by Paul Sobol
“Don’t believe everything religion tells you,” said Enigma, “Angels are beings of light. As a collective race, a very long time ago, they realised there was no need for corporeal form, and so they ascended to a higher plane. Trust me; ascension isn’t an easy thing to achieve – few have managed to achieve such perfection in the past, but for an entire race to ascend defies belief.”
“How do you think they did it?”
“I’m not entirely sure. It’s not an area I’m very familiar with. Mostly what I know came from Archer. I do recall that ascension is possible through self-awareness – where you reach an enlightened state of mind that transcends the normal boundaries of thinking. At that moment you become capable of anything. I suppose if you wanted to ascend to a higher plane you could, but personally, I like it down here.
“The so-called ‘higher’ beings are different, strange, and almost alien to our perception. The angels are the same. They exist for the same reason we do, but maybe they’ve forgotten it, or chosen to ignore that fact. But they’re not all aloof. There are a few who take an interest in the lower realms, even visiting on occasion, making sure we don’t do anything stupid.”
“Like what?”
Enigma paused for a moment as though considering his answer. The deep look of concentration on his face warned Alex he had touched on a delicate subject. “From what little I do know, ascension works both ways. You can go up, or down. Choosing to ascend to a lower plane would be a very bad idea.
“The lower realms are considered the province of evil, just as the higher planes are thought to be ‘good’. The angelic realm could be considered ‘heaven’, but our souls don’t go there when we die. There is also a lower corresponding realm full of darkness and fire. We would label this as ‘hell’, but evil-doers don’t end up their either.
“From what I’ve heard, the lowest plane is mostly empty space, except for a single world of rock and fire. The most notable feature of this place is the total lack of mana – not a single iota of life energy exists there, and for that reason alone it has been used as a kind of prison. For demons.”
A multitude of emotions raged through Alex, each warring for dominance, but in the end he felt only numb. He recognised the fiery world described by Enigma. He had even been there, only for a short time, before something saved him. But what happened to Dr Sullivan? Stranded on a demon prison planet there was likely only one outcome. Saying a silent prayer for the scientist Alex turned his attention back to Enigma. His lecture, while so far troubling, was also very informative.
“Unlike the angels, this race of beings didn’t choose to ascend lower. As a race they had become too destructive. Evil isn’t the word to describe them, although their sense of morality was less than desirable, but like a deadly contagion they were corrupting everything around them. The angels didn’t want to destroy them outright, so instead banished them all to one of the lower realms, becoming what we know today as demons.
“Because of their enforced exile the demon race has become embittered and twisted with hatred for the higher realms, especially the angels. With us caught in the middle. And yes, in case you were wondering, our world at one time or another has been the battleground for some of their confrontations.
“Thousands of years ago, Sumerian priests developed a kind of magic where angels and demons were summoned to do their bidding. The first Mage War is believed to have been between the Sumerian priests and another group of magicians we call the Ancients. We don’t know much about them, but what little we do has become mostly myth and legend. Ever since those chaotic times, demons have found ways back into our realm as well as the higher planes. It’s believed a great war will one day occur between angels and demons, we just hope it’s not going to be on our world.”
By the second week Enigma judged he was ready for something more challenging. Surprised how quickly he had mastered the art of creating illusions, Alex was more than eager to try his hand at something new. So his lessons on magic progressively got harder, passing from illusions to basic elemental magic.
Manipulating elements such as fire and water were tricky, especially since one misstep could cause a raging inferno or city-wide tsunami. Air magic fascinated Alex and he could see why Winter preferred using it rather than the others. Fire and water had their uses, in that there were a lot more practical applications for this type of magic. But air was different. It had a nature of its own, and as Alex became more familiar with the element he came to realise how chaotic it could be.
Like fire and water, air could be manipulated into raging tempests to cause mass destruction. Hurricanes and tornadoes could be created to wreak havoc on a global scale. Nature was in a constant state of flux; trying to correct the imbalances caused by human-kinds destructive habits, but throw magic into the equation and it equals disaster.
Winter had spent a long time explaining the long term effects of weather manipulation and why it should be limited, if not restricted altogether. Moving air around magically creates a vacuum somewhere else; this in effect can change an areas weather pattern. Usually it’s an isolated incident that is corrected by nature quickly, however, if the magic is done on a large scale it could be years before the imbalance is undone. This could result in devastating droughts or floods in areas that don’t usually experience this kind of phenomenon.
Air magic seemed more trouble than it was worth, and Alex decided not to meddle with it too much. Instead he wondered if it were possible to fly.
Chapter Eight
Blinding light filled the room as the curtains were pulled open. Groaning in mock pain Alex managed to open one eye to see who had disturbed his sleep. Focusing on the blurred shape standing at the end of his bed, he was surprised to see the beautiful but enigmatic Archer. In the morning light she seemed to glow.
Dressed in her usual denim jeans and leather jacket, Archer could have been the poster child for every guy’s fantasy woman. Maybe even some females. Tight-fitting clothes accentuated every curve. Long golden hair tied back in a simple braid said she was all business today. She didn’t even bother with makeup. Not that she needed any, Alex thought. Archer had a natural beauty, what would be called the-girl-next-door look.
