± Lady Guniveer said, shaking out her sleeves. ¡°I do appreciate you stepping in.¡±

    ¡°Well, I was coming to say goodbye anyway.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it is that time, isn¡¯t it? I bid thee farewell, master Perth. I hope when next we meet, it is under better circumstance,¡± Lady Guniveer said, bowing slightly while extending her hand.

    Drawing on Perth¡¯s memories, I responded, taking her hand and laying a single light kiss on it. ¡°I bid thee farewell, Lady Guniveer. Take care.¡±

    ¡°You as well, young master. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, this half-cast has business to be about,¡± Lady Guniveer said, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

    I suspected the next while wasn¡¯t going to be particularly pleasant for Sosa.

    Parting ways, I made my way to the carriage. Obviously, Nexxa asked what happened. When I explained, her face darkened.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tear out his stomach and use it to make sausages,¡± Nexxa said, sparks flying along her arms as her gaze swept acrossing the drive, as though Sosa would be right there.

    I laughed, patting her arm as a warm feeling filled my belly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just like I told him, he¡¯s not important.¡±

    A minute later, Calbern arrived, and we climbed into the carriage. Nexxa insisted on healing my nose, and I winced at the sound of the cartilage shifting as the magic did its work.

    ¡°Sorry, not really my specialty,¡± Nexxa said with a grimace.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± I said, turning my head to look out the window. ¡°Least it¡¯s not itching anymore.¡±

    Nexxa¡¯s gaze followed mine, and as I started asking questions, she quickly forgot about my altercation with Sosa.

    Our journey would soon show me more of Ro¡¯an than I''d ever seen of Earth.

    After exiting the drive, we moved onto the Central Corridor. The road seemed mundane at first, but it was impossibly smooth, with almost no bumps in the cabin despite riding on wooden wheels at very high speeds. According to Nexxa, the road was magically crafted and maintained, running from the Front all the way to the west coast of the hundred kingdoms.

    As we left the compound behind, the scenery became less verdant forest and more bountiful farmland. Hundreds of small farmhouses passed by in a blur, the enchanted carriage moving at a rate that left my heart clenching in fear.

    The last time I''d gone even half as fast, a kid had run out into the road and I''d wrapped my car around a solid oak to avoid him.

    And then I''d at least had the illusion of control. Now I was simply a passenger as Calbern directed the carriage from up front.

    Even with the fear gnawing at me, I continued questioning Nexxa. And when we passed along the edge of the Infinite Rift, I¡­

    Well, I was stunned speechless.

    I''d never seen the Grand Canyon, despite living a day away. To go that far would¡¯ve been impossible to imagine in my old life. As I gazed out at the Rift, I found my imagination straining yet again.

    There was no way the Grand Canyon could surpass the Infinite Rift.

    The bottom of the rift was hidden in shadow, and the far side was barely visible. It was almost funny. Much like the Grand Canyon, I''d seen the Rift on maps. It formed a gap that encircled most of the Front, a natural barrier that contained most of the monsters who claimed the mana rich lands at the heart.

    But those few little lines had failed to capture the enormity, the magnificence, the pure jaw-dropping wonder of the Infinite Rift.

    Even the name felt somehow insufficient.

    "Yeah, that never gets old," Nexxa said, leaning forward to look past me.

    "It remains as breathtaking as the first time I traversed the Rim Road," Calbern agreed from the front of the carriage, a wistful note to his voice. "It is a shame this is likely the last time I''ll travel along it."

    "What are you worried about, Calbern? Really have that little faith in me?"

    "It''s not that, master Perth. It''s just, I am getting on in years, and your calling has only begun."

    "He''s got a point. Even if everything goes great, we''re gonna be in the Frigid Peaks for the next twenty years," Nexxa said. "Not gonna be easy to come home."

    "Fair ''nuff," I conceded. I hadn''t thought about the length of our calling very much. In a way, it hadn''t really mattered to me. Being a Magus Dominus wasn''t something I intended to abandon, but I supposed, after I served twenty-one years, I''d technically be a free mage. No one knew why the oath suddenly expired after twenty-one years, but that¡¯s what Calbern had discovered while doing our other research. Not that it was worth worrying about, at least for now.

    "Look, it''s the Dauntless!" Nexxa exclaimed, pointing out the window.

    My gaze followed her finger, though as I laid eyes on the massive airship, I wondered how I could''ve missed it. Despite sitting on the far side of the rift, it took up the entire length of the window. It had to be at least a mile long, all of it alive. A constant flow of soft green mist rose from its underside, drifting beneath wide fanlike wings, holding it aloft. The massive support structures between the wings had folk moving up and down them, with sections roped off where smaller vessels were landing.

    Deep in the heart of the vessel, folk wove between trees and buildings as large as my old garage.

    "To think we''d get to see the flagship of the Elves of Terra Vista. Truly, today is one of great portents," Calbern said, leaning forward and pressing two fingers against the center of his brow.

    It took me a moment to sort through Perth''s memories for the meaning behind the action. As near as I could tell, Calbern was paying respects to one of the silent gods, though I didn''t know which one.

    "Looks like they''re watching over the gate site. Think father traded in some favors?" Nexxa asked, still leaning over me to stare at the ship.

    "They may be here to ensure their own deliveries arrive without disruption. Terra Vista''s proximity to the Frigid Peaks would offset the costs of gate travel, to a degree," Calbern replied.

    Nexxa just nodded, her eyes remaining fixed on the Dauntless. Honestly, it kept my attention as well.

    It was a marvel unlike any I''d come across in any of Perth''s memories. He''d heard the name before, but to see it in person¡­

    The amount of magic involved, and the engineering, magical and mundane.

    It was inspiring.

    I caught one last glimpse of the Dauntless floating high above as the carriage took us through a copse of trees, green mist wafting out to fill the sky.

    At that moment, I knew that simply protecting my land and advancing my soul wouldn''t be enough. I''d been thinking so small, when this world was so big.

    One day, I''d have an airship of my own.

    Even if I had to build it myself.

 Chapter 10 - Final Refrain

    The remainder of our trip was spent in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts as we drew closer to the single span of stone arching over the Infinite Rift.

    At first, the bridge looked tiny, a thin strand of stone compared to the rift''s breadth. But as we drew closer, it became obvious that the bridge was a mega-structure in its own right.

    There was an entire city built around the edge, where we would spend the night, before being loaded in our crates in the morning. We passed through most of the city in minutes. Unlike Earth, traffic on the Rim Road was highly controlled. I could see the crowded streets of the city as we went though, catching glimpses of the varied folk within.

    It was too fast to be certain, but I thought I might''ve caught a glimpse of a cadre of dwarves stumbling down one of the streets in our direction.

    I was suddenly regretting staying so close to the family estate. While the mana density was higher than even this close to the rift, there was so much I hadn''t seen. And I wouldn''t get a chance to see it again for decades. I could only hope we could see some of it during our single night in the city. And that the Frigid Peaks would offer us more.

    The hotel had a service that went to a restaurant that looked out over the Infinite Rift which Nexxa insisted we had to try when she heard of it.

    When we pulled up in the carriage, I was amused to see that we would be riding rickety little cages down to the actual restaurant from the parking area. The cages had been grown together, and a closer inspection revealed it would take serious effort to damage them. But the aesthetic made me nervous anyway as we swung out over the side of the Rift.

    ¡°Perry, you don¡¯t have to squeeze the bars so tight!¡± Nexxa called from within her own cage.

    ¡°I¡¯m not squeezing anything,¡± I denied, unable to get my hands to release the bars. ¡°Also, I hate you! I hate you with every fiber of my being!¡±

    ¡°I was unaware you had a fear of heights, master Perth,¡± Calbern said from his cage above us.

    ¡°Not a fear of heights. Just the Rift!¡± I yelled back as my cage swung to the side, leaving me staring into the emptiness stretching away below us.

    As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, Nexxa chose that moment to swing her cage up next to mine, bumping into me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t they have rules against smashing the cages together?¡± I asked, my voice higher than I would¡¯ve preferred.

    ¡°Not if you pay the deposit!¡± Nexxa chuckled gleefully as she shifted the cage once more.

    ¡°You know, not all of us can fly,¡± I said, letting out a grunt of amusement as I shifted the cage enough for her to swing past without hitting me.

    Nexxa swung back, cackling wildly as sparks flew from her cage. Before she could build up enough momentum for another attempt, the cages reached the landing platform.

    I stumbled out, grasping at the railing and trying not to look over the edge. I failed. Even after descending hundreds of feet, there was still no sign of the bottom. And some maniac had built a restaurant inside it.

    And then another one convinced me going there was a good idea.

    Forcefully, I dragged my gaze up to the bridge that spanned the Rift. It felt even bigger from underneath.

    With a shove against my shoulder, Nexxa moved to go inside. After the ride down, the meal was reasonably normal, though they did that usual tourist thing where everything was named after the theme.

    The Infinite Stack was really just a fancy sandwich, though the meat was all high essence. That didn¡¯t stand out much, considering everything on the menu was similar. It wasn¡¯t a restaurant for the common folk, that was certain.

    As if to prove the point, during our dinner, a troupe came in to take a place on a raised platform at the back of the room. By itself, that already would¡¯ve felt pretty high class to me, but I¡¯d never been too fancy back on Earth.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    That they stepped onto stage with drawn blades made me realize this was something different than I¡¯d expected. Each of the performers drew back their hoods to reveal silver hair, thin horns along the crown of their heads and long pointed ears.

    The elves of Terra Vista had deigned to visit our restaurant.

    ¡°In accordance with the Life Song, we greet the people of Aranor, subjects of Arcadia,¡± a taller elf with dark marks along his cheeks said, undoing the cords binding the blade he carried. It was a long thin blade, nearly as tall as he was, with numerous notches along its length. ¡°A bond long shared, debts long owed, shall finally be paid.¡±

    ¡°Oh wow,¡± Nexxa said, leaning forward across our meal.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked, glancing between the elves, her and Calbern.

    ¡°I believe we are about to witness a performance by the legendary Bladesingers of Terra Vista,¡± Calbern said, a note of reverence in his voice.

    True to his word, the elves on stage started moving. At first, it looked almost like sparring. Yet every motion of their swords drew out whispering notes, as though someone had found one of those fancy bent instruments with all the strings on them and imbued the sound into a blade.

    Then the elves began to sing.

    It was beautiful, but I wasn¡¯t able to follow along. Whatever language they were singing hadn¡¯t been part of Perth¡¯s education.

    A hushed comment from a lady in a frilly green dress at one of the nearby tables revealed the elves were singing about the calm before the storm.

    As if on cue, the elves changed the tempo of their song. In place of the soft whispers, the swords clanged against each other, as they raised their voices into registers that reminded me a bit of what I thought an opera singer might sound like.

    The music was much more heavy metal though.

    Their performance had stepped up a notch as well. They weren¡¯t just throwing their blades into each other, but were dancing off each other, flipping into the air, thrusting outward.

    It was the most intricate dance of blades I¡¯d ever seen.

    And then one of those blades flicked out.

    It was little more than a flash of light, yet it flew true, sliding into the chest of the lady who¡¯d whispered the subject of the song so excitedly, a blue barrier around the table going up half a second too late.

    ¡°Get down,¡± Nexxa shouted, flipping the table before I¡¯d fully understood what was happening. My eyes remained fixed on the red blossoming from the woman¡¯s chest.

    ¡°The first notes have been played. May all of Ro¡¯an echo with the transcendant beauty of true music!¡± the elf with the dark marks cried out, his blade flashing against an erected mana barrier, causing it to crumble. ¡°For the Grand Choir!¡±

    Another elf stepped forward as Nexxa shot a crackling bolt of electricity towards them. I was barely able to make out the afterimage of the elf somehow deflecting the bolt even as he sang.

    It wasn¡¯t my focus though. While Calbern picked up a chair and used it to block the blade of another elf, I scurried over to the woman. She was bleeding, badly. One of her companions had pulled the blade out, before charging at one of the elves with it. I cursed the fact that the only healing magic I had at my disposal required nearly half an hour of channeling to cast.

    Still, I could apply pressure while casting it, so that¡¯s what I did.

    Even as Nexxa threw up a barrier of crackling lightning, I kept my hands pressed to the woman¡¯s chest, praying that my spell would do something. There was nothing. Still, as I was looking at the blood, my eyes fell on a nearby bottle. Sealed with resin, it had a neat little label partially obscured by blood. It was readable enough for me to realize it was a healing elixir.

    Perth¡¯s family had sold healing elixirs but they were considered inferior to even the weakest spells. Only good enough for a mortal. I¡¯d assumed I¡¯d unlock my first slot before I¡¯d need one. A failure of foresight. Taking the elixir in a shaking hand, I brought it over the woman¡¯s wound.

    Holding my breath, I unstoppered the vial, trying to steady my hand.

    Then I started pouring it on the wound, holding the flesh together with my other hand. It wasn¡¯t perfect, the flesh growing back uneven, and in clumps. But it should keep her alive long enough to-

    My thoughts were scattered as an explosion ripped through the room.

    When I recovered, I found myself against the wall, alongside the woman whose life I¡¯d been attempting to save. To my relief, her chest continued to rise, and the bleeding seemed to have abated.

    Her health confirmed, I took in the room. The once elegant decorations had been shredded, and the elves were gone. There were several bodies, though I was relieved to see neither Calbern or Nexxa were among them.

    ¡°Well, that was bracing,¡± Calbern said, somehow having emerged completely unscathed, not so much as a single drop of blood on him. He dropped the remains of the chair he¡¯d been wielding as he moved towards me, nodding as he took his place beside me.

    ¡°One word for it,¡± Nexxa grumbled, wiping at her face with a crumpled table cloth. Unlike Calbern, she was covered head to toe in blood and ash. ¡°I heard elves could be unpredictable, but the hell was that? Are they trying to start a war?¡±

    ¡°It seems that was exactly their intent,¡± Calbern said, reaching down to retrieve the blade that had been thrown at the woman from the woman¡¯s fallen companion. ¡°This is no ordinary sword. See the words?¡±

    It was pretty easy to read them. After all, they¡¯d clearly been meant as a message.

    ¡°May the people of the hundred kingdoms rejoice, for soon they shall meet their gods. The Final Refrain has begun.¡±

 Chapter 11 - Through the Gate

    In the aftermath of dinner, I discovered that there was a second way up, a simple cargo lift built into the cliffside.

    Still, I didn¡¯t take it. Despite the terror I felt, I made myself ride the cage back up. The lift had more important things to do in the wake of the attack. Such as taking the injured up. I was relieved to hear the woman I¡¯d tended would make it, though she¡¯d need extra healing to address the sloppy work I¡¯d done.

    The elves had vanished, though the Dauntless still hung near the portal. It felt a lot more threatening as I watched it through the bars of the cage as we ascended. I clutched the side just as hard, though this time Nexxa left me alone. Mostly because she¡¯d overdrawn her mana and was half-asleep.

    Despite the attack, everything at the inn was calm. There was talk of Magus Dominus Aranor arriving at the restaurant in person.

    I was glad we¡¯d missed him.

    The next morning came, and we departed the inn. The Dauntless still hung there as we left the city behind. I only lost sight of it when we moved onto the bridge. The bridge was almost as grand as the Dauntless, and that gave me some reassurance. It easily stretched wide enough for two dozen carriages to pass side by side, yet most of the bridge remained empty. The sole exception was another carriage a short ways ahead of ours.

    It almost felt like a waste, but most folk wouldn''t want to be on the inner side of the rift, even before the Terra Vistans went crazy. The true purpose of the bridge could be seen every half mile or so, with only a narrow path passing through the center of the towering walls. The entire bridge was a defensive formation, designed to allow monsters that slipped through from the Front to spend their strength on these fortifications.

    That they hadn''t been approached in a hundred years didn''t change the Hundred Kingdom¡¯s stance on maintaining them. Arcadia itself was one of the younger kingdoms, yet it had stood for over a thousand years, more than half of them with the current king ruling over it. I imagined he personally remembered a time when these walls had been needed.

    I wondered if he¡¯d been showing up to address the massacre from the night before. Or was this just a minor political incident to him?

    As we passed through the last of the walls, the staging area for the gate came into view. There were hundreds of steel boxes lined up alongside a set of four rails, leading back for almost two miles and extending past the gate just as far. Most of the boxes were secured, their contents long since packed away. There were a few folk waiting around open boxes at the front of the line, which our carriage moved towards.

    When we pulled to a stop, we were only three boxes from the front. Calbern and I would be in the third, and Nexxa was in the fourth.

    To our left, next to the second box, was a group of folk laughing and smiling, their eyes following us as we got out. It took a moment for me to notice their large ears, their dress being so similar to the residents of Belten I''d almost mistaken them for locals.

    It seemed there were several elves going along for the ride. They didn¡¯t seem affected by the events the night before, based on the laughter. But then, it wasn¡¯t like a civilian had anything to do with what their military did. And I was pretty sure the Bladesongs were part of the Terra Vistan military.

    I didn''t stare, having long learned that was a good way to draw unwanted attention. Instead, I looked to our other side, where the carriage that had been ahead of us was unloading. A single young man stepped out, his eyes blazing with the sort of intensity that spoke of a strong fire affinity. He met my gaze with a nod, which I returned, before he strode directly into the fifth box. A nearby attendant immediately moved up, sealing the open side behind him.

    "Guess this is it, isn''t it?" Nexxa asked, looking towards the Gate in the distance. It was barely visible, just a small ring that was barely larger than the boxes we''d be riding in.

    "The end of one journey, and the beginning of another," Calbern said, somehow managing to stand even straighter.

    "Yeah. It''s¡­ almost sad. But exciting too," Nexxa said, rocking back on her heels.

    ¡°Not as exciting as last night,¡± I muttered, earning a playful shove from Nexxa.

    A whistle sounded, three sharp notes echoing through the air. Immediately, the elves moved into their box.

    "That''d be our signal," Calbern noted, moving towards our box, which had been mostly loaded before our arrival. I couldn''t help but notice they''d used magical cords to secure our supplies.

    "See you on the other side," Nexxa said, holding up her hand in farewell.

    "On the other side," I replied, returning the gesture as I followed Calbern up the three steps into our box. Whoever had packed our box had even arranged our supplies so we''d have sturdy seats.

    We didn''t have to wait long after the box was sealed before it jerked over to slide into place on the track. There was another jerk as it started moving, and then we were both pressed backward against the wall.

    The acceleration was insane, eclipsing any car I¡¯d ever drove.

    Then there was a twisting sensation in my gut. For the smallest fraction of a second, we were completely weightless, all the momentum just¡­ gone.

    As suddenly as gravity disappeared, it returned. We had just enough time to brace before the pressure returned, though in reverse. Thankfully, it was much gentler, easing off our speed until we came to a complete stop.

    Less than five minutes after we''d been sealed inside, our box was popped open, a smiling young man waving us out.

    A chill breeze greeted me as I stepped out into the surrounding hub bub.

    Unlike the quiet on the other side, there were hundreds of folk waiting for us. It was organized chaos as horses and other pack beasts I didn''t recognize were brought forward, men yelling at each other while unloading boxes.

    Our attendant escorted us to a caravan master, a grizzled old man who''d been arranged to transport us and our cargo to Althon. Because of course the capital city was named after the local Dragon-souled. Nexxa and I were escorted to a carriage while Calbern discussed our cargo.

    "Getting us out of the way so they can do the real work," I said, shaking my head.

    "We all have our areas of expertise," Nexxa said with a lazy stretch while gazing out the window. Now that we were in the carriage, we could actually take in our surroundings.

    The Infinite Rift was present even here on the far side of the continent, though its width was greatly diminished, as was the bridge stretching over it. I doubted more than two carriages could fit side by side on this bridge. Nor was there an airship watching over us.

    It didn''t take the caravan master long to get our supplies unloaded from the box and into a wagon. As our carriage moved away from the gate, I said, "Amazing how different it is, isn''t it?"

    "Quite so, master Perth. It seems even the language is different," Calbern said, his brows furrowed. "I''m afraid we may need to spend some of our limited funds on translation artifacts."

    "Mumble Magits? Here? They don''t speak Anvian? Thought old man Althon still was one of the leads when they started spreading imperial standard?" Nexxa asked.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    "In the capital and along the front, yes. But Risham indicated that most of the Peaks speak a version of Elinder."

    "They speak elf?" Nexxa laughed.

    It wasn''t funny to me. It was a reminder of how closely tied to Terra Vista the Frigid Peaks were. It made sense, given their close border. I could only hope that wherever my domain ended up, it wasn''t too close to Terra Vista and their over-revved bladesingers.

    "That is what I was told," Calbern confirmed, somehow managing to maintain his posture even as we rode down the bumpy road. Seemed Althon didn¡¯t value smooth roads as much as the Hundred Kingdoms.

    "Guess that means I''m gonna need a tutor," I said, watching as the far side of the Rift came into view. Only a handful of buildings dotted the edge, all sheltered beneath a tower of gleaming metal. Atop the tower was a clear blue crystal, slowly building in radiance before dimming again. It was a stark contrast to the wooden buildings below, which were simple but sturdy construction.

    "If it''s just the one language. And we''re going to the capital first, right? We might be able to hire someone with an Imbue Language spell. Pump it right into our heads," Nexxa suggested, holding two fingers up to her head and pushing it to the side.

    "That!" I replied, pointing at her. "We''re doing that, if we can."

    "I shall endeavor to find such a mage once we arrive," Calbern agreed.

    "Glad that''s settled," I said, settling back. "Now we just need to wait."

    The passage to the capital took us three days, during which we mostly remained in our carriage. There weren''t many settlements on the road, this side of the gate, and those we passed were mostly waystations. We passed alongside tall mountains running along steep cliffs only to plunge down into thickly forested valleys before making our way up once more.

    And these were the lowest of the Frigid Peaks.

    When we reached the capital, it stood out like a glistening sapphire amidst a hoard of emeralds. It rested in a valley that stretched out of sight, a glistening river running along the center, over which much of the capital was built. From the banks stretched orchards, vineyards and fields, rising to the edges of the mountains. There were no city walls, because the mountains themselves served that function. It took our carriage six hours to descend from where we first glimpsed the valley to the valley floor.

    The abundance of greenery reminded me of Perth''s home, though I couldn''t help but notice how much weaker the nature mana was. The manasphere was as strong as I was used to, even hours out from the city, but the pervading flavor was one of water. Considering that was supposedly Althon''s dominant affinity, it made sense.

    Still it was interesting how it affected the absorption rate of Mana Draw. More accurately, the conversion rate. Since I had no affinity with water, I gained half as much from the air as I had from the equally dense manasphere at the family complex.

    I hadn''t considered the importance of affinity on absorbing mana before. In a way, it reassured me. It meant there was an additional benefit to following the path of an archmage, other than the versatility.

    Well, as long as I had a strong source of mana nearby, anyway.

    The style of dress in the city was different than we''d seen since arriving. Most of those outside the capital had worn heavy jackets over thick leather outfits.

    Now that we¡¯d descended from the peaks, even the laborers were draped in silks as they moved through the fields. That was another thing different from Perth''s home. The Gardeners handled harvests with a few simple spells and arcane constructs, and little else. None of the workers in the fields were using magic. Everything was done with steel tools.

    As we approached the edge of the city, our carriage slowed.

    Risham, the grizzled caravan master was waiting for us when we exited, his hat held in both hands as he bowed to us. Behavior he hadn''t exhibited prior to this point.

    I immediately had a bad feeling about the sort of culture we were going to encounter within the city. If even grizzled old Risham thought it prudent to show deference, what would the locals be like?

    Glad we had Calbern to navigate most of the conversations for us. Once my Domain was secure, I was gonna have to pay him more. I knew he wasn''t helping me for the money, but it was the principle of the thing.

    It didn''t take long for Calbern to arrange our transport into the city. He even convinced Risham to deliver our cargo to the east side of the city, since no matter what territory we were assigned, it would be in that direction.

    I paid more attention than I''d given such matters before we left. There wasn''t much more for me to do other than practice my magic and until I opened my first spell slot, that was mostly just keeping Mana Draw active. I was close, but I figured I wouldn''t be there for another few days.

    So, in the meantime, I listened and learned.

    Now that we were on the water ways, we moved into a boat. It reminded me of a gondola, though that might just be because those were the only kind of boats I knew of that had people standing at the front. The young woman who stood in the front of ours started singing a low song in a language I didn''t recognize while holding a small balloon in the channel. The fins on the balloon seemed to catch on something and the gondola was pulled along as the woman wove the stick back and forth.

    Despite not knowing the words, the song the young woman sang evoked feelings of loss and long winters. It was beautiful, yet felt out of place in a city with such plentiful food surrounding it in every direction.

    The gondolier continued her haunting melody the entire trip, and at times when we''d draw close to another boat, it would change ever so slightly to merge with the others. They all had their own songs, all in the unknown language. Most of the others had a higher or more upbeat rhythm, at least while we were within earshot. Somehow, their rhythms provided a harmonious counterpoint to our pilot¡¯s somber song.

    It wasn''t magic, at least, not of the sort I was learning, but it certainly felt like it.

    When we drew close to another boat with a melancholy song, the notes of our gondolier grew less despondent, as though acknowledging the other. I was pretty sure we circled a building once as both of our pilots sang their song together.

    No one complained.

    By the time we pulled up in front of the white stone steps of our guest house, Nexxa had silent tears trailing down her cheeks.

    I hadn''t thought myself moved as much, yet I still found myself unable to speak as we followed the servant who greeted us upward a set of white stone steps that disappeared below the waterline.

    Thankfully, Calbern recovered his usual poise, despite having teared up during our journey, greeting the servant and confirming we were in the right place.

    As we ascended the steps up and above, the capital was once again laid out before us. Only this time, we were much closer to its center. Our guest house sat at the apex of one of the larger bridges that arched across the river, giving us a commanding view of not only the city, but the central palace a few arches away.

    Like the rest of the city, the palace was made of white stone. And like the rest of the city, it was supported above the pristine water.

    That was where the similarities ended. Where most of the city looked as though it''d been worked by skilled craftsmen, the palace looked as though the hands of the divine themselves had shaped it.

    Which, I supposed, was accurate, seeing as it was likely the work of Althon himself. A Dragon-souled was about as close as I figured I was going to get to a god in either of my lives.

    "Gotta admit, didn''t expect it to be so beautiful," Nexxa said, leaning on the low stone wall as she gazed out over the city.

    "Yeah," I agreed as I moved up beside her. "I was picturing¡­ a lot more cold, for one thing."

    "Yep. Not¡­ this," Nexxa said, waving her arm as if to encompass the entire city. "You think our domains are going to be as grand?"

    "Doubt it. Though who can say. The more I learn about the far corners of Ro''an, the less I feel I know."

    "Ha!" Nexxa laughed, punching my shoulder. "Wisdom comes from the strangest places. Where''d you read that one?"

    I just gave her a small smile, my eyes drifting to the gondola that had brought us there.

    When Nexxa saw where I was looking, she leaned forward, her arms draped over the low wall. "That was¡­ haunting."

    "One of the lesser magics, I believe," Calbern said, stepping up behind us. "An old art, similar to the Bladesong we witnessed last night. One I''d thought was only practiced by the Elves of Terra Vista."

    "Guess not," I replied while pulling out my latest journal. If there were other forms of magic in the world, that bore investigation. None of my research in the family library had hinted at anything like the enchanted singing of the gondoliers. It hadn¡¯t even occurred to me that the elves who ruined our dinner might¡¯ve been using a different form of magic. Seemed I''d have another thing to prepare against.

    What else had I missed while focusing on the runic system the Aranor family followed?

    "The house Mastara has informed me that Althon will see you both in the morning. Shall I have dinner arranged, or would you prefer to visit one of the city''s diners?"

    "Oh, come on, Calbern. Is that even a question?" Nexxa replied, bumping his shoulder.

    Calbern maintained his posture, simply arching an eyebrow at her.

    "We''re going out. And I don''t know about you guys, but I''m feeling like fish," I said, my eyes drifting downward to the clear waters.

    "I''ll see what the House Mastara recommends," Calbern replied, giving a short bow before stepping away.

    "Fish, huh? Thought you didn''t like fish, Perry," Nexxa said after Calbern was out of sight.

    "I¡­" I stopped, calling on Perth''s memories. She was right. Perth hadn''t enjoyed fish. Not because of the taste, but because he''d always believed it was for commoners. "That was before we came here. Before father made me a Magus Dominus."

    "Hmm, if you say so," Nexxa replied. "Doubt we''ll be eating much fish once we''re out there, fending for ourselves."

    "You know, I read once that there''s a type of fish that''s born high in the mountains. They swim out to the ocean, then swim all the way around the continent before swimming back up river, only to breed and die."

    "Damn, Perry. That''s depressing."

    "I mean¡­ sure. But just think about it. Maybe fish''ll be on the menu after all."

    Nexxa just laughed until Calbern returned. We went for dinner, and I had a dish that was very close to fish and chips, just missing a touch of lemon.

    Under the rising moons, Nexxa and I enjoyed one last night of freedom before officially accepting our mantles of Magus Dominus.

 Chapter 12 - Full Glory

    The morning came with a vengeance. Swore my head had barely hit the pillow before Calbern was shaking me awake to the scent of something sweet. I was glad I''d convinced Nexxa that alcohol would''ve been a bad idea.

    Even if she had a spell that could wipe the effects away, it was much easier to rise from bed without a hangover in the way. Not to mention that I never wanted to head down that path again.

    Calbern had me half dressed by the time I remembered we were up earlier than I was used to, simply due to the sun rising earlier in this part of the world. Jet lag without the jet. Luckily the ceremony was only three hours, so I was hoping it wouldn''t be too bad. It wasn''t until Calbern had finished dressing me that I noticed the change to my outfit.

    "A cape? Really?"

    "It is the current fashion in the king''s high court, master Perth. And personally, I think you look quite dashing."

    "I don''t see you wearing a cape," I grumbled in reply while turning to inspect the green and purple flap of cloth. I had to admit, the embroidery was well done, with the wolf''s head of my magecrest in the center.

    "It would hardly do for me to dress as a Magus Dominus, master Perth," he stated, his face entirely still, yet I swore I heard a note of amusement in his voice.

    "You''re enjoying this."

    "Of course, master Perth. I find great satisfaction in caring for my duties."

    "I''ll remember this when I''m a great and mighty Dragon-souled," I warned him, shaking a finger in his direction.

    "Excellent. I''d hate to think you''d forget my service." At that, he stood back, giving me a nod. "Yes, that''ll do."

    "I guess," I conceded, tugging at the cape before following him out of the room. It was a little annoying to find Nexxa waiting without a cape of her own.

    "Oh, no fair. I want one," she said, immediately stepping forward to tug at the cape much like I¡¯d done seconds earlier. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s so soft. And these colors!¡±

    Calbern retrieved a package sitting next to her door, holding it out to her. "I knew my lady had excellent taste."

    "Hey now," I objected, though I was unable to contain my laugh.

    Calbern simply ignored me as he helped Nexxa adjust her cape. The fabric was longer than mine, and it even came with a hood. In fact, it was large enough she could draw it around herself¡­ she hadn¡¯t gotten a cape at all. "Why''d she get a cloak?" I asked, while tugging at my cape again.

    "Because that is the current fashion for a lady of the Pegasus in the City on the Water, master Perth," Calbern said, bowing slightly.

    Nexxa shot me another teasing grin as Calbern lead us down the stairs to a waiting gondola. Our gondolier chose a more upbeat song for our morning journey. By the time we arrived at the palace, I felt fully awake. Awake, but not ready.

    Althon wasn''t a known quantity, such as Perth''s father or even my old man. Obviously, he was a mage of incredible power and a friend of Perth''s father. Despite that, all I¡¯d found in the archives was that he was one of the oldest Dragon-souled royalty. Calbern had talked to his folk, and it sounded like he treated the folk of the capital well. Nexxa said that word among the monster hunters of the west was, unless it was in the Frigid Peaks, he only got involved in beating back the monsters when it got really bad. Like, kingdoms had already been overrun, levels of bad.

    And, I supposed, we now knew that he liked capes in his court.

    We drew up to the entrance ramp, which had eleven small wooden docks attached to each side. We pulled up at the second closest dock, where we bid our gondolier goodbye before climbing up the stairs to the ramp. Looking back towards the water, I noted that if someone had an amphibious vehicle, they could drive straight up.

    With a skip in her step, Nexxa tugged at my sleeve, pulling me towards the palace entrance.

    Great pillars lined the ramp, water flowing past through transparent aqueducts. From what I could tell, it was merely for display.

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    I was proven wrong when we reached the pair of rich mahogany doors. They stood tall enough I could''ve driven a bus through them. As Calbern stepped forward to greet a young attendant, the water was diverted over great wooden wheels. Those wheels pulled tight a great chain that drew the doors open, slowly revealing the hall within.

    Passing through that hall, Nexxa finally spoke. ¡°This is a little intimidating.¡±

    ¡°Think that¡¯s the point,¡± I said, staring up at the stone arches above us. Each one was carved from a single piece of stone. Or at least appeared to be. Hiring an ensouled to forge them together would be just as impressive, in my opinion.

    We were not guided to the main throne room, but one of the side halls instead, which while much smaller, was still large. That said, it was only the size of a spacious ballroom, not a football stadium as I pictured the main throne room must be.

    The room had an open floor with a single throne. Despite the fact no one was on the floor, that didn¡¯t mean the room was empty. Along the sides, raised six feet above the floor were twelve separate alcoves, each one with at least four people seated within. In the alcoves closest to the throne, I spotted several folk stuck with the same cape I now wore.

    Our presence was announced on entry, a tradition Perth was unfamiliar with and something I''d only seen on TV.

    "Magus Dominus Perth Seleus Aranor, presenting to his Majesty Althon," the young man who¡¯d met Calbern at the door bellowed out from beside me.

    Across the room, on his throne of jagged gold and shining sapphires sat a figure of indeterminate age and gender. If I hadn''t been told Althon was male, I wouldn''t have been able to guess. Nor would I have guessed he¡¯d been alive for more than half a millennium.

    There was a sort of timelessness about him, but one that sat in the uncanny valley, making everything about him feel subtly off.

    "Magus Dominus Lenexxa Asina Aranor, presenting to his Majesty Althon," the young man bellowed out, announcing Nexxa as I took my first step down.

    I tried not to chuckle at the fact that Perth had never known that Nexxa''s full name was Lenexxa. Only the presence of Althon at the far end of the room stopped me. Still, I had every intention of teasing her about it later.

    Calbern had, thankfully, passed on instructions of how we were supposed to act. Every dragon-souled had their own preferences for holding court. Some preferred a cozier atmosphere, and you wouldn¡¯t even be invited inside unless you were considered a friend. Others would put you through literal trials by fire. In comparison, Althon¡¯s requirements were rather mild. Side by side, Nexxa and I walked down the center of the hall before coming to a stop before the dragon-souled Magus Dominus of the City on the Water.

    We both inclined our heads, while never taking our eyes off of Althon. Looking away would be a sign of extreme disrespect. I hadn''t understood why when we were given the instruction, but now that we¡¯d walked his halls and met him face to face, it made a sort of sense, I supposed. He clearly put a lot of effort into the theatre of it all.

    Which also explained the next part.

    Doing my best not to display nervousness beneath the gaze of the assembled audience, I stepped forward. For all my effort, when I first attempted to speak, my voice caught.

    Public speaking had never been part of my skill set.

    Despite myself, I glanced towards Nexxa. She gave me just the slightest of nods. I swallowed, then locked my eyes back on Althon. He met my gaze, blinking languidly, as though dragging out the action to emphasize my hesitation.

    It was enough.

    "I, Perth of Aranor, ascending Mage-soul, pledge myself to Althon, High King of the City on the Water, as a Magus Dominus," I said, trying to raise my voice without actually yelling. Not something I''d had much practice with. Calbern was a master of it.

    A second later, Nexxa copied me. According to Calbern, her going second was a statement of her seniority, while us presenting ourselves together expressed our desire to be seen as allies. For something I saw as a mere stopping point, there was a lot of ceremony involved. "I, Lenexxa of Aranor, ascending Pegasus-soul, pledge myself to Althon, High King of the City on the Water, as a Magus Dominus."

    There were numerous gasps and muttering at Nexxa''s declaration. I wasn''t sure if it was because of her rank, her age, or the combination. Either way, it was clear she was of much more interest than me. I had no problem with that.

    I also didn¡¯t have much time to consider it, as that sensation I felt when I first swore my oath returned, something inside me shifting.

    "I welcome you both," Althon said, having no issues projecting his voice to fill the room, despite the sibilance in his voice. All the muttering immediately stopped as he stood from his throne, taking two steps towards us. Not something Calbern had mentioned in his briefing.

    Unsure of how to respond, I simply stood still.

    "Our friend, Aranor, has sent us a great gift. A prodigy the likes of which we have not seen since the fall of old Anvia!"

    He gestured to Nexxa, who straightened her shoulders, as if attempting to get just that little bit taller.

    "Fly," I muttered under my breath, though I was certain she''d hear me.

    Nexxa didn''t respond, and I didn¡¯t know if she thought of it herself, or if she took my advice, but she lifted off the ground several inches. As she did so, she sent sparks arcing along her arms, then above her head into a halo. There were further gasps from the audience, and for a second, I almost smiled.

    But Althon chose that moment to take another step down, bringing him to Nexxa¡¯s eye level.

    "And what do we do when we receive such a wondrous gift?" Althon asked, turning to the side and waving his arms to encompass the audience.

    "Celebrate!" came the resounding answer, shaking the ground beneath my feet.

    In that moment, Nexxa was in her full glory, one hand held upward, lightning cascading up and down in an arc over her, like a god of lighting.

    However, my eyes had never left Althon. And I couldn''t help but notice the hunger behind his eyes as his long forked tongue flicked over his lips.

    Then those eyes shifted towards me.

    And gave a slow lazy wink.

 Chapter 13 - City On The Water

    True to Althon''s word, he held a citywide celebration.

    Water was the theme of the day. There were races in the channels in our honor, followed by water dancers.

    I had to fight to keep from taking notes as we watched the dancers. At the start, I thought they might simply be mortals, but as the dancers sung to the beat, the water moved with them, lifting them ever higher, and ever faster.

    By the end of the performance, they were weaving around each other like bees on an early spring day, a perfect symphony of organized chaos.

    It was beautiful, yet the most over-the-top part of the day was the glistening figures of Nexxa and I. A trio of young women, all of them Magus Domini, had woven water infused with floral-scented dyes into our forms, meaning that at least our representations that towered over the palace smelled nice.

    ¡°This is better than the Rift! You can probably see us from outside the city,¡± Nexxa said, spinning in place under her figure, reaching out as though she could catch the mist that fell off it.

    ¡°Undoubtedly. I¡¯d hazard to guess one might be able to see your distinguished forms from the edge of the valley,¡± Calbern said. Somehow, his voice didn¡¯t carry any trace of sarcasm, only pride.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a play?¡± I asked. Nexxa might enjoy the attention, but I couldn¡¯t help but think of how big a target Althon was painting on our backs. And unlike Nexxa, I still couldn¡¯t cast a spell without an hour of channeling.

    ¡°Yes! Theater!¡± Nexxa yelled, running off towards the gondolier who¡¯d been running us around, but not without grabbing me by the sleeve first. ¡°Come on, Perry. We can¡¯t be late.¡±

    ¡°There is no worry of that, Lady Nexxa,¡± Calbern said, following at a more sedate pace.

    I readjusted my collar after being released from Nexxa¡¯s grasp. ¡°Yeah. They¡¯re not going to start it without us. Guests of honor and all that.¡±

    ¡°Bah, they have a schedule. We can¡¯t make them wait just ''cause,¡± Nexxa countered, to which I simply gave her a small open-handed shrug.

    The play was situated in one of the grand theaters ensconced in the side of the palace. Before the gondolier pulled us up, I hadn¡¯t even noticed that there were grand theaters in the sides of the palace.

    It wasn¡¯t a style of play I¡¯d experienced before, as Nexxa and I actually had a part to play, though we¡¯d be playing it from the stands. Luckily, it was a non-vocal part. All we had to do was stand up and wave whenever the low fog rolled over the rest of the audience.

    There¡¯s a feeling you get when the entire audience is invested in you, in your performance, and that of the others performing with you. I mean, when they¡¯re truly invested, like five-grand on the scrappy kid with messy black hair and scars all over his back invested. That feeling isn¡¯t a pleasant one, exactly, but it was at least familiar.

    It was entirely different from what we¡¯d been asked to do, yet even that strained my desire to stand in front of a crowd.

    The play itself started innocently enough. It was about a young man from the City on the Water who had ended up in a distant land.

    That land came under attack by monsters, and he spent most of the play stumbling from one unlikely survival scenario to the next, always one step ahead of death, even as the civilization he was visiting crumbled around him.

    Finally, he was cornered, forced to choose between drowning or burning to death.

    That was when Althon had shown up to ''save the day'', despite the entire distant kingdom having already fallen. That young man was the only one who¡¯d survived out of a cast of over a hundred. Yet there was still a scene showing a parade celebrating Althon¡¯s mighty achievement.

    It felt like I was missing something, cause as I¡¯d seen it, it was like letting Godzilla stomp all over the entirety of Japan then showing up once it had moved into the ocean, only to knock it out with a single punch.

    And for whatever reason, folk ate it up.

    The main character was pretty funny, even if all they did was survive more and more impossible scenarios by the skin of their teeth.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Honestly, if it wasn''t for how the audience reacted to Althon¡¯s appearance, I would''ve thought it was satire.

    It was still highly entertaining. Our part in the show had actually been foreshadowing for Althon¡¯s eventual appearance.

    ¡°That¡¯s some subtle reinforcing of our roles,¡± I said as we left the theater behind.

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Nexxa said, looking toward Calbern, who just shrugged.

    ¡°Having us act as stand-ins for Althon,¡± I said, nodding back towards the stage. ¡°It¡¯s showing the people that we¡¯re his representatives, even in fiction.¡±

    ¡°Perry, you¡¯re taking it too seriously,¡± Nexxa said, throwing her arm over my shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s just a play.¡±

    ¡°While generally, I would encourage such critique, I do believe lady Nexxa is correct, in this instance,¡± Calbern said as we all climbed into the gondola.

    I simply hummed in response. Didn¡¯t have much more to say, and they were probably right.

    Next on our agenda was a party with the other Magus Dominus, as well as any other ensouled who happened to be in the city.

    The moment we arrived, Althon greeted us.

    ¡°Ah, young Dominus Perth and Dominus Lanexxa, welcome. I hope you have enjoyed the festivities?¡± he asked, his arms stretched wide as he drew Nexxa into a hug. He ran his hand along her hair, once more sending me a languid wink.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a blast,¡± Nexxa said, her smile stretching from ear to ear as she broke their embrace to look past him. ¡°Oh, more water dancers?¡±

    ¡°These are a newer band. More experimental. Very new Mage, or so, I¡¯m told,¡± Althon said, his grin almost as wide as Nexxa¡¯s.

