Sean’s eyes stayed glued to the man teaching him the very basics and as Cage smiled he slowly punched with the stick he used for himself and the boy followed. Cage made small corrections and had Sean keep going and following the simple pattern, even if it looked strange.
In a low tone so the two boys concentration didn’t break, Brooke asked Megdline “What is Damascus steel?”
The older woman adjusted her robes to get closer and said “It is a secret technique the greatest blacksmiths use to forge the greatest weapons and armor. Iron will become steel, but even steel is prone to dulling, chipping or breaking. What few truly know is that forged metal has lines running through them. If someone hits those lines in the metal, it breaks. To counteract this weakness, blacksmiths turn the lines into swirls and circles to make the steel exponentially harder and allows a weapon to hold an edge that needs little sharpening. Also, Cage is making the steel harder and less brittle by heating and cooling several times. When Sean’s knife is done, that blade’s edge will likely be able to take more hits than any common sword could deliver.”
“What about my tomahawks?” Brooke took one out and handed it over. “I have to sharpen them every month or so.”
Megdline looked at it before sending her magic into the metal section and learned the secrets of the metal. “It is of good quality, but it has many impurities. The one who made this iron is good, but it can still have much done to make it better. If you would like, I can do one if you have Cage also do yours with Sean’s.”
“That would be wonderful.” Brooke said. “I will finish the cooking.”
Megdline began unwinding the leather that binds the metal head to the wooden shaft and laid the bindings with the crow feathers down before plucking the iron out. Brooke watched as the metal began to float above the woman’s hand and turn red hot, so hot it hurts the eyes. Cage even stopped for a moment to watch Megdline work.
A few seconds later, Megdline pushed the blazing metal away with magic and laid it near the cooling knife.
“Food’s ready!” Brooke announced after several more stirs in the large bowl of soup. Sean dripped with sweat and sat beside Brooke to wipe some off with his shirt. Cage took the other and sat comfortably as Brooke began spooning out plenty for everyone and Megdline pulled out fresh raspberries and a log of cheese that everyone got a share. Sean still gorged till his stomach hurt, but none commented since it has only been a day and the habits of an orphan, living on his own, is hard to break.
With a full belly and a comfortable atmosphere, Cage said “Sean, since you haven’t found any of us mistrustful yet, I would like to know about the little boy who chose to become my son. Tell us about yourself.”
Brooke turned and pushed herself back into Cage’s warm chest and got comfortable. Frill even consumed Megdline’s lap to listen.
Sean looked around to only notice inquiring and considerate expressions. His knees drew into his chest and wrapped his arms around them as the sign he was scared and backed into a corner, Cage noticed. In a low, timid voice he said “My uncle told me that my parents died in a strong storm, where a tree fell on our house. He said that he found me not yet a year old, under some debris, but my parents were both crushed. He raised me and taught me his trade. Some people would actually pay him to see if he could break into their homes or treasuries. My uncle was an honest thief and would sometimes get requested from the Laqura adventurers guild. But then, three years ago, he was told to break into a man’s house, but the person gave him the wrong place to use his skills. The owner thought my uncle a common thief when he was caught and had him executed. The man who had my uncle hired, was also caught and killed because it was found that he wanted an heirloom that would have made him rich and live in luxury.
“From then on, I was on my own. Jalara is the only home I knew, but they saw me as a burden and worthless. I learned to steal food just to not starve, but because Jalara is small, everyone knew and watched me. Then a traveler passed through and by that time, I hadn’t eaten in three days. I picked his pockets for a few coins, but then Witt and his gang noticed my thieving skills. They said that if I didn’t pay them equally between all of us that he was going to the town council and tell I was a thief. I didn’t want to lose my hand so I paid them. The rich travelers, I don’t have a problem taking from, but those that have misfortune I cannot make them poorer.” Everyone noticed how Sean rubbed the scars on his arms. “When I do not steal, they beat me and threaten to warn of all my deeds. Until last night, my life was like this.” Sean’s eyes met Cage’s and Brooke’s. “Mother, Dad, I was actually on my way to rob you when Witt and the others cornered me.”
“Appreciate the honesty.” Cage said.
Megdline interrupted. “You would steal from a mage? That is a good way to get yourself killed.”
“I know.” Sean admitted. “You might have killed me, but if not for Mother, it would have hopefully been a quick death. I’m at the age where if I was caught, I would not be shown mercy and killed… or I could have been sold for slavery, that was also a threat Witt used. So far, the three of you have done more for me than anyone in the past three years. I’ve even had a full stomach for two whole days, which hasn’t happened in eight months.”
