A Slave to Magic

by Lana Axe

  “What about it?”

  “Well, you had me draw magic from both the spider and Nera. I’m curious why you didn’t have me try to absorb magic from you.”

  “Simple,” she responded. “Because it wouldn’t have worked, not yet anyway. You can perform the spell only on sorcerers who are not as powerful as you. A test of wills, if you prefer to think of it that way. Most will resist you, but as you progress, you’ll find you’re able to tackle more-difficult opponents.”

  “Do you see me fighting many?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied bluntly. “You will fight all your life from now on.”

  The young mage didn’t like the sound of that. He wanted only to perform good things with his magic, not bring harm to others. “I don’t wish to fight,” he said. “I want to help people with my magic.”

  Seela replied, “You will help many, and you will see that justice is done. To do that you will have to fight. There is no other way.”

  “Surely peace can resolve all things,” he said. How could fighting bring about peace?

  “Some things cannot be resolved peacefully,” she replied. “For example, slavery. You won’t talk the Gatans into giving up their slaves.”

  Kwil paused in his walking.

  Seela paused as well. “It’s sad but true,” she said. “You will have to fight for this.”

  “And you see me being the person to bring about this change?” Kwil couldn’t believe this was his destiny. Of all people, why would this fall to him? He was no one, and he had no position in society. No one was going to listen to him.

  “I do,” she said, “with Nera at your side.” Glancing back at the girl, she said, “Keep your friend close. She is a part of your destiny. Remember that should you ever become cross with her. You mustn’t let anything come in the way of your friendship. Without her, all is lost.”

  “I will remember,” he replied, his voice barely louder than a whisper. The warning was prophetic, and he would keep it with him always. It was a heavy burden to lay at his feet, but if he could someday make a difference for other slaves, then he had to try. For now, he hoped the days of fighting were far away. He couldn’t even fight off the imp, so an army of Gatans was out of the question.

  Nera overheard the conversation but said nothing. Having her destiny intertwined with Kwil’s would explain her reasons for not wanting to leave his side just yet. There was so much music she could learn if only she had the courage to go out on her own. But something had made her reluctant to go, and she was enjoying seeing Kwil learn. Not to mention, the forest was a perfect place to study music, as Seela had suggested.

  Nera had no idea how she could help Kwil end slavery, but it was a subject dear to her heart. It was wrong to own other people, no matter how the Gatans tried to justify it. If there was the tiniest chance she could help put an end to it, she would postpone her musical dream to make it happen.

  Seela continued the march, seemingly unchanged by the conversation. Despite knowing him only a few days, she could see many things in Kwil’s future. She was proud to have him as her student.

  “I have another question,” he said.

  “Of course you do,” she replied. “An inquisitive mind is the mark of a true scholar.”

  He decided to take those words as a compliment. There would be hundreds or thousands more questions to come throughout his lessons. He was glad to find Seela receptive to them. “Have my magical stores increased since yesterday?” he asked. “I feel different somehow.”

  “Yes, they have,” she replied. “And that is the perfect spell to practice if you want to increase them further. The more you practice any magic, the larger those stores will grow. To a point, at least.”

  “So there’s a limit?” he wondered.

  “As far as I know, yes,” she stated.

  “And sleeping will restore it all,” he continued. “Whenever my stores are depleted, all I need do is sleep?”

  Seela stopped in her tracks. “Humans require potions to replenish their stores,” she informed him.

  “Apparently not,” he replied with a smile. He had taken no potion, and he felt in perfect shape.

  Seela shook her head. “You are not fully human,” she said. “You have elven ancestry. I can see it.”

  Unable to believe his ears, Kwil stood in stunned silence, gaping at his mistress.

  “That’s why magic comes naturally to you,” Nera said, moving to his side. “That actually explains a lot.” Elves learned magic far more readily than humans or Gatans. She had never met an elf before, and now she was standing next to one.

  “I can’t be an elf,” he said.

