036 - Sky Beyond Sky

"Awooo!" Sif howled, its tail thumping excitedly against the floor.

"Heh!" Kujata grinned widely, "Good choice, boy!"

"First things first," She studied the black lines and blister of yellow pus on Magnus' face. "With the living lines something like this, even a shattered core, it doesn't mean a thing. As my disciple . . hells, I'm getting ahead of myself here. First things first, listen Magnus Lund; no one can give you power. There is no magic potion, no secret art, no shortcuts. Everything you want you have to fight for. Nothing is free in this life, you being my disciple and me being your teacher - this is an exchange, between equals, understand?"

"I understand." Magnus replied firmly.

"How do you feel now?" Kujata walked over to the telescope, Magnus followed her over.

"Much better. I feel, huh, I feel alive!" Magnus put a hand to his chest, the wound seemed to be knitting itself over at a remarkable speed. "Is this magic? Are you . .are you a witch!?" His eyes went wide in wonder.

"This isn't magic, I'm not a witch. I'm not an alchemist. Tell me Magnus, what do you think I am?"

Magnus thought, his eyebrows furrowed down. "Are you . . are you human?"

"Close enough." Kujata grinned. "The right answer was 'my big sis', right? Now, it seems that we might have go off to a bit of a rough start," Kujata leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "Let's draw a line under it, right? Bury the hatchet, re-tire the bicycle, put a fresh coat of paint on the garden fence, you know, those sorts of things. Tell me about yourself Magnus Lund. Age?"

Magnus: "Sixteen."

Kujata: "Birthplace?"

Magnus: "Kloster, some ways west of here."

Kujata: "And?"

Magnus: "The town where I was born . . that what you asked? Um, by the coast, in the region of Jute."

Kujata: "My stars . . Magnus, I mean what planet. You were born here, right? Do you know the name of this world?"

Magnus: "Isn't is just . . the world? Um . ."

Kujata: "This planet is Aquilonem, the Alchemists name for this world. You know the name of the star Aquilonem revolves around? Just the sun, right? Forget I mentioned it."

Magnus: "..."

Kujata: "Alright. Education?"

Magnus: "My father taught me a little smithing, he had a smitty and worked for the Lord in Kloster."

Kujata: "Yeah?"

Magnus: "I was never much good for it though, Rolf and I . . "

Kujata: "No. I meant education. Learning. Reading and writing, languages. You know, from books."

Magnus: "Oh. Why didn't you say so? Well, I don't know much about that."

Kujata: "Much about. . ."

Magnus: "You know, that. Reading or writing or books."

Kujata: "At all?"

Magnus "Well, I know what a book is, and . . I can speak good."

Kujata (head in her hands): "My fifth disciple . . Magnus . . ye gods and little fishes . ."

Ring! Ring!

“Ok, ok, give me a little space . . “ Kujata turned to the telescope, peering through and taking notes and waving Magnus away. The sun had long since set, Magnus felt well enough to jump to his feet, to move his arms and legs with ease. Sif, the great white wolf lay curled in the corner, it looked up at Magnus and yawned, laying back down.

How long had she been here? Living like this? The space around the chair was piled with all kinds of trash, rotten fruit, gnawed bones, empty gourds that reeked of alcohol. Magnus picked one up and sniffed it, immediately throwing it down.

His chest ached. She'd killed me. She had really killed me, and now I'm her disciple? The giant bull amidst the stars, its many eyes . . Magnus couldn't help but tremble. Looking at her back he felt an immense sense of danger, but also assuredness and strength. If he made even the slightest mistake, made her unhappy, would she just stomp him out again? No, Magnus unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fists. No, she said I am like her, I am her disciple. I need to believe that . . .

Magnus face twisted into an expression of grief, his head sunk down between his shoulders.

The world is the world, the sun is the sun. How can it be more complicated than that? Aquilonem. Magnus repeated it again and again, burning the name into his mind.

I have been ignorant. No more. Magnus looked over Kujata, the vision of the giant bull floating above the world filled his mind. An exchange . . . she would teach him, and he would do what? Something of equal value. Anything! So long as he could strike against the Alchemists, so long as he could find Rolf, avenge all those who’d died in Kloster.

Magnus sat, lost in thought for a long time. His chest slowly recovered, the black lines and blisters shrunk. He felt better than he had for weeks, since before this whole mess. The tension, the constant anxiety and unease melted away like morning frost. In Kujata there was a certainty, her every word carried a promise of truth. In his heart Magnus already accepted the pretty dark skinned woman not just as his teacher, but as his salvation.