A Slave to Magic

by Lana Axe

  Seela’s words of encouragement pleased him. If she had faith in him, then he would too. All he needed was time.

  Chapter 21

  As the months passed, winter’s chill gave way to a fine spring, followed by the heat of summer. Kwil had spent every waking moment studying and unlocking the secrets of the forest with Seela as his guide. From her library, he had read hundreds of books cover to cover, memorizing every spell he could find. New techniques presented themselves, and he made every effort to incorporate them into his training. He was forming his own brand of magic, one that combined techniques of humans, elves, and Gatans. Though he had focused his efforts to mastering fire, he could perform spells from all the schools, thanks to Seela’s guidance.

  Seela was beyond pleased with her apprentice’s accomplishments. He was a quick learner, and his eagerness had not diminished since day one. She doubted any other student outside of elven lands could learn so quickly. Not only was he talented, he was dedicated. He never took a break, always insisting on finishing one more book before going to bed at night.

  Today, Seela planned to test Kwil on his most challenging spell yet. He had learned it in steps, and now it was time to put together what he had learned to see how quickly he could master it. The sorceress had high hopes for him. The test would be challenging, but she anticipated he would succeed.

  Kwil trotted down the stairs at sunup, ready to show his mistress what he could do. He had an inkling what the test would be, and he felt mostly prepared. His only wish would be to master it on the first try, but that was unlikely. Reminding himself that it was the mastery of the spell that mattered, not how long it took, he presented himself before his mistress.

  “Ah, there you are,” Seela said. “Let’s begin.” Circling around him, she observed his posture and breathing. He appeared bright and healthy, perfectly suited to the task she was about to give him. “These past few months, you have mastered simple changes to your form.” Under her tutelage, he had learned to change his eye and hair color, as well as his height and build. Now, she was about to present him with his ultimate challenge. “Today I want to see you present yourself as a Gatan.”

  Kwil could hardly breathe. He could hide himself against any background, and he could alter the details of his looks, but he had never changed himself into an entirely different form. How was this even possible? Could Seela present herself as a human? Kwil had never seen her do that. She could easily change her size, and likely her coloration, but could she hide her identity as a Feles? Or was she asking him to do the impossible?

  Nera descended the stairs in time to hear Seela’s request. Carefully stepping across the room, her feet made no sound against the floor. This was not the time to break her friend’s concentration, but she had to see him perform this spell. Silently she took a seat, her hands pressed close to her heart.

  Taking in a deep breath, Kwil wondered if he should question his mistress. Did she truly expect him to do this, or was he supposed to admit that it couldn’t be done? Beads of sweat developed on his forehead as he weighed his options. I can do this, he decided. Everything she has taught me has brought me to this point. I will not fail.

  Seela’s eyes gleamed as she watched the change in Kwil’s expression. She knew he had found his confidence. Now all he had to do was visualize the magic and let it flow.

  Focusing his mind to the spell, Kwil pictured himself in Gatan form. Patches of gray fur erupted from his skin, his concentration faltering. The sensation was not pleasant. It was slightly itchy and had an unnatural heaviness.

  “Keep trying,” Seela encouraged him.

  Trying again, he managed somewhat better results. Most of his skin was covered in gray fur, but several bald patches gave him a disheveled appearance. His eyes narrowed, his pupils changed to slits, and his ears migrated to the top of his head, standing at attention. The slightest sound caused them to rotate, searching for the source of the noise. Intrigued, Kwil pushed harder, closing his eyes to block out the world. A tail sprouted from his backside, extending to half his body length.

  Opening his eyes, he ran his hand over his arm, stroking the soft fur. His sense of smell was heightened, his whiskers twitching slightly. “This is amazing,” he said. Not only had his appearance changed, but his abilities had as well. He had the hearing, sight, and sense of smell that came along with being Gatan, his human senses paling in comparison.

  Nera cupped her hands over her mouth, stifling a laugh. Kwil’s tail was twitching back and forth at a rapid pace. It stopped briefly, wrapping itself around his leg.

