A Deepening Knowledge (A Life of Magic)

by Matthew Mitchell

  "His lair?" Raven questioned.

  Stain grinned, "His term, not mine. It is simply a mountain top compound but he insist on the term. He is quite eccentric."

  "I am sure he will love to know he is referred to as eccentric by the King's High Mage." A deep voice rumbled from the trees.

  Everyone jumped up. Magic flew outwards to form shields. Weapons were drawn. Fangs were bared.

  "My, my. Jumpy lot." A large creature walked into the clearing and sat down at the edge of light.

  "Identify yourself!" Stain stood up tall and commanded.

  "Michelle Von Furmeister, air mage and messenger for the Air Guardian." The creature stayed still, yet the feeling of frustration could be felt.

  Stain relaxed. "I have heard of you Furmeister. Welcome to our small campsite. How did you find us?"

  Everyone settled down since Stain knew this mage. I still could not make out what sort of creature Michelle might be.

  "I was given a token to help find you and your party. Luckily you failed to block out personal objects being traced back to you. Otherwise I would be searching all night. This is a well chosen hiding spot. Those who wish you harm shall not find you in this location." She started walking towards the fire. As she got closer I realized she was a kind of large cat. Her coat flowed with odd shadows and stripes. Suddenly she stopped and looked at me. "You, young Ott." She addressed me. "You must be wondering what I am." She moved towards me and circled me. This close I could see that she was very large. There were stripes that raced all over her fur. Her paws were almost the size of my hands. "I am a freak of nature if you will. I was born a tiger, from far away, yet I made my way to this kingdom. I am still a tiger yet changed. I was born like most of my kind. White fur with black stripes. However, events caused a fundamental change and turned me into the creature you see before you now." I could now see why her fur looked unusual. She had purple stripes. A deep purple, like the color of deep water, flowed through her fur.

  "I have never seen a tiger, much less known what they are supposed to look like." I admitted.

  Michelle nodded. "Not many have. I keep the Air Guardian company because I enjoy his eccentric ways. Plus I get to learn all the new air spells that might come his way." She sat down next to Stain and leaned in close to whisper something into his ear. He listened for a moment and took a breath.

  "Well she brings good and bad news. The good is that we are safe tonight. The bad is there are troops of enemies searching for us right now. Five groups so far and possibly more coming. Which means we can no longer travel in the open." Stain looked outwards. "Conium! We need to go underground!"

  "Well fine then!" Her answer sounded pained.

  He smiled. "She hates to travel underground."

  "Underground?" Raven sounded less than excited also.

  Stain smiled wider, "Yes. Underground. Through tunnels, shafts, and falls."

  "Fun." Raven's voice showed that she felt like it would be anything but fun.

  I grinned. "Sounds interesting."

  Michelle looked at me. "I like your idea of interesting." She padded over to me and bumped me with her nose. A small spark leaped from her to my chest. "Now I can find you if I need to." With that she walked back out into the darkness. "I will be sleeping in the large tree behind the cabin. If you need me just yell."

  Stain shook his head. "Well that matches up with the stories I have heard told."

  Conium walked back into the light. "That silly cat is going to hurt someone one day with all her sneaking."

  "I heard that Conium." Michelle's voice rumbled from the darkness, this time higher off the ground.

  "I figured you would hear that Breezy." Conium called out and then snickered.

  A sound much like a growl came from the trees. "Really? You still insist on calling me that?"

  Conium grinned, "It is such a good nickname."

  "Fine. Use your little names." The resignation in her voice was laced with humor.

  Conium looked around and realized we all had blank faces. "A tiger air mage. I was not missing out on the opportunity to craft a good nickname and windy was too obvious."

  We all sat for a moment and then Raven chuckled. "You are strange Conium."

  Conium nodded, "We are all strange in our own way. You should remember that one."

  "Well, that's one more for our little adventure party. I think going underground is the only option left to us." Cracklecord stood up and walked into the fire. "I am weary. Good night." She snuggled down into the coals and made an almost nest area out of the hottest coals.