    They continued chatting about the party, and as Nexxa said, she seemed to be having a blast. Considering how much attention she¡¯d avoided at the family estate, I was a little surprised at how much she was clearly enjoying being the center of attention.

    Althon handed us each a small pamphlet with several of the other Domini we might want to meet, and a short description of each. I glanced at it, but my attention was on Althon. His weird behavior had me on edge. Throughout the whole event, he rarely took his eyes off her. Whatever he had planned, I wanted to be ready.

    Not that I imagined I could foil the plans of a Dragon-souled, but if there was even a chance¡­ I''d only known Nexxa for a month, and already she was like the sister I never had. I wasn''t ready to lose her.

    Yet nothing happened. The event passed quietly, or at least without incident. There was nothing quiet about the band of water dancers and their thundering performance.

    I did overhear several Magus Domini talking about Nexxa. And about how none of the nearby domains were available, so how valuable could a prodigy really be. Some thought we might supplant existing Magus Domini. Others were certain we''d be sent upriver, just past the border, where we''d be used to shield the ''actually valuable'' Magus Domini.

    It surprised me that they all had domains close enough to return to the capital for her celebration. Then I learned that most of them lived in the City on the Water, and only traveled to their domains for a few weeks each year.

    As we sat on the gondola on our way back to the first house, Nexxa was singing along to the gondolier''s song. She was off key in the worst way, but the gondolier didn''t seem to mind.

    I stared out across the water, wondering if I''d been wrong. Maybe Althon didn''t have anything sinister in mind for Nexxa.

    "What''s eating you?" Nexxa asked, stopping down beside me to drag an arm in the water.

    "What do you mean?" I replied, not turning away from the water.

    "Come on. We''ve spent the last month gearing up for this trip. I''ve never seen you more alive, Per-per. Then they throw this big party, and you go sullen. You''re not jealous, are you?"

    "Jealous?"

    "Yeah, cause I''m getting all this attention and they''re treating you like, you know¡­"

    "I''m not sure I do," I replied, a trace of amusement making its way through my concern.

    "Crimson goddess, you''re gonna make me say it aren''t you?"

    I simply raised my eyebrows at her, a small smile tracing my lips.

    "They''re treating you like father did, before you awakened. Like the rest of our goddess cursed family still does. Like you¡¯re not worth being part of the family. Like you don''t matter," Nexxa was squeezing her hands into fists by the time she finished.

    I reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "That doesn''t matter now. We''re Magus Domini, Nexxa. And just cause I''m a little behind, doesn''t mean I''m gonna stay here."

    "So, you''re not jealous?"

    "Goddess no. Better you than me."

    "Then what''s with the whole¡­ you know, brooding."

    I was unable to hold back a laugh. "I wasn''t brooding. I was watching. There''s something off about Althon."

    "I had noticed that as well, master Perth," Calbern said, his brow furrowed as he looked back towards the palace.

    "You mean other than his whole¡­ everything?" Nexxa asked, waving a hand at me.

    "Hey now," I objected.

    "Whatever. You get what I mean. The man looks wrong."

    "Yeah, he does. But there was something else. He had this look in his eyes whenever he looked at you. Like he''d seen a burger after years of eating nothing but lettuce."

    There was a moment of silence as Nexxa and I stared at each other.

    It was finally broken by Nexxa asking, "What?"

    "I mean, he looked hungry."

    "Yeah, no, I got that part. What in the Rift is a burger?"

    "It''s¡­ uh¡­ like a sandwich made of ground up meat," I explained, looking to Calbern for support only to find him giving me a questioning raise of his eyebrow. "Come on, they had them at lunch."

    "Oh, local cuisine. And you didn''t save me one? What sort of brother are¡­ are¡­ hmm¡­" the rest of Nexxa''s question was lost forever as she slipped into sleep, her head lolling to the side.

    "I''m surprised she lasted this long," Calbern said gently pulling Nexxa back from where she¡¯d been leaning over the side of the gondola. "If I''m not mistaken, she exhausted her mana pool at least twenty times today."

    I whistled softly. "She really is a prodigy, isn''t she."

    Calbern simply nodded while draping his jacket over her shoulders. "Prodigy or not, she is family first."

    "You and her, Calbern. All the family I''ll ever need," I said, reaching over and squeezing his shoulder.

    He didn''t respond, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

 Chapter 14 - A Real Wizard

    The next morning we were summoned to a private audience with Althon.

    We arrived much like the day before, even down to the announcement.

    But this time, there was no audience. Calbern had stayed behind, and even the young man announcing us left as soon as they''d performed their duty.

    Which left Nexxa and I alone in a room with the most powerful mage on this side of the continent. Althon sat on his throne, tapping his fingers softly on the arm rest as he watched us.

    We watched him right back, neither of us moving from our place near the entrance. This wasn''t the scripted event from yesterday. This was our true first meeting.

    After nearly five minutes Althon suddenly stood, turning away while waving a hand at us to follow. "Come. Time grows short, and I must once again sacrifice my needs for the many."

    Nexxa and I exchanged a glance before marching forward to fall in behind him.

    Somehow, he managed to slither as he walked. At that point, I was starting to wonder if instead of water, maybe he had a snake affinity. Perth had never heard of such a thing, but he''d never heard of the elf-song either.

    Althon led us down a hallway lined with art of the city and its folk. As we walked, I could see how the city had grown. And how it had fallen, only to be brought back again.

    Every picture had Althon in it. In some he was smiling, others he was crying. And in a rare few, his face was painted in a rictus grin of hate.

    In none of them did Althon carry the unsettling appearance I was familiar with.

    "Look closely children, for if you follow the path I see laid before you, you will know these struggles yourselves."

    The person speaking wasn''t Althon. Or, at least, it wasn''t the one we''d been following.

    From out of a picture behind us stepped a man. A tall man, his shoulders straight and square, his beard long and gray, and his eyes as piercing as a screw driver.

    He was everything I''d first imagined Althon would be. More really.

    I could feel the mana rolling off him in waves, and I cursed myself for my foolishness. The other ''Althon'' didn''t even have as much mana pressure as Perth''s father, yet I''d believed he was the real deal.

    Speaking of the other Althon, he sidled up to us, his form slipping away. First his face melted off, then each of his limbs, one by one. Finally, beneath it all was a snake. Once free of its shed ¡®skin¡¯ it continued past us to coil around Althon''s leg before ascending up across his shoulders. It flicked its tongue out, staring at Nexxa with the same hungry gaze that had me on edge the day before.

    Seeing that look on what was clearly Althon''s familiar was still a little worrying but not nearly so much as it had been.

    "Come children, we have much to discuss," Althon said, turning back towards the painting. And I hadn¡¯t imagined him stepping out, because he stepped right back in.

    I watched for several seconds as his form moved deeper into the grass filled meadow depicted on the painting, sharing a glance with Nexxa.

    Then I followed his lead, hoping I wasn''t about to embarrass myself. To my relief and horror, I felt myself melting down as I stepped through the picture, only to reform before the process could complete.

    Some part of me told me that if I''d melted all the way, that would''ve been it. No more Perth. No more Perry. No more me.

    Just a messy puddle in a painting.

    "Well, that was the weirdest thing I''ve experienced in the last eight hours," Nexxa said before giving her whole body a shake.

    "Only the last eight hours, huh?"

    "Yep," Nexxa confirmed without explanation before marching up the trail.

    Not wanting to get left behind, I sped after her until we reached Althon.

    He''d stopped next to a clear pool of water, and was staring into it, mumbling softly. As we approached he tapped it with the end of his staff, causing ripples to spread. Yet the ripples didn¡¯t settle into calmness. Instead, they rose and shifted until they¡¯d reformed. I''d been in an airplane exactly once, back on Earth, but that was still enough for me to recognize what he was showing us.

    "This shall be your domain, Lenexxa of Althon," he said. "The mountains are yours to explore, the valleys, yours to exploit, and the monsters, yours to exterminate, and once that''s done, the borders will be yours to expand."

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    "This is a dangerous land, but one that will reward your efforts. Do not mistake your skill for experience. I have arranged for a seasoned hunter to advise you for your first two years. Listen to his advice, but make your own choices."

    Nexxa nodded, her eyes focused as she scanned every mountain, no doubt committing it to memory.

    I did the same. It may have been Nexxa''s, but if I truly intended to be her ally, there might come a time I''d need to come to her aid. Knowing the shape of her domain would be useful, if that day ever came.

    We remained silent until Nexxa nodded again. "Where will I meet this hunter?"

    "He will be waiting for you at the heart of your domain, here at the head of the Teleti river. A week''s journey as the airship flies. Two by boat, and eight by horse."

    "I don''t see any settlements," I noted as I scanned the map again, despite being certain of my statement.

    "That''s because there are none. Until Magus Dominus Lenexxa makes the land safe, it will be unclaimed land."

    "Oh," I muttered.

    "Do not worry. I do not expect the same of a Mage-souled Magus Dominus as a Pegasus," he said with a light chuckle.

    "Yeah, doofus. ''Sides, you''re not half the fighter I am even before we account for our spells."

    A nervous chuckle of my own escapes me. "Was I that obvious?"

    "Obvious as rain on a cloudy day with a grumpy water mage watching from the porch," Nexxa replied.

    "An oddly specific example," I replied, glancing towards Althon.

    Althon started mumbling again, cutting off any reply Nexxa might have given me. Then he wiped the pool clean with another tap.

    One more tap, and the features reshaped themselves into what would be my domain.

    I was surprised to see the eastern edge remain liquid. Also, there was a great deal more height difference between the lowest part of my domain and the highest. Near that highest point, which sat just inland from the lake or ocean, was a tiny settlement of maybe twelve buildings. Half of them looked to be ruins.

    Unlike Nexxa, there was no river in my domain. Just a few small creeks and the large body of water to the east.

    "This shall be your domain, Perth of Althon," he said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "The mountains are yours to explore, the valleys, yours to exploit, and the monsters, yours to exterminate, and once that''s done, the borders will be yours to expand."

    "What this land lacks in monsters, it makes up for in isolation. You will journey to the furthest tip of the continent, on the edge of the Great Storm that burns eternal. It is a two week trip by airship from the closest domain, your sister''s. Four months, by horse."

    "Wait, horse? Why horse? Can''t I use a pegasus or one of those drakes?"

    "In the Frigid Peaks? I''m afraid neither would handle the cold of the high road well. If you have the funds, perhaps you could arrange frost wolves, though finding three of the beasts would be a challenge anywhere outside the peaks themselves."

    "That''s¡­ unfortunate. Then how am I going to get there safely?"

    "You shall travel with your sister to her domain. Once there, she will escort you to the eastern edge of her domain. Assuming you have unlocked your first spell impression, you will be capable of taking the eastern high road. It will be cold, but the wards remain¡­ mostly functional. Those that aren''t, you will repair as you travel east. You will be as safe as any Magus Dominus can be."

    "That''s not ominous," I muttered, shaking my head as I returned to studying the map.

    "Being a Magus Dominus is not for those who seek a guarantee of safety," Althon replied, a frown on his face.

    "I mean, it beats being sent to the Front," I replied, tracing out the nearest spring''s direction from the settlement.

    "What does that have to do with¡­ Aranor! Tell me child, did your father threaten to send you to the Front if you didn''t become a Magus Dominus?"

    "Uh¡­ basically?" I said, glancing at Nexxa who was staring back at me with her mouth hanging open.

    "It seems I must apologize. I cannot change your fate at this point. You have made the pledge, and we are all bound to serve the Pillars. Had I known¡­"

    "I mean, if you want to make it up to me, you can always drop me right in my domain. Or, you know, I always enjoy adding more spells to my grimoire. So¡­ maybe I could take a peek at your library?"

    Althon huffed out a laugh. "Bold child. I''m afraid I cannot simply spirit you away. Even the Shadow would find it difficult to take another so far in a timely manner. And to charter an airship to travel so far outside the Sky Ways would be prohibitive. It would make more sense to leave the land fallow for the next ten years. However, I suppose I could allow you to peruse one of my low order grimoires."

    I blinked. I honestly hadn''t expected that to work. Getting access to his spells was worth way more to me than a quick trip.

    "Hmm. I shall also assign a guide who knows the high road for two years. Much like your sister, you should listen to them. But remember, your choices remain your own."

    I nodded as I pulled out my journal, sketching out a rough map of the pool in front of me. It wasn''t the neatest, but it would be a lot better than solely relying on my memory.

    When I got a chance to search through his grimoire, I hoped I could find a complement to Review Scroll that might allow me to take pictures to add to Memory Palace.

    Then again, didn''t Nexxa say she could relive her memories? Maybe I wouldn''t need anything extra.

    When I indicated I was done, Althon swept the map clean. Then he led us out of the painting, emerging back in the hall. I hadn''t noticed, but his snake had left at some point. Possibly as soon as he entered the painting.

    "This is where I bid you both farewell. I have made arrangements for a ship to take you upriver in three days. My grimoire will remain in the library at your guest house until you leave, delivered by your mentor. I shall contact you every year on the Fifth of Hungry Summer, at the Heart of your settlements. If I am unable to contact you five years in a row, I shall assume you have perished."

    "Ouch," I muttered. Not a lot of confidence there.

    "If you survive for ten years, then your domains are yours for life, should you wish it." He paused, turning to both of us and laying a hand on each of our shoulders. "I hope to see you both ten years from now. Be prepared, be bold, be cunning. And remember, so long as you live, there is hope."

    The intensity of his gaze made me want to take a step back, but the iron grip he kept on my shoulder locked me in place.

    It only served to reinforce his words.

    Then, as we were both still absorbing his last words, he vanished in a puff of mist.

    Now that¡­ that was a real wizard.

 Chapter 15 - Secrets of Telthen

    When Nexxa and I made our way out past the throne room, we found the snake back in the throne in its human form. I couldn''t help but chastise myself for falling for the obvious setup. Of course a thousand-year-old wizard wasn''t going to sit around on a throne all day. He had more important things to do.

    Only when his personal attention was required did he spare time for us. Even that could''ve been delegated if he''d wanted.

    It was a lesson I intended to remember. Especially for speeches.

    We were quiet all the way to our gondola. The song was bittersweet today. Love that burned bright, but faded too soon.

    "Did father really not give you a choice?" Nexxa asked when we were halfway back to the guest house, a flight of colorful songbirds skimming past us, low above the water.

    "Not much of one," I said with a shrug as my gaze followed the birds as they disappeared into one of the city¡¯s many side channels. "Could''ve been worse."

    "I¡­ a Magus Dominus isn''t supposed to be something that''s forced. You were so excited, it didn''t even occur to me that father had¡­ had been so dishonorable." Nexxa thumped her hand on the rim of the gondola hard enough to cause the gondolier to startle, proving then and there they could be interrupted.

    It only took our gondolier a moment to take up singing again, though I noted it was a more upbeat melody.

    As the birds disappeared, I turned towards Nexxa. She had her fists clenched, and she was biting her lip as she stared west. Reaching over, I took her hand, making her jump slightly, before meeting my gaze. "Look, it doesn''t matter. Are there other things I might''ve enjoyed more? Maybe. But I am looking forward to this. Besides, I made the oath, and confirmed it right beside you. Even if I could, I''m not one to back out of a promise."

    "That''s not¡­ the point is that father shouldn''t have forced you into it. Becoming a Magus Dominus is an honor. And a terrible responsibility. Especially when serving under a foreign king. We''ve revoked our family name. You understand what that means, right?"

    "I was wondering about him calling us ''of Althon''," I replied, letting go of her hand to run it alongside the boat as I considered her words. "Guess it''s a good thing we revoked his name then, since he obviously wasn''t deserving of us."

    "I¡­ you''re impossible," Nexxa said, pushing me away from her. But she was smiling.

    After that, we continued chatting about everything we¡¯d seen in the City on the Water until the gondola pulled up to the guest house. Just at the top of the stairs, Calbern was waiting for us.

    "Greetings, master Perth. A package is waiting for you in the study," Calbern said, an unusual warble in his voice as he spoke.

    "You don''t think?" I asked, looking towards Nexxa before rushing up the stairs.

    "He''s a Dragon-souled wizard who walks in and out of paintings. I''m making no assumptions," Nexxa said, shaking her head as she followed me.

    "Master Perth?" Calbern called from behind us. "Is everything okay?"

    As I reached the library and found a grimoire shaped package wrapped in glistening blue paper, I couldn''t help but smile as I replied, "Yep. Couldn''t be better."

    I stepped forward, peeling back the wrapping and staring down at the grimoire of a true wizard.

    Nexxa came up next to me, her smile nearly as wide as my own. "Well, what are you waiting for? Open it."

    I took a deep breath, my hand running along the platinum surface, inspecting the fine filigree and sapphire set in the center of the cover. Then I took it by the clasp¡­

    ¡°Ahem, I assume you are the new Magus Dominus?¡± A voice asked from behind us, causing Nexxa and I to spin around. Behind us, wearing a cloak similar to Nexxa¡¯s, though with accents of blue and green instead of her purple and gold, was a tall man with a sharp nose, his hands folded before him.

    ¡°Who¡¯re you?¡± I asked, taking a half-step in front of Nexxa before I could think about it.

    Nexxa slugged my shoulder, stepping up beside me her hands crackling with sparks. I hoped she wouldn¡¯t actually need any spells considering how much mana she¡¯d already used.

    ¡°Magus Dominus Bentel of Althon, though you shall call me Books. Our domains share borders,¡± Books said, nodding towards Nexxa.

    ¡°Wait, seriously? Books? Just Books?¡± Nexxa asked, shooting me a glance.

    I gave her a minuscule shrug. I¡¯d heard far weirder names back home.

    ¡°Yes. Is that going to be a problem?¡±

    ¡°No problems here,¡± I said, offering him a slight bow in return. ¡°My name is Perth.¡±

    ¡°Yes, so I¡¯ve been informed,¡± Books replied, pressing a single finger to the middle of his nose. Then he frowned, moving his hand to the side. ¡°Althon thought you two could use some help getting familiar with your new duties. As your time is limited, he sent the only Dominus capable of addressing your obvious inadequacies, which are many. All mist, no water, as the locals like to say.¡±

    ¡°Say that again,¡± Nexxa said, cracking her knuckles, an arc of lightning shooting over our heads. ¡°Real slow, so I can make sure I heard it right.¡±

    ¡°That is what I meant,¡± Books said, frowning as he waved his hand in the direction of Nexxa¡¯s flashing lightning. ¡°Impeccable spellwork. Excellent presence. Atrocious response to hostility. Poor situational awareness. Inability to remember instructions.¡±

    ¡°What instructions?¡± I asked, stepping between Books and Nexxa again. It occurred to me that Nexxa unleashing torrents of lightning next to Althon¡¯s grimoire might not be the wisest idea.

    ¡°At the party, you were given a list of people you were to talk to. That list included me,¡± Books said, crossing his arms. ¡°Neither of you so much as approached me, nor several of the other contacts on my list.¡±

    ¡°List?¡± I asked, glancing at Nexxa who simply shrugged in response. ¡°What list?¡±

    ¡°The¡­

    ¡°I believe this is what the Dominus is referring to, Master Perth,¡± Calbern said, holding out a folded piece of paper.

    ¡°That is precisely what I was referring to,¡± Books said, taking the booklet from Calbern¡¯s outstretched hand. Then he stepped forward, grabbing my wrist to press it into my hand.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°Oh, the-¡± I started, finally recognizing the little booklet Althon¡¯s familiar had given us at the party. I never got to finish as a bolt of lightning slammed into Books.

    I didn¡¯t know exactly what happened, other than registering a brilliant blue flash.

    When my vision cleared, I was relieved to find the grimoire was okay. And so was Books, who was picking himself up off the far side of the room, glaring at Nexxa.

    ¡°Keep your hands off my brother,¡± Nexxa ground out, her eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Typical kingdomer,¡± Books muttered, wobbling slightly as he got to his feet.

    ¡°Althon did mention a mentor,¡± I said, pulling on Nexxa¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Maybe don¡¯t antagonize him¡­ any more.¡±

    Nexxa blinked at me. Then she glanced down at the booklet. Finally, she shifted to take in Books, who was brushing the singed edges of his cloak with a frown. The ever present sparks cut off as she offered me a small shrug alongside a mumbled, ¡°Oops?¡±

    ¡°What say we start again?¡± I suggested.

    ¡°While I am not surprised by your barbarity, I shall hardly be forgetting it,¡± Books said, stepping slightly to the side, putting Calbern between himself and Nexxa. ¡°It seems this shall be a challenge, even for one with such considerable talent as I.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of challenges,¡± I said, unable to keep myself from looking back towards Althon¡¯s grimoire. ¡°I was about to delve into whatever mysteries Althon might¡¯ve shared. Don¡¯t suppose your lessons can wait until after?¡±

    Books tapped the side of his long nose with a single finger, looking between Nexxa and I for several seconds, before finally nodding. ¡°Very well. I shall return anon, after this one has had a chance to¡­ settle.¡±

    Next to me, Nexxa¡¯s cheeks flushed brightly even as she clenched her hands into fists. But she kept her mouth shut, and gave a brief nod.

    So I escorted Books out of our guesthouse, politely reminding him to have Calbern announce him properly next time, then returned to Nexxa. She gave me another small shrug, but her eyes were locked on Althon¡¯s grimoire. I really couldn¡¯t blame her.

    I stepped up to the ornate tome, running my hand over its surface once more. Then I set my hand on the clasp, sharing a wide grin with Nexxa.

    And cracked it wide open.

    <u> </u>

    Despite wanting to do nothing but peruse Althon''s grimoire, Nexxa and I had a lot to take care of before we left. In addition to our lessons with Books, which Nexxa had managed to put off until we set out, all the supplies I''d brought with me were now basically useless.

    On the plus side, I had brought a lot of high value trade goods that would be worth a lot more on this side of the gate. Unfortunately, with a recent gate activation, many of those products weren''t as rare as they otherwise would be.

    Worth enough to pay for the essence materials I¡¯d need to scribe the spells from his grimoire to mine. Still, the cost made me wince. Thousands of gold per page.

    I''d known it was expensive, but it was only as I paid for the materials myself that I understood just how much I¡¯d spent. Scribing a single spell cost more than a citizen of Althon''s capital city spent on food in their entire life.

    Also, even with only the goods we¡¯d brought with us, I was stupid rich.

    The sort of rich that ignored things like passports and criminal prosecution back on Earth. It almost made me sick.

    Thankfully, Nexxa kept me on track, reminding me it was my duty to use that wealth to help the folk who would live beneath my protection.

    It helped.

    As did the realization that the ingredients for scribing spells could be grown. It took dedicated attention from a mage with the appropriate affinity, but it could be done. Which meant the ingredients I¡¯d used back at the family estate had been much cheaper than what was available for public purchase in the City on the Water.

    Obviously, I had Calbern procure several additional bags of seeds to keep in my ring. The ring''s importance had blown through the roof after understanding how remote my domain would be.

    More than half of the storage ended up dedicated to seeds, most of which had unique alchemical uses or provided essence for scribing. The rest were for particularly hardy or nutritious plants.

    Scurvy was still a thing, even if mages could learn a spell to cure it. Given the scarcity of mages, for the average person, it was cheaper to just grow the right fruit.

    Calbern managed to locate an elven mage who was willing to cast Tongues on us, while giving us a set of books to practice with. All for the low price of three bottles of wine from our family''s vineyard. It would''ve barely amounted to a hundred golden Thorns back home, so I considered it a great deal.

    We spent the second day picking up the language and making fun of each other''s horrible accents. Even Calbern took part.

    There were three basic spells I acquired from Althon''s grimoire. Two first order spells, Water Breathing and Water Purification, as well as a single second order spell, Create Ice.

    The prime choice, and what took up the majority of my time with the grimoire was a third order spell, Secrets of Telthen. The notes indicated that Telthen was a fallen city that Althon had visited once in his youth.

    It was only a little disappointing that most of the spells in the grimoire were water or ice based.

    Disappointing but not surprising. I could admit that I''d been hoping for a lower order worlds spell. But my desire to keep the affinity secret had outweighed my desire to outright ask for one.

    Which was why I¡¯d chosen Secrets.

    Not only was Secrets a Worlds spell, it was the first third order I¡¯d seen. Even though most of the runes were beyond my understanding, the operation was simple enough. Secrets of Telthen had two aspects. The first was the creation of small pocket realms the caster could access. It required pools of still water, no larger than ten feet across. When cast, Secrets would make the water stiffer. A bit like a thick jello, if I was reading it right.

    After a realm was formed, the caster could use a specialized version of the Access Storage spell to activate it, drawing in the caster and anything in their immediate vicinity. Including other people. Though that seemed like a not so great choice, since each one was only large enough for three people, and that, only if they were willing to snuggle very close.

    From within, the occupants could monitor what was going on outside, like looking through lightly frosted glass.

    While I could see uses for the first part, it was the second that caught my attention. After establishing at least two of these pools, a caster could move through them. The range was only a few miles, but it was another piece of the Worlds magic puzzle. If I could master Worlds magic it would certainly go a long way to make up for the remote location of my domain.

    But that was a long term goal. Very long term. And I didn¡¯t have the power or skill to keep from ending up locked away, no matter how wizardly Althon may have seemed.

    It felt a little closer when I felt the space inside my core shift. It had been shifting by small degrees every day, slowly expanding, but never enough to fit the simplest of first order spells.

    On the third day in the City on the Water, that changed.

    As soon as I felt it, I stopped scribing and spent an hour slotting in Access Storage. Then I cast the spell without having to infuse my grimoire. My blasting rod dropped into my hand after only three seconds.

    I swayed in place at the sudden emptying of my mana pool, fighting to remain conscious even as a giant grin stretched across my face.

    At some point, I must''ve lost consciousness, because the next thing I knew, Nexxa was shaking me awake. "Perry! Perry, are you okay? What happened?"

    "First spell," I muttered, the words coming out slurred due to the right half of my mouth not working properly. I wiggled my tongue for a few seconds before trying again. Thankfully I was much clearer the second time around. "First spell."

    "Oh, thank the goddess. I should''ve known not to leave you alone when you were getting so close."

    "I''m fungin," I replied, grimacing at my traitorous mouth. "Fine. I''m fine. Just a little mana exhaustion."

    "Yep, yep. Let''s top you off, just to make sure."

    I nodded and accepted her crackling mana. It felt just a little easier than the last time she charged me. I wondered if my storm affinity had increased, or if it was just the result of my mana core being a little more stable.

    "There you go. Now, give it another shot," Nexxa said, standing back with her arms crossed.

    "Now? Weren''t you just busting my balls about expending all my mana?"

    Nexxa tilted her head to the side, mouthing my words to herself. Then she shook her head. "No. I was upset you didn''t come get me. We''re going to spend the next two weeks working up your affinities. If we work all the way until the river head, we should be able to unlock at least two more impression slots."

    "I¡­ that fast?" I asked, my mouth hanging open. Everything I''d learned through Perth''s lessons said that sort of growth was impossible. If we maintained that speed, I could be Astral-souled in a little over a month. Assuming I could assemble a solid framework once I had all five spell impressions unlocked.

    "Yep. Prodigy, remember?" Nexxa said, flipping her hair while giving me an exaggerated wink and a smile. A smile that quickly faded. "It''s not going to be pleasant though."

    "As a wise man once said, we don''t do these things because they are easy. We do them because they are hard," I replied, paraphrasing the last truly great president.

    "I¡­ I like that. Totally stealing it," Nexxa said, giving me a long look.

    I glanced towards the grimoire, then back to Nexxa. "Can you give me half an hour? I''m almost done scribing Water Breathing. Then I''m all yours."

    Nexxa leaned forward, tapping her fingers together. Then she threw her head back, cackling madly.

    I was suddenly not looking forward to the next couple of weeks.

 Chapter 16 - Fair nuff

    After I finished scribing my last spell from the grimoire, Nexxa stuck to her word, having me cast Access Storage repeatedly while refilling my mana with her own.

    It was even more useful than she''d promised. After a single evening, it felt like I was ten percent of the way to having my second impression unlocked.

    We weren''t able to continue in the morning, because I needed my wits about me and non-stop casting left me groggy and confused. Even with the break, I still felt like my head was stuffed with cotton. Possibly another reason other mages didn¡¯t rush to the Astral stage.

    Leaving the manor we were staying in, we made our way to the industrial section of the city. Even there, the water remained pristine, with the ships moving near silently along the water. There were significantly less gondolas in the area as we climbed up the stone steps toward the warehouse.

    Instead of the stone block building I¡¯d been expecting, the warehouse had been reshaped to resemble a snail shell. Most of the nearby buildings shared the motif. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was a point of pride, or if Althon had decreed that all the buildings had to be prettied up.

    The cargo was intact, and it would all be sent to our guest manor when we were ready to leave. Which would be that day, after one last peek at Althon¡¯s grimoire. I spent every remaining minute pouring over it, taking notes on any of the runes I didn¡¯t recognize.

    Then it was time to go.

    That we were leaving directly from our guesthouse was a quirk of the capital city I found endearing. There was something special about setting sail from your doorstep.

    Not that I''d want to make a habit of it.

    As our ship pulled up, I admired its design. It had a pair of large paddle wheels at the back, but the wheels had been worked to resemble several bird wings, with most of the wheel hidden away. It made it look as though only a single wing of each wheel was stretching out at a time. While it probably wasn¡¯t the most efficient design, I gave them credit for style.

    The rest of the ship fit the bird motif, with the figure or masthead or whatever they called it at the front being a large bird¡¯s head, and the hull being carved to match. As it drew near, the paddles sliced through the water in near silence, barely leaving ripples as it slowed to a stop.

    There was rigging on the front, with sails that stuck to the bird motif, looking more like an array of feathers than cloth, though it was bound tightly to the mast.

    And right at the loading dock, was Books, his hands folded in front of him as he studied us. He¡¯d gotten rid of the cloak, and was now wearing a sturdy set of fur clothing.

    With the ship ready for us, we quickly slipped aboard. Books kept to himself, and instead we were greeted by a young man who showed us to our private cabins, explaining our schedule to Calbern as Nexxa and I got settled. I tried to listen in, but the fogginess in my head made it hard to think.

    It was only as we were leaving the capital behind that it struck me I probably wouldn¡¯t return for years.

    ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful city,¡± Nexxa said, joining me at the engraved railing at the back of the ship.

    ¡°Very,¡± I agreed, rubbing at my head, wishing the headache away. Minor Heal refused to do more than take the edge off.

    ¡°Soul drain,¡± Nexxa said, elbowing me slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve got a spell that¡¯d fix it, but that¡¯d wipe away your progress.¡±

    ¡°That sounds bad,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes at her.

    ¡°There¡¯s a reason people don¡¯t rush, Perry. If you didn¡¯t have me looking over you, I¡¯d warn you away too,¡± Nexxa said, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

    ¡°But I do have you.¡±

    ¡°Yep! So, get casting, slacker,¡± Nexxa declared, demonstrating with a spark show of her own.

    So, sitting on the upper deck while the Dove¡¯s Hand made its way up the Teleti river, Nexxa and I resumed my practice. By the time the sun set on the river, sending its rays to pierce the scattered clouds, I was almost halfway to unlocking my second slot.

    I also had an immense headache, only slightly relieved by Minor Heal. Nexxa reassured me once more, and even admitted she''d made the mistake of using a healing spell on herself when she''d gone through this process and set herself back an entire week''s progress.

    Not wanting to risk losing my only slot, I did my best to power through the headache. Unfortunately, that meant taking lessons from Books was¡­ less than enjoyable.

    ¡°The very first thing you need to understand, is that the people beneath us matter. I can¡¯t tell you how many young Magus Domini neglect their people only to be cast down because of it. We swore an oath, and it binds us. If you do not uphold it, you will find your magic withering away until you¡¯re weaker than a mortal,¡± Books said, motioning with his chin towards one of the sailors nearby. ¡°That said, while the oath only requires us to keep our people healthy and hale, I have found a happy mortal is more productive. But only to a degree. If you spoil your mortals, they can get slovenly and lazy. Or worse they may start believing it is acceptable to¡­¡±

    Books lowered his voice, glancing around the deck.

    Despite my headache, I found myself leaning forward, straining to hear his next words.

    ¡°They may¡­ talk to you,¡± Books said, a shudder travelling down his back.

    Nexxa and I shared a glance, and then both started laughing. It was enough to draw the attention of most of the deck.

    The rest of the lesson was a little more what I expected, with Books focusing on the logistics of keeping our ¡®mortals¡¯ hale and hearty. A lot of what he had to say relied on trade.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be much help to me,¡± I said, looking over an example of tariffs to impose, along with notes about which items our fellow Domini preferred. It wasn¡¯t just my headache that was making my head hurt by that point.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°Not at first, no,¡± Books admitted with a small nod. ¡°However, you mentioned that you had a spell aid for memory. If you expect your domain to prosper, you¡¯ll need trade. And even the far corners of the Frigid Peaks has commerce. The mountain clans if no one else.¡±

    I nodded, though I struggled to follow along with the rest of the lesson, my headache only growing worse until he finally relinquished me to bed. Thankfully, by the next morning it had diminished to a barely noticeable tension in my forehead.

    That didn''t last long. As soon as we finished breakfast, Nexxa resumed our training regimen.

    Cast Access Storage. Pull my blasting rod out of inventory, spin it, take my firing stance. Have Nexxa infuse me with crackling Mana. Cast Access Storage again. Put blasting rod away. Repeat.

    Over and over.

    It was brutal.

    There were several points where I wanted to smack Nexxa with the rod, and when Books started droning on about tax laws, monster bounties, and the benefits of hunting halls, I was ready to snap.

    But as I was gazing outward into the slowly churning river, the captain calling out for the night watch to take their shift, I felt that shift in my soul once more.

    I''d unlocked my second spell impression.

    I attempted to slot in Minor Heal, but the fog and headache made it impossible. It was so bad, I spent half the night awake, only falling asleep in the early hours when the pain started to fade.

    I slept past noon, and when I came onto the deck for some fresh air, Nexxa was waiting.

    "I pushed too hard. I''m sorry," Nexxa said, pulling at a piece of the rigging with one hand.

    "It''s fine. I wanted to keep going," I said even as I swatted her hand away from the rigging. "It wasn''t your fault."

    "Still, we have time. We should pace ourselves. It''s not like we can keep going if you can''t keep your impression slots full."

    "Fair ''nuff," I agreed, massaging my still sore head.

    "You know, you never used to say it like that," Nexxa said, grabbing onto the rigging again and swaying on it.

    "Stop that," I said, swatting her hand again. "And say what like what?"

    "Fair ''nuff," Nexxa said, glancing over at Calbern and Books who were leaning on the railing at the front of the ship, their gazes fixed on the horizon as they talked. "I know Calbern thinks it''s just you affecting a ''rough'' demeanor, but that''s not it, is it?"

    "I¡­ uh¡­"

    "You¡¯ve changed. Ever since your awakening," Nexxa said, finally letting go of the rigging to move over to the railing instead. She leaned out over the water, a hand reaching towards the surface despite it being a dozen feet down. "You''re not the brother I knew."

    The words sent a jolt down my spine as I glanced at her. That hadn¡¯t been an accusation. I joined her at the railing and we both stood there in silence for over a minute. This was the moment. I knew I should just pull the plug and let the oil drain where it would.

    For several long seconds, my mouth hung open as I searched for the words that would reveal the truth without sending her running.

    In the end, I said nothing.

    Instead, it was Nexxa who broke the silence. ¡°It¡¯s good. Good that you¡¯ve found this new purpose. It¡¯s like we¡¯re siblings again. I never meant us to¡­ Do you remember when we went racing in the dark? We took the horses out. Calbern was so mad."

    I thought back, and laughed as it played through my mind. "Ten years ago. You took the black one, cause black goes faster at night. Or so you said."

    "Yep. And I stand by it," Nexxa said, leaning down towards the water again. "That was the last time we¡­ it was the last time I felt like I had a brother."

    "Father got mad," I said, replaying the memories of what came after. "It was terrifying. The second horse we ¡®borrowed¡¯ for that ride? It was Sosa¡¯s. When he stormed into father¡¯s office to complain, Calbern heard all about it. At the time, it seemed like the whole thing had been a setup to cause trouble for young Perth."

    ¡°Talking about yourself in the third person now, huh?¡± Nexxa said, punching me in the shoulder.

    I flinched at the slip, though I played it off as reacting to her punch. Maybe it hadn¡¯t been a slip. Part of me wanted her to know the truth. Had I been testing her reaction? I couldn¡¯t say.

    ¡°You know now that I never meant to hurt you, yeah? If I¡¯d known¡­ I would¡¯ve stolen Berreth¡¯s instead. He never would¡¯ve told father.¡±

    I snorted at that. ¡°Berreth would¡¯ve just gone straight to a beating.¡±

    ¡°Not if I was there to stop him!¡± Nexxa declared, putting both her hands on her hips.

    ¡°You were still two heads shorter than him, and you hadn¡¯t even awoken your mana yet. What would you have done? Bit him?¡±

    ¡°You know it,¡± Nexxa said, darting forward slightly and making exagerated biting motions.

    A sailor chose that moment to come tromping past. Nexxa blushed fiercely and we both fell into silence as they worked. We watched silently as they untied a rope, then retied it, with no changes that I could see. Busywork or diligence, I couldn¡¯t be sure.

    As they finally left, we both broke into laughter, letting it fade into a shared quiet, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

    Finally, Nexxa broke the silence. "I''m glad, you know. That we¡¯re back. Siblings again. Sure, it''s crappy that you were basically forced into it by father¡­ But¡­ it feels like I''ve got you back, even if we¡¯re gonna be a thousand miles apart, we won¡¯t be¡­ You know, alone."

    "Remember when you¡¯d announced your plan to focus on Storm?" I asked, staring out across the water but not seeing anything. ¡°Sosa was talking about you after, about how foolish you were. He¡­ I was so angry. Just about punched him out.¡±

    "Really? You? Gentle, little Perry, almost hit Sosa?"

    "Yep. Curled fist, rigid back and everything. Woulda done it too, if Calbern hadn''t stepped in."

    "Good thing he did. Otherwise you never would''ve survived to become a Magus Dominus. Though I guess surviving this will be tough too,¡± Nexxa said with a heavy sigh. ¡°Did you know what you were getting into when you swore the oath?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ not really,¡± I admitted, able to share that lesser truth at least. ¡°I just knew I absolutely wouldn¡¯t survive the Front.¡±

    ¡°What was it like, facing father like that? Did he get all vinelord, with the black jagged thorns filling every corner of the room?" Nexxa laughed, turning around and dangling off the deck backwards, her feet wedged into the railing.

    ¡°Worse. On the day of my calling, I went to his study. And instead of telling me how I¡¯d serve the family, he flew me to the Front.¡±

    ¡°Wait, he flew you to the Front? Why?¡±

    ¡°It was a punishment. I¡­ shortly after my awakening, I did something. Something I came to deeply regret. Father said it forced his hand,¡± I said, looking down at my own and turning it over.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Nexxa asked, taking my hand in her own.

    When I didn¡¯t immediately respond, Nexxa added, ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯m picturing you gathering thirteen children, all of them bound at the wrists, and-¡°

    ¡°Okay, wow. Dark much? I¡¯ll tell you,¡± I interrupted, unable to help but smile at her antics. Glancing around, making sure no one was close enough to overhear, I said in a low voice, ¡°Sosa and Velen convinced me to try a ritual that would boost my strength. It worked¡­ kind of. It¡¯s why my Worlds affinity is so high, but¡­¡±

    I almost told her. The actual truth. That it had cost Perth his life. That he¡¯d lost the battle that came after. That I¡¯d killed the brother she loved.

    But I couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°It was a soul ritual, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Nexxa asked, her voice low. ¡°It had to be. That¡¯s the only kind of ritual you could¡¯ve performed with your magic barely awoken.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. It¡­ didn¡¯t go as planned.¡±

    ¡°Messing with souls never does.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d go back and change it if I could,¡± I admitted. And that part was true. Even if it meant I¡¯d died when I was supposed to, that would¡¯ve been better than eating her brother¡¯s soul. ¡°Think there¡¯s a spell for that?¡±

    Nexxa blinked slowly as she pulled herself closer, studying my face. There were a few long moments of silence. I heard a bird caw in the distance. Then she hiccuped. Gradually, the hiccup turned into full blown laughter.

    It was so loud, even Calbern turned to look as she shook on the deck.

    Eventually, the laughter turned to tears.

    ¡°There are so many things I¡¯d do different if I had magic like that,¡± Nexxa admitted.

    "Can''t change the past. Even the strongest time mages agree it''s impossible," I said, patting her hand once more.

    "Ha! So''s breaking through to Pegasus in less than ten years. Or so they told me three years ago," Nexxa said, a hard glint in her eyes.

    "Fair ''nuff," I said, leaning back and staring up with her.

    "Fair ''nuff," Nexxa grumbled in agreement.

 Chapter 17 - Never Kick The Monster

    The next morning, we introduced a new element to our routine. Or, more accurately, we reintroduced one. It was time to get back to practicing with our blasting rods.

    It was a great day for it, since the rain was heavy, everyone was shivering and I could barely make out my nose on my face.

    Books was standing at the exit to the lower decks, scrunching his nose up as if the sky itself had offended him, water slipping down his chin.

    Yep, absolutely perfect.

    "No matter your affinities, this is going to remain your most effective source of damage until you reach Astral-soul," Nexxa said, her pure presence seeming to push back the rain, though I was pretty sure she was just using a spell.

    The way Books was studying the gap between her and the rain, I was half-certain he¡¯d snap and demand to be shown her book. Instead, he retreated below deck the second Nexxa hefted her rod.

    Swinging it in exaggerated circles until he disappeared, she stopped with a grin on her face before aiming it over the side of the ship.

    Pretty sure the left side was port, so that meant she was pointing it off starboard? Not that it mattered, none of the sailors used the nautical terms I was used to. At least, not on the ship we were on. Still, the thought helped distract me from the cold.

    Calbern took his place beside her, his rod primed and aimed over the side, the rain seeming to slough off his perfect attire. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was the way he held himself, or some enchantment on his clothes. Either way, I was regretting not pulling out the all weather gear we¡¯d purchased for our journey along the high-road. Maybe Books had thought the same.

    "We''re going to work on your accuracy with moving targets. I''m going to create balls of lightning, and you''re going to knock them out of the sky," Nexxa said, creating half a dozen balls with a wave of her hand. "Once you can hit half your shots, I''ll have them start shooting back."

