“I don’t mind, Elder. We were only given numerical designations by our makers. Quite a long number if I may say so.”
“Okay, Hal. What I meant was do with the guardian thing. It may be a bitch of a ride but it seems to be the only worthwhile choice.”
“I am sure you made the right choice, Elder. We may now begin the process. Please close your eyes.”
“Do I need to?”
“No, but it will make the process easier for you psychologically.”
Psychologically? Where did Mr. CPU get that? Oh, right. My mind. Freak me again. If I made a mistake here, then I’ll be the first to be possessed by a computer chip named Hal. That definitely would make a really bad movie sequel.
Suddenly, his mind was filled with images, concepts, and ideas. Many were incomprehensible. His sense of wonderment started to be replaced by panic.
Don’t fight it, Hal’s voice spoke in his mind. Just let it in, comprehension and understanding will follow in time.
Tyler calmed himself down and immediately diverted his mind into other thoughts, trying to bypass the influx of knowledge. His thoughts went into the peacefulness that the forest offered him when he woke up that morning. His memory flitting through image after image of what he saw in the clearing. The soft grass, the fresh air, the majestic trees, and the emerald eyes of a stunningly beautiful and innocent Eira.
Freak me thrice, he thought with a dawning realization, I think it’s not a school boy crush.
CHAPTER NOTES:
End Zone Touchdown - A phrase used in American football. Referring to a score made by carrying or passing the ball into a marked zone of the territory of the opposing side.
Hal - As referred to in the story, the murderous artificial intelligence in the 1968 epic science fiction film "2001: A Space Odyssey".
CHAPTER LORE:
Alfheimr - Old Norse. Meaning "light elves."
Landvaetter - Old Norse. Meaning "land spirits". Sometimes considered to be nature spirits with preference for unsettled or unpopulated land.
Laverna - Roman/Etruscan. An old Italian divinity. Goddess of thieves, cheats, and mischief.
Elder Ones – Fictional. For purposes of the story - refers to the deities of proto-human civilizations existing before recorded history. May also refer to proto-human races.
CHAPTER IX
Magic!
Without any fanfare, Tyler suddenly found himself back in the same position as when he disappeared. Kneeling and pointing at the tablet, now reduced to gray dust.
“TYLER!”
Turning his head to the sound of the exclamation, he saw Eira, seated on the floor, legs splayed together to one side. She appeared to have been crying for some time. A lot.
She rushed to him, hugged him in a tight embrace and started another bout of crying.
“Tyler! I thought I lost you too!”
“Uuhhh, glad to see you too?” answered Tyler, still a little bit disoriented from his abrupt return and greatly surprised by Eira's reaction.
He let her continue to embrace him. He was confused about her reaction but it felt great. Her fragrance embraced his senses. Her body also felt good. Really good. After a while, she finally calmed down and separated from him.
“I thought you also died. I’m sorry but I didn’t expect that to happen.”
Tyler looked at the beautiful face before him, with puffed eyes again. The streaks of her tears marking the flawless skin of her cheeks.
“Me also. But I least I’m……”
Suddenly, Tyler noticed the faintly luminous spark at his feet. He was a bit curious about it for a few seconds. Then the realization struck him like a thunderbolt out of the blue. EIRA’S BROTHER! Oh my God, I am stepping on the ethereal remains of her brother!
He jumped to the side like an electrified cat.
“Ahhhh, I’m really, really sorry about that. Stepping on your brother, I mean.”
He looked at Eira who again got a handkerchief out of nowhere and had finished dabbing her face. It was clear she had regained some degree of self-control.
“You can see him?”
“Yes, but I’m sorry about stepping on him. I didn’t see that spark before. I didn’t know that was where he was when he…. when he passed away.”
Probably got zapped with this world’s version of the biggest and baddest electrified giant fly swatter, Tyler thought. Considering the power which reduced the tablets of incredibly dense and magical material to dust in an instant, Eira’s brother doubtlessly didn’t even know he was dead when it happened.
“It’s all right, Tyler. As of now, he doesn’t exist in the physical world anyway. It was fortunate that a spark remained of him, even without his consciousness. Even I am surprised that he didn’t return to the magical energy where we came from. Must be the knowledge and power we obtained from the tablet. At least, there may be a possibility of bringing him back.”
"Uuhh, how long was I gone?"
"Only for some minutes, I guess. But I was sure you died."
“For a while, I also thought the same. Can we go outside for now? I’m starting to feel claustrophobic.”
He has started to feel very uncomfortable in the cave, despite the light provided by Eira. The ruined remains, the overhanging stone roof, the small unlighted corners, the aura of millennia of dirt and decay, the stale air, not to mention his experience with Hal, all combined to make him wish he was outside as of now. In the sunlight and the fresh air.