And then there were her eyes. Alex had almost lost himself once, just looking into those emerald jewels, but right now he was more aware of her overall physical presence in his small room. He was using every shred of mental willpower to slow his racing heart, as well as another part of his anatomy.
“Time to get up,” she said in a business-like tone, “we’ve got a lot to do today, and we’re not going to get it done with you wasting the day in bed. Pack a few things, we’ll be away for a few days.” She left his room. Her scent lingered in the air, reminding Alex of springtime and blossoming flowers.
“Snap out of it,” he said to himself. “She’s way out of your league.”
Grudgingly, Alex got out of bed. A quick cold shower killed any remaining tension and was ready to face the new day. Dressed, and lugging a sports bag filled with a few essentials, Alex made his way to the upstairs common area. Grabbing an apple from the fridge he joined Archer at the table where she was silently waiting. By her feet rested a large bag. Looking rather heavy she easily lifted it with one hand and slung it over her shoulder. Maybe it was full of clothes, he thought. Women always over packed for holidays, maybe Archer was no different.
Waiting out front of the building was a beat up old jeep in faded army green. It looked as though it had been through a war or two, judging from some of the more unusual dents. Archer dumped her bag in the back of the jeep and it made a definite clanging noise, like metal striking metal. Maybe she was into weights?
Several hours later they turned off the interstate 78 expressway and into suburbia. The township of Berkeley Heights passed by, and soon they were driving down a rutted dirt road through lightly forested areas. Neither had spoken much, despite Alex’s attempts at small talk early on. Archer seem preoccupied, more so than usual, and h
e wondered if it had anything to do with where they were going.
The woodlands had grown thicker, and Alex had the distinct impression they were getting further from civilization. He had enquired as to their destination, but Archer had remained silent. A terrible thought flashed through his mind – maybe she was going to dump him in the middle of nowhere. To what end he couldn’t imagine. Maybe she was going to kill him, or leave him for someone else to deal with.
Perhaps it was some kind of test, like a rite of passage for magicians. Dumped in the middle of nowhere to fend for himself. The ugly possibilities swam through his mind, but somehow they didn’t seem plausible. Maybe he just didn’t want to believe she was capable of doing such things. Besides, Silver had been adamant about protecting him.
The trees were getting closer to the track the further they drove, and soon the occasional branch scraped against the sides of the jeep. If Alex reached out the window he would be able to touch the trees and shrubs. Even the daylight seemed to have become muted too, as though they were travelling through a dense forest, and it took some time before his eyes adjusted to the gloom.
A faint tickle of energy chased across his skin, and Alex realised they had passed through some kind of magical barrier. Their destination must be important if it needs to be hidden, but that didn’t seem quite right. The barrier hadn’t felt very powerful, so maybe it was more like camouflage designed to fool any curious human from stumbling upon the secret site.
Without warning they were once again driving through sunlight. Blinking rapidly, colours slowly returned, and Alex could see they had entered a rather large open field. Knee-length yellow grass swayed gently in the summer breeze, while multi-coloured butterflies floated lazily between wild flowers growing in random patches. The surrounding trees of the forest added to the illusion of being completely isolated.
The sweeping grass suddenly gave way to flat ground, as though nothing were allowed to grow beyond some imaginary boundary. The barren landscape was dotted with smooth river-bed boulders. Some were as small as basketballs, while the largest close to a medium-sized sedan, weighing several tonnes. At first glance the stones appeared to be randomly placed within a rough circle, but Alex knew better. They were there for a reason, and without a doubt he would find out soon enough.
Passing the field of boulders, a low building came into view. From this distance it looked like an old-fashioned Spanish cottage, with whitewashed stone walls, fitted logs and roofed with orange terracotta tiles. Someone had even gone to the trouble of planting a cactus garden, which bordered a pebbled walkway to the front door. The cottage could have been taken straight from any Western movie – complete with overgrown grass, weather-faded tiles and unkempt pathways often layered with years’ worth of unswept leaves. Alex half expected a tumbleweed to roll by any moment.
The jeep skidded to a half, spraying loose pebbles into the cactus garden followed by a plume of road dust. Silently, Alex thanked the inventor of the seatbelt. Had he not worn one, he would most likely have ended up amongst the cacti.
Inside, Alex was surprised at how clean everything was. If the outside was any indication he expected inches of dust on every surface and cobwebs in every corner. Dropping her clanging bag in the foyer, Archer gave a perfunctory tour of the cottage. “This is our training facility. Today you will be tested on what you have learnt so far. Your room is second on the right, stow your gear and let’s get started.”
“Again.”
Alex sighed in exasperation. He had been levitating boulders for two hours now, and exhaustion was insidiously setting into his sweaty body. His instructions had come rapid-fire – lift this, move that, now lift all of them. The infatuation he had felt that morning seemed a pleasant distant memory. Very distant.
