A/N and that's 4/4, last chapter of this starting 'arc'. Sadly the characters here aren't likely to be revisited, orginally practically everyone was meant to die. Even the kids, ESPECIALLY the kids. But just as the best laid plans rarely survive their execution such is true with my writing... So instead I have a village of loose ends. Whatever chapter start!

I awake drenched in sweat on Zan's bed. The first thing I think to do is grab the sleeping lizard beside me. Still asleep my light touch evokes no reaction from him so I leave him be.

Dawn's light fills the room and while I might have nowhere to go it occurs to me I don't feel like spending another day lying around. After waking up Zan and getting dressed I walk to the kitchen for breakfast.

Zan makes some strange hissing sound as he walks beside my feet.

“Hey, I'm not that old boy.” The familiar sound of the dragon priest comes from the dining table. For some reason shirtless I can see a thin line of spikes along his spine as well as his previously hidden tail which sways rather rhythmically.

“He's speaking some dragon language?” I ask the priest, who responds.

“Kind of, the intent matters more than sound. But right now it's beside the point.” He gestures to Janet who happens to be beside the sink, preparing plates. “We have some things to say.”

My teacher stops her work and prepares to sit down but stops mid stride to look at me. “Raul is that?” She says sounding surprised.

“It is, Zan told me too. It's conclusive.” The priest sounds rather apprehensive, as if he's holding back. “So Kadimae, you met Maru I presume?”

Wait what? He already knows? Before I even tell anyone, hell in didn't even tell Zan yet.

“How did you know?”

“You're surrounded by death attribute mana, very thick. I presume he awakened your magic.” I can use magic? Suddenly above the priest's hands a flicker of blue mist begin to congeal as if from the air. “You can see it I assume?” The priest says.

I'm sure the look on my face is enough of an answer but to be sure, I say. “Yes I can see it.” The mist forms a perfect sphere and floats above his hand.

“This naturally surrounds me, too thin to be seen. It's not related to birth attributes at all though. It seems he gave you his blessing. Granting you an aura of death.”

Aura of death? That sounds rather malicious, am I going to become the bad guy? Like from those stories Miss Wen used to tell…

“This blessing…” Raul sounds unsure when he calls it a blessing, “It's not common, at all. Even for more popular gods you might only find a handful blessed by them unless they are devout. But for the death god? Kadimae I assure you it's almost unheard of.”

“Well no matter, I told Seteri and he already seeks a solution. We can only wait.” He gestures once again at Janet, “Your turn dear.”

Janet blushes most uncharacteristically and takes her spot at the head of the table.

“We've come to terms with how we will deal with the knowledge of your heritage. First each of us shall swear an oath to the gods not go reveal it, on pain of death. Except yourself Kadimae, it's up to you to release us from it if necessary.” That's a little extreme. Although I think that I also understand that she feels it required, if only for my well-being.

“Secondly, we've agreed to have you send to the Eldwyre academy. Although we are very short on time for the start of term we should be able to make it with Raul's help.” She looks at him for a moment and he nods in acknowledgement.

“Finally, Kadimae.” Her voice waivers as she says this, “There was an attack intended for Raul at the Sheriff's estate. In fact it happened over a week ago. Raul considers this village no longer safe and will not return. I too am adamant that… since Raul will no longer be able to watch over you.”

“You should never return here.”

*     *     *

A few hours has passed since breakfast, giving me time to collect my feelings. While I agree with their conclusions I don't feel at peace with them.

Zan has cried too, although he's sure of his choice it also means leaving his mother behind. Janet is the Keeper of the territory the village resides in, bound by contract with the crown to manage magical duties for the sheriff. Until that time is up she can never leave.

The blue lizard has taken to hiding in crevices and under beds all the while moaning quietly. Our departure date has already been planned for tomorrow, leaving time only for Janet to procure travel provisions and little more.

