“Lily, you said humans couldn’t do magic before.”

“Yep!”

“Does that mean mages are fakes?”

“Yep! You’ll be the first true mage if things work out like we want,” my familiar answered again as she chased a fly around mom’s alchemy lab. Mom and dad had just left to check on the caravan I was supposed to take once again. I was finishing some potions for mom. She zapped the fly. “Ha! Down you go you irritating pest!”

“I think it’s dead.”

“What gave it away? The burning smell or the dust the fly turned into?”

“The silence.”

“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense,” Lily replied as she flew back to me and landed on the table.

“How do you know I’ll be the first mage if things work out?”

“No other human has bonded with a pixie before. That’s how I know!”

“And how do you know that?”

“Because I do!” Lily answered. “Why do you ask about mages?”

“Mostly because of how pixie wings are used for mana potions.”

“Ha-ha. Those aren’t mana potions. Not real ones anyway.”

“Why do you say that?”

“What did I say magic was?”

“Energy that is all around us.”

“Correct. You can’t contain all forms of energy in a flask or bottle.”

“Can energy be contained?”

“This is some of my secret knowledge, but not really. What can be stored is things such as gasoline, coal, heat, or water that can be used to produce energy.”

“Can you explain a bit more?”

“Hmmm. Yeah. Water for example can be stored in a lake behind a dam,” Lily started to explain.”

“What is a dam?”

“A dam is a structure built across a river to stop it from flowing. Often within or below a dam, there would be turbines. Think of turbines as giant wheels,” Lily said. I nodded, so she continued. “Water would flow through the turbines causing them to turn. The turning action would make a form of energy called electricity. Electricity was used to power lights and other devices in buildings and homes.”

“Sort of like the grain mill in the village of Bern,” I hazarded. “They use the flow of the river to turn the big stones that crush grain.”

“Exactly, except a lot bigger and more powerful.”

“Interesting.”

“Put it out of your head for now.”

“Ok. I get how magic can’t be stored, but how is it energy and not a substance like water?”

“Think of magic like the wind. It blows or it doesn’t, and you can’t catch it.”

“I sort of see. So, what are these mana potions for?”

“Probably a drug,” Lily said with a shrug. Seeing my confusion. “Think of these mana potions as something like beer.”

“Or evening primrose nectar for you?”

Lily stuck her tongue out at me. I laughed. “Are you ever going to let me forget that day?”

“Nope. I had never even heard of a drunk pixie until I saw you like that.”

“I’m just glad your mother doesn’t harvest pixie wings,” Lily said with a shudder. I knew she was trying to change the subject, so I let her.

“Yeah. Me too,” I agreed. I put finished bottling the last health potion “All done. Lily, I’ve always wondered how health potions work since the mana potions don’t. Do you know?”

“Let’s just say that humanity has changed a lot over the millennia and leave it at that for now. Please.”

“Ok.”

“Good. Let’s go work on your meditation. We should only have a few more days until we have to leave.”

“Good idea,” I replied walking out of the lab behind my familiar.

*

“Very good, Jase,” my familiar praised me.

I had gotten to the point that I could clear my mind over the last few days and could focus on her Lily’s voice. Lily was now trying to get me to envision whatever she told me to. Because of the bond, she knew if I succeeded or not.

“Now see a campfire burning merrily in front of you warding off the cool night air,” the familiar continued. After a few minutes, she was satisfied. “Good. Now the easy part. Visualize reaching out and taking hold of the flame in your right hand. It’s just a ball after all.”

I did as my familiar asked. At first, I felt nothing even if I could see fire in my imaginary hand. The image fled my mind as I felt a headache come on.

“Are you ok?” Lily asked in concern.

“I’m fine. Just a headache. I’ll need to take some of mom’s headache medicine.”

“Alright. I think you’re on the right path,” Lily said as I stretched and stood up. “We can try again tomorrow.”

“Works for me,” I agreed as I headed back to the alchemy lab.

*

We kept this practice up until the day before we were supposed to leave. I had even taken to doing the sitting pose Lily had shown me as I would nod off at times unless I was slightly uncomfortable. True to her word, Lily had thoroughly enjoyed my parents’ expressions when they first saw me sitting that way. She had enjoyed the ensuing explanation or excuse even more. They eventually left us alone.

“Grab the ball,” Lily said as we practiced for the last time before we left Beau Ferry.

I pictured a red and orange ball sitting in the center of the campfire. I envisioned a stick knocking the ball out of the fire and to me. I pictured myself picking up the ball and then squeezing it.

“Jase, open your eyes,” Lily commanded. I did. She looked at my right hand. “Look!”

“Why?” I asked.

“Just do it!” Lily shouted in an excited voice. I looked. A ball of red and orange flame sat in my hand.

“I did it!” I shouted. Lily cheered and danced around my head.

“You did what?” mom asked as she opened my bedroom door. The ball of fire had vanished.

“Umm, I was able to follow along to something Lily said,” I answered lamely.

Lily stopped dancing. “Don’t look at me. He’s crazy and your son.”

Mom stared at us for a moment. “Cut out whatever you’re doing and don’t shout in the house anymore.”

“Yes mom.”

“Ok mom,” Lily added with a grin on her face.

“Why don’t you come out of your room and spend some time with the rest of us before you leave tomorrow?” dad asked as he walked up to join mom in the doorway.

“Alright. We’ll be right out,” I agreed. Mom and dad walked back toward the kitchen. I looked at Lily. “That was amazing! I really did it!”

“You did! Now let’s go make nice with your parents. You can practice more on the trip to Stonecroft,” Lily replied before kissing my cheek.