A Mage's Power (Journey to Chaos)
Page 44
A rush of power flowed into his fingers, up his arm and to the rest of his body. Eric's eyes shot open. Could it be!? He ripped off the paper and there it was; his staff. Exactly as he remembered it in his not-a-dream: a head shorter than he, made of dark oak, a knot of wood at one end as large as his closed fist, and smattered with runes. The staff grew pleasantly warm in his hands. I missed you too.
Fixed to the opposing end with golden-brown amber was an addition. The crystal arrowhead he found in the Altar of Rebirth transformed his staff into a spear.
Not a dream! Not a dream! He really did go to a world of magic, work as a mercenary, and defeat a Greater Mage! His friends; all of them really did exist! Annala, Oito, Revas, Kasile, Basilard, Nolien, Tiza . . .Tasio!
The mage dashed to the front door, knocking Oliver over and hoping beyond hope to find a pointy-eared deliveryman. Someone in uniform disappeared beyond the corner and he pushed himself faster. He reached the elevator just before it closed and shoved his staff between the gap. The doors opened onto an empty elevator car. Abyss take it!
Oliver was still in Eric's apartment when he returned. He was holding a book entitled Introduction to Magecraft and flipping through its pages. Eric grabbed it and noticed a slip of paper taped on the front. It read:
Dear Roomy,
You forgot this.
Love,
Your Bestest Friend in the World
Eric pocketed it. “After high school, I had the acting role of a mage in a mercantile company. My roommate sent me this when I lost it.”
Oliver nodded and munched a chip. “We have to talk about your mooching. If you eat it, you buy it. I put food in the fridge so I can eat it.”
“Ah come on, it's not that much.”
“Actually it is. You spend more time here than I do.” Eric pointed at the door with his staff. “Now please go back to your own apartment. I have work to do.” Oliver didn't move. The staff swiveled to point at him. “Don't make me cast a spell on you.”
Oliver snorted, but left all the same. Eric sat down at this computer to type. With several cups of coffee and an all-nighter, he finished the report in time to make the bus to work.
Just as before, Aaron was waiting for him at the elevator. He hadn't changed, but Eric had. Eric had faced orcs, mages, and masterminds and triumphed over all of them. He could handle a bully. In Hanson's office, he gave his report. It wasn't perfect by any means, but the boss general was impressed with the increased quality. Eric spent his lunch hour with Emily and finished it by asking her to dinner.
Floating outside the cafeteria window, Tasio flashed a victory sign.
“You may ask, ‘wasn't there a safer way to build his confidence?’ Of course, but I wasn't helping him alone. Annala wished for a friend that could have an intelligent conversation and Kasile wished for a friend she could relax around. As for Kallen, well, that's a smidge more complicated. I'll tell you later. Anyway, being the generous humanitarian that I am, I decided to help all of them at once.
You don't believe me? I'm hurt. Oh well, I must be going now. There is a little girl who wishes she were better at the piano. Duty calls.” Tasio snapped his fingers and vanished.
Eric's Journey Continues!
Journey to Chaos Book II: Looming Shadow
Visit http://trickstereric.blogspot.com for more information
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About The Author
Born in Kansas, US, Brian Wilkerson grew up playing Final Fantasy and watching Power Rangers. During middle school, he discovered Cartoon Network's anime programming block “Toonami” and was inspired to write fanfiction based its shows. All together, these inspired him to write his own original novel. While attending the University of Minnesota he wrote the first draft of Trickster Help Service and over the next seven years everything was revised and rewritten until it bore the name A Mage's Power.