  Feeling the compression, Kwil looked down at his leg. He tried to move the tail, but it would not obey. Using his hands, he tried to pry it away, but he could not. “What do I do?” he asked.

  Seela couldn’t contain her laughter. “It’s your tail,” she said. “You must make it obey you.”

  Visualizing the tail in a resting position, Kwil hoped to force it to behave. Instead, it stuck straight out like the branch of a tree. Frustrated, he decided to leave the tail as it was and focus on the bald patches instead. One by one, he corrected the flaws in his pelt and admired his reflection in Seela’s mirror.

  As his focus shifted elsewhere, the tail went limp behind him. When he tried to raise or lower it, it simply laid flat, ignoring him. “How does this work?” he asked, his eyes pleading with Nera.

  “It’s like moving your arm or leg,” she replied. Never having used magic on her own tail, she did not know what other advice to give. “Treat it like any other body part.”

  Remembering the delicate finger movements of Gatan magic, Kwil realized his tail might work in the same way. Though he wasn’t allowed to use his fingers to cast spells, he might be able to focus his magic to the tail as he once had his fingers. Channeling his magic through the tail, it quickly snapped to attention. He swished it left, then right, then formed a tight circle. Taking a few steps, he lifted the end slightly off the ground to avoid dragging it. “I think I’m getting the hang of it,” he announced, a crooked smile on his lips.

  Moving next to Nera, he wrapped his tail around hers, as if they were shaking hands. Nera laughed, followed soon after by Kwil.

  “You make an interesting Gatan,” she said.

  “He does indeed,” Seela stated. “You must keep working on this spell and perfect it. This is the spell that will allow you to walk among Gatans unhindered. You will be seen as one of them, not a mere slave. This is how you will do your finest work.”

  Kwil understood. This was the spell that would allow him to free the slaves of Gi’gata, and it was probably the most useful one he could learn. No longer would he have to live in fear. He would not be falsely accused, nor would he be punished without a trial. He could even practice magic freely, without anyone calling for his execution. Seela had taught him a most powerful spell, and he must put it to good use.

  “I will keep practicing until I drop, Mistress,” he promised her.

  “I don’t doubt that you will,” she replied. “I expect you’ll have it perfected in a day or two.” Her gold eyes conveyed a hint of sadness. Kwil had learned so quickly, and their time together might soon be coming to an end. He was a fine student, but he would not remain a student forever.

  “Mistress?” Kwil asked as he continued to practice. “Are you able to change your form to a human?”

  “No, I can’t,” she replied. “I am a Feles, and I cannot change into any humanoid form. It is forbidden me, but if I chose to, I could change into any beast creature that exists.”

  He thought about it for a moment and said, “That still doesn’t seem fair.” Why should she have any restrictions on her magic?

  “I have been given many gifts of magic already,” she replied. “I have the lifespan of the Ancients as well as their talents for magic. Believe me, I am not hindered by the lack of humanoid features. Now come. There is someone I’d like you to meet.”

  Seela led Kwil and Nera through the forest, the summer’s warmth bringing vari
ous shades of green to the Dark Forest. With the trees fully leaved, there was even less light reaching the forest floor, but the feeling was less ominous than in winter.

  Only a few miles away, they spotted a dark figure moving in the distance. Seela approached the figure without reservation. Kwil and Nera stuck close by her, anxious to meet whatever it was. As it came into view, they could see the outline of a horse. It was covered in sleek black hair, its mane and tail flowing gently on the breeze. When its gaze fell upon them, both were taken in by its gleaming orange eyes.

  Unnerved, Nera wished to go no farther. “What manner of creature is that?” she asked.

  “He is a puca,” Seela replied. “And he’s no stranger than I.” She could sense Nera’s uneasiness, but there was no need for it. “Come and meet him,” she said. “He won’t harm you, especially with me around.”