Unfortunately, Tyler had to go out the way and in the manner he came in. A bit painful with more small cuts, bruises, and scratches. Upon being outside, he put on his armor and short sword. Eira was already there. He couldn’t get himself to ask her to heal him. He also realized he doesn’t refer to her as Miss Psychotic anymore in his thoughts. Which in turn frightened him. A bit.
“It’s going to be dark soon and I’m worn out. Would it be possible to rest here? Are we still in Fossegrim Forest?”
“We are still in my forest though close to its borders. The mountains you saw coming here mark my boundaries. Resting now would be a good idea considering what we have been through. But I will have to take my leave for a while to visit my charges nearby. Though I have your ring on its way here.”
Eira must have done something while Tyler was struggling to get out of the cave. There was now a small glade in front of the opening. She must have already thought that taking a break would be the best for him. Before she left, she conjured up food on the familiar stone table and chairs, together with a small shelter for him. A low small stone table with a water jug, cups, a big bowl of water and a towel was also beside the shelter.
Now alone, Tyler took the time to clean himself up and examine his cuts and bruises. He found that they were minor and will heal by themselves, unless they get infected. Scars would be another matter. He doubted if penicillin or any antibiotics existed here but decided to see a healer once he gets the opportunity. A full magical medical check-up wouldn’t hurt.
After drinking some water, he rested on one of the chairs. Enjoying the breeze and the green of the forest around him, trying to shake off the memory of the confining feeling left by the cave. His thoughts went back to Hal’s words. Physically, he didn’t feel any different. Mentally was another matter altogether. He could sense a lot of information at the back of mind.
Though he could remember glimpses of it, they didn’t make sense to him. What he could remember clearly was already at the forefront of his awareness. These were concepts which he believed were basic ones relating to Elder energy and its use. What Hal told him was all there, all he needed to do was focus on what he wanted to know and the information came to his mind. Well, Hal was right about knowing what questions to ask.
Tyler didn’t bother yet about philosophical and theoretical questions. Excited as he was, his query went to magical spells and how to manifest them. I GET TO USE MAGIC! He was more excited than the time he first began to play that fantastic dragon warrior RPG. He knew that he
had unwittingly done some magical spells before. But those, as he realized, were from his subconscious, fueled by emotion, and driven by his instinct for survival.
Before, he couldn’t choose and direct the manifestation of the magical energy. It took the form whatever his subliminal awareness wanted. He also now knew, from Hal’s given knowledge, how dangerous it was using Elder energy the way his subliminal consciousness did. Use of such energy in an emotive state actually burns out a mortal body every time. Eventually, the accumulated toll on his body would either kill him by straining his body’s organs beyond their limits or drive him mad. To be manifested in a safe manner, it had to be through his conscious will, guided by the Elder concepts which he can comprehend. And the basic knowledge about the nature, formation, and use of his first basic spells were already in his mind. One did need to understand a spell down to its fundamentals to use it. No wonder it took mortal mages a lifetime to master spells. A limited number at that, all coursed through the appropriate magical channels such as runes.
But before he tried out whatever he can actually do, he wanted to test something which was bothering him.
Hey Hal, you awake? He asked, talking in his mind to the allegedly inert entity. No answer. Not even the feeling of something or somebody else inside his awareness.
Yo! My man Hal, wake up! No answer. Your butt’s on fire man! Wake up! Still no answer. Tyler considered that he may be doing something wrong in the manner of activating Hal. He decided on a direct approach. Hal! I order you to wake up! Hal! Your master calls! Hal! I'm going to purge you from my mind! Hal! I'm going to die, help! Nothing.
Sleep well, Hal. He finally conceded.
NOW TO MAGIC!
He was a bit disappointed when he got his answer from the knowledge available to him. It was limited to a few defensive and utilitarian abilities with only two offensive ones. Still a noob, he thought to himself. Peek as he may at what he could sense from the knowledge at the back of his mind, it was still argle-bargle to him.
The first defensive spell was using magical energy as a shield. It simply condenses the magical energy around the caster to repel physical force. The stronger the will, the stronger the shield. But it was limited in the sense that close and intentional attacks with a magical weapon will get through the dense magical field. The intention of the attacker being the operative force which enables the magical weapon to break through. Unintentional attacks, including area of effect spells, as long as it is not directed towards him, will either be deflected or the damage reduced.
The second was the use of energy to force away an opponent or an object. Its strength was also dependent on will. Yet the precision needed to force away small and individual items without affecting its surroundings needed to be learned. It demanded clarity of focus and the exactitude of the will exercised. For now, it appeared that he can manifest the ability but in a general way, affecting an area the boundaries of which he can’t control with the finesse he desired.
