Chapter 18 — Like Little Fawn

I led the way to the door in the basement and unlocked it for both of us, Fren having locked it to keep the police out while we enacted our cover story and ensure no one poked around too much.

The basement was dark, I hadn’t thought about the skylights not being enough this time of day. I had a few ways to create light with magic, but my head was still in no shape to do it right now.

“I didn’t think ahead,” I said. “I’ll be right back with light.” I ran upstairs and grabbed two pillows from my bed, wishing I had a fresh pillowcase for Lana, but I’d washed them a few days ago at the local laundry and it would have to do. I blew out the candles in my room, then the ones downstairs, grabbing three I could fit in one hand while holding the pillows in the other.

Downstairs I met Lana again who took some of the load. Together we entered the basement in truth, our lights hardly enough to light the large area.

Shelves full of rocks and crystals stood to one side casting shadows on the wall behind. The basement seemed a little ominous, even to me, and for Lana who knew something as large as Fren was hidden somewhere in the dark, it had to be even more so. I looked at the boxes of gemstones; I’d need to get as many of those out into the store tomorrow as I could. The shelving units were metal with heavy wooden shelves breaking them up. They were much more industrial than those in the shop above, but they also held a lot more weight. I had a desk nearby. An old heavy oak construction from a thrift store. Fren had made a few adjustments for me but generally, it was what you would expect. Beyond the mundane —was something far more impressive. Fren’s garden gleamed along the far wall. I’d grown used to it but saw it with new eyes as Lana did. The soft candlelight slowly showed how spectacular his home was.

The grass looked springy, inviting, and luxurious. Flowers bloomed in perfect accompaniment, their radiant colors seeming to flash when they caught the light. Twisted branches and roots made bowls that held water or protected recesses for other growth. Spiraled patterns of branches and roots scaled the walls and disappeared through cracks and hidden niches of the building and internal walls. It almost looked like there was a pattern to it, a language only Fren and the plant life understood.

“Wow,” Lana said, joy and awe evident in her voice and by her opened mouth expression. It was like she’d seen a hidden wonder of the world, or a super nerd found themselves in Bag End and free to explore. Her eyes swept around taking everything in.

My large ritual circle was visible across a nearby section of the floor. It had rings of metal inlaid into the wood in various loops which gleamed in the light. The wooden floorboards were etched and carved, a few runes were even filled with melted bronze, iron, aluminum, salt, ash, and even silver. Resting in little hallows or atop symbols sat crystals from my shop that were useful for my spells as well as a metal bowl and a jug of lighter fluid with a cigar lighter. My circle was a pale example of magic, especially next to Fren’s living grove, but it was still something to behold. To me it didn’t look sinister, but I was seeing it with my own eyes and didn’t know what Lana would think. It was a place I could mediate, refine my powers with greater ease, and develop spells with more safety, not a dark ritual or some of the things typically associated with the occult.

It was also one of the reasons I hadn’t wanted Officer Vance and Lansing to search the store. This floor was special and clearly… different.

Kate for example had never come down. That made me reflect that as a business partner she might insist. She knew I spent a lot of time down here. I might need to think of ways to hide everything… or… considering how well Lana had taken to everything, maybe I should share the truth? I’d been trained not to do that. Clair had said it always led to trouble and that it was best to simply make relationships with our own. There were laws within the Tribunal to keep wizardry a secret. More for security or the annoyance it could pose than anything else. But those were in the broad sense, telling a few close friends wouldn’t be a crime. The various ancient factions of the world generally opted for secrecy and stealth as those who hadn’t had died out long ago.

“Did Fren make that?” Lana asked, body still as her eyes were captivated by the sight of the grove.

“Fren is that, see the central ‘tree’ thing?” When Fren went ‘full forest’ as I liked to refer to it, he became something like the ragged tree’s that had seen the world pass by and were unmoved and unimpressed by it all. His true body looked like a mix of a Bonzi and the great bristlecone pine. The branches and wood were flowing and irregular like hard winds had forced them to grow in asymmetrical ways. His bark and body were hard as stone. The branches he had were short and adorned with small pine-like growths. Fren had said they were better for battle and storm since they were harder to tear or rip off. He looked like a hardy plant that could withstand animal’s, natural disasters, and fire.

Lana shook her head, absorbing it all.

I glanced at the shelving which sat against one of the walls. It was adorned with various ingredients and things I needed for spells, along with a workshop table and simple tools. Nothing electronic, but it did have many tools I could use for artificery and making my own creations. I hadn’t had much success so far, my circle was the biggest completed job, as well as some of the reinforcement runes and magical suppression wards upon hostile forces built within the building.

