A New Light (The Astral Wanderer Book 1)

by D'Artagnan Rey

  Either out of curiosity or the desire for conversation, the mori decided to question him. “So, Devol, tell me,” he began and leaned back while he held a piece of boar cheek between his fingers. “How much do you know about Mana?”

  He finished chewing a large mouthful of boar flank and considered the question thoughtfully. “I think…a fair amount. My mom has a degree in the arts of Mana, and she has taught me ever since I was a toddler.”

  Vaust nodded slowly, picked up the gourd next to him, and removed the stopper. “So how would you define it?”

  Devol took another bite of his food and tapped his chin as he thought. “My mother usually said that it is the ‘second blood’ of the Magi. It flows like a river through you, one that you control. It is crucial to think of it as an essential part of you, not as something to perform silly party tricks with.”

  His companion chuckled, finished the meat hanging between his fingers, and swallowed some of the liquid from the gourd before he straightened. “Believe it or not, Devol, if you have taken your mother’s words to heart, you are already far more prepared for the life of a Magi than most.”

  “So you think the same way, Mr. Lebatt?” he asked.

  The mori shrugged and sipped his water. “It is not how I would put it, but your mother’s advice is similar.”

  The boy finished the flank and placed the bone beside him. “Then how do you think of Mana?”

  Vaust shrugged. “I could speak for quite some time on that subject, but we need to rest soon and I don’t wish to bore you. I would put it simply like this…” He held a hand out and formed a ball that hovered slightly above his palm. It was a white core of light surrounded by a red shell. Devol had never seen Mana like that and was enchanted.

  “In the realms,” the mori continued, “Mana is the birthright of all who live in them, but that does not mean all truly understand the gift we possess.” The orb grew in size and changed from the shape of a single grape to that of a cantaloupe. “To most, it is simply power—energy, or as your mother put it, something to perform silly tricks with. But a true Magi knows better.” The orb changed shape and took on a humanoid form before details etched themselves in quickly and it looked like a miniature rendering of Vaust himself. “A true Magi knows that Mana is the essence of their spirit.”

  “Oh…” was the only response the boy could make, still focused on the image in his companion’s hand, before the man snapped his hand shut and the vision disappeared. “Wha— Hey, can you teach me how to do that?”

  The mori clasped his hands together and hung them over his knees. “Do you want to learn a silly trick or something more?”

  He felt a little sheepish and he scratched his cheek and looked away in embarrassment. “Let’s go with something more. Although it would still be nice to have a few tricks in case I ever need one.”

  Vaust laughed. “I’ll admit, I don’t disagree.” He studied him again. “To continue, are you familiar with the trinity of Mana disciplines?”

  Devol nodded vigorously. “Oh yes.” He leaned back on one hand and held the other out to count by raising his fingers in turn. “There’s Vis, Vita, and Vello.”

  “Indeed. And what are the meanings behind them?”

  The boy held his first finger up. “Vis is using Mana to enhance your body, which will enable you to be stronger and faster and able to endure more, things like that.”

  “Increasing your natural stamina,” Vaust summarized and pointed at him. “Don’t forget that if you focus only on adding power to your strength, you won’t be able to strengthen your power.”

  “Right!” He nodded and now held two fingers up. “Vita is the ability to control the flow of your Mana so you don’t expend more than is necessary.”

  “Correct,” the mori agreed and held two of his fingers up. “It’s not the most dramatic discipline but an important one, nonetheless.” He held a third up. “And the last?”

  Devol mirrored him with three fingers. “The last is Vello, the ability to transfer Mana, which enables you to cast cantrips and even strengthen or control simple objects.”

  “They don’t necessarily have to be simple.” Vaust clarified and lowered his hand. “But it’s a good way to learn it. And a quick check—are you familiar with cantrips?”

  He raised a hand and tilted it from side to side. “I know of them, obviously—like the bolt cantrip you did in the forest to create an arrow from Mana and solidify it. They are simple spells that many Magi learn over their years of training and include the basics that almost anyone can use and those that fall into different classes. But for me…well, they aren’t one of my stronger abilities. My mother is very skilled, though.”

  “There is no shame in that. It comes easier to some rather than others,” his companion said to reassure him and placed a hand on his chest. “The mori are taught cantrips from a very young age and have much more time than humans to learn them.”

  “I’ve heard that the mori are some of the most gifted Magi among all the realmers,” Devol stated.

  Vaust smiled. “That is true, something many hold in high regard, although the angeli would argue that point.”

  The boy looked at him, his curiosity piqued. “I’m sorry, who?”

  The man waved a hand. “Nothing to be concerned about now.” He rested his arm on his leg while his other hand stroked his chin. “I have to say, you are very well taught for your age.”

  Devol nodded and smiled. “See, I told you I know a lot.”

  “You certainly have the basics,” his companion replied and raised an eyebrow. “Now, what about Anima?”

  “Hmm?” He hesitated and his face fell. “Anima? I don’t think I’ve heard about that. Is it a mori specialty?”

  “Not quite. It’s more of an advanced discipline,” Vaust clarified, pushed to his feet, and stretched. “Since we’re now well-fed, come with me for a moment, would you?”

