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The Magic in the Eyes
The next few days in the palace are quiet. The children occupy their time playing outside and getting into trouble with Coco while Bao stays in bed most of the time. His wounds have mostly healed by now, but his pride also took a beating. Maria has visited him every day since his spat with her older sister. She was shocked at first but after hearing about what happened she accepts that something like this was eventually going to happen.
Keyon checks in on Bao more than the princess does. He is personally tasked with making sure he recovers and is given a basic rundown on magic in Tab society. He, Bao, and Maria already plan to do that, but now that it is an order from Claudia, Keyon approaches the task with much more fervor.
It was Keyon’s insistence that finally convinced Bao to leave the palace and see the city for the first time since arriving.
“The kids are dying to leave the palace walls.”
“The palace isn’t why you came to Tab.”
“You can’t stay here forever,” everyday Keyon had a new reason to kick Bao out of the palace.
Bao is still in pain from burns that hadn’t healed yet, but he is well enough to get out of bed and travel around the city. His conscience won’t let him keep the kids waiting any longer. He tells Keyon and the servants that he is ready to leave the palace, and they go right to work. The destinations are already determined but now they need to let people know to expect guests from the palace.
Early the next morning Bao, Keyon, and the children load into a carriage and leave the walls of the palace. The sun is rising into the sky and the city is waking up from its sleep. Even in the morning, the city is busy with people rushing to get things ready for the rest of the day. This is Bao’s first time being able to see the city properly.
Much like outside the city walls, the land is largely flat with some rolling hills but little overall elevation. The city sits on a river delta in front of the ocean. Apparently, the main river flows from the mountains and splits into three parts before splintering off and pouring into the ocean. There is a break in the city walls where one of the rivers is used for the docks. Ships travel up and down all day. The city straddles the three rivers, and a large portion of the agriculture grows among the more complex delta farther down the river.
Despite being so far from the mountains, and being on a river, the city has many stone structures. Bao has never seen so many structures like this before. He has seen some, but this entire city seems to be more stone than anything else. Keyon explains that the city has seen a boom in construction since the Strix Empire discovered something called concrete many years ago. He says the Strix were the ones to invent it, but it’s Tab who has the resources to really exploit its uses. Ever since then, the city has been undergoing a comprehensive rebuilding. Many of the buildings are still stone bricks hauled from the mountain, but the more impressive structures are all concrete and marble.
Their first destination is one of these grand structures. Tab’s own school of magic. Since most people don’t have an affinity for magic, it’s important for those that do to have a place where they can explore practical magic in a safe and structured environment. This is also where people can go to get their affinity tested. This is why Keyon has chosen the school of magic.
They arrive at the school, and it appears that classes and lectures have already begun. The school is on a single floor with large open rooms surrounding a centrally enclosed building. These rooms don’t have conventional walls but are held up by large marble pillars that allow the air to pass through easily. They give a sense that the students are still outside even as they study. The area beyond these rooms is large, with open grass surrounding the property. This is for more practical application.
Keyon leads Bao and the children past the grass, through the lecture rooms, and into the closed off building on the center of the compound. As they walk in, an older man approaches them.
“Keyon! So good of you to visit!” the man throws his hands in the air to great his guest. His long cape sleeves fly into the air as he does.
“Hello Fos, I see you got my message,” Keyon greets the man. This is the one who is supposed to teach Bao about the basics of magic. Even with his elegant robes and energetic demeanor, it’s clear this man is very old.
“Yes, I must admit when I got your message, I had hoped you would be coming to study here yourself. Disappointed as I am, I won’t deny a request from one of my star pupils. Especially not when it’s backed by both Princess Claudia and Princess Maria,” he turns to Bao, “You must be quite the exceptional case young man.”
Fos walks to greet Bao and the children, and they are able to get a better look at the mage. The old man is a Corsac. Similar to a Redmane in that their bodies are covered in fur, but they tend to have more pale colored fur compared to the Redmanes’ warm reds and oranges. Corsacs also are much smaller than Redmanes and more closely match Sosuns in that regard. The fur on Fos’ face is pale and silver. His ears rest on top of his head and twitch in excitement.
“It’s good to meet you Fos,” Bao extends a hand to greet the man, “I’m looking forward to what you have to teach me. To tell you the truth, I’ve already had my share of troubles with magic. Even the basics should be able to help me avoid trouble in the future.”
Fos is delighted by the boy’s eagerness, “Well let's get to it then! Though I suspect the basics are all you’ll have time for while you’re here. Keyon tells me you only plan to be in the city for a few weeks at most.”
He guides the group further into the building through more corridors while continuing to speak.
“I’ll start with the basic question of ‘What is magic’. Simply put, magic is an outpouring of the god’s power onto the world. The world is filled with natural phenomena and the gods are the personification of those forces. They in turn amplify those affects and allow humans to bring them renown.”
That was easy enough to follow so Bao starts asking his own questions, “I heard that if a person can use magic, they’re only able to use a single type?”
“That’s correct. We call that their affinity. I don’t know why only a few people can use magic, or what determines their affinity. But if the point is for humans to bring renown to a god, it’d be counterproductive for a god to let a human use two phenomena and have to affinities.”
