Darkness surrounded everything.

"Deja vu." (Darren)

However in the distance a faint light could be seen.

"No where to go but forward." (Darren)

With no goal or reason Darren started towards the light. Hours passed as he moved towards the light. When he could walk no more he collapsed. However something pushed him forward. He crawled. And crawled. For an apparent eternity he dragged himself through the darkness. Suddenly the light grew. With each inch claimed the light grew more intense. Then it became blinding. However, Darren could not look away. As he reached the center he saw it had a small solid core. Achingly he reached up and slowly grasped the sphere.

Darren's eyes fluttered open. He was greeted with Lycan's face. Her passive expression widened into a smile.

"Two days not bad. The only other instance of forced perception I've heard of took a week." (Lycan)

"Forced percep...." (Darren)

He then noticed he felt different. More energized. He innately felt a need to channel it. Lycan suddenly planted a kiss on his cheek, but said nothing. Sliding off of him she phased out of the small room. As Darren leaned up he noticed someone sitting in a chair in the corner. As his eyes focused on the person he realized it wasn't Tal'gore as he expected. Instead it was Gernam.

"Gernam?" (Darren)

The lich's made no response.

"Hello?" (Darren)

Still no response. Darren looked at the bedside stand to his left. A pen sat there with a note attached to it.

My friend as you can see Armon and I have reversed engineered one of these. I hope you do not mind but I've given the go ahead to mass produce these. All credit for there creation has been given to you. In regards to the funds I expect nothing. All profits shall go to you. Get well soon my friend. We have much more to do together.

Your friend, Tal'gore

Darren experienced an odd sensation. He had only known Tal'gore for a day. For some reason seeing the elf as a friend felt right. It left a mark on Darren. It occurred to him that before coming to Gallanor it had been a long time since he had called anyone friend. Indeed his life before coming to Gallanor was a lonely one. A hallow shell of a man with no purpose or reason for anything. Simply seeking knowledge because it was something to do. His home life revolved around a daily routine of exercise and online gaming. He was famous for the wonders he introduced to the world.It amounted to nothing. The feeling emptiness that followed him so closely had been absent from the moment he arrived in this world. Lycan and Tal'gore. Two people he had known for less than a week. Were his only friends. And indeed his only family in Lycan's case.

"Your effort shall not be wasted my friend." (Darren)

He picked up the pen and admired it then with all the might he could muster he flung the pen at the skeleton's skull. As the pen raced towards Gernam Darren made a mental note to teach Tal'gore how to make plastic. With a thud the pen bounced off the lich.

The lich jumped up and took a defensive stance.

Noticing Darren and then the pen on the ground he put two and two together.

"You're lucky I can't feel pain." (Gernam)

"Oh yea so I believe I can perceive my own mana now." (Darren)

The lich's jaw fell open.

"Well if you can cast a spell for me." (Gernam)

Darren Reached forward and channeled all his energy in an effort to pull Gernam down. And nothing.

"Feel anything?" (Darren)

"A slight weight on my shoulders but not much. If your theory was correct you'd have brought me to my knees." (Gernam)

"Do I need to say something?" (Darren)

"Only for glyphs and unattributed spells." (Gernam)

"Then I guess my gravity theory was wrong." (Darren)

He started to guess what else it could be. A

"You said you learned soul magic. Does that mean it's unattributed?" (Darren)

"No soul magic is an attribute onto itself. I think I know what question that's going to lead into. Anyone can learn spells from any school. It's just that being attuned to a particular attribute greatly increases the rate at which you learn and develop your magical abilities in that attribute. It also removes the inherent limiter." (Gernam)

"Limiter?" (Darren)

"For example someone not attuned to water magic can never learn above Intermediate grade water spells." (Gernam)

Darren nodded. What could his magic actually be. It couldn't be weight. Weight was just a measurement of the force gravity has on something. Maybe instead of a force of nature it was something that exerted gravity.

"I think I may have been going around this the wrong way. Before I try what I'm about to. How do I destroy something I materialize say fire?" (Darren)

"Stop channeling mana. Remember that enormous fireball Tal'gore cast against those assassins. If he would have stopped his mana flow to that object it would have dispersed. However remember it takes a conscious effort to stop channeling. After You've cast a spell you naturally keep channeling into it." (Gernam)

"I see, well here goes nothing." (Darren)

Darren raised his hand. As he started to channel his mana into a physical form focusing on Gernam. A small black ball the size of a marble appeared on mid air in front of Gernam. The lich's body jolted forward at an ungodly speed toward the ball. After reaching it his body started to slowly crack as it bent to enclose the ball. Sensing this could be bad Darren conciously made an effort to stop channeling and Gernam fell to the floor.

Pulling himself off the floor the lich gave Darren an awed stair.

"What was that?" (Gernam)

"That was dark matter." (Darren)

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Call this my apology chapter for the late second half.