“Now if you let me cut your shirt off you'll feel a lot less pain,” says an obviously flustered nurse.

I close my eyes equally frustrated “I understand you want to cut my shirt off, so I’ll say it again, my arm, while it hurts! Is not crippling me. I don't need you to cut off my shirt to save me a bit of pain I already have. The shirt would already be off if you would please stop pestering me about it! Ma’am.”

In a huff, she puts her clipboard down. Gently grabbing my injured arm and tugging the sleeve off while pointedly ignoring my grimace.

“Far be it from me to try and save you a bit of pain. Only been a nurse for 34 years. I should have to know how important your shirt is, what’s a bit of pain compared to a plain white t-shirt you can replace anywhere.” She said. The nurse turned around to toss my shirt onto a bench then picked up her clipboard again and looked at a few pages.

“Since you just crossed over to this world and you're at the hospital we may as well do a full exam you're going to need to remove all your clothing,” she said with forced professionalism. Turning around her eyes caught my exposed chest. Hard knotted muscles along with dozens of scars bullet wounds, burns, and a few long jagged scars from close combat knife fights, as well as a mean red mess of flesh on my left side from when I got stuck in razor wire. “Will,” she said hesitantly her voice carrying a hint of sympathy, “...will you need help undressing?”

“No,” I say shaking my head with a half-laugh. It’s always funny when a non-combatant sees my scars. Most soldiers in WW3 either died fast or kept their heads down not many like me got into the thick of it and survived. Let alone after the war when lifelong soldiers with no war to fight started hunting monsters, most died. I just kept adding to my scars. A road map of pain and hard lessens covered my body every scar a story and a battle survived.

The nurse looked up from my chest “Put your clothes on the bench,” she said hesitantly. “I’ll have someone clean them for you and send them to your assigned home. Sir.”

My eyebrows climb into my hairline, “Sir?”

“Only people I have ever met that come close to the scars you have are veterans of the war. I thought you were just some cocky kid.” Tears threatened to escape as she was overcome with painful memories.

In barely a whisper she said. “You must have been a child when you started fighting.” Collecting herself she wiped her eyes. “There was no right side in the war, humanity lost so much. Very few that fought had a choice in the matter either you fought or were killed for cowardice as you know. Even after the war was over there was a lot of hate and blame to go around for a long time. Last few years things have calmed down perspectives have changed. Most people seem to agree with my view on things, I forget who said it but there's a new saying a lot of people recite concerning the war. ‘Pity the dead for what lost is lost, honor the scared so as to not make monsters of men, and hate the kings for it was only a few that reaped the world’.” A somber silence overtook the room as we looked at one another a quiet understanding passing between us.

“A technician will be in shortly to scan you for injuries.” With a sharp nod, she left me to undress. Glad she was gone so she wouldn't see me awkwardly slide my injured arm into the stupid flimsy hospital gown. The technician came in soon after polite but moving with purpose he waved a glowing stick at me a hologram appeared in front of his face giving him a readout he just looked at me looked at the readout whistled and left the room after saying a healer will have to prep for several procedures to fix everything wrong with me and to wait as it may take a while.

After a long wait, the door banged open as a woman pushed a rolling desk into the room she was of average height blond hair with brown eyes in her late 20s. when she spoke she sounded rushed and a little tired. Her voice was filled with excitement in only the way a person who loved what they did could sound like.

“Sorry for the wait but we got a lot to fix and it took a bit getting everything together can you please take off your hospital gown. Unfortunately, you have quite a few bones that broke and healed misaligned or completely wrong we need to get to fix and, unfortunately, the gown will be in the way. Lay on the examining table we will be at it for a while.” Forgoing any modesty I had left, I hop on the examining table immediately regretting it.

“Dang that's cold!” I say startled, feeling my backside freeze and frowning at the ice-cold stainless steel table that almost froze my nether regions.

“Sorry,” she said chuckling and looking highly amused. “Always forget to warn people about how cold the tables are.”

“You would think the hospital could heat the table,” I say unhappily at having to lay down on the slab of frozen steel. The healer happily ignored me and prepped her instruments

“So you know your body is, well forgoing medical terms, it's messed up. We’re going to fix the bones first then I'm going to have to remove any foreign objects in your body. Bullet shrapnel mostly and after that, it’s repairing nerve damage, then organ damage. After that, I’ll be fixing anything else that needs attention. and finally, after that, you'll be free to go and get food. Best to eat a huge meal after such extensive healing. Understand?”