“Maybe this is prying, but I heard Keyon can use the magic of all the gods.”
Keyon doesn’t like that question, “That is prying.”
Fos disregards Keyon’s rebuttal, “Maybe so, but it’s a topic that should be covered regardless. Yes, Keyon is an extraordinary case. He can use magic of every affinity. Usually, if you have an affinity, you can use magic without honoring the god your magic comes from. If you do happen to venerate the same god however, you can invoke their name while casting to increase its potency. Keyon, as you know, doesn’t honor any gods but if he calls their name, he has access to their magic. Without their names, he has no affinity. His case is a mystery and I wish he would devote more time to his magical studies. I believe he has the potential to be a wielder of true magic.”
“What’s true magic?”
“Remember that all magic comes from the gods and the gods exist in response to the natural world? Well, there is a theory that one might be able to derive magic from the natural world itself. If someone could circumvent the gods like that, they wouldn’t be bound to a single affinity. They could control the natural processes of the world and shape things to their will. It’s an extraordinary theory.”
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“But it’s still just a theory,” Keyon can’t let Fos continue rambling on like this, “Besides, I thought you were going to stick to the basics? Isn’t Magical Theory a class for the advanced students?”
“Ah yes, you’re right. I just get so excited when talking about it. You’re the closest example we’ve ever seen to true magic, and it feels like such a waste for you to focus only on your fighting skills,” Fos finally stops himself. He knows this is a bad subject for the young man, “Well, I suppose that’s neither here nor there is it?”
They reach a door and Fos slowly opens it and enters the room inside. It’s a library with a large table and chair in the center. Fos walks to the table in the center of the room. A young man is sitting in the corner at another table reading one of the many books lining the walls.
“This is the primary study for the advanced students,” he sits down in the main chair, “It’s also my study room, and where I’ll be testing your magical affinities today,” from the table, Fos opens a drawer and pulls out a small chest, “Jun would you help me for a moment.”
“Certainly, Master Fos,” the young man in the corner gets up and joins the others by the desk. He’s wearing the same style robes as Fos, but also has ornate studded bracelets on both hands.
From inside the chest Fos hands Jun two simple necklaces. Nothing more than a leather strap with a single clear jewel dangling from the center. Jun places them around Katz, and Letz’s necks, and Fos does the same to Bao and Kikka.
Jun explains the process to everyone, “We’ll let these rest on your person for about an hour. After that, we’ll examine them and see what type of magic they’ve drawn out of you.”
“Just like that?” that seems a little too easy to Bao.
“Of course,” the boy speaks confidently, “These stones have an amazing property that allows them to absorb magic from their surroundings. They don’t hold much but they’re good for storing simple magic effects that can easily be used later. It’s a specialty of my family.”
Bao takes a closer look at the stones. He recognizes them, but he can’t tell where he has seen them. Jun rolls back his sleeves and shows off his bracelets, they’re lined with the same stones hanging from their necks now.
“My affinity is life magic,” he proudly declares, “Each one of these stones is charged healing magic that I can expend at a moment's notice. I’ve even saved lives on the battlefield before thanks to these stones. When the magic is exhausted, I just recharge them when I have time and energy.”
That really sounds like an amazing tool to have. Bao is starting to think about other applications of magic besides just for killing people. He notices that Kikka is quieter than usual. She’s standing behind him and holding tight to his leg.
“Kikka what’s wrong? Is the library a little scary?” He realizes that he doesn’t have much experience calming Kikka down. It’s usually Katz who steps up for that.
As Bao tries to talk to Kikka, he notices she is on the verge of silent tears. She isn’t crying loudly like she does when she gets emotional. She just looks sad. She’s avoiding Jun completely and won’t even make eye contact with Bao for very long before turning away again. After looking into her eyes, Bao realizes why she is so sad.
He has seen these stones before. In fact, he has looked at these stones every day since meeting Kikka. These rocks that are hanging from their necks right now are Zultanite eyes. Same for the jewels studded onto Jun’s bracelets.
Jun leans in towards Kikka and extends his arms to her, “What’s wrong little girl? Don’t you like the stones?” he is sincere but insists on calling them ‘stones’.
With a small sniffle she responds, “They are pretty,” her voice gives away just how conflicted she is about this.
Bao is horrified by this revelation. He picks up Kikka and holds her tightly to himself.
“Where are all the Zultanites?” he demands, “Kikka is the only one I’ve ever seen. There isn’t a single one in this entire city is there? Even in the caravan. They had homes picked out for Katz and Letz, but for Kikka, she was going to stay with them. Why couldn’t they find a place for her too?”
Kikka buries her face in Bao’s shoulder while the others look at each other wondering what to say.
“You’re right,” Katz is the one who speaks up. He’s always the one to give the hard truths, “You won’t find a single Zultanite in any of the major cities. It’s not safe. You’ve just heard for yourself, Zultanite eyes have amazing magical properties. They fetch a high price for anyone willing to get their hands dirty. For anyone willing to look the other way, they’re a useful tool,
“I have no idea how many Zultanites are even alive today. A single set of eyes can last indefinitely, but there’s no shortage of hoarders and collectors always looking to one up their rivals. As for Kikka, I have no idea where her home was. By the time I was sold to the same slavers, she’d been there a long time.”
