Mage

by L. J. Swallow

  With no writing on the spine, only the patterns on the leather set them apart. They're leather-bound and shiny black. I stare at the inscription and one catches my eye—one I've seen somewhere, in the past, but I’m unsure where.

  I pull the book out and hand it to Reuben. "Hmm. Temporal Magic. This branch of magic allows you to shift in time and place, and to use powers to control or read minds."

  Reuben drops the book on the table and sits. "You had a few choices. Some say Necromancy is the most dangerous school; others believe manipulating the elements with Earthen magic has the most reward. A fourth, Phytomagic, allows the mage to draw upon life to heal, creating energy from nature around. But Temporal magic is the most guarded and hardest to master. Necromancy can disrupt life and death; Temporal magic can change everything."

  I rub my head. A new magic system—this could be my ‘locked’ skill mentioned in the book. "I get to choose?"

  "The magic chose you." He indicates the book.

  Temporal? That pretty much describes my exact state. I walk over to take the book; the sooner I study this, the better.

  “Can you perform this magic?”

  "I'm a High Mage. Between us, the Council practice all magic schools.”

  “Where are the rest of the Council?” I ask. “In this Academy?”

  “We are strong together but must remain apart for our own safety.”

  "The Kingdom," I say under my breath.

  "Yes, the Kingdom is frightened what we might do or discover."

  "Discover the Kingdom’s plans?" Why are all games so obvious in their storylines? "What are they planning?"

  "No, our plans. They're frightened of our power, as we are worried about their control. People are happy, but that's because the world is safe."

  "How can that be? Not everybody could agree with one ruler."

  "No, but nobody has the power to challenge. Only the Council of Elders, and we want to maintain peace. We're not happy with being restrained and told we cannot practice our magic for the good of the people. We believe there is more to the control of the population—perhaps a darker magic practiced by some within the Kingdom."

  “Don’t tell me. A rogue mage from the Council sided with the King, who allows him free reign, and this mage guy is gathering too much power?”

  Reuben’s brow pinches at my simplistic summary. But, honestly, I’ve quested variations on this theme countless times. “One of the Elders is missing, yes. There are rumours, but no proof. How interesting that the stories reached your village."

  "I like to arm myself with knowledge."

  He claps his hands together. "Good, but my role isn’t as a historian. I can attempt to teach you temporal magic, but not until you’ve proved yourself worthy.”

  I inwardly roll my eyes. “How?”

  “To start on that path, I need you to retrieve an object from the sorcerer, Terwyn. This is one of the Artefacts that was stolen, and the Kingdom now have it in their possession. He hides out in catacombs protected by dwarven magicians and is offered protection by the Kingdom if he keeps the Artefect in his possession. If you can see the trinket, much like the stone you brought me, then you have a natural aptitude we can develop.”

  I blink. This sounds like too high-level for a mage with two spells and a tree branch weapon. “And if I can’t see it?”

  He taps his forefingers against his lips. “Then I hope you find some useful items for your onward adventures.”

  “Can I take friends with me?” I ask, realising how pathetic that sounds.

  “A party of adventurers? Yes, but choose wisely. You are physically weak, and a healing salve won’t be enough to keep you alive.”

  “I don’t suppose you have any items to assist me? I appreciate the new clothing, but my weapon is poor.”

  I realise my mistake in demanding things from him when his friendly face darkens. “You must earn powerful items. If you manage to defeat Terwyn, I’m sure we can find a superior item to aid your future endeavours.”

  “Uh. What do you mean, ‘if I manage’?”

  Reuben sits and finds sudden interest in papers on his desk. Ones he needs to shuffle around and avoid looking at me. “I’m sure everything will be fine with the right team. I suggest five of you. Any less and...” He looks up and smiles. “Well, take an extra healing salve or two.”