  “One of your parents, I suspect your mother, has elven ancestry,” Seela replied. “You are more human than elf, but the elf is there, without a doubt.” With a flash of gold in her eyes, she blasted energy at a pile of leaves, sending them flying high into the air. “What did you notice about that spell?” she asked.

  After thinking for a moment, he said, “You did not speak an incantation as I would have. Also, you required no finger movements. How is that possible?”

  “I am not like other Gatans,” she replied. “You have learned from Gatan books and read tales of other lands that gave you little to no information about true magic.” She lifted her paw for him to observe. “I have no fingers to perform those delicate movements of Gatan magic, yet I am unhindered. The same is true for you. You don’t need to learn those movements, nor do you need to speak an incantation.”

  “Because of my ancestry?”

  “Exactly,” she said. “Let the magic be a part of you, and it will manifest itself. All you need do is visualize it.”

  This was a whole new way of performing spells, one that he had never imagined. Far beyond the techniques he had read in Nera’s schoolbooks, Seela’s method was a new challenge for him. This was the magic of a true master.

  “This isn’t magic that can be taught,” Seela continued. “This is innate, and it is far beyond what most Gatans or humans will experience. Your heritage has given you the key to something amazing.” Her golden eyes gleamed as she looked upon her student. Rili had not had such talent, and Seela was delighted to have one such as Kwil as her apprentice. She could teach him things that other students could not learn.

  Now more than ever, Kwil was eager to learn about his heritage and the parents he never knew. What land had they come from? Were all of its inhabitants wizards? He’d never read of such a place, but maybe it existed. He doubted he would be special there. All of the inhabitants were probably capable of magic, it just depended on how hard they studied. Still, he was burning with the desire to know them. But he was far from ready to leave Seela’s side. Now was the time to learn all he could and hone his skills. There was so much yet to do.

  They pressed on through the woods in silence, their feet cutting a path among the fallen leaves. The winter air was still and felt warmer as they went, proceeding into the darker corners of the forest. After nearly half an hour, Seela paused and announced they had reached their destination.

  Kwil and Nera exchanged glances. Ahead of them stood the strangest trees either of them had ever seen. They were excessively wide with smooth bark the color of charcoal. Thin strips of various colors dripped vertically down the trunks, as if someone had spilled paint down them from on high.

  Nera approached one of the trees and ran her hand over its bark. Her mouth gaping open, she stood entranced by its beauty. As her hand remained on the trunk, a song came into her mind. Its notes changed swiftly, the song of the tree playing over and over in her head. Her heart swelled with emotions: happiness, sadness, love, and despair. All of these sights the tree had seen in its expansive lifetime. For millennia it had stood here, witnessing the passage of time and those who came before. Overwhelmed, Nera dropped to her knees, her hand releasing from the bark. The music stopped, allowing her time to collect herself.

  “It’s most intense the first time you encounter them,” Seela said, com
ing to the girl’s side. Placing a gentle paw on her back, she said, “Listen to them. Hear the stories they have to tell, and learn from them. They will show you music you never imagined.”

  Nera nodded slowly, turning her attention back to the tree. Studying the colors running down the bark, she felt the music without touching the tree. There was great power here, and though she was not a creature of magic, she could feel it throughout her body. Gathering her courage, she placed her hand against the bark once more, determined to listen as long as she could.

  Visions of elves and ancients passed through her mind, the songs of their people playing softly in her ears. Tears filled her eyes as she witnessed their leaving, never to be seen in this land again. The trees mourned their passing, many of them desiring to join the elves in their eternity. But here they stayed, a part of the world that could never be undone. Here they would stay until all came to an end.

  Sitting back on her heels, Nera took a moment to rest. She felt weary and desired sleep, but Seela would not allow it. Laying a paw on the girl’s hand, her eyes flashed with gold. The magic spread over Nera, renewing her strength and removing all trace of fatigue.

