The Trapped Mind Project (Emerilia Book 1)

by Michael Chatfield

  “Your Lady of Fire doesn’t sound half bad,” Dave admitted, taking a sip of his beer. “Well, anyway. So, I designed and made things that were meant to leave a planet, like Emerilia, and head out into the solar system.”

  Deia leaned in. That kind of invention—she couldn’t even try to imagine it. The area surrounding a planet was filled with all kinds of hazards that tried to kill life. Here, he was making vehicles that could go into it and outward to other places in the system. It was incredible!

  “I took a job working for a commercial company that was sending people to Mars. There was good money and I was able to pay off my school debts in no time.”

  “An entire company dedicated to moving people into space?” Deia was still reeling from his first surprise.

  “Yes. Sol system, where Earth was located, had two inhabitable planets. Well, one habitable—Earth and another that Humans could technically survive on and that we were changing so that people could walk on it without wearing space suits and living in contained houses.”

  Dave’s words were like from another language but he was animated, excited by it all, and Deia didn’t want him to stop.

  “I left that company to make my own, called Rock Breakers Corporation. We sent out space vehicles to grab massive rocks that were floating around our star system and pull them back to Earth to refine them,” Dave said.

  “You mined rocks in space?” Deia said, piecing it together.

  “Yeah! We dropped refined ore that would have weighed as much as Mithsia Mountain in months. Changed the world.” Dave sipped his beer. He paused and Deia sat back, nursing her wine to take it all in.

  “Food!” Dave lurched to his feet. “I’ll be back in a minute!” Dave ran inside.

  She watched as he worked on the food, concentrating on it. The silly smile plastered on her face made her look away, smiling to herself as she took another sip of wine.

  It wasn’t just the alcohol that made her warm.

  “Sorry about that! Don’t want to burn anything.” Dave took a seat and smiled. “So, what about you? What is the past of Oson’Deia?”

  “You heard my real name?”

  “Well, it came up and you’re kind of an interesting subject.” He grinned.

  “Only kind of?” She hit him playfully.

  He laughed and gave her a wink.

  “So, I was born in Kufo’tel but my father is a great mage. When the Earth Lord went against the Asha-moor Elves, they fell back in droves; thousands died in weeks. It was an eradication. Elves had left behind their Fire magic for Earthen magic as they wanted to live peacefully, and the Earth Lord gave them gifts. It blinded them and when he attacked, there were few Fire mages remaining. Those who were Fire mages were ostracized but they were also very powerful. Fire is an Elf’s natural Affinity. They had trained in the old ways and preserved ancient texts of power. When the Earth Lord attacked, the Elves were being driven back when the Fire mages showed themselves.

  “My father led them, using magic that had not been seen since the pantheon walked Emerilia. Magic that the Earth Lord himself had forgotten. Our lady does not take our power, so our Fire mages were not weakened by their gifts and tributes. In days, they turned Asha-moor into a raging inferno, cleansing it of the Earth Lord’s creatures. When the fighting ended, my father left, leaving the praise behind, taking me, a newborn, to Kufo’tel. I did not know my mother. He always called her his fiery one and everlasting inferno. She was bold and far from quiet. She put my father in his place more than once. She was also a powerful Fire mage. The most powerful he had ever seen.” Deia’s voice trailed off, remembering how she had found her father gathering his strength and the odd woman with him.

  Dave put a comforting hand on her arm.

  The thoughts fled as she smiled at Dave.

  “The Elves saw their foolishness. The Pantheon used the power that we gave to them to wage fights against one another to try to get more power. Sometimes, it meant betraying their own people. From then forward, all Elven tribes have promoted the use of magic in all forms. From Dark to Light, all of it is allowed and practiced, if sometimes in secret. It was why there was a large group of Fire mages that watched over the Earth sprites. We allowed them into our home and hoped that they would work with us. For a time, it did, until there was another power play by the Earth Lord and we had to burn them all down.” She shivered.