“Not really,” I say worried. “I'm guessing you're going to use magic to fix it all no idea how and I can accept that, but I only have my pack with me, and it's not full of gold. I don't see how I can pay for all that.”

“Ha, ‘magic’ he said,” she says in a huff. “Magic is the uneducated word for what I'm about to do. I'm going to alter reality at the very base of what makes existence possible by using my intellect and sheer force of will to do as I bid to heal you. Energy be it electricity or some other energy we have yet to identify will be bent to my will and forced into my worldview. I will your bones repaired therefore they will be so, I demand your flesh to be as new as the day you were born and your flesh will respond to my command. Magic is a parlor trick used to entertain kids, what I do is too complicated to explain in the time we have together.” She finished her tirade in another huff. She grabbed a few glowing rods and waved them over me I could feel my body start to go numb.

“And you will not be charged for your healing,” she said much nicer, “this time! All new immigrants get a free once over when they get to New Eden. Now in the future, if you cut off a finger and I have to reattach it in the next few days yes you will be charged. ” Pulling out a vile of some kind of glowing red blob-like substance she pops the lid and pours it into a small cup. “Drink this it will finish numbing the pain and put you to sleep.”

Taking the cup hesitantly looking at the healer it's clear she thinks a lot of herself. If I had learned anything in my life it's this, never trust someone who acts like they can't be wrong. “Why do I need to be asleep?” I ask.

She rolled her eyes and waved a glowing rod. “What I'm doing is a mix of healing and surgery. Most of what I do you could probably be awake for but the nerve repair, due to the nature of healing or if it's easier for you to understand the ‘magic.’” she said rolling her eyes “That's involved, it will overstimulate your nervous system. In short, if you’re awake your brain will be getting signals it's never gotten before. After a few healings, your brain will be able to process it but for most if not all people the first time there healed causes panic attacks seizures, and in a few cases temporary comas.”

“Well,” I said half sitting up. “I can't argue with that” I drank it down in one big gulp. The last thing I remember was falling back as my arm buckled under me and my head cracking against the steel table.

“he…llo? hello, you awake yet?” A man's voice echoed like he was standing at the end of a tunnel.

“He’s still not awake?” said another man

“He should be up soon the healer had a lot to fix so she gave him a higher dose than normal.” The first man said.

“Ya makes sense with him being a hunter and all. You think he's…” Opening my eyes I look around and I’m in some kind of recovery room. Hating I know what they look like from all the times iv been in one.

“Hello.” I ask horsly coughing at my dry mouth “Can I get some water?” A cool glass of water was handed to me and I chugged it down “Thanks.” I say.

“How do you feel?” Asked the man who handed me the water.

“Not sure?” I say taking a moment to assess myself. I feel good, real good! But off. Like I got a full body massage when I was asleep so all my muscles are relaxed and refreshed but I don't know why. “I feel good but off.” Lifting my covers I see I have a set of underwear on “Who dressed me?”

“I think the nurse in charge of the recovery room does,” the man said, “and as to how you feel. That's normal years of injuries just going away all of a sudden can feel disorienting.”

“Names Sledge,” I say sitting up and noticing that scars still mar my chest.

“Right sorry, I'm Mike, and the quiet one with the clipboard is Rikky he's in training so he's just taking notes. Now,” Mike said nodding to Rikky who put a pen to his clipboard. “On to business Are you feeling any kind of confusion, pain, numbness?”

Looking myself over. “Can't say I do other than feeling a bit off like I told you, I feel fine,”

“Good. Good! We already scanned you when you were asleep so we have most of the information we need on our end, this next part should be quick. So Mr. Sledge you needed extensive healing if you would like a full report we can make that available to you at any time so unless you have any questions we can move on to assigning your lodging and the magic aptitude test.” Mike turned to Rikky and held out his hand expectantly. Rikky froze for a moment then frantically started patting his pockets with a sigh of relief he handed Mike a large syringe.

“I’d like a full report,” I said eyeing the syringe while I don't mind needles this sucker was huge it looked like it was better suited to be used on a bear. Looking back to Mike I ask. “What's the needle for?” He grimaced before he answered me.