  “Um…sure, okay.” He stood and followed him out of the cave. They walked in silence onto the wide plain under the night sky.

  “Would you like to see that something more I told you about?” the mori asked and turned to him after they had wandered a few yards away from the cave. He pointed past him. “Move a few feet away.”

  The boy complied and turned toward him as his companion held his arms apart. “You may wish to brace yourself,” he warned and drew a sharp breath before Devol noticed a red shimmer around his body, one that promptly exploded outward. It raced through the young Magi and made him feel like he would be thrown back dozens of yards or lifted off his feet.

  In an instant, it was gone, but he could still feel a heaviness in the air that was almost tangible. It seemed like he could barely move his arms or legs. He looked at Vaust and frowned at the faint red shimmer that faded quickly—or, rather, it looked like it was absorbed inside him.

  “What is…going on?” he asked and struggled to remain standing.

  “This is my Anima, Devol,” his companion explained as he continued to stare at him.

  “Anima?” the boy asked and panted from the pressure. “It feels so heavy. What are you doing?”

  The mori straightened. “You use your Mana to surround yourself like you would with armor. It creates a field that makes it more tangible and easier to use for protection and to access its power. That heaviness you feel is my Anima suppressing your Mana.”

  “Is that so?” he responded irritably as his breathing became weaker. “Do you mind toning it down a little, please?”

  “I could but I think it would be more useful if you did it yourself,” Vaust countered.

  Devol tried instinctively to adopt a questioning look, but he did not have the best control over his muscles at the moment. “What do you mean?”

  “I think you can manifest your Anima, my friend,” the man declared. “From what I’ve seen so far, you’re almost there.”

  The more tenacious part of him agreed that this was probably a good time to try, but the more reasonable side asked, �
�Can I have a hint?”

  “Certainly. In fact, I’m giving you a big one at this moment.” Vaust pointed to him. “There are several ways for young Magi to first manifest their Anima.” The boy wasn’t sure if it was a tease or purely happenstance, but he held three fingers up as he had before. “Through specific training, breathing exercises, working on your Vita discipline, and things like that, although that takes a long while and we don’t have time for that.” He lowered one finger. “Another is to force it, which isn’t recommended. Even in the best circumstances, it usually causes great pain and stress to the Magi.”

  “This doesn’t count?” Devol asked.

  Vaust shook his head and an amused grin spread across his face as he lowered his second-to-last finger. “The last one is to coax it out. It’s somewhat tricky compared to the other two, but this is one of the more standard ways,” he explained. “Even in the few hours I’ve spent with you, Devol, I can see you are gifted. Either that or you’re the product of good training, but there is a limit to how far that will take you.”

  “I assume there is a flight or fight factor here?” he asked and used his Mana to access the strength to stand taller.

  “Of course.” The mori chuckled and stared a challenge at him. “But what you are doing—able to use Vis even under these circumstances—tells me you are at the door, Devol. Just open it!”

  “And how do I do that?” he demanded.

  “Like we’ve discussed, Mana is your ‘second blood’—your ‘spirit’,” Vaust reminded him. “It is the manifestation of your life and will and you have to draw it out.” He clapped sharply. “Focus and bring it all together within you, then let it pour out—but don’t let it consume you. Your mother compared Mana to a river, correct?” Devol nodded. “Then expand it into an ocean and form a tidal wave.”

  The boy balled his fists and lowered his arms to his sides. He focused on his heart, a trick his mother had taught him—to think of his heart as the center point of his Mana and its home. Even in dire times, being able to remember that would keep him calm. He could feel it pooling and let it coalesce into one point as he battled against his companion’s Anima. It was something he had never tried before. He’d spent all his time focusing on manipulating and making the Mana flow that he never understood what it felt like to bring it all together. The comparison to an ocean was apt.

  Now, he would release it.

  With a determined cry, Devol let his Mana explode outward. It instantly filled his entire body before it pushed through to include the outside of his skin and the air around him. He suddenly felt light. His sight also seemed to improve and the night was no longer so dark. The pressure of Vaust’s Anima was pushed back and a white glow surrounded him with the edges tinted silver.

  “There you go,” the mori said too quietly for him to hear as he was too preoccupied with the new experience to pay attention to anything else. The man noticed the silver glimmer around the edges of the boy's Anima. All Mana was white with a color strain that was unique to the user. Scholars and philosophers alike had debated the significance of these colors. Were they an indication of the person’s personality? Or were they developed over time and based on experiences? Mana was a gift from the Astrals, so was it connected to them somehow?

  Vaust had never paid too much mind to that. He preferred results and absolutes and wading into a debate that had lasted for centuries seemed a waste of time, even for a long-lived mori. But he did note the silver color of Devol’s Mana. That was unique. In fact, he had only seen it in one other person. His thoughts returned to the symbol he had seen on the map, the insignia of the only man with silver Mana.

  He observed the boy, whose face lit up as he began to move freely again and stared at the Anima he had produced. The mori saw wonder in him that he had not seen in a long time. It was a shame. A boy like this did not deserve to live a life believing a lie.

