by P. Tempest
“Jase, I don't know how, I'm lost. I followed the pulse, I sought the heart, then you called me.”
His name came with the knowledge of my body. Feelings and attachments started to gain a hold on me.
“I missed you my boy, I thought I felt you, rightly, so it seems. The heart is not for you. Don't seek it, ignore the beat. It will lead you to harm where you are.”
“I can’t go back. The king has given up. He is without hope.”
“Then give him hope as you once did for me. Show him that all is not lost.”
“How?”
“That is for you to decide, you gave Sophia hope. You showed Lyphia a new side of life. You bring hope where ever you go. Don't lose your own.”
“Nelar is dead. The people are nearly all gone. There is nothing there.”
“Don't lose hope Tristan, aid is being sent, you won't be alone for long. Mages are coming to help you.”
“People are coming? Good, it’s the first day here, and it seems pointless.”
“Go back Tristan, you are fraying.”
“How?”
“Just close your eyes.”
“I have no eyes here.”
“Just close your eyes Tristan, sleep and rest. No dream walking for you.”
I closed eyes that I didn't have, the vision left me, a sense of rushing.
I could feel my body, oww. I opened eyes that felt gummy and blinked. I was laying down on something, I turned my head to the side and was violently sick. The room was brilliantly lit, small orbs of flame hung in metal cages mounted on the walls. The once grey stone shone with colours, the white marble reflecting the orbs light in a rainbow sheen. It made my head swim, it was too similar to the other place that I had floated. Brendon was nowhere in sight. I forced myself to sit up. I wavered to a seated position, I could feel the grain of the wood as I placed my hand to hold me still. I was sat on a desk. That's was thoughtful of Brendon.
I slid forward to place my feet on the floor, wincing slightly as my foot touched the cool marble, the shock made my bones ache, the memories of them feeling as if they caught fire still fresh.
“Brendon” I called, my voice breaking. I need a drink.
“Here.” Came his voice, drifting from the hallway.
I tottered toward the voice, the smooth floor causing me to slip and slide on shaky legs. I rested for a moment on the door frame, the hall seemed to stretch on forever, its shiny walls reflecting light in eye-twisting patterns. I found my gaze following along, my head muddled and silent.
I blinked.
Brendon was standing in front of me, his body blocking my sight of the walls.
“You okay? You have been standing here for a long moment.”
“What? It’s only been a few beats. I came to get a drink,” I croaked out. My throat was so dry, my tongue felt thick and clumsy.
“We need to sort out some sleeping arrangements as well as some supplies. I know you Mages don't eat much, but you do still need to eat. We both need to drink.”
“Is there not a pump in this place?”
“I haven't found one yet, but I've only just started looking. Your spell did far more than I think you expected. This whole floor and what I've seen of the next are transformed. I don't imagine it will be long before we get curious people investigating the first real magic they have seen in a long time.”
“Is there anything left in the water skins?”
“A bit, I moved our bags into the room to the left. If you can follow me, we will get you something. You look unwell.”
I nodded, my stomach leapt with the movement, I could feel bile rising.
“Hey don't be sick in here, this hall doesn't have any windows. The smell would be trapped.”
I swallowed thick malty saliva and with it the rising vomit.
“Well done. Let's go to the bags.”
“Did you even have a bag?” I asked as he led me down the hall, my treacherous body attempting to rebel with every motion. Throbbing echoes of heat and pain rung flashed through me with every step.
“I have a bag, it’s just small. I don't need all that much. I guess that is going to change now that I have to sleep.”
“Have you ever slept?”
“Of course I have. Just not for a few months, Vesic has been in control more and more recently. It makes being without him that much harder, we have been closer than ever these last days.”
We passed through the doorway into a small square room, many doors led off from it. A nexus.
“I've never seen a room like this.”
“They aren't used much anymore, but administration buildings find it to be efficient. If you look there, that small mark on the wall. There used to be a desk there where a person sat to oversee all in these offices beyond.” He raised an arm to point as we headed to the door next to it.
“How do you know all this?”
“Westhaven was nothing more than a farming community until recently, I grew up in haven. It’s an old city built in the fashion of the empire, even the nobles didn't change much, they were busy. There were many buildings like this, this whole city is almost a copy of haven, even the streets are laid out in the same pattern. I would need to explore more to confirm but finding my way around shouldn't be a problem.”
Our bags had been laid against the wall my sword next to them. Of Vesic's sword there was no sign. I’d never seen it before he used it nor after.
“Stay there, we don't want you over doing it. Brendon walked over to the bags after a moment of rummaging pulled out my water skin. He came back and handed it to me.
I fumbled a bit with the cap, but managed to open it. I raised the skin to my mouth. Warm stale water flowed down my parched throat, it was wonderful.
“Feel better?” Brendon asked with a chuckling laugh.
My face must have shown my enjoyment. I didn't reply, I was busy.
A few moments later the skin was empty, and I felt worlds better, not right or well but better.