“Ya, that… that is a syringe of condensed Mana or magic. You see even if someone has the capacity to use magic the ability is in hibernation until it's awakened. What we do is shoot you full of Mana and if you have any ability at all it will awaken.” He said.

“And if I don't have anything to awaken what will happen to me?”

Mike shrugs. “Nothing, well nothing bad at least, the way we process this negates any negative effects. So? Magic test first or housing what will it be?”

Looking at the needle I shake my head.

“May as well as get the stabbing over with, will I need to be healed again after that thing sticks me?” I ask feeling like I'm about to be basted like a turkey with Mana.

Mike laughs. “No, no, it will heal on its own fast enough, the shot goes in your right thigh.” He says while wiping an area clean on my leg mike hovers the needle over my leg. “Ready?” he asks. Not all that excited I nod and say.

“Ya let's get this over with.”

“Ok on the count of 3, ok. 1, 2!” He jabs me on 2, years of reflexes want to respond. I never did well with pain let alone surprises and if they're both involved I tend to kill first and ask what happened later. It took all I had in me to not lash out at Mike, seeing my reaction he asked. “You ok? Didn't hurt too bad did it?” Waving him off and taking a deep breath as the adrenaline drains from me.

“I'm good just surprised is all.”

A pulse of light grabs our attention the liquid Mana in my leg moves like mercury under my skin glowing in a dull green and flowing about like the surface of a slow-moving river. At first, it’s directionless moving from side to side up and down on my leg as if it's searching for something. Looking for some kind of path, then for no apparent reason the fluid starts flowing up from my leg into my stomach up to my chest and over my heart spreading over half my chest the liquid pulses three times then disappears leaving behind a dark outline on my chest.

“Did this thing just give me a tattoo?” I ask in wonder.

“A crest!” exclaims Rikky. Mike looks at my chest then Rikky.

“We have a full awakening! Call High Mage Short and let him know we have a crest manifest on us.” Mike says.

“Right, on it,” said Ricky moving fast to the door and leaving without looking back.

“I'd like,” I say irritated. “To know what's going on.” Mike looks at me as I wave at the tattoo or crest, whatever it's called.

“So, how to explain,” Mike said looking lost. “Well, let's see. So for perspective out of everyone on new Eden, there's about a 5% magic awakening rate, of the 5%, most of them have various degrees of power and skills. Think of them as specialized in their power set one person can only manipulate water or maybe control the air - we call them ability users. Now for the more powerful people, they can do all kinds of stuff but maybe only real good at one or two things. Like to heal a person, any mage can heal but like the woman who healed you, that was her specialty. Some can do enchants- basic magic abilities onto tools we can all use, we call them mages. Now we have people who awaken magic and they get what we call a crest. We don't know what it fully signifies but whoever has a crest has a higher form of magic than anyone, something only they can do. We call them High Mages, I don't know a lot about it so you will have to ask High Mage Short. What I do know, is that the crest will be passed down to any kids you have, like a family coat of arms. As you can see your crest is just an outline. For some reason as you grow into your powers the crest will fill with color at some point your crest will be complete. Now, most crests are basic one guy's crest is a scroll, another is a mountain, and so on. Your crest is pretty intricate there are a few as big as yours but I personally haven't seen them.”

Looking down at my chest it's hard to make out what it is. Mike seeing my problem points to a mirror by a sink. Going to it I study myself, been a while since I saw myself in a mirror, I'm usually on the go from one place to another. Looking at myself I can see I had aged some. My eyes were green and sharp as always, but had a bit of wariness to them that hadn't been there before. My hair was grown out no longer my military cut the dark brown had faded a bit. I still looked my age or I thought I did I guess not knowing how old I was, It didn't help. But I think I'm close to my mid-30s. My jaw was covered in stubble something id never really allowed to grow before mostly because the scars on my face made it hard to grow a beard. dozens of patches and jagged lines where hair didn't grow made the normally hard-to-see scars stand out. Shaking my head clear I look at my tattoo, no my crest! The thing is large. Over my heart was a tower shield with a war-ax across the front, on the left side is a fierce bald eagle flying free from the shield as if to attack something. and on the right is the head of a lion roaring, the sheer detail is staggering if the crest had color I'd have thought the animals were real. A door opened and closed.

