Abduction Chronicles GENESIS: Book 1

by Peter John

  Eventually, I began to get the hang of it and after my third Mana potion had run dry along with my internal Mana, J.B. took me aside and we began recovery drills. The slow drills were similar to Tai Chi Chuan mixed with Yoga. Tai Chi Chuan is a Chinese martial art I had practiced only fleetingly but when applied with the breathing and focus drills, it seemed to increase my Mana regeneration prodigiously.

  It was all coming along smoothly when Horatio returned and asked me to resume firing at the targets. He then called up a wind, which caused both the platform we were on to sway and the branch with the targets to vibrate annoyingly, making it even harder for my spells to strike home. Once I had depleted all my Mana again, we began on the movement drills. He had been distant since his return and I guessed he had something on his mind.

  “My father is not well Petros,” he eventually spoke out. “He collapsed in the main throne room this morning, which is why the guards fetched me.”

  “Oh no, is he okay?” I enquired concernedly. The King had been abrupt to me, but as the leader of the Elves and Horatio’s father no less, I could lend a sympathetic ear.

  “This business of Adrianna is eating him from within. He just hasn’t been the same since she was taken.”

  “I can imagine, it’s an awful situation to be in. Is there no way to recover her?”

  Horatio stopped mid-movement and turned to face me, bringing the exercises to an end.

  “You are the only one Petros. Us Elves, we cannot go near those blighted lands. Our aura is too bright, too alive. We are almost always discovered, and it never goes well for us away from our homeland. Our source of power stems from here.” He indicated the tree below us. “I just don’t know what she was thinking of by going after Mala.”

  I kept quiet, watching his inner frustrations build.

  Eventually I said, “Show me how a real mage can shoot.” This seemed to perk him up and moving to the end of the platform, he made a flourish and a flick with an utterance and suddenly ten sizzling lesser lightning bolts crackled, one from each of his ten fingers. Each targeted a separate manikin. He did this several times, the cooldown between simultaneous casts spanning only half a minute. Then he conjured a large fireball he judged to perfection, arcing it to land squarely in the center of the targeted platform with a whomp and an echoing crack as the whole platform ignited and then whatever counterspells were in place seemed to suck the air out of the burning platform to leave it smoking and yet ready for the next attack. This time the cooldown was longer, spanning a full two minutes before he shot the next. It was truly a spectacular display of mastery in something I was only at the very edge of understanding.

  Clapping my hands in applause I said, “Now doesn’t that feel better?” Like guys anywhere, wanton destruction always makes us feel better. We both grinned at each other and practiced even more intensively. It was a day of giddy heights for me and equally frustrating lows.

  As the day passed and turned to evening, I was at last satisfied with my offensive spells. I could hit what I was aiming at and control the strength and duration of their effect. Fireball being the most destructive of the spells I could caste but having the least control on direct damage within an area.

  Horatio then took us to an inner chamber which at the very highest level of the Tree had a magnificent view of the stadium shaped library far below, within the hollowed-out tree. We moved onto a platform where an enormous emerald crystal was mounted like a chandelier above us. A magical boundary seemed to originate from the green jewel surrounding the edges of the platform. I had the impression that the platform hung from the crystal. There were several barrier bridges linking the outer shell of the tree to the inner platform, allowing us to walk towards it.

  “Within this place is our research laboratory and training platform. It is controlled within the sphere of the lodestone itself. Before you ask, the lodestone is a crystal structure that embodies this world’s Druid magic. It is the Emerald crystal you can see suspended above us. It is the source of our greatest power and is treasured by our people above and beyond anything you could possibly imagine. If we had a God, then it/He/She would be the Lodestone. Each living world has one or many, depending on the richness of that world.”

  I looked up at the crystal structure embedded within the top of the tree. It glowed dully, but it thrummed with power. I felt a little uneasy staring at it. It gave me the feeling I was looking at something radioactive and I wanted to get a lead wall between myself and it.

  “It is one of five such crystals within our realm. The other races each control one and together we hold dominion over this land. These are things of little interest to you though. The point I want to make is that magic doesn’t just come from nowhere; It has a source and a connection to the land itself. The more healthy and productive a land is, the better the quality of magic that can be found. Within our realm, all five have caretakers and ensure that the source crystals are unpolluted and maintained. All five races have pledged such and continue to uphold the Covenant of Illuminous.”

  “Who or what are the other races?” I asked, wondering if I had guessed right.

  “Why, they are the Dwarves, the Orcs, the Plains Elves and the Merfolk. We are, as you know, the Elder Elves. It is our duty to embrace Druid Magic and the Emerald crystal and keep them safe.”

  “The Dwarves are metal workers and miners of great renown, and they guard the Mercurial crystal deep in their labyrinths within the earth. They can be found in the mountain ranges to the south, which are said to be rich in ore. Unlike the other crystals, the metal crystal is made of living molten metal.”

