Legacy of Dolyn

by Amelia Guillem

  “You better explain this shit!! What the hell happened?!”

  “Remember what happened before? I heard an alarm caused by an explosion which means that came from the fireball you summoned.”

  Yes, I remember when that jerk was going to hit me, and a fireball suddenly came out of my hand which hit a car nearby. I wonder why.

  “You have a special power given to you since birth. I must train said power so you can face any challenge that comes to you.”

  My eyes light up. “Since birth?! What kind?”

  “I’m afraid I cannot tell you,” Gwen said as she wags her finger. “Now that your powers have begun to manifest, you can’t run from fate anymore. You must admit ownership. Thus, this training must continue.”

  I speculate what kind of powers I have. I guess I should train to figure out.

  “So, Gwen, how long this training will take?”

  “I would say a month if you put the effort.”

  A flashback comes to my mind: back when I was a kid, my grandma told me that I have special powers to use in the future. I thought it was a joke. Turns out my grandma was serious.

  I lowered my tote and faced Gwen to continue with the fireball training. Gwen assists by putting more items over the log. This goes on for hours until dusk which we stop to return home.

  Date: April 11

  Time: Morning, Full Moon

  Day two of my training has begun.

  Gwen and I went over the basics of magic again, and I even shot a few fireballs for practice.

  Gwen comments that my aim and timing of the fireballs have improved since yesterday. I’m happy to hear that, but I still don’t get how shooting fireballs would help me find work. How am I supposed to explain to an employer that I shoot fireballs as a skill? They would probably label me crazy or mentally unstable.

  Anyway, today is the day I get to pick a weapon. Magic is handy, but I can’t always rely on it, so I need to pick a weapon as a backup. Gwen goes over the options with me.

  “These are possible weapons made from wood. You pick one, and that’s we’ll use for today’s practice. It’s important to master your weapon as well as your magic.”

  A set of wooden weapons laid neatly one next to another on the ground. I start picking the first item to the left which is a short sword.

  “A dagger, huh? Not bad as it is small and portable but the hit rate isn’t very high. Accuracy rate is average. However, if you are going to use magic frequently, then it is a good choice.”

  “What about this one?” I pick the one-handed sword next.

  “One-handed swords have average hit and accuracy rates. They’re good for someone who is already an expert on magic. In short, it’s a great backup tool.”

  I pick the massive two-handed sword next.

  “Yeah, you can’t handle that. It’s good for those who don’t use magic and have the physical attributes necessary to wield the weapon.”

  I choose the spear next. This one is quite long.

  “I advise against that though the hit and accuracy rate is almost the same as one-handed swords. The reason is due to the length. It’s not easy to carry around.”

  She’s got the point. Next, I lift a bludgeon but lower it back as it’s too big for me not to mention dangerous. I decide to choose the bows next.

  “Bows are good for those who hardly engage in combat. Skip that.”

  Lastly, I considered using my bare hands as fists, but I skip it as I don’t want my arms to be broken in the process.

  The options presented here are good choices, but my top picks are the dagger and the one-handed sword. I would choose the one-handed sword but carrying it in a major city would be difficult. So, I decide to select the dagger instead.

  “You made your decision. I can totally see you with that,” Gwen said.

  Then I sense a presence approaching us. A strange figure wearing a black robe appears out of nowhere. While I’m on my guard, Gwen looks as if she’s familiar with it. “It’s you. You’re here to assist with the training.”

  “That’s correct,” said the figure as it walks into our circle. The character stops to pull its hood backward. Shocking! It’s the same metal-skin guy from before.

  “Now that you have your weapon, it’s time to put this into practice.” He doesn’t waste time pulling out a one-handed sword from his sheath.

  Crap! I’m freaking out!

  “Gwen, what’s going on?! Why is he here?!”

  He suddenly challenges me to a battle. Shit! I haven’t begun my weapon training!

  Date: April 11

  Time: Afternoon, Full Moon

  I sit on the ground with my back leaned to a tree, curled up in cowardice. The reason for this? It’s because I’m scared, that’s why!

  Let’s trace a bit backward, shall we?

  Aster was about to attack me when Gwen stopped him.

  “What now?!” he growled. Gwen pointed out that I was crying and curled up.

  “Great. Now she’s scared,” he said, folding his arms in discontent.

  The weapon practice was put off since then. He came to me and sat on the other side of the tree. He took it as a hint that I agree to speak if I didn’t look at him.

  “You still afraid?”

  “What do you expect, huh?”

  “Do you think an enemy will wait around?”

  “Listen, ass-hat, this isn’t some medieval fantasy bullshit! This is the real world. Stuff happens. You have no place here, whoever the heck you are.”

  “Then why are you training?” he asked.

  “Gwen says I have to. She said I have powers I was born with. I couldn’t care less, but I have to keep training to find out.”

  “That’s odd. People aren’t born with sorcery powers. They must be trained. Still, you need to be always ready for battle. Remember that.”

  I change the subject with a question. “Who are you?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know. I’ve been living in this world for three years, and all I know I was given the name ‘Aster.'”