  "I dislike the idea, but traveling underground might just be the best idea." Pat sounded gloomy. "I just hope it is not to damp."

  Stain looked over, "Most of the areas are dry and we can provide light. I think everyone will be surprised at the ease of traveling within the mountain." He looked deep into the fire. "There will be parts that are unpleasant but we will make it through."

  I looked around and realized that everyone had forgotten about my little passing out event. Standing up I grabbed some food.

  "I want to talk to you later Ott." Stain's voice was dry and I could hear some resignation in it.

  "Yes sir." I answered and leaned back. So much for getting away without being in trouble.

  I looked over and realized that Raven, Pat, and Mophar were all laughing at me. I stuck my tongue out at them and smiled. No matter how upset Stain got I was happy I had healed Raven.

  * * *

  "I understand why you did what you did. I even agree with your actions. The desire to care for Raven is very strong." Stain had taken me aside after the others had settled down for the night. "The problem I have is lack of wisdom in casting such an advanced spell without concern for yourself or if waiting a few moments might have been wiser."

  I looked at Stain and sighed. "You have a point. Would I have fainted if I had waited?"

  Stain smiled, "Perhaps not. You were fairly drained from your fighting. A few moments would have afforded you the chance to recover at least in part." He looked at me closely. "Also you might have allowed the rest of us a moment to consider what was best. I could have cast a few spells that would have helped for a short while until we were in a safer situation."

  I had not considered any of those possibilities Nodding, I stated, "I will try to be aware of that kind of idea next time."

  Grinning wider, "Another result, one I am not sure you intended, is that Raven has a better idea of what you think of her. It is not every day someone is willing to risk their life for you in such a noble gesture."

  I looked up and grinned, "I think I have a better idea of how I feel about her also. I just could not stand to see her hurting like that."

  Stain nodded, "I do believe that both of you are starting to feel the beginnings of true love. However, as your master I suggest that you go slowly. There are things in Raven's past that may cause her to be hesitant and not want to open up to you at times. Also you are both young and can take some time to get to know each other. Be friends, court one another, do not rush."

  I sighed, "Sounds hard and maybe boring."

  He laughed, "I imagine it will be at times. But most things that are worth doing are worth going through all the hard and boring parts also."

  "Like magic?" I grinned.

  He poked me, "Like magic. Perhaps some boring magic practice would help you. But that must wait till later. I worry that the use of large magic would attract those hunting us."

  "Speaking of that, what are we going to do about them?" I worried if another group found us unaware.

  Stain sighed. "Mostly we are going to try to avoid them. If we must then we will fight them with everything we have, which is considerable. We have magic, strength, even some cunning. I say our chances of winning a fight are good, I just hope to avoid another fight. It is much better to avoid a fight than to win a fight." He stood up. "But enough of that. You need your rest. We start traveling underground tomorrow. I think you will enjoy it at
least some." He waved me off to bed.

  I went to my tent and settled down. My brain was a little too wired to settle down. I laid there and thought about everything that had happened in the past couple of days. Obviously we were well armed, both magically and with weapons. We could and had won a fight against our enemies. If another one occurred then we should be able to conquer again. Raven was acting a little different around me, but that was probable because of my healing of her arm. She must have a better idea of how I cared for her.

  "Ott." A quite whisper touched upon my ears.

  I looked around and realized that Raven was sitting in the dark corner of my tent. "What are you doing Raven?" I whispered.

  She stood up and walked over to me. "I needed to talk to you without all those ears." She sat on the edge of my cot. "I have to ask you something and also tell you something."

  I sat up and looked at her. She looked lovely tonight. The little light that entered my tent highlighted her eyes. "What do you want to know?"

  She ducked her head down and fidgeted with a small knife. "You took an incredible risk to heal my arm. You could have hurt yourself, maybe even died. I am not used to that kind of caring." She took a deep breath. "Why? Why would you do such a thing? What am I to you that you would risk so much for just me?" I could see the worry in her expression.