  “The Orcs are a cantankerous race, but extremely fierce. They have the Ruby Fire crystal and live high in the mountains where earth and sky combine to form fire. The crystal resides in one of the volcanoes out to the west.”

  “The Plains Elves are our closest distant cousins. More bulky in girth, stronger appearing and resilient, they are the wardens of the Air Crystal and cherish the wide-open plains to be found throughout the realm. They are nomadic and the whereabouts of the Saffron crystal are not easy to discern.”

  “Lastly, the Merfolk who can take on any living shape when upon land, are a vicious and cruel people. These fish people keep the blue Sapphire crystal hidden within the depths of the ocean.”

  “We all share a common ancestor called the Aevish, our contact with the various crystals has changed us over the eons. Our close link to the various magic has altered our shape, form, and function. With each passing age, we evolve further apart but our goal is united. We keep the crystals safe, we study the magic and we share the knowledge amongst each other, despite our differences or grievances. We are bound by the Covenant of Illuminous.” Horatio turned to face me and pressed his hand on my shoulder.

  “But I digress, the reason I bring you here to our laboratory is to give you a safe place to practice your other magic skills. Within the laboratory, we will expose you to different scenarios to allow you to develop those skills. I regret I cannot accompany you as I have pressing duties. Journeyman Robert will assist you with whatever you need.”

  We had reached the platform and as we passed through the barrier surrounding it. I saw Journeyman Bob waiting for us within. It was a large area, not dissimilar to a sports field, with a walking track seeming to extend all the way around the platform allowing one to look out over the edge of the platform down to the library far below. Upon the platform were rooms separated by barriers of various colors and translucency, which obscured my view of what to expect.

  I looked back to Horatio as he continued, “I will not see you for a while, it has been a pleasure to get to know you and I wish you good luck in your training. You will return to your Sim early tomorrow. The spells I have given you will more than assist you through the various Sims that Grant has in store for you. All I ask is that you be true to yourself and honor your values. The rewards will be great, and perhaps we will have a chance to rescue my sister and her wayward pupil in the not too
distant future.” He reached out his hand awkwardly, and I grasped it in earnestness.

  “If it is within my power, I will help you all that I can.” I stated simply, giving a sincere look of gratitude to Horatio. With that, we parted, and I turned to Bob.

  “Hey J.B. what’s next?”

  Internally, I was cataloging all the information Horatio had told me. This was only brushing the surface of his peoples’ history and origins, something inside me felt compelled to know more. It was startling that so many human legends were in fact real. That humans might have Elvish blood, myself included, was enlightening, and I thought about all the conspiracy theories I knew of about Atlantis, the Pyramids, the Aztecs, Bigfoot and the Holy Grail. How much ‘seeding’ had the Absinthe done to our world?

  Bob was looking at me quizzically and I realized that he probably didn’t know that on Earth his shortened name was Bob. Before he could ask, I explained, and we moved off to a vacant room on the platform. There he showed me how to use all the level 5 spells I had learned. From healing spells to cure poison, to sterilize water. Each required an incantation and a modicum of Mana. The most essential ingredient of all making everything work was focus and will. I endeavored to temper mine and improve my focus every chance I got.

  It was late when eventually J.B. showed me back to my pallet.

  “In the morning I will escort you to the waypoint. Please be ready at sunrise.”

  Despite my overtures at friendship towards the thin elf, he had maintained a steady stoicism and distance from my banter. I felt I liked the grim-faced man; He was all business and professional. Despite that, I couldn’t help but push his buttons.

  “Thanks J.Bob, catch you in the morning” my smile was genuine but I couldn’t decide if I was smiling at his brief flinch at my blatant familiarity or if I was simply smiling in pleasantries.

  The morning came and shortly after dawn I found myself on the field where I had first appeared in this land. I saw a golden orb floating exactly where I had originally materialized. J.B. explained that all I had to do was to grasp the orb and I would be back in the chilly Frigid Zone. I took one last look around. Noticing that the calf I had brought with me was nowhere to be seen, I wondered what had happened to it. Maybe it too had been sent back, or maybe it had dissolved into the ether. Sure, it was a construct, but even so, I was a construct here. I still felt and cared about what happened to me. I hoped the Elves had taken care of it. With that thought, I took a deep breath of the fresh tropical air and grasped the orb.

  CHAPTER 17

  Quest Complete

  My exhale was less comfortable. The cold slammed into me. I found myself standing below the tree where I had met Horatio in his bird form, while the wolves had been feasting. The hind’s gristly remains had frozen solid while time had passed and the wolves had eaten their fill and moved on.

  The pellet that the owl had regurgitated was glowing golden beside me. I mentally adjusted my clothing to suit the new environment, felt the slight draw on my Mana and then it was done. Wearing the right gear in cold conditions cannot be overstated. I had a much more cheery outlook on accomplishing this Sim with my new arsenal of spells and knowledge. I stooped to pick up the golden pellet and immediately a pop-up box appeared.