Frill got up and stood eyelevel with the boy and began talking. Megdline said “He says ‘Do not say three when I’m also here, Kitten. I am no animal that can be overlooked. It was I who heard your distress and led Brooke to dispose of those leeches that fed off your talent. Be more mindful for I do not permit humans to see me as anything but an equal. Since you are part of this pride, you are also my kitten, Sean. Remember, I am a Familiar.’” Megdline then smiled when Frill began to purr. “He wants you to cross your legs so he can lay on you so you can pet him. He likes you.”
Sean slowly let his legs go and crossed them to become engulfed in a huge feline nearly as big as himself. The boy tentatively began to pet Frill slowly and found him soft. “Then I thank you too, Frill.” Frill purred more loudly with pleasure. “May I ask a question now? Where is it we are going?”
Megdline carefully answered. “Brooke told you that your other mother, Meeka, was captured. Actually she was taken as a slave, which I assume you do not approve of?” Sean shook his head vehemently while shuddering. “We are going to get her back. She was taken by the Empire for no other reason than they could. Your new mother and father are also going after others who were taken without motive. For the moment, it would be best you do not know or understand everything because it can get you in trouble and any unnecessary trouble must be avoided. Also know that I’m helping your father learn the ways of magic. He has just learned he has the skill not long ago and I have no other choice than to make sure you do not hear certain things that are not allowed. You have no choice in this. Non-mages cannot learn our teachings.”
“Will it… hurt?” He asked in a small tone.
“Of course not!” She expressed in an insulted manner. “I’m not like the mage’s in Laqura. Most mages are gentle and kind and want to see their gifts to aid others. It is those few that are cruel who give us a bad name. Dear Child, you have no reason to fear me or your parents. Both of your mothers are magicians and your father is destined to be very powerful. They do not like to harm others, but they will defend themselves.”
Sean looked to the strongest woman he’d ever met to ask “You’re a magician?”
Brooke nodded. “I am. I’m am a huntress and have no scent. My gift took away my scent forever. You need to be wary of your other mother though. Do not try or ever expect a kiss from her, for she kills all who do and she has no control over it. Only Cage and I can live from her curse. But do not be frightened, she will fall in love with you as quickly as I have.” She then stood up and held out both of her hands. “Come with me so I can tell you of your new people while your father and great grandmother have their lesson.” Frill looked up and walked off to allow Sean to stand. “I will first tell you about your new sister, Rena. She is seven years old a
nd very attractive for her age. She has warm brown eyes and copper skin like me, but she will love your light tan. And…” Brooke walked a ways to sit by the pond and tell stories he needed to learn.
Megdline created a weak barrier to solely disrupt any part of the lesson. “Cage, take out the candles I told you to get. We will test your skill of manipulation and alteration with them.”
Cage grabbed Sean’s pack and removed the homemade wax candles and sat them between himself and his teacher. Megdline sat all but one to the side. “What do you want me to do?”
“So far, you have used magic to either destroy or heal an injury. You know there is so many more applications.” Megdline pointed to the fat candle. “I want you to create a mental image of something you find the most beautiful. You have much imagination by how many ways you’ve used magic so far, without guidance, so this should be easy. Remove the wick and change its shape, all without your hands. I know sometimes using magic makes doing everyday things too easy or pointless, but this practice will further build your foundation. Go ahead with shaping first, wax is a good resource for this test.”
It wasn’t hard for Cage to find what he knew to be the most beautiful. It was the two women who had claimed him fully, heart and soul. Magic began to trickle from him and the wick slid out. Wax compared to steel was effortless in the crafting. The wax began to writhe as its shape altered into what he pictured. The original piece began to split and create two simultaneous shapes. The day he was never more angry and impressed began to take the defensive shape of the two women he cherished more than anything in his life. The white candle took on lifelike characteristics of Meeka and Brooke as both stood naked with a natural beauty that shouldn’t be hid. Meeka held her knife partially raised and stood as she had been taught, her long hair draped along her back while Brooke stood tall with her tomahawks gripped as she appeared to begin her fighting dance. In a moment, the figures solidified.
Carefully, Megdline reached forward and picked up the two wax figurines. “Impressive, Dimwit. For you to make them seem so alive means that you are more than familiar with their bodies. Even their vaginas and tiny bumps around their nipples have been inserted into the crafting. Beads too… You even added Meeka’s tiny, freckle-like mark at the corner of her mouth along with Brooke’s tribal-like mark on her lower back and backside.” She carefully sat them on the blanket they used. “These are very beautiful. You will now alter the wax to change pigment. I want them colored with as much precision as you put into them.”
