I spent an entire day trying to evoke the energy within me

I had felt it twice before, although I could not remember how I summoned it but I had, and if I could then, I could now. Vali brought me my meals at their hours faithfully, at first the boy glanced at me with wariness whenever he entered the room, but he warmed to me after I'd made it a point of order that any meal i was given, he was to be given his fill as well, now he just seemed curious as to what I had been doing......or trying to do. Yet I paid him no heed, and I continued searching every sensation in my body looking for something unfamiliar, and energy that would have joined me only when I entered this world, I pleaded and prodded my own body with my mind, all to no avail for I found nothing.

I stayed searching and contemplating like that for two days, by the third I was not only deeply tired but bored as well, very, very bored. So the next time Vali came to deliver my meals I called out and asked him to sit, which he did, but in my act I had forgotten that there were no chairs in this room, or any room in the village I presume.

As soon as he was comfortable, I took a breath and used the same commanding tone I had been using ever since I was cast into this world; "Tell me about this Village." I had wanted to ask in a more gentle form but I remembered a Quote from the movie who's lord I was pirating, he had said "Lords do not ask, they demand." My position in this village was on a thin thread, I could not conjure a tiny bit of magic for the life of me, and even my creation ability was beyond my abilities, so the only thing keeping sheltered, fed, and most importantly, Alive, was their belief that I could destroy this village with a push of my will. For the sake of myself, I would have them believe even more.

The boy was silent as his eyes locked onto mine, I could see fear in them, hesitation, confusion and many more emotions forming a kaleidoscope of colors swimming within his eyes, and for a moment I felt a pulsing within me, and suddenly I could see through the boy, his fear, his dreams, but then it was gone, and I was staring at a confused child who did not want to cause trouble, so I reassured him "Fear not Vali, I intend no harm to you or this village as long as I am not provoked" I watched as his tense figure relaxed slightly, but yet it was a moment before he began to speak, "What would you know Sir Mage?"

I had read quite a few Light Novels when I was on Earth, usually the MC had the protection of the plot, a Plot armor which would allow them to act as stupid and foolishly as possible, to say things without thinking them through, but I was no main character, I had no such protection, and so knowing I had presented to these people the image of a powerful and wise mage, probably one who had used a spell to revert his appearance, I knew better than to ask questions of daily life, geography and such, from what I had seen, this place was remote, far too remote to know anything of political situations and other information of that kind, but yet they lived here, in this fantasy world, they would know things, however little yet far more than me.

And so I asked the most immediate question "Tell me of the People in this Village", I was currently here on their fear and regard, I had to know to what extent I was at risk.

Vali seemed too consider again before replying but once he began, he barely paused for breath as he rambled, "Well, there are about Twenty something people here, I know cause my Mother taught me to count before she and Father passed......" reaching there he paused a bit, and once again I could feel a slight pulsing as he felt pain, but he continued "There's Old Man Corbin, he takes care of Pigs, they stink a lot but they taste good Ma'am Melly gives us some she cooks when he kills one, There's Old Man Corvas, Corbin's Twin, he's also Anna's Father, the one who cooks for you, He's a farmer, but he's married with Ma'am Greta, Ma'am Sera, Ma'am Leana, and Ma'am Eanilah, There's Mr Black, he hunts and stuff, I heard he's called black cause his Father didn't claim him, but when I mentioned it Ma'am Melly got really mad so we don't talk about it, There's Mr Von, he's the butcher, but he's really bad no one likes him, but he's too big so the other men aren't strong enough to drive him out, There's also Ennovah, Kisela, Ulthor, and Korn, they're Mr Corvas kids but they're grown up so they help on the farm, then there's the rest of Mr Covas's Kids; Anna, Kindra, Movas and Movran they're twins. There's also Mr Corbin's Kids Alvor, Varkas, Iathor, They're grown ups too, then theres Seamus, Nakra and Solvelt." he finished listing all the people in the village displaying what I regard as a remarkable awareness of his environment at his age, but I let my face remain impassive and did my best to not look the slightest bit impressed, but then I noticed that he hadn't mentioned himself and the Other man I'd seen, causing me to assume they were related, but he hadn't said anything and I wouldn't pry.

Dismissing him, I was sure that the village was too small to have someone who could see through my façade, I would have to remain careful though, this was a fantasy world and anything could happen, that said, I dismissed Vali and returned to my contemplation, I had to learn my power, and fast.