  “So you practice your magic in secret?” Dave asked.

  “It was the best way to make sure that we were prepared for whatever came. I still haven’t used all of my powers. My Affinity is quite high because of my parents.”

  “Well, I’ve got a true firecracker on my hands.” Dave laughed.

  “What’s a firecracker?” Deia asked.

  “Umm, well… You set off a fuse, then this thing explodes, sending a rocket into the sky. It bursts apart into colorful blooms. Kind of like a blooming flower, except it’s massive, made of light, and in the sky,”

  “Mana-explosions?”

  “I guess? Never seen any,” Dave admitted.

  “Well, we will have to sometime.” Deia smiled.

  “I would like that.” Dave smiled, just as she realized she’d insinuated both of them going together. “First, I think the soup is done and we can begin eating! Let’s get you sat down.”

  Dave pulled out her chair at the table.

  “I might be near three hundred but I am not so old as to not get my own seat.”

  “Yes, but you’re pretty and it makes me look cool.” He winked.

  She laughed and took the seat.

  He went into the house and brought out a pot. He ladled soup into her bowl, putting the pot down and then grabbing other pans and items holding food. He put them to the side; the iron would keep them warm.

  Deia took a spoonful of soup. She closed her eyes and tasted the tomatoes, differing herbs, and goat’s milk. She ignored the buffs that her mind was categorizing. Enjoying the meal for its taste rather than properties.

  “Well, I hope that it’s somewhat edible.” Dave smiled as he sat in his seat and took a spoonful of tomato soup.

  “Quite. There is a reason I had to win that fight. I’m not all that good of a cook,” Deia admitted.

  “Ah well, I can teach you if you want. If not, I know you can kill and gut a good animal or two.” Dave laughed.

  Deia laughed as well. With the Elves, married women were usually pampered on and left to take care of affairs of the household and look to teaching children and learning herself, while the husband looked to killing and proving his worth. With the Kufo’tel, that wasn’t their way; men and women hunted together, cooked, and were a lot freer in their relationships.

  The high Elves lived on tradition and politics. Every Elf believed themselves to be royalty. She’d had to go and meet with them a few times. They might be a bunch of annoying aristocrats but they were also powerful. They didn’t ally with any Affinity and they had the best magical schools in all of Emerilia.

  Deia had been scared that she might be stuck with another Elf who was an asshole, or she could have gone the human route. Though Humans always seemed to be blown away by Elven beauty and lose their shit.

  Dave didn’t seem to mind her beauty; he was interested in actually talking to her. So, they did for the rest of the night, talking about their lives. Admitting things that they hadn’t even thought of in years. Wine and beer flowed, food passed by, and Deia found herself and Dave sitting on the porch once again. The dishes were in a tub soaking and there was nothing for them to do.

  In a bold moment, Deia had sat on Dave and covered them in a hide. Dave didn’t seem to mind as she nestled against him, feeling the muscles that she had seen from afar.

  “You never told me what happened after you made the Rock Breakers Company.” Deia yawned. The food, the alcohol, and his warmth served to make her sleepy.

  “Corporation and, well, I went from being a broke guy with an idea with a bunch of friends working in a lab whose lease was runni
ng out of funding, to the richest man in the world.” Dave’s voice was tinged in anger as he waved his beer around.

  Deia waited, knowing there was more.

  “We went from having no gold, to so many thousands of it that we could buy countries and couldn’t possibly spend it in a lifetime. I looked to make sure that everyone was compensated and that the corporation kept going. People felt like they were treated poorly. My family, who had their comfortable Texas ranch and good jobs, came to me for handouts. They expected me to look after them. They lost sight of the lives they were forging. They went from aspiring to do their jobs to thinking that I was the reason for their misfortunes. I gained wealth and built something incredible. I was at the top and being at the top is lonely.” Dave drank his beer.

  Deia could sense the sadness and then sheer dejection that Dave felt. He had done so much in such a short period of time. He’d made great friends who would stand beside him, yet he was scared it would all leave him in a moment. Deia might be new to courting, or dating, but she knew people.