  Nera smiled at the Feles as she studied her golden eyes. Before her stood a creature who truly cared for her. Here in the wilderness, with Kwil and Seela, she was home.

  Kwil touched the bark of the tree as well, witnessing the passage of time as the trees had seen it. The magic of the elves pierced his soul, increasing his desire to know more about his ancestors. Were these his people? The trees could not tell. But the magic they possessed and their indomitable spirit had left a mark on this place.

  “If you’ve finished for now, I have a lesson for you,” Seela announced.

  “Of course,” Kwil replied, straightening his shirt.

  “Sometimes you will not be able to fight your way through a situation, no matter how powerful you are,” she began. “If you are to survive, you must learn how to pass through these situations unscathed. One way is to alter your state.”

  “You mean change what I am? My physical form?” he asked.

  “Indeed,” she replied. “You have touched the trees and formed a bond, at least for a time. Now I want you to mimic them. Alter yourself to match their bark. If you do this correctly, you will be undetectable.”

  “What is the incantation?” Kwil asked, eager to try it.

  “There is none,” she said. “You must visualize this to make it happen. Use your magic and your mind. Leave your fingers still and your voice silent.”

  Drawing in a deep breath, Kwil prepared himself for his first attempt. His fingers twitched slightly out of habit, but he steadied them and focused his mind to the trees. Staring at the colors before him, he could feel them entering his body. With his full concentration, he allowed the colors inside him and projected them throughout his form.

  “You’re doing well,” Seela encouraged him. “Hold onto it.”

  Kwil’s mind swam with colors, the magic moving over his body. A faint glint of gold flashed in his eyes, but he did not waver. Holding onto the spell, he forced the colors to obey him, his clothing taking on the hue of the trees.

  Nera clasped a hand to her mouth to cut off a laugh. As she watched, Kwil’s clothing seemed to disappear, blending in with the tree behind him. The disappearance of sections of his body was more amusing than she had anticipated, but she remained quiet, hoping not to interrupt his practice.

  “Good, good, keep going,” Seela urged him.

  Kwil finally allowed his eyes to close, the image of the tree burned into his memory. His thoughts transferred to his skin, and he visualized it changing to his will. As he stood in place, he became part of the tree, his own physical appearance melding with the bark.

  Nera watched in awe as her friend disappeared before her eyes. Her jaw dropped slightly, her eyes not budging from the spot where Kwil had stood. Only knowing that Seela was nearby stopped her from panicking. Would he be able to break the spell on his own? Had he truly disappeared? As she continued to stare, she noticed the lines on the trees moving slightly. It was Kwil’s chest rising and falling as he breathed deeply, attempting to hold the spell.

  “Bravo!” Seela shouted, leaping in the air.

  Nera jumped to her feet cheering as well. As she moved toward the tree, Kwil reappeared, his face beaming.

  “I actually did it!” he said. He couldn’t believe the magic had worked. Without an incantation or finger movements, he had succeeded in casting his most difficult spell to date. He looked over at Seela, gratitude in his eyes. This was her doing. Her presence and guidance had made this possible.

  “Well done,” she said. Clearing her throat, she added, “We must celebrate our victories, but we must not dwell there. Now keep practicing.”

  Kwil resumed his practice, blending in with leaves, trees, and bare earth. Each attempt seemed more difficult, and he felt himself draining of magic more quickly than before. After two hours, he was completely spent and collapsed on the forest floor.

  Seela took sympathy on him and lent him some magic through the touch of her paw. “That will get you home, at least,” she said, chuckling.

  Exhausted but undaunted, Kwil climbed to his feet. He approached Nera, who had fallen asleep at the base of one of the painted trees, and shook her gently. “Time to go,” he said.

  “Yes, yes,” Seela said. “Rest up, freshen up, and be ready to meet a friend of mine tonight.” She trotted off toward the cabin, her tail held high.

  Chapter 18

  With sunset looming, Seela set about preparing dinner for her guest, who had yet to arrive. There was much to be done, but with the help of magic and a house full of enchanted items, the work would be much easier.

