by B. T. Narro
Michael asked, “What about this other mana that we can’t feel?”
Kataleya raised an eyebrow. “What about it?”
“Why the hell can’t we feel it if it’s there?”
She formed a cunning smile. “Actually, that’s quite interesting to consider, isn’t it?”
Michael scratched his head. “I don’t know, Kat. Why don’t you tell me how interesting it is?”
“When all of us were younger, we couldn’t feel our own mana. Now we can. I would think this implies that the same could happen to the mana around us. After enough time, or perhaps after we become more in touch with our mana, we might have access to a large amount of energy. Imagine how much more powerful it could make our spells.”
“What about Leon?” I asked. “Or Eslenda. Maybe they already have access to this mana.”
“It would explain why they are so much stronger than the rest of us,” Kataleya agreed. She had clearly already thought of this.
“Speaking of,” I said, “I still don’t know what Jennava specializes in. I’ve never seen her cast.”
“Because it’s dteria,” Kataleya said. “She doesn’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary.”
Oh. I wondered how strong she was with it.
Reuben asked, “There’s nothing else she can cast?”
“I believe she has a wide range and can cast a number of erto spells, but she doesn’t have a strong grasp on any of them.”
“What about ice?” I asked. I had only met one ice mage, a vain woman who surprised me by actually putting herself at risk to fight back against Cason and the other dark mages who had attacked the castle. I wondered if I might see her again or meet the other sorcerers who used their casting to make a living. As of recently, I had felt like there were too few of us trying to make a difference in this war.
They won’t join unless the king is offering to pay them handsomely. He hadn’t in the past, because their services had been too expensive considering that most of us seemed to be better fighters than they were. Now that our enemies from Rohaer were coming, however, the king might be more desperate.
“I don’t think Jennava can use ice,” Kataleya said.
I had learned the spell Fire after a whole day of practicing nothing else. I could make flames at will, but I didn’t have much control over them like I did with dvinia. I had only used the spell while traveling, to start my campfires, and once against Gourfist to set his feathers on fire. I knew I would be seeing the beast again before this was over, perhaps sooner rather than later.
The main spell of ice was lC, lE, lG. The lowercase “L” stood for “Lower” because these notes were lower in frequency than higher versions of the same notes.
Considering the lowest frequency I could reach was lC, I could potentially cast a spell of ice. I figured if I did take the day to learn the spell, I wouldn’t be able to do much with it besides make a cluster of ice that I supposed I could propel at an enemy. That wouldn’t do very much good, so I hadn’t taken the time to practice.
The purpose of ice seemed to be more practical rather than a tactic used for combat. Seeing as how snow wasn’t common here like it was in Bhode, I assumed ice mages did very well for themselves by offering their services of encasing perishable food in ice.
I was still interested in learning all the spells I could—ice, fire, water, and wind—but no spell in these schools compared to what I could potentially do with dvinia…and what I would attempt very soon.
I looked at the Induct stone in my hand. It was no longer translucent but white like snow. If Kataleya was correct, then this glorified essence would grant me additional mana that I normally wouldn’t have access to.
To practice my new spell safely, I should be in the forest. That had to do with Valinox. If he was around, he was less likely to see me here among the greenery. But with all the tree branches and the canopy above, I was as impeded here as I was protected.
“Jon, you have that look again,” Michael said with an uneasy tone.
“What look?”
“Like you’re about to do something dangerous, and no one’s going to be able to stop you.”
“You’re right.” Sometimes I didn’t like how well Michael seemed to know me. “Everyone, wait a moment,” I announced. The group ahead of us turned around and allowed us to catch up.
“What is it?” Jennava asked.
“It’s time I start practicing what I came here to do.” I tried to keep a plain expression, but the thrill in my heart pulled up the corners of my mouth. “I’m going to try to stay in sight, but it won’t be easy. Are all of you planning to continue southwest?”
Jennava frowned at me. “I was going to split the groups, Jon, to increase our ability to hunt and scavenge. I was going to put you in charge of one with Reuben, Hadley, and Eden. They might need your assistance.”
“There isn’t going to be a better time to fly.”
Her frown deepened. “Why do you speak of flying like you are going to be soaring around like a bird?”
“Because that’s exactly what I’m planning.”
“It’s too dangerous. You have to work your way up to that.”
“I have been,” I said. “I have been lifting myself and others for a long time now. I know I have it in me to fly. We all know the best place to learn something new is Curdith Forest because of the natural dvinia of the land. It empowers our mana.”
“No one has confirmed that it is natural dvinia and not something else, but you are right that the forest is the best place to improve any skill.” Jennava had her hands on her hips. She glanced around, then gave a resigned sigh. “Fine, I will keep you out of the groups and reorganize them so that they both have adequate protection. One will head south while the other heads west. Perhaps you can check on both of them so long as you don’t hurt yourself. Always stay close enough where we can hear you and you can hear us.”
“Got it.” I took that as permission to leave. I didn’t want to wait a moment longer.