  Now I’m curious. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. All I know I was turned into this when I woke up,” he said, referring to his metal skin. “I ran, and that’s when I was saved.”

  I wonder who saved him.

  “Since you’re a magical creature, you probably come from the same period as Gwen. Right?” It doesn’t hurt to ask, so I wait for his answer.

  “In this world of science and technology, I am a humanoid. But in that world, I am a chimera.”

  No shit! Anyone who has played Dungeons and Dragons should know about chimeras. But I’ve heard they're ultra-rare because making them is so difficult.

  “You’re not a spirit or a ghost, right?” I asked.

  “I assure you I’m neither a spirit nor a ghost. I am very much alive.”

  I feel like I’m going to get a heart attack right now. There is no way anyone from medieval times still alive today. That’s impossible!! I clench my fists to avoid fainting.

  “Then how do you live in this world? Who saved you? How did you know Gwen?” I’m not trying to overwhelm him with questions, but I have so many to ask that I don’t know where to start. Surprisingly, he answers my questions in a calm, professional manner.

  “First, I live here in this forest inside a shack. She arrives every morning to pick me up and drives me back here upon nighttime. Of course, the one I’m referring to is her. She was the one who saved me three years ago. She named me after a flower that matched the dye on my skin.

  “Eventually, I had to re-learn everything as if I was an infant. I had to read and write the way this world does. Thankfully, I learned quickly, and before I knew it, I was working for her. Now I correct her students’ papers and ghostwrite for other professors.

  “To answer your other question, Gwen and I knew each other from a few weeks ago. However, I don’t have my full memories back. Yet I do know I knew someone with her name.”

  At firs
t, I wasn’t getting the one who saved him, but then I figured it was her. Agnes, was it? I have her contact info that I still consider deleting. Why someone like her has a magical creature as an assistant?

  “She wasn’t always like that. She always took time out of her busy schedule to teach me. But she changed after graduation. Now she dumps her students’ papers on my desk and walks away without saying a word.”

  Damn, what a bitch!

  “So, why you’re still with her?” I asked.

  “We are bound by a contract with the university. If we were to separate for any reason, she loses her job.”

  “I don’t care if that bitch loses her job. She treats you like shit. You deserve better even if you’re a monster.” I really hate bitches like her. She’s one of those types who think they’re above everybody else because they’re perfect.

  “Thanks for the concern but I’m alright,” he paused. “Besides, I have nowhere else to go.”

  He chuckled, but I hardly find this funny. I’m going to delete her contact info from my phone, but not before giving her a piece of my mind.

  Finally, Gwen shows up. It’s getting late. I find Aster a nice guy to talk, but I must get over my fear and face him eye to eye.

  Date: April 14

  Time: Afternoon

  Aster is sure a handful. He doesn’t hold back even against me a total newbie. Gwen decided I should take the day off because it’s Good Friday. That’s good because I really need a break. These workouts serve better than smoking packs.

  Aster and I practiced with wooden weapons, but I got knocked down again and again. Slowly but surely, I’m getting used to seeing him. He’s not bad looking considering his state.

  Anyway, I decided to spend the afternoon soaking in a warm bath. I needed that tub because I pulled muscles I wouldn’t strain even with the hottest sex. I poured an entire bag of medical salt to ease the aches.

  I ponder about the events that happened before. I can’t help but think a huge secret is being hidden from me. I still wonder what kind of powers I was born with.

  Date: April 15

  Time: Morning

  Training resumes. Aster and I rest under the shade of a tree. Instead of facing way, we sit next to each other making small talk and laughing at each other’s jokes. I give him a can of soda.

  Date: April 16

  Time: Morning

  Gwen and I take the day off because it’s Easter. I’m here in the cemetery to place flowers on my grandma’s grave. I do this every year. I bring Gwen with me so we can pray together.

  “I see,” Gwen said, “she was very influential in your life. I bet you miss her.”

  “Yeah, I miss her so much. Remember what I told you about my mother leaving me as a kid? They found her dead 10 years later. She was apparently killed. Her ashes are in a jar and buried in my grandma’s tomb.”

  “You know,” Gwen spoke up, “you can talk to me anything that bothers you. You don’t have to suffer alone anymore.”

  For some reason, I hold Gwen in my arms. I hug her small, stuffed feline body as my eyes tear up. She hugs me back with her tiny arms.

  Date: April 17

  Time: Morning

  Training resumes. I train with a combination of fireball and dagger-wielding. Aster is such a great sparring partner. He said while my hit and timing improved, I still have long ways to go. For some odd reason, that makes me want to continue training more.

  Date: April 18

  Time: Morning

  Aster explains that today is the last day of him training me. He says it’s because Agnes is returning from her vacation.

  “Today is the last day of this ‘Spring Break’ so I can’t train you starting tomorrow.”

  “But we’ll keep in touch, right?”

  “How do we keep in touch then?” he asked.

  “Smartphone! You have one, right?”