  “Do you need any help?” Kwil asked, eager to lend a second pair of hands to the task. He had napped away the afternoon, and his magic was restored and ready for use.

  “Certainly,” Seela replied. This would be a good opportunity for him to continue his practice.

  “I’ll help too,” Nera offered, stepping inside the kitchen.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Seela stated. “But you can play us some music while we work.”

  Happy to oblige, Nera ran upstairs to fetch her lute. Returning moments later, she plopped down in a chair at the table and strummed in time with Seela’s magic.

  With a wave of her paw and a flash of gold, Seela kneaded the dough for two loaves of bread and set them aside to rise. “Speed that up for me, apprentice,” she said, turning her attention to the vegetables.

  Kwil stared at the bread, knowing that heat would decrease its rising time. But too much heat too soon would kill the yeast, and they’d end up with a hardened mess. There must be a trick to this, he thought. Glancing over at Seela, he marveled at her abilities. She used no knife, instead turning to magic to peel and slice potatoes and carrots. Kwil had no idea how to perform such a spell. He could make them fly through the air at his command, but he couldn’t manipulate them as his mistress could.

  After staring blankly at the bread, an idea occurred to him. He could concentrate on only the bits of yeast, adding his magic to them. Bending them to his will, he would have the bread to the correct size in no time. Spreading his hands over the loaves, he reminded himself not to move his fingers. His lips moved slightly as he mouthed an incantation, but no sound could be heard. Old habits were hard to break, but he was making every effort to conform to Seela’s wishes. Concentrating on the bread, he held his breath as it rose to double its size in a matter of seconds.

  Lifting the pans, Kwil scanned the kitchen for the oven. To his surprise, he found none. “Where’s the oven?” he asked, surprised that he had not noticed earlier.

  “I don’t need one,” Seela replied, a mischievous smile on her lips. “I have a fire apprentice.” She swatted him once on the arm as she passed by, her thoughts moving on to the venison roast.

  Kwil sat the pans back on the table and took in a deep breath. Moving his hands in a c
ircular pattern, he summoned the heat within himself.

  “Uh-uh,” Seela said, wagging a paw at him. “That’s not the way I taught you.”

  The stare of his mistress’s golden eyes embarrassed him. “Right,” he said, placing his arms down at his side. Closing his eyes, he visualized the bread in his mind, all the while conjuring heat within himself. He imagined the bread cooking through, the crust browning to perfection. Drinking in the scent of fresh bread, he could not resist opening his eyes. Before him were two browned loaves.

  “Well done,” Seela said with an approving nod. “Now cook the roast.”

  Taking the pot from his mistress, he said, “You know, I never saw myself as much of a cook.”

  “It’s much easier with magic,” Seela replied. “If it doesn’t taste right, you can simply change it. Failing that, you can change your dinner guests’ opinions of the food.” She laughed softly to herself and returned to her work.

  Serenaded by Nera’s song, the dinner preparations seemed to fly by. Eventually, the variety of scents became too much for the musician to bear. “I hope your friend arrives soon,” she said. “I’m starving, and smelling all this is torture.”

  Kwil considered slicing a piece of bread for her but thought better of it. Seela wanted everything to be perfect for her friend. Instead, he tossed Nera an apple.

  “Finish setting the table!” Seela shouted. “She’s here!”

  Kwil rushed to make sure all the plates and silverware were out, and Nera wiggled the cork free from a bottle of wine. Seela went to the door to greet her guest.

  “Welcome!” she called out the door. As the woman stepped inside, she introduced her guests to one another. “This is Kwil and Nera,” she said, indicating each of them in turn. “I’d like you both to meet Aqualia.”

  Before them stood a captivating woman, her skin deeply tanned by the sun. Her pale eyes and sea foam green hair that cascaded down her back gave her a striking appearance. Kwil could hardly take his eyes off her. In all his days, he could not remember encountering anyone so breathtaking.