Letz chimes in, “Same with me, I met Kikka before Katz did, but even then, Kikka had been with Arnit for a few years already. It was just the two of them.”
Kikka quietly adds to the conversation, “Anna was there to.”
“Anna?”
“She was a Sosun slave. She was sold off before Katz met her, but she was friends with Arnit and Kikka. She was excentric though. I don’t know what was wrong with her.”
Jun interrupts their conversation, “I think this is a bit one-sided. My family has built their fortune on the Zultanite trade. I can attest that we only deal with honest merchants and make sure that the stones we purchase are not gotten through nefarious means. Let me show you something.”
Jun pulls back a sleeve and holds hand out towards Bao, “I can tell you’re in pain right now. I don't even need to know where or what kind,” he closes his eyes and concentrates. One of the eyes in his bracelet begins to glow and Bao can feel his burns reacting to the magic. In only a few seconds, the pain in his wounds disappears. Bao can’t look at them right now, but it feels like they’ve completely disappeared.
“This is a bit in poor taste Jun, the poor girl is already having a hard time,” Keyon taps Jun on the shoulder. The two have spent a lot of time together. Even if Keyon doesn't spend a lot of time at the school anymore, he still doesn’t want to see Bao blow up and hit this poor guy, “You don’t need to plead your case.”
“All I’m saying is that my family has done a lot of good for a lot of people by using Zultanite stones. I agree, it sounds a little distasteful at first but when you look at the results, you can’t argue.”
This is another situation where Bao has found something he cannot accept in this society. He remembers his confrontation with Claudia and remembers that he is in Tab. As much as he would love to keep talking about this and try to sway Jun’s opinion, he knows he can’t change his mind.
Bao has the answers to his questions about magic and now he knows more about the little girl traveling with him. When they leave this city, Katz and Letz might be able to find homes, but Kikka may be staying with him a lot longer.
The Zultanite eyes need to rest around each of their necks for one hour. There is still lots of time remaining. Everyone decides to spend their time differently. Kikka eventually takes a nap on one of the couches. Bao continues talking with Master Fos, and Keyon catches up with his old friend Jun. Katz and Letz spend the hour browsing any books that catch their interest. Katz can’t read but he enjoys looking at the illustrations while Letz tries to decipher the meaning of the advanced textbooks.
When the hour passes, Fos calls everyone back to the desk. One by one, they are allowed to remove the necklaces as Fos, Keyon, and Jun examine them. They start with the youngest.
“Tell us what you think Keyon, you are the least experienced here, so I want to give you a chance practice,” Fos refuses to give up on Keyon becoming some kind of grand mage.
Keyone holds up the necklace and peers into the stone eyes, “I don’t sense any magic from the Kikka’s necklace. If it was my call, I’d say she has no magic affinity.”
After passing the eyes to Jun and then to Fos, they all agree with Keyon’s assesment.
“Thank goodnes! That means I don’t have to spend all my time studying in this library. Can I go play now,” clearly, an hour in a library is too much to ask of a young child.
Next is Letz. Keyon only looks at the stone briefly before panic covers his face.
“I’ve seen this magic before, but I don’t know what it is,” he quickly passes it off to Jun.
Jun confirms there is magic in the necklace but also can’t place it. Fos reassures them that magic is like another scent. If you’ve never dealt with it before it’s very hard to identify. Fos is delighted to when he holds Letz’s stone eye.
“Well, well, this is a surprise. Letz my boy, you have an affinity for mind magic. This is considered ancient magic and a very rare affinity. It comes from the Eve, the god of dreams, learning, secrets, thought, and the subconscious mind. It has many practical applications.”
Now that Keyon has a name to go with the magic, he can tell Princess Maria he has a lead on Prince Raul.
After Letz is Katz. His examination is fast. Just like Kikka, there is no magic found in the Zultanite eye around his neck. He doesn't mind. Less stuff to worry about anyway.
“And now for the moment of truth!” Fos clasps his hands together in excitement, “I’ve been told there are hints that you have affinity for death magic. If that’s true, you’re even more rare than Letz’s mind magic.”
When Keyon lifts the stone eye from his neck Bao remembers when he first heard about death magic. It was when he encountered the assassin leader. He treated him as an equal because they both apparently had death affinity. Part of him wishes that isn’t the case. He doesn’t want to be associated with people like that. Another part thinks it would be nice to finally get some answers that make sense. He looks to Keyon for the answers he’s been waiting for.
“This doesn’t make any sense...” Keyon says in disbelief.
“You’re right, everything points to the obvious so what's happening,” Jun passes it to Foz.
What? Is it not death magic? What is it then? Light, life, fire, mind? As long as it helps to makes sense of his situation, Bao will take anything.
“Well, this is a little anticlimactic,” Fos says with a sigh as he sinks into his chair, “Bao I’m sorry you came all the way out here. Unfortunately, and I don’t know why, but you don’t have any magical affinity.”
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