    I glanced at the little balls of electricity, crackling every time a raindrop hit them. It seemed like a stretch that such a small object would be able to hit us on the ship, but then again, Nexxa was Pegasus. If she said she could do it, I believed her.

    ¡°Perry, why are you all wet?¡± Nexxa asked as I was lining up my first shot. Before I could respond, she¡¯d already cast a spell on me. My clothes immediately poofed up as warm air blasted me. After a few seconds, my clothes settled, though the warm air continued flowing over me. ¡°Next time, say something. Don¡¯t just suffer.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± I said, raising my rod and spinning it once more. ¡°And thanks. ¡®Preciate it.¡±

    ¡°No problem. Now get shooting, slacker,¡± Nexxa said, slapping me on the back.

    The hour of practice proved I wouldn''t be worrying about the targets shooting me back, at least not that day. None of my petals even came close. On the other hand, Calbern had been shocked once. Then he¡¯d managed to dodge the next several shots. I almost regretted not purchasing extra rods. His accuracy would¡¯ve made it worth it, and his inability to charge them himself meant an extra rod was extra ammunition. There was a thought. Could I design a blasting rod that had a replaceable flower pod?

    I''d have to study the books in my storage once I got Memory Palace. With how hard Nexxa was pushing me, it was feeling more like a matter of months instead of the years I''d originally envisioned.

    Once practice with the rods was completed, Nexxa and I went back to working my impressions, though now I was cycling between Storage Access and Minor Heal, which helped keep the headache down. We also split up our lessons with Books, so he could instruct us in the middle of the day as well as the evenings. It was enough that by the end of our third day up river, despite stopping to swap in Scroll Review instead of Storage Access so I could build up my arcane affinity, I was a little over halfway to having my third slot unlocked.

    Of course, Books chose that evening to give us a material lesson on our upcoming domains.

    ¡°Food,¡± he said, holding up the stew that¡¯d been made for dinner that evening. ¡°Most mages take it for granted. With a spell or two, even a Mage-soul has little trouble hunting down a wild animal every month. It¡¯s even easier for those of us with Nature affinity. We can turn a barren wasteland into a garden of Elinder with ease. Mortals don¡¯t have either luxury.¡±

    I fought off the urge to roll my eyes, though Nexxa didn¡¯t bother. This was something we¡¯d both gone over in detail already.

    ¡°So, why then don¡¯t we simply magic their food into existence?¡± Books asked, setting the bowl down and casting a spell I didn¡¯t recognize on it. The bowl warbled slightly, almost seeming to stretch. A second later, there were two bowls. Another second and there were four. Then eight.

    ¡°I want that spell,¡± I said, looking up at Books.

    ¡°Are you prepared to trade me three second order spells for it?¡± he asked, picking up one of the bowls he¡¯d copied.

    ¡°Done,¡± I said, not even having to think about it.

    Books stared at me for several seconds, the bowl of stew hanging loose in his hands as he narrowed his eyes. Then he shook his head. ¡°I cannot in good conscience trade spells with someone so naive. Perhaps in a few years, once you can actually cast Tremendous Feast, we can revisit the subject.¡±

    ¡°Can I at least look at it?¡± I tried.

    ¡°Look at my grimoire? I think not,¡± Books said, shaking his head. ¡°Now, as I have already hinted, this is no ordinary second order spell. It pushes the limits for what a second order may accomplish, and it does so at a tremendous mana cost. I have provided enough food for seven people to dine tonight. In exchange, I¡¯ve expended seven second order slots worth of mana.¡±

    Nexxa whistled, and even I was surprised. Though likely not how he figured. If he could do this with food, could I use it to duplicate seeds? ¡°What counts as a valid target for the spell?¡±

    ¡°Organic materials,¡± he said, tapping the rim of the bowl. ¡°Though it doesn¡¯t work with everything. It can also overcook copied dishes on occasion. Despite that, the important thing to note¡­ how much more could be done with that mana if we used it to improve our domain instead?¡±

    ¡°Depends on our spells,¡± I replied immediately. ¡°Better roads, ditches, wards. All depends on what we know.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± he said, practically jabbing his finger in my face. ¡°When we aren¡¯t improving ourselves, our efforts are best spent on infrastructure. It takes us far less effort to create a bridge than it would for mortals. And Earth Catalysts are common enough, I hope you each have one.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°Course,¡± Nexxa replied, pulling a heavy bowl out of her dimensional storage and setting it in front of her. ¡°Even I know roads are important.¡±

    ¡°You have missed the point once more,¡± Books said, shaking his head. ¡°Perth?¡±

    ¡°Our folk can build roads themselves? We should concentrate on bridges?¡± I asked, glancing towards Nexxa, who was squinting.

    ¡°Precisely,¡± Books confirmed with the ghost of a smile. ¡°Now, this is a list of important infrastructure I prefer to focus on. Obviously it¡¯ll be different depending on your needs, and it¡¯s hardly comprehensive, but I hope it gets the point across.¡±

    Accepting the list, I rubbed at my head. Not only had he listed things out, he¡¯d provided illustrations beside each one. Some of his suggestions I¡¯d expected, like the aforementioned bridge or the cistern. But he also had a design for a passive water pump that I was pretty sure would¡¯ve been next to impossible to design on Earth.

    ¡°Is this a¡­ I don¡¯t even know what this is,¡± I said, pointing at a sketch of what I was pretty sure was a pineapple. Couldn''t remember if pineapples had little round leaves that grew around the stem.

    ¡°That is a spikefruit. It grows on trees close to the capital,¡± Books explained after looking at the drawing. ¡°And the point is that you should have spells that allow you to quickly grow fruit bearing trees. A day¡¯s worth of mana is enough for even you to bring one to age.¡±

    ¡°More fruit trees,¡± Nexxa grunted, though I saw her taking notes on her own list. ¡°Feels like home.¡±

    I nodded, rubbing at my head as Books called an end to the lesson for the night.

    The fourth day our practice with the blasting rods managed to draw some unfriendly wildlife. A creature with dark gray skin, wide wings and a roar that shook me to my bones soared low across the river.

    That was as much as I got to see of it because a crack split the air as a bolt of lightning arced upwards before switching directions and smashing the creature into the river.

    It surfaced a minute later, already past us downstream. Nexxa flew out, causing the waves to toss and turn as she approached it. Then those same waves changed direction, hauling the monster back to the boat, revealing it had been a rather famous tier two monster.

    "Are wyverns common this close to the capital?" Nexxa asked the captain, a woman who looked softer than she was.

    She seemed soft and pudgy, but I¡¯d seen her scale fifty feet of rope rigging in less than five seconds. I¡¯d also seen her wrestling with one of her crew, who had two full heads on her. He¡¯d pounded the boards so hard to get her to let him free, I thought we¡¯d hit rapids. "Not too much. Times are they''ll come off the high peaks if grub''s scarce or they have a bad knock on with their neighbors."

    It took me a second to parse her sentence, and from the look on Nexxa''s face, I wasn''t alone.

    "Got it. This thing''s valuable, right?" Nexxa asked, prodding it with her foot, then dancing back when something made a very loud squishing sound.

    "Aye. Lotsa essence. Good fangs. It''ll go for a couple thousand Waves, easy as sinking," the captain replied, waving to a pair of sailors who¡¯d been standing around gawking, but hustled over at the wave.

    Nexxa looked over at Calbern, who said, "Waves are the local equivalent to a Thorn. They¡¯re about ten percent more in weight, and worth more in the local domains since they have the backing of highking Althon."

    "Give me half that upfront and it''s yours, as long as you do the harvesting," Nexxa said, turning to the captain.

    "A quarter," the captain countered, drawing herself up straight to meet Nexxa''s gaze.

    "Done," Nexxa said, waving at Calbern. "He''ll make sure it''s fair."

    Calbern arched an eyebrow, looking towards me and I shook my head. "If you''d be so kind, Calbern."

    He nodded, joining the captain as I walked over to join Nexxa, who was flicking her foot against the railing to get bits of wyvern off her boot.

    "Never kick the monster once it''s dead," Nexxa offered, kicking her foot against the railing once more.

    "Ah. Sage advice from the prodigy," I said, nodding along as I leaned against the railing. "You know, there are spells for that."

    Nexxa stopped kicking her foot for a moment, squinting at me. "That''s the dumbest thing you''ve said all week."

    I chuckled as I looked back at where the sailors were hacking into the wyvern corpse. "I can top it."

    "Oh?"

    "Yeah, let''s see if we can unlock my third slot today."

    "You''re right. That is dumb. You know we will," Nexxa said, her boot forgotten as she laid her hand on mine and brought me up to full charge.

    I grinned, even as I brought my mana to empty. My headache began to mount to the sound of sailors butchering the wyvern behind us.

    To my surprise, we didn¡¯t get my third slot that day.

    In the morning, we once again attracted an uninvited guest. The next beast to attack was a super sized bat. Instead of zapping it immediately, Nexxa had Calbern and I practice shooting a fast moving target.

    I clipped it once by the time Calbern had nailed it in the head with three separate bolts. That was enough to send it crashing into the treeline on the shore.

    Nexxa brought it back, and sold it to the captain for another two hundred and fifty golden waves, which she gave to Calbern.

    "Lady Nexxa, I can''t accept. You gave me this rod to protect master Perth. If anything, the money should go to him."

    "Hey, if you want me to hold it for you, no problem," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But that was your kill. I barely singed its fur. And you know the Hunter''s code when it comes to kills."

    "Ah ha, but I''m not a Hunter," Calbern replied.

    "Don''t matter none," the captain interjected. "These two got it to rights. It''s your kill. Would be dishonorable to deny your prize, it would."

    "I suppose I have no choice," Calbern said with a grimace.

    "There you go. Was that so hard?" Nexxa asked while clapping Calbern on the shoulder. The withering stare he sent her was enough for her to rapidly withdraw her hand. "I''m just gonna go polish the mast. Or something."

    I snickered as she marched away, watching as Calbern collected his golden Waves from the captain, then storing it away for him when he approached.

    "Guess I''m taking a break," I said, looking over to where Nexxa was thoroughly studying the central mast. I couldn''t help but wonder if she was going to follow through.

    "My apologies, master Perth. Next time, I shall allow you or Lady Nexxa to down the beast.¡±

    "Bugs you that much, huh?"

    "What am I going to do with that much money, master Perth? No, it would be better if you were to use it to further secure your domain," Calbern said, giving the slightest shake of his head.

    "You know, there''s nothing saying you can''t use it the same way. Not that we''ll have much to spend it on at first anyway," I said watching as Nexxa gave up her inspection of the mast before meandering to the front of the ship.

    When Calbern didn''t respond immediately, I looked over to find him leaning on the railing, his brow furrowed as he looked into the distance. Instead of prodding him, I joined in, setting my arms alongside.

    We remained like that for several minutes, Calbern''s face shifting slightly every minute or so, until he gave a decisive nod. "You are correct, master Perth."

    "Glad we had this talk," I said, squeezing his shoulder. "Now, I should probably get back to spell practice before Nexxa gets bored and blows a hole through the ship."

    "That might be for the best," Calbern agreed, the corner of his mouth tugging upwards.

    After approaching Nexxa, we quickly fell back into stress casting my spells. Only a day later than planned, we unlocked my third slot as the sun stained the water crimson with its evening rays.

    "How did you even come up with this process?" I asked as we took a break over dinner, a surprisingly robust stew with nearly enough spice to be delicious. "I can''t imagine you had someone sitting there, refilling your mana constantly."

    "It wasn''t as fast for me, for one," Nexxa said, waving her fork around. "When I started out I used a modified version of Mana Draw. It only works on nature attuned mana, and converts it directly into storm, but I got the efficiency a smidge over eighty percent."

    "That''s¡­ that''s incredible. I don''t suppose you''d let me study your work? Do you have your research notes? What can you tell me about the process? How did you narrow the Draw to a single affinity?"

    "Surprised it took you so long to ask to see my grimoire."

    The questions that had been mounting slowed at her comment. Why hadn''t I asked to see her spells?

    On reflection, I realized, I''d assumed she had the same spells I could find in the family library. Despite my plans to create my own spells, it had never occurred to me that Nexxa might''ve done the same. Or that she''d might''ve acquired spells elsewhere.

    Oh well. No use crying over spilled oil.

    "So, can I? Look through your grimoire, I mean?"

    Nexxa tapped her chin with her fork, and despite having just asked a favor of her, I reached over and snagged it.

    She laughed at me, shaking her head. "I suppose I''ll allow it, though I''m gonna be watching you."

    "No funny business. I promise," I said, holding up my hand as if swearing an oath.

    "You''re goddess damned right."

 Chapter 18 - The Grind

    Despite gaining access to Nexxa''s spellbook, that didn''t mean we slowed down on my spell cycling. In fact, with three impression slots, I was casting more spells than ever.

    It was to the point that magic felt like a chore.

    The second I realized that was when I called for a break.

    "What do you mean, the wonder is gone?" Nexxa asked, tilting her head as she plopped down on the galley table.

    "I mean, the joy of casting is¡­ well, non-stop casting feels like a chore," I explained.

    "Uh¡­ duh," Nexxa said, shoving my shoulder. "This is the boring part. You''re lucky it''s going so fast. I had to spend months doing this on my own."

    "I appreciate it. I just¡­ we still have a week, and I''m not sure this is actually the best use of our time," I said, gesturing at her grimoire, which was the reason we were in the galley and not out on the deck in the first place. "Some of the modifications you''ve made¡­ they completely ignore modern spell theory."

    "Well, duh. Modern spell theory is a trap. Least that''s the only reason I can think of for half their idiotic claims," Nexxa said as she flipped open her grimoire to near the middle. "Like, the idea that spells can''t have instructions with a time delay. They taught us that when we were what, twelve?"

    "I was ten," I replied, pulling forth the relevant memory. "And yeah, totally thought that was weird, since there were Magits that could activate with a time delay."

    "Right? It''s one of the most obvious examples. And it''s easy to work around. Here, see what I did?"

    "Hmm. You added a decay loop. That''s from the affliction branch, isn''t it?"

    "Yes. And you can change the rate of decay. Sure, it takes a little more mana, but presto, instant delayed spell."

    It was refreshing talking about spells instead of just casting them non-stop. It was exactly the sort of break I needed to get back into the grind.

    I hadn''t actually added any of Nexxa''s spells to my own grimoire, mostly because the constant motion of the ship didn''t lend itself well to inscription. That and Nexxa didn¡¯t want Books peeking at her grimoire. So far, there were two I''d tagged to add once we reached Nexxa''s domain. There were several more that interested me, but now that I had a hard limit on scribing materials, I needed to be somewhat conservative.

    Sure, I could scribe roughly fifty pages worth of spells, but that would run out quick once I started experimenting. And fifty pages would only cover five typical second order spells. Spells I''d be able to use in the foreseeable future, if our progress continued apace.

    Nexxa had also confirmed that Memory Palace didn''t allow us to copy spells we''d read before, though we could study them. She did have some ideas on how to rework Review Scroll to at least create single use copies. It would require some runes for imprinting onto paper we didn¡¯t have yet though. Books confirmed they existed, though he refused any sort of trade of knowledge, claiming it was still to early in our relationship for something so intimate.

    Our switch to discussing spell theory instead of constant casting meant I didn''t unlock my next spell slot until the ninth morning after we left the capital, but it made the trip much more pleasant. And with four slots, I was able to keep all the spells I considered ''mandatory'' slotted at all times.

    At the time, my list of mandatory spells consisted of Mana Draw, Storage Access, Minor Heal and Detect Mana. Once I hit five slots, I intended to add Bloom to the mix, mostly to keep my nature affinity from falling behind. Something I wouldn''t have to worry about once I ascended to Astral-soul and my affinities solidified. It would also mean raising them would require second order spells, but that was fine, since there were limits to how high I could raise an affinity with a first order spell.

    Detect Mana wasn''t as granular as I''d been hoping. It was basically a jacked up version of every sapient''s ability to feel nearby mana, though its range was greatly increased. And that meant I could detect mana from much further away. Thankfully, Nexxa had already come up with several modifications that would improve it, and as we talked, we discussed how it could be improved even further. We even figured out how to combine several features, reducing the complexity close to the original¡¯s. We just had to scribe the improved version before we could use it.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Something we were both hesitant to do until we had nice solid land beneath our feet.

    We were also considering how I might be able to modify Assess Self to stress my affinities more. If we could modify it to simply maximize mana use without the diagnostic components, we could reduce the complexity by nearly half while keeping the cost the same. It would make balancing my affinities so I could become a proper archmage much easier, since I wouldn¡¯t need to constantly be swapping out spells.

    Calbern continued to display his devastating aim, though he also seemed to know how much damage a monster could take, as he would disable them but never landed a killing blow.

    "Unnatural it is, for a mortal to be so skilled with the weapons of the ensouled," I heard the captain mutter after Calbern''s latest takedown.

    It made me think. If Calbern was this skilled as a mortal, how good would he be as a mage?

    Unfortunately, even after going through the awakening process, I didn''t understand how it worked. Perth''s had just happened when he''d been out for a ride with his brothers.

    I knew a person had to condense their mana enough to form a semi-solid core in their chest. But until a person had a core, controlling mana directly was impossible. And having someone else attempt to create a core for them ended in either a stagnant or broken core.

    Stagnant cores did have some benefits. Those with a stagnant core could channel mana into grimoires or certain Magits, much like I''d done when I was first exercising my core, but they''d never grow. Never have spell slots. They were even worse off than Lady Guniveer.

    At least, according to everything we''d read. Obviously, we were both doubting the truth, but unlike our other theories, we couldn''t test any of them without potentially ruining someone''s future forever. And that was assuming we didn''t leave them crippled with a broken core.

    I still wanted to know more, but for the moment, it was set to the side.

    There was more than enough I needed to get done.

    Like figuring out my move in the game Books was using for the day¡¯s lesson. It was a sort of board game, only it incorporated both dice and magic. Each turn we could roll the dice, infuse the board with mana, then choose one effect based on where we landed. My current options included growing my orchards, which would prevent me from infusing mana next turn, but would give me an extra dice to roll every turn after. Or I could slay monsters, which would give me another spot to place a building. I did need more room, since expanding the orchards would use up the last of my free space, and not being able to infuse mana next turn meant I wouldn¡¯t be able to fight monsters then.

    Nexxa jostled my shoulder, and I chose to expand the orchards anyway. Better the cash in hand and all that.

    After we finished the game, we dived straight back into stressing my slots. It was as we were getting close to unlocking my fifth slot that I noticed the problem. My spells were all costing me more than they should''ve. A lot more.

    As we took a break, we soon realized it wasn''t my spells that were the problem.

    Sitting in the galley once more, Nexxa and I were attempting to figure out the problem while the cook prepared the evening''s dinner. Roast monstrous bat, most likely, given how many of them were drawn to our blasting rod practice. Keeping meat on the menu was a nice side benefit.

    "Am I¡­ leaking mana?" I asked, rubbing my hands over my arms as if I''d be able to stop it.

    "Feels like it," Nexxa confirmed, holding her own hand over my arm.

    "Guess there''s a reason folk don''t jam as much mana as possible into others," I said, trying not to panic. Leaking mana was exactly what happened with a broken core. Though I''d read they also lived in excruciating pain, and I didn''t have that. At least not yet.

    "Yeah¡­" Nexxa agreed, her head thudding against the table. "This is all my fault."

    "Nope. Either one of us could''ve guessed this would happen if we thought about it. Way I see it, we have two options," I said, ruffling her hair, earning myself a static shock for my effort. "The first option is we stop entirely, and hope that my core heals itself."

    "Could work."

    "Or¡­ we could try pushing through to get all five slots unlocked¡­ and hope I can build my formation fast enough that it''ll solidify my core when I ascend to Astral. That''s part of why getting my affinities up now is important, right? Cause everything gets re-solidified?"

    "Affinities aren''t ever fully locked in. They just take higher order spells to change," Nexxa said as she raised her head to look at me. "Still¡­ it''s not the worst idea I''ve ever heard.¡± She leaned back in her chair, putting her feet up on the table as she stared off into space. Something she never would¡¯ve done back at the family compound. ¡°I think there''s room to compromise between the two. We wait for a few hours, maybe even overnight, and see if the leak slows. If it does, then the safe route is to wait for your core to heal. And if it doesn''t¡­"

    "Then I''ll need to build my Astral core while my foundations threaten to crumble beneath my feet," I finished for her.

    "Pretty much, yep."

    "Well, whichever it is, I guess I know what I''m working on tonight," I said, closing her grimoire and pulling out my journal. "So¡­ how did you set up your foundation?"

    Nexxa blinked at me a couple times before her smile slipped back into place. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Can¡¯t let a little thing like a few leaky spell slots slow you down.¡±

    ¡°Well. They are gonna slow me,¡± I said, returning her smile. ¡°They¡¯re just not gonna stop me.¡±

 Chapter 19 - To Be An Archmage

    Explaining I was approaching my ascension to Books, and that I wanted to spend my time preparing, Nexxa and I spent the evening working together as she explained how her own core formation had gone. For her, it''d been a slow process, since she''d been working her affinity for Storm up to fifty at the same time. An astoundingly high affinity for a mage-tier ensouled. The normal accepted limit was around twenty-five. Yet her focus let her raise it even higher with each tier after. She let slip that her current affinity with Storm was nearing two-hundred. I couldn¡¯t fathom how cheap that must make her Storm spells.

    In a way, building the foundation for Astral ascension was a lot easier than what we''d been doing with our spells over the last week. Partially, it required reinforcing the existing affinities, and making sure the core had proper channels for directing the aspected mana. The channels were easy to form, but the trick was that you couldn''t draw on your mana while working on them or they''d get disrupted.

    That meant no casting spells, no charging blasting rods or using any other magical item.

    Which made the prospect of building my foundation while my core was leaking¡­ a challenge, to say the least. Not unlike doing work on an engine while it was running. Still, I''d done enough of that to know, sometimes it was better to work on an engine while it was running. Sure, you had to be extra careful to ensure your hand didn''t get chopped off by a spinning fan blade or caught in a belt but you also had instant feedback when you made changes.

    Course, you couldn''t exactly swap a transmission while the engine was running full bore, but from what Nexxa was telling me, I suspected it wouldn''t be quite as bad as a transmission swap.

    In the morning, we confirmed that my core was still leaking just as much as it had been the day before. Which was as good as it was bad, cause at least it wasn''t getting worse.

    "Forgive me for asking, master Perth, but couldn''t you create a temporary patch?" Calbern asked after overhearing Nexxa and I discussing the problem on the front deck. "That is what the sailors do when they get a leak. They place a patch over the outer hull, then fix the inner hull before removing the patch. I believe they''ve done it twice so far while we''ve been aboard."

    "I¡­ would that work?" I asked Nexxa, stepping back from the railing so I could hear her better.

    "It might? We won''t know until you have your fifth slot unlocked and you start working on your foundation. If it does, you might be able to hold off on ascending until you get your affinities in order."

    "Thank you, Calbern. Good to have outside opinions," I said, nodding in his direction and receiving one in return.

    "So¡­ shall we resume? At a slower pace, of course," Nexxa asked, flexing her hand as if questioning whether she should extend it to me.

    "Well, it''s not getting any better," I said, accepting her hand, and grinning as the mana flowed into me at a quarter of the usual rate.

    After she was done, we examined my core again, and, not noticing any degradation, I cast Access Storage.

    To our relief, nothing changed.

    We continued through the morning, only refilling my core once an hour, down from the dozens we''d been doing. I was close enough to unlocking the fifth slot neither of us felt we needed to risk rushing at this point.

    It also left Books with a lot more time to give us lessons, which he seemed quite pleased by, even though we didn¡¯t explain why.

    It was the next morning after when I felt the change. I''d just stored my blasting rod after practice when the fifth slot unlocked.

    Despite Nexxa warning me, I was shocked at how much more connected I felt to my core. It was as though I''d spent my life feeling wind blowing against my skin, with all the control that entailed, to having a new set of hands meant specifically for shaping that wind into whatever shape I desired.

    The first thing I did was attempt to find the ''cracks'' my mana was slipping through. It was pretty easy with my new connection, as my attention was drawn straight towards the fissures. There were¡­ a lot of them. Every one of my spell slots, except the first, had a multitude of hairline fractures in them.

    And they were all leaking mana.

    Stopping the leaking wasn''t as simple as applying a single patch. I didn''t have enough free mana to coat even a single one of the slots, which meant I had to take my time applying a multitude of tiny patches.

    Only to have them fade after a few minutes if I stopped paying attention to them.

    I stopped my repair attempts to inform Nexxa and Calbern of my lack of progress. After his advice the day before, Nexxa and I decided to include him in more of our magic discussions, much to his chagrin. We¡¯d talked about including Books, but it had been Books who¡¯d pointed out that we weren¡¯t close enough to each other to reveal potential weaknesses.

    "So, yeah, that''s where I''m at," I said, after telling them the specifics.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Perhaps the structures are healing on their own, and your recovery has just been too minute to notice?" Calbern suggested, looking around the end of the galley Nexxa and I had commandeered for our purposes with a frown. He grabbed one of the books, looking at its cover, then looked around the table again.

    "Worth checking, now that you''ve got all five unlocked. Assess Self might give some good feedback too, now that you can slot it," Nexxa said, reaching out and grabbing a book Calbern had started putting into a neat stack.

    "Right," I said as I removed the existing spells from my slots.

    "Wait, what''d you just do?" Nexxa asked, letting go of the book as she turned back to me.

    "I felt it too," Calbern said, taking the book and returning it to his pile.

    "I took the spell impressions out," I said before shifting my focus inward. The cracks still ran along the edges of my spell slots, but without a spell inside, they weren''t leaking mana. I also had a lot more free mana to work with. "Huh, no wonder they recommend ascending without any spell impressions slotted."

    "Of course they were creating pressure," Nexxa said, smacking her forehead. "That''s the whole point."

    "This¡­ seems like a good thing, yes?" Calbern asked, looking between the two of us as he adjusted Nexxa''s grimoire to align with the edge of the table.

    Nexxa frowned as she very deliberately pushed the book back, staring at Calbern as she did so. "Yeah. It''s great. It means Perry shouldn''t have any problems ascending. He''ll just need to be careful with grinding out his affinities."

    "Which it''s time to check," I said, pushing away from the table.

    Then I spent the next few hours slotting in Assess Self.

    "That is not a casual process," I said, looking up, only to find myself alone. "Well, no time like the present."

    Soul: Tier 1 (Mage)

    Progress: 5/5 First Order Impressions, No Foundational Structure.

    Affinities: 28 Worlds, 19 Nature, 33 Storm, 15 Arcane, 2 Water.

    "Welp, definitely went overboard on worlds and storm," I mumbled even as I noted down the changes. "Impressed nature is so high."

    Checking the notes on my spells, I remembered Minor Heal was nature affinity, and I''d been giving it a heck of a workout.

    As I looked over my affinities again, then looked at how much I''d have to raise the ones I''d been neglecting to be a proper archmage, I felt a sinking feeling in my gut.

    For a second, I had to consider whether I really wanted to be an archmage. While I''d developed an appreciation for Storm, I didn''t care about most of the base affinities, such as Air or Fire. Even water I''d only picked up because it was fundamental to life. There were storm aspected spells that could bring rain though.

    Sure, they came with thunder and lightning, but if I wanted to exclude those, I could just use extra mana.

    "I''m not sure if I should be an archmage," I finally said.

    "Nice!" Nexxa called from where she''d just slid down the steps into the galley. "Guessing you''re still not going to specialize though?"

    "Would bringing four affinities to 33 count as specialized?" I asked, circling my current levels on the page.

    Nexxa came over to inspect the page instead of answering. "Goddess take me, we got your storm affinity high. We didn''t even have you cast any spells."

    "Guess getting constantly pumped full of storm mana had an unexpected effect," I said, underlining nature and arcane. "Also¡­ do you think it''s worth keeping them? Or should I purge-"

    "You''ll want arcane for your experiments. And even I had ten in nature, just for the improved healing," Nexxa answered. "I''d say thirty-three in those we''ve already brought up, and eleven in the other basic affinities, if you''re still interested in being an archmage. You should be able to create balance with four and four."

    "Hmm. Well, I''ll talk to Calbern, ask him what he thinks. And probably sit on it for a day. Always used to do that before I made big decisions," I said, flipping my journal closed.

    Nexxa nodded as I left. Once more, I found Calbern at the front of the ship.

    "Ah, master Perth. Beautiful day, isn''t it?" Calbern asked, his hands gripping the rail, the spray of the river splashing over his legs.

    "It is," I agreed, taking a moment to enjoy the sunshine with him. If we weren''t on the open water, it might''ve been too hot to enjoy, but with the constant chill from the river, it was refreshing. All around us, the Frigid Peaks stretched, reaching high into the sky.

    "Is there something I can help you with, master Perth?" Calbern asked after we''d been standing together for a few minutes.

    "Maybe. I wanted your advice on my affinities," I said, before explaining the unexpectedly high results.

    "Ah. Well, I''m afraid I know very little about affinities," Calbern replied. "Is there one you''ve enjoyed using more than the others?"

    That was an easy answer. Worlds was the only one that had a spell that actually felt magical, even if that was as much because of the ring as Access Storage.

    Before I could formulate a response, he added, "Or perhaps, are there any where increased control and mana efficiency will prove most in line with your future plans?"

    Again, Worlds fit the bill. Arcane was useful, but a high efficiency wasn''t required for most things I used it for.

    "Then, I suppose, one must also consider if you care what magic others consider as your signature. Is there anything you''d prefer to be known for?"

    Welp, that just blew my thought process apart. "If anything, I want to be known for building things. Not for the spells I cast," I said, rubbing my cheek. Then I let out a long sigh. "Which is why I wanted to be an archmage in the first place."

    "Ah. I''m sorry that I wasn''t able to help," Calbern said, inclining his head in apology.

    "Not at all. You were very helpful," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Nexxa will be happy to know you convinced me she was right."

    "Always a pleasure to serve, master Perth," Calbern said, his eyes moving once more to study the horizon.

    Sliding back into the galley, I quickly informed Nexxa I''d be attempting her plan.

    "Okay, your first slot isn''t leaking, right?" Nexxa asked, pausing in the midst of jotting notes in her journal to look up at me. When I nodded, she continued, "Then we''ll use that to grind your affinities up. I was also thinking that instead of transferring mana directly, I could channel it into the air and then you can absorb it using Mana Draw. Preferably with adjusted versions of the spell. It''ll be less efficient, but it should keep from pushing your storm affinity even higher, and each version should stress your channels while drawing mana in."

    She didn¡¯t give me a chance to respond before leaning over and jotting down notes. I started taking my own notes, and we were working side by side until it was time to experiment.

    As I stretched out, casting Minor Heal while swinging my arms to restore circulation, I said, "Hey Nexxa.¡±

    "Yeah?" she asked without looking up from her writing.

    "Appreciate you," I said, slugging her lightly in the shoulder.

    "You better," Nexxa replied, shooting me a grin. "Give me a few and we can get started."

    I nodded, fully prepared for the grind that would allow me to become a proper archmage. Or so I hoped.

 Chapter 20 - Inertia

    Grinding out my affinities was a matter of tedium more than anything else we''d done. It proved to be enough of a challenge that we hadn''t finished by the time we bid farewell to Books.

    His domain lay up a separate branch of the river we¡¯d been following, and there was a boat waiting for him. It was much smaller than the one we were on, barely large enough for two people. It also lacked any sort of propulsion that I could see.

    ¡°Well, at least one of you proved you were a capable student,¡± Books said, bowing his head in my direction.

    Nexxa rolled her eyes, but didn¡¯t bother responding.

    ¡°Take care of yourself,¡± I said, feeling somewhat sad to see him go. While he¡¯d been dry at times, I felt considerably better prepared for whatever I found when I got to my domain. Still felt like I was under six feet of water, but at least I could conceive of the surface.

    ¡°That is hardly a concern,¡± Books said, though he did nod in my direction again before lifting into the air and floating over to the boat. Then he spun a hand, and the water behind their boat shot out like a jet.

    It only took seconds before he¡¯d disappeared around a bend in the river.

    ¡°Good riddance,¡± Nexxa said, waving a hand in his direction. ¡°Now, back to the grind.¡±

    I grunted, but followed her below decks, where we adjusted my spell loadout once more. Casting Flare was exciting the first time, but by the twentieth, even the fact I was making a jet of flame erupt from my hands had lost its luster. It was easy to get my affinities close to the levels I wanted, but getting four affinities to exactly 33 and the others to 11 required the sort of precision I usually needed when machining a piston. And I didn''t have a proper machining setup that would simplify the process.

    If I went over with any of them, then I¡¯d have to push all of the affinities even higher to hit the next natural balance point at 36 and 12. Or bring all eight up to be equal. Either of which could take years without Nexxa around, and months, even with her help. And I needed to get to my domain sometime this year. I could feel my oath pulling at me, a subtle pressure to take up my mantle that would only grow stronger the longer I waited. So, instead of risking pushing myself out of balance, I was taking in the scenery.

    It was a rather peaceful little valley, completely untouched by civilization, other than a single trail of smoke originating beneath a stone plateau that hung over what remained of the river. This far up, the ship was at risk of running aground at every slight bend, though the river widened past the outcropping, almost to the point of being a lake.

    Which, I imagined, was why Althon chose this as the heart of Nexxa''s domain. It wouldn''t take much effort for her to widen the river enough to allow ships to pass more easily, even if her Earth affinity was zero.

    There were actually three folks waiting for us, all of which had been dropped off by airship, alongside Nexxa¡¯s Domain Beacon. The Beacon wasn¡¯t visible, but I could feel its presence, buried just past the stone. Not mana, exactly, but my oath recognized it.

    My attention shifted to the group on the shore.

    The first person I guessed was the hunter who would teach Nexxa. The second would be my guide. As to the third, I didn''t know. Maybe a specialist for the beacon. Or someone who¡¯d wanted in at the founding of her domain.

    When we drew closer, I noted that the tallest of the three had a monstrous bloodline, with thick horns and dark blue skin. Either he, or one of his ancestors, had incorporated some mystical creature into one of their Hydra-soul''s augmentation nodes. Considering I couldn¡¯t feel any pressure coming off him, I was leaning towards an ancestor.

    Most human and elven mages avoided using obvious monstrous components at Hydra-soul, taking the extra time to develop their own, specifically to avoid physical changes that passed down to their descendents. Some felt the time saved was worth it, obviously. And others actually wanted the changes, whether to set themselves apart as something else, or for¡­ other reasons.

    If Perth''s memories were serving me properly, in the Howling Wastes, it was seen as an honor to have monstrous traits. Considering how hostile the Howling Wastes were to anyone who wasn''t a Forgeborn, that made a certain amount of sense. Those traits would help folk survive, even if they weren''t an ensouled.

    And speaking of Forgeborn, the second figure was either the most heavily armored person I''d seen in either life, or they were from that very race. As the name implied, Forgeborn were made as much as born. At least, they had been. The art had been lost hundreds of years ago to all except the Forgeborn themselves after their great rebellion. A rebellion that led to the formation of the Howling Wastes.

    Forgeborn were distinct from golems, in that they had the spark of sapience within them. Even then, there were Forgeborn who saw even the least golems as their kin. Thankfully, they were a fringe group. A lot of dangerous tasks were handled by non-sentient golems.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The Forgeborn watched us get closer with deep yellow eyes. Their sharp angles, dark green and black color scheme and penetrating gaze reminded me of a video I''d seen of jaguars, back on Earth. Except this Forgeborn looked more aggressive than any jaguar, towering above the others on their two digitigrade legs.

    Even as we drew closer, the third figure stayed seated, their features hidden by a heavy cloak, though I could make out a long stemmed pipe slowly puffing out rings of smoke.

    The captain drew us up just downshore of the three figures.

    Only the tall one with horns moved to meet us.

    He called out a greeting in Elinder, and I regretted the lack of practice we''d put into the language. We''d used a spell to download the basics, then hadn''t put in any effort to master it. And it showed immediately as I struggled to parse his next sentence. It was like trying to understand someone who spoke English with a really thick accent.

    Thankfully, it seemed the captain was fluent. I caught her mentioning the Alvian language, and the horned man nodded, calling back, "My apologistics. Which you is Nexxa? Sworn, I have, to aid her."

    "Guessing that''s your hunter," I said, my gaze shifting to the two figures who remained on the rock.

    "Yep, yep. Bet the old man''s your guide," Nexxa said, waving towards the still seated figure in the cloak.

    "Old man, huh? You seeing something I can''t?" I teased, knowing full well she hadn''t included any binocular-type spells in her current loadout. She had them in her grimoire, as did I, but neither of us were using them.

    Yet.

    I suspected I''d have a lot of use for Eagle Eyes once Calbern and I started along the High Road. The same applied for Nexxa, once she started prowling her territory.

    "Nah. I just know these things. Prodigy, remember?" Nexxa said before jumping over the side of the ship and flying over to meet her hunter.

    ¡°Cheater,¡± I grumbled good-naturedly as I watched the hunter accept her outstretched hand, immediately pulling her into a bear hug. Which led to Nexxa lifting him straight off the ground as she flew upwards, earning a mighty laugh out of the man when she dropped him six feet.

    Once the sailors slid down the ramp, which they called a load-plank, I made my own way ashore. I almost fell over, not having realized how used to the moving deck I''d gotten.

    So it was, with my ass firmly planted not ten feet from the bottom of the load-plank that the Forgeborn and the cloaked figure approached. The cloaked figure was less than half the Forgeborn''s height, which wasn''t saying much since the Forgeborn had to be at least eight feet tall.

    "Hello," I said, doing my best to sit up straight despite the world continuing to sway beneath me.

    The Forgeborn waved to their smaller companion.

    "I am Tresla, translator. And this is your guide, Inertia," the cloaked figure said, her voice surprisingly melodic considering the pipe.

    "My name is Perth. Forgive me for not standing, but I seem to have a bad case of sea legs."

    Tresla turned to Inertia, puffing several different rings out in their direction before turning back to me. There were a few hisses of steam and a sharp whistle from Inertia in return.

    "Inertia can sympathize. She has spent many nights with similar symptoms after being deposited via airship. She hopes your symptoms pass quickly."

    "Does Inertia understand Alvian? Or maybe Elinder?"

    "She understands the language of the sky elves, though she only speaks a few words. And she understands some small parts of Alvian, but she is loath to learn the language of the enslavers."

    "Huh. Fair nuff," I replied, testing my balance and finding the swaying had reduced to a point I could at least stand. "I know some Elinder, but not enough to be fluent, it seems. Cheated with a spell, but it didn''t stick as well as we''d hoped."

    "Ah, Inertia has met many who have become addled by such attempts. She is relieved you are intact. And she didn''t say it, but she''s pretty surprised," Tresla informed me, still puffing away at her pipe.

    "Thanks, I think. Say, if you''re a translator¡­ If it''s alright with Inertia, would you be able to help me with my Elinder? Say, for an hour a day?"

    Tresla''s smoke rings stopped for a few seconds as her hood turned in my direction. I caught a glimmer of red beneath but then Inertia let out a sharp whistle, and Tresla started blowing the rings once more.

    After a minute, Inertia nodded and Tresla turned back to me. "Inertia is pleased that you will make this effort. When the frost wolves come for us, she will make sure your end is quick."

    "Yeah, I''m gonna take a hard pass on that, though I think I appreciate the sentiment."

    A light chuckle escaped Tresla''s hood before she turned and blew her smoke rings at Inertia.

    "Inertia understands and respects the desire to struggle even when all hope is lost. She will do her best to hide you from the wolves so she does not have to hear your suffering." Tresla paused for a few seconds before adding. "She must really like you. Don''t think she''s ever made an offer like that before."

    "I certainly appreciate it. Please let her know we won''t be heading out for a few days. I need to ascend to Astral-soul first."

    "Sorry, how old are you?" Tresla asked, only to be interrupted by another whistle from Inertia. "Sorry, I''m not supposed to ask new people rude questions without asking her first."

    After another round of smoke circles, Tresla turned back to me. "Inertia has no problem waiting. Time does not hold the same meaning for her as us mere mortals."

    "Good. Once he''s done helping Nexxa get things sorted, I''ll introduce both of you to Calbern. He''ll be making the journey with us," I said while pointing to where he stood directing the sailors further up the shore.

    "Inertia welcomes one who understands the order required in a proper forge. Please let him know that the earlier offer still stands."

    "Doubt he''ll take her up on it, but sure, I''ll tell him."

    We settled into silence for a while then, Tresla continuing to make her smoke signals. I was fairly sure she was using them to communicate with Inertia, though I hadn''t figured out the exact mechanisms involved. Size and shape seemed important, but didn''t carry the nuance she''d used so far.

    I was tempted to ask Tresla to teach me the smoke ring language as well, but I felt one language was enough for the time being.

    Even a Magus Dominus born of two worlds had his limits.

 Chapter 21 - Astral Ascension

    It didn''t take long for Calbern and the sailors to erect a sturdy wooden building in the shelter of the outcropping, with only a little help from Nexxa to seal it tight. I had a spell that could¡¯ve helped, but swapping them out still took me forever.

    Before night fell, there was enough space for everyone to sleep inside, though actual rooms would come later.

    I couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy. None of this convenience would be available in my domain. And it wasn¡¯t just the ease with which they set up camp. It was her relative connection to society. Two weeks by ship was a lot, but not so much it would impede trade. The profit from monster parts alone meant the captain intended to make the trip to Nexxa''s domain twice a year, at a minimum.

    Not to say I wasn''t happy for Nexxa. I was. It just served to remind me how much more isolated my domain would be.

    And that we''d be saying goodbye soon.

    Before our trip together, that would''ve sucked, but still been tolerable.

    Now, it felt like I had to say goodbye to the only real friend I¡¯d had in two worlds.

    "Hey, Perry, you look like a warg got into your favorite custard. What''s up?" Nexxa asked, sitting down next to me with two bowls of steaming stew. It had been brewed by the hunter who would be teaching her to sort her hex nuts from her rivets, metaphorically speaking.

    "Just thinking about the future," I replied as I accepted one of the bowls from her, blowing on it.

    "Ah. Unfortunate. Don''t think too hard or your head will start to look like our dinner," Nexxa said, holding her bowl up and slowly blowing the steam away.

    "Har har¡­ I''ll try not to," I said before taking a tentative bite. It wasn''t bad. Needed a little salt though. That was one thing I''d brought lots of. Course, at the moment, I didn''t have Access Storage prepared, so I had to do without. "Speaking of the not-future, my affinities are finally balanced."

    "Seriously? We didn''t even work on them today," Nexxa grumbled, pushing a green leafy vegetable out of her bowl and flicking it into the fire.