  Chapter Four

  “Mr. Lebatt, I did it!” Devol shouted and raised his arms ecstatically.

  “Indeed you did,” Vaust agreed. “But you shouldn’t get comfortable. You’ll pass out if you keep going like that.”

  The boy’s face fell into a small frown. “Huh?” Now that he thought about it, despite his newfound lightness and jubilation, he felt a tad off.

  “You’ve brought your Anima out, but it’s now pouring out of you,” his companion explained and approached him. “You need to rein it in. Otherwise, you’ll pass out from Mana depletion and perhaps even die if you pour too much out.”

  “Well, that would certainly bring the mood down.” He sighed in exasperation, stood tall, and exhaled a long breath before he focused on himself again. Vaust stopped in his tracks. He had intended to explain to him what he needed to do but was now curious as to whether the boy could correct it himself.

  Devol closed his eyes and began to pull his Mana in a little. It felt different than usual and Anima made it seem more tangible. He inhaled slowly, focused on his heart again, and reeled the Mana in. When he opened one eye slightly, the colorful light around him faded and shrank slowly. It looked like his attempt was working. He noticed Vaust observing him—surely he would say something if he was doing something wrong? Then again, he seemed to be a very trial-by-fire type of teacher, so maybe he should not depend on that possibility.

  The Anima continued to shrink but it did not weaken. It continued to surround him and more importantly, he could again feel his companion’s being held at bay. But when he recognized this, he thought of something else. If pushing his Anima out like this was a risk to him and Vaust’s felt so much more powerful, he did not seem concerned at all. The thought was intriguing but it was probably best to not dwell on that.

  After he decreased the expanse of his Anima to the point where it felt like it only surrounded his immediate area, he opened his eyes fully and shook his joints to test them. He still felt good and remained strong. The last time he had experienced something this exciting was the first time he had properly accomplished Vis. He looked at Vaust, who nodded in approval.

  “Congratulations. You successfully used Vita in combination with Anima.”

  “Is that tricky or something?” Devol asked, his gaze focused on the taller Magi.

  His companion nodded. “Certainly more so than simply using it with Mana. It is a useful skill, as when your Anima is out you are protected and stronger. But, as you felt for yourself, it tends to draw attention. Being able to use Vita to control your Anima so that you don’t overuse it and even to hide it in certain situations is quite useful.”

  “Oh, okay.” He nodded and held his fists up. “So I can use Vis and Vello in combination with Anima as well?”

  “Indeed you can, although it will take a while to get used to it.” The mori folded his arms. “We have a little more time. I can show you something a little more practical if you like.”

  “Sure,” Devol agreed and placed his fists together. “I’m ready.”

  Vaust grinned and extended an arm toward the cave. “I hope so.” An object hurtled toward him from within their shelter and he caught it in his open hand.

  The boy watched as he unwrapped a black cloth from around the item and stared when he held something up in the moonlight. It appeared to be a weapon of some kind with a curved blade of darkened metal and a zig-zag pattern embossed on either side of the blade. It was attached to a black rod a little longer than Devol’s arm, and golden rings jingled at the bottom where white leather binding acted as a handle.

  “What is that?” he asked as he admired it. The metal glittered both hauntingly and beautifully under the moonlight.

  The mori slipped his fingers into the rings at the bottom of the weapon and spun it a few times. “This is a kama,” he stated, flipped it, and snatched it by the handle. “Or, rather, that is what the weapon is called. This is my majestic.”

  “You have one too?” he asked.

  His companion nodded “This one was passed down to me when I earned the rank of archon in my realm. I kept
it after I departed as a…keepsake.”

  “They are special, right? It doesn’t seem like the kind of thing one simply gives away.”

  “I didn’t mention it when I left.” Vaust chuckled and rested the kama on his shoulder. “So, what do you know about exotics?”

  “Oh, that’s an easy one,” Devol said. “Exotics are weapons that are made with special materials and magical enhancements like runes and incantations. There are different types and varieties and each has a unique property that can be accessed by trained Magi. My father has a very special one, and all the guardsman get an exotic gladius as recruits—or one of three or four other weapons.”

  “Correct again,” the elder Magi affirmed. “But even the rarest and most powerful of exotics can pale in comparison to majestics. With exotics, almost anyone can use one and the user will imbue it with Mana as an energy source. The majestic is connected to the user themselves and not everyone is capable of wielding one. In fact, it can be rather dangerous for someone who cannot resonate with a majestic to use it.”

  “So my sword is connected to me?” he asked. “What does that mean, exactly?”

  “It means you need to be careful,” Vaust warned and his tone grew more serious. “Majestics are more than the weapons or objects they appear to be. They are powerful and very few weapons can survive even a clash with one. But should they become damaged, they will injure their users as well.”

  “What?” He gasped and wished he had known that before setting off. Without a doubt, he would have brought an extra sword to use instead.

  The Magi began to twirl his kama. “It’s something to keep in mind. But each majestic also has a unique power—one that even the greatest Magi cannot learn or bring forth themselves, although many have tried.”