  His light laugh isn’t encouraging.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I didn’t explore the town well before questing, so I walk briskly around in the dusk trying to catch my bearings before nightfall. Where is Jay and Dean—and Zara? Dean and I parted when we reached Grunwald earlier to deliver our quest items, and as technology is non-existent, there's no way to locate him again. I can't exactly call him and arrange a meet up, one where we can discuss what happened.

  The reality I'm trying to grasp onto changes hour by hour. I've been told I have skills, and that I've taken a step off the path 'they' want me on.

  Who are ‘they’? Rescuing people and retrieving secret items fills my new reality, just as when I played my game in my real life. I achieved more than I did in the world outside my bedroom window and could start again if things went wrong in the Game. But here? What if I fail?

  I keep my backpack close, looped twice around my arm. I blend in with my plain robe, although my bonnet draws curious looks. I clench my jaw—there's a game developer out there with a warped sense of humour who likes fairy tales. The flowers are still in my pack, and I feel as if I'm carrying around contraband.

  I hope completing the quest adds gold to my inventory. I've no money and Sonara told me I'd gain plenty from Jeremiah. But what if I'm being watched? That my going against Reuben's wishes costs me in game? A game I still have no clue how it works. Can I lose favour with him?

  My debate continues as I step away from the narrow streets and into the older area of the town. The people here hang together in groups, drinking and ignoring me. My band's map glows with a line leading through the narrow alleys to Jeremiah’s shop.

  I pause by a small house and cover my nose against the stench in the gutters. Definitely no sewage system here. Two men pass, and I step to one side and turn so I can watch them. A large hand clamps over my mouth from behind and drags me into a side alley.

  "Hey!" I shout and pull away; my veins growing painful with magic.

  Jay. He places a finger over his lips and pulls me further into the alley's recess. A rat skitters from beneath piled, rotting vegetation and I suppress a shout. Spiders? Okay. Cockroaches? Bearable. Freaking rats? Nope. The tingle grows along my arm. Roasted rats, anybody?

  His fingers dig into my skin as he drags me into a deep doorway, hiding us from view.

  "This is weird shit, El," he hisses. "I don't know what to do. I'm fucking scared."

  "Why grab me like that?" I retort.

  "Um. Because I'm hiding?" he asks with heavy sarcasm. "And nice hat, by the way."

  "Mythical," I retort.

  "Whoa. Serious? It's bloody ugly."

  I nod. "Look at you with new pants and a tunic rather than a dress. That's lucky, right?"

  "True, but they're pretty ordinary. Some increase in power, but not much of an upgrade from my level 1 gear."

  Jay's attitude confuses me. His aggressive stance towards me has dropped; he’s now a panicked guy standing in the doorway shifting his eyes around, already beaten down by the game.

  "What've you been doing?" I ask.

  "Failed my bloody quest. I thought clerics were sweetness and light, but when I failed to take the flower back, I was told I'm filled with darkness, which is not true." His voice rises, and I touch his arm. "If I'm stuck playing a cleric, fine, but don't tell me I'll be shit at healing. Just because I couldn't find a fucking flower.”

  "Whoa. Slow down. Does your specialty have a name? Maybe we can research?"

  "Dark Born. The elf chick who told me informed me I had to ‘learn’ to be a good guy." He huffs. "Plus, there’s this other cleric dude who followed me e
verywhere since I returned; I'm glad I managed to escape for five minutes."

  "Who is he?"

  "Some middle-aged guy. Walks around gawping at everything and seems as clueless as me."

  "A game character or a player?"

  "Character." He taps his wrist. "My Magic Silver Band says so, and he doesn’t have a wristband. Do you have a follower from your class's base?"

  "Not really. I met this guy called Damon who's a bit of a douche, but I'd hardly call him a follower."

  Jay sinks onto the nearby stone step and looks up at me. "We should leave, together. All of us. We need to get the hell away from here."

  "How? If we're part of the game, we won't progress unless we follow quest chains. Reuben told me that once I'm experienced enough, I can reach the edge of the world. I'm taking that as meaning we need to level up enough to leave."

  "This is bullshit. Why were we thrown back to level 1 when we're experienced players?"