    "Pretty sure you¡¯re supposed to eat those,¡± I said, before taking another bite of my own. I made the mistake of biting one of the leaves to prove my point, only to discover it was incredibly bitter. I ignored Nexxa¡¯s smug grin as I discreetly choked down the leaf before returning to the previous subject. ¡°I cast Assess Self to check, and it must¡¯ve been the last push I needed, cause they''re balanced. I wanna make the attempt tonight, after dinner. I''d like it if you were there."

    "Is the Infinite Rift deep? Of course I''ll be there. Didn¡¯t spend the last month and a half training you up to abandon you now," Nexxa said, elbowing me hard enough to make me drop my spoon back in the bowl.

    Fishing my spoon out of my stew, I let the toppings drip down before wiping it clean. Only after I¡¯d taken another bite, did I say, "Good. Calbern will be there too."

    She nodded, eyes distant as she ate, and I let the conversation fade.

    A minute later, the hunter arrived. ¡°Ah, Ha''sh''eme''tel has biscuits. Little Nexxa is waiting, not too long enough. Hard biscuit makes soft stew perfect, see?¡± he asked, demonstrating by placing a biscuit in my bowl and gesturing for me to try.

    It¡­ transformed the bland stew. Somehow, the biscuit caused the stew to stick to it, and it became like eating a sandwich, but in reverse. There was so much flavor, all with a crispy biscuit at the center. Of course Nexxa hadn''t been patient enough to wait until the biscuits were ready.

    ¡°Thank you, Hash¡¯emetel,¡± I said, doing my best to reproduce his name yet failing horribly.

    He just laughed, patting me on the shoulder as he walked away, carrying more biscuits towards where Calbern and the captain were sitting.

    "He actually prefers people call him Hash. Guess everyone gets it wrong, even his own family," Nexxa said shortly after.

    "I can understand why. How do you even make that high pitched warble?" I said, strumming my throat as I attempted it again.

    "Like this," Nexxa said, holding her hand up and setting a disk to humming between her fingers.

    To her credit, it really did make the warble. I didn¡¯t know how she¡¯d incorporate that into her speech, but that wasn¡¯t the important part. "Okay, color me impressed. Didn''t realize we could use Storm to do that."

    "You can''t," Nexxa replied, smirking before letting it fade away. "Not yet, anyway."

    "Soon though," I said, handing my bowl to Hash before brushing off my travel clothes.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Nexxa was even more excited than I was, leading the way outside the cabin while walking backwards, her hands crossed behind her head. ¡°You¡¯re gonna do great. No worries.¡±

    Calbern was already outside, waiting for us. Or just enjoying the view of the stars. There were an awful lot of them this far from civilization. I didn''t recognize any constellations, but I wouldn''t have on Earth either.

    "Is it time, master Perth?" he asked, turning away from the stars and managing to stand just a little straighter as he did so.

    "It is," I said, taking a seat next to him and joining him in looking upward. "Long way from home."

    "Indeed. Though at least the stars remain familiar.¡±

    And I was reminded once more of the silent lies that laid between me and them. I knew I''d need to tell them, one day.

    I told myself I¡¯d do it right then, but the sound of a door creaking open caused us all to turn. Much as the cabin was convenient, it wasn¡¯t the highest quality of build. Stepping out of the door were Tresla and Inertia. Inertia stretched outward, her bulk blocking out a significant portion of the sky before she turned in our direction and began stomping over, Tresla following silently in her wake.

    Honestly, Tresla could¡¯ve been stomping too, and I¡¯m not sure I would¡¯ve heard the sound of her footsteps next to Inertia.

    "Inertia heard you would be making your attempt, and requests permission to watch. She has never witnessed a mage ascend before," Tresla said, pausing for a second before adding, "Neither have I. It sounds interesting."

    "You''re welcome to watch, though I don''t know if it''ll be very exciting. Most Astral ascensions are pretty boring, at least from the outside."

    "Least they''re not as gross as the Pegasus ascension. Do not wear clothes you want to keep when you hit Pegasus," Nexxa warned me, a shudder passing through her.

    "Inertia would like to watch anyway," Tresla said while sitting down and crossing her legs. Her four feet of height seemed even less when she sat like that, and with the dark cloak, she almost disappeared into the night.

    A moment later, the captain and Hash also joined us. The captain produced a bottle of something that smelled vaguely like whiskey.

    "An hour, I wager, he takes. Three Waves," Hash said, looking towards the captain.

    "Three Waves, aye. No longer than half the hour."

    "Two hours, and not a minute faster," Nexxa said, producing her coins and laying them down in front of me. "You can do that for me, can''t you Perry?"

    The captain offered me the liquor, but I waved it away.

    I shook my head at Nexxa. "If I have my way-"

    "Fifteen minutes," Calbern''s level tone cut through my bluster. "Master Perth is no ordinary mage." He turned to me, placing a hand on my shoulder as he added, "I know you can do this. I''m proud of you."

    Of course. Of course, he''d chosen that moment to say it.

    Now I had to make the attempt with tears in my eyes while everyone watched.

    Well, nothing for it but to do it.

    I closed my eyes, tempted to cast Assess Self one last time.

    But I knew the results would come back the same. Thirty-three for Nature, Worlds, Storm and Arcane and eleven in Water, Air, Fire and Earth. Even my lower affinities would¡¯ve been enough to make most mages jealous.

    So, instead, I pushed the spell out of my slots.

    I gathered my mana and set to work. It wasn''t enough to simply create the four pointed structure I''d originally planned. With eight affinities I wanted to continue growing, it needed four auxiliary struts as well. I also needed to branch out to heal the micro fissures without closing off access to any of my spell slots. In theory, the patches could serve double duty, acting as braces for the structure.

    But only if they didn¡¯t degrade the support.

    The work felt surprisingly exhausting, considering it took place entirely within my mind. The first step required me to line up motes of mana in a cross, and getting them to sit still soon had me breathing heavily. And I hadn¡¯t even made it to the second cross for the other elements. Despite all the exercises Nexxa had me do as practice, it felt like I was already at my limit.

    Yet I knew my mana would recover with time, so instead of pressing, I simply waited. Soon enough, there was even more free mana floating around me. Instead of attempting to wrestle the new motes into place one at a time, I used the existing cross as a template, guiding them into the same shape.

    Yet that had the unfortunate effect of directing them into reinforcing my existing structure. I had a very sturdy connection to my higher affinities. In theory, it should make improving them easier in the future. Assuming I didn¡¯t fail and have to rebuild my core from nothing.

    That thought made me decide I¡¯d only make one more attempt. Having four excellent affinities was better than restarting from scratch. Especially since the others were primarily for experimentation anyway.

    This time, when my mana regenerated, I took the slow path, dragging a single mote into place, taking a deep breath, then moving on to the next.

    I don¡¯t know how long I spent like that, but it worked.

    Slow is smooth, and smooth is success. I think that¡¯s how it went.

    Didn¡¯t matter.

    Once the second cross was in place, I did my best to check everything over once more. But I was nearing my limits. It was time for the do or die moment.

    Now that I had the structures in place, I had to flood them with moving mana.

    Opening myself to the outside world, I was struck by the variety of the mana around me. It was coming from everyone watching, I realized.

    Again, didn''t matter.

    I let the mana in, converting it as it entered, fueling my construct.

    Everything shook. But that was normal. It shook for everyone, even Nexxa, the prodigy. At least, that¡¯s what she¡¯d told me.

    Yet as everything threatened to fall apart, I couldn¡¯t help but doubt. I didn''t know how long I endured the shaking for, moving my attention back and forth to continue patching as best I could until finally, the shaking stopped.

    When it stopped I knew I was done.

    Either I''d succeeded or¡­ or I''d have to disperse everything and rebuild from the bottom all over again. If I was lucky. Either was better than a broken core, and while that had been possible, I wasn¡¯t writhing in pain, so it was unlikely.

    Still, I was afraid to turn my attention inward.

    With it completed I sat in silence for several long seconds, until Nexxa''s voice shattered the silence. "Good job, Perry. Knew you could do it."

    At her words, I risked a peek.

    The structure was intact. I¡¯d managed to connect everything.

    I now had an Astral-soul, complete with one shiny second order spell slot and five first order slots whose spells would now be twice as strong. When I opened my eyes, I looked around at all those watching and asked, "So, who won?"

    Then, before anyone could answer, I added, ¡°Other than me, of course.¡±

 Chapter 22 - A Prodigy

    Nexxa had won the bet, much to my chagrin. It hadn¡¯t taken me the full two hours, but it had been close.

    The rest of the night was spent with the captain and Hash trying to one up each other with the most outlandish bar room brawls each had been part of.

    Neither of them topped mine. The night the little mermaid shanked Dumbo was one of my few sober nights in a pub. Craziest Halloween bash I''d ever been to. Little mermaid and I had ended up on the same side after one of Dumbo''s friends dragged the rest of us into it.

    Chuckling to myself, I realized I couldn''t really share the story. Perth had never been to a pub in his life. Besides, there were too many cultural references no one else would understand.

    Which was probably the first time in either life I¡¯d felt homesick.

    It was countered by the easy familiarity I shared with those around the fire.

    I didn''t get any practice in with my new and shiny Astral-soul and that was¡­ fine. More than fine. I wasn¡¯t able to stop myself from confirming the cracks were gone, the structure having fused seamlessly with the damaged slots, but that was all I allowed myself.

    Still, as we celebrated, I did find myself contemplating the near miss. The scare explained why most didn''t rush their progression. At least, not to that extreme. I felt we were missing something else though. Advancing a mage up a rank increased their mana generation by a factor of ten. That alone would be enough for some mages to risk it. Most even.

    Sure, it had required Nexxa to come up with a spell for channelling mana into someone else but¡­

    Actually¡­ could it be that simple?

    Nah. I was willing to bet other houses had figured out a similar spell. They just hadn''t shared. In fact, I was pretty sure Nexxa hadn''t shared it with our family before leaving. I¡¯d seen that sort of thing happen back home, where another shop would figure out a workaround to a manufacturer lockout, but never share it. Then they¡¯d go outta business, or the owner would nod off, and the fix was lost.

    Looking across the fire, I smiled as I saw her, the captain and Hash, all with their arms interlinked, belting out one of the captain''s off-color songs.

    At least, I assumed it was off-color. I only understood about one in ten words.

    It was a good night.

    Unfortunately, it couldn''t last.

    The next morning had a rude awakening for us, as a tier-three swarm descended on the valley.

    "Watch," Tresla said when I emerged to see what was causing the rumbling that had spread through the cabin.

    It was a veritable tide of black carapaced forms, all of them leaping forward, smashing into each other with no regard for safety. Picking out the details was impossible, but I saw what I thought were stingers and thick claws, wide enough to snap me in half. It reminded me of the Front.

    Had I been alone, I would''ve died that day.

    Hash came out of the cabin, stifling a large yawn with the back of his enormous hand. In the other, he held a still waking Nexxa, who was rubbing at her eyes while staring in the direction of the swarm.

    "Beautiful sight, that is," Hash said, as he set Nexxa on her feet beside him. "Lesson start now. Black swarm, very danger in close. No allow."

    Nexxa nodded, bringing her arm up and tracing the targeting glyphs used to control most long range combat spells.

    "Good. Yes, faster," Hash said, drawing his bow, the cord stringing itself as he nocked an arrow. "When too slow, kill brother."

    I raised an eyebrow at that, but he aimed his bow at the approaching swarm, so I chalked it up to him misspeaking.

    Nexxa simply nodded as she also stifled a yawn with one hand. The next instant the clear blue sky filled with a howling storm. She drew her hand away from her mouth, and thrust both towards the sky. And then, like she was pulling the very heavens down, lightning started crashing down on the hoard with every thrust of her hands.

    After I counted at least five different strikes, it was hard to be exact with so many bolts striking at once, Nexxa started spinning her hands around each other. The lightning I thought had been discharged, suddenly leapt up, as if granted new life. It didn¡¯t just sit there though. Instead, it spread outward, scything through the swarm as though they were wet paper as Nexxa stretched her arms wide.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Oh," Hash said, his jaw hanging open as he let his bow fall slack.

    I was right there with him, emotionally.

    Nexxa just yawned again, rubbing at the drool on her chin.

    I''d known, on an intellectual level, that Nexxa was a prodigy. The sort of mage a family produced once in a generation. Or so I''d thought. This felt¡­ beyond that. Perth knew what Pegasus-soul mages were supposed to be capable of. Heck, I¡¯d seen them myself on the Front.

    And as I stared at the destruction she¡¯d caused¡­ well, their father was a Djinn-soul, and I¡¯d seen what he could do with a wave of his hand. I suspected he¡¯d be able to do the same, but only when he was putting in his full effort.

    Nexxa was still half-asleep.

    I could only hope it was because Nexxa had focused on combat, while their father was a fancy farmer and healer.

    Nothing else made sense.

    "Very good!" Hash said, slapping Nexxa on the back hard enough to send her forward two steps, startling a cough out of her. "This training maybe, take not long."

    "Don''t think you''re getting off that easy, Hash. I''ve got you for two years, and I intend to keep you around for all of them," Nexxa said as she shook out her hands, seeming to finally notice the rest of us. "Besides, that was just the warmup. We''ve got three hundred square miles to clear."

    "Ha! Quite very correct. But now for, harvest must we," Hash said, pointing in the direction of the shattered insect swarm.

    Nexxa nodded, glancing in my direction long enough to shoot me a smile. Then she turned to the captain. "Same deal as usual?"

    The captain, who had been standing at the back, and hadn''t so much as blinked at Nexxa''s display, nodded once before turning around and walking towards her ship, already yelling out.

    "Doubt she''s gonna have room for all that," I said to Tresla as everyone else moved away.

    "Most likely she will grind the carapace down to dust, then sell it to mages for a thousand times what it cost her to transport it," Tresla replied. "And they''ll pay, cause they never leave their comfy little enclaves."

    "Uh¡­ are you saying that''s one of the main ingredients used in scribing?"

    "Properly treated, it is. One of the more common sources this side of the Front," Tresla said. "Inertia told me the Forgeborn harvest the black tide twice a year in the Howling Wastes."

    It was only then that I realized I was actually talking with Tresla. There was no sign of Inertia.

    "You''ve never been?"

    "To the Howling Wastes? Me? I wouldn''t survive five minutes," Tresla replied, her laughter ringing like a clear bell.

    "Yet you''re fine with the Frigid Peaks?"

    "The Frigid Peaks are one of the safest regions on the continent."

    "Seems pretty hostile. Cold enough to freeze boiling water solid in seconds. Plus, lots of monsters and not very many folk.¡±

    "Exactly. Easy to bundle up against the cold. And monsters are stupid. It''s people that are the true danger," Tresla said, pulling her cloak tighter.

    "Sounds like you''re speaking from experience," I said, turning to watch the sailors roll out carts full of heavy equipment towards the fallen bugs. Hash and Nexxa were marching alongside them, though Nexxa¡¯s gaze kept drifting towards the cabin.

    "Might be that I am. Or maybe I just keep my eyes open."

    "Ah ha! So you do have eyes!" I said, laughing as I stepped back, expecting a swing that never came.

    Tresla''s head tilted to the side, still hidden by her cloak as she watched me. Then she shook her head, the entire cloak rippling.

    "Sorry. Too much time with Nexxa," I explained.

    Her hood dipped slightly, in what I suspected was a nod. Then she turned, her gaze moving towards the cabin.

    A second later, Inertia exited, her head sweeping back and forth before locking onto Tresla. It shifted to me a second later as she strode towards us with long strides, whistling and chirping with each step.

    "Inertia would like to know if you want to leave, or if you would prefer to stay until you have mastered Elinder?" Tresla informed me, smoke rings rising from her pipe once more.

    Hadn''t even seen her pull it out.

    "Don''t know about mastering it, but better than I am right now, yes. How about we plan to stay for a week, then decide after that? Pretty sure Nexxa wanted to stay near the valley for that long anyway."

    "Inertia agrees. She also expresses regret that she ignored the black tide and missed your sister''s display."

    "Yeah, I bet," I said, looking out towards where the sailors were only just reaching the closest of the insects. "They''re probably going to be busy with that all day. What do you say we start on that Elinder practice?"

    Tresla turned towards Inertia, then shifted her head to the side. They stood silently staring at each other, smoke rings floating upward for nearly a minute before Tresla turned back to me. "Inertia says¡­ I am at your disposal for the rest of the day. She wishes to stretch her wings."

    "Wait, wings?" I asked.

    But Inertia had already taken a step back from us. And the panels I had seen all across her chest and legs unfolded, stretching out into wings nearly as wide as the ship was long.

    What I¡¯d taken for armor was actually the intricate folding of her wings. Inertia¡¯s profile had completely transformed in that single second. She still looked like a dangerous predator, though now she resembled a falcon more than a bear.

    Crouching down, Inertia''s torso grazed the ground.

    "You might want to brace yourself," Tresla said as she took several steps back, crouching down with her arm in front of her face.

    I moved to follow her, but I was too slow.

    Inertia flung herself upward. The shockwave of her launch picked me up and launched me as well, sending me tumbling end over end.

    When I came to a stop, I took a second to figure out which way was up. Once I had, I searched the sky for Inertia. Only to find her swooping down to give us a flyby, nearly sending me tumbling once more. As I pulled my hand away, I saw her ascending as she flew north. A few seconds later and she¡¯d disappeared from sight.

    "I swear, everyone else can fly except me," I said as I pushed myself to my feet, brushing myself off.

    "You get used to it," Tresla said, brushing off her cloak with black gloved hands.

    "Inertia? Or everyone else having flight?" I asked before pulling the books I''d been given for studying Elinder out of my spatial storage.

    "Yes," Tresla replied. "Shall we get started? Why don''t we start with something easy. What is the Elinder word for stupid? I have a feeling we''re going to need it when she gets back."

    I couldn''t contain my laugh, and after a second Tresla joined in.

    It was a surprisingly productive study session, though throughout, my eyes kept drifting to the sky.

    That would be me, one day.

    Even if I had to build my wings myself.

 Chapter 23 - Memory Palace

    By the end of the day, I was surprised at how fluent I''d become. I''d been right about having the pieces, and working with Tresla had helped me sort through them. I still wasn''t a master, but when Tresla said something, I could pick out every other word.

    It was amazing how big a difference it was.

    Enough to pick out the underlying meaning most of the time. Which Tresla assured me would allow me to pick up the rest faster.

    With my rapid progress with Elinder, I finally allowed myself to indulge in my grimoire.

    And then I remembered I had access to Memory Palace. I hadn''t even asked if Nexxa had used it to improve her Elinder. It had gotten hard to ask her anything since we¡¯d arrived, she¡¯d been so busy running around with Hash.

    I wasn''t able to cast it that night. Just moving it into my second order slot was going to take most of the day.

    So instead, I restored my standard loadout, though I decided to go with Eagle Eyes instead of Bloom.

    It had been a month since I last attempted to cast it, and I was shocked at how different the experience was now that I could control it properly.

    Calbern helped me test the spell, comparing what we could see before and after I cast it on each of us. Which is how I discovered his eyesight was exemplary. Even without the spell, he was able to pick out details that I needed the spell to notice.

    Including Inertia circling around the valley, and occasionally diving for no apparent reason.

    Once I cast the spell on him¡­ well, it didn''t make nearly as big a difference for him as it did for me. The atmosphere got in the way after a certain distance. That the atmosphere was his limiting factor made me consider a redesign of the spell. But it was a first order spell, so there was a limit to what I could do with it. Even higher order spells had limitations.

    The spell had an unlisted benefit I wouldn''t have noticed without him. As long as it was running, it allowed our eyes to refocus faster. A definite advantage, and once we figured that out, I subjected us both to a brilliant Flash.

    As we stood around recovering, the spots quickly faded. As I¡¯d hoped, Eagle Eyes helped our vision recover quicker.

    Not as fast as casting Minor Heal, but Eagle Eyes was designed to be kept active for long periods of time, including when the caster wasn¡¯t prepared. It had a high up front cost with next to no maintenance unless in active use.

    I suspected the non-advertised aspects of the spell would end up outweighing the value of its magnification in everyday use. And the contingency components would prove useful in other spells.

    When Nexxa returned, I managed to steal her away long enough to talk about spells.

    ¡°Uh¡­ I hadn¡¯t thought about using Memory Palace for¡­ Elinder,¡± Nexxa admitted, her voice low as she glanced over at Hash.

    ¡°What?¡± I asked, following her gaze.

    ¡°I¡­ just don¡¯t really want him to know I have Memory Palace.¡±

    ¡°Ah. I understand. Some secrets are too important,¡± I said, nodding in agreement.

    ¡°What? No, it¡¯s nothing like that. I¡¯m just sure he¡¯d make me use it for training.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this, the prodigy flinching at a little training?¡± I asked, unable to contain my grin.

    ¡°Oh, shut it,¡± Nexxa said, shoving me away, though she was smiling. ¡°I¡¯m used to setting my own schedule. Having someone else give me orders is¡­ it makes me feel¡­ ugh, I don¡¯t know. I just don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°You like Hash though, yeah?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s great,¡± Nexxa agreed, looking twoards where Hash was making our evening dinner. ¡°Even knows how to cook. Great mentor.¡±

    ¡°Then tell him about your complaints. It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t have good discipline. Tell him how you want to do it,¡± I said, pulling one of my notebooks out of my pack. ¡°After all, he¡¯s here to help you learn, not to take the reins. We¡¯re supposed to be in charge. That¡¯s part of our oath.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ hmm, I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Nexxa said, her eyes drifting towards my notebook. ¡°What¡¯re you- Hey, I¡¯ll check it in the morning!¡±

    Nexxa¡¯s objection was because I¡¯d been making a note to try Memory Palace in the morning to see if I could hasten the learning process that way. I waved Nexxa off. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I want to slot it anyway.¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°I¡¯m still going to check,¡± Nexxa said, stealing my pen to write down a note to herself.

    In my notebook.

    A small smile crept across my face as she added another note to herself to slot the spell first.

    Because, of course she didn''t have it prepared either.

    Then she noticed the notes I¡¯d made about my experiments with Calbern.

    ¡°Is this real?¡± she asked as she tore the book right out of my hands, flipping back to see the rest of my notes.

    ¡°Yep. Calbern and I-¡°

    ¡°This is gonna change¡­ so much. This is exactly what we were looking for!¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ it is?¡± I asked, leaning forward to look at my notes again.

    ¡°Can¡¯t believe we had the answer right in front of us,¡± Nexxa said as she busted out her own notebook, jotting down her own ideas in both books.

    Sighing, I pulled another notebook out of my inventory, handing it to her.

    ¡°We can combine this with Detect Mana,¡± she said, her eyes still fixed to the page as she jotted in the new book.

    ¡°Was thinking the same,¡± I lied, grabbing my notebook from her during her moment of inattention.

    Then we started sketching out how to adjust Detect Mana.

    It was nice talking spells with her again. Nexxa clearly felt the same as we talked right through dinner, both of us thank Calbern as he brought it by. We ended up staying up long into the night, neither of us wanting to call an end until I realized we¡¯d accidentally added a dispersion glyph to the start up sequence.

    Which would basically just end the spell the second it started.

    Still, it¡¯d been good.

    The next morning came late, at least for us. The sun was already past its zenith by the time we emerged from the cabin. Neither of us regretted it though.

    After a quick lunch, I threw myself into swapping in Memory Palace while Nexxa went on patrol with Hash again. I caught her gazing at me before she left and I shot her a thumbs up. Hopefully they¡¯d have that talk.

    In the meantime, I had my own work to do.

    By the time dinner rolled around, I was finally done slotting Memory Palace. My first second order spell.

    I joined the others for dinner, though Nexxa and Hash hadn¡¯t returned yet. I was so eager to test my spell, I didn¡¯t mind their absence. Rift, I didn''t even taste the food.

    Soon as I''d handed off my dishes, I cast the spell.

    I emerged in¡­ well, it was a little disappointing. With a name like Memory Palace, I expected something a bit grander.

    Instead, I was in a mechanic''s shop. Not a generic shop though. Nope. It was the same shop I''d spent three decades of my life in. The same one I''d taken over after my old man kicked the can.

    My first instinct was to leave. To just cancel out of the spell and never use it again. There were a lot of bad memories in that shop.

    But¡­

    It wasn¡¯t that shop. Not really.

    His shop had been a mess, piles of spare parts and broken tools in every corner. The loft overhead had been rotten, stacked to the brim with old garbage and paperwork.

    And there¡¯d been the old Ford on the second hoist, that he¡¯d always sworn he¡¯d get around to fixing one day. Rusted out heap had sat there my whole life.

    None of that remained.

    Instead, it looked exactly how I left it the day I¡¯d¡­ died.

    That''s what made the difference. It wasn¡¯t his shop, it was mine.

    I walked over to the little corner office, and inside was the rebuilt bookshelf where I''d kept magazines for customers. Not that most of them ever checked them. But I had a couple oldies who did. And that zoomer kid. He''d loved reading the ''rags''. It was so ¡®retro¡¯.

    Yeah¡­ this shop, it had some good memories. I walked over to the mini-fridge, and to my surprise, it was stocked with carbonated beverages.

    Not something I''d had since I''d arrived in Ro''an. I''m sure they could make them, if anyone thought to. Heck, maybe they were out there, and they just hadn''t made it to the corners I''d been in.

    The cultures on Ro''an didn''t seem to be as monolithic as they''d felt on Earth. Guess having a bunch of demi-gods running around changed things.

    Who could''ve guessed.

    Taking a long sip of Cola, suspiciously free of any namebrand, I let out a sigh of satisfaction. Exactly as good as I remembered.

    Maybe Memory Palace was an appropriate name after all.

    Going back out into the shop, I noticed a couple subtle differences from my shop. The tool chest had several runes on it I was fairly sure hadn''t been there before. And the bathroom door was shut, which normally only ever stayed that way when someone was inside.

    Pulling open the top drawer of the tool chest first, I came across a collection of unfamiliar tools. Just inspecting them, I knew they were the books I''d scanned with Review Scroll, each one shaped in a form that I intuitively associated with their contents. The second drawer had more tools, these ones representing all the spells I''d studied.

    The third drawer had memories of videos and articles I only half remembered from Earth.

    As I slid the third drawer shut, I took a moment and sat down on the rolling chair I kept next to the tool chest. I''d hoped¡­ I''d seriously hoped, that Memory Palace would give me exactly what was in the third drawer. And I''d been prepared to suffer through a lot to gain access to them.

    But the spell had laid them out neatly. There might still be some stuff to work through, but I wouldn''t have to wade through it totally at random.

    With the mystery of the tool chest solved, my eyes moved towards the bathroom.

    Did I dare set foot in there?

    Instinctively, I knew the answer was no. I wouldn''t like anything I found behind that door. There was one thing I did in a bathroom. I got rid of the waste I didn''t need anymore, then cleaned myself off to get on with my life.

    This was my Memory Palace, and it worked on my rules.

    Standing up, I opened the top drawer, opening the first book on Elinder. Then I recalled¡­ everything. Every word I''d never read.

    Nexxa had said there was no indication of how much stress reading a book this way would put on us. But my Memory Palace clearly wasn''t playing by the same rules, because as soon as I was done with the first book, the thick red fluid in the old thermometer hanging on the wall slid up several degrees.

    Again, I instinctively knew that each and every degree would result in a greater and greater headache. Still, I''d only moved the fluid a bare smidge.

    So I took the second book, and ''remembered'' it too.

    This time the fluid slid up by another dozen degrees. Guess it wasn''t an exact science.

    Deciding I''d learned enough, I sat down on my rolling chair once more and looked at the closed rolling shop door. Unlike the bathroom, thermometer or tool chest, I didn''t feel anything specific when I looked at it.

    It almost felt like it was¡­ waiting. Waiting for me to figure out a use for it, maybe. Or maybe¡­ just waiting for me to open it.

    Whatever it was waiting for, it''d have to wait a little longer. Taking one last pull off the Cola, I ended the spell and returned to the waking world.

 Chapter 24 - Its just... Mana

    There''s a special sort of nostalgia I''ve only ever felt when returning to a place I once knew intimately that has changed while I¡¯ve been gone. It elicits a sense of comfort and loss at the same time. That''s how it felt when I first stepped into my Memory Palace.

    Stepping out of it was, somehow, the inverse.

    It was a stark reminder of how much my life had changed in two short months. How very unfamiliar it all was.

    Across from me sat a Forgeborn, a machine intelligence created through magical artifice. To my right sat Hash, a man who looked like a blue skinned version of the Christian devil, returned while I¡¯d been busy.

    On my left were the two most normal looking folk here, though Nexxa''s ability to call forth a literal thunderstorm, and Calbern''s degree of excellence were both more than a little superhuman.

    And then there was me.

    The grind of it had worn away some of the wonder, but seeing my old shop again had reminded me of where I''d come from.

    And it reminded me of what I could now do.

    Holding open my palm, I brought forth a tiny ball of unformed mana. The blob of mana spat off tiny motes of light as it danced over my hand. It had absolutely no use, other than as the world¡¯s weakest nightlite or minotaur bait, and would dissipate the moment I stopped focusing on it.

    But it was still a thing of wonder.

    "It''s so beautiful," Tresla said, startling me.

    I''d missed her sitting in the shadow of Inertia. Even knowing she was there, I could barely make her out until she leaned forward. "What spell is that? I don''t think I''ve seen anything like it before."

    "It''s not a spell. It''s just¡­"

    "Mana," A deep rumbling voice said. It took me three long seconds to realize it had been Inertia. She''d lowered her head next to Tresla, and was staring intensely at my hand.

    "I didn''t know you could just¡­ manifest mana without a spell," Nexxa said as she moved closer, holding up her own hand.

    To my surprise, she didn''t immediately figure it out. It took almost a minute before her glow joined my own, several over exagerated motions making it look like she was practicing air guitar as she experimented.

    It was only as she calmed down, sitting beside me and gazing intently at her hand that she figured it out.

    The difference between our blobs was immediately apparent. While mine was a swirl of mixed colors, hers was almost entirely purple, with just a hint of gold. Realizing they were probably our affinities, I looked closer at mine, able to pick out the purple of Storm and what must''ve been the gold of Nature. There was as much pink as purple, which was likely Arcane.

    And then there was the blue with little flecks of white in it. If I hadn''t known it was Worlds, I might''ve thought it was Water affinity. The green of Wind, Red of Fire and Brown of Earth were practically lost amidst the stronger affinities, though Water was the worst, only slightly darker than, and barely noticeable, next to my Worlds affinity.

    "More than sight with, do I see," Hash said, rubbing his chest.

    A short series of whistles from Inertia caused Tresla to jump to the side, before she smoothed out her cloak and drew her pipe. "Inertia says your display of trust is appreciated, but wishes to remind you that such open gestures of your inner being should be reserved for those you consider¡­" Tresla paused drawing on her pipe and creating more smoke rings. "The closest translation would be a close and trusted friend. Loses some of the nuance though. Think the sort of friend who¡¯d help you burn the bodies."

    "Noted," I grunted, though I didn''t stop channeling. It wasn''t for them that I''d done it. Despite Inertia''s statement, the swirling blob wasn''t something worth hiding. Not if it meant I couldn''t draw it forth to appreciate myself.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Sure enough, there''d be folk who could learn my affinities through it. But there were spells for that anyway. Or simple observation.

    I did finally let the blob dissipate once the others started moving about.

    It seemed the day was going to be a busy one.

    The captain was ready to head back down river, her sailors having processed the remains of the black tide. I imagined she''d have a much smoother ride without us along to draw in the monsters with our constant explosions.

    Plus, the route was through claimed domains, which I supposed included Nexxa''s now, so there should be a degree of safety from that too. Assuming the Magus Domini responsible were doing their duty. The captain didn''t seem worried, so I put it out of mind.

    While they were making their preparations, I acquired a small keg of the refined dust for my own experiments.

    It wasn''t as potent as the finer silver powder I was used to, and the entire keg would only provide ten pages worth of spells. But that was still worth the twenty Waves I''d given Nexxa for it, which''d been the same cost she''d paid to have them refine it for her.

    Since Nexxa had to escort them to the edge of her territory, I spent the day under the watchful gaze of Hash. There was no chance Nexxa would leave her grimoire behind, even for me to study, so I once more spent the day practicing my Elinder with Tresla. The difference absorbing the books inside Memory Palace had made was immediately noticeable. My ability to keep up went from one in two words to nine in ten.

    Inertia wasn''t feeling the need to fly today, so she sat in on my practice, often interrupting our practice with questions.

    Which led to me asking her questions of my own. Now that I was speaking Elinder, Tresla didn''t have to translate my questions to Inertia, though for anything longer than a one word answer, she''d still have to inform me of Inertia''s response.

    "Wait, so you''re her slave?" I asked, looking at Tresla after asking how they''d started working together.

    "Bonded servant," Tresla corrected, shaking her head. "We have both made pledges bound in stone using the Slave-song. I give her a voice, and she gives me wings. It is a fair price to travel the world."

    "Wait, I thought you couldn''t fly," I said, pointing at her.

    "It was a metaphor. Though we have traveled by airship more than once."

    "She''s not strong enough to carry you?"

    A rumble from Inertia sounded out, along with the word, "Strong."

    "Inertia says she is more than strong enough. But keeping me safe while flying is a challenging endeavor. She has only carried me twice, and both times were so we could escape immediate danger. It isn''t safe to fly in strange skies."

    Another series of whistles from Inertia followed.

    "Inertia wants to know if you have taken any stone pledges."

    "I don''t think so. What''s a stone pledge?"

    Inertia and Tresla turned to each other, and for the first time in over an hour, Tresla drew forth her pipe to blow smoke rings.

    They spent five minutes like that before Tresla turned back to me. I hadn¡¯t spent the time idle, looking through some of the first order spells I¡¯d scribed and forgotten about. I barely even remembered scribing Tie Rope, and was wondering why I¡¯d thought it was worth the effort.

    After clearing her throat to get my attention, Tresla said, "A stone pledge, in simple terms, is a pledge that is strong as stone, imprinted in your soul. It''s a great deal more complicated than that, and with most advanced workings of magic, it''s a convenient lie. But to explain the truth would take months, perhaps years, of instruction in advanced Forge Theory."

    "Kinda sounds like the Magus Dominus oath. And correct me if I''m wrong, but isn''t Inertia going to be my guide for the next two years? Lots of time to explain."

    Tresla tapped her pipe against her sleeve, then shifted towards Inertia before resuming the ring blowing. It only lasted for a few seconds before Tresla said, "Inertia wants to know¡­ are you interested in learning Forge Theory? There are things she can''t teach you, not without swearing on the stone, but there''s a lot she''s willing to share. If you teach us about your magic in turn."

    "Definitely interested. As for teaching you¡­ well, I''m not sure how useful it''d be, but yeah, fair''s fair."

    The Forgeborn stood then, both shoulders rolling back for a second before shaking loose her wings.

    This time I backed up and braced myself properly, as did Tresla. However, Inertia didn''t immediately launch into the sky. Instead she let out another string of whistles, along with the Elinder word for, "Time."

    "Inertia says she needs-" Tresla started before Inertia crouched down.

    She stopped talking, both of us raising our arms to shield our faces as Inertia flung herself upward.

    With a casual brush of her cloak, Tresla continued, "She needs time to prepare a proper lesson plan. Which apparently involves abandoning us in the middle of a conversation."

    "Does she do that alot? Cause if she''s supposed to be guiding me safely to my domain¡­"

    "She is a guide, not a guardian. Still, she will not abandon you when danger nears. Well, unless she must flee to save my life."

    "Lovely," I replied, shaking my head. "Time we get back to it. What was the Elinder word for disaster again?"

    Tresla''s musical laughter rolled out into the valley before she covered her mouth and we turned back to our practice, an overpowered and over-engineered bird brain flying overhead.

 Chapter 25 - Big Mistake

    Nexxa came back riding a bolt of lightning shortly before dinner. It was as loud as it was quick, and she immediately set off to find Hash.

    Making my way into the cabin, I cast Memory palace again, taking the rest of the Elinder books, which brought me to nearly the halfway point on the thermostat.

    And sure enough, when I emerged, I had a headache. Hardly the worst I''d experienced, but enough that Minor Heal couldn''t wipe it away.

    It meant I was less social at dinner than usual, though I probably would¡¯ve been mostly quiet anyway after spending all day talking with Tresla.

    After dinner, I managed to get Nexxa alone so I could ask her about how she''d pulled off the spell that took down the Black Tide.

    "Ah. I used sympathetic synergies. Though I like to call it storm dancing," Nexxa said, pulling one of her journals out of her storage space. "You remember all those hand motions I was making? And did you hear my chant?"

    "Spell dancing would make more sense¡­ but it''s your method," I quickly amended when I saw her eyes narrowing. "And was that a chant? It sounded more like groaning. Definitely remember you waving your arms around," I replied, looking down at the page she''d opened in the journal. It had sketches of arms, legs and fingers, all lined up with spell diagrams. It also had several words sketched beneath it.

    "I wasn''t¡­ nevermind. You know how most of the low order spells just work, right?"

    "Sure. Pull on mana, get effect."

    "Okay, that''s mostly because the extra benefits from sympathetic casting are negligible when using low order spells. It''s not until you start using third order spells that you notice the amplification. Funny thing is, you remember that gimmick with your little affinity lamp?"

    "We are not calling it an affinity lamp," I immediately denied, crossing my arms in front of me.

    "Not the point. Point is, I use a similar process to trace the spell out. See, it''s a way to reinforce the spell, and introduce any changes I might want to make at time of casting. Gives me more freedom than what I¡¯ve recorded in my grimoire," Nexxa explained, holding her diagram up.

    I squinted at it. "I think I understand the basic concept. Your scribbles, not so much."

    "They''re not scribbles. They''re sketches. And they''re a rough draft," Nexxa said, pulling at the journal.

    "Sorry, sorry. Not scribbles. Sketches," I said, not letting go of the journal. "Please, continue."

    And she did. For the next couple hours, she taught me how she''d found a book that obliquely mentioned the technique. And then, off a third hand description she read in said book, she''d translated it into a method for enhancing her spells.

    By the time we were done for the night, I''d read both journals she had on the topic, committing them to my Memory Palace with Review Scroll, just in case.

    It was simple in theory, but when I attempted to augment Minor Heal the next day, I realized how poor my body control was.

    For the first time, my lack of exercise was getting in the way of my spell casting.

    I couldn''t help but wonder if there was a spell that would get me into shape. That had to exist. Would it be a healing spell? Maybe a growth spell? I remembered a second order spell in the family library that had effectively given a target rapid onset cancer. I had no idea what the purpose of it was. It seemed it only existed as a way to make a target suffer.

    It wasn''t even a useful combat spell, since it took a week for the effects to be debilitating. Still, that was only a second order spell. Maybe when combined with additional components a higher order version could be used for muscle growth.

    Not that I intended to test it. Biological horrors were not something I was interested in creating. Nor becoming.

    If I had to, I¡¯d prefer to pay for a spell that kept my body in shape for me.

    Or¡­ I could just get to Hydra-soul and have complete control over my body.

    Since neither would help me in the short term, I decided I needed exercise. And since I couldn''t count on myself to remember, I enlisted Calbern.

    Big mistake.

    "Come on, master Perth. Once more to the top," Calbern said as I huffed along behind him, struggling to take another step.

    He was leading me up to the top of the stone outcropping the cabin was built under. The path was covered in loose, sharp rock, and was steep besides. We''d already made the trek once, and I''d fallen halfway up, sliding back to the bottom. Calbern had made me climb before addressing my injuries. Minor Heal had taken care of the scrapes, but it''d done nothing for my pants.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Then he''d taken me back down and we''d walked around the entire structure three times before he''d led me up once more.

    "Almost there," Calbern called out with far too much vigor.

    Still, I''d signed up for it, so I just grunted and continued climbing. When I got to the top, I collapsed on one of the taller smooth rocks scattered about.

    Heck of a view.

    The morning sun was rising over the same ridge the black tide had flowed down. The ridge was covered in thin trees, barely holding on to life along the upper reaches. In stark contrast, the lower ridgeline was almost entirely covered in thick overgrowth.

    Excepting for where some of Nexxa''s spell went wild. Apparently part of building up that much power had included sacrificing precision.

    It had also been three separate third order spells, though the first had been invisible. She''d done something to create a link between the swarm, priming them to act as lightning sinks.

    I laughed as I realized I was thinking about magic again. Couldn''t even sit and enjoy the scenery without my thoughts drifting back to spellwork.

    As I looked out at the forest, I wondered how long it would remain. Nexxa would probably strip it to build and power her settlement once she felt ready to bring people in. Almost a shame.

    "Ready, master Perth?"

    "Yeah, I''m-" A crack of thunder drowned out my words.

    Nexxa arrived not ten feet away. It amused me that she could crash down on a literal bolt of lightning and it was less disruptive than Inertia taking off.

    "Hey Perry. I heard you''re getting exercise," Nexxa said, kicking her foot free of a shattered stone she''d gotten it caught in when she landed.

    "Yeah, we were-"

    "Great! We can work on your footwork while we''re at it," Nexxa said, smacking her hands together before looking towards Calbern. "You want to join in?"

    "If the Lady Nexxa believes it would help," Calbern replied, inclining his head towards her.

    "Yep. Very helpful. I''ll meet you near the waterfall to the north," so saying, Nexxa vanished in another bolt of lightning. Despite Eagle Eyes running, I barely recovered my vision in time to catch her landing location in the distance.

    "You know, I swear she''s been using that spell a lot more since we got here," I said even as I started picking my way down.

    "I believe the Lady mentioned not having to worry about hurting mortals," Calbern said as he jogged past me, not having the decency to even be slightly winded.

    "Huh. Makes sense," I huffed out before deciding I couldn''t spare the breath for further conversation.

    Despite walking the entire way, I was still wheezing by the time we reached the waterfall. As soon as we reached the top where Nexxa was working through some sort of movement routine, I plopped down in the grass.

    "That really is sad, Perry." Nexxa said, not stopping her exercise.

    "Trust me¡­ I know," I gasped out, laying with my arms and legs splayed. "Gonna be¡­ hell, when we start¡­ our trek."

    "It was wise of the young master to start making the effort now," Calbern said, taking a position nearby and blocking the sun from hitting my eyes.

    I wanted to thank him, but I focused on breathing instead, giving him a feeble thumbs up.

    "Fine. I''ll give you a few minutes to rest, but then we''re going to start," Nexxa said.

    I nodded, silently enjoying my reprieve.

    Far too soon, Nexxa said, "Okay, that''s been long enough."

    Groaning, I pushed myself to my feet while using an application of Minor Heal. It didn''t completely remove the ache, but it didn''t wipe away muscle building either, so it was a worthwhile trade-off.

    The only second order healing spell Nexxa had in her grimoire would completely wipe both away. I made another note to myself to copy it before I left anyway.