With little else to do I try my hand at using my newly awakened mana.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Under my skin I feel a dull pulse, starting at my chest and extending to my extremities. Slowly like an overflowing jug the mana then spills out from my fingertips and feet. Some sticks to my body but most is lost to the air.

Losing myself in the feeling I try to touch every speck of mana and slowly pull it towards me. I close my eyes and breath to the same beat as the pulse.

I lose all sense of time, only breathing and trying to recognise the pulse. After an indeterminate time I open my eyes, to see the mist of mana surrounding me as if I were enclosed in a glass marble. Rippling inwards to the rhythm of the pulse.

The first step… finally.

Then I realize that my lap has a weight on it, Zan had decided to use me as a pillow to sleep on. I continue to maintain the sphere while it slowly fades from sight it's presence is unchanged entirely. Allowing me to see that noon has long since passed.

“Hey Zan, have I missed dinner?” I prod the blue dragon and he shakes his head in response, before eagerly jumping out of my lap and trying to go through the door.

Except he can't open it…

I suddenly realize my error, how exactly is a infant dragon going to open a door? I've had Zan trapped in here with me while I've been practicing. Zan clears the doorway and I open it slightly so he can leave, he takes the chance and scurries off.

There's actually one more thing I want to check however. If I recall my studies correctly, the edge of my sphere is the so called ‘boundary line’. The area in which I have magical control… so can I cast magic now?

I remember that one of the requirements to cast magic is to have formed my boundary. However I cannot help but feel I am missing an important element.

Zan keeps a copy of a certain book in his room, the same one Janet used to teach me magical theory. ‘On elementary magic - Volume One.’ I put it on the bed and flick through it.

Magic requires some background knowledge before you even start simple spells. I find the appropriate chapter and turn to that page after a few seconds searching.

‘Mystery’ The world has a different meaning for magic and it's the thing I'm missing. A mystery is an underlying rule that governs magic, it's scope and size are indeterminate. The book gives the example of the propagation of heat. That which is warm naturally loses heat to its surroundings and cools down.

You must then find an avenue to express the desired mystery to actually cast magic using it…

This is going to be a long night.

Before embarking on further study I decide to spend some time with everyone else… mostly because after sitting still for so long my ass is starting to ache.

The kitchen is oddly empty, I listen out for sounds from the hall but it seems no one is inside. Then I see it, through the kitchen window.

In the garden is a large dragon, it's scales somewhere between brown and copper-coloured in hue. Janet is standing right beside it's head talking although it can't hear her speak. It's probably the priest, although I've never seen him transform before.

His size is the most jarring thing, larger than the house at least and that's when he's trying to make his back accessible to the now small looking Janet. On top of the priests head I can see a little blue patch, which I reason must be Zan.

I walk outside through the back door to join them.

“Oh, Kadimae good timing can you hold this?” In Janet's hand is a strap attached loosely around Raul's neck. I step forward and grab it while Janet circles around and ties the other end. “Ok it fits. We're done Raul. Change back, no need to untie it all.”

Like a mirage the form of the large dragon disappears into nothing and in its place leaves the now humanoid nute Raul. Crouched on the ground it occurs to me that Raul is naked, meaning clothes don't survive the transformation. Luckily that fact is soon remedied by Janet who throws the man his clothes back.

Left strewn around are countless bag and straps as well as a couple strange saddles. “Help us with these Kad.” She points me to a set of bags near the back, all empty but still rather heavy. “Dare say these look rather old Raul, think they are safe?” Janet asks the nute with worry evident in her tone.

“It’ll be fine Jane, it’s not like I'll be fighting or flying fast at all.” Raul on the other hand sounds completely unphased by her worries. Well only one of them has to fly with those things on, guess I should trust the expert. I disconnect the bags from their harnesses and then disconnect the now thoroughly tangled straps from each other before handing each to Raul or Janet.

The evening after is uneventful and I soon sleep with thoughts of tomorrow on my mind.

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See you in the next arc, "A new world."