“Impressive crest,” said a deep man’s voice. Not recognizing the voice I turn around shocked at the man.

“You're a midget?” I say dumbly completely confounded by the man in front of me. The man in his late 40s to 50s smiles at me. He stood at the upper end of 3 feet with dark brown curly hair a bit of gray creeping in a thick black mustache curled at the end like a villain in old movies. He dressed like a college professor- dignified but overworked.

“Keen eye you have there,” he said, “my name is High Mage Pretty Short, good to meet you.” He said this with a straight face. Unable to stop myself, I laughed.

“Your name is Pretty Short? Kinda cruel to name a midget that.” His eyes light up with amusement and his mustache curls upward as he smirks.

“No, young man, my name is Peter Short, I’d advise you to pay closer attention to what is said to avoid offending anyone.” With that, he turns around and heads to the door only to stop and look back at me. “Get dressed and meet me out front of the hospital I’ll take you to your new home and we can talk.” He leaves.

I stand there stunned and confused Mike starts laughing.

“I thought,” Mike said between laughing fits. “They made that up”

“Made what up?” confusion clear in my voice “And where are my clothes,” I ask now very aware I'm still only in my underwear. Mike points under my bed where my pack is shoved under.

“High Mage Short. I heard he likes messing with people. Apparently, he used to do my job but had to stop. I heard one time he pretended a person who woke up in recovery became a giant. Really freaked them out, you got off easy he only introduced himself as ‘Pretty Short.’” Not really sure how to handle the situation I shrug and start getting dressed all my clothes are basically the same no matter the color or fabric. All I have is comfortable yet tactical aka pockets, pockets, pockets. With a quick goodbye, I head out. Like all hospitals, the oh so helpful maps are no help whatsoever. So it took longer than I wanted to find the lobby. Didn't help I almost mistook it for a fancy doctor's office with it being so small. The automatic doors opened and fresh clean wet air filled my nostrils the dull sound of rushing water filled the lobby as I stepped outside. High walls made it impossible to see the town.

“It’s later than I thought it would be,” I say to myself. The sun hung low on the horizon the mist from the waterfalls reflecting the light making the sky light up with hundreds of rainbows. I just stand in wonder at the sight.

“Amazing isn't it.” Looking to my side Short stood next to me looking at the sky in its cacophony of colors.

“It is,” I say, looking back to the sky. “I keep forgetting this isn't earth, I know it's not but this is the second time where I’ve just stopped and it really hit me.” Looking back to Short he turned to me, looking at one another assessing, judging. Short nodded to himself coming to some kind of decision

“I don't want to come across as rude or prejudiced by the way I reacted to you earlier,” I said feeling slightly guilty. “I'm, well I'm surprised.” Not sure how to say what I'm thinking I just kinda wave my hand at him. “A midget your age, alive! Again not meaning to sound rude or anything but during the war, just about every side and faction was ethnically cleansing. just about everyone different was a target most with your, uh, body type was killed off.” A profound look of anguish overtakes short he looks away from me and back to the sky.

“I was lucky,” he said his voice quivering for a moment. “Most groups like you said did horrible things. There were a few small groups that found and hid people with disabilities. My father wasn't a very smart man or all that good-looking or even strong. In just about every way a man is a man physically he lacked. But he never bent or gave in. Before the war started it was already hard for people like me my family had to hide me, you see factions and groups were already looking for easy targets. I was a grown man when the war started but I couldn't do anything, I hated it. when the killings started he took me and hid, I was so afraid. Eventually, we found a group that would take people in like me. When food ran short he starved so others could eat, when we were found he fought so we could run and hide. The stress wrecked his body. But he never stopped, in his free time however small it was he continued my education. Hard to go to school when killing squads were all over you see, so myself and anyone else who wanted to learn from whatever books he could find or trade for, reading, writing, math, and science. He died 4 months before the war ended. He told me it would be ok if I changed my last name, a midget with a name Short what a joke that was.” Short looked back at me his eyes full of strength. “I kept my father's name, and after the war ended swore to make something of myself. To be like my father, a man who found and helped the lost and forgotten. I look at you and see a lost man, strong! Yes, a killer if your records are anything to go by but so very lost.” Shaken and confused I ask.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“The crest,” Short said pointing to my chest. “You have power now, real power. People with money or political connections think they have it. On earth that still holds true but on New Eden, it's a lie. The reality of it is with my current abilities I could take over the earth on my own with just a few hours of prep time. Can you believe it? I was forced to hide and flee my entire life! can now rule! That is if the portal went both ways. That's the power you now have, your only limit is yourself. That's why I'm telling you all this, I can fight, I can use my magic for destruction like everyone else with magic. We, high mages, can use magic for war but we are not really warriors. Until you, that is. All of us high mages while dangerous are not warriors, iv never killed a man I swore to save lives if I can. Some Mages and abilities users are more like you with a past similar to yours but that's not overly concerning considering their limited overall power. We high mages on the other hand have power, that's used more for academic purposes making the people feel at ease. See our group is composed of researchers, scholars, or doctors, you are different a man made of war, and I'm terrified of what someone with your skillset and power could do, as others will be. So instead of trying to manipulate you or try to bribe you or force you to do as I want. I'm going to do what my father did. I'm going to look out for you, your records show you are mostly self-taught so I'm going to educate you and be your friend.” A lot to take in, me being a high mage and all. this is going to change the political landscape and people are not going to like it.