    "Okay, now, I want you to do your little trick while you follow along with my motions. We''re going to practice storm dancing. Don''t actually cast anything though," Nexxa warned.

    I nodded, drawing forth mana to the tip of the finger on my right hand.

    "Both hands."

    Holding up my left hand, I willed the mana forth. It was easier than I expected, though I accidentally let the first fade. Nexxa waited patiently as I struggled to keep them both active at the same time.

    Every time I got one to work, the other would cut out.

    "Stop activating them separately," Nexxa suggested.

    I did as she recommended, and immediately felt like an idiot as both hands started glowing.

    "Excellent. Now, follow me. You too, Calbern," Nexxa said as she took a step forward with her arms held close to her body.

    "Yes, lady Nexxa," Calbern said as he effortlessly copied her.

    I wasn''t as neat, and Nexxa immediately called out corrections. Then she moved into the next position, and the one after, vigilantly calling out corrections each time.

    We continued for ten minutes, took a break so I could recover, then started again. Nexxa kept me working for over two hours.

    It would''ve been impossible without Minor Heal, and even with it I was barely able to move at the end.

    "That''s probably enough. Can''t believe you kept going."

    "Important," I huffed out as I collapsed.

    "Yep, true. Anyway, gotta get back to my lessons with Hash. They¡¯re a lot more fun now that I¡¯m in charge. Thanks for that, by the way, Perry," Nexxa said, crouching down to pat my shoulder.

    "Welcome," I wheezed out.

    The crack of thunder filled the air a second later, leaving an afterimage of Nexxa that quickly faded thanks to Eagle Eyes.

    It had been intense, but it felt worth it. I was already imagining how I might modify the routine to work with my own spells. She''d said it hadn''t been worth it for first order spells, but what if I modified Mana Draw to be second or third order and combined it with spell dancing? Even here, the mana density had already dropped, and it was supposed to be much lower in my domain.

    An upgraded Mana Draw with spell dancing would make an excellent solution.

    Sorry Nexxa, calling it storm dancing wouldn¡¯t fit me.

    "Well, I believe that is more than sufficient for today, master Perth. Shall we plan to include more storm dancing tomorrow?"

    I lay there for several seconds before I huffed out a single word, "Yeah."

    That yeah carried a lot more meaning than my agreement to exercise. It was also a concession. If Calbern was going to call it storm dancing too, then I didn¡¯t have a choice but to go along with it.

    "Very good. I''ll ask Lady Nexxa to join us, but if she''s busy, I believe I have sufficient understanding to instruct you," Calbern said, offering me his hand while once more blocking the sun from my eyes.

    "Thanks," I grumbled. I wasn''t annoyed with him as much as myself for putting off exercise for so long. Though, now that I had a reason to tie it into my magical training, I knew that wouldn''t be a problem any longer.

    It was just going to suck for a while.

    With a grunt, I let him pull me to my feet.

    Couldn¡¯t stop now.

 Chapter 26 - Parting Gifts

    Thankfully I was able to steal Nexxa''s grimoire for the rest of the day as she and Hash reviewed the most common monsters she could expect in the region. I listened in at first before finding out most of them would never come to my domain.

    The mana density was too low.

    I still requested a copy of her notes, but I focused on copying her second order healing spell, Bestow Health. It worked by reaching into the soul''s recent memory of how the body should be, and reverting the body to match the soul¡¯s impression.

    The downside was that it only worked on injuries taken in the last few minutes. Of course, Nexxa already had notes on how it might be modified to extend that period up to an hour. She hadn''t completed her modifications, but I copied her thoughts to my journal after I''d finished copying the original spell.

    The next couple days were a mix of language practice with Tresla, storm dancing with Nexxa and copying every one of her first order spells into my grimoire. I now had more first order storm spells than any other in my grimoire.

    I really wanted her lightning storm or flying spell, but unfortunately, I didn''t have time to copy any of her third order spells.

    Did find time to test out Dimension Step though.

    Technically, Dimension Step was cast in two parts. The first part of the spell handled the targeting. It could be set to move directly where the caster was looking by pressing any finger against the palm of my hand, then taking a step.

    Nexxa and I had decided to venture towards the edge of the valley where the broken high road once lay, where I proceeded to study my grimoire. Of course, as soon as I had the spell slotted, I teleported to the broken pillar across the high road from where we¡¯d stopped. I walked straight into the stone before I could reorient myself. It seemed that my exact orientation and momentum had been preserved.

    Opening up my grimoire, I double checked the notes. By holding my hands in a ¡®V¡¯ shape, and rotating them, the spell would¡¯ve allowed me to turn around, or even to delay my reappearance by a couple seconds.

    ¡°Probably shoulda tried that first,¡± I said as Nexxa came over and squatted down next to me.

    ¡°Was funnier walking into the pillar,¡± Nexxa said, pushing my shoulder with a smile. ¡°You want a top up?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ would be great,¡± I said, my gaze drifting towards the set of broken stairs that wound around the pillar, going several hundred feet up the mountain before ending in a sudden cliff. ¡°How far you think I can make it in a single step?¡±

    Nexxa glanced at the grimoire before squinting at the steps. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯d say¡­ thirty steps, give or take?¡±

    I nodded. Thirty steps looked to be around fifty feet, which lined up with my own guess. There¡¯d still be some wiggle room based on my own skill with the spell, but it should be minor at this point.

    After Nexxa finished topping me off, I cast the spell again, aiming just past the limit of where I thought I should be able to Dimension Step to. This time I was ready for the continued movement, already taking another step forward. I still stumbled as my foot hit the raised lip of the stairs.

    Glancing around, I was disappointed to realize I¡¯d fallen short by several steps.

    Nexxa was already bounding up to stand beside me. ¡°Not bad. Twenty-eight steps. A little on the low end, but could¡¯ve been a lot worse.¡±

    ¡°Still need to work on my exits,¡± I said, sending Minor Heal to work on my ankle.

    ¡°Always tricky, getting the hang of sudden relocation spells. Enhanced perception spells like Eagle Eyes help a lot,¡± Nexxa said, tapping just below her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it running,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°Still takes time.¡±

    ¡°Yep! Don¡¯t worry Perry, you¡¯ll get it,¡± Nexxa said, holding my shoulder as she started filling my mana again.

    We continued for another half hour as I started using the more advanced variables, before I was satisfied with the spell. Unfortunately, the amount of time it took to slot in meant that I actually kept Memory Palace slotted for the rest of the week.

    Finally, the week was up. Technically, it''d been a bit more than a week.

    The hardest part was that I didn''t have to go. While the pull on me grew stronger each day, as long as I was learning things that would make me a better Magus, it was barely noticeable. Which meant I was the only one enforcing the deadline.

    But I knew that if I let it slip, I''d just keep finding excuses.

    Luckily, advancing from Astral to Pegasus didn''t require the constant influx of mana or stressing my impression slots. I¡¯d still need to do it to increase my affinities, but it was no longer part of ascension. Instead, I''d be building out my Astral body, and that could be done anywhere. It might even be easier in my domain, as Nexxa had hinted that lower mana density meant less degradation.

    My thoughts of my next steps were interrupted when I heard the others moving. I''d woken earlier than usual, and was surprised to realize I was the first awake.

    I''d even beaten Calbern, who was rising from his bed with the sort of grace most people reserved for¡­ well, most people didn¡¯t move that smooth, ever, so I didn¡¯t have a good example. Ballet, maybe?

    Calbern soon joined me at the table, a bowl of oats flavored with fruit in front of him. I''d considered making everyone breakfast, but I knew even less about cooking without a microwave than I did fighting with a sword.

    I''d figured out a few recipes back on Earth, but just enough to get by. The old man hadn''t complained as long as it wasn''t blackened. And once he was gone, I''d found it easier to eat out than improve a skill I''d never cared for.

    "Depart soon, you will?" Hash asked as he trundled over to our table, this time in Elinder. I hadn¡¯t been able to stop the chuckle when I first realized he mangled Elinder as badly as Alvian.

    He¡¯d laughed along, before explaining that his native language was spoken by all of a hundred people. His tribe had roamed the swamps in the Dominion of Gestur, a country north of Aranor, before they''d been wiped out by an actual hydra. It wasn''t that far from where Perth had grown up, but he''d never heard of the Dominion, nevermind the swamp.

    Hash had become a hunter specifically to slay that hydra, and he''d succeeded after half a century spent training. He was older than he looked. A lot older.

    I took my time answering him, though not because I didn''t know what to say. Just because it took a surprising amount of effort to get it past my tongue. "Yeah. We''re heading east soon as Nexxa''s ready."

    "Will good be. Exciting times!" Hash said, waving his spoon in the air like a sword.

    "Not too exciting, I would hope," Calbern said, his Elinder flawless despite having started working on the language the same time I had.

    "If too exciting, run then," Hash replied, using both arms to mimic the action before chuckling.

    "Sage advice," I said, offering the large man a smile.

    "For a complete meathead, he''s got a few sparks of brilliance hidden away," Nexxa said as she joined us.

    "Bone more, meat than," Hash said, rapping a hand on his horns while wiggling his eyebrows at Nexxa.

    "Fine. Bonehead. Happy?"

    "Much. Strong bonehead," Hash said, hitting his head with a solid thunk.

    "That''s for sure," Nexxa said, slugging him in the arm before looking towards me. "You ready?"

    "Don''t much matter," I replied, moving my spoon around my own empty bowl. "We''re leaving either way."

    "A normal person would''ve just said yes," Nexxa pointed out.

    "Good thing I¡¯m not normal?"

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "Our supplies have been packed, and master Perth has finished copying what spells he believes will be of the most use. While there is more that could be done, I agree with master Perth. There is no sense in delaying further," Calbern said, reaching to take my bowl.

    I thanked him as he left the table, following to grab my bag.

    Tresla stumbled over, rubbing her back as she walked past me. I''d shown her Nexxa''s storm dancing the night before. Despite the rapid movements, her cloak hadn''t slipped once. She''d enjoyed it, but clearly she was paying for it now.

    I cast Minor Heal and she immediately perked up, her hood turning in my direction. "I should have requested that last night."

    "I should''ve offered. But you seemed fine. Guess the cloak makes it hard to tell."

    "I imagine so," Tresla said, her head moving to face the corner where Inertia was standing in silence. She walked over and squeezed the Forgeborn¡¯s armored leg. Soon, Inertia stirred, looking around before glancing down to Tresla. Several whistles and a nod later and the Forgeborn was striding out of the cabin.

    The rest of us followed, carrying packs that would be loaded on the horses.

    Despite my full storage ring, it made sense to bring as much as we could with us. A full cubic yard seemed like a lot until you had to feed three people for over a month while bringing all your magical supplies with you across dangerous mountains.

    Inertia didn''t need to eat, nor would she be riding a horse, which helped, since the horse we''d brought for her would be used by Tresla.

    To my surprise, it took us nearly two weeks to reach the edge of Nexxa''s domain.

    It didn''t help that most of the high road in her domain had collapsed, so we spent a lot of time breaking a new path forward. We couldn¡¯t even follow the high road in most places, because it ran near the top of the mountains when it¡¯d been intact.

    However, I was not-so-secretly pleased by the constant obstacles. It meant more time visiting and discussing possible spell adjustments. Not much for copying spells, unfortunately, but we were able to practice the storm dance, on occasion. The occasion being when Tresla and I weren¡¯t exhausted from the day¡¯s hike.

    It didn¡¯t matter to the others. Calbern was¡­ well, Calbern, and Nexxa could fly. Meanwhile Inertia was incapable of feeling physical fatigue, whether flying or leaping around.

    Minor Heal did a lot to reduce saddle soreness, but like with other exercise, it didn''t get rid of the ache completely.

    Which meant that when we reached the edge of Nexxa''s territory and we agreed we should spend a day saying goodbye properly, Tresla and I were both greatly relieved.

    Just beyond the official edge of Nexxa''s territory we spied an intact watchtower. The tall stone building stood at the top of one of the tallest peaks in the area, offering a view of several nearby valleys as well as the remains of the high road that ran beneath it.

    It was a suitably memorable location to say our goodbyes.

    After making our way up, we unpacked for one last feast, the meat provided by Nexxa, a monstrous boar whose shoulder had come up to my head. It had charged us during our ascent, and I¡¯d barely had time to raise my hand before Nexxa had slain it with a lightning bolt.

    It was roasted over magical flames, none of us wanting to carry enough wood to cook it the mundane way.

    As the day drew to a close, I found myself alone with Nexxa at the top of the watchtower, our legs dangling over the edge as we gazed into the east.

    "I''m gonna miss you, you know," Nexxa said, her legs kicking against the old stone. "Never had anyone to talk spellcraft with before."

    "Gonna miss you too," I said, leaning back to look up at the stars. After so long in the wild I was starting to recognize a few, though I didn''t know their names. "Hey, do you know what that constellation is called?"

    Nexxa followed my finger, before shaking her head. "Sorry. Was never my thing. The stars are too distant to affect storm magic."

    "You know, some of them might not be that far away. I bet a few of them are planets in the same solar system as us."

    "Hmm. I think I remember one of my tutors mentioning something like that. Something about a Dragon-souled having their home out there, just floating in the dark."

    "Really?" I asked, looking up again. Were some of those stars secret wizards bases?

    "Yep. She said he was a really famous Worlds mage. Can''t remember his name¡­ That''s gonna bug me."

    "Could always use Memory Palace," I said bumping my shoulder into hers.

    "That¡­ is an amazing idea! That would''ve been bugging me for weeks," Nexxa said, pulling out her grimoire.

    "I didn''t mean now," I laughed.

    She shrugged even as she flipped to the pages with Memory Palace, infusing it with energy. I was a little jealous when her stare went blank less than a minute later. It still took me an hour to cast the spell using mine.

    It only took a few seconds before she blinked, her eyes clear once more. "Vol''ta Mione!"

    "That''s his name?"

    "No. That''s the name of his first Starhome. His name was Morgath Starforge."

    "Ha, fair ''nuff."

    "Goddess, I only went in for his name, but now I remember all sorts of things about him. Like, did you know he fought on the side of the Forgeborn in their rebellion. They helped him build his first Starhome."

    "First?"

    "Yeah, apparently he crafted three different homes up there before he stopped talking to the kingdoms of the west. Also, he was opposed to family houses as an institution of magic. Believed it was ruining the master-apprentice relationship."

    "Guess he''d be glad to know apprenticing is still around," I said trying to find a star that might be moving differently than the others. If it was in orbit, it might be like a satellite. One of the few lights in the night sky I''d seen back on Earth had been a satellite.

    "Not like they used to do it. There was this whole thing of swearing pacts using the Slave-song," Nexxa said, waving her hand. "But yeah, he proved that there were other planets out there. He only told the kingdoms about a couple, though I didn''t bother looking up that lesson."

    I sighed as I leaned back. "Yep. Definitely gonna miss you."

    "Of course you are. I''m a prodigy, remember. Most brilliant person you¡¯ve ever met.¡±

    ¡°You had to use Memory Palace to remember Morgath¡¯s name.¡±

    ¡°Details,¡± Nexxa said, waving me off. We sat there silently for a few seconds before Nexxa shifted once more. "You know who else I''m going to miss? Calbern."

    "I can''t leave him with you. Not sure I could get my boots on in the morning without him."

    Nexxa looked down at my boots. I looked with her.

    They were a monstrosity of laces. There were at least three different stitchings. Possibly four. In addition, there were separate clamps for each set of laces to hold them in place once they¡¯d been laced. They were incredibly comfortable, but I wasn''t exaggerating about needing Calbern to get them on. I didn''t feel bad about that whole mess either, cause he was the one who¡¯d insisted we bring them. They weren¡¯t even magical like the original clothes I¡¯d worn in the family compound. He had to do every lace by hand.

    Really warm though.

    "You really don''t deserve him. Not if you''re putting him through that every morning."

    Laughing, I decided it was time. "You know, little miss prodigy, I got you something, but now I''m not sure I should give it to you."

    "What? No, you can''t get me something and then not give it to me. That''s against the rules."

    "Because you''ve always been about following the rules."

    "Sure. The important ones, like giving me my gifts," Nexxa confirmed, bumping her shoulder into mine. "Come on, gimme."

    I laughed, drawing forth a journal from my storage space. Much as I wanted to, I realized I still couldn¡¯t tell her the truth.

    So I¡¯d done the next best thing. With a little help from Calbern, I''d reworked the cover to look like the green and blue dot I was from. Inside was a collection of my favorite stories from Earth, all rewritten to fit into Ro¡¯an¡¯s world. I''d used Memory Palace to help me recall them properly before transcribing them during the less bumpy stretches of our ride. I''d also included my personal thoughts about each of them, a few rough sketches, and why I thought she''d enjoy them in a short section at the end of each story.

    Nexxa remained surprisingly quiet after I handed the book over as she paged through it, pausing when she came across the first sketch. A small smile tugged at her lips, quickly followed by tears.

    Before I could say anything, she reached over and hugged me. I brought my hand up and squeezed her arm.

    "I love it," she said, giving me an extra little squeeze before letting go. Then she sighed as she looked down at the campfire where the others were sharing stories below. ¡°I missed so much, didn¡¯t I? Off chasing down my magic.¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t the only one,¡± I said, running my hand along the top of my fancy boot. ¡°And magic is something we share, isn¡¯t it.¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Nexxa said, leaning forward and tucking her legs under her chin as she stared down at the others. Calbern was standing next to Hash, both of them laughing. ¡°So lucky.¡±

    Even while laughing, he maintained a dignified air.

    ¡°Yep, too lucky,¡± I agreed, though I wasn¡¯t just thinking about Calbern when I said it.

    Suddenly, Nexxa pushed to her feet, brushing off the light layer of snow that had accumulated. "Anyway enough of that. Your gift¡­ it was too good, you know? Makes my gift feel so impersonal."

    "I mean¡­ what do you get the prodigy who has everything?" I said with a shrug, my eyes still fixed on Calbern.

    "More spells!" she declared dramatically before producing a book of her own from her ring, drawing my attention away.

    It was a grimoire, and it had half a thunderbird inscribed across the front, cut vertically, with half my howling wolf sigil on the other side.

    As I ran my fingers over the front, Nexxa said, "I noticed your grimoire was getting pretty full when we were in Althon. And I knew how much effort you were putting in to adding spells to your repertoire. So I had someone scribe this for you. It''s got all my second and third order spells, plus some of the runes I''ve been working on."

    "I¡­ you let me waste my time copying Bestow Health," I said, chuckling.

    "Couldn''t ruin the surprise, could I? Besides, when I contacted the mage to make it, I didn''t think we''d succeed in getting you to Astral. Not by the time I gave it to you."

    "This is¡­"

    "Amazing? I know," Nexxa said, flicking her hair while raising her chin. "You can proceed to thank me now."

    "Thank you. Truly, thank you, Nexxa," I said, holding the grimoire to my chest with one arm while hugging her to my side with the other. ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you.¡±

    "Okay, that''ll do. No need to overdo it," Nexxa said, shoving me away.

    But I grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the hug. "It''s the best gift I could''ve asked for."

    She was blushing when I let her go, waving a hand at me. "Nah. The best gift would''ve been if I could''ve wrangled up a spell or two for your Worlds magic. There was a guy who said he was selling Dimension Shift, but that ended up being a hoax."

    "Okay, that would''ve been pretty awesome too. Not better though. These are better, cause they''re your spells," I said, flipping the grimoire open to confirm the truth of my statement. For once, I couldn¡¯t focus on the spells, as my gaze drifted to Nexxa, who was staring outward at the evening sky.

    I''d gone my whole life without a sister. There¡¯d been times I¡¯d imagined what it would¡¯ve been like to have a sibling. Someone I could¡¯ve confided in, shared secrets with.

    Run away with.

    It took going to another world to find one.

    In that moment, I knew I had more reason than ever to develop my Worlds affinity. The idea of going years without having her around¡­ "I know we¡¯ve only grown close recently. But I¡¯m damn glad to have you for a sister."

    "Fair ''nuff," Nexxa said, leaning closer and putting her head on my shoulder.

    Mussing her hair as I once more looked up at the starry sky, I nodded in agreement. ¡°Fair ¡®nuff."

 Chapter 27 - Forge Theory

    Nexxa and I exchanged a quick hug in the morning, and then we were off. Hash had left before we were even awake, running back on foot ¡®to get meet land with better,¡¯ as he¡¯d put it the night before.

    Atop the watchtower, Nexxa remained on vigil for the first few hours. Her departure was marked by a bolt of lightning streaking into the heavens, as she flashed back into her domain.

    It occurred to me then, that she could have traveled with us for even longer, given how quickly she could travel.

    But much like my choice to leave, I understood it was a slippery slope. When would she have turned around? Would she have escorted me all the way to my domain?

    Yeah, I understood perfectly.

    Didn¡¯t like it, but I understood.

    We remained silent after she left, continuing along the broken highroad. It was near evening when Tresla asked about stopping for dinner that the silence was broken.

    It felt weird not to have Nexxa around for dinner. Even weirder not to be able to share thoughts about spells.

    Not that I''d had any. For the first time since I arrived on Ro''an, I hadn''t thought about magic once.

    The realization made me keenly aware of how much she''d come to mean to me in such a short time.

    Calbern and Tresla started discussing possible recipes for dinner, and I let the mundane talk draw me out of myself.

    I had trouble sleeping that night. We''d been spoiled even after leaving the cabin, since Nexxa could simply channel mana into her grimoire and form a cabin. The spell was third order, so, while I now had a copy, it would take me less time to build a shelter from scratch than to fill the mana.

    Nor had I considered getting a spell for setting up the tent. Besides which, we were lacking a clear space for one. Our attempts to remain near the highroad meant we''d been up high, amongst the shattered remains when we''d called it for the night.

    Which meant we were sleeping under the stars, with only the stone around us to break the wind.

    Eventually, I did fall asleep.

    I woke sore and cold, despite the heavily lined and enchanted sleeping bag. When I shifted, I discovered it had rained at some point during the night, and it had gotten into the crevice I''d chosen to sleep inside.

    Muttering to myself, I cast Minor Heal which wiped away the pain and even some of the chill. Then I used a spell from my grimoire I''d included back when I first started planning to go archmage, Torch. Despite its name, it served perfectly well as a heat source for drying myself and my sleeping bag.

    I was already noticing the reduced mana density. While Minor Heal had cost almost nothing, keeping Torch going left a noticeable dip in my mana.

    Soon I''d want to use fuel for my flames.

    The others woke, and Inertia was especially vocal this morning, though she seemed to only be talking to Tresla since our cloaked companion didn''t translate her words for us. She didn''t even draw her pipe.

    After another breakfast of oats and dried fruit, we continued on our way. Late in the day we reached a flat section of the high road.

    It came upon us almost as a surprise. After weeks of seeing broken highroad, part of me had expected it to continue like that all the way to my domain. Only the fact we knew that the road was supposed to be intact somewhere kept the surprise from being total. We''d ascended through the broken remains of the previous section, large slabs of stone lying on either side of the ridge as we ascended. When we reached the peak, we found a smooth surface leading forward, beyond the horizon.

    Even Calbern''s augmented vision couldn''t see a break in the high road. Here, finally, was a sign that the Frigid Peaks had once been inhabited by a civilization as advanced as the one I''d arrived in.

    Unlike the Alvian Empire that had once held dominion over the Howling Wastes, no one seemed to know who once dwelt in the far reaches of the Frigid Peaks.

    Most sections of the high road had a low wall, broken every fifty feet by small gaps, through which excess water could plummet below. At places, the high road was no more than a couple feet above the ground. At others, it looked as though there was no ground, as if the highroad''s pillars were supported by clouds themselves. It maintained its smooth surface along its full length, except where it was smashed by some powerful force, like the sections we''d picked our way through earlier. It was also the straightest and most level road I''d ever seen.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    A series of whistles from Inertia drew me out of my assessment of the high road. "Inertia says now would be a good time to begin your lessons of the Forge. Unless you would like to continue brooding. Inertia respects a good brood."

    I wanted to deny that I was brooding, but I hadn''t been capable of lying to myself to that extent since the old man died. So instead I just grunted.

    "Well, I for one, would be fascinated," Calbern said, giving Tresla a not so subtle wink.

    I knew what he was doing. He was trying to distract me with fascinating magic. It worked.

    As Tresla drew her pipe and began translating for Inertia, we moved down the road. And despite my best efforts, my mood lifted. I still missed Nexxa, but she''d be there waiting for me. I''d be able to visit her eventually. Especially once I mastered her tier three spells. Lightning Transit promised a great deal of mobility once I could cast it.

    "Now, Inertia wants to stress, this isn''t the sort of magic for the weak hearted. And she means that literally. The heat involved in exercising Forge Theory has caused many mortals to die of heart attacks."

    Yep, exactly what I needed to get my mind off Nexxa.

    Shop talk.

    <u> </u>

    There was a lot to learn when it came to Forge Theory. And I couldn''t cheat and use Memory Palace, because the Forgeborn refused to write it down.

    "Inertia warns you that if she discovers you doing so, she will end her lessons immediately. It''ll also result in her reporting your violation to the Council of Steel. And then they''ll hunt you down, kill you and destroy any research they find. So, as I''m sure you''ve surmised, don''t do that," Tresla said, somehow managing to smoke her pipe while eating a dried bar of granola.

    "Got it, no notes."

    "The story of the Forgeborn is one of Steel, Steam and Shackles. So, it is from these twisted works, Forge Theory emerged, harnessing the former to break the latter." At the last of Tresla''s words, Inertia let out a great hiss, and steam poured out of her, plunging the area above our heads into fog. Instead of dissipating, the fog changed into shapes of small figures, swinging hammers at anvils. Seemingly unimpressed by the display, Tresla continued, "At the base of Forge Theory is the hammer and the anvil. The unstoppable force and the immovable object."

    Tresla took a deep breath, shaking her head as she muttered, "Really hamming it up this time, aren''t we."

    Then, as if she''d never stopped, Tresla proclaimed, "Only once these two impossible contrasts are reconciled, can the initiate move on to the forge and file, training not only their craft, but themselves."

    After the bombastic introduction, Inertia''s explanations moved onto the basics.

    Which were¡­ very basic. Most of it I still remembered from videos I''d watched while only half paying attention. Tresla was still doing her best to keep up with Inertia¡¯s inflated explanations, but I was catching the underlying meaning well enough.

    Put the metal in the forge using tongs. Use the anvil and hammer to shape the metal, returning it to the forge when it begins to cool. When you''re done, douse or let cool as appropriate. That part I was still a little hazy on, even after her explanation.

    Maybe if she hadn''t been throwing in that metaphor about steam and steel.

    Still, while I might remember, all of this would''ve been completely new to Perth. He hadn''t even known there were non-magical ways to shape metal.

    After establishing I understood the basics, which Tresla reassured me weren''t part of the Forgeborn''s secrets, no matter how much Inertia might protest, Inertia moved on to the truly interesting stuff.

    Harnessing steam through magic.

    And it was interesting, because when folk combined magic with steam power¡­ well Inertia wasn''t leaving me to struggle through on my own.

    "In the Wastes, we use Forge Theory for many things. Trade is carried on the backs of mighty creations that stretch beyond the horizon. Our airships are the mightiest this side of the Front, able to contend even with the mightiest of Terra Vista''s armada. One of the Wastes¡¯ sole exports are replacement limbs that will serve for lifetimes. All of these wonders display the majesty of Forge Theory."

    The applications were numerous enough I almost regretted not increasing my fire affinity. When I expressed as much, Tresla choked off a laugh while Inertia let out a series of hisses and whistles.

    "Inertia wants to clarify, that is a misconception. A common one, in fact. You do not need to be a mage to practice Forge Theory, nevermind have a high fire affinity. All power comes from the Forge Hearts," Tresla translated, waving at Inertia who was still whistling softly beside us. "But to explain the Forge Hearts would be to require a different level of promise. A Stone Pact sworn at the foot of Hellbrand Spire beneath the seven fire mountains of Ashforge Abyss, in the fashion of the great smiths."

    "Okay¡­ now I want to go there just to see¡­ whatever that is," I said.

    "Truly. To witness the beating heart of Forgeborn society. It would be a great honor," Calbern agreed, his eyes moving to Inertia. "If our duty did not bind us to the land, I would petition you to include me the next time you returned home."

    For several long seconds, I couldn''t tear my eyes off Calbern. That was the closest thing I''d heard to a personal request I think he''d ever made in either Perth¡¯s or my presence.

    Tresla started sending smoke rings up next to Inertia. Taking advantage of the momentary silence, I moved closer to Calbern. "You know, that could be arranged. You''re not bound to the land, Calbern. That''s my duty."

    I''d like to say that I made the offer out of the kindness of my heart, but my guilt played a role. He''d only come along on this trip because of Perth. If I could do something for him, even just letting him go off to explore once I was settled, and Inertia left¡­

    Well, having him for a year would be more than enough, I hoped.

    "I couldn''t abandon you, master Perth. Not even to see the Hellbrand Spire in person," Calbern said, shaking his head.

    I nodded. I''d concede the matter for now. Inertia was still set to guide me for the better part of the next two years anyway. But the seed had been planted. One way or another, I''d ensure Calbern had a chance to visit the Spire. And if he refused to leave me?

    "Guess we''ll just have to go together then," I said, causing Calbern to incline his head slightly.

    It was faint, but he couldn''t hide the smile or the way his eyes lit up at my words.

    Inertia''s lessons resumed, though soon it was my turn to start teaching her. It turned out, I enjoyed teaching magic almost as much as I enjoyed learning about it.

    Almost.

 Chapter 28 - High Road

    The lessons continued, and while I listened, the fact that Forge Theory required a secret I couldn''t touch unless I traveled nearly a quarter of the way across the continent caused it to lose a little of its luster.

    Thankfully, I was able to reach a compromise on writing down notes after I sketched out a functional hydraulic braking system that could be applied to the carriages common in the western kingdom. It was actually simpler than most cars back on Earth had needed, since there was less in the way.

    While she''d been curious, she grudgingly admitted that since my designs didn''t require a Forge Heart, they weren''t technically Forgeborn secrets.

    In turn, I was surprised how much I enjoyed teaching her, Tresla, and even Calbern about the fundamentals of Mage-hood.

    It was shocking to realize how much I''d taken for common knowledge not even Calbern knew. Simple concepts such as variable mana density, everyone kind of knew about. But he''d been shocked that it could change based on population density, and that even non-mages contributed to the local manasphere and affinity absorption.

    Which didn''t even factor in the other sources of mana, such as powerful storms, vibrant trees or even a scorching desert. They were the low quality sources. A Thousand Year Ice Blossom could provide as much mana as a hundred square miles of empty tundra.

    "And no, the Thousand Year Ice Blossom isn''t actually a thousand years old. Someone just called them that. They only take about five years to develop to maturity, if treated properly," I added before Inertia could get Tresla to translate yet another clarification request.

    Tresla''s tinkling laughter indicated she understood exactly what I''d done and why.

    "There was actually an effort to raise several back on the family compound. But they threw off the balance so much that father decided to establish a valley specifically dedicated to water mana. That was the only time I remember seeing snow."

    "It was quite the spectacle. I still remember building a snowmage with the young master," Calbern said.

    I nodded. Perth had enjoyed the snow, but he''d been displeased when a lot of his favorite foods had disappeared. Funny how a little unseasonable weather can ruin an entire season¡¯s crops.

    Or in the case of the Aranor family, an entire week¡¯s worth alongside a hefty mana expenditure.

    Near when we were planning to stop for the day, we spotted an interruption to the smooth stone edge of the high road. A thin tower of silvery metal that barely stretched ten feet above the main lane stood at the edge.

    If I wasn''t mistaken, we''d come across the first of the high road''s wards. Its protection was what kept the road intact and free of monsters. Considering the partially damaged road we''d passed along, I suspected this one needed maintenance.

    Which was my responsibility. If I wanted trade to flow between the rest of the Frigid Peaks and my domain, the road needed to be safe.

    "Gonna need to stop for a while," I said as we got closer to the ward array. "Need to make sure everything is working properly. Which means I''m going to have to study it from top to bottom."

    Receiving affirmation from the others, I set to work. Althon had provided me with a guidebook for how the wards were supposed to work, which I¡¯d yet to refer to. Even as I started tracing through the components, I was already finding problems. A tenth of the connections had been removed. Probably from somebody scavenging. Not that they''d be worth anything. The guidebook indicated they''d been shiny while they were functional, and I figured that meant some fools would assume shiny meant money.

    Half an hour later, I stepped away from the array.

    "Done, master Perth?"

    "Ha. Hardly. I''ve only finished tracing out all the problems I can see," I said as I sat down next to Calbern. "Which still leaves the ones I can''t."

    A series of whistles from Inertia let me know she had a question.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    My eyes automatically shifted to Tresla''s cloaked form as she pushed herself up from the edge of the high road, coming over to translate. "Inertia asks if repairing this ward is truly worth the effort, so far from your domain. She reminds you that your supplies are not infinite."

    "Don''t I know it," I mumbled. If I was reading the instructions correctly, doing the repairs on the ward would take me the same amount of silver powder as scribing a dozen pages.

    I still had fifty pages worth of essence, but I''d been hoping to save that for my experiments. Twelve pages worth of powder was¡­ a lot.

    On the other hand, if I wanted to make this into a trade route, I''d want the wards fully functional. Plus it''d make our journey a lot safer.

    Still¡­ a dozen pages. Just for the problems I could see. And it was even kinda working already.

    "Inertia''s right," I said, huffing out a heavy breath before pushing to my feet. "It''s not worth repairing. Not yet. In fact¡­"

    I''d already mentally chastised the people who scavenged it before me. But that was cause they''d taken the shiny parts instead of the bits that were actually valuable. Looking at the ward, I figured I could probably recover twenty pages of silver from it, if I was careful.

    Not something I''d be doing, but if it came to it, I might be able to salvage from one ward to repair others. It¡¯d be better if I could get supplies from Nexxa, but that¡¯d be easier on this end than once I got to my domain.

    We ended up making camp not far from the ward, where a nearby mountain met the high road, offering natural shelter. We''d passed a couple more of the watchtowers similar to the one where we''d parted ways with Nexxa, though they were all in much worse shape. One of them had only been the floor with a single stone where the stairs had once led up.

    After the first ward array, we started coming across them more frequently. Luckily, the next one we came across was in much better shape. It only took me half a page¡¯s worth of dust to get it in peak condition, which I spent just to know what a fully repaired ward did.

    As soon as the repairs to the ward were done, a soft silver glimmer lit up along the entire roadway. The road, which had already been in much better shape than even the previous warded section, had the few minor scratches on its surface wiped away. The already clean surface of the road was further wiped away, going so far as to spread a cleaning effect up the length of our boots.

    Even the watchtower was perfectly preserved.

    That ward was the only one in such good shape. Most were closer to the first, though none were quite as bad. Ten pages was the average I would''ve needed to repair them.

    A month after we''d left Nexxa, we camped in another of the half-broken watchtowers. We''d been eating a lot of monster meat, since Inertia could easily track them down and return to the high road with one. None of us knew anything about foraging the local foliage, so our seasonings were limited to our supplies, and after a month, several had run out.

    I''d expected to see a village or two in the shadow of the high road, but the land remained empty of anything but Frigid mountains and monstrous creatures. I was wondering if there would be anyone living in those buildings I''d seen in my domain.

    "Inertia says we are making excellent time. Her last trip, they made half the progress in a day we''ve achieved. She credits your spells," Tresla translated, her head laid against Inertia''s lap.

    "I honestly didn''t expect Minor Heal to work so well on the horses," I admitted while helping Calbern prepare them for the night.

    "Your ability to grow fodder for them has also proven critical, master Perth. Finding good fodder is often a challenge on journeys through harsh terrain. It has allowed us to focus on travel," Calbern added while handing me a brush.

    Over the last month, I¡¯d convinced him to let me help with more of the little chores, if only so we could spend more of the day traveling. As relaxing as brushing the horses down was, I did regret not adding a spell for it. I had ideas on how to build my own, but like most of my ideas these days, it had to wait.

    "I was thinking we might take a break from the trek tomorrow," Tresla said, rolling to the side, a glimmer of red escaping the cloak before she was repositioned.

    Even after a month of traveling with her, that glimmer of red was still all I''d seen other than her cloak, gloves and boots.

    "What were you thinking?" I asked, continuing with the smooth strokes. I''d long since discovered the horses didn''t like jerky movements. Having to chase them down after I¡¯d left them untied hadn¡¯t been fun either, even with Inertia flying overhead shouting directions.

    "Inertia says there''s a beautiful lake about a quarter of a day ahead. It''s a lot warmer than most mountain lakes because of the nearby hot springs," Tresla replied while pushing to her feet and setting up the cook pot.

    "Wait¡­ you want to go swimming?" I asked, my hand unintentionally jerking the brush. The horse only gave me some side-eye, so I continued, glad Perth had long ago been taught to respect a horse''s hooves. It wasn¡¯t something I would¡¯ve even thought of.

    "Is that so strange," Tresla asked, accepting several broken logs from Inertia who enjoyed smashing trees for firewood. Smashing being rather literal.

    I glanced towards Calbern, hoping for support, but he was working on cleaning one of the horse''s horseshoes. "You never take off your cloak," I stated, pointing the brush at her, which earned a whinny from the horse. Returning to my task, I repeated, "Never."

    "Who said I was going to take off my cloak?" Tresla replied, tinkling laughter escaping said shroud as she lit the fire.

    The warbling whistle-hiss I''d come to recognize as Inertia''s laughter joined in. There was even a soft chuckle from Calbern.

    "Fine, be that way," I said, though I too was wearing a smile. "A day off sounds good."

 Chapter 29 - Magically Metal

    The problem with planning to have a relaxing day while trekking through wild mountains is the ¡®wild¡¯ part.

    When we arrived at the mountain lake, it was postcard perfect. Like I''d stepped right into one of those little placards at a gas station.

    It was the absolute perfect spot for us to take a nice little break from the monotony of travel. Other than the giant serpent that had emerged when we drew close, of course.

    I swore as I dove for cover behind a nearby broken boulder.

    "It seems to have taken exception to our presence," Calbern noted from his own rock a short distance away.

    "You think?" I shot back, drawing my blasting rod from storage as a shriek shot past, the noise leaving a visual distortion in the air.

    Glancing over the rock, I confirmed that Inertia had slashed at the serpent. When I saw that Tresla was caught on the other side, I cursed again. Hefting the blasting wand I spun it, letting off several shots in the serpent¡¯s direction as I raced between spots of cover. It was large enough I barely had to aim to hit it.

    This serpent was beyond anything we should''ve encountered this far out from the Front.

    Each loop of its coils had to have been over fifty feet long, and it was thicker around than Inertia. Thankfully, its only affinity seemed to be fire, and it only shot globules that didn''t stop burning.

    Only.

    Calbern was running the opposite direction I was, moving towards the water.

    And away from cover.

    I swore, letting out the entire set of charges on my blasting rod, one petal at a time. They all hit, though they didn''t do anything other than piss the giant serpent off. Still, that was good, since pissing it off enough it¡¯d ignore Calbern had been my goal. I reached a huge slab of rock right as it swung its massive gullet in my direction.

    Globules of fire started raining down nearby, boxing me in. That was okay. Peachy, even.

    I scanned the nearby rockface and did my best to tuck the blasting rod into my belt, thankful I''d emptied its petals and leaves first. Then I started to climb.

    When I emerged, Calbern was on the damn serpent''s back, his exemplary balance allowing him to calmly climb towards its head even as it thrashed about. Inertia had managed to gouge its side, and Tresla was nowhere to be seen. I was hoping that meant she''d hidden and it hadn''t gotten a chance to swallow her while I''d been climbing.

    The serpent''s eyes were locked on Inertia where she was circling high above it.

    I briefly cursed the fact I didn''t keep a combat spell in my second order slot as I dumped mana into my blasting rod to refill its petals. Memory Palace had a lot of utility, and after so many weeks without trouble, I¡¯d gotten in the habit of keeping it slotted.

    If only we¡¯d taken a break earlier. I¡¯d been steadily advancing my Astral soul as we traveled. Just another couple days and I''d have constructed another second order spell slot.

    I didn''t waste time bemoaning my life choices. Once my blasting rod was full, I primed it then kneeled down, balancing to steady my aim as I waited.

    Calbern was almost parallel to its eyes when the serpent finally seemed to notice him, thrashing about wildly in an attempt to throw him free.

    Except it failed. Mostly because of the reason it had noticed him. Calbern had driven a pair of climbing pitons into its skull, and was using them to hold himself in place as he fired careful shot after careful shot into its right eye, the rod spinning then dipping down to deliver the deadly petals.

    After the fourth, it attempted to crush him, and I started to unload my petals on it once more, aiming for the gash Inertia had torn. It was enough to distract it and allow Calbern to finish his gruesome task.

    When he was out of charges, he chose his moment, and allowed the serpent to throw him free. My heart froze in my throat, but of course he landed in a smooth roll, coming to his feet before dashing into its blind spot.

    It didn''t matter. By the time he got there, the snake''s thrashing had lost most of its strength.

    Several long seconds later, it gave a final jerk of its tail then lay still.

    I scanned the nearby area, not quite ready for it to be over.

    When it didn¡¯t lurch back to life, and nothing else attacked us, my attention shifted to the blaze that burned just below me. I considered channeling mana into Create Ice, but a second order spell would take an hour to cast from my grimoire.

    Instead, I moved down the front side of the slab I''d used for cover, dumping the contents of my ring to pick up water from the lake, then using that to put out the fires. Inertia helped by slapping them out with her wings. While we were dealing with the fire, Calbern and Tresla went to find the horses. Of course the skittish creatures had bolted the moment the serpent''s giant head had cleared the surface.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Once the fires were extinguished, I joined Inertia in her inspection of the dead serpent. If not for the remote location, it would be a windfall of resources.

    Sadly none of us had the skills to truly make use of it. Instead, most of it would rot. It was almost a shame we''d been forced to kill it, but a monster that powerful was a threat to the entire region.

    Looking at my blasting rod, I felt frustrated. Despite the vibrant petals briming with explosive potential and the fact I had the most magical oomph out of everyone here, I''d been next to useless.

    "I have unfortunate news in regards to the horses, master Perth," Calbern said as he and Tresla returned with not a horse between them.

    "In their fear, they charted a course meant for their greater cousins," Tresla added, pulling out her pipe and tapping it against her cloak before sending up her smoke rings. "Found out the hard way they''re no pegasi."

    "We shall need to descend to retrieve our supplies," Calbern added even as he stepped forward and started wrestling the pitons he''d used free from the great serpent¡¯s head.

    The first one snapped free after only a second, half its length destroyed.