  "Who knows?" I sit opposite him and delve into my backpack. I rummage in my backpack. "Did you get far after we left you, or see much of the zone?"

  "Only more fields and small houses. I think I could see the coast in the distance, but I didn't want to wander anywhere too far alone. The map was dark in areas I hadn’t visited." He shakes his wrist.

  I pull out a flower, and the petals are still luminescent even in the dim. Jay straightens. “Why do you have flowers?"

  “A Dryad taught me how to gather them."

  "Huh. Where?"

  "In the middle of the forest. I had an escort quest and met her. She gave me this." I point to my bonnet.

  "I saw that kid and ignored that quest. I don't have time to run around after people. All escort quest characters are stupid. Slow."

  "Seriously, Jay? At this level, we do everything. Dean joined me, and he didn't even have the quest. You should've come with us.”

  "I was too busy looking for the bloody flower. All day and nothing." He pokes at the flower. "What's that called?"

  "Tears of the Sky. Is that the flower you were sent to find? Me and Dean found some. Maybe you would have been better to group with us."

  Jay chews on his lip and stares at the plant, then swears under his breath. "Shit. Yes. Why did the game lead me on a false trail into a field? Arseholes.”

  “I’m beginning to think the same about the game developers.” I point at my Mythical armour that looks like it came from a charity shop.

  “Do you think today was a test to see if we could work together? Dean found his paw with your help." He swears again, and his mouth turns down.

  "I don't know. Maybe. I’ve been told to group for my next quest. Dungeon crawl, from the sounds of it."

  “I don’t have a major quest like that, but maybe I will if I find my flower first.” The light emanating from the flower disappears as Jay takes hold and closes his large hand around it. He stands. "I need to take this back to my trainer. Maybe she'll decide I'm not a Dark Born cleric after all."

  "True. Florists don't usually have an evil streak."

  Jay gives a wry smile. "Thanks, El."

  "All good." I stand and brush dirt from my robe, and Jay catches my arm as the sleeve rides up.

  "What happened? You're injured." The concern on his face matches Dean's from earlier. "That's a bad gash."

  He pulls me closer and I tense as he explores the edge of the wound. "A wolf scratched me. Don't touch it, Jay."

  “You should get that looked at or it could be infected."

  "I'll check in at the local hospital, should I?”

  He sighs at me. "I’m a nurse. I know what I'm doing.”

  “A nurse? Maybe this is why you're a healer in this game?"

  He drops my arm, but the worry doesn't leave his face. "I hate nursing. Shitty, stressful job. I guess I don't have the compassion needed."

  "I will admit I'm surprised, but you’re taking care of me now. That's compassionate."

  "Do you think my one healing spell would work on your arm?" he asks in a low voice.

  Jay doesn't look at me and I know why. Offering to heal steps away from his denial he can fulfil his role and forces him to confront the reality he's in. Dean and I should've had our healer with us before. Maybe even the missing Zara. Instead, he was hellbent on questing alone.

  "If there's no hospital, your magic hands might help," I suggest.

  Jay steps back and rubs his large palm across his mouth. "I'm not sure what would happen if I cast a spell. I don't like being out of control. Give me a sword and shield and I can control what happens. Magic? That's scary, uncontrollable shit."

  "I won't force you, Jay. I'll find some salve. It's all good." I crouch to fasten my pack and look up at him. "I don't know where Dean or Zara are, but when my group of friends want to find each other, we head to our favourite bar."

  "Like the tavern we drank in last night?"

  "Yup." I straighten. "Come on, Nurse Jay."

  When I turn to walk away, Jay grabs hold of my hand. I look up in surprise as he folds his palm against the gash, which grows livider as the hours pass. Nothing changes on his skin, but a low tingle grows and the wound itches the way a normal cut does when healing. The sensation lasts seconds, until Jay withdraws his hand. He examines his palm while I rub a finger across the now-smooth skin.

