The next few weeks went by in a blur for Chance. During the day he went about his normal routine of working in the forge with his father, practicing swordsmanship with Captain Herrera, and running errands. While Chance was at the house or in the forge Alyssia was either on his shoulder or sitting nearby watching. When he was out and about though, they did as his parents had asked and she stayed at home. Then in the evening Chance and his father descended down to the protected room and began going over the basics of Ard. His father began teaching him the runes and the basic incantations that he knew. He covered how to read incantations from a page. He also taught him the basic exercises to control the amount and flow of his Ard.

Alyssia initially would sit with him in the room to watch but she soon began to test the range of their bond and began to wander the underground world. She soon found that there was a ready supply of cave rats to be found in the tunnels past the forge area. She would kill the rats but from what her memories told her she was still a few weeks out from getting her fire. So she would bring them back for Chance or Harold to cook for her in the forge fire. There always seemed to be one or two cooking at any given time. It seemed as if she was never full.

His father was amazed at how quickly Chance was learning. He stated many times that both he and Horace had taken much longer to pick up on the concepts and nuances of even sensing Ard.

“Dad, I was wondering something. There were the written words that were on the bottom of the note that allowed me to use Ard to summon the dagger. Now I am learning about runes and incantations. How does all of this fit together when I am using Ard?” Chance asked one evening.

“Well, let’s see if we can shed some light on the subject. The written words at the bottom would be an incantation. They provide a set function based on the words used. The Ard used can be flexible. Some incantations take a set amount and some you can vary. Say for example I said lux in locus and summoned a small amount of Ard, then you would see a weak light. If I was to say the same thing and summon considerably more Ard into it then the room would be markedly brighter. The words provide definition to the Ard being summoned.”

“Well what about the runes then?” Chance asked.

“Runes are used to make an action more permanent, provide enhancement to an incantation, or even to direct raw Ard. So say I was to picture a ball of light and then picture the sealing rune along with it. If I pushed Ard into the rune and then from there into the ball and then released it. The rune would seal the Ard within the ball. The ball would then stay lit until the light itself consumed the Ard or the seal was broken by an external source.”

Another question popped into Chance’s mind, “Do you have to use runes or incantations?”

“Well, I have to use them. I have the ability of casting Ard but I can’t summon it.” He answered.

“Well, how did you use the incantations to determine the metal types then?” Chance asked as the prior explanation only brought up more questions in his mind.

Laughing,” Well you seem to have discovered another family secret on your own or at least part of it. You see the second circle was created prior to Ard being split. The family journals state that my many times great grandfather received a package one day. The package contained two pieces of parchment and on one was a single rune, the style of the rune was not Dwarven, Elven, or Human. The second was a note stating that an enhancement circle needed be created with this rune as the focus and it needed to be kept secret and safe. The message warned that a change was coming and that this circle would be needed in the future and that it was not to be shared. The price for this rune was our loyalty to the throne of Chaviria and support if ever it was needed. Considering we were already loyal and would do anything we could to help the kingdom it was easily agreed upon. So my ancestor made this space here with the help of the Dwarves and then made this smaller circle, indicating the one he had sat in when determining the metals. After he had constructed it, he tested it but could not determine if it did anything. So he went on with his life. Then about a month or so later he records the despair he felt when Ard was split and the change it would make in his life and the well-being of his family. For he could summon but no longer could he cast Ard, it was then that he remembered the strange circle. Stepping in and focusing on the rune he summoned Ard and it was if the lights were turned back on. The rune bypassed the split, but the amount of Ard he could control was severely limited. It was later discovered that the rune was passive and that it functioned like the other half that was missing from the individual in the circle. So if a Caster stepped in they could summon Ard or if a Summoner stepped in they could cast. The rune though had been designed though to purposefully restrict the amount of Ard that could be channeled by the person in the circle.”

“Amazing. So which rune is it?” Chance asked walking over to the circle. As soon as he looked on the circle though he could tell which one it was.

Chance! I recognize that rune. It is draconic in origin. It is in a memory from my Dam. The High Mage sent these runes out to several families that were loyal to the throne and that he felt needed to have them. At least that is what I can tell from the conversation that I am remembering. What it does seems to have been suppressed from the memory though. I can find no other memory referencing it.

