《Wavebound》A Remembered Ruin
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Ruyo spent a few minutes trying to relax. When somebody banged on the door again, she rose and stretched. "Yes?"
"We're looking to see if you can complete the initiation for your second student, maybe start the others."
She murmured, "Back to business, huh?" She tested her mental link, asking Nusina, "Can you hear me from outside?"
"Yes, milady. Are you all right?"
"I have a lot to think about. Be right there."
She went outside to get on with magic for an impatient crowd. As it turned out, the second level of "Sorcerous Initiation" was simple now for the student who'd gotten the first, and she was able to start three more people on the first level before phantom muscles ached and she felt a faint pressure behind her eyes. When they offered to pray again and Nusina explained that their prayers more-or-less counted only once a day, Ruyo groaned and imagined writing up a formal price list.
She didn't teach anything but arcane skill, and didn't provide anything but practical resources. "I'm still a shopkeeper," she said.
Her spirit guide said, "I'm sensing your followers now associate you with magic."
Ruyo interrupted a cooking lesson. "And every one of them is 'following' me in the shallows because he wants something specific and valuable."
"Isn't that what you want? A lot of open, easygoing relationships? Also, a few of them want some guidance and not just power. Which people, I don't know."
Ruyo could guess, though. "The robbers. They're beaten and aimless. What did the old goddess teach, in moral terms?"
Ruyo snapped back to reality when the cook, Vissio's man, waved in front of her face. "You there?"
She shook her head. "Sorry. Shall we get on with that lesson?"
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They trained and talked about food. The man had no real advice for her other than to think about the texture and origin of the food she was creating and preparing. The lesson did double duty as dinner preparation for everyone. As Ruyo chopped onions and turnips her teacher said, "You normally eat prepared food on the road?"
"Bread, jerky, nuts, some 'portable soup'. I stop at villages when I can, for trading too."
"No wonder you can't make much, even by magic. Look, this pot is boiling. For a water expert it ought to be your thing. See how the hot water changes the color and texture? Smell that savory grease boiling off? The elements change everything and make it more useful. They can turn a chunk of raw bloody meat into stew."
Nusina hovered around the pot, making the steam ripple so that she was partly visible. "The concept of boiling is a little disturbing, but steam is interesting. I --"
Ruyo looked up at the spirit, who'd gone still. "Hmm?"
She spoke in a drone, audible to all. "Seventeen casualties reported at Scintilla Power Plant south of Faithful Wellspring Three. 'They looked cooked', says one hospital official. Victims were taken to [crackle] Memorial Hospital for treatment, but four died before stasis could be applied. Prayers requested."
Ruyo, the cook, and several onlookers went quiet. Ruyo finally said, "What?"
"I remember, a little. Something terrible happened. Steam burns people."
She beckoned Nusina closer and the spirit became tangible, letting Ruyo hug her. Ruyo said, "It was a long time ago."
"Didn't see the victims. I just monitored these things. I remember feeling helpless. Doing my job while bad things happened around me."
"You did your job; that's what matters. Successfully protected..." Ruyo shook her head, thinking of the facility they still needed her to guard. "That's not important right now. You all right?"
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"Just rattled. Go on."
Ruyo kept the spirit nearby while she studied dinner. The cook gratefully accepted the second level of magic as soon as Ruyo was ready.
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Baris arrived in time to share in the food. "Just making the rounds," he said. "More friends?"
"A training group from Averell. Here; give me your hands."
When she did the ritual, holding him and carving deeper the channel of magic inside him, it was easy. He thanked her and said, "I'm glad you're doing this for more people than just me and the missus. It means more people who can live on their own, outside the big cities. More freedom to wander without being afraid."
"There's sign of a bear near here, by the way."
"I noticed while we were hunting the possessed man. Just keep away for now and we'll deal with it later."
He left her and entered the cave to pray. From him she sensed vague approval, a desire to see her do well. Another strange flavor.
Ruyo attempted to make some better food. The spell took form as a small loaf that looked like it had bits of carrot and turnip in it, smelling like a vegetable stew. It still looked like a ship's biscuit but had some moisture and texture. For comparison she made another one, dry, and it looked like it'd keep better.
Baris and the cook tried bits of each. The cook said, "This is an improvement. You could probably keep people healthier with these."
"Hopefully with some variety in the flavor," Baris said.
"For long-term food production?" Ruyo asked.
He shrugged. "If you're going to employ people, you should be feeding them at least." He leaned closer. "Those three rough-looking men are free to go, I hope?"
"Oh! Yes. I got them to reconsider their careers. Promised them help while they do that."
"Whatever happened could've gone worse, then. Sorry I wasn't there for it."
"You've already earned everything I can give you and more, Baris."
He looked surprised. "I do want magic powers and free stuff. But I'm more concerned with having my neighbors be safe and happy."
"Thank you, I think. If that's so, then there's something you should know." She took him aside, and showed him the note about the Witch Hunters of Brotherhood. "They're your neighbors too."
Baris stared at it. His hands shook. "Idiots! They don't know what they'd be throwing away!"
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A Fractured Song
Just because you’re transported to another world, doesn’t mean you’ll escape from your pain. Abused by her parents, thirteen-year-old Frances only wants to be safe and for her life not to hurt so much. And when she and her class are transported to the magical world of Durannon to fight the monsters invading the human kingdoms and defeat the self-titled Demon King, Frances is presented with a golden opportunity. If she succeeds, Frances will have the home she never had. If she fails, Frances will be summoned back to the home she escaped. Yet, despite her newfound magic and friends, Frances finds that trauma is not so easily lost. She is dogged by her abuse and its physical and invisible scars. Not only does she have to learn magic, she has to survive the nightmares of her past, and wrestle with her feelings of doubt and self-loathing. If she can heal from her trauma, though, she might be able to defeat the Demon King and maybe, just maybe, she can find a home for herself. Beautiful Cover by Rianne Draws (https://twitter.com/RianneDraws) Full cover at: https://www.reddit.com/r/VrensLibrary/comments/iwhsar/a_fractured_song_new_cover_courtesy_of/
8 138Welcome to the Aurora Wasteland
Read at your own risk, The Aurora Wasteland is watching you.I’m going to tell you a storyIt's going to involve some short storiesAnd the ways they affect the people that read themOh and maybe a hint of the strange and the weirdWelcome to the Aurora WastelandA collection of short stories by Sci-Fi Horror author Vaughn Ashby spread across the literary universe unknown as The Aurora Wasteland.A hiker stumbles across some accidental time travelA town froze in place at the blink of an eyeA corn maze with a whale of a secret in itAn old woman forced to witness the tower of the deadA yoga class taking their lessons to a deadly endA subway hidden in the middle of nowhereA police officer who wants to taste your brainsCaution… any connection to the Aurora Wasteland is not recommended.
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Chase: Skye, I'm placing you under arrest for suspicion of theft!Squirtleowl5: Hello everyone please note I don't own these characters except for Amethyst and this is my first story so I hope you like it!!!©️Squirtleowl5If you want to use anything from my story message me or give me credit.
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