Laid out on the wooden floorboards just before the garden were four palm sized gem like monster cores. I hungered to use them. I had sensed their power from the moment I stepped into the basement. Anyone or anything that could take them in their current state would. Fren, had he been wild, would hold them near his home, enjoying the increase in ambient magical energy like a dragon hoarding over his treasure as it lured in prey. Fortunately, he got enough of an increase in ambient magic around me that he was more than willing to share something that would make me stronger.

“Those are the cores you were talking about?” Lana asked.

“Yes, the one’s Fren… processed. I can do it too, but it takes longer and is either magically intensive or gory.”

“These were in those creatures?”

“Sort of,” I paused, thinking of the best way to explain. “These cores are the conduit to the creatures’ powers and abilities. The connection point between soul, magic, and the physical. They have to be extracted quickly and in the right way or they’re useless and dissolve. When the creature is alive, they are more like an idea. We change them from the ephemeral to the physical.”

“And they help you?”

“They will combine with my own powers to make me stronger.”

Lana gave me a side eye, “Are you like a magical vampire taking power from others?”

“Oh no, not at all.” I said, before realizing that in a sense I was. All wizards were… I’d never considered it since we killed monsters and rouge fae and we didn’t require cores for growth, but they were much faster than cultivating. I’d have to think about that later.

“Can anyone do it, do magic?”

“No. Not everyone has magical resonance, or the ability to form a core like these. I have one, but it’s between my soul and body. It’s not physical, but I can still sense it. Its where my magic flows through and comes from.” I said, “But—if you’d like to try later, we can see if you have the talent. I can’t sense magic in you now, but that may simply mean it’s not awakened.”

“How does that happen, without someone like you?” Lana asked brow furrowed.

“Well, not to squash your dreams,” I said seriously. “But it’s literally one person in maybe a million that truly has the gift in the general population, and a strong enough gift that it will awaken on its own. Many more have minor abilities, but they don’t always require a mana core to harness them to their full effect. The number is even higher for those simply sensitive to magic or with smaller gifts. But to be able to use cores like this is on a whole other level. That’s excluding wizarding bloodlines which have a much higher likelihood of being able to.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“What happened in your case?”

“I was found. Powers already awakened.” It was something I’d discussed with Fren. He knew more about the likelihood of people having their power awakened naturally, perhaps even more knowledge than Clair, or the whole tribunal, but even to Fren my situation raised questions. I could be a bastard from a wizarding bloodline, but we’d never figured it out. We’d scoured over the events of my life and the memories I could recall in order to solve the mystery to no avail. I didn’t have any memories of my parents. I didn’t even have a memory of when my powers had been awakened. Usually, that was ingrained into someone’s mind, the event coming at an extreme time of danger, stress, or triumph. Perhaps I had been exceptionally young, but it still seemed like I should have remembered something like that, no matter the age.

“—How do powers awaken on their own?” Lana asked, pulling me from my reverie. I realized I’d grown quiet in my own reminiscence.

“Very traumatic or poignant events,” I said. “I don’t remember mine. Fren and I assume it occurred when I was a child, or I’ve blocked it out somehow.”

Lana nodded, leaving things at that.

I gathered up the orbs to use them, but no. I couldn’t risk losing any of their valuable energy. Not with this many and not after feeling the inadequacies of my preparedness and skills. I needed to be better, to hone every skill I had, and use all the power before me to its utmost, small as it may be. I already got more from them than most wizards did, but that didn’t mean I should be wasteful. Especially not after the night we’d had.

“I should have been faster and stopped the pixies before they hurt you and damaged my shop,” I said, looking down at the riches.

“Stop.” She said, her voice brooking no further argument as she grabbed my arm. “We were attacked by flying creatures. No one could have been ready for that.”

I nodded. “Still. We’re going to get you healed up. Fren, do you have enough energy to heal Lana?”

“I did not expend too much energy fixing the building. I can heal you both.” Fren’s tree form said from somewhere in the grove.

“You’re growing,” I said.

“As you grow, so do I,” The tree whispered. “When I found you, I was in a weakened state—long a wanderer.”

I nodded, “Okay. So, let me tell you how this is going to go,” I turned to Lana then gestured to Fren’s garden. It had a fairly large patch of short grass in the middle. I’d laid there many times to be healed, but it would be a close fit for both of us. “To heal, Fren will place us into a trance like sleep. It’s actually quite refreshing.” I said with an easy grin, hoping to put Lana at ease. “Imagine meditating and