  Reluctantly Nera followed, trusting in Seela and Kwil’s magic. The puca stared straight at her, his eyes seeming to penetrate her soul. Her better judgment told her to avoid such a creature, but her curiosity grew with each step.

  “This is Dirnda,” Seela said, her paw raised toward the creature. The pair touched noses, the puca lowering himself to meet the Feles. “He is my friend.” She gestured for Kwil and Nera to come forward.

  The puca focused his sights on Nera, stepping forward to greet her. Summoning her courage, she placed a hand gently on his nose. Sensing the nervousness in his guest, the puca reduced his size, changing to the form of a brown-furred rabbit. Nera’s apprehensions melted away, a smile spreading across her face.

  Kwil knelt next to the rabbit, examining him for any sign of his previous form. “Incredible,” he said. “Does he use the same method as we do?”

  “The puca uses a similar technique,” Seela replied, “but his power is limitless. He is a creature of the earth, and as long as he is in contact with earth, his magic remains strong.”

  “Fascinating,” Kwil replied, still staring at the rabbit. As he watched, the rabbit changed form again, this time becoming humanoid. His green-gray skin and long nose reminded Kwil of the goblins he had seen in his reading. Taken aback, he returned to his feet and stepped away.

  “Don’t worry,” Seela said. “Dirnda is a friend. He will not harm you. He is not the evil goblins you’ve heard of. This is merely one of his many forms.”

  A deep throaty laugh, escaped the goblin’s lips, his manner full of mischief. Taking two strides toward Kwil, he extended his hand in friendship. Kwil took the puca’s hand, only to be pulled off his feet, landing heavily in the dirt. Dirnda cackled wildly with laughter, his hands leaning against his knees as he doubled over with glee.

  “Why did you do that? Nera demanded, helping the mage from the ground.

  Dirnda made no reply. Instead, he changed to the form of a goat and charged toward the girl. His head connected with her midsection, sending her backward, stumbling. She landed on her backside, a lump of anger rising in her throat.

  Seela raised a paw to stop Nera from attacking. “All right, Dirnda, that’s enough,” she said. “We have no time for play.”

  “Then why bring them here?” Dirnda asked, returning to his goblin form. His mischievous voice was full of disappointment. Clearly he wanted to amuse himself at the expense of his visitors.

  “I wanted them to meet you so the three of you might become friends,” Seela explained.

  “I see,” Dirnda replied with a laugh. For a second time he approached Kwil, his hand extended. “Friends,” he said.

  Kwil glanced at Seela, who gave a slight nod. Reaching out, he took the puca’s hand. Dirnda gave the mage’s hand two good shakes before releasing it. He tipped his cloth hat in Nera’s direction. Nera crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

  Deciding that the puca was a friend, Kwil asked, “Can you teach me how to shift into different creatures as you do?”

  Dirnda chuckled and shook his head. “I’m no teacher,” he said. “But if you can learn by watching, you’re welcome to try.” His body contorted as he shifted back into the form of a black horse. Rearing up onto his hind legs, he gave a loud whinny, his front hooves hammering the ground.

  Impressed, Kwil asked Seela, “Can I become something that large?”

  “There are no limits,” she replied, “but you will need more practice than you have the patience for.”

  Kwil watched as Dirnda galloped in a circle, his stride matching that of the creature whose form he had taken. “Does he have the strength and stamina of a true horse when he’s in that form, or is it just an illusion?” Seela was definitely stronger in her panther form, but the puca was so strange to him, he couldn’t be sure.

  “Climb aboard and find out,” Dirnda called to the young man.

  Nera stepped forward to stop him, but a glance from Seela halted her. Kwil eagerly approached the puca, who knelt and allowed him to climb onto his back. Nera stood at Seela’s side, her breathing shallow and heart rate rising.

  “No need to worry,” Seela reassured her.

  Dirnda sprung forward, the mage grasping desperately at the horse’s mane. The two bolted out of sight, the echo of Dirnda’s hooves bouncing from tree to tree.

  “He’s going to fall off,” Nera commented, clenching her jaw. This was a bad idea.