Thank you Alyssia. I think this is something we should keep to ourselves for now. What do you think?

I agree.

“It is that one isn’t it?” Chance asked pointing to the rune.

“Yes. That is the one.” His dad confirmed.

“Well enough of a history lesson. Let’s call it a night.” His dad said as he began packing up the books.

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A few days later as Alyssia came in with her second rat of the evening, Chance and Harold were discussing Chance’s progress so far and how quickly he had grasped the subjects. I am not sure chance but I think some of the reason behind your amazing progress is that your Ard is more easily accessible because of our bond. I know that you should have some knowledge of runes and incantations as well since even though you cannot access the memories of my ancestors you are able to benefit from my knowledge of what they knew. If you were to think focus and think you might even be able to find that you already know the incantation for a simple one like summoning a sphere of light. Like this…

Chance could feel a flow of Ard from Alyssia and slowly a faintly glowing ball of light appeared near the ceiling.

Harold let out a startled yelp and dropped the book he had been reading. “Chance! What did you do?” he exclaimed.

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“It was not me, Dad. It was Alyssia. She was telling me that I can share in her knowledge of Ard that she has from her ancestors. That I know what she knows but not the memory behind how she knows it." Chance explained.

Shaking his head and picking up the book, his father muttered, “Amazing. Simply amazing.”

Looking at Alyssia and then at his father. “Dad I want to try an incantation. Alyssia says the one she just cast is a simple one. She says if I focus I will find that I know it and how to cast it. She says it is safe and the risk is minimal.”

“Even so, son, I want you in the protection circle to cast it. It is better to be safe than sorry.”

“Yes sir.” Chance said as he sat down in the circle. Chance could feel the amount of Ard that he could sense decrease significantly. “Wow, this really does mute the sense of the flow doesn’t it Dad?”

Harold nodded and watched, he was nervous and was trying to hide the fact. Chance was picking up on things so fast. It had been almost six months before he could sense the decrease in the flow that occurred and then it was only a vague sense. He could tell by Chance’s reaction that the decrease was not slight for him.

Alright Chance, now focus. Think of a ball of light similar to what is floating near the ceiling currently. Think of creating another and about needing the incantation. Alyssia coached him.

Ok Little One. Chance took several deep cleansing breaths and slowly let them out. He focused his thoughts on the sphere and wanting to make a duplicate. He really wanted to do it right the first time. Suddenly Chance could see runes flashing in his mind. He somehow knew that they each would give him light but none were exactly the one he wanted. Then suddenly one seemed to stand out from the rest. He was certain that was the one. I see a rune. Is this it? He asked as he sent the mental image to Alyssia.

Yes, it is. She replied. Now picture the rune floating in the air near the ceiling. Then picture a ball of light similar to mine and focus on pushing your Ard through the rune and into the ball. Then leaving the Ard there stop the flow once you have it glowing like mine. The rune will then act as a lock to keep the Ard in the sphere.

Ok… here goes. Chance focused on the rune and pictured it floating in the air and then tried to push his Ard into it, but it did not seem to want to go. So he kept pushing harder. The Ard refused to budge though so Chance began to push as hard as he could.

CHANCE! Alyssia screamed.

He heard his father yell “Fluxus Subsisto!”

Suddenly Chance could no longer feel the Ard he was pushing but then he could feel it rush back through him. His eyes popped open and he looked around quickly. The runes of the circle were glowing brightly as were the runes in the wall. His father was pale and he felt fear and worry through the bond with Alyssia.

“What? What happened Dad? I couldn’t feel the Ard and then it rushed back through me.” Chance asked. He suddenly felt lightheaded and weak. The room suddenly began to grow darker and started to spin for Chance. The last thing he remembered was the impact against the floor right before he passed out.

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The darkness faded from Chance’s mind as he gradually returned to consciousness. The room seemed to be spinning and his head felt like someone had been using it an anvil. Along with that, his entire body felt raw and abused. His eyes finally focused on the beams of the ceiling and he realized that he was in his room lying on his bed.

“What happened?” he struggled to say. His voice sounded like gravel and his throat was incredibly dry.

Chance! Alyssia shouted excitedly in his mind. Oh thank the gods you are finally awake! Don’t move! Let me get mom and dad.