Concentrating on the rocks around him, Alex made several of them rise off the ground to about head height. Doing a fair imitation of an orrery the boulders began to move in circles, with him at the centre. The third rock out even had its own rotating satellite in the form of a small stone.
Alex couldn’t help but smile at the small feat of manipulation, but Archer didn’t see any humour in it. This was about testing his limits, and so far he wasn’t even close. “Yoda would be so proud. Now focus and add more stones.”
Suppressing the urge to curse, Alex dug deeper and concentrated on the furthest boulders. Manipulating so many objects at once was taking its toll, and sweat began running into his eyes. Without lowering his arms, Alex used a small amount of power to dry his face. One of the outer stones thudded to the ground as evidence of his momentary lapse in concentration.
Slowly, one by one, more stones began to circle his position, and like some demented juggler Alex kept adding more. The next part he knew was going to be the hardest. As expected, Archer gave the command to levitate, and she wasn’t referring to more stones. Closing his eyes, Alex imagined the complex network of telekinetic energy he had created. Fine strands of energy stretched from him and touched the twenty or so boulders moving around. In his mind’s eye it resembled a multi-armed clock.
Learning from his previous mistake, Alex tried something different. With a lifting motion of his hands the whirling stones rose higher into the air, and after a moment he too left the ground to join the circling flock. Drawing more mana into himself, Alex was lifted higher along with the boulders until they were about fifty feet in the air. If Archer wanted something spectacular, she was about to get one.
The inner stone suddenly tilted off its horizontal axis to circle at ninety degrees. The next stone shifted to forty-five degrees and the next to one hundred and thirty five. The outer stones also changed trajectory, and soon Alex was in the middle of a confusing mass of moving rocks, but despite its seeming randomness there was method to the madness. Alex, at the centre, was imitating an atom with the stones as electrons.
“Good, you’ve managed to manipulate several objects at once without killing either of us. Get down here and rest for a moment. The next test will begin soon.”
Fighting exhaustion, Alex slowed the stones down before letting them gently fall to the ground. Once again on terra firma, he didn’t want to give Archer the satisfaction of knowing how tired he truly was. So mustering all the energy he had left followed her to the edge of the boulder field.
A sudden sensation made Alex turn around.
With unnaturally quick reflexes raised his right hand, while at the same time unconsciously channelled enough mana for a shield of protection. The melon-sized stone stopped inches away from his outstretched open palm. It hovered there for a second or two before dropping to the ground.
Alex turned on Archer, but before he could say anything another stone was sailing towards his position. Adrenalin pumping through his veins from the first near miss, he was prepared for the second attack, and with a wave of his hand the next stone was pushed aside as if by an invisible hand. More stones came in quick succession from multiple directions, and Alex had to dodge the few that got past his defences. Like a mad game of dodge-ball, but a lot more deadly, he thought.
Realising this diversion was just part of another test, Alex decided to change tactics. He was relying too much on his shield and simple telekinesis to stop the attacks, maybe Archer was expecting more? Mentally, he went through his shopping list of spells until he found one that would be a crowd-pleaser.
Clapping his hands together, a visible shockwave radiated from around Alex, and all the stones in motion froze in mid-air. Alex was quite pleased with his choice of spell and looked over at Archer. Despite the neutral expression he got the impression she approved of his action.
“Any slower and I would have had to explain to Silver why I returned alone. Never let your guard down, and always be mindful of your surroundings. Magicians should remain aware of what happens around them and take note of even the smallest disturbances. It may save your life one day. Take five, we’ll resume later.”
Half an hour, and about a gallon of water downed later, Alex was once again
standing outside. The afternoon sun was throwing shadows across the ground and Alex was thankful the heat was finally abating. Looking over at Archer, she barely seemed affected by the temperature. She was most likely using an enchantment, he thought, but if so it was masterfully concealed from his mage-sight.
“Listen carefully,” said Archer. “I shall say this only once. In times of dire need a magician is able to summon a magical weapon, forged from his or her very essence. While it is possible to magically create any kind of weapon you want, the soul-weapon is unique to every magician. It can never be lost or destroyed. It is especially lethal against magical creatures and may possess a special ability. Observe.”
In a shower of sparkling magical energy a beautifully carved mahogany longbow appeared in Archer’s hand. Its string looked to be of spun silver, and as she drew it back to her lips, an arrow was created. In the blink of an eye the magical arrow sped across the clearing to hit a tree a hundred paces away. With a fluid motion she drew the string back, and in the space of a dozen heartbeats ten arrows flew unwaveringly to hit the same tree in the exact same spot. Satisfied her accuracy had not diminished in the slightest, the bow disappeared as the energy returned to its source.
“Your turn. In order to summon the weapon you must feel the need to summon it. Recall how you felt before stopping that first stone - heart racing, adrenalin pumping, feeling like you just cheated death.”
Closing his eyes, Alex tried to imagine what it felt like to really need something in a life or death situation. Scenarios skipped through his mind until eventually coming across a single moment when, he felt sure, he had stared death in the face. Concentrating on how he had felt, Alex reached for his power, but not the external source of mana he had been used to. Instead, he drew from the raw power within.