    "Inertia says we should harvest its heart, eye and liver. Lungs too, if we can manage to extract them intact. And as many fangs as we have room for."

    "Does she know how?" I asked, staring at its ruined eye. I suspected she wanted us to harvest the other one.

    Inertia answered by flexing her wing, and rearranging it into a serrated edge. Then she began sawing.

    "I would appreciate it if one of you could do the assisting. I''m afraid I''m not very good around blood," Tresla said, holding a gloved hand to her face while taking a step away.

    "I''ll do it," I said before Calbern could volunteer. "I was basically useless in the fight. Least I can do."

    Inertia nodded, then pointed to her side. And so, I spent the next few hours holding large lumps of meat while thinking of ways I could build machines or spells to handle the process in the future.

    The train of thought led me to imagining what we might do with the carcass. The skin was highly durable, and the bones were stronger than steel.

    The head also presented interesting opportunities.

    Afterall, Inertia and I had spent the last several weeks discussing ways to combine magic and metal.

    What was more magically metal than making a badass motorcycle out of a giant dead serpent?

    Of course, Inertia was immediately taken by the idea.

    "How are you going to power it?" Tresla asked as she inspected the designs we¡¯d started drawing up.

    "Well, Inertia is going to handle that. She won''t tell me the details, cause it involves a Forge Heart. Which she''s going to Forge inside the volcano using the lungs, heart and two pounds of scribing silver."

    Two pounds was enough to do thirty pages. Spending that much hurt, but if we wanted this to work, we''d need it. Honestly, I was more concerned about her work area. Discovering that the source of the hot springs was an active volcano had been a little startling. Discovering that was how most hot springs worked was even worse.

    "I knew she was providing the Heart," Tresla said, tapping my drawing with her pipe. "I was the one who told you she would, remember? What I meant was, how are you going to use that to power this vehicle you''ve designed."

    "Well, from what I understand of how the Forge Heart functions, it works as a pretty powerful heat source. One that can''t really be regulated directly, at least with the materials she has available. But that''s fine. We''re going to use the vertebrae as heat sinks, since they seem to have a high natural thermal conductivity."

    "I¡­ do not know all those words," Tresla admitted.

    Her confusion caused me to pause in my explanation. Being able to absorb even esoteric words from the Elinder books had given me a vocabulary I''d never had before, even in English.

    It was an eerie feeling.

    Shaking off the sensation that slid down my spine, I flipped through my journal to the relevant pages. "This part of the skeleton. They absorb and release heat fast. Well, fast for bone. Really fast for bone."

    "And that will allow you to power these?" Tresla asked, tapping my sketches of the bone and scale wheels.

    "Not directly. We''ll use the heat to drive steam turbines which we''ll have feed into a belt drive and-"

    Her raised hand interrupted my explanation. "I believe it will make more sense as we assemble it."

    "And that''s how I know you''ve never built furniture before," I said, shaking my head with a light chuckle.

    She simply tilted her head at me, and I let it go.

    Standing up, I grabbed my rod and designs, leading the way over to where Calbern was measuring bones.

    Those would serve as the parts of the frame, once we¡¯d completed a great deal of carving and fitting. Mostly done with Inertia''s inhuman strength and skill. Normal bone would¡¯ve been too weak, but the magically infused bones of the serpent were nearly as strong as steel. So a lot weaker than Inertia, but not anything I could manipulate. It would be a lot of work, but it would be worth it, if it worked.

    Not only would the bike reduce travel time, once we were done, we¡¯d be able to bring most of the serpent with us.

    The next week passed quickly, as the frame came together.

    We used the elastic materials from near its jaw as banding. Tresla used her smoke to change the scales from along its skull, keeping their strength while letting them flex just enough to fashion into the outer edge of our wheel. With a frame of carved bone, the banding and skin, they were flexible enough for some give, but wouldn''t be the smoothest ride.

    When Inertia completed the Forge Heart, I almost had a heart attack, the nearby hot springs erupting with massive bursts of steam as the ground beneath us rumbled.

    Minutes later, she walked out of a cave I was pretty sure hadn¡¯t been there that morning. In her hands was the heart of the serpent, now bound in bands of metal, with unfamiliar writing along its length. The Forge Heart didn''t just produce heat. It was a non-stop source of steam too. Every beat let off a billowing fog so thick, Inertia almost looked like she was walking on a cloud.

    The actual capture system was simple. We used the hollow fangs, which had dripped with fire when it had been alive, to channel the steam backwards, passing over an internal paddle wheel fashioned out of one of its vertebrae. We''d tried using other materials, but the vertebrae was the only thing that held up to the surprising amount of pressure. The entire thing was wrapped in several layers of the tubes that had carried the serpent''s flaming spit. The belt had ended up needing to remain on a fixed ratio, so to adjust speed, there were four sets of flaps that could be manipulated to vent the steam. We''d tried only using one, but even Calbern hadn''t been able to force it closed.

    Installation went well, and as bad as I felt for our lost horses, it was satisfying to have built our own replacement.

    With the new vehicle, I was certain we¡¯d be in my domain in no time¡­

    Once we got all the kinks worked out, like its tendency to roll whenever we applied the brakes.

    Normal mechanical problems.

    I really had to hand it to Tresla. She¡¯d been right about stopping at the lake. It had been the most relaxing break I¡¯d had since we left Nexxa¡¯s domain.

 Chapter 30 - Fangs Out

    "Brake, brake!" I screamed at Calbern.

    "It is fine, master Perth. Everything is under control," Calbern replied, his hand working the heavy shifter with deceptive ease. Before I could object, he pulled the bike into a controlled slide, bringing us to a stop within five feet of our camp, only a small puff of steam escaping the system.

    This time.

    His enhanced senses and reaction times made Calbern the perfect driver. However, my primitive, merely human, senses had a hard time accepting that. Especially after how I¡¯d died.

    "At least the thunking is gone," Tresla offered unsteadily from her seat on the other side of the bike. We were both sitting back and to the side of Calbern, behind the serpent''s eye sockets. His seat left him leaning forward, directly below the serpent''s upper jaw.

    The setup was only mostly uncomfortable and allowed Tresla and I to shoot the blasting rods from partial cover.

    Which we''d needed.

    It seemed that the lake was a popular gathering spot for the local monster population. That, or they were being drawn to the large amounts of fire mana released by the death of the giant serpent.

    Either way, it had quickly become apparent that it was safer to have all three of us on board while testing, as it kept us together and meant Inertia only had to watch one group. Even if neither Tresla or I were as comfortable as Calbern.

    "There is still some stiffness when shifting Fang between second and fourth venting positions, master Perth, but I believe it is serviceable," Calbern noted while beginning to undo the many buckles that kept him in place on the bike. Which he''d taken to calling Fang.

    "You''re not supposed to be¡­ you know what, nevermind," I said as I dismounted next to our temporary camp. My own process was much simpler, only needing to release a single horse leather pair of straps. It said something, I think, that my boots were so much more complicated than my safety harness.

    We unloaded the rocks from the trailer we''d been using for our test runs, letting them tumble into a pile near the road. Once that was done, we broke down the camp and loaded the rest of the serpent''s skeleton into the back.

    Between the bike, the trailer and our experiments, the only part of the serpent we hadn''t used or collected was a couple thousand pounds of meat.

    Which was the last thing we were dealing with before leaving.

    "It''s a shame it won''t be left alone long enough to decompose and enrich the soil," I said as Inertia shoved against the slab of rock we''d piled the meat on.

    It only shifted slightly, so Calbern and I stepped forward to help.

    "Inertia would like to remind you that we could stay for a few months to ensure it does break down properly," Tresla said from her position a hundred feet away. "Though I''m grateful you decided not to."

    "It''s too far from my domain to be useful anytime soon. Keeping the monsters from swarming the high road will be enough for now," I said, grunting as the rock shifted back towards us.

    One final shove together was enough to send it skittering away down the steep side of the mountain.

    We stood in silence, watching the meat sled crash down the mountain into the forested hill below. It knocked several other rocks loose, and I winced when I realized we''d started a full fledged landslide.

    In the chaos, I lost track of the meat sled amongst the other rock, and just stared at what must have been miles of destruction spread out below us.

    A set of sharps whistles and some hisses sounded from Inertia.

    "Inertia is happy to inform you that the chance of the meat decomposing is much higher now that its been buried with most of the local scavengers who were caught in that slide," Tresla said as she joined us at the edge and looked down. "And good riddance to it."

    "Time to get going," I said, brushing my hands off as I stepped away.

    When we moved to the bike, my thoughts were still on the landslide though. Most of my domain was mountain. How often was I going to have to worry about landslides?

    As Calbern brought us up to speed, my thoughts soon moved to our surroundings. We were still moving slower than even the enchanted carriages of Aranor, never mind a proper automobile. But without a proper wind screen, and with the chill of the high road, it felt much faster. The excess heat pouring off of the bike offset most of the chill, but it lead to a situation where my face was often freezing while everything below my chest was sweating.

    An issue we hadn''t encountered during our testing near the lake.

    Already, I was picturing what I could do to fix it.

    I was torn out of my thoughts when I spotted a large gap in the road ahead. At the speed we were approaching, I couldn''t tell how long it was, but it was several times as long as the bike, at least.

    And Calbern wasn''t slowing down.

    In fact, it felt like we were going even faster.

    "Calbern, what are you¡­ ahhhhhhh!" I cried as he hit a pile of rubble along the side of the high road, launching us into the air.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "Whooooo!" came the cry from Tresla as my stomach dropped out from under me.

    Then we thudded down, Calbern only swerving slightly before pulling us straight again.

    "Simply saving us time, master Perth. I knew Fang wouldn''t fail us," Calbern''s calm voice replied, though I swore I detected a note of satisfaction as well.

    I was more certain than ever I had created a greater monster than the one the bike had been fashioned from.

    One of utter decorum merged with a burning need for speed.

    <u> </u>

    Despite how Calbern''s driving kept my teeth on edge, or perhaps because of it, we made excellent progress over the next several days.

    A trip of months was made in a week. We were only a few days travel by foot from the edge of my domain. However, it seemed our open road had come to an end.

    "Is that a gate on the high road?" I asked, despite the very clear nature of the wooden gate that stood before us roughly a mile in the distance.

    Eagle Eyes allowed me to inspect both the gate and the keep it was part of. There were numerous people on the walls, each of them wearing heavy robes of thick fur and holding bows. Some of them were pointing in our direction, and from their body language, having a rather heated discussion about us.

    Inertia set down on the road beside us with a solid thunk, sending whirls of steam floating skyward.

    "Inertia claims that the clan guards the only way into your domain. At least, the only way we can travel, if we want to bring the Fang."

    "Just Fang, no ''the''. It¡¯s her name," I responded while inspecting the gathered hunters. "Are they hostile?"

    "Inertia is uncertain. The keep was abandoned, and in considerable disrepair the last time she came through here."

    "When was that? Cause that looks very well maintained to me," I said, taking in the covered walkways that covered seventy percent of the wall. Clearly they had experience fending off flying monsters.

    Not a good sign, so close to my own domain.

    "She last passed through here a little over a hundred years ago, when she escorted the previous Magus Dominus to his domain," Tresla answered, her pipe tapping against Fang''s side.

    It took a second for me to process that. When I had, I shifted to look over at the Forgeborn, whose eyes remained fixed ahead. "How old is¡­ you know what, nevermind. How do you think we should handle this?"

    "You are the Magus Dominus," Tresla replied so fast I was certain she was speaking for herself.

    Still, I didn''t hear Inertia whistling her own opinion, so it was likely she agreed with Tresla.

    "They will be our neighbors, master Perth. Good relations would serve you well," Calbern noted even as he flared the exhaust, blowing out a wave of steam behind Fang. "That said, if they should prove to be belligerent, removing their threat before they comprehend the scope of our capabilities would be advisable."

    "Right," I said, looking ahead. Make peace or kill them. Lots of wiggle room on the left, not so much on the right¡­ metaphorically speaking.

    He was right though. Even if we went around, we''d need to deal with them eventually, one way or another. And seeing as I wasn''t keen on adding mass murder to my to do list, a peaceful route would be preferred.

    Approaching the gathered hunters posed the risk of ending up like a pin cushion. This was the second time on the high road I could''ve used a magical barrier to protect me from projectiles. Was pretty sure the Shield spell would do exactly that, I just had to figure out what spell I was going to give up to keep it slotted.

    As I was considering my options, the gate slowly started to swing open.

    To my surprise, several mounted riders spilled out.

    They weren''t mounted on horses though. No, they rode wolves, even the smallest of which was twice the size of the largest horse I''d ever seen. Six riders in total approached us at a slow walk.

    Three of the wolves had dark grey fur, though each had unique white patterns along their muzzle and around their eyes. Their riders all held bows ready, though not trained in our direction. The three were the furthest back, and smallest as well. Next were a pair of black wolves with a single jagged white mark over their right eyes, twins, as far as I could tell, identical in every way. On the twin wolves back were a pair of men with great red beards and spears long enough they''d serve well as lances.

    They were lead by a rider on a great white wolf that dwarfed the rest. Where the other riders were bundled tightly in furs, he rode without so much as a shirt, his chest covered in blue-lined tattoos. Instead of a spear, he held an axe that shone with pale blue light.

    "Frost wolves," Tresla whispered, confirming my suspicions.

    "Be ready to get us out of here," I said to Calbern even as I released the harness holding me in place. Climbing out of the eye socket of Fang wasn''t the most dignified position to be starting from. And I knew from running the shop, a certain amount of respect made things run smoother.

    Not willing to abandon my ride, I instead sat atop the skull, using the eye ridges to hold myself in place. I continued to study the hunting party as we waited for them to get closer.

    The three with bows kept trading glances, while the red bearded men gave Calbern a serious run for most stoic on the high road.

    The man leading them had sharp eyes beneath his braided black hair, studying us as much as we were studying them. I wished him luck. The only one he was likely to get anything from was me.

    They stopped roughly fifty feet away, which felt like it was practically in biting distance of those giant maws.

    "What have the winds favored us with today? Hunters who harness their prey even in death?" the man on the white wolf called out in heavily accented Elinder, raising his hand up then bringing it back down hard on his chest. "Stand and be welcomed among the Frost Riven!"

    Those behind him quickly followed suit, though the effect was lessoned by their thick furs.

    Seeing as I could do as he said without having to abandon Fang, I stood, returning the gesture.

    Before I could think of a response, he continued, "I am Sarpit, First Hunter of the Frost Riven. What names have the honored hunters before me earned?"

    This time, it was easy to figure out what to say, "I am Magus Dominus Perth of Althon. My companions are Inertia of the Forgeborn, Tresla the Hidden and Calbern the Implacable." Tresla and Calbern would survive the improvisation.

    "A Magus Dominus? Long has it been since one of your kind has hunted alongside the Frost Riven. Will you honor us with your company, this night?"

    Glancing down at Tresla, I could see her pursing her lips, but she didn''t offer up any advice. Inertia stood up for a second, releasing a soft series of whistles I could barely hear. After a second, Tresla spoke. "Inertia says she''s never heard of the Frost Riven but that the previous Magus Dominus may have allied with one of the nearby mountain clans after she left. Most clans were honorable, though some were little better than rapists and slavers. She doesn''t know which these might be."

    Well¡­ that''s not worrying. Glancing down, I saw Calbern nod at me. He would''ve had to yell for me to hear him over the constant wind and Fang''s ambient noise but I could see his hand caressing the shifter, prepared to slam Fang into gear.

    I gripped the eye ridge tightly with my left hand as I shouted back, "We only need passage through to my domain. However, if you''re offering a warm bed and hot food¡­ well, hard to say no to that."

    "As the great cold takes, so does she hold gifts for the worthy! Come and be warm by our fire! Tonight, you shall regale us with the tale of how you slew the beast and bound it to your will!" he called before turning his mount and leading the way back. The others split for him before falling in behind him.

    None of them looked back at us, and even the hunters on the wall disappeared from sight.

    It seemed they''d decided to trust us.

    Too bad I didn''t feel ready to do the same.

 Chapter 31 - Frost Reavers

    As we passed through the gates, a tension settled on my shoulders. One I hadn''t felt in my entire time on Ro''an.

    It''s one I was familiar with though. Of being locked in a small space with a dangerous man. A man who you couldn''t predict, but who could kill you with a single blow.

    I hadn''t missed the feeling.

    The inside of the keep was full of life and warmth. There were only slivers of sky visible between the thick slats that served as roofing.

    More than half the space within the walls was set up as dens for their mighty wolves. And when I saw how many wolves they kept, I had further doubts about taking them up on their hospitality. I could count over a dozen wolves other than the ones ridden by the welcoming party, and those were just the ones that were visible from where we entered.

    At the center was the clear hub of human interaction, a tower of stone with windows that glowed with the familiar tint of fire-provided warmth. As soon as Calbern rolled us through the gate, two figures pulled it closed behind us, and the warmth of the courtyard seemed to increase even further.

    Sarpit slid down from his wolf, patting it once before striding ahead to the tower.

    One of his followers on the gray wolves waved us to follow them. We were led to an empty pen, and the rough woman instructed us in broken Elinder to leave our trophies and baggage there.

    While reluctant to give up our ride, I was at least confident they wouldn''t be able to steal it. Without Inertia to keep the Forge Heart compliant, it''d simply go into hibernation.

    Or explode, if prodded too vigorously.

    Before I joined them for the banquet, I revisited my spell loadout. Ever since encountering the serpent, I''d kept combat spells loaded into my second order slots. I currently had Create Ice and Lightning Bolt loaded. With a little bit of preparation, Create Ice could be used to create cover and Lightning Bolt¡­ well, it spoke for itself.

    My first order spell loadout remained the same as ever, with Eagle Eyes being the most valuable. Mana Draw had felt less useful the further we ventured, and before we stepped into the courtyard, I would''ve been tempted to swap it out for Shield. But the amount of water mana in the courtyard was refreshingly high.

    It was still almost nothing compared to what Perth grew up with, but compared to the relative mana-desert we''d been traveling through the last week, it was like an oasis.

    Which helped me relax. Inviting a Magus Dominus into a place thick with mana was never a good idea if you had hostile intentions. Of course, they might''ve been ignorant of that fact, but if they knew the previous Magus Dominus, I doubted it.

    "They are a rough people, but they seem honorable enough, master Perth," Calbern said his hand resting on Fang''s side as he swept his gaze around the courtyard.

    "Inertia says they know the hunt. The cloaks they wear are of the fiercest predators of the eastern Peaks," Tresla said, pulling her cloak tighter around her.

    "Good to know," I said while refreshing the petals on both the blasting rods before handing them to Calbern and Tresla. "We''ll be good guests, and learn what we can. Hopefully, it''ll be a peaceful night and we can be on our way in the morning."

    Calbern inclined his head while adjusting his riding leathers and sliding the rod into a slot along his boot. Tresla just placed hers into the voluminous folds of her cloak.

    And Inertia and I¡­ well, we were our weapons. It felt nice not to have to rely on equipment to get things done.

    The woman was still waiting outside, though she''d acquired a stone flagon from somewhere while we¡¯d unpacked. She was sipping at the large container as though it were a simple mug, her eyes fixed on the central tower until she heard us.

    Then she turned with a wide grin on her face, waving for us to follow.

    Calbern and I did, but Inertia chose to stay with Fang. Which meant Tresla stayed with her. We were led into a long hall that ran the length of the tower. Along each side were long bays of coals over which roasted entire pigs. Not small ones either.

    Strangely, the sight caused me to relax further.

    "Ah, Magus Dominus Perth," Sarpit boomed out from where he sat on a stone bench near one of the cooking pits. There was a small stone table next to him, barely large enough for the slab of meat upon it. "Pull up a Lange and join me."

    The unfamiliar word confused me even as I approached, before one of the red bearded men I''d seen outside set one of the small stone tables next to Sarpit, nodding to me once he''d done so.

    Once I''d taken my seat the second red bearded man placed several heavy cuts of meat and a flagon of viscous blue liquid on the Lange.

    "Eat, drink, speak of great deeds and terrible foes!" Sarpit cried out, gesturing to my plate as he grabbed a fistful of shredded meat from his own Lange and stuffed it into his mouth.

    There wasn''t so much as a spoon, so I studied the blue liquid instead. I could smell a sweetness to it, undercut by the familiar scent of alcohol.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    That I could smell it without even drinking gave me a measure of its strength. I could probably use it as fuel to run a small engine. There was no way I could drink it.

    Yet refusing meant possibly giving offense to our host. I started by taking a sampling of the meat for myself. While I did so, Calbern was sat down beside me at a Lange of his own. The meat was spiced with some sort of herb I''d never eaten before. It gave it a pleasant tang.

    Once I had some meat in my stomach, I took a tiny sip of the blue liquid.

    It was worse than I expected.

    So much worse.

    It wasn''t enough that the initial flavor profile had a delightful berry taste. No, it also had a perfect burn. The way it sat at the back of my throat as the aftertaste shifted into something sweeter¡­

    Oh, how I''d missed that burn.

    When I caught myself taking another sip, I slammed the flagon down hard enough I almost sent it crashing to the floor.

    Not again.

    "A delight, is it not?"

    "It''s remarkable," I replied honestly, clenching my jaw as I fought not to take another sip. Not to drink it all in one go.

    "It is good you appreciate it. The river valley only produces a hundred kegs of Riven wine a year. I''ll have Barthin prepare one. A gift for our new neighbors!"

    "This would make an excellent export. It has quite the unique flavor profile. I''m not sure I''ve ever had a beverage of such complexity before," Calbern said, taking another long draw. "And the alcohol content is deceptively high. I suggest you restrain yourself, master Perth."

    "I''ll do my best," I said, giving him a grateful smile for the way out. And the reminder I didn''t need to drink to forget anymore.

    "Nonsense! Can''t trust a man who doesn''t drink," Sarpit said, before spitting sideways into the long fire pit. "A full belly of Riven brings out the true man who hides beneath the snow!"

    I didn''t agree with his statement. But then, I''d gone down the hole once before. Climbing out had been hard enough the first time.

    Still, it wasn''t like I hadn''t expected something like this eventually. There were always people like Sarpit. I¡¯d always envied those who could drink without letting it take over their lives.

    Thankfully, Access Storage combined with timely assistance from Calbern got me through the flagon without having to drink another drop, though I did spill a fair bit on my shirt.

    And once Sarpit was fully into his own flagon, he was much less attentive to mine. He''d become rather insistent about hearing every last detail about our story to take down the serpent. That had then led into telling him about our entire journey from Aranor.

    I''d only reached our arrival in Althon when a female hunter stormed into the hall, walking straight up to Sarpit and pushing him off the bench onto the stone floor.

    Other than our area, no one in the hall even reacted. And then, Sarpit¡¯s men only laughed as he struggled to sort himself out.

    "Father! What are you doing drinking at a time like this? Has the last of your sense finally taken its leave?" the female hunter demanded, kicking him as he turned.

    "Ah, Vaserra, light of my life, so good of you to join us," the large man said with a laugh, pushing to his knees. "It is late in the day, what should a hunter be doing if not drinking?"

    "There are monsters hunting the sheep, father. If you will not deal with them, at least let me lead a hunting party in your place," Vaserra said, her braids rattling. She had several different bones woven in her brown hair, and her fur seemed to be of a higher quality than the others, having a lustrous sheen to it. The stitchwork was definitely nicer.

    It was only as Sarpit stood that I realized how short Vaserra was. Five foot, perhaps a little taller, though not more than a couple inches. Next to the nearly seven foot Sarpit, she seemed tiny.

    Yet it didn''t show on her face.

    "The sheep will be fine. They''ll lose one or two lambs, but they''re not defenceless. They have horns," Sarpit said, settling down on the bench once more.

    "Tell me father, does it mean nothing to you that it is our duty to protect the sheep?" she asked, her finger prodding his chest.

    I nearly took a sip of the blue beverage on instinct. I''d only ever seen family drama like this on TV or second hand, heard through motel drywall at two in the morning.

    "Bah. Duty. We keep the skies clear and the vales prosperous. The sheep breed like nibblers. This is good for them. Keeps them from getting too unruly. Makes them appreciate their shepherds," Sarpit replied, waving her away. Then his eyes spun towards me. "Though perhaps the Magus Dominus might wish to test himself."

    "If there are monsters nearby, they would threaten my domain," I said as Vaserra turned to look at me.

    Her eyes flicked up and down, and a sneer formed on her lips. "What use have we for one so soft, father. He is an even messier drunk than you."

    Despite my success at remaining sober, the remark cut deep.

    "I believe you have besmeckled¡­ besmoked¡­ wronged, master Perth," Calbern said as he stood up behind me, swaying significantly more than I was used to. Maybe that warning hadn''t been just to help me save face. "While he may have been a wastrel in his youth. A right pain the arse, really. Worse than a blight on the crotch, at times¡­ I¡­ what was I¡­ ah, yes. While he used to be a complete disappointment, a bit of a blight, since he¡­ since he accepted this most sacred of burdens on his shoulders, the young master has done nothing but pour his all into¡­ into being the most diligump¡­ delinquent. No, wait¡­ uh¡­ Best. Yes. He''s worked to be the very best Magus Dominus he could be."

    If I''d been the original Perth, the mixed message there might''ve been a bit offensive. Since I wasn''t¡­ well, I felt like absolute shit for not telling Calbern the truth.

    "Another one father?" Vaserra asked, ignoring Calbern''s, frankly heartwarming, outpouring of support for my character.

    "Hey, question my character all you want, but Calbern is as loyal and honorable as they come," I said, standing up. "Excuse us for taking a moment to rest after a month traveling the high road."

    Vaserra squinted, her eyes playing over my robes once more, lingering on my collar. A flicker of a smile played over her lips before it disappeared and she turned back to her father. "Fine. I will accept the Magus Dominus''s help. But I will still lead the hunt, father."

    It was Sarpit''s turn to squint, though he hardly seemed to pick up on whatever his daughter had seen. His face split into a broad grin. "Excellent. You can go keep the sheep safe, then return with another fantastic tale! We shall drink to your success!"

    He did exactly as he''d threatened, lifting his flagon and chugging several large gulps.

    "We will talk. Outside," Vaserra said, her eyes flicking towards Calbern who was struggling to maintain his usual attentive stance before returning to me and giving me a nod.

    Then she strode out of the room, with even the red bearded men stepping to the side quickly.

    "My daughter!" Sarpit proclaimed with great cheer, though his voice turned somber as he continued, "More courage than wits, just like her mother. May Winter''s Bite never claim her!"

    "May Winter''s Bite never claim her!" went up from several others within the hall.

    "Well, if we''re going hunting tomorrow, I think it''d be best we call it a night early," I said, attempting to support Calbern only to find the man was as dense as Inertia.

    Still, I was able to steer him out as Sarpit and his companions started in on a raunchy song.

    Managed to get him half way to the pen where the others were waiting before I was ambushed by Vaserra.

    "You''re not actually drunk, are you, outworlder?"

 Chapter 32 - Like Summer Ice

    I panicked at first, when Vaserra called me an outworlder. Then I realized she''d used an old Elinder word. One that meant people from outside their home country, which for many was their world.

    It had some other connotations, including a lack of cultural understanding and expectations of oafishness.

    Elinder had some pretty subtle ways of being a dick.

    Funny how much relief I felt at the fact she was trying to be insulting. Which turned into amusement as I laughed in her face. "No. No, not even a little. Your father didn''t make it easy though."

    "No, I suppose not. He can be quite¡­ persuasive, when he wants to be," Vaserra agreed, crossing her arms and clenching her hands into fists.

    "So¡­ there was something about monsters hunting sheep?"

    "Yes. Drakes that spit fire. Father refuses to face them," Vaserra spit to the side, much like her father had. "He claims they are of no concern. But I know the truth."

    "What truth is that?"

    "He''s afraid. He''s afraid that his bond will not be strong enough, and that he will die like a sheep instead of a shepherd," Vaserra said, her hands slowly unclenching as her eyes fixed on mine.

    "Fear is a soul killer," Calbern said, reminding me he was still slung over my shoulder. "Can lose yourself. Have seen it ¡ªhiccup¡ª before. Men strong enough to break a wyvern over their knee, hiding in their cups."

    "A war howler of the Frost Riven cannot afford to lose themselves to fear," Vaserra said, stepping forward before turning to the side, her braids clattering as she shook her head. "We face fear every day so that it does not set our course. If he were not so strong, I could¡­"

    She stopped herself, teeth grinding as she looked back at me. "He may be afraid, but I am not. We shall slay the inferno drakes and keep the sheep safe in their vales."

    "Fair ''nuff," I replied, holding my hand out to her. "Tell us about these inferno drakes."

    Leading Vaserra back to Tresla and Inertia, I put Calbern to bed, a first for me or Perth. Then I started the introductions, telling them about the upcoming hunt.

    My explanation was interrupted by a thunderous shockwave sweeping through the courtyard.

    When I turned, I found the party had escaped the central tower.

    Sarpit and both of the red bearded men were squaring off with each other in the central square. Thick bands of crystalized ice surrounded the limbs of all three. The red beards had dark black ice while the bands encircling Sarpit were smaller and so white as to be nearly transparent.

    Not that they seemed any weaker, as he caught a heavy mace strike on one of those bands.

    "Oh Frozen Fillies," Vaserra muttered, frost flickering over her own wrists for a second as she took a half-step forward.

    "Problem?" I asked as the second of the red bearded men charged in, wielding a mace of dark ice as large as he was.

    Sarpit stepped out of the way, his nearly transparent claws smashing through the mace and continuing towards the man I designated red beard one.

    "Other than my father being a drunken idiot? No. At least they''ll wear themselves out this way," Vaserra said, her braids rattling as she shook her head.

    As red beard two smashed an oversized scimitar of ice into Sarpit, the leader of the Reavers screamed. Though not because he''d been injured. His skin had absorbed the blow without so much as a scratch. It wasn¡¯t just the ice that was impervious to their blows.

    From what I could tell, the scream was meant to disrupt his opponents. And it worked. Without mercy, he jumped on red beard one, and proceeded to kick him across the courtyard.

    Sarpit was tripped by red beard two, who then took an uppercut to his chin that had him slamming into the slat board roof above. He thudded to the ground, shook his head, then pushed back to his feet. Which was the point Tresla said, "Inertia is impressed by their durability. She believes they may be more resilient than even the serpent."

    "Oh. They''re tough, that''s certain enough," Vaserra said. "Their bonds are stronger than most. Too bad their brains leaked out as their bonds grew."

    "What bonds are those?" Tresla asked, her pipe smoking away.

    With a wave of her arm, Vaserra gestured to the wolves watching the fight from their giant pens. I noticed the white wolf was focusing intensely, her fangs bared. "The bonds to our wolves. It is the source of our strength. It is a shame it does not lend wits to match."

    Even as she spoke, Sarpit leapt upwards, smashing the loose slats above to the side. It was only a moment before both red beards followed.

    All of them were laughing as they took their battle outside.

    Free of the courtyard, their violence only escalated.

    Vaserra brought us up the walkway, and we were treated to the sight of what lay beyond the keep. A shattered ramp led downward along the spine of a long ridge, which the three hunters were battling atop. One of the red beards summoned an avalanche of dark ice, large enough I suspected it could¡¯ve swept away the keep.

    It was knocked to the side by a bellow from Sarpit as he charged them. Then the second twin ambushed him, and they were surfing down the avalanche they¡¯d just started.

    "All this power, and my father is afraid of a few Drakes," Vaserra spit. "If I had half his power, I could protect the sheep alone."

    "Well, we''re not that effective, but we''re here to help," I said, receiving a nod from Inertia. "Though we wouldn''t mind taking a share of the trophies."

    "As is a hunter''s right," Vaserra said, turning away from the chaos outside. "I only hope that when your strength is tested, you do not break like summer ice."

    "Makes two of us," I replied, offering her my hand.

    She stared at it for a second before clasping it with her own. A touch of cold seeped in at the contact, reaching to my bone. "Sleep well, Magus Dominus Perth, for in the morning, we ride."

    <u>                                                                                                    </u>

    Despite the destruction of the night before, the ramp down the mountain remained intact. Exactly as intact as it''d been before their brawl.

    We were mounted up in Fang, with Vaserra and two of her companions leading the way. Both of her companions were older. Even older than Sarpit, if I wasn''t mistaken. They rode dark mounts, though the fur had a faint blue tinge to it instead of being completely black. The man was weathered, with dark skin and a beard of pure white. The woman was a red head, though she had streaks of silver and a sharp nose. Above us, Inertia was flying around on overwatch. Despite the lack of road where we were going, Fang was mostly able to keep up. While the wheels weren''t proper off-road, the nature of the materials we''d used meant they had a fair bit of grip.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    It still had nothing on the wolves of our companions. They were like mountain goats, picking routes down that were practically vertical even as they lead us along a smoother route. None of their wolves were as large as those of the ones that greeted us, though Vaserra''s shared the same white fur as her father''s.

    Between Calbern''s eyes, Vaserra''s knowledge of the area, and Inertia''s vantage point, it didn''t take us long to find the Inferno drakes. They''d holed up in a set of hot springs a valley over.

    There were a lot of them.

    At a glance, I counted over fifty drakes, each of them as large as a frost wolf.

    "You neglected to mention how many there were," I said as we looked out over the broken rock where the drakes played, lounged or fought for dominance.

    "Does your resolve waver?"

    "Not so much. This does require some planning though," I said, indicating to Tresla that I wanted to talk with Inertia.

    "What is there to plan? Cast your magics and destroy them," Vaserra said, making squiggly motions with her hands from the back of her wolf.

    "Think you got the wrong sibling for that," I said, shaking my head. If Nexxa was here, she could do exactly what Vaserra was requesting. Heck, her father or his red bearded buddies could too.

    No wonder she was pissed at them.

    Then again, they''d probably bury the hot springs while they were at it. Which brought up an important point. "Question. How important is keeping the hot springs intact?"

    "They were a place of relaxation, for those of us who do not fear the fire, before the drakes came. Even the sheep would flock to the springs," Vaserra replied, leaning to the side on her large wolf as she peered downward.

    "Speaking of the sheep, where are they? I don''t think I''ve seen a single one," I said, my gaze sweeping along the hot spring valley.

    "They know better to come to the springs while the drakes claim them. They are safely in their vales," Vaserra answered before looking over the hot springs once more. "The drakes are not herd creatures. They hunt alone or in packs of a dozen, following a strong bull. So long as we don''t alert the other packs, we can draw them away, pick them off a few at a time. It was how we intended to hunt them before I enlisted your help."

    "That would be doable," I said, looking down at Calbern. "How''s it look for navigating the terrain, Calbern?"

    "Doable, master Perth," Calbern replied, his answer a touch more controlled than usual. When he''d woken that morning, he''d immediately sought me out to apologize for his behavior the night before. I''d tried to console him, tell him it wasn''t a problem. But his posture had been more rigid than usual, his words even more sparing, so I¡¯d grudgingly accepted his apology.

    "Inertia looks forward to testing herself against these Infernal drakes. And harvesting their hearts. She suspects they will make good Forge Hearts," Tresla said. She shifted back in her seat as Vaserra''s wolf turned to stare at her when she spoke.

    "Almost a shame we can''t keep a few around for herding," I said, stroking my chin.

    A laugh from Vaserra got me us to look at her. When she saw us all looking, her brows furrowed in confusion. "That¡­ was that not a joke?"

    "No¡­?"

    "You wish to tame¡­ Inferno drakes?"

    "I mean, no need to tame them. Just stick them in a pit and toss food down to them. You have lots of sheep, right? Maybe we could buy some, feed the drakes that way, then harvest the drakes'' hearts every year or so."

    Vaserra''s eyes narrowed as her followers both drew their spears. "I did not take you for one to buy and sell sheep. While my father may condone such practices, I am of the old ways. The sheep are to be protected so they may give us their plenty. They are not to be bought and sold like wheat. They are certainly not to be tossed to Inferno drakes so you can harvest their hearts!"

    "Uh¡­" I replied, surprised at her vehemence. Probably shouldn''t have been. People had a lot of weird traditions. And if sheep meant so much to her, I should''ve realized there was a whole cultural thing to it. "Sorry. I meant no offense. Where we come from, we don''t even have sheep, at least, not that I''m aware of. Do the drakes eat anything else?"

    "No¡­ sheep?" Vaserra said, her eyes wide. Then she shook her head, looking back towards the drakes then at me again. "Are you truly set on this mad venture?"

    "Not exactly. There are a lot of factors to consider. But they''re lizards, right? They lay eggs?"

    "Yes?" Vaserra replied, her brows furrowed as she looked to her companions as if they might be able to answer. They both shrugged.

    "Then we can take the eggs and try with those. No reason to risk ourselves for a maybe. Especially if the sheep are in danger," I said. I might not understand why she cared so much, but I could still tell she did.

    "That¡­ would be acceptable," Vaserra said, her eyes moving towards the nearest drakes. "So long as we eliminate those before us."

    "Deal. Well, let''s get started then, shall we?"

    A nod from Vaserra and we start outlining our plan. We''d use the same approach we used to get close to them, since we had superior mobility, between the wolves, Inertia and Fang. Inertia would mostly be on overwatch, ensuring nothing surprised us or to let us know when we''d drawn too much attention.

    Calbern brought us forward, and Tresla and I readied our blasting rods, intent on starting the fight off running.

    What I didn''t anticipate was both of us hitting it in the head, and taking it out of the fight immediately. Neither of our aim was half as good as Calbern''s so one of us simply hitting it was already impressive.

    I shared a look of stupefaction with Tresla, even if all I could see was the hood of her cloak turned towards me.

    "Ha, an excellent start!" Vaserra cried, her wolf bounding past as she waved us on to the next.

    Thankful Calbern wasn''t as shocked as Tresla and I, following after her. I took a moment to adjust, before Fang rolled along over the hill. The next wasn''t as clean, yet Tresla and I still hit both of our initial shots.

    At first I thought there might be some magic at play. But it was simpler than that. Tresla and I were both balancing the rods in the nook of the eye socket, and Calbern was lining us up perfectly.

    Somehow, that it was as much Calbern''s aim as ours was a relief.

    After picking off the lone drakes, we turned our attention to the smaller groups, which required following the actual strategy. Which didn''t work as well as we''d hoped. Most of the drakes had no interest in chasing something so much faster than them.

    Which meant we adjusted, slowing our ride so they''d feel like they had a chance. Which also gave Vaserra and her companions a chance to show off their own skills.

    Instead of closing in with their spears, they all summoned ice along the lengths, then hurled the ice forward while holding their spears back. I suspected the motion employed synergistic magic, because it seemed unlikely a human could throw a spear of ice hard enough to shatter rock at hundreds of feet. If a drake managed to summon their fiery breath, they might stop one of her companions¡¯ spears, but never Vaserra''s.

    Slowly, we picked off the outer drakes. More than half of them were dead by the time we were stalled by the drakes'' laziness. They simply refused to come out of the inner springs.

    Since neither the wolves or Fang could navigate the springs easily, so once more we had to change tactics.

    So, after some discussion, we agreed to hunt them on foot. We''d proven how effective the blasting rods were. I gladly gave mine up to Calbern after recharging it.

    Inertia joined us, landing beside Tresla, who said, "Inertia requests the opportunity to test herself against an Inferno drake in single combat."

    I glanced over to Vaserra, who had shed most of her furs, leaving them with her wolf. Her and her companions were now wearing light wool tunics and shorts, all with spears at the ready. Their arms and legs were covered by plates of ice, yet they were still sweating as we moved deeper, searching for our prey. Vaserra saw my look, and nodded. "If the Sky Steel warrior wishes to test herself, we will stand watch."

    "Sounds good to me," I said, nodding at Inertia.

    Inertia nodded back, then shook out her wings before taking the lead.

    When we reached the next pack of Infernal drakes, Inertia let out a loud bellow. It was matched by a roar from the largest of the drakes in the pack.

    It was clearly a bull, with thick black horns that glistened with internal fire. Fire that spread across the surface as it snorted, shaking its head as it answered her challenge. To my surprise, the other drakes stepped back as it moved forward. They''d always attacked us on sight before.

    Us shooting them the second we could see them might''ve factored into that.

    Inertia clanged forward, making more noise in those three strides than the entire time I''d known her. Which was impressive. She¡¯d never been a quiet one. The drake wasn''t sitting around waiting for her either. It charged forward, head lowered and covered in flame, nostrils shooting more fire out as it moved.

    When it got close, Inertia bellowed once more, her wings flaring to the sides as she grabbed it by its thick horns and¡­ twisted. The entire momentum of the Inferno bull drake was suddenly shifted sideways.

    Inertia stood there, her wings letting off huge gusts of steam as it wrestled its way back onto its feet. I glanced over at Tresla, wondering if she''d share my disbelief, but she was fully focused on Inertia.

    I looked back just in time to catch Inertia rising out of a crouch, her metal fist connecting with the bottom of the bull''s jaw. The flame coming out of its nostrils flared brightly for a second, then cut out entirely. It seemed to hang there for a second, suspended in the air on her fist. Then the fire along its horns died out, dimming to a tiny flicker as the entire bull drake slumped to the ground.

    Inertia stepped forward, putting a foot on the Inferno bull drake before turning towards the pack and bellowing once more.

    The entire pack went down on their bellies, their heads tilted in submission.

    Had¡­

    Had Inertia just claimed a pack of Inferno drakes?

 Chapter 33 - Inferno Drakes

    While Inertia''s fight and subjugation of the Inferno drake pack had been impressive, it did lead to new challenges.

    Namely that she wouldn''t let us kill them now that they were ''her'' pack.

    Which I could understand. But it also meant that we somehow had to lead them to my domain. Given their lazy attitude, just getting them to move was going to be difficult. There was more than one reason I''d wanted to raise drakes by using their eggs instead of adults.

    "Inertia assures you that it will not be a problem. We can go ahead, and she will escort the drakes herself," Tresla said, tapping her pipe on her sleeve at a rapid rate. "She trusts you to keep me safe in her stead." There was almost a note of relief in Tresla''s voice as she added, "Thank the divine threads."

    "You don''t want to stay with Inertia?" I asked, looking at her in surprise.

    "Have you smelled those things? I''ve met sailors who''ve been at sea for a month that smelled better," Tresla said, shaking her head back and forth rapidly enough to set her hood quivering.

    I laughed, as I turned to Vaserra who was looking at Inertia with a lot more interest than she had been prior to the subjugation. When she noticed my gaze, Vaserra turned to me. "It seems there is more to the drakes than I realized. Perhaps your idea is not so foolhardy."

    "Not too many people I know could go head to head with an Inferno drake like that," I replied, earning a snort from Vaserra. "But it does seem that way. That said, we still need to deal with the rest. Unless you''re having second thoughts?"