  She used a finger to turn his face to look at hers. Red eyes met gray. They seemed to shine in the lantern light. His trimmed beard and caring eyes. Her open face and small smile.

  She pulled his head closer, their lips finding each other’s.

  He pulled her to him. It wasn’t long but they both came apart, their foreheads touching as they looked into each other’s eyes, smiling.

  “I’ll be here,” she promised.

  He kissed her forehead and wrapped her up in his arms.

  “Thank you,” he whispered, as her arms wrapped around her man.

  “Doesn’t mean I won’t continue to beat your ass in training, or in that tournament,” she said, her head on his chest.

  He laughed, deep and powerful, as he let go of old demons. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Firecracker,” he said softly, smiling.

  It’s not too bad of a nickname, she thought happily.

  Chapter 13: Tournie

  Dave woke with Deia moving to get more comfortable. He looked down at her sprawled across his chest, their legs intertwined in the sheets. He lay back down in bliss.

  Someone hammered on the front door.

  “Hurry up, you two. Got the tournie in two hours and I entered the both of you!” Lox said.

  “Go away!” Dave yelled back.

  “Morning to you, too!” Lox actually sounded happy as Dave heard him walk away.

  Deia made tired noises but she knew that their sleep was over. She looked up at Dave; she looked as if she would do anything to just stay in bed.

  Dave broke into a smile as he leaned down. Her frown turned into a pleased smile as she kissed him. She pushed herself fully onto him.

  “Looks like someone’s fully awake,” she said into his ear, biting his earlobe.

  “Here I was thinking Elves were supposed to be all etiquette and high class,” Dave said. A shiver ran from his ear down to the rest of his body.

  “Saying I have no class?” She faced him.

  “I’m saying you’re a class all onto your own.” He put his hand in her hair, pulling her face down to meet his.

  She moved backward, both of them shuddering in ecstasy as the sheets fell away from Deia.

  “We’re going to be late,” Dave said, knowing the words were useless.

  “I think…” Deia moved, letting out a soft sigh. “That, mmmm. They won’t miiiiind.” She leaned forward.

  The two of them had been too tired for activities that night, but it seemed that the new day had given them new energy.

  Dave was a warm-blooded male and he wasn’t about to deny a lady her pleasure, or his own.

  ***

  They lay down, shuddering in exertion and pleasure.

  “I really don’t want to get into this tournament now.” Dave drank from a waterskin.

  “Oh? What would you do instead?” Deia looked up at him and took the waterskin.

  “You.” Dave pulled her to him with his strong arms.

  She giggled and kissed him, melting against him.

  Even in his tired state, having her body pressed against his was enough to get a response.

  She jumped out of the bed and out of his grasp.

  “Well, I for one want to see if my student has been paying attention to his lessons.” She used a tub of warm water to wash herself and prepare for the day.

  “Well, his teacher was a big distraction,” Dave said, taking in Deia in all her glory.

  She laughed and threw the washcloth at Dave.

  “Is that an invite?” He held the washcloth and looked at Deia.

  “Maybe?” She put her hands on her hips.

  Dave jumped out of bed.

  Forty minutes later, they were washed and in their armor.

  “How did you get that speed boost the other day?” Deia asked.

  “Enchantment on my armor.” Dave opened the door.

  “There aren’t any magical runes or circuits,” Deia said.

  “Right now, there aren’t but I can conjure them into the armor.”

  “Ahh, to have a smart boyfriend.” Deia held Dave’s hand.

  “So, you’re my girlfriend?”

  “You better believe it.” Her tone darkened as her eyes thinned.

  Dave laughed. She couldn’t keep up the act; under her laughter, a smile spread across her face.

  “Ahh, new love,” Max said, as if he were waxing romantic. “Tis such a beautiful thing.”

  “Jackass,” Dave growled, still smiling and holding Deia’s hand.

