《Eldest: Awakening After the End》17: The New Magic
Advertisement
“Now, ah…”
“For the ancient people, magic was easy. Mana ran through their body, uncorrupted, pure. And they did wonders we could hardly imagine…”
“But somehow, the most important tool they gave us is one they, well, barely thought about.”
“Spell-shapers are tools that allow us to cast using artificial Mana. The ancient people, well, they had Mana aplenty in their own bodies. To them, spell-shapers were only for practice and training. So they'd use them as apprentices, until they earned their own Stars and Constellations. To them these were toys, and Miss Lena, someone like you would've had one of your very own."
The idea clearly flattered her. They'd moved outside and perched themselves along a fence, watching Oriole sweat and bluster as he gave his demonstration.
Heidrich had appeared in the background, watching with his arms crossed. Something was off with the man. Grae’s senses were on high alert, the fur at the back of his neck prickling up with worry.
"When I move my hands like so…" His fingers twisted. "The casting begins. Now, within this device are three signs. Light, Anger, Control."
"Light and Anger come from Chaos. Control from Order. Only when the two forces combine is a spell born…"
"Light." His pointer and pinky fingers bent down over his thumb as it curled across his palm, the middle two fingers raised.
"Control." With both hands he formed a triangle.
A miniature sun was born. It was no bigger than his hand, and floated placidly in the air before him, a cream-colored ball of light. There was something pleasing about it: how perfectly a sphere it was and how it bobbed up and down in the wind, like a leaf on the water's surface.
"Anger and Control, I can't show you. It makes men and beasts go berserk with rage, and we certainly wouldn't want our friend to get angry, now would we?"
Advertisement
“But Anger, Light, and Control, together make…”
His hands moved through the signs. Grae stiffened in his seat, preparing for the blow, ready to fire a water bullet to counter as he had before.
But Oriole lifted his palm upwards towards open sky. From his hand came a searing beam of light, unfurling up into the air. It dissolved into plumes of red and blue flame as it reached its apex, the core so bright it hurt to look directly into, turning the gentle night into day for a moment.
When that moment passed, Grae could relax. Lena was clapping her hands together in delight, and he mimicked the motion, watching Oriole carefully.
That had been the moment.
If there had been a message slipped to Heidrich behind Sarcer’s back, that was the moment the plan would have sprung into action.
Or…
Or it was Lena. She was right by Grae’s side, in harms way. Even assuming Oriole had managed to quietly signal he was in danger…
Heidrich would still wait until she was safe and out of any danger before making his move.
Grae’s eyes twitched from one man to the other, trying to read secret signs, to tell if they were conspiring against him. Heidrich was unreadable, dark-eyed and stark. Oriole was just the opposite- he was such a mess of twitches and sweating uncertainty that Grae couldn’t tell if any of it actually meant anything.
Since arriving on this little farm, Grae had been passive as a stone. Waiting and watching.
Now that pressure was beginning to crack away at his calm demeanor. He itched to be free of this place, to be on the open road putting long miles between himself and Heidrich.
“Well…”
Oriole caught the ‘subtle’ sign of Grae’s glaring eyes.
“I’m afraid, Miss Lena, that’s all the magic I can show you today. I’m running a little dry on mana. But if you were to visit me in Tingate someday, I’d gladly show you all the many spell-shapers in my father’s collection.”
Advertisement
“I’d love that!” She chirped, eyes bright.
“So. Time you were going, then.” Heidrich’s voice closed over her enthusiasm like an iron grip, as his own weathered, muscular hand landed on Oriole’s shoulder. “Lot of ground to cover.”
It wasn’t a suggestion. Their welcome was at an end.
“Yes, of course.” Oriole mumbled.
Over the next few minutes, the kobolds tended to the horses and loaded the cart with baskets of fresh, rich foods: cheeses wrapped in cloth, jarred fruit preserves, sides of smoked and salted meat.
Heidrich watched them like a hawk.
The pricking unease at the back of Grae's neck grew constantly. He was dead certain now the man knew something. Grae trailed after the girl like a shadow, letting her presence be his shield. It wasn’t until it was time to step into the wagon’s dark cage that he finally had to part ways…
“Well, Mister Pig, you were a lovely guest…” She said, as he clambered aboard.
“Greh.” He answered.
And as the gnawing worry in his stomach dug its fangs in, the caged door swung shut.
Oriole cracked the reins. The wagon began to roll.
The little farm disappeared behind them, with no sudden turn to violence, no ambush. The moment passed, and Grae could finally let out a grunting sigh.
“Is everything alright?” Greenleaf asked.
“That man knew.” Grae replied. “I don’t know how, but I think he knew.”
Advertisement
Planetary Cultivation
An alien cultivator comes to Earth to claim the Heavens, only to find a world bereft of cultivators or a Heavenly Realm to claim. So Lei Zhaohui will force the planet's cultivation until a Heavenly Realm is formed. Should none defend the new realm, Lei Zhaohui will take it for his own. Nicole Firen is a young woman who would just like her world to start making sense, but finds herself thrust into a position of importance as the world begins to change. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 79A Monster Who Levels Up
This is a story of a man named Kim Sae-Jin, who one day, inexplicably wakes up as a Monster. Follow him and his perilous journey to get his life back as a Human, all the while growing even more versatile as a Monster in the process. This should be… complicated, somewhat.
8 1692Siva
Fantasy and Magic meets Science and Technology. In this epic story of brotherly love, friendship, struggle, and conspiracy, come join in on an adventure that will take you on the journey behind the legend of one of the most beloved stories ever told! THE VIOLENT QUEST BEGINS!Rex is a talented young adult, prodigy, genius, and a charismatic young leader. His world is what you'd call peaceful until an accident changed his and his baby brother's life forever. Without money, in a body torn apart by the tragic accident, to save his brother in a coma, Rex jumps out of the frying pan and goes straight to the fire as the deal with a devil brought him into a world of war and tragedy, where people go looking for adventures but come out as warriors battling monsters and greedy foes. This is a story of triumph, adventure, trust, and deception in the Virtual World called Terroa, as seen from the eyes who created the legend behind the greatest villain ever known —The Destroyer.
8 254Rebirth of the Entertainment Giant
After the death of Zhang Xiaohua, he is reborn into a parallel world where the entertainment industry has become sluggish. Follow him as he begins his journey to form a world-class entertainment company, filled with; musicians, screenwriters, producers and directors. Watch him as he attempts to conquer the entertainment world by storm. *Get the first volume of the book on: Amazon , Google Play *Get the second Volume of the book on: Amazon , Google Play *Get the third Volume of the book on: Amazon , Google Play *Get the fourth Volume of the book on: Amazon , Google Play
8 261THE CONJURING ━ ARNE JOHNSON
❝ WHY NOT ME? WHY NOT ME? ❞( © magaesthetic ) 2021cover by ( @sixty6ix )
8 92The Boy You Know Has Changed(Ash X Cynthia)
After Ash losing to Alain in the Kalos League,Ash arrived back to Pallet Town and was betrayed by his friends,his mother and his only sister and Ash was living his life in Mount Sliver.5 years later Ash resive a letter from the Pokemon League and meet up with his TraitorsPAIRING:Ash X Cynthia
8 147