    "No. There may be more to them, but they are a threat to the sheep and must be eliminated. Perhaps if I knew of another spring and had more time¡­ but no. They will grow hungry again, and they have developed a taste for sheep. These ones must be purged. Though, if you do not object, we will take some of their eggs," Vaserra said, her eyes shifting to the obsidian objects submerged in the nearby boiling water.

    "Not at all," I replied, before returning my attention to the hunt.

    The rest of the hunt was both simpler and more tedious. We weren''t the only ones who had trouble navigating the springs. Despite their immunity to the heat, the drakes were slowed by the water and uneven terrain as much as we were. Which made it trivial for Calbern and Vaserra to pick them off.

    My only role was to cast Minor Heal to deal with some minor burns from the occasional burst of superheated steam that made it to us.

    There was a single exception. When we came across a group of them in a pit, I convinced Vaserra to let me test my Lightning Bolt spell. According to Nexxa''s notes, it didn''t function as normal lightning might. She''d used an upgraded version of Lightning Bolt to set up her devastating area attack. While the pit was much smaller, I hoped to achieve something similar. In theory, the spell would effectively cast twice. The first would create a line from my finger that would reflect off stone, earth or wood surfaces. Even as that first line was tracing its path, the second spell would take effect, following along the invisible line of charged air.

    Explaining how it worked, I had Calbern assist me in setting up a test, letting his superior vision guide my arm. It worked, though on the third bounce, the stone crumbled instead of reflecting the bolt, which left two drakes to be taken down.

    Not that I could tell, at the time. The close proximity to throwing a lightning bolt left me deaf and blind. By the time my vision cleared Vaserra and Calbern had already dispatched both.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    In addition to the tedium, the other problem was the eggs. There were far too many to carry with us. Even if we dedicated the entirety of Fang''s trailer to it, there''d be too many eggs.

    Still, I took fifty of the foot long eggs, and Vaserra set aside another hundred for her breeding efforts. The rest she intended to gather later and give as gifts to the sheep.

    It had seemed unusual, but I knew nothing about sheep from Earth, never mind whatever variety roamed the Frigid Peaks of Ro¡¯an.

    Inertia was quite happy with her gains. Not only had she subjugated a pack of thirteen living Inferno drakes, there were over a hundred dead ones to take the hearts from. Her pack was surprisingly calm as she rooted around in the remains of the other drakes to retrieve said hearts, simply standing back and watching, and occasionally snatching a bite from one of the dead drakes.

    We ended up spending two days just loading and processing everything we could from the drakes. In that time, Vaserra went and retrieved several of her clan to help with the efforts.

    As we were preparing to leave, Sarpit and his entourage arrived. He had a frown on his face as he took in our efforts. It only got deeper when he saw Inertia up on the hill, wrestling with the Inferno bull drake once more. So far, it had been a daily occurrence.

    Sarpit turned away from Inertia, and when he noticed my gaze, he prodded his massive wolf forward. It kept approaching until it was close enough I could smell what it''d had for lunch. "So, you did as my fool daughter requested. I suppose you want my thanks."

    "Not needed. These were a threat to my land as much as yours," I said, though I could tell after learning more about them that wasn''t strictly true. The drakes were too damn lazy to journey over the mountains in the next decade, never mind the next year or so.

    "Good. There was a reason I let these drakes live here," he said, spitting to the side. "I''ll not be thanking you for making more work for me. It''s best you leave these lands."

    I nodded, trying not to grit my teeth. I''d hoped to gain some good will with my neighbors by helping out. He''d known we were coming to help her, and he hadn''t said anything. Though maybe he''d been so drunk he forgot.

    "I shall lead them," Vaserra said, moving over to stand beside me.

    "Good. Keep them away from the sheep. Don''t need them stealing them on their way out," Sarpit said, before turning his head to the side and spitting again.

    She narrowed her eyes, but remained silent.

    Didn''t much like his insinuation that we were thieves, but I kept my mouth shut as well. I''d already messed up relations enough. Soon he and his men were gone back up the mountain. I couldn''t help but notice they weren''t as agile as Vaserra or her companions, sticking to the central ramp instead of the side paths.

    "Forgive me for not speaking in your defense," Vaserra said once her father had crested the hill. "I now know that you would not steal our sheep, yet father wouldn''t have listened. He would have found some way to twist my words into a slight against you."

    "It''s fine. Not looking forward to having him as a neighbor though," I admitted. Probably more honest than I should''ve been, but it stung to be accused after doing something I thought had been helping.

    "That is understandable. However, father''s strength is waning. There may come a time in the near future when he is surpassed as First Hunter. Already, our hunt gives me great honor," Vaserra said, her eyes playing over the people bundling up the remaining hides and meat. "And my strength grows apace. Father may bid you to leave and treat you with dishonor, but I acknowledge my debt, and the debt of the Frost Riven. If you have need of me, I will answer."

    "Thank you, Vaserra," I said, giving her a slight nod.

    She nodded as Calbern approached, his back still extra rigid. His eyes flicked in the direction Sarpit had departed before returning to me. "We are ready to depart, master Perth. Inertia has loaded the last of her drakes and Fang grows restless."

    "Guess it''s time. You''ll be joining us?" I asked, turning towards Vaserra.

    "Until you are through the vales. I will not give father a chance to accuse you of misdeeds," Vaserra agreed before placing two fingers in her mouth to let out a near silent whistle.

    Her wolf came bounding into sight a moment later, her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth as she approached. Right up until she noticed us watching. Then the large wolf slowed, her tongue hidden away as she affected a more dignified demeanor.

    "Come Frost Lily. We must lead our guests to their new home," Vaserra said as she mounted the giant wolf with a single leap.

    ''Frost Lily?'' I mouthed to Calbern, who simply raised a single eyebrow at me in response.

    Then Vaserra started striding away, and all that was left was for us to follow.

 Chapter 34 - Hobby Projects

    The initial trip up the far side of the valley from the hot springs was a slog. Easily the most difficult since we''d built Fang. There was rarely a stretch longer than a hundred feet of even terrain before we had to wrestle her up.

    Inertia''s drakes actually helped a great deal on the ascent. They were slow and sluggish, somehow even moreso, outside of the springs, but they had a lot of power. Once Inertia got them going in a direction, they had a lot of¡­ well, inertia.

    If not for Vaserra''s assurances that Fang would be useful once we cleared the ridge, I would''ve been tempted to dismantle her. Not that Calbern would''ve allowed that, no matter how out of sorts he''d been since he¡¯d embarrassed himself.

    When we cleared the top, it was late evening. The wind carried a harsh chill down my neck even as the sun baked us. Somehow, it felt like I was burning up while shivering at the same time.

    There was a reason they were called the Frigid Peaks.

    Ahead of us, crisscrossing each other like piles of floor dry thrown against each other were several ridges. Along their top was a winding road. It was inferior to the actual highroad, though there were sections of the old high road that had been used.

    Between the ridges and road, lay the vales where the Frost Riven¡¯s sheep frolicked. Vaserra didn''t want us to camp in the vales, worried we might spook them. It was a shame they didn¡¯t want to sell them, since it seemed that whatever breed of sheep they were using didn¡¯t need much tending. Then again, we did set camp inside a wooden fort her clan had built precisely so they wouldn¡¯t scare the sheep.

    Having three giant wolves join us around the campfire made things surprisingly cozy. I was glad Inertia had chosen to continue to the next ridge with her drakes.

    They''d been helpful getting Fang up, but Tresla wasn''t wrong. They stank. It had been less noticeable when we''d been working amid the hot springs, cause everything had a sulfurous odor. Yet once we''d moved away, it became clear how the sulfur had somehow been improving the smell.

    "You may lean back, warrior Calbern. Frost Lily will not mind," Vaserra said, proving the truth of her words by sitting in front of the giant wolf and settling back against her.

    Said wolf turned her head, laying it down beside Vaserra, immediately receiving head scratches.

    "I believe I shall remain standing, hunter Vaserra," Calbern replied, remaining exactly where he was.

    I yawned while shifting against Snow Patter. Intelid, Vaserra''s companion with the weathered face and long white hair, had invited me over when we''d settled for the night and his wolf made for a comfortable cushion. Intelid had wanted to know more about my home, especially what life was like without sheep. By the time I''d finished explaining, he seemed more confused than when I started, but I chocked it up to my poor explanation skills. "Calbern, don''t be so rude. It''s not like you."

    Calbern stiffened for a second. His teeth visibly clenched before he took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. "As you wish, master Perth."

    "Weird seeing him so stiff, like his limbs are made of sticks," Tresla whispered from beside me, a thick needle and piece of drake leather in hand.

    "I think he''s still upset about getting drunk," I said as I watched her struggle to push the needle through the leather. "Did you need help with that?"

    "No. It''s fine. There''s no point in taking up a hobby if I have someone else do it for me," Tresla said, leaning forward as though she could somehow use her body weight to push the needle through. Even if that was a valid tactic, I didn''t imagine her four foot frame could weigh that much. In fact, based on how much more we loaded on her side of Fang to balance the weight, I knew she couldn''t have been more than seventy pounds.

    "Might be easier if the needle was sharper. Or hot," I suggested, leaning back and closing my eyes.

    There was the sound of rustling for a second then Tresla huffed out a soft laugh. "Wrong needle," was all she said before making a satisfied grunt.

    I nodded, letting myself drift as I channeled mana into my grimoire. I hadn''t been using Memory Palace as much lately, but I had a theory I wanted to check. I was making solid progress, already moving towards upgrading my Astral soul to Pegasus. I''d gotten a lot of advice from Nexxa, which, considering I''d built my second spell slot in less than a tenth of the time the book had suggested was possible, was probably better than anything I could look up. Still, I''d hit a snag she''d never mentioned, and I suspected my mixed affinities were creating issues she didn''t have as a nearly pure mage.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    As the garage came into place, I breathed out a soft sigh. I didn''t miss Nexxa as much these days, but occasionally it''d still hit me.

    Then I smiled. It was nice to care about someone enough to miss them.

    It didn''t take me long to find the book I was looking for. Instead of simply absorbing it, I sat down to page through relevant sections.

    I''d been right. My affinities were something I should''ve been taking into account. I''d simply been following Nexxa''s exact words for how she''d done it. Obviously that wouldn''t work for me. Pretty sure she¡¯d even mentioned as much and I¡¯d just¡­ forgot.

    As I read through the book, I pulled out one of my journals and started sketching.

    Then I stopped, looking down at my sketches. Then around at my shop.

    I stood up and moved over to the hoist, pressing the button to get it to raise. It moved slowly, the familiar clank, clank, clank of the safety stops filling the shop alongside the electric hum as I brought it up to eye level.

    Once it had stopped, I tried to¡­

    It wasn¡¯t coming to me. I knew that I should be able to use this place to help build my astral body. That I had a deeper connection to my Memory Palace than was normal. Possibly because of my Worlds affinity.

    That didn¡¯t mean everything worked exactly as I wanted.

    So I sat there, staring at the lift, tapping my leg until eventually my gaze shifted towards the garage door. Maybe I¡¯d been looking in the wrong place. Flipping up the safety stops, I lowered the hoist then moved over to the door. I hesitated for a second before hitting the open button.

    The door rattled, and for a second I thought it might not open.

    But then the rattling smoothed out, exactly like it''d always done at my old shop, and the door slid up along its track. Outside was a yard both familiar and very much not. Inside the fence, it was the same country yard I''d had before. Even had the oil bin and garbage can off to the right. Yet if I lifted my gaze beyond that chain link fence¡­

    Some fifty feet from the garage door, past the yard and heavy steel gate propped up by a single caster wheel, spread dunes of sand that continued¡­ forever.

    And I didn¡¯t mean as far as my eye could see. Looking out over those sands, I just knew there was no limit to them. But it was an empty sort of infinity. One without anything to discover.

    I moved my attention inward, to the yard. On the left were two vehicles. The first of which I''d expected. My one and only full custom personal build. A dune buggy for cruising over the sandy hills near my hometown. Dunes that were normally much further away.

    Next to it sat Fang.

    It was surprising how natural they looked, resting next to each other. One, a beast of metal, grease and sweat.

    The other, borne of magic, bone and steam.

    Walking over, I ran my hand over Fang for a second, giving it a solid pat.

    Then I moved over to the dune buggy. I wrapped my hand around the frame, pulling myself into the seat. Fumbling under the steel plate dash, I found the wires I kept hidden there. Pulling them forward so I could see them, I held them together then hit the ignition. The buggy fired up with a throaty roar.

    I turned it away from the shop, wondering just how far the dunes would let me go. As I left the shop behind, the dunes opened up to the sides. The fence fell away behind me, but no matter how I soared over the dunes, the gate was never completely out of sight.

    So, I stopped worrying about getting lost. For a few minutes, I just reveled in the feeling of being behind the wheel, in a place where I couldn¡¯t hurt myself, or anyone else.

    Even as the suspension crunched from going over yet another dune far too fast, I was grinning. Satisfied, I turned around to start my journey back only to find myself immediately outside the gate.

    "Well, that''s not weird at all," I mumbled as I drove the dune buggy into the yard. But I didn¡¯t stop there, taking it all the way into the shop.

    Once it was in, I put it up on the hoist, inspecting the underside. Everything was exactly as it should be. Dual exhaust, skid plate hiding away anything that might take offense at landing on a hidden boulder, long travel suspension to help shake off the rough driving.

    There was one thing that was wrong though. I''d intended to add decals to the bottom, to stamp my mark on the buggy. I''d never gotten around to it.

    But my mark was there. The same one I''d used for my magecrest, the howling wolf.

    Which meant¡­

    I held up my hand, running a finger along a messy weld. One I''d told myself I''d clean up later but hadn''t gotten around to. I looked at the other side, then pictured the weld mirroring the prettier one. It took a moment, then a shower of sparks erupted and I was left with two nearly invisible welds.

    "Ha! This is soooo much better," I said while smirking up at the underside of the car. Then a thought struck me.

    I immediately ran outside, and thought about my last project. It hadn''t been completed, but I''d been close.

    It took several minutes. The area next to Fang hummed with the sounds of ratchets turning, hammers pounding and the crisp crackle of welding as I conjured the old Corvette into being. Even the startled grunts from thwacking myself unexpectedly.

    Every sound I¡¯d made since I¡¯d first started the project.

    I smiled faintly as it appeared. It still needed to be painted, rough patches of gray all over, with only a hint of the black it''d once carried. I also hadn''t installed the windows or half the electrical systems.

    But it ran.

    I traced my hand over the car and took a deep breath. It was more than I''d expected I could bring into my Memory Palace. Part of me had hoped I''d fail. That I could only use this place to work on completed projects. Already, I was thinking of what I could do here. How I might use it for my spellcraft or to harness Inertia''s Forge Theory.

    Yet I was also thinking about the corvette.

    And where I''d gotten it from.

    The dune buggy had been a passion project of my teen years. One of the few escapes I''d had from the old man.

    I hadn''t gotten the ''vette until after he''d died. Hadn''t even known we''d still owned it. I''d recognized it immediately of course, from the one picture we''d had of her. The old man hadn''t known about that picture. If he had, he''d have beaten me to within an inch of my life.

    The car had belonged to my mom once. And it was the only connection I''d ever had to her.

    And I had it back, if only in memory.

 Chapter 35 - Flowery Language

    It took me a few minutes to pull myself back together.

    Seeing the car again had broken me in some ways. Reminded me of my loss. When I¡¯d first built it, the car had been a reminder that it took work to keep my connections alive.

    Now, it reminded me that those connections still existed, if only in my memories.

    After a quick pat on its hood, I left the car behind. Then I lowered the buggy off the hoist, taking it outside to park alongside the ''vette. I spared a single glance for Fang, then went back inside to my work table, cleared it off, then pulled out my journal again.

    The journal shouldn''t have been there. It didn''t fit. It was an artifact of Ro''an, not Earth. Even the knowledge I pulled from the scanned books had conformed to more Earth-like bindings.

    But this was my Memory Palace. And the journals were a tool, much like any other in my shop. So they belonged. I''d created the journal on instinct. I''d recreated the ''vette with intention and familiarity.

    Now¡­ I was going to try something else. Something that, if possible, would elevate Memory Palace to the most powerful tool any mage could ever have.

    A test track. Or test Palace, as it were.

    The basics were easy. Jotting down the design, copying it and checking for mistakes. Next, I needed the medium. Summoning my grimoire was easier than the ''vette, and it appeared in a burst of sawdust and rustling pages less than a minute after I started.

    Nexxa and I had designed several spells we thought might be possible. Spells neither of us had tested because the cost in materials was just too high to waste inscribing them. So I started there. With scribing one of those spells into my newly summoned grimoire. I even made sure to imbue it with mana.

    It didn''t work.

    Still, I didn''t know if that was because it wouldn''t work. Whether the limits of Memory Palace were too strict, if I¡¯d fumbled the process or if we''d simply mussed up the spell and hadn''t known it.

    So, I tried with a spell I knew worked in the real world. One I had in my real grimoire. Mana Draw. Once more, I attempted to scribe the spell into the blank grimoire, working from memory.

    Once more, it didn''t work.

    Wondering if maybe the source might be the problem, I summoned a duplicate of my grimoire, and set to work copying the spell from one to the next.

    This time, I succeeded.

    I had an exact copy of my spell.

    My initial rush of exhilaration gave way when my eyes drifted over to the copy of my grimoire. My full grimoire of existing spells. I''d already summoned it successfully without needing to copy it.

    Not ready to give up, I continued my experiments for another hour before conceding. I couldn¡¯t actually bring a spell I didn¡¯t have in my grimoire into my Memory Palace.

    I couldn¡¯t use it to test spell designs. Not as it was. I felt there was still potential for my spellcraft, but it might require tweaks to the Memory Palace spell itself to succeed.

    So, it was back to working on my Astral form.

    Astral¡­ Form¡­

    ¡­

    That was it. I''d been thinking of it as a structure, but it was a form. Not only did I need to account for the affinity differences, I needed to accommodate my physical body. Double checking my notes, I confirmed this was hinted at, though never outright stated.

    It didn''t help that all the books on it used metaphors like ''Bloom forth like the Spring Wind Lily, pressing outwards to encompass the fullness of your being.''

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    I could kinda see how that might mean, ''push your Astral form to fill your body,'' but how was it helpful to obfuscate it? Even Nexxa hadn''t realized that was what she¡¯d done.

    Damn genius prodigies and flowery language.

    Understanding that one truth greatly simplified my designs. I still had to account for my affinities, but all that meant was making sure I kept the form interwoven and balanced. Not an easy feat. Especially since it would need to be able to move and shift with my body as it moved. A task that took most mages decades as they mapped everything out.

    Next to impossible to do in less than ten years.

    Or it would¡¯ve been, if I couldn''t create full size models. And those wouldn¡¯t have been nearly as useful if I didn¡¯t have nigh on unlimited hoards of knowledge from both Earth biology and Aranor healing archives to draw upon.

    I used several different density materials and had each of them stand in for part of my Astral form. When it was done, it looked a bit like one of those biology cut outs I''d seen when doing janitorial work at the high school.

    Well, not done. I still needed to get the final ratios exact. But I''d be shocked if it wasn''t enough to get me through my third and fourth slots. The final slot would take a lot of fine tuning, but that was normal for most Astral-souled. The fifth slot usually represented the last five years of progression, if not more.

    Satisfied with my work for the evening, I saved the model, then started taking down notes, writing all the ideas I¡¯d had into another blank journal, just in case.

    Finally dismissing Memory Palace, I opened my eyes to the real world to discover everyone but Vaserra had gone to sleep. She was sitting with her back to the fire, her eyes on the door. For a second, I wondered what she was doing.

    Then it occurred to me that she was keeping watch. Not once had we needed to do so. My journey up to Nexxa''s had been with entire crews around me. And then we''d joined up with Inertia, who didn''t lose awareness in her rest state, and didn''t mind watching over the rest of us mere mortals while we slept.

    There''d been no discussion of shifts, at least while I''d been aware enough to hear it. I was about to ask Vaserra about it when a light snore made me realize Tresla was curled up around my ankle. She was holding it a bit like a teddy bear, and had her face mushed right into my leg. Even now, I couldn¡¯t see any of her features under her hood.

    Somehow, Vaserra must''ve heard the snore, or maybe I moved, cause she looked back. Her gaze met mine, and she gave me a small smile before nodding and looking away.

    Deciding that I''d make sure to talk about watch duty the next morning, and that they could just wake me up for mine, I returned my attention to my Astral form. Working on it felt like pushing jello into a soap bottle with a spoon. The world''s largest soap bottle and a spoon from a children''s tea set, at that.

    Still, for all that, it felt faster and smoother than my efforts before. I was certain that once I got used to it, I''d be shoveling that Astral jello faster than Calbern could race Fang across the high road.

    After half an hour, the day caught up to me. I nuzzled against Snow Patter, giving Tresla a gentle pat on the head, then went to sleep.

    I woke with a mouthful of hair and a sweat soaked leg. Despite that, it had been the best sleep I''d had since we left Nexxa''s domain.

    Gently, I pried the still sleeping form of Tresla off my leg, replacing it with a large tuft of Snow Patter''s fur. Tresla grumbled, but accepted my offering, allowing me to stand. Careful not to step on her or anyone else, I moved over to the low burning fire where Vaserra''s companion, Engrid, was stirring a pot of breakfast.

    "Morning," I spoke in that not-quite whisper reserved for early morning conversations.

    "Morning, Magus Dominus," she grunted out, each syllable sounding like an effort. The smile she gave me contrasted the tone, so I simply nodded back as I took a place near the fire, drying my soaked leg while working with my Astral form.

    It wasn''t long before everyone was up and we were on our way once more.

    The road was rough, and while we weren''t making the same time we were on the high road, it was still better than our ascent the day before. Roughly half an hour after we''d left camp, we crested the rise over the nearest vale.

    Down in the vale, far below us was a town. It sat peacefully along the riverside, the residents just starting their day.

    Not a small town either. While it never strayed more than a few hundred feet from the river, it stretched the entire length of the valley, with rough wooden bridges every mile or so. The bridges were little more than logs strung together, many of them not even having railings. The buildings weren''t much better, simple lean-tos with leaves woven together for a roof.

    The people I could see were wearing the same leaves, woven into simple skirts.

    It was primitive, but it was definitely a town. Thousands of people a few days away from my domain, simply going about their lives.

    "Ah, good," Vaserra said, riding up next to me on Frost Lily. "The sheep haven''t seen us yet. We should cross before the rest wake."

    It took me a second of searching the valley, with no sign of fluffy animals before I asked, ¡°Are they living in the huts? Is that sanitary?¡±

    ¡°They need shelter as much as we do,¡± Vaserra said with a snort. ¡°Even father would not make them shelter outside.¡±

    ¡°What about their coats?¡± I asked, holding my own coat up and holding the woolly collar forward.

    ¡°Do you see any coats on the sheep below?¡± Vaserra said, gesturing towards the town.

    Once more, I looked down. But I didn¡¯t see any sheep. All I saw were the folk going about their lives. It took me several long seconds before I got what Vaserra was saying. What she''d been saying all along.

    "Wait¡­ the sheep are¡­ people?"

 Chapter 36 - Stealing Sheep

    The early morning sun managed to catch Vaserra''s hair at just the right angle for it to seem like it was fashioned of blood. Though that impression likely had more to do with my shock at her referring to people as sheep.

    And more likely, what it meant that Sarpit hadn''t wanted to protect them.

    A lot of things were being recategorized at that moment, and I think I ought to be forgiven for momentarily mucking up the color of her hair.

    "Yes, of course sheep are people," Vaserra said, turning to her companions for support. They both nodded, though they seemed as confused as her. "Did you not know this?"

    "Why would I¡­" I started before holding a hand up to stop myself. "Your father didn''t want to protect them. No wonder you were so angry."

    "What did you think we were talking about?" Vaserra asked, her brow furrowed.

    To my surprise, Calbern was the one to answer. "Sheep. A small domesticated animal, roughly two feet in height and three in length, covered in soft fluffy wool, similar to the garments you wear beneath your furs. These are the sheep young Master Perth likely thought you meant, hunter Vaserra."

    "The nibblers? He thought we were talking about nibblers?" Intelid muttered, though his voice was loud enough we could hear him plainly.

    They all stared at us for a second before Vaserra broke into a laugh. A moment later, her companions did the same. I may have let loose a chuckle or two my own self.

    After a minute Vaserra calmed down, though Intelid kept laughing as Vaserra said, "It is a relief to know you did not truly mean to buy our sheep."

    "Wait¡­" I said, something she''d said during our earlier exchange striking me. "You said your father sells sheep. He sells people?"

    "Yes. Every winter, during the clansmeet to the north, father takes the healthiest hundred from each vale to sell to the other clans," Vaserra said. At her words, all three of them spat to the side. "While not all clans trade with him, enough do that father is able to keep himself in his little luxuries for the rest of the year."

    "And¡­ the rest of the Frost Riven are okay with that?"

    "No," Vaserra ground out. "If my mother¡­ But that doesn¡¯t matter now. You have seen his strength. I cannot compete with him. Not yet."

    "Right," I said, my gaze returning to the sleepy little town. Then I looked closer, Eagle Eyes giving me more and more details. There were children playing near the stream, and some of the folk were laughing as they worked. Most shuffled about, despite the beautiful day. A group of men with more purpose in their stride moved towards the edge of the village. Another group of people ran after them. When they got to the edge of town, there was violent gestures, several of them waving out at the valley, at the fruit hanging heavily on the trees along either side of the valley. A particularly bright blue fruit.

    A fight broke out amongst the crowd, and Intelid cursed softly. ¡°They¡¯re fighting again.¡±

    Looking at the crowd, I noted that most looked underfed. As did the rest of the town. Except for the ones beating them back, nearly everyone seemed malnourished. "Am I right in guessing that they''re not allowed to pick those fruit?"

    "No. It takes a thousand ripe skyfruit to make a keg of father''s precious Riven Wine. They are only allowed to take what they can pull from the river or grow within five hundred feet of its banks," Vaserra said, her face drooping as she moved Frost Lily closer to the edge, as if she wanted to go down and change things right this minute. It was certainly how I felt. "It wasn''t like this when my mother ruled. When I was young, I played among the sheep, alongside their children. I once had friends down there. More than once, I sat at their great harvest feasts, laughing at their shows. Back when they produced our coats in exchange for meat and protection, not under the threat of Eternal Ice." She let out a long sigh. "I hope the extra eggs and meat from the drakes will help with their suffering."

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "I''m sure they will," I said, looking towards our own eggs. It wasn''t a hard choice. "You can have ours as well." Before Vaserra could object, I added, "Inertia has her pack. And these people clearly need to eat."

    Vaserra stared at me for several long seconds, then nodded. "Engrid, Intelid, if you would?"

    They both nodded in response, then moved to the back of the trailer. I hopped out, helping them offload the eggs into their large packs. The wolves looked a little wobbly, but they were steady enough as they wove down the narrow path into the vale.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have given them the eggs,¡± Tresla said as we watched them descend.

    ¡°You think we¡¯re gonna be short on food too?¡±

    Tresla tilted her head to the side for a second before responding. ¡°From what Inertia has said, there are far less lands for you to cultivate. What food you have is precious, is it not?¡±

    ¡°A few eggs were never going to be a long term solution,¡± I said, my gaze shifting in the direction of my domain.

    We stood in silence for several second before Tresla let out a deep sigh. ¡°I¡¯m gonna miss my inferno drake omelets.¡±

    ¡°Wait, is that the real reason you wanted me to keep the eggs?¡±

    Tresla didn¡¯t answer as she went over to Fang, climbing inside with more haste than I was used to.

    Shaking my head, I turned back to Vaserra, who¡¯d escorted her companions down the most difficult section of the trail.

    "What do you need to challenge your father?" I asked as Intelid waved a final goodbye before dropping out of sight in the distance.

    "To improve my bond with Frost Lily. And to do that, we must hunt worthy prey," Vaserra said, her own gaze moving over the valley. "It is not something I am proud of, but my father and his pack grew strong hunting sheep. I¡­ will not do that, even to stop him."

    I nodded, lost in thought as I remounted Fang, Vaserra returning to her place ahead, leading us along the broken ridge road, past the vale. My eyes kept flickering to the people in the valley. I''d only expected to find clans like the Frost Riven this far east. Small groups of a hundred to two hundred people.

    Below us was a town of thousands. Maybe more. All of them oppressed by the people who¡¯d sworn to protect them.

    Vaserra intended to grow. To be strong enough to challenge her father for leadership of her clan.

    In that moment, I knew she couldn''t be the only one. If I''d spent more time working on my Astral form, and less learning Forge Theory, would I be powerful enough to take on Sarpit?

    Not directly. Even Nexxa would struggle against the durability he displayed.

    So, I would need another solution. Maybe, I could support Vaserra. She seemed to want to do things differently. Clearly she had fond memories. And if they were free, would I be able to recruit her people? Would she consider me recruiting her people as stealing sheep?

    I shook my head, dismissing the errant thought.

    She''d said they gathered slaves every winter. And that''s what it sounded like they were, even if they used another word for it. That meant we had a few months. I''d try to convince Inertia to help, considering how useful she¡¯d be even as a scout.

    Honestly, I¡¯d love to be able to keep her and Tresla around longer than the two years I¡¯d been granted. Perhaps I could entice her somehow.

    A cry from below drew my attention back to the vale. The crowd had been broken apart, and sent back to their homes. Would the eggs even make it to those who really needed them? Or would those enforcers take them for their own?

    Either through Vaserra, growing my power, or through trickery, I swore to myself we''d help these people.

    I continued to consider the future, trying to take in as much of the terrain as I could as we passed beyond the vale. Once it was out of sight, our pace increased. The evening drew near, and with it, we reached a broken watchtower that marked the edge of my domain. We were still at least a day''s travel to the small village I''d seen, even on Fang. The high road was a complete ruin, this far east, the mana not enough to sustain it, even if the ward had been perfect.

    It was depressing. Both the keep and the hot springs had given me hope I might find a well of mana that could be repurposed. Yet as I looked across my land, I only saw jagged ridges of rock. I knew from my studies there was a single wooded vale near the giant mountain I could see in the distance, though I didn''t have high hopes for it.

    "This is where I bid you farewell," Vaserra said, sliding off Frost Lily¡¯s back to stand at the edge of the crumbled watchtower.

    "Thank you for showing us the way," I said, hopping out of Fang. The rough stone shifted under my feet as I stepped forward, holding my arm out to her.

    "Thank you, Magus Dominus Perth. Your honor gives me hope and reminds me that not all leaders think as my father. May your Ice always fly true and your blood never burn," she declared, clasping my arm.

    "May your Ice always fly true and your blood never burn," I repeated, nodding to her.

    She turned then leapt the ten feet to her wolf''s back. As Frost Lily started striding away, Vaserra turned back. "I hope to see you soon, Magus Dominus Perth. Bonds formed in battle are the hardest to break!"

    I waved as she disappeared.

    The second Vaserra was gone, Tresla slid down beside me, looking out over my domain. "So¡­¡±

    ¡°So?¡± I asked, glancing towards her.

    Her hood bobbed back and forth, then she said, ¡°Hate to say it, but this place is a dump."

    Sweeping my gaze over the broken road, the crumbling tower and the bog that laid in the only visible nearby valley, I shook my head in agreement.

    "You''re telling me."

 Chapter 37 - Lying In Ruins

    Despite being right on the border of my domain, we decided to set camp early, planning to resume our journey in the morning.

    It was a quiet but productive night. While Calbern fussed over Fang and Tresla made shapes with her smoke rings, I concentrated on my Astral form, slowly pushing mana through my channels, continuously saturating my body. As I went, I continued updating my model in Memory Palace. Every day, the balance would change, and I¡¯d have to tweak how much of each type of mana I was ¡®pushing¡¯.

    All in all, I was happy with my progress. Even if I took as long as a typical ensouled for my fifth slot, I¡¯d be close to Nexxa¡¯s record.

    As Calbern and Tresla turned in, I continued my efforts to expand my Astral form. It only took a marginal amount of attention, and I could at least keep my eyes open, especially with Eagle Eyes assisting.

    In the dark, I could almost picture what we would build. Roads that stretched between peaks, with aqueducts bringing fresh water to the heart of my domain. Airships, built on the back of magic and machines.

    And in the morning light¡­

    My domain still looked like a pile of rags that¡¯d been set on fire then smothered with clods of dirt. There was a lot of stone, and ruins everywhere.

    As my old man would say, nothing but potential. And two dollars and potential would get you a cup of coffee.

    It didn¡¯t dissuade me though. It might not be the most fertile land, but stone and ore had their uses. When I thought of how much land was left unused in the vale where the town lay to the west, I just shook my head.

    Getting wrapped up with how my domain looked wasn¡¯t gonna help nothing.

    I didn''t know what I had to work with. Number of people, resources in the mountains and valleys, what might be located in the ruins, the local seasons¡­ I only had information that was nearly a hundred years out of date. The previous Magus Dominus hadn¡¯t seen fit to update anything. He¡¯d sent in his essence tax and that had been it.

    He¡¯d been an arrogant and isolationist sort.

    Didn¡¯t matter.

    Much like when fixing a car, I''d see what was wrong before I started making changes. For all I knew, the village I was approaching was thriving. The Frost Riven didn''t come out this far any more. None of the clans did, from what Vaserra had said. The former Magus Dominus had only died a couple years ago, though his apparent association with Sarpit didn''t instill a great deal of hope. Friends of a feather and all that.

    I did note a gentle scent of something pleasant as we crossed one mountain ridge. When we moved to investigate, we found a glade of wild flowers. Tresla kneeled down, picking one up and gently sniffing at it. "Inertia would know for sure, but I think these are used in some of the soaps exported by Terra Vista."

    It was a small thing, but at least it was something. However, it was a reminder of how close Terra Vista was. I wasn¡¯t exactly excited at the thought that their Final Refrain might spread to my domain. If I was lucky, they¡¯d focus their attention on the Hundred Kingdoms, who actually had the strength to deal with them.

    Unfortunately, the flower was the sole potential resource we passed. To make matters worse, the rough mountain trails we were following only got rougher the closer we got to the village.

    Several of the stone bridges that once spanned the gaps had even been knocked down in their entirety. Which explained why the clans had stopped visiting.

    "This is recent," Calbern said as he inspected the third broken bridge we''d come across. "This debris shows very little wear, despite the harsh storms that are supposed to pass through here. A year or two. Possibly less."

    "Maybe they didn''t trust their neighbors to leave them alone once they lost their Magus Dominus''s protection," I suggested, though not very hopefully. Destroying infrastructure was generally a desperate move, from what I¡¯d read.

    "An impeccable decision, if so, master Perth. With such a remote location, I would suspect finding a suitable Magus Dominus would be quite a challenge. They may not have expected a replacement for some time," Calbern said, pushing to his feet as he considered the gap.

    He held up his hand, then kicked one of the pieces of rubble to the side, testing the upturned lip with his foot, before nodding to himself.

    The fact I climbed back into Fang even after he nodded surprised me. That he took a run up to the bridge before driving up the ramp shaped lip, sending us soaring across the gap, didn''t.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    It left my stomach doing flops even as Tresla screamed in delight. Being a passenger when going off jumps was so much worse than being the one driving. Especially with Fang¡¯s lack of suspension. Still, we''d lost enough time going around the previous two, that I felt letting Calbern take the risk was worth it. As we slowed to properly navigate the broken trail, I called out, "Maybe we should build ramps at each gap until we can replace the bridges."

    "An excellent idea, master Perth!" Calbern called back with an unusual degree of enthusiasm. I was mostly just glad he finally seemed to be over his embarrassment.

    If I''d known all it would take was a jump over a yawning abyss or two¡­ well, I would''ve encouraged him to do a few. Preferably without me.

    After our jump across the canyon, our route got even more twisted, going up and down ridges following barely intact roads.

    We didn''t make it to the village before nightfall, but that was probably for the best. Fang was an excellent ride, but it didn''t exactly have ¡®we come in peace¡¯ vibes. More like, we''re here to eat you, and your children too.

    There was a small watchtower under the shade of a massive oak tree near the edge of the road that was in passable condition. It was even stocked with some non-perishable supplies, though there were enough leaves and other loose debris it was easy to tell it''d been a while since anyone had been inside.

    When we went up to the top, I was just able to see a trail of smoke rising from the sky in the general direction of the village.

    "We''re almost there, master Perth," Calbern said, stepping up next to me.

    "Been a long road, Calbern," I said, staring at that little wisp of smoke, wondering what it meant. It seemed too small to be more than a single campfire. Was that all that was left of the village? Would we be the only people who lived in my domain?

    "Faster than expected though," Calbern said, his eyes shifting to Fang. "And with more than one surprise along the way."

    "That''s the nature of a journey, isn''t it though?"

    "Quite right, master Perth. Quite right," Calbern said, squeezing my shoulder. "You have come far, and I do not solely mean the miles we have crossed."

    And there it was. Another perfect opportunity to explain the truth. With Tresla down on Fang, torturing another poor piece of drake leather, we wouldn''t be interrupted either.

    "I¡­ listen¡­" I said, gripping the edge of the stone tower. "There''s something I''ve been meaning to tell you."

    "I am always here to listen, master Perth," Calbern said, his posture perfect, his gaze fixed in the distance as he searched the sky.

    ¡°Master Perth,¡± I said, muttering the words to myself. "That¡¯s not¡­ do you remember the morning after my awakening?"

    "Quite well."

    "Well, the night before there was¡­ I¡¯m not¡­" I trailed off, my knuckles going white as my grip on the edge tightened. Unable to look at him, I instead focused on the wisp of smoke in the distance. ¡°Sosa helped me perform a ritual¡­¡±

    "Ah. That is your concern,¡± Calbern said after several seconds of silence, inclining his head in my direction. ¡°Please continue, master Perth. I am listening."

    Despite his prompting to continue, I hesitated, looking towards Calbern. He was staring into the distance, his eyes unfocused, his breathing deeper than usual.

    ¡°It¡­ didn¡¯t go as planned,¡± I said, still not able to bring myself to say the words. To tell him that I¡¯d killed the man he loved. That I was an impostor.

    Calbern simply nodded.

    Finally, I gathered myself. "The ritual summoned a soul from another world. It was meant to take the soul and feed their magic into¡­ It failed."

    ¡°You always did give too much heed to your brothers,¡± Calbern said, his hand squeezing my shoulder. "I had suspected something of the sort. Evarl Aranor indicated you had engaged in an illegal soul ritual. Though he did not explain the details, he mentioned that the ritual would¡­ change you.¡±

    His hand dropped away, a small smile on his face as his posture returned to its normal impeccable position. Neither of us said anything for a few minutes after that, both of us staring into the distance.

    ¡°I¡­ am glad that you¡¯ve learned from the experience,¡± Calbern finally said, nodding slightly. ¡°Your progress since¡­ while I was disappointed you had so little faith in yourself, I am proud that it has opened your eyes.¡±

    His approving smile made me look to my feet.

    "I¡­" I honestly didn''t know how to respond to that.

    After nearly a minute of silence, Calbern cleared his throat before saying, "It is¡­ honestly something of a relief that you have chosen to share this with me.¡±

    "I¡­ it wasn¡¯t much of a success," I said, staring at the back of my hands. "All those memories¡­ a soul doesn¡¯t just disappear. It fights back. Even when its unconscious and unaware. And if I¡¯d lost¡­ Everything the consumed soul knew is inherited by the survivor, but their soul is gone. It¡¯s a wicked thing."

    "It is," Calbern agreed, not bothering to hide the tear that fell. Then he turned and fixed me with those too steady eyes. "It gnawed at me, that what it took to fix my mistakes was such a terrible ritual. To know that you were not¡­ I do not know his name, but I tell you true, the one who was lost would be proud to know what you have done with their memories." He clapped me on the shoulder then, and said in a clear voice. "As am I. I am proud to serve you. And I thank you for trusting me with the truth."

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    The truth¡­

    When he released my shoulder, we both turned back to staring out at the sky.

    Several minutes later, I said, "Percival."

    "Percival?" Calbern asked, turning towards me.

    "Percival was the name of the soul summoned that night," I explained, feeling a degree lighter. ¡°One I feel far more kinship with these days than Perth.¡±

    Calbern tilted his head forward a degree, as he said softly, ¡°Master Percival? Magus Dominus Percival?¡±

    ¡°You can just call me Perry,¡± I said, uncomfortable with him saying my old name while not knowing it was me.

    "Master Perry, then," Calbern said, nodding decisively.

    "Just Perry''s fine."

    "As you say, master Perry," Calbern replied, a hint of a smirk on his face.

    "You can be a right bastard sometimes, you know that," I shot back, a smile sneaking its way onto my own face despite myself.

    "I''ll have you know, I can indeed," Calbern said, smirk fixed firmly in place. Both of us stood there, staring at my domain in silence for several long moments. Then Calbern twitched his eyebrows every so slightly as he added with his ever perfect enunciation, ¡°Master Perry."

 Chapter 38 - Giving Candy

    "So, you''re a soul killer, huh?" Tresla said first thing when we walked down from the top of the watchtower. Her shadowed form stood out stark against the tower wall, the setting sun failing to paint her, despite the glow of the walls around her.

    "You were eavesdropping?"

    "Dropping the what now?" Tresla asked, a glint of red escaping as she turned her hood toward me.

    "I¡­ uhh, listening in," I said, surprised she didn''t know the expression. ¡°Do you not know that one?¡± I was pretty sure I''d said the Elinder version.

    "Ha, just messing with you," Tresla said, throwing her stitched piece of leather at me. "Hard not to with ears like these," she said, tapping the side of her head.

    "Guess I''ll have to take your word for it. Unless you¡¯ve changed your mind about removing the hood."

    "Ha! You wish. You''d love to get a look at my ears, wouldn''t you?" Tresla teased, her musical laughter ringing out.

    ¡°As if. You¡¯re just jealous of mine,¡± I shot back, flipping my hair back while gesturing to my ears.

    Tresla laughed.

    "You know, you''re a lot less¡­ formal when Inertia''s not around," I said, setting the scrap of leather to the side before kneeling down to clear out the fireplace. A task I¡¯d been meaning to help with, though hadn¡¯t actually had a chance to practice with Inertia around. She had a tendency to dominate all fire related tasks.

    "That''s¡­ part of our Stone Pact. Translating for her means keeping the meaning as close as possible. So if she¡¯s talking a certain way, I gotta too. I get in the habit," Tresla explained with a shrug. "Not the worst thing in the world."

    "Still kinda bunk. Where¡¯s soul-killing rank?" I asked as I channeled mana into Torch to ignite the wood I''d jammed into the fire pit.

    "Eh, defensive soul-killing is about as bad as giving candy to a baby," Tresla said, waving her hands widely.