  Jay's bracelet pings and he shifts his gaze to the screen. "I just learned a new spell. I can now cure poison." He stares down, mouth slightly parted.

  "From healing me?"

  "Yeah." His eyes shine. "I guess I'd better work with you guys and we can help each other."

  "Wow. That should switch your attitude in a more useful direction."

  Our eyes meet in amused understanding, but something more. I get the impression that Jay avoids relying on others. At least he’s looking at me as someone who’s more than the girl who pissed him off yesterday.

  Jay twirls the flower in his fingers. "Maybe I should take this back to my priestess friend. Honestly, she's worse than the ward manager at the last hospital I worked at."

  "I need to take some of these to a Potions Master in return for some salve. We can meet at the tavern later?" I suggest.

  As relaxed with him as I was with Dean earlier, the real world doesn't seem so far away anymore. Tonight, I want to find out more about these people's realities and cement the fact we're more than a mage, cleric, assassin, and paladin.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I need to speak to the Potion Master at the apothecary and bargain for more healing potions. I’m intrigued by Reuben’s words about illicit potions. Will he share any more details? I’m the one who could pick the Tears of the Sky. The one Sonara gave the quest to. And the one Reuben warned about straying from the path.

  There’s a reason why. In game, there is always a reason.

  The Potion Master's premises are tucked in a back alley, the frontage hidden between two other buildings with uneven roofs. The small sign swings outside. Inside, a small man sits on a tall stool behind the high counter, where bottles and jars filled with ingredients line shelves above his head. A step-ladder is placed beneath one shelf. He weighs dried brown plants on a small set of scales, mixing them into a dark liquid. His diminutive stature isn’t what strikes me, but the candy-floss pink hair in short curls around his face.

  Jeremiah

  Potion Master

  Non-aggressive

  He looks up as the bell tinkles. "Good afternoon, dear lady. How are you this fine day?"

  “Good thanks, you?”

  The place smells weird. Not herbal, as I expected, but a mix of sickly-sweet floral scent and burnt flesh. A doorway leads to the shop’s rear, which is open, and smoke billows in the room behind.

  He hops down from the stool. "How can I help you?"

  I delve into my backpack for the Tears of the Sky. “I brought you these.”

  He tips his head, the pink curls settling across one ear. "Where did you find those?"

  "I picked them," I reply.

 
; Jeremiah eyes glint and widen as I place the flowers on the counter. “From the Dryads?”

  “Yes. They allowed me. I didn’t steal them.”

  “But you could find and pick them?”

  Should I have admitted this? As I place the flowers on the counter, my wristband informs me that my quest is complete. “Could I swap these for some healing salve or gold?”

  He smiles, revealing teeth capped with gold. “For these, I will trade healing salve, yes. I have very few Tears of the Sky, and those I do have are locked away. They’re rare and I need them.”

  I watch as he carefully takes the small pots from the box and lines them on the table. "I can teach you how to make your own healing salve, if you can pay me."

  I squeeze the leather push I have strapped to my belt. My empty pouch "Pay you for lessons? Please, but I don’t have any gold yet."

  Jeremiah smiles and climbs down from the school, his tightly curled hair bouncing around his face as he does. "When you do, come and see me. I charge one gold to teach healing potions. Five gold for anything that increases your aptitude in battle. If you become proficient, you can sell the potions to your friends. You are an adventurer, you will find gold eventually. They always do.”

  “Potion making can’t be that hard,” I say.

  "The skill for making potions doesn't just come from mixing and cooking. Unless you can identify the plants, things could go very wrong." My face falls. "No. You seem adept at collecting the plants compared to most I meet. Many adventurers spend too much time honing their fighting skills, but there's more to winning a battle than brute force, right?"

  My ears prick up. Is this more information I don’t want to miss?

  "You brought me Tears of the Sky from the Dryad's grove, which is quite a feat. The Dryads are more likely to use the plants to harm than help. You must have garnered favour somehow. I would suggest you look for more. I’d be happy to pay you.” The gold-toothed grin spreads.