  I thought a moment and nodded, "I did take a risk. One that I never considered. I would still do it if I had the chance, although I might take Stain's advice and wait a few minutes so I did not pass out." She smiled at that. "As to why I took that risk, well I think it is because of what I feel for you."

  She nodded, "What do you feel for me Ott?"

  I thought a moment, "I feel great affection for you Raven. I want you to be safe, to be happy. I would say that I feel love for you." There. It was out in the open. I loved her.

  She turned her head, I saw the tears falling gently down her face. "I hoped that was how you felt. I can say I feel love for you also. But I have been hurt badly in the past, especially by those who claimed to love me. Be patient with me please?"

  I leaned forward and rested my hand on her shoulder. "I have never loved before Raven. I would rather we got it right than get it right now." She chuckled at how I said it.

  "Thanks Ott." She stood up. "I think I will try to sleep now." She walked to the tent opening.

  "Wait! What did you want to tell me?" I cried out softly.

  She turned and looked at me. I could barely see the smile in the dark. "Why that I had fallen in love with you. I felt it was important that you were aware of it instead of just wondering about it." With that she walked out.

  I laid there for a while and considered what she had said. She loved me, had fallen in love with me! It was quite some time before I could settle down again and sleep. But eventually I did sleep.

  * * *

  The next morning found us preparing to leave the small clearing with the cabin. Once all the tents were packed and each person was ready to leave Breezy came out of the trees.

  "So I guess we will be traveling underground?" She padded into the clearing and sat beside the packshells.

  Tag turned to her and mockingly said, "Poor pampered kitty having to go into the dark caves."

  Breezy swatted his shell and snarled, "I can deal with the caves. It is the damp that I find irritating. My fur poofs."

  I could not help it, I laughed. The image of her with poofed fur was comical.

  She whipped her head around and looked at me. "Yes, I look quite funny like that. Just remember, being poofy does nothing to change the size of my claws."

  Stain coughed, which sounded like a smothered laugh. "There is an entrance to the underground paths just behind this cabin. Just one of the reasons I chose this site to camp." He picked up his pack and headed around the cabin. There a structure leaned against the side of the mountainside. It looked like there had once been a mining tunnel diving deep into the mountain but it had been sealed up and covered. Stain walked right up to the structure, looked at it for a moment, and then his magic whipped out and into the side of the structure. A crack opened in the bare mountain wall next to the structure.

  Stain looked at our faces. "It would not do to make the entrance too easy to find, would it?"

  We all grinned and followed Stain into the wide crack. Each mage cast a spell to make light.

  "Ott, could you light me up?" Raven asked quietly. I grinned and cast the spell. Raven lit up gently, just enough to see around herself. "Thanks." She moved more assured into the tunnel ahead.

  We all filed down into the rock until the crack was just a distance speck of light behind us. Stain stopped and looked around as we entered a large chamber.

  "We are entering a realm that few ever see. This place is inhabited by many creatures. Some human, some animals, some neither. There is danger, just as any other place you may travel. The name of this realm is 'The Deep'. It is called such because there are tunnels that run deep into the earth that have yet to be explored. I have seen one such area where a well dove so deep into the earth that when I dropped a stone down to see how deep it fell I never heard the stone strike bottom." He looked around and smiled. "Yet for all the dangers that live here there are some rare beauties that exists also." He cast a spell and a ball of light flew from his hand upwards. Huge crystals winked and shone from every surface. The light grew brighter and brighter until we could see the true size of the cavern and that every surface was covered with crystals. Some small, some the size of houses. "This is just one of the many crystal caves that exist within The Deep. Each one is unique and beautiful." He pointed towards a dark path. "That is our way. We might meet some of the inhabitants of this realm, allow me to handle them as I have a treaty with them and also understand their language."