    ¡°Defensive?¡± I asked, glancing over at her. Sure, it was the truth, but I hadn¡¯t said anything of the sort.

    ¡°The old man heard what he wanted to hear,¡± Tresla said, patting my shoulder. ¡°Hearing the truth is part of a Translator¡¯s duty.¡±

    I frowned as my fire failed to keep going once I let Torch expire.

    ¡°And how did you get that out of¡­¡± I asked, leaning down to blow on the fire like I¡¯d seen Vaserra do once. I ended up with a face full of ash.

    As I was wiping the ash out of my eyes, Tresla replied, ¡°Wasn¡¯t master Perth who won that little tussel, was it, Percival?¡±

    I looked up at her, trying to see her face. But as always, all I could catch was a glimpse of red. She wasn¡¯t giving me anything.

    Before I could press her, I heard the sound of Calbern¡¯s footsteps returning. When he stepped in, he paused, his gaze shifting between me, to Tresla, before finally landing on the fire pit.

    I thought maybe he¡¯d overheard Tresla, but if so, he gave no sign of it as he shook his head, drawing out a cloth and handing it to me. Then he gestured towards the fire. Letting him take my place, I stepped back and watched him rearrange the wood into a sort of crossed pattern, almost like one of those popsicle cabins we''d built back when I''d still gone to school.

    As he worked, I recalled something Tresla had said. "So¡­ Giving candy to a baby is¡­ bad?"

    Tresla stayed silent until Calbern stood, making a comment about needing more spices before heading back to Fang. Less than two minutes and he¡¯d turned it from a pile of mulched wood into a roaring blaze.

    "No. Well, maybe a tiny bit, if you''re trying to give the parents a bad time. But that''s the point. Gobbling someone else''s soul after they tried to gobble yours first kinda means you didn''t do anything wrong. By the divine threads, he plucked your soul out of the great beyond with the intention of destroying you," Tresla said, picking up the piece of leather I''d set aside and tossing it at me again.

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Having had her toss it at me twice, I actually looked at it this time. It wasn''t just a piece of leather. It was a corded vambrace. It wasn''t the best craftsmanship I''d seen in either world. In fact, it was pretty rough. But it had my Magecrest on it. And underneath that, spelt out phonetically in Elinder, was ''Perry''.

    Which was when I realized how much worse Perry looked in Elinder than Perth. Especially the way she was holding it. "Wow. Maybe I''ll keep going by Perth," I said as I ran my hand over the stitching.

    "Ah, yes. That is indeed¡­ unfortunate," Calbern said, inspecting the vambrace over my shoulder. When I glanced past him, the fire was blazing merrily with a pot set over it, dinner already brewing.

    "What?" Tresla asked, snatching the vambrace out of my hand to inspect her work.

    "Imagine those are Alvian characters," I said, unable to keep a smile off my face.

    "Whose shadow are you walking within? Elinder characters don''t look like Alvian," Tresla said, shaking the vambrace at me.

    "When it''s upside down?" I asked, gesturing at the vambrace once more.

    Tresla stopped shaking it, then turned it upside down. Then she snorted out the most musical snort I''d ever heard. "Yeah. Fun. That''s what I get for using stylized characters."

    "Still, perhaps it would be best if you continued to go by Perth, master Perry," Calbern said, raising a single eyebrow.

    But I could see the smirk hiding in those eyes.

    "Maybe I will, servant Calby," I replied, earning myself a second eyebrow.

    "Much fun as this is, how long for dinner? I''m starving," Tresla said, taking the vambrace over by the fire and pulling out the thread before I could pretend to protest.

    I simply waved toward the fire, letting Calbern take the lead. Much as I might''ve tried to be self sufficient, I didn''t want others to suffer for it. And any meal I had a hand in would lead to exactly that.

    To my surprise, the evening was full of laughter.

    I wasn¡¯t sure how we ended up there, but it seemed my failed confession had broken down some invisible wall. For the first time since they''d joined me, it felt like me, Calbern and Tresla were friends, instead of¡­

    Instead of whatever we''d been before.

    I took first watch at Calbern''s insistence. He swore that his night vision was superior to mine even with my Eagle Eyes, and Tresla had already passed out by the time we discussed it, earning her last watch.

    Which meant I worked on my Astral soul again. I couldn''t be sure if it was our earlier conversation, or if I was just getting better at it, but I made more progress that night than I had since I''d unlocked my second slot. Though when Calbern took over, I crashed hard.

    Unlike me, Tresla wasn''t useless with a campfire, and managed to produce a meat and bacon omelet, which she served on hard biscuits. Apparently Calbern had stocked up on our mundane supplies when we were with the Frost Riven''s keep and I''d only found out at breakfast. He¡¯d also kept some of the drake meat and eggs. Not much, but enough for Tresla to make the omelets she loved.

    I wasn¡¯t as entranced, but they were pretty good for road food.

    "So, do we take Fang any closer, or should we walk from here?" I asked once we''d stepped out into the morning sun.

    "It would not make sense to abandon all our supplies, master Perry. I will remain with Fang while you travel closer," Calbern said, his hand on Fang¡¯s front wheel.

    "Seriously, if you''re going to continue using the master, I''d rather you kept to Perth. It''s just too weird being called master Perry," I said, shuddering. "But that''s not a bad plan."

    "Very well, master Perth," Calbern said, inclining his head.

    "What about you Tresla, do you want to back me up, or stay with Calbern?"

    Tresla shifted in place, her gaze fixed in the direction of the village before her hood tilted towards Fang. Then she looked towards me, a glimmer of red escaping her hood before it went dark once more. "I¡­ think you would be best served by approaching without me."

    "Why?"

    "Because, most do not react as well to a cloaked figure as you lot did," Tresla explained with a shrug.

    "You''re four feet tall. Who¡¯s going to react poorly to that?"

    "Many people, master Perth," Calbern said. "Especially the superstitious and small minded."

    "They worked for a Magus Dominus. We literally do magic," I grumbled even as I smoothed out my robes. Notably, not any of the robes we''d been traveling in. Calbern had dressed me up properly in the only set of fancy robes I''d allowed him to pack for me.

    "If people were reasonable, Sarpit wouldn''t treat his ''sheep'' so poorly," Calbern pointed out while inspecting my outfit one more time, adjusting the scarf, as though it wasn''t going to get bent out of shape again the moment I took a step. Surprisingly, he''d been okay with me wearing the rough vambrace Tresla had made me, now restitched to say Perth on the outside. Probably helped that it was made out of Inferno drake leather.

    "Fine. I concede the point. Still think it''s stupid that it''s valid."

    "Me too. Usually I don''t care, cause walking around with an eight foot, two tonne, war machine makes it a moot point," Tresla said with a shrug. "People tend to forget about me when Inertia''s around."

    "Ha, only when they first meet you, I bet," I said, squaring my shoulders. "Okay, I''m ready."

    "Not everyone is like you and your sister, Perry," Tresla said, her normally musical voice sounding strangely flat, getting me to glance in her direction. Of course, all I could see was her cloaked figure. "May the threads watch over you."

    "Indeed, master Perth. Good luck."

    "Thanks. Have a feeling I''m gonna need it."

 Chapter 39 - The Village

    The walk from the watchtower to the village was the longest mile I''d ever walked. Paradoxically, it was the smoothest stretch of terrain we''d encountered since we arrived in my domain.

    Yet the responsibility pressing down on me was heavier with each step.

    Such a small community would be tight knit. Would they welcome me? They¡¯d been without a Magus for years.

    By the time the village was in sight, it took a tremendous amount of willpower to keep moving. There was no longer any wisp of smoke. In fact, there was nothing. Despite the sun having been up for several hours, there was no sign of life.

    Worrying. As I got closer, I came across a chasm. Only twenty feet across at the closest point. Basically nothing, if I was in Fang.

    I was almost tempted to turn back to get the others. Instead I looked for another way across. After nearly a minute, I spotted a rope bridge located on the far side of the village.

    Since the chasm seemed to wrap around the village, I started marching alongside it. The terrain was rough enough my attention was focused mainly on keeping my footing. Which made it easier going than when I was worried about my first impressions.

    I was halfway to the bridge when a noise made me look up. A giggle. From across the chasm. When I turned in that direction my jaw dropped open.

    The chasm didn''t just go around the village. It ran right through the center, nearly a hundred feet wide. Somehow, I''d mistaken it for the village''s central street.

    Which, in a way, it was.

    Except the village wasn¡¯t the buildings above.

    In the chasm, it looked a bit like a harbor had been built on a piece of cardboard, then folded and shoved into place. There were dozens of rope bridges leading back and forth across the chasm, with dozens of buildings built into the walls. Most of the buildings looked like they¡¯d once been ships, though some had the distinctive plainness that spoke of a warehouse.

    There was rigging, rope ladders and hanging vines stretched everywhere, a giant interconnected web of rope and wood.

    Another giggle drew my attention to a spot much closer.

    A little girl, not more than ten years old, was sitting sideways in a rope ladder, staring across the chasm at me, curly brown hair hiding her eyes. Still giggling.

    "What''s so funny?" I found myself asking with a smile on my face.

    "You''re stiff," she replied, her voice surprisingly clear through the open air. Her freckled cheeks stretched into a grin. Without losing her balance in the ladder, she held her arms in front of her, straight-out like she was impersonating a zombie. She even waved them up and down once before breaking into giggles again.

    I was suddenly feeling a lot better about my prospective people. A child with such a carefree attitude was a good sign.

    Before I could call out to ask her name, she looked over her shoulder. "Uh oh. Gotta go."

    "Wait, I¡¯m-" I called, but she was already gone. It was shocking how quickly she fled. A hand tugging at a rope, before leaping forward over twenty feet, bouncing across the roof behind her. Then she dropped several stories, her hand barely seeming to touch the rope as she disappeared amongst the buildings below.

    I was still staring in shock when a gang of four men in dark brown tunics made their way up the ladders to where she''d been sitting. When one of them saw me, he barked out a word that sounded a bit like intruder but also could''ve been outsider.

    Either way, the men following him all drew blowguns, aiming them in my direction.

    Well, I couldn''t have that.

    Despite the low ambient mana, I still had my own regeneration. And since I was almost to my third slot, I wasn''t too worried about using a reduced strength Create Ice to throw up a thin barrier between us.

    It only took ten percent of my mana. I nodded to myself, satisfied. I''d have that back in about six minutes.

    When they saw the barrier go up, their shouting intensified, though the wording changed. This time I knew exactly what they were yelling. "Frost Riven."

    That¡­ had been a somewhat predictable misunderstanding, hadn''t it?

    To be honest, this entire thing had me wildly off balance. Who builds their town in the middle of a chasm when you have flat space right there.

    Obviously, the answer was, these folks.

    "I am not a Frost Riven!" I shouted only to be met with a wave of darts crashing into my shield of ice. Despite my pleasure at seeing my barrier hold, I was hardly pleased with the way this was unfolding.

    "Maybe I should''ve just ridden in on Fang," I muttered. There wouldn''t have been any chance of being mistaken for a Frost Riven then. Not that it would''ve meant a warmer welcome. Unless I counted Fang''s steaming exhaust.

    I closed my eyes and simply accepted I was going to have to break out a tier two combat spell. I wouldn''t target them, I''d just¡­

    What? Scare them into surrendering?

    Shaking my head, I immediately discarded the idea. The smart thing to do was to simply back away.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    So that''s what I started to do. I took a step back. Then laughed at how useless my ice shield had been, as that single step had completely blocked their line of sight. I started picking my way along the edge of the rim back towards Calbern and Tresla, who I could barely pick out with Eagle Eyes, waiting where I''d first noticed the chasm. It didn''t take long to leave the hubbub behind. There was an awful lot of noise, but whoever was in charge, it didn''t seem to occur to them that I''d just leave.

    Which I wouldn''t have, if they hadn''t decided to shoot at me.

    I intended to meet up with Calbern and Tresla to discuss options.

    However, I never got that far.

    A large man popped over the lip of the chasm directly in front of me, one hand swinging him into place, the other hand on some sort of blasting rod I didn''t recognize. Only the fact he didn''t point it at me kept me from hitting him in the face with a Spark spell.

    Best non-lethal combat spell in Nexxa''s grimoire for dealing with a single mortal.

    "Halt outlander, in the name of Grivis," he said. His voice was as rich as his face was handsome. Which was very. Still, it was a little hard to take him seriously with the way his legs were wobbling.

    "Who''s Grivis?" I asked, crossing my arms. The previous Magus Dominus had been named¡­ Balltime or something like that. Not Grivis.

    "Grivis is in charge around here. And he says all outlanders are to be brought to him. So that''s what we''ll do," the man said, the wobbliness in his legs having stilled enough for him to take a half-step towards me.

    "Perfect. Exactly the man I need to talk to. Why don''t you go get him, and let him know the new Magus Dominus has arrived," I said, uncrossing my arms and shaking them out.

    A second later, I heard two heavy thumps behind me.

    Without turning around, and before they could get their legs under them, I fired off Gust, knocking both of the guards behind me on their sides, away from the chasm. At least, I was assuming they were guards. The one in front of me seemed like the type.

    "Grivis isn''t going to like that," the guard in front of me said, though he couldn''t stop a small smile from forming as he did. "Not gonna like that one bit."

    "Ugh. Why''re you talking to the roperot, Tanis? Just shock him and-" I risked a glance behind me just long enough to locate the guard who was talking and hit him with Spark. He collapsed atop his fellow guard, eliciting a wheezing grunt.

    "Yeah, Tanis," I said, smiling back at the big guard who was smiling even wider now. "Why''re you still talking to me? Let Grivis know I''m here. And anyone else you want to tell, while you''re at it." I nodded across the chasm to the buildings above the village. "I''ll be waiting for him. Or whoever is in charge near the closest warehouse. Neutral ground."

    "On it, boss lady," Tanis said with a grin.

    ¡°I¡¯m not-¡° I started, but before I could correct him, he was already hefting himself back over the edge without so much as looking. Uncertain whether he was actually that stupid, I wasn''t able to keep from peeking over the edge. Tanis was swinging to the far side with a thick rope in one hand. He let go in mid air and grabbed another, making his way across the cliffside village.

    Somehow, in the middle of the frost-ridden Frigid Peaks, my domain held a village full of acrobatic vine swingers.

    After ensuring they weren''t in any condition to immediately follow me, I relieved the two guards of their weapons before jogging back to Calbern and Tresla. Inspecting them, they looked like they each held about ten very short range discharges. No more than three feet from the tip.

    Now that I had a better idea of what we were dealing with, our next meeting was going to involve Fang. I hadn''t wanted to scare a bunch of helpless villagers, but this bunch was far from helpless. Having Fang there, along with Calbern and Tresla, would go a long way to establishing credibility.

    For a second, I felt a pang of regret that we hadn''t waited for Inertia. As Tresla had said, having an eight-foot, two-tonne war machine at your shoulder made a certain kind of impression.

    It was fine. I returned to the others, and it only took a single cast of Create Ice to set up a ramp for Calbern to get us across. The ramp cracked a little as we ran over it, causing my heart to crack right alongside it. Still, we only warbled a little more than usual when we landed.

    Then Calbern turned Fang towards the cluster of buildings I''d mistakenly assumed was the village. When we got close, I counted seven buildings, all of them built long and narrow with thick stone walls and stone slate roofing. None of the wood buildings I''d seen in the initial map Althon had shown me were anywhere to be seen.

    I had to admit, despite knowing there hadn''t been one on the map, I was also a touch disappointed there wasn''t a wizard tower. The closest thing were the peaks looming around us.

    We rolled up to the backside of one of the stone buildings, and deciding not to be a totally horrible person, I didn''t immediately poke my head inside to investigate.

    Instead I asked Calbern to check.

    "It seems to be dried vegetables and other preserved goods, master Perth," Calbern reported a few seconds later. ¡°Though they¡¯ve been tossed about somewhat.¡±

    "Makes sense, I guess," I said as we moved back a hundred feet from the building. "Just glad it wasn''t full of slaves or anything."

    "It is forbidden for a Magus Dominus to keep slaves," Calbern said. Before I could say anything, his face twitched. "Though, I imagine so distant from any of his peers, Magus Balthum may have escaped the notice of others."

    "I doubt the goons he left behind would''ve been much better than their boss," I said, still watching for said goons. Not that I expected to spot them before Calbern.

    "Seems more likely they''d be as bad as the Riven, if not worse," Tresla said, her pipe out for the first time since we''d split up with Inertia.

    "They only tried to shoot me with poisoned darts and arrest me, so I''m not too concerned yet," I said. There was a loud whine and my eyes narrowed. ¡°They could¡¯ve been a lot more-¡°

    "Back on Fang. Move!" Calbern ordered with unusual sternness.

    I didn''t question it. Calbern didn''t let Tresla climb on board, chucking her with adrenaline fueled strength. Thankful I''d maintained my routine with Calbern, I hopped inside but still landed half upside-down when Calbern hit the acceleration.

    My awkward position meant I saw the explosive hit where we''d been parked. It bloomed outward, fire splitting the evening sky with trailers of light.

    "That was my bad," I said, shaking my head. "Gave them a free shot."

    "I¡¯m afraid this confirms their hostility, master Perth," Calbern said, even as we circled back to take another look.

    "Yeah. And that was a physical object. Not magic. That means they''ve got a limited supply."

    "That was unpleasant," Tresla stated, having managed to get herself upright and turned around, a feat I was still working on.

    At least I had a good view of the sky. Scanning the air, I didn''t see any more projectiles falling towards us. "Did you see where it came from?"

    "I believe the projectile emerged from the center of the village, master Perth," Calbern replied, slowing Fang as we got close to the impact sight. The fire was still burning. Some sort of thick black sludge.

    Had they lit crude oil on fire and flung it at us? That was more crazy than brave.

    "Hmm. Inertia probably knows exactly what that is," Tresla said, standing up in her seat to peer down. "But it seems to be some form of protheum."

    It took a second for me to connect the word she used to my understanding of Elinder. The language didn''t have many words for crude oil products. Neither did Alvian.

    Interesting.

    "Pretty sure it is," I agreed, keeping my eyes on the chasm. "There''ll probably be more projectiles if we sit still. The question is¡­ do I want to let them waste precious resources?"

    "It seems unlikely this Grivis character is prepared to engage us with civility, master Perth. An alternative strategy may be in order," Calbern said, already driving us away.

    "Fair ''nuff," I replied, staring back at the still burning remnants clinging to the wall. "Guess it''s time for black ops."

 Chapter 40 - Hush

    The nice thing about being a mage with a grimoire literally packed to the gills with first order spells was the versatility. With a little preparation, I could do a lot.

    Such as use the librarian spell, Hush, to silence every noise we made.

    Combined with Eagle Eyes and the cover of darkness, our approach to the village went without notice, despite the half dozen men standing guard amongst the stone longhouses.

    Honestly, I doubted Calbern needed Hush, but it was best to be careful.

    At least for the moment.

    I noticed that Tanis wasn''t among the guards stationed at the top. I wondered if the large man was being kept in reserve by Grivis. Or maybe he''d been punished for relaying my message instead of attempting to subdue me.

    Before we began, I brought the others close. Practically touching. Had to be, to hear each other with Hush active. "Remember, we want to do this peacefully. No death. They might just be innocent guards."

    Receiving nods from both of them, I tapped Tresla on the shoulder. She moved forward, and sent smoke rings up around one of the guards. She hadn''t explained what it would do, other than insisting that she could neutralize them quietly for the night. When he slumped spinelessly to the ground, his equipment scraping and banging as he fell, I wondered if she understood what quietly meant.

    The way Tresla visibly winced, her hood shifting as she checked the nearest guards, it was apparent it hadn¡¯t gone as planned.

    Still, the other guards hadn''t noticed, so we continued our covert infiltration.

    When we popped over the edge, I couldn''t help but smile at Grivis making it so easy for us to find him. He''d posted a pair of guards outside one of the buildings, a former galleon that had been tilted onto its side, the mast stretching across the chasm with rope railings for support. The cargo access had been reworked as an entrance, and there were several platforms I doubted were an original part of the ships design along its length. One such platform had been erected near the base of the mast, where the guards were standing.

    "Trap?" I mouthed at Calbern, who simply shrugged.

    There wasn''t anyone else out, so I assumed it was either his home or where they stored the crude protheum they¡¯d shot at us. As we descended, I realized the real challenge.

    Everything was connected. Everything moved.

    Making our way down to the building was a bit like crossing a spider''s web. Too strong of a jerk, and the spider would feel it. Not every motion would be noticed though. Even with everyone asleep or in hiding, the rigging still shifted on its own. Which meant we were moving slow. Which meant eating up more and more of my mana. Across three people, Hush combined with Eagle eyes barely ate up more than my regeneration. Still, at the pace Calbern set, to ensure I didn¡¯t suddenly alert the guards, it was going to take us over an hour to get down to the level the building was on.

    Which didn''t account for us making it across to the building. We probably should''ve circled around the chasm and come in directly above.

    We were going to stand out like a sore thumb.

    Except when we got to the mast-turned-bridge, Calbern slid underneath. After a quick glance at the underside, I didn''t even attempt to follow him. On his own, he shimmied across in under a minute, the solid bridge, hiding his movements.

    Just as he was about to climb up, a gust tore through the chasm, setting the net to waving slightly.

    Which wasn''t enough to get the guards to do more than glance down. Behind them, Calbern rose up, one of their stun rods in each hand. A few sparks and a faint buzzing sound later and they were both slumping down. I was impressed. Both with Calbern and Hush. We''d tested the stun rod I¡¯d nabbed from the guards and they were just as loud as using a lightning spell.

    It seemed Hush countered that, to a degree.

    Calbern spun both of the stun rods before slipping them down to hang on his belt.

    Tresla and I hurried across the rope bridge with haste, our concern gone with the guards neutralized.

    Calbern waited with his ear pressed against the door. And I once more lamented not having a spell to increase hearing. The only first order one I possessed came with a significant downside. Even a loud thud had a high chance of causing the sort of hearing damage Minor Heal couldn''t fix. Useful in very specific circumstances, but not many.

    While Calbern listened for enemies or traps, Tresla and I each took one of the guards¡¯ stun rods before tying them up with their own belts. Once they were secured, I nodded to Calbern, who tried the door. It was locked, but taking the keys from one of the guards solved that.

    "What are you doing? I told you I don''t want to be disturbed unless you found that impostor," a nasally voice said as Calbern stepped into the room. I peeked around the frame.

    The person I suspected was the owner of the voice was crouched over something I couldn''t make out from my awkward angle. Calbern was just inside the room, crouching behind a wooden desk. As I inspected the room, I realized it was a lot deeper than the wooden facade of the galleon, though most of the depth was stone instead of wood. At the far end stood a pair of doors, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if goons were going to come streaming out of them.

    "Sorry, boss lady," Calbern said in a surprisingly high pitched voice. "But plans have changed."

    ¡°Really not the time,¡± I muttered under my breath.

    "Changed, what do you mean-" before Grivis could stand, Calbern was across the room, both stun rods buried in the thinner man¡¯s chest.

    I stood, stepping into the room after him, taking a closer look. It looked like an office, one from Ro''an, not any I''d seen on Earth. Big wooden desk, wooden chairs and a bunch of fancy paintings. Nicer than I expected, this far out.

    Moving across the room, I flinched when I saw what Grivis had been crouched over. Or who. I didn''t know her, but I imagined she''d been pretty before he''d gotten to her. Wasn''t sure if she was alive, but I still kneeled next to her and ran Minor Heal. When it took, I cast it again while looking towards Grivis. He had a pair of nasty burn marks on his face.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Unusually nasty work from Calbern.

    "Not a good look, torturing his own people," Tresla said, motioning to the victim¡¯s vest.

    It had been so stained by blood I hadn''t noticed, but it was the same as the rest of the guards. Her emblem was a little different though.

    "Is he alive?" I asked, waving towards the torturer who''d been running the village up till a minute ago.

    "Unfortunately, yes, master Perth. I thought you might desire to question him," Calbern said, his posture perfect and his hands tight at his sides.

    "Can''t imagine that''ll be pleasant. For him," Tresla said, stepping forward to look Grivis over. She pulled a few pieces of jewelry off, tossing them on the table. One she held up, smirking. "A ring of protection. Did you see it?"

    "Indeed. That is why I employed two," Calbern said, nodding towards Grivis'' face.

    "You''re a very dangerous man, Calbern," Tresla said, but I could hear the smile in her voice.

    "Thank you, scholar Tresla."

    Right as my mana hit twenty percent, the point I''d promised myself I''d stop, the woman I''d been healing coughed. A bloody lump splattered on me as she rolled to clear her lungs.

    "Right. That was on me," I said, staring down at the mess. Then I gestured towards Grivis. "Pass me a rag."

    Calbern''s smile was cold as he cut Grivis'' shirt to shreds. It looked expensive, but there was no way I''d use it for anything but rags.

    Thankfully, Calbern handed me more than one rag, and I was able to wipe the blood off my leg while handing an extra to the woman who''d finished coughing.

    A croak came from her throat, and I immediately brought a canteen of water from my storage and offered it to her. "Sorry. Should''ve thought of that."

    After taking a long pull off the canteen, she slumped back against the wall, her eyes flicking over to Grivis, then over each of us to settle on Calbern. She studied him for several long seconds before taking another drink then looking at Tresla for a second before back to me.

    "So¡­ the untied flapper finally pissed off the wrong people, huh?" she asked, her voice rough and raspy as she spit another clump of blood to the side.

    "Indeed," Calbern replied, offering her another strip of cloth.

    "Even using his shirt for rags. That''d make him livid, if he saw," the woman said, running a hand through her hair, only to pull it away in disgust. "Amazed I''m alive. Name''s Selvi."

    "Took a bit of healing, Selvi," I admitted. "Wasn¡¯t looking great for a bit there. And I was only able to fix the worst of it.¡±

    ¡°What did-¡° Selvi started asking, only for a cough from Grivis to cause her to twitch backward. "He''s not dead?!"

    "No," I said, frowning as I stood up and moved over to him. "Should he be?"

    "Could be I''m biased, but absolutely," Selvi spat, pushing against the wall and making her way to her feet. A second later, Calbern was there, holding his arm out for support. She stared at if for a second before grunting and letting him stabilize her. "Did you at least take his rotting staff?"

    "He didn''t have a staff," I said, glancing around the room. "Calbern?"

    "None that I was able to discern, master Perth."

    "Always has Balthum''s staff," Selvi said, her eyes scouring the room. "He wouldn''t have let it out of his reach."

    "That''s his name," I said, snapping my finger and pointing at her. When everyone looked at me, I waved my hand. "Not important. One of those a storage ring?" I asked, gesturing to the jewelry on the table.

    "I¡­ don''t know. There were many artifacts Balthum left behind when he got himself offed. Grivis only kept me alive ''cause he thought I knew how to activate them. Didn¡¯t. And even if I did, I wouldn''t have told the little prick," Selvi said, spitting again, though this time directly onto Grivis. "Guess he ran out of patience."

    Wasn''t sure if there was a code of conduct for how I was supposed to treat prisoners, but spitting on him after he''d tortured her nearly to death seemed acceptable. Would''ve done worse to my old man, if I''d been able, and he¡¯d never tortured me.

    Not directly, anyway.

    I moved to the jewelry on the table. Using Access Storage wouldn''t necessarily get me into a storage ring, but it should at least¡­

    "Ah ha," I said, holding up the pendant. "A storage item. Now I just need to unlock it."

    "If he has the key, I can bring it forth," Tresla said. "Won''t be pretty though. You''ll want to ask your other questions first."

    "Will it kill him?" I asked, trying to remember what I''d read about storing one storage item inside another. Pretty sure it didn''t work, at least for the lower order stuff. Something about dimensional overlap and weakening boundaries. There was some other stuff in there too, but Perth hadn¡¯t been paying enough attention, and I hadn¡¯t had time to delve into the topic.

    "No. But he won''t be talking for a week," Tresla said, a smoke ring drifting out to settle over his head.

    "Ha, sounds like growing the Mats and eating them too," Selvi said, attempting to spit on him again but unable to work up the phlegm.

    I handed her a second canteen of water.

    Selvi grabbed it, took a hard swig of it then spit on Grivis, all while holding Calbern''s arm to stay upright.

    "Okay, let''s start with some simple questions," I said, gesturing towards one of the chairs near the desk. "If you''re up for it."

    "Sure as the rope hangs down," Selvi said while stomping over to the chair, practically dragging Calbern along. "What''d you want to know?"

    "You used to work for the Magus Dominus Balthum?"

    "Sure. Everyone did. Was his personal guard," Selvi said, shaking her head and spitting to the side. "Worst decision ever. Thought it''d be all glory and honor."

    "Guessing that didn''t happen."

    "Ha! What''re you, the high dragon of understatements? Heights take you. Of course, it didn''t fall that way," Selvi said, her fist curling around the arm of the chair.

    "So¡­ what did?"

    "What didn''t? If it was wrong or twisted¡­ look, most of us hadn''t known a life outside of Balthum. I thought I knew what I was getting into. Everyone knew¡­ sometimes someone went missing. But it''s Tetherfall. Dangerous here. People slip sometimes."

    "But?"

    "But¡­ people didn''t go missing nearly as often once Balthum died. Cause he was the thing what went bump in the night round here. Used people for his experiments. Or toys. Had a whole secret lab locked away in the dark. Took me there sometimes, though I don¡¯t know the way," Selvi said, waving an arm. "Tried to kill him once. Been his guard less than a month and he took this girl. She was my friend. Real pretty. Not when he was done with her. Shanked him in his bed, straight through the heart and everything."

    "It didn''t stick," I guessed, glancing over at Grivis. "Sounds like this one was a step up."

    "Sure, if you weren''t on his shit list," Selvi said, shaking her head. "Or had something he wanted. Only reason he wasn''t bad as the Magus Dominus was cause his power''s all stolen." She took another deep breath. "But yeah, I stuck a spear the width of my hand through Balthum''s withered heart. Instead of having the decency to die, he sat up, live as the morning wind. He met my gaze, then smooth as pudding, slid the spear out of his chest, his flesh regrowing. As I was still absorbing that, he said, ''Now you know.'' Then he told me to get his breakfast started, like all I''d done was wake him early. Like I hadn¡¯t just¡­"

    Selvi shivered, and I was tempted to leave it there. But she shook herself violently before lifting her head up.

    "If he was that powerful, how''d he die?" I asked, glancing over at Calbern. He nodded, his eyes playing over the artifacts on the table.

    "That''s the thing, isn''t it? He just did. Was floating up out of Tetherfall one day, off to do his typical routine one second, dead the next," Selvi said with a shrug. "I always figured the little Rat finally found a poison that worked."

    "Grivis?"

    "Nah, the Wood Rat. Tetherfall''s own good luck charm," Selvi said, smiling for the first time since she''d woken. "She''s an orphan, lost both her parents to Balthum. But he could never catch her, no matter what spells he used."

    "That''s¡­" I was going to say unlikely. But I''d learned that the magic Perth knew was a very narrow subset of magic available on the continent. Obviously, it produced the most consistent results, given the number of Dragon-souled individuals, but that didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t other magic out there. After all, dragons didn¡¯t become great wyrms by using the ensouled method.

    "Yeah. She''s our own little piece of the storm. Grivis hates her almost as much as he hates me," Selvi said, still smiling. "You''ll know her when you see her. Curly brown hair, cutest freckles, and can scale the rig like she''s half rat."

    "Oh. I think I''ve met her," I said, looking towards the door. "Technically, she was the first person from Tetherfall to greet me."

    "Better than Grivis''s men, by a long rope," Selvi said, leaning back and finally letting Calbern''s arm go. "Must''ve led you here. Told ya. Lucky."

    I didn''t bother correcting her assumption.

    Because Grivis had just woken up.

 Chapter 41 - By a Thread

    "Morning sunshine," I said, sitting on the edge of the desk.

    Grivis groaned, rolling onto his side. Only then did he seem to realize he was bound and half naked.

    "What¡­ you can''t do this to me. Do you know who I am?"

    "Petty dictator? Mage impersonator? A man with a really big gun?" I asked with more amusement than I probably should''ve. "I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve already figured out who I am."

    His eyes narrowed as his eyes flicked around the room. When they settled on Selvi, where she was resting in the chair, still torn up, but obviously awake and watching him, he went still.

    Slowly, his eyes shifted back to look at me. "You''re the new Magus Dominus."

    Selvi gasped. Which made me realize I¡¯d never gotten around to telling her that bit. Still, I didn''t look away. "That''s right. And I hear you''ve been running things since Balthum''s death."

    "I have. Better than that old bastard ever did," Grivis said, rubbing his jaw against his shoulder before looking up at me again. "He was a great man, but he should''ve let me do more."

    "Hmm. Doesn''t seem to be the popular opinion," I said, before reaching over and dangling the pendant in front of him. "Recognize this?"

    "That''s mine! Give it back," Grivis said, lunging forward. In that moment, I felt a surge of mana. It was tiny, but it was enough. Enough he''d probably unlocked his first slot.

    "Technically, all property of a Magus Dominus transfers to the new Magus Dominus once he takes up the mantle," I said, still swinging the pendant back and forth.

    Grivis''s eyes remained locked on the pendant for several seconds before switching back to me. "Technically," he repeated, sounding the word out slowly, his eyes flicking back to the pendant. "What¡­ what do you want for the pendant?"

    "For this? A lot. A lot of boring details that neither of us really want to talk about. But we will, because, annoying as it is, logistics makes the world go round. Least, that¡¯s what Books tells me," I said, glancing at Calbern. ¡°Make sure he tells you where the beacon is, yeah?¡±

    He nodded, stepping forward.

    And then he proceeded to interrogate Grivis on exactly what I''d said we would. Food stores. Six months of varied dried storage for 152 people, the total population of the village. Magical supplies. Enough powder to craft twelve rune pages. Several other components he didn''t understand. No idea where the beacon was. He¡¯d never seen anything that matched its description. They had oodles of replacement ropes and the chasm vines they used to grow them though. Enough to build the entire settlement over again if it all burned down. Rough wood planks, in the same amount.

    "Wait, why so much rope and wood?" I muttered.

    "Oh, I can answer that one," Selvi said, letting Calbern continue his interrogation.

    "Hit me," I said, earning a squint.

    Then Selvi shrugged while shifting in the chair. "Maybe twenty years after Balthum moved in, had a big storm roll in. They say it was the great storm itself, that it reached out to punish us for settling so close. Don''t know if that''s true, but what is true is that lightning tore up the whole peninsula. Waves drowned islands what had stood for hundreds of years. Destroyed the harbor, and most of the town that was up top."

    Apparently, listening in, Grivis interrupted, "Was Balthum himself that done it. Called in the storm to keep people away."

    "Chasm swallow you, rope rot," Selvi said, struggling to stand up.

    Grivis shrunk down, backing against the wall as Selvi took a single step towards him.

    "Maybe we should split this up," I said, waving Calbern towards the back. He nodded, and gestured Grivis away.

    I waited until Grivis had slithered to the back of the room before returning my attention to Selvi. "You were saying?"

    "Right. Anyway, whole town gets wiped out, and Balthum decides to move it all into the chasm. Cept, it was a pain to get all this wood and rope right after the disaster. He had to haul all the ships up himself. And thing you gotta know about Balthum is, he hated doing his own dirty work. So he makes it a rule we''ve always gotta have enough rope and wood on hand to replace the whole Net ourselves. Saved a lot of lives over the years. Only good thing the bastard ever done other than kill a few monsters."

    "That¡­ huh, guess I was expecting more. Does that mean the village has woodworkers? And weavers?"

    "Sure, if weavers means lifebinders," Selvi said, shrugging.

    "Lifebinders?"

    "Sure, them that makes the ropes that binds our lives together," Selvi said, her eyes narrowed and her lips squished as though I''d missed something incredibly obvious.

    "Okay. Do they make baskets too?"

    "Sure. And they weave shirts and such¡­ ah, that''s why ya call them weavers," Selvi said, nodding to herself.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    "Indeed," Calbern said, stepping over but not taking his eyes off Grivis. "I have all the information we need. It will need to be verified, of course, but it shall serve as a starting point. Assuming he has not lied too egregiously, I suspect everything to be in order. He was of the opinion that everything in the village belonged to him, so his notes were rather..."

    ¡°Thorough?¡± I supplied.

    ¡°Obsessive,¡± Calbern chose instead, a tiny frown creasing his lip.

    "That can''t be healthy," I said, glancing towards Grivis. "Guess it''s time to ask the hard questions."

    "Let me help. I can rough him up good," Selvi said. Despite her enthusiasm, she struggled to even lift herself out of her chair.

    "While I appreciate your dedication, you can''t trust information you get from such brutal methods," I said, standing up and taking a single step towards Grivis. I turned back to look at her. "I''d think you''d know that by now."

    "Just wanted to rough him up some, is all," Selvi said, smiling back.

    "Fair ''nuff," I said, my attention returning to Grivis. I kept the pendant swinging loosely as I approached. "Now, you''ve been helpful. My friend is going to check what you''ve told him, and assuming you told the truth, and that you answer the rest of my questions honestly, I''ll give you the pendant, alright?"

    It was a lie. The gleam in his eye told me all he needed was a second and he thought I''d be screwed. Which is why the pendant I was dangling was actually a sparkly rock that only looked like the pendant on the outside. Copy Object was a horrible illusion spell, since you had to be holding the original object for it to work. And if he''d had any sort of sensory enhancement, or was even able to touch it, he''d be able to tell it was a fake right away.

    "Okay, first question. Where''s your backup stash? The one you keep hidden?" His eyes flicked away from the pendant for a second. I didn''t catch where he''d been looking, but I trusted Calbern had.

    "The pendant," he lied, nodding at it.

    "Huh. Well, that makes me the fool, doesn''t it," I said, shaking my head, my frown calculated to say I was exactly that.

    And Grivis might''ve been able to read people, but my old man had taught me to lie really well. Good enough even he couldn''t read me. And the spark that shone in his eye was all I needed to know Grivis couldn''t either.

    Well, that was one less concern, anyway. Now for the important stuff.

    "You ever raped anyone? Experimented on them?" I asked, leaning forward. "Hurt them for the fun of it?"

    "Never," Grivis replied with a straight face. Entirely straight. Not so much as a flicker.

    "You rotten rope! Lying sack of Arvi-dung," Selvi screamed from across the room, exactly as I''d expected.

    Grivis flinched, his gaze flicking to me then back to the pendant.

    "Getting the impression you were less than truthful that time," I said, giving him a small smile.

    "Well, okay, I might''ve hurt a few people. But only to pay them back for wrongs done to me first," Grivis said, his words practically rolling over each other by the end.

    "Uh huh. Everyone does that," I lied.

    "Exactly, everyone does it," Grivis agreed, nodding along, the dilation in his eyes receding.

    "Might be best if she''s taken out," I said, turning around and mouthing, ''keep her here.''

    "Right away, master Perth," Calbern said, moving next to Selvi and quietly talking to her.

    Before Grivis could look their direction, I snapped my fingers, bringing his focus back. "Okay, friend. I understand you''ve had a lot on your shoulders here. Running everything is thankless work, am I right?"

    Grivis let out a nervous chuckle, probably the first honest emotion I''d seen from him since I started asking my questions. "Don''t I know it."

    "And no one appreciates it. Appreciates you," I said, nodding along.

    "No one! You know how much I sacrificed for this rotten basket of idiots?" he asked, leaning forward, the pendant momentarily forgotten.

    "No idea friend. Why don''t you tell me?"

    "I had dreams, you know? Wanted to get out of here, become a proper mage. See the world, maybe find myself a nice woman or two," Grivis said, his hands clenched. "Course, Balthum never let anyone leave. Not unless it was in chains. Not even good old Grivis. Loyal as they come, but still not allowed to go."

    "It''s not right," I said, shaking my head.

    "Not right at all. I cried, when he died. Damn near lost the whole village, was so lost in the chasm, rope frayed near to breaking, as it were," Grivis said, his eyes going distant. "Then I saw her."

    "Her?"

    "They call her the wood rat. But I knew the truth. See, Balthum didn''t take her parents on accident. They were chosen cause they had potential. Could''ve been mages. Said so in his notes," Grivis replied, shaking his head. "And I knew that she done it. She killed the kindest man I ever knew. That''s when I knew I had to preserve his legacy. Till the next came along."

    "And you did a good job of that, didn''t you?"

    "Best I could, bridge collapse if I''m lying," Grivis said. And in that moment, I felt pity for this man. Didn''t let it show on my face, but it was still there. He really thought he had done it for the mage. And that Balthum had been kinder to him than anyone else in his life¡­

    Well, I knew people could warp their own memories, even without magic. I¡¯d seen that when I¡¯d tried to help the others, after the old man had kicked it.

    "So, you preserved his legacy¡­ for me?" I asked, the fake pendant dangling by a thread, seemingly forgotten out of sight.

    "For a real Magus Dominus. One what respected me, the way he should," Grivis said, a small smile slipping onto his face.

    "Ah," I said, shaking my head before meeting his gaze. "Not me then."

    "No," he said with a little sigh. Then he lunged for the fake pendant, his eyes lighting up with delight for all of a second as his mana ran through mine, sending the passcode for the amulet.

    "That¡­" I said, shocked at the clarity of his mana. "You didn''t develop a skill slot. You made a fixed spell. One that can only open one lock."

    I sat back, unable to believe it as I stared at him. He''d sacrificed more than just that spell slot. The path of the ensouled mage was forever closed to him. If I''d woken up in his body instead of Perth''s, out here on the edge of nowhere, would I have gotten stuck like him?

    And yet¡­ how many natural magic users were there? Was there another path for someone like Grivis. There¡¯d been mentions that wizardry hadn¡¯t been humanity¡¯s first path to power. Just its most reliable.

    The sound of a slap broke me out of my thoughts. Selvi was standing over Grivis, her hand raised for another blow.

    "Stop," I said, pushing to my feet.

    "Magus Dominus," Selvi said, dropping to one knee. "Please, let me punish this rope rot. He doesn''t deserve to live."

    "Maybe not," I said, looking down at where Grivis was sprawled on the floor. "But that''s not up to you to decide."

    "Understood, Magus Dominus," Selvi said, though I could hear her grinding her teeth.

    "Don''t think you do. Pretty sure you''ve all lived by the whims of others for most of your lives," I said, brushing myself off as I pulled the real pendant free of my robes, setting it to the side. "But a civilization has laws. Rules that we live by."

    "We have laws," Selvi objected. "The rites of rope and rigging. Not what they applied to this one or his cronies."

    "And what do your laws say about Grivis, now that he''s subject to them?"

    A whimper escaped Grivis. Selvi finally looked up, a wide grin splitting her face.

    "They say, a man that commits any one of the crimes Grivis''s known to have done in the last seven days is sentenced to become one with the nets."