“We have help coming, Jase is sending or has sent some mages to assist us.”
“How did you come by this information?”
“In a dream.”
Brendon looked at me sharply, a look loaded with suspicion.
“What?
“You were really there, we dismissed it. You visited our dreams. You shouldn't have done that. Vesic doesn't like sharing those parts.”
I stood there gawking at him.
“You heard his origin.”
“I did, but that was a dream. I didn't think it could be real until now.”
“It was, but don't bring it up. You shouldn't know, no one knows.”
“I won't. Anyways, when I was having my nap earlier, I floated. Jase noticed me. I have no clue how, I wouldn't know where to begin with something like that, and how did he know to look anyway?”
“He is your master, the oath he took is still in effect. He might not be able to do much now that you are out of his hands but it will linger. You could probably do the same for Sophia. It’s necessary, training mages can be tricky, young people get in some strange difficulties.”
“Oh right, okay. Well, Jase mentioned that he has sent some mages here to help us. We just have to hold on till they arrive.”
“Tristan I know you didn't want this task, but it’s yours. They won't come and take over. You still have to do whatever you were planning on doing.”
“But having help will make it easier.”
“It might, although having more mages could make it worse. You felt how Nelar treats magic.”
“It’s so strong, but it’s wild.”
“Not just wild corrupted. The empire never used magic, it didn't affect them all that much. The waves never used to touch the physical, so they were blind to it. It affects us and all that we do.”
“Why don't they use magic?”
“They just couldn't until they found us they never even knew it existed. It was all faith and miracles. Their gods are something different, d
istant. Their whole structure is based on divine right or something. Didn't you get taught any of this? Never mind. There might even be a temple around here if I remember right, this city didn't get changed much. Haven's temple was changed to the noble’s manse. The things they could do with technology were amazing though. In that regard we are squatters living in the house of giants. If you look you will be able to see pipes all over the place, the pumping stations are derelict so nothing works like it used to but you can see how it once did.”
“We are in a war with them? Why is it a war? With our magic we should be able to finish it quickly.”
“They can use magic now. It’s not the same as ours, I'm sure you will see one day. The war is a war because it's a level playing field we might have magic but so do they and they have numbers. Friction has been growing on the northern border for years. Ever since the waves. For some reason they only hit the duchies hard, the empire was almost entirely ignored. Since the wizards took control they have been trying to raise up the people, not just for the peoples benefit but for their own. This war is going to explode soon enough, be prepared for it. A mage is going to have a part to play.”
“I'm just a junior mage, they wouldn't send me out there.”
“You aren't as junior as you think. You would never have been given this task if you were.”
“I was given this task, as you put it, as a death sentence, surely Vesic told you, I have almost no chance of succeeding. Rysan is getting revenge for his Ventrastus friend. Hitting him probably made the situation worse.”
“Tristan, have a bit of faith in yourself. Vesic told you what you needed to hear. Death might be certain in life but you are more than fit for this task. We just need to stop you doing stupid things like burning yourself out, or blowing up forests.”
“Thanks for that, it’s not like I do these things intentionally.”
“You have had your drink, what is the next move?”
“I guess exploring this building and setting up some form of communication home.” the word home triggered something, an ache in my chest. Sophia, Lyphia and Airis were waiting for me. I blinked back the tears that welled suddenly in my eyes.
Brendon laid a hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eye. “We will get you home soon. Do your duty. That's what you mages say, isn't it?”
“Sort of. I don't know how it came about but duty seems to be the thing everyone thinks of about mages.”
“A curse. The old mages did unspeakable things in the name of duty. You have done things for duty too. You are here far from home because of duty. It’s not surprising that people think of mages and duty.”
“I guess it fit, I just wish they thought of something else.”
“It could be worse. You could be remembered for all the pain and death caused by mages. Or thought of as dogs.”
“Lovely. Well anyways we need to sort out something to make this place habitable, we have, I'm assuming, a squad of mages on their way. When they get here is anyone's guess but I doubt they will be as slow as we were.”
“Probably not. I've not been upstairs yet. We will have to make sure it’s safe. You haven't sensed anyone?”
“No but my senses aren't to be trusted here. Too much power, its distorting everything and giving me a headache to go with the full body ache I have right now.”
“The joys of magic. If you are ready we should investigate the upper levels.”
“Give me a moment, I should take my sword.”
“You should, have you noticed anything different about your handling of it?”
I've hardly used it. I walked over to pick it up. The smooth white stone was developing further markings. I slid my hands over the wide blade. The earlier smudges of colour were becoming more pronounced, the pure white of the blade brighter. An almost regular pattern seemed to be forming. I shot a glance at Brendon. “Did you do this?”
“No, Vesic didn't either. It’s part of a mage weapon. They grow and change with the mage. I mean do you feel anything within yourself about it?”
“It’s lighter.”