  We all nodded and made agreeable noises. We headed down the dark path, slowly working our way deeper into the shadows and mountain. Occasionally we heard loud noises, once like a creature groaning in it's sleep. Stain stated it was simply the sound of water running deep in the earth, pushing and shoving through the rock. After what felt like days we finally ended at an underground lake. There were small glowing objects hanging from the cave. The water was still and there seemed to be no life around.

  "This is the next stage of our journey. We need to cross this lake and then we head upwards. There are not boats and we cannot swim." Stain turned to me. "Each mage will have to make shields that will work like large balls. We will walk inside of them and walk across the surface of the lake in the shields." He turned to me, "You should take your friends and Raven. I will handle Tag and Evins." With that he turned to the packshells and formed a large shield around himself and them. They started walking across the water inside the shields. It took a moment for them to find their balance, yet it seemed easy enough.

  I turned to Raven. "Want your own shield or share ours?"

  She shook her head and smiled, "I think it might be easier to walk in our own shields."

  I smiled and cast the spell. A shield formed around her. She simply walked out onto the water, taking a moment to find her balance then following Stain. I then cast my own shield and followed. The rest followed behind in their own shields. The walk across the lake took quite some time and we finally reached the far shore. Stain stood there and waited with Tag. Evins was off to one side resting.

  "I think a rest is in store. The next step will be quite difficult and what we just did was not easy." He pulled out some food and sat down with Tag.

  We followed his lead and each pulled out some snack food, travel type fare. We sat in a loose circle and talked. I pulled some extra snacks out for my friends and Breezy. She politely declined, stating she had eaten her share earlier. She sat there and watched all of us talk and discuss the trip so far and possible things that may lay ahead. Her tail twitched as she watched us talk.

  "Time to move on. We go upwards from here. This step is hard, yet it is the fastest way to get to the top of the mountain where we are hea
ded." Stain stood up and led the way into a dark tunnel. We followed behind and soon I could hear a rushing sound coming from ahead. As the noise became almost unbearable we walked out and saw an amazing site. A massive waterfall poured from the ceiling overhead. There was structures built around the waterfall and off to the side. One such structure reached all the way to the ceiling next to the hole that allowed the waterfall into the cavern. Stain stopped and pointed. "This is one of the settlements of the people who live here. They have developed a way to harness a very small bit of the water force that pours into this chamber for an exhilarating ride to the upper parts of the mountain. However, it is not an easy ride." He smiled and headed to the building. As we approached I could see people noticing us from a distance. What looked like soldiers approached and one asked Stain some questions. Stain's answers seemed to excite the soldiers and a few were sent off in various directions while we were led to the large building. I could not see what the soldiers looked like as they were covered head to toe in fabric. Even their faces were covered. All I could see was their eyes. Each person's eyes shimmered much like a jewel. I looked around and realized that all the people had the same appearance. Fully covered in fabric with only their eyes exposed. I could not even tell what color their skin might be.

  Stain noticed my looks. "I will explain later. For now just be content to observe."

  I nodded and looked around some more. Even the children seemed to have the same appearance. As we came closer to the building I realized the full extent of it's size. It was easily the largest structure I had ever seen constructed. As we entered into the building the full scope of it became clear. The doors were large enough for full size wagons to enter, two of them side by side. The inside of the building seemed to be mainly storage areas and some mechanisms for which I could not fathom their usage.

  Stain pointed to a large tube that ran upwards through the center of the building. "There lies our path upwards. What they call it is hard to translate, however basically it means geyser ride." With that he walked us down to what looked like a way station. There were people loading large containers of wood with various goods. These wooden containers were then loaded into a large barrel shaped container. These were the size of a small house. Once full the barrels were rolled to the tube. A large door opened up and the barrel was rolled into the tube. A pool of water waited there and the barrel floated. The large door was then shut tightly and a large lever was pulled. A loud rumbling noise grew and swelled through the building. After a moment the noise eased and receded. The door was opened and the barrel was gone. Another was loaded and the process repeated.