Here near the outskirts of the forest, there was more room between the trees. There were even a few beaten paths. We weren’t the only ones who went into the forest, given how close the capital was, though I didn’t see anyone else in this moment.
With a clear route in front of me, I picked myself up with dvinia. It was easy, practiced, like lifting a heavy stone. I felt great power at my disposal with my new Induct stone, like I could throw myself as fast as I could loose an arrow from a bow.
I had always been careful in the past, usually lifting myself slowly. Not this time.
I threw myself up and outward with about half my strength. The forest blurred around me as wind took my breath away.
I felt my eyes open wide as I realized that I was going too fast. I cursed in fear as I tried to throw myself the other way with the dvinia still wrapped around my waist, but my momentum was too fast.
There was no hope to land on my feet as I slammed into the ground. Rolling across sticks and roots hurt like hell, but I was more worried about tears in my clothing. I tried to stop myself with my hands and feet, but it was no use. I could only curse my stupidity inwardly and wait until it was over.
My back struck a rock. I already had my healing spell ready. Nothing was broken. It wasn’t too bad. I was back on my feet and completely better in a few moments. Then I checked my clothing.
“Dammit.” There was a rip across the knee of my pants and dirt stains across other places.
“I’m all right,” I called to everyone watching me. I was maybe fifty yards from them, too far to see their expressions. I imagined they were shocked and perhaps even worried by my violent spill.
Jennava yelled something that sounded like, “Be more careful!”
“I will!”
I turned the other way. This time I would toss myself far enough that, when I inevitably fell, they wouldn’t see me embarrass myself.
I picked myself up again and threw myself forward. The incredible feeling of hurtlin
g through the air pulled a happy shriek out of my throat. This time I was ready for the speed. I slowed myself quickly and pulled up with my dvinia as gravity threatened to take me to the ground.
I was still going faster than I could sprint when I landed, my leg struggling to keep up. But I held myself up with dvinia to ensure I wouldn’t fall. A tree came at me fast. I tried to use my leg muscles to veer out of the way, but I stumbled and was about to dive headfirst into the trunk.
My quick reflexes kicked in as I lurched to the side using dvinia. Another tree! This time my shriek was not one of fun. I barely got my arms up before I struck the tree trunk.
I looked down to see cuts running along my arms and small holes in the sleeves of my shirt. But the worst was the sharp stinging across my forehead.
My clothes were always getting ruined. “Dammit!” I yelled.
I healed myself, wiped the flakes of bark off my face and arms, then turned to look behind me. I could faintly make out Michael running toward me.
“You good, Jon?” I heard him yell.
“Fine!” I yelled back. “Absolutely fine!”
He stopped there. He seemed to be watching me, no doubt worried.
I was beginning to wonder if maybe the forest was not the best place to practice after all, but I already felt much stronger. The Induct stone and the natural mana of the forest made me feel as though I could fly, really fly, like a bird.
Or like a demigod.
I knew I shouldn’t stray too far from my group. I especially shouldn’t leave the cover of the forest, but this feeling was overpowering. I already was figuring out the excuse I would tell them when I returned.
“Imagine you could fly,” I would tell my friends. “Imagine you could soar, but the trees kept getting in your way. Could you really wait until tomorrow to try it?”
Sure, some of them would still disagree, and Jennava might scold me, but that was a problem for later.
I looked back at the group one last time, reminding myself which direction they would be walking deeper into the forest. I did plan to return to them soon. First, I had to try this with all of my ability, just once.
Maybe twice.
I took myself farther away with another toss of my body, which was beginning to feel rather light when I held it with dvinia. I didn’t put as much force into the launch as before because I was sick of running into things.
I landed just fine this time. I turned right and headed north through the forest, picking myself up and giving my light self a good toss. I hurtled through the air and landed safely again, further getting used to the feeling. As I learned to control it, it felt almost like I was jumping fifty yards at a time. Each landing was easier than the last. I hardly even felt myself tiring. Soon I came to the spot I had planned to reach, the northern edge of the forest.
There was nothing but open land in front of me. I was completely free.
A moment of hesitation stopped me as I was about to fly. A tiny voice told me not to do this. A couple things could lead to my death here. Valinox could spot me if he was nearby, or I could hit my head on the way down and fall unconscious. None of my friends would know to look for me here. I should at least go back and tell Jennava I would be out here.
But then she would try to stop me. Besides, what could they do for such an injury even if they were around? And I should be able to flee from Valinox.
I was just going to try this twice. Maybe three times. I would be safe. The tiny voice that tried to stop me was the same one that tried to convince me not to leave Bhode and travel south after my father died. It was pure fear.
I don’t have time to listen to fear.
But something else came to mind that made me hesitate, not fear but a real reason to wait. If I was really going to throw myself as high and far as I could, I had to squeeze the dvinia around my body even harder. Otherwise it would slip up from my waist when I threw it with my mind. It would then strike the underside of my arms probably with enough force to dislocate both my shoulders at the same time.