  “Nonsense,” Seela replied. “He’s smart enough to use magic to prevent himself from falling.”

  In the distance, Kwil was indeed using magic to hold himself on the horse. Dirnda raced through the forest, zigzagging through the trees and bounding over fallen branches. His muscles rippled beneath his sleek black coat, proving he had truly acquired the power of the animal he appeared to be. Amazed by the magic that had created it, Kwil was overjoyed. This was the magic he craved, and here was a creature born to it.

  Returning to the others, Kwil hopped down from Dirnda’s back, visibly out of breath. “Amazing,” he managed to say. He could see Nera was still upset, so he laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She smiled in spite of herself, glad to see that her friend had returned unharmed. She could not stay angry when there was no need.

  Laughing, Dirnda said, “Thank you for introducing us, Seela. The boy is quite amusing. Feel free to visit any time.” He glanced at Nera and flashed a toothy smile before galloping away.

  Seela waved a paw in goodbye. “It’s getting late,” she said. “We should get back.”

  Still reeling from his wild ride through the forest, Kwil was all smiles as they walked back to the cabin. Bubbling with energy, he continued his practice late into the night, not stopping until he was completely void of magic. Collapsing onto his bed, he dreamed of magic in various forms, watching spellbound as it shifted and swirled before him. The stars themselves twisted and swayed, dancing to the magic of the forest.

  Chapter 22

  After a week of practicing around the clock, Kwil perfected his shape-shifting spell. He could now transform himself into a Gatan at a moment’s notice, and hold the spell for several hours. No more bare patches or uncontrollable tail twitches.

  “All right then, let’s see it,” Seela said, crossing her paws.

  Kwil gave a glance at Nera, who was watching over the top of her book. All of his practice had been done in private, and she was anxious to see her friend’s new look.

  Visualizing himself as a Gatan, Kwil immediately began to change. On top of his skin, silver-gray fur erupted, covering his body in a shining pelt. Dark stripes added themselves over the gray, giving him a more distinguished look. His eyes became yellow, and his whiskers grew long. A slender tail protruded from his backside, laying gently at rest under his command.

  “Bravo!” Seela cried, beaming with pride.

  Nera jumped from her seat, her hands clutched over her mouth.

  “What do you think?” Kwil asked her.

  “You’re actually kind of handsome,” she replied.

  “I’m not handsome when I’m human?” he asked, feigning insult.

  “Well, not really,” she replied honestl
y. “You’re kind of pink and hairless.”

  Kwil laughed, unfazed by her remark.

  Seela placed her paws on each side of Kwil’s face. “You look marvelous,” she said. “Simply marvelous.” With a sigh, she added, “It amazes me how far you’ve come since your arrival.” The statement was true. Ever since he arrived, he’d hardly stopped studying and practicing for a minute. Over the past few months, he had blossomed into a fine sorcerer, one capable of as much or more than any graduate of the College. Seela suspected he was far more dedicated than most of those students. Like Nera, many of them had not enrolled by choice. Kwil’s love of magic and innate abilities gave him an edge over the others. Whether it took a day or a year, he would master any spell she offered him. “You haven’t been neglecting your fire practice have you?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. After all, he intended to master the element. It wouldn’t do to let his practice slip.

  “Not at all,” he responded. With a blink of his eyes, he transformed his fur to orange, appearing as if he were glowing with fire. Heat radiated from his pelt, his eyes flashing red. Turning up his palms, fire appeared in each hand, rising to the height of his chin. He allowed the flames to dance and sputter before releasing them, launching them high into the air and snuffing them before they reached the floor.

  Nera clapped her hands, impressed by the sudden change. She had witnessed his practice with fire magic, and she knew he could be quite dangerous when he wanted to. Luckily, he was only putting on a show for now.

  Seela did not reply, so Kwil performed another spell. Glancing around the cabin, he located every candle present. Without moving a muscle, he lit them simultaneously, including the ones upstairs.