“And if I don't want your help or friendship?” I ask testing Short studying his reaction looking for any sign of lies or misdirections. Short grins.

“It's impossible to not by my friend I’m too funny to not be. Now enough heavy conversations we need to get you to your new home and set up your schooling.”

Following Short, we made it passed the hospital walls and the town lay before me. The sight was both intimidating and humbling, the town lay in a small valley nestled against a cliff. On both sides roared waterfalls much closer to the town than I’d have liked the only reason we weren't all underwater was a mountain of solid stone both impossibly wide and tall to be natural leading from the town all the way to the top of the falls splitting the waterfall in half diverting the water away from us. It would seem the mountain of stone was ideal for housing, almost two-thirds of the way up stood buildings and towers.

“This way,” said Short. “I’ll show you around for a bit and let you get your bearings.” I just nod to him in thanks. The town itself was both fascinating and inconvenient. What was once thousands of small rivers have been converted into canals of all different sizes and flowing in different directions. Making it impossible to traverse the town by boat. The walkways are much the same flowing with the rivers making paths at times wide or narrow. In areas where there should be bridges were none and in areas where it made no sense to have a bridge of course had them. The air while cool and refreshing was wet! Making my clothes damp and stick to me and for all the inconvenience lack of logic and annoyingly wet air. The place felt ancient like I was walking back in time before the written word when magic and miracles were every day as if history started here, and in some small way, I was now a part of something bigger. We walked in silence, Short waved to people as he went most waved back a few called out greetings. One man, in particular, looked like he had swallowed a lemon waving back to short clearly unhappy seeing him. The buildings looked solid, made from large bricks of what looked like granite. Coming to a canal without a bridge short puts his hand to his mouth and “PWHHT” loudly whistles turning to me he smiles as I rub my ear trying to stop the ringing

“Hungry?” he asks. A young man across the canal walks out of the well-lit building. With tables and chairs arranged in front of it and a large wooden sign hung just over the door reading ‘Food and Stuff’. Music just barely audible over the everpresent sound of rushing water the young man sees Short waves enthusiastically and rushes back inside

“I could eat,” I say noticing just how hungry I really am.

“Tonight it's on me, also if it's ok with you we can get this to go and head to your new home it will be getting dark soon and no matter how safe it is in town you can never be too careful”

“Thanks,” I say not sure how to respond not too many people ever paid for my food before. Unless you count the military or mercenary groups I was in but I don't know if I could call what they gave us was food. Soon the young man came running to us holding a large board clearly struggling with the weight standing it up on the other side of the canale he let it drop with a crash.

“Haven't seen you around Professor.” The young man called waving us over

Short looked at me.

“I teach Math to anyone who needs it when I'm not bogged down by my mage duties.” Crossing the canal Short pats the young man on the back which looks a bit odd seeing as the kid is over a good 2 feet taller

“Been busy” said Short. “Too much to do, not enough time but had a moment tonight. Sledge this young man is Tompson like yourself, no last name. Tompson, Sledge.” I nod at the boy, well, I say boy but must be close to 15 or 16 years old. Short points at me.