  “I see what it is. You use that device to speak to people. Hold on, I have one. Agnes gave me one so we can be in contact.” Aster digs through his pockets and whips a smartphone which looks like a Megadroid phone. For a bitch who’s a snob, she gave him a cheap phone.

  “Here, take my number, and now you call me.”

  “Say what?”

  “Sorry about that,” he said, clearing his throat. “So, how do we exchange numbers?”

  “The easiest is to simply tap, but since your brand is different, we would have to add manually. She taught you how to use it, right?”

  “She did but only to answer and end calls.”

  “Here, let me teach you on how to use your phone.” We sit together so that I can explain how to make use of his smartphone. I added my contact info as well as added his to mine. I taught him about texting, email, web search, and other necessary tools.

  “I see now. It’s amazing how a small device can be so useful! Thank you.” Aster sparkled to the amazement of technological wonders.

  “You’re welcome. I could send you a text to test drive, but there’s no reception here. I’ll send you a text tomorrow, and you’ll reply me back as soon as possible. How about it?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Date: April 26

  Time: Afternoon, New Moon

  Today is the last day of our week off, so we decide to go shopping. Gwen and I are having so much fun together, but we need to be discreet. I’m getting used to this life as time goes on.

  Month Three - May

  Date: May 5; Time: Afternoon

  Today, we take a week off from training. It wasn’t the same training with Aster as I mostly whacked my wooden dagger to trees. Being with him made training so much fun.

  Since Gwen and I are doing laundry, I figure this would be an excellent opportunity to ask questions. Gwen seems to anticipate this, so she is ready to answer.

  “Element spells are split into East and West, right? Why is that?”

  “Spells are not limited to Western lands. Many of them were imported from the Far East, so mages at the time translated them for Western use. However, not every spell was translated. No one used both unless the mage was experienced.”

  “I’ve been using fireballs. Is that an Eastern or Western spell?” I asked.

  “A fireball is a universal spell. It has no translation,” Gwen said.

  “So, what do you recommend?”

  “Have you ever been to the Far East?”

  “I’ve never been on an airplane,” I said.

  “Then we’ll stick to Western spells. Besides, most Eastern spells are hard to pronounce anyway. If you can master the Fireball, you will have no problems with the other spells.”

  Fair enough.

  “Why do I have to shout certain words to summon spells? That’s old school.”

  “So, modern-day sorcery dictates spells can be summoned without saying words. However, it’s still best to say them as your allies and enemies know what you’re summoning. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to saying those spell words fast.”

  “But I don’t want to sound like an idiot saying them,” I said.

  “Like I said, you’ll get used to saying them, and you’ll sound less like an idiot.”

  Moving on to the next question...

  “Are there other types of spells besides those three? Because I’m pretty sure there are.”

  “There is a fourth type called the Spiritual Arts, which does non-elemental damage. However, very little is known about them.”

  “Training with Aster was easy. How am I supposed to train without him?”

  “Don’t worry. I have my methods. I’ll show you at your next training.”

  I wonder what these ‘methods’ are.

  “How did you two know each other?” I asked.

  “We just met by chance. That was a few weeks ago, back in the woods.”

  “But he said he was living in this world for three years. So how come you guys met now?”

  “I wasn’t thinking about it. My only concern is to find the person who turned out to be you. We
met because he reminded me of someone I used to know.”

  I raised my brow. “A friend?”

  “Maybe but I forgot,” Gwen said.

  “You forgot?” I look at Gwen as if she’s lying to me. Like really?

  “It’s been many centuries, okay? When you die, all your memories are gone. I forgot many details, but I do remember certain events. I guess that’s because they remained in my psyche even after death.”

  “Then why you asked me to see him back at the museum?” I asked.

  “So you can meet, chat, and rely on him in times of need,” she said.

  What? She urged me to meet him just in case?!

  “Aster said he’s still alive. Can a magical creature really live forever?”

  “Sure, it depends. Gods and dragons live an eternity. Elves, trolls, and other magical creatures can live for centuries if not forever. It’s only humans who live short lifespans.”

  Okay, I’ll ask Gwen one last question before finishing laundry to prepare supper.

  “Gwen, you used magic and weapons while you were alive, right?”

  “Indeed, I used magic,” she paused. “I used the same weapon as you.”

  I wonder why Gwen paused. She sounded hesitant. I get the feeling she refuses to speak of the matter any further, so I didn’t press her.

  Anyway, let’s eat!

  Date: May 10

  Time: Evening, Full Moon

  I’m in the kitchen making dinner. It’s nothing special, but Gwen asked me to prepare a substantial supper. I don’t recall inviting anybody.

  It’s only the two of us. Or rather, I get to eat supper while Gwen will eat her cat food. However, she didn’t like it the last time I gave her that. Whenever I feed her, Gwen says food disappears in her belly. She doesn’t have to hit the bathroom, ever. Wow, I wish I never use the bathroom. Maybe I should give her booze next time.

  “So, Gwen, any reason for this large dinner?”

  “To celebrate your first month of success.”

  Wow, it’s been a month! Time flies.

  “So, this training is done, huh?” I asked.