I didn’t see how this was supposed to work, though. Could I ever hold myself tightly enough to use the full power of my mind? The force of my Grab spell was already tight and uncomfortable when hurling myself with half my mind’s power.
I couldn’t see any other way around it; I was going to have to change the way I held my body. This required widening the grip of dvinia so that it supported me from my hips nearly down to my knees.
I still wasn’t used to the feeling of lifting myself with my mind. It made me feel young and light, like when I was a boy and my father would throw me into the air.
I smiled as I remembered him fondly.
For practice, I tossed myself using my new method. I flew up high enough to break a leg if I was to fall and then let my spell come apart naturally as I released my mind’s hold. I trusted myself as I fell quickly, forming a wide blanket of dvinia like a sheet ready to catch my sitting form.
I pulled up on my spell as I hit it with my body, the dvinia slowing my fall until I was close enough to the ground to get my feet out underneath me.
It had been so easy that I was certain I could do it if I was falling at twice, even three times the speed.
I wrapped dvinia around my waist again. With the Induct stone resting in my pocket, I felt stronger than I ever had in my life.
It’s time to fly.
I hurled myself as high and as far as I could.
I tried to gasp for breath, but I couldn’t breathe. The feeling was too intense to even shriek. I wondered how fast I was going as the wind screeched in my ears.
Up and up I went, higher than I’d ever been before. I passed trees that looked like small bushes below me. I finally felt myself starting to slow and arc downward a bit, but I still had a good hold of the dvinia around my waist. I hurled myself forward again.
Breathless again, I wanted to scream but couldn’t.
Eventually I started to slow once more. I was panting from the excitement. I hooted with glee.
I threw myself up and outward a third time, using all the force I could muster. The wind pulled at me so hard I was pretty sure I felt the tears in my clothing widening. It was difficult to keep my concentration as I yelped with joy. I didn’t wait until I slowed, hurling myself a fourth time to see what speed I could reach.
It was easy to maintain altitude and speed without tiring. However, there did seem to be a limit as to how fast I could go, as I tried to throw myself in the direction I was already going a fifth time. I barely felt the difference, and by then, the sound of the wind was hurting my ears.
I still found it difficult to breathe, gasping here and there to make up for the breaths I couldn’t take in, but soon I realized that drawing in air through my nose while relaxed and blowing it out through my mouth made the process simple.
I could maintain a very fast speed without much trouble. I just had to keep pulling myself up here and there with a few pushes forward in between.
I’m actually flying! I hadn’t experienced anything like this in my life. Feeling weeps of joy bubbling up from my chest, I stopped propelling myself with my mind and let gravity take over.
I was already crying before I landed. This was going to change everything.
Perhaps I was vain, but the next thought that went through my mind was that I couldn’t wait to show this off to my peers. I wiped my eyes and looked around.
“My god, I’ve gone far!” It had to be over a mile away from where I’d come out of the trees.
I didn’t want to stop and go back into the forest because I couldn’t fly like this with all the trees around me. I stood there, knowing I should head back but refusing to move.
I wanted to try other methods of flight. What if I spread my arms and tilted my body horizontally to really feel like a bird? Perhaps I could go faster because the wind wouldn’t whip against my entire body, but I didn’t trust myself to take on a difficult and unpracticed maneuver like that without supervision. How else could I a
lter my flying skill to improve it? Maybe if I lay on a sheet of dvinia? No, it would be too easy to slip off.
Perhaps the first method was best. I couldn’t think about it any longer without trying it again.
I felt fresh, like I had only taken a short jog. I could soar much farther before stopping next time, but which direction should I choose? I looked back at the forest again. I had already decided I wasn’t going to return just yet. Where else could I go?
A great idea came to me.
CHAPTER FOUR
It didn’t take too long before I returned to Curdith Forest. Here, I could no longer fly safely, with all the trees around, but I could still perform the fifty-yard jumps as I had on my way out of the forest. It didn’t take more than a minute to find one group of my peers. I accidentally startled them as I landed loudly behind Michael, Reuben, and Hadley. They jumped as they shot alarmed looks over their shoulders.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said as I quickly swung my backpack around and opened it up. “I have something for you, Michael.” I handed him a biscuit from a bakery he’d mentioned a while ago. He’d said that the biscuits there were the one thing he would miss when we left Koluk. It was flaky and still warm.
“Uh, thanks?” he said as he took it with confusion and had a bite.
He must’ve thought that I had brought it with me. I stared at him and waited, a smirk growing on my mouth.
He seemed to realize something was amiss. He looked at the biscuit again.
“Wait, is this—?” But the sound of him choking interrupted his statement.
He coughed as he spat up the biscuit while I slapped him on the back a few times.
Reuben pointed at the biscuit in Michael’s hand. “Nox’s blade, is that from that bakery in Koluk that Michael likes?”
“It is,” I said.
“Seriously?” Michael asked, as Hadley gasped and covered her mouth.