“Okay.” Cage remembered what he had learned in their lessons about alchemy and focused on Meeka first. He started small, on a thigh of the figure and imagined the outer layer. To alter color, mana is needed as a catalyst to completely do something the object never intended. The magic struggled to turn from the white, to a golden tan. Every molecule fought to remain as is intended, but Cage’s determination and strength slowly changed color. Centimeter by centimeter the color began to spread into every curve and crevice. White hair turns blonde and dead eyes turned sapphire blue with a tiny black dot for the pupil. Tribal beads also changed color in the hair. Even the small knife she gripped gained realistic color. The strain grew intense, but then it was over and what stood before him pulled at him as it was a perfect figure of Meeka. When Cage began altering color into Brooke’s coppery skin, Megdline retrieved Meeka’s figure and she could have sworn it was Meeka herself off in the distance. Before long, Brooke’s seductive figure was concluded. “Amazing work, Cage. I believe you understand now how alteration is so difficult. It would have been easier to make paint, but the detail you imagined is better than any craftsman’s finest art.” She sat the fragile objects aside and sat out a second candle, a smaller and thinner one. “Alter everything that makes up this candle into pure glass.”
“Glass? Why?” He asked, already feeling tired.
“Because for the next few days I’m going to make you keep doing so much magic that your body will have no choice except to get stronger. Two days before we go to Bepop you will rest and pour as much mana into your gems as you can sustain. Like a muscle, your mana needs exercise and get used to low levels to them make it grow more quickly. You understand all the fundamentals and a few dangerous spells by our conversations. I’m going to make you as strong as possible and your body will rapidly learn to bare the strain and how to grow. Since you physically know how to push the limits, your mana will learn to do the same. Already I can see a subtle change in your strength since the gems are constantly and passively draining your power. You can draw more than three days ago, even if only slightly. You will have to endure brutal loss and fatigue to struggle to get strong. Hopefully you will reach ten rings on your back by the time we reach our destination. That is the plan I have for you. You understand concepts of magic and the foundation on how to protect yourself. Now I’m going to make you strong. Focus on the candle and get to work making it into glass.”
Arguing wouldn’t be productive so he began picturing the want of turning wax to glass. Megdline stood and walked around to stare at his bare back and how well he does on the task. She felt a rush of magic, from him, enter the object not a foot in front of his seating arrangement to watch the entire candle begin to wobble. Megdline then watched his mark of infinity sprout two thorns from either side of the mark between his shoulder blades and saw it steadily grow curved lines that became four perfect circles that still continued to grow. A corner of the candle started becoming harder and more transparent by the time the growing mark turned almost into six flowing circles which began to slow down. The harder he pushed the more it grew. By the time Cage lost consciousness, nearly a quarter of the candle had been transformed into clear glass and his marking barely touched to make eight and a quarter symmetrical rings which began to curve. The lines began to slowly recede into the infinity symbol.
Brooke continued talking till she saw Megdline rolling Cage on his back. Her heart drummed in fright as she stood and ran to his side. “What happened?” She demanded and was relieved to see him breathing deeply. Sean ran back to stare frighteningly at the man who was asleep after what he witnessed earlier beside the inn. Even he knew Cage was weakened. Both relaxed as Megdline said “He is going to be fine. I’m preparing him for what is likely to come, especially knowing what he usually does. While we wait, I have something to show you.”
A doll was carefully placed in each of Brooke’s hands and it made her completely speechless, especially when she saw a miniature version of herself. “You say he made these?... They are beautiful. Especially my woman… She is so lovely.” Brooke put them closer together and looked more closely to laugh. “He chose to make us right before he bedded us for the first time.” She smiled and kissed his warm and unresponsive cheek. “You chose well, Cage Love.”
“Mother? Is that your other woman… this Meeka person?” Sean asked.
“Yes, but from now on you too will call her Mother or Meeka Mother.” Brooke said softly and handed over the doll that represented the woman she cherished. “This is she, your other mother. It is small, but remember her face.”
“Meeka… Uh… Meeka Mother is very pretty.” He commented shyly.
“Very much so. Though she is the most beautiful woman I ever met, her true beauty lays in how much love she has.” Brooke handed back the doll to ask “Megdline, is there a way you could make these figures more permanent? I would like to keep so great of gift.”
“No.” Megdline said absently as she went to lay down. “These are just a test, which he passed. With such detailed focus someone his age shouldn’t have, he is ready and able to better understanding on how to beat other mages. Later on, I’m going to make him do a life-size spell so that something just as beautiful can be added to the graduation of his studies and be kept forever as part of Twilight’s eight thousand year history. You do not need those trinkets when he will make something more grand. Trust me, when you see what I want him to do, you and Meeka won’t leave his side for a month.” Such an idea intrig
ued Brooke so she didn’t push for more details. A month of sex seemed excessive, but she couldn’t think of anything better to give him… if Megdline’s prediction turned out to be accurate. Megdline said “I doubt it, since it is late, but if he wakes, tell him to sleep. All of us should as well. Oh, Sean, go get your knife and Brooke’s hatchet. They should be cool by now.” Before the sorceress went to sleep, she put away all the candles in a pocket and also the less than half finished glass candle.
Familiar's Ancient Throne (Book 2 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 34