The third could be used for defensive and offensive purposes. The ability to lift large objects. Which again was dependent on the will manifested. Unfortunately, moving smaller objects was also subject to the same limitations of the second spell. He had to practice to determine the present limits of the ability.
The fourth ability involved light. He could now condense magical energy in any form - an orb, a rectangular object, a triangle, and other simple designs. Then infuse it with light also created from such energy. As with the others, its luminescence was dependent on his will. More ornate forms would need focus and control which he still didn’t have. But any created lamp would be just that. A lamp. To lift or levitate it required the third spell provided he had the ability to manipulate such a small object and let it hang in the air. To determine its limits as well as duration, practice was again needed.
The offensive spells were basic spells, according to the Elder archive in his mind. The first was the ever so useful basic fireball, known to most, if not all, mages on Adar. All he had to do was concentrate the energy around him as dense as he could will it in the form of an orb. Other shapes would do but the orb provides the fastest materialization. He could then throw it with help from his manipulative abilities, and when it reaches its target, will it to explode in a fiery display. Or he could concentrate on such energy at a distance, condense it to the proper form, and then ignite it. Again, will was instrumental in the spell's strength and area of effect.
The second pure offensive spell was a doozy but unfortunately, at his level of comprehension, could only be used as an area of effect ability. Condensing magical energy in front of him in the form of many small dense and sharp forms, he could fling them against opponents within an area. He noticed that he had to consider several factors in using the ability. One would be the form and size of the blade used. He thought that a small basic arrowhead form would be the best shape. As long as the edges of the arrow, in the simplest practical dimensional form, are as sharp as he could make it. Another would be the number of blades manifested. The more blades, the more difficult it would be. The speed of the blades as they were flung was another factor. The desired area of effect, the question if the blades are to be targeted projectiles, and other matters all have to be taken into account.
As usual, this is going to be more difficult than I expected, thought Tyler. Then what is? Almost everything on Adar had been more difficult than what he expected.
He did have to name the spells to make them easier to remember. The Elder names in his mind were quite long. In a way, they described the spells and their effects instead of giving them simple names. More of a researcher's description instead of a magic user's preference for quick access. For example, the Elder translation for the fireball spell was "Creating a Fiery Effect on a Desired Area Subject to Given Parameters". No way he was going to use that description. He'd be dead by the time he recalled the entire thing. He needed simple names. Easy to recall and easy to manifest.
In that sense, he thought his gaming experience. coupled with what he knew of modern technology, will definitely be an edge. After practicing with these basic abilities, and mastering them to some degree, he could even begin experimenting with what he could do to enhance, modify or even merge effects.
Explosive blasts, anyone? A napalm effect? Guided blades with fire, acid, explosive and other properties? Earthquakes? Rain fire from the heavens? Bacteriological and chemical warfare? Use of spatial dimensions? Science fiction elements? Genetic manipulation?
He suddenly realized that eventually, his only limitation would be his imagination. And the capacity of his mortal body. And ability to comprehend Elder knowledge. And his moral scruples.
No wonder he was warned against the possibility of the pantheons all working against him if ever they begin to suspect his ability to use Elder knowledge. If ever he mastered the full range of his abilities, and that’s a whopping big IF, he will be the most dangerous being on Adar. Again, IF he survives that long. On the flip side of the worrying equation is the possibility of him starting another Divine War if ever he aligns himself with any deity or pantheon. The mere possibility of him being able to access and use Elder knowledge is bound to guarantee another divine brawl.
For some reason, he got suddenly got depressed and his initial excitement evaporated.
Tyler sat for a while. The dawning realization of the implications and consequences of the path he had decided upon weighing heavily on his mind. It was now clear to him that the Elder had some unfathomable plan of their own. They planned to set in motion a means by which a mortal, of the First World at that, will be set loose on Adar with Elder abilities. It was a disturbing thought. Something which he had to keep in mind.
On where they are now, even if Hal disclaimed any knowledge, it was obvious that they’re not on Adar. Though they clearly have the ability to check on things if they so desire. Hal mentioned something about them leaving so they now could be in another place, dimension or whatever place they have discovered. With thei
r forms ascended, as Hal freely admits, they could be anywhere in this reality with abilities beyond what he could imagine. Only three of them, with the use of lowered but transcended forms, were able to stop a Divine War. Their power enabled them to dictate their terms upon the combined pantheons and deities of an entire world. A sobering thought. Another matter to keep in mind. He hoped they're friendly. At least to him.
The Accidental Archmage: Book One - Ragnarok Rising (MOBI EDITION) Page 19