“It's not, you have just learnt to carry it. Vesic gave you a gift, he felt you had earned it. It's temporary, you will need to learn the hard way if you want to keep it.”
“What gift?”
“Basic skill with a blade. He could have made it permanent, but that isn't his way. A gift unearned is poison to the receiver. Better to work to keep it. You will appreciate it more”
“Thank you I guess, I hope I don't need to use it, but I can see how having another skill could be useful.”
“If you are ready let us go upstairs. I doubt there I much up there but it’s worth checking. We don't want any nasty surprises.”
“Very well. I'm ready.”
We set off back to the entry hall, a small recess hid the stairs from view. The effect it created had spread further, I could see it leading up the enclosed stairwell. Light twisted in strange patterns casting shifting shapes all around me. I felt dizzy as we climbed, my body still not recovered from earlier. The temptation to pull a trickle of magic came over me, my link swelling with the sheer volume of power in the air. A kinda of pressure built in my head as it weighed on me. A tide of magic at its peak just begging to be used. The voice of magic whispering, pleading, to be commanded.
I looked to Brendon, he didn't seem to be feeling it, if he was there was no sign of discomfort.
“Should we split up?” Brendon asked from the top of the stairs. The hall led in opposite directions.
“I don't think so it may be quicker but it’s not worth the risk or running into something we can’t handle alone.”
Brendon nodded, a small smile on his face. “Lead on then.”
I shifted my grip on my sword, the smooth hilt slick in my sweaty hand.
I could hear nothing, the pressure grew, like a vice around my head, squeezing. The light that reflected off the walls was steaming in through a set of large windows lining the hall. Their clouded glass didn't let me see through. The hall led straight thick wooden doors opened into rooms and offices. We didn't examine each one thoroughly, the dust and random debris was convincing enough to reassure us that there were no people in here. At the end of the hall another set of stairs.
“This should be residence quarters if this is an administration building. The empire were firm of regulation all the scribes and officers lived above their place of work. Citizens had the same rules with exceptions made for families.”
“That is a very strange rule.”
“Efficiency. They didn't have magic to make things easier for them. The whole empire spanned this continent, several thousand miles. Discipline was harsh. I don't even know how long they ruled for, but Vesic knows more about the empire than I can handle. He keeps walls around that knowledge.”
“Was Vesic really the mage-king?”
“Don't bring it up please. He doesn't like reminders.”
“But how did he become a god?”
“Why do you ask? You aren't thinking of trying to become one yourself?”
“No, living forever seems like a curse to me. Being without a body of my own, no he can keep that dubious blessing.”
“Good. I don't understand how it happened, but it’s not good Tristan. There is nothing but pain down that path.”
“Okay change of subject then. Why are you still here?”
“I have a reason for being here. This place is special to us. I've never seen it with my own eyes.”
“The birthplace of the mage king?”
“Yes. Vesic can’t bear the place, the magic is too wild.”
“Why is it too wild? I know it’s different, that is painfully obvious to me, but why?”
“You know the magic absorbs imprints from its users, here it’s taken on a great many conflicting imprints. Growing wilder with every generation.”
“Is there a way to heal it?”
“I don't know, I'm not classically trained. Maybe when those other mages come you will b
e able to work something out.”
A sharp sliver of pain rang through my head. A rising scream of power shock the air.
“What was that?” Brendon asked, a sick look on his face.
“I don't know. But it’s getting stronger and its outside.”
“We should stay here then.”
“No whatever it is, there are people in this city, not many, but they might need help. I have to get down there.”
“You aren't in any shape to be helping anyone, you have blood dripping from your ears.”
“It’s the pressure. They don't have any defence against whatever this.”
“Neither do you. Your magic will kill you.”
Can’t you feel this? It’s lethal. These people need someone to stand up for them even if it futile.
“You aren't a hero Tristan. You are a mage, you have a job to do that you can’t if you die.”
“I'm doing my duty. This is magic. It's my job.”
I turned and ran down the stairs, my legs solid beneath me. I could do this. This was my purpose, my reason. I stand between the people and the harm that magic can do. My body hurt and my head felt like it was going to explode but my body wasn't my own, I took an oath, I would see it through even if it killed me.
I rushed out of the door and looked around, the setting sun shone through the gaps between buildings casting the area in blood red light, hints of night approached as the sky went dark around the edges. I caught a glimpse of people running at the far end of the street. An eerie silence filled the air, expectant, hungry.
The screaming pressure in the magic, just stopped. Its absence felt wrong. I opened my sense with a reckless abandon, the street lit up with power, the flows and streams blindingly bright and wavering. They shifted in their beds, overflowing like a river busting its banks. There was no sense of disruption like with a wave, this was something else.
The wash of power hit me, I felt.... cleansed, as if all my pain and everything bad that had ever happened to me just vanished. Peace, warmth and comfort permeated my body and mind. I just stood there, sword in hand, looking at nothing.
A thump ran through the ground, shaking me out of whatever that was. I turned my head seeking the source.