  Mini-quest: Saving the Elk's Calf,

  Part 2 completed

  By studying with the Elder Elves for a time, you have been equipped with an abundance of knowledge. How will you use it?

  Quest Complete.

  You have received a Ring of Storing

  You have received a Staff of Illuminous upgrade

  You have received a Cloak of Darkness

  You have received Boots of Stealth

  Select Yes to equip them now?

  Y/N

  (If you select no, the items will be kept within the Ring of Storing and can be equipped once you wear the ring and call them forth.)

  I selected YES and found myself the proud new owner of a dark auburn cloak which seemed to have a surreal living quality about it. The sheen had a velvety texture with rivulets of red veins streaming throughout, each thread grasping actively at shadows and pulling them ever deeper within.

  Wearing it, I felt my vision obscured slightly as if I had passed from standing in sunshine to huddling within a dark shadow. It was similar to wearing a gillie-suit but not nearly so constricting.

  Upon my feet were two brand new boots. Similar to what I had worn throughout my military career, but these had craftsmanship unlike anything I had ever seen. The leather was thin, supple, and they had a dull sheen. There were no shoelaces, velcro or buckles. They simply conformed to my feet like a good pair of loafers. Yet the suede feel and texture seemed to rebuff the snow I was standing in without absorbing it. I stamped my feet to get a better feel of them and heard barely a whisper as my feet connected with the compact snow beneath. Taking the test further I kicked at the tree trunks about me and heard more noise from the shuddering branches and dropping clumps of snow than from where my kicks had landed. These were definitely magical stealth boots.

  Upon my right index finger sat a plain black ring carved out of solid stone or metal. It wasn’t shiny, instead, it seemed to suck up light and if I held my hand up it appeared as if my digit was severed and levitating slightly above the stump. Concentrating I felt the ring with my mind and could discern it was an empty void. Somehow it had been crafted as an empty space that needed filling.

  Experimentally I willed my boots, cloak and staff within it, then willed them back out. With this gear, I was smiling like I had won the jackpot. How cool was this to be fitted with such items? I was so OP (overpowered), the rewards for this were out of this world.

  Lastly, I looked at my trusty staff. The prompt had said it was an upgrade. It looked exactly the same and yet felt more solid, weightier. Perhaps it had metal inserted within it. I willed it to morph into my favorite Katana and with a slight drain on my Mana it changed. Although this time I could definitely feel the weight of the sword was different. Not unbalanced, but definitely heavier than I recalled. I willed it back to staff form and tried to look at it with my mind. What I found within took my breath away.

  Five jewels, each as big as my thumbnail had been inserted within the structure of the staff. They were the five colors of magic. If I had to guess their function, it would be that the gems were repositories of magical Mana to enhance my own magical abilities. How much and for how long they could help me I had no idea but the gem fragments were large and so I guessed they would contain fairly large Mana reserves. Intuitively, I tapped into them and gasped aloud as each contained 5000 Mana. I wasn’t just OP, I was MegaOP. I would have to thank Prince Horatio when I saw him again. These gifts were more than I had ever wanted or expected.

  It also left me thinking about my mission and what I had to accomplish. These gifts, like the gifts from the Absinthe, had strings attached. I would have to make sure I delivered on my end.

  So began my journey to conquer Canada Sim. Over the next few days, I made my way around and over the mountain that had been obscuring the beacon. Each day I reveled in the discoveries in how to push my magic further and use it in more complicated ways. It was lonely though, and I often wished there was someone I could share the discoveries with or just shout joyously together with someone to celebrate in my accomplishments.

  I tried communicating with Grant a few times and while he seemed enthusiastic. I felt as if he was always distracted, and so I didn’t get the sense of camaraderie I had experienced with Horatio or any of the other people from the ASS unit. I also spend a lot of time thinking about what other name we could give ourselves that didn’t paint us as a foolish outfit. Not that I had anything against donkeys; it was just that as a tactical intergalactic military force; We had no business confusing people with our acronyms.

  The terrain was difficult and challenging, and the predators within the Sim were definitely on the prowl. I met a few brown bears which I calmed with a Calm Beast spell and left them
to their own devices, a wolf pack decided I was dinner one night but a few Fire flares and a Fireball left them in no doubt that dinner was best served rare, and preferably any place but where I was.

  I ate mostly rabbit caught the old-fashioned snare way and had a few partridges I shot down on the wing but found that the lightning spell overcooked them and the fireball spell left nothing worth eating. The cure poison spell came in handy after eating some berries that disagreed with me, however all-in-all it was a good time to get my thoughts in order and become accustomed to my new abilities. At last on the sixth day, I reached the crest of a hill and found a large rock that my inner compass had been directing me towards. With a wistful look around the magnificent landscape, I reached out a hand and found myself transported directly to the level up room.

  A tone reverberated throughout the room. Ding, Ding, Ding!

  You have leveled up!

  You have leveled up!

  You have leveled up!

  …this continued and at the end of the notifications, I was now at level 14.