  “Guess you won’t be inviting us to sleep on the floor for some time.” Gurren shook his head sadly.

  “Ahh, once you take on a bit of a blue hue, we’ll think of it,” Deia said. Letting go of Dave’s hand, she searched through her gear for her armored top.

  Dave would’ve been scared of those words coming from any of the girls he’d dated in the past few years. With Deia, he was kind of excited how she grouped the two of them together already. He didn’t know where their relationship would lead, but he was happy to be in it.

  “All right, well, it’s good that you two idiots finally got things sorted out. Now we have a tournament to win! Dave, since you’re still a level 3 because you haven’t invested any of your stat points per level, we’ve put you in the understudy and level 20 and below category. Once the best of each level category are found, there will be a final bout where the five categories will fight, showing who is the best category in all of the camp. Mostly, it’s to show the lower levels how much stronger they will be with dedication and training.”

  Dave nodded. Showing off the older and leadership who were around level 80 to 100 made the lower ranks appreciate their skills and their right to lead. It also impressed the younger ranks to not fight something that was well beyond their level.

  “Well, let’s go crush some skulls.” Joko stood, carrying her shield and blade.

  The others rose and they wandered through the copse of trees, across the road and over to the training area near the southern road to Omal and the village’s defensive wall. A square of flat stone made up the training area. Circles had been drawn across the place as people sat on bleachers or milled around the six big boards that stood in front of the twelve sparring circles.

  Dwarves who had been stuck in camp, on guard duty, or patrolling had something to take up their time with other than Boran-al’s Citadel.

  Bets were placed; food vendors came down. Players even fought one another but they could only fight one another. There was talk going on, along with the sixth board that had been freshly erected. Instead of the People of Emerilia, there were Players.

  Lox came back from the boards, giving everyone numbers for the raffle. He gave Dave his number last.

  “Seems that the Players want to get in on the action as well. The refs didn’t want to have them facing NPCs as they usually go overboard with magic and sometimes kill one another. Also, none want to blunt their blades. Their winners will be decl
ared when the opponent is at ten percent Health or they’re beaten out of the circle,” Lox said. “Sorry, boy, but you being a Player originally means that the refs have grouped you with them.”

  “It’s okay. I’ve been interested in how I would stack up against other Players anyway,” Dave said.

  Lox nodded and gave Dave his number, he was assigned to the Players ring.

  They moved off to the side as numbers were drawn, names were listed and the first fights started.

  The boards filled up with more fighting pairs. No one fought in the first four rounds. Dave watched as people used all kinds of weapons, from spears to daggers and magic. Dwarves, Elves, Humans: all of them competed. Dave watched with all his senses, using his Touch of the Land to see the fighter’s muscles move and coil, the rush of blood.

  It was an odd sight and feeling but it might be useful in the future to know whether someone was trying to attack him from behind or read their reactions in a fight.

  As Dave watched, he conjured, slowly and carefully. The more time he had to conjure, the more precise and thus powerful his creations. His armor thickened as magical runes unseen to all formed into his armored legs, and then his forearms, arms, shoulders. It was slow and tedious but Dave hid it well, seeping out power as they turned from a thought and a plan into reality.

  Once the conjurations on his armor were in place, he would only need a portion of his magic to fuel them. Being out of combat allowed his Mana pool to regenerate faster. Still it was a slow process. He still had a long way to go but it showed how far he had come to be able to make the enchantments into the armor while he was wearing it.

  Deia was the first in their group to go fight. Dave gave her a quick kiss as she wandered off to her assigned circle. She stepped in, facing off against a dwarf who was muttering things and casting looks at Dave. Whatever it was, it wasn’t kind by the way Deia’s face settled into an emotionless mask.

  The referee signaled the beginning of the bout. The dwarf rushed toward her; she didn’t even draw her blades. She clicked her gloved fingers. Flame burst forth and slammed into the dwarf, tossing him into the air five feet. He came down outside the circle and slid a few feet, his armor scratched and busted as he moaned in pain.