“Just showing your new classmate around.”

Tompson pumps his fist “Right on man” he yells excitedly then freezes and looks at Short and me. Then turns beet red and runs off.

“He's excitable,” said Short. “Excitable and easily embarrassed but a good kid. Go easy on him next time you see him. He like most teenagers think embarrassment is worse than death and he will feel like an idiot if you bring this up. Anyway, Tompson will have told the cook to pack us an order so let's collect.”

The building to no surprise was a cozy but almost upper scale restaurant it wasn't packed but by no means was the dinner rush over a waitress came to us almost before we could walk in and handed me a large bag of food. Her eyes landed on Short biting her lower lip and winked at him waving coyly before walking away with a small sway to her hip. Looking at Short he was grinning ear to ear. Waving me back outside. Short clearing his thoughts by shaking his hands out. “It's getting late I'm going to open a gate to your house.” Before I could blink a distortion appears in front of us much like the gate to earth just smaller, less imposing for some reason. “Step through please” short waving me forward. I hesitate for a moment then step through one moment I was outside a restaurant the smell of food filled the area. with rushing water and music hanging in the air the next, I was in a well-lit living room. Basic wood furniture was stacked against one wall with everything a person would need to live comfortably the room had a kitchen a small stove and a refrigerator. Next to the front door was a narrow stairwell going to a second floor. Looking out the window I could see I was just about midway up the mountain the air somehow wetter than before. In the houses around me, most of the windows had light the area looked alive and lived in making the area feel safe.

“Right,” said Short. “We need a place to sit, one moment and I’ll get you set up.” With only a mild look of concentration, all the furniture started rapidly flying about. Arranging themselves in moments, a desk was under the window a couch and chair sat next to one another and the dinner table was just outside of the kitchen.

“Let's eat I'm starved,” he said. “When the town was first reconstructed,” Short said unpacking our meal. “Obviously there was no power and the generators we had didn't last long with how wet the air is. So we set up hydro generators all over the city, it's as close to free power humanity has ever gotten I think.”

Short, handed me my dinner looking at me hard and frowning at me for a moment then nodded to himself and shrugged. For the next half hour, we ate in silence when the meal was almost over I looked up from my food

“Tompson?” I asked.

“What about him?” Short said confused.

“You said I would be in class with him. What did you mean?” I asked trying to get answers. Short smiled and took a sip from a glass he most definitely didn't have a moment ago.

“He is an ability user. You know what that means?”

“He's got a power right, not a mage but not normal either,” I say shrugging. Short stills for a moment.

“What's normal?” He whispers. “Close,” he said louder. “Ability users are hard to classify not that mages or high mages are easy but ability users very much more than us. An ability user has an ability as in singular, it can be as simple as increased hearing or in Thompson's case a form of invisibility using his limited control of shadows while he may be able to do multiple things with his ability it all falls under his one ability.”

“That's interesting and all but what's that got to do with class?” I ask not understanding.

“Well, where do you think you're going to learn to use your magic? There are so few of us that the classes are done in groups. Tompson and another started a few weeks ago there not too far into the program so you can just jump in.” Short pulled out a pocket watch. “Speaking of class, your first class is first thing tomorrow morning I’ll leave you for the night. The bathroom is upstairs I’d suggest a shower and I’ll be here in the morning with breakfast and to take you to class.”

“Wait,” I say hurriedly as Short jumps off his chair. “I’ve got a lot of questions.” Short waves his hands and a distortion appears.

“I know and I'm sorry but I’ve been going for the last few days with little sleep and will for the next few until the immigration is over but I’ll try to make time in the next few days to talk. I’ll also ask Tompson to answer anything he can so you are not starved for answers. Goodnight.” With that Short disappears and I'm left alone with nothing but my thoughts. Contemplating my day.

“I moved to a new world, named a plant, killed monsters, injured myself, went to the hospital, became Merlin, met a midget who introduced himself as Pretty Short, ate dinner after teleporting, and while good, the meat, I have no idea what it was, and now I'm in a home that for some reason is mine. Living in a city full of magic, with a waterfall monster security system that's making everything wet, and I got a magic school in the morning.” Before my brain boiled over I got up and took a shower, and went to bed all the while doing all I could to not let myself think too hard. My last thought before sleep took me was.

“I missed orientation.”