He flinched at the volume of the mental communication. Not so loud Little One. You are killing me. Chance communicated softly.

I am sorry but it has been several days and we were really worried. Alyssia responded much more quietly.

He could feel her jump from the bed and heard her claws on the wood floor as she ran from the room. Soon he heard the hurried footsteps of his mother coming toward his room.

He turned his head slightly towards the door and felt like he was going to be ill as a wave of nausea swept through him.

His mother hurried into the room. He could see that she had recently been crying from the redness of her eyes. “Oh Chance! You’re awake!” She knelt gently by his bed and caressed his cheek. “How do you feel?” she asked.

“I hurt all over and my head is pounding. What happened mom? Alyssia said I was out for days.”

“Well it seems you had an accident while you were practicing your Ard downstairs. You rest here and I will go and get you some water and broth.” Getting up she gently patted his shoulder and left the room.

Alyssia crawled up on the bed. Chance… Are you ok? She whimpered and asked quietly. I have been so worried. Now that you are awake I can feel your how much pain you are truly in and I am not sure how you are handling it. While you were out I learned to dampen what I feel through our bond at least or I am not sure if I would be able to stand or talk right now.

What happened Alyssia? Chance asked. I remember trying to push my Ard into the incantation for the light and it was really difficult so I just kept trying to push harder thinking I was doing something wrong.

Do you remember where you were trying to place the light? Alyssia responded.

It was next to the one you created. Why?

Mine was in the middle of the ceiling but more importantly where was it in relation to the circle you were in? She prompted.

It was outside the circle. Why does that matter?

Chance, the circle is a barrier to keep Ard inside. It keeps incantations cast inside the circle from spreading or causing problems outside the circle. You were attempting to cast a spell outside the circle and you almost succeeded. You were wielding an incredible amount of Ard and almost overloaded the casting circle enchantment. You probably would have if there was not the second circle that also is tied to the smaller circle. The amount of Ard you were channeling is what has caused your body to hurt. The headache though was caused by your father activating a secondary incantation of the circle that blocks all Ard flow into the circle. That caused a backlash as the Ard already in the circle could not go anywhere immediately and it rebounded into you before being absorbed by the secondary incantation. I did not notice how much Ard you were wielding as the circle was blocking the flow of Ard from me to you so I figured you were safe. I am sorry Chance. I should have been paying closer attention. The little dragon gently laid her head down on his shoulder and shuddered. My mistake could have killed you.

Little One… Little One… It is ok. Chance comforted. I survived. I should have realized the resistance was not normal and stopped. I should have clarified what I needed to do. There are a lot of things we should have done differently. I don’t blame you. We will learn from this and move on. Ok? Reaching across his chest he gently stroked the little dragon. I love you and I know that you did not mean for it to happen.

Ok. Alyssia sighed. You scared me though. I could not feel you at all until about a day ago and then it was only a fuzzy feeling that you were there.

“Here son. Drink this.” His mom spoke softly as she came into his room with a steaming mug. “It should help with the headache and the pain in your body.”

Setting the mug down on the nightstand she eased him up in bed and propped him up with his pillow. Handing him the cup, she said “It is best to drink it down quickly in one big swallow. It is not very pleasant to taste but it works quickly and does an amazing job.”

Chance sniffed at the cup and felt his stomach lurch at the foul odor emanating from it. “What is it?” he asked as he moved the cup away from him.

“It is some Silverroot and some Maiden’s Folly. Along with some extract of Fallow Lily and a pinch of Willow Bark, to name a few of the ingredients. It is a Smithe family recipe for when you over exert yourself wielding Ard. So pinch your nose and gulp it down before it cools down too much and tastes even worse.”

Nodding his head slowly, “Yes ma’am”. He pinched his nose and chugged down the liquid. “Gaaaah!!! That is the vile!” He exclaimed and shuddered.

Laying back on the bed, he wondered how long before the mixture would begin to help him feel better. As he lay there he could feel a warmth begin in his stomach and slowly spread outward. The warmth seemed to clear away the pain from his body as it went. As the warmth moved up to his head the pain there began to lessen as well. “Amazing Mom, I am already feeling bet…” he started to say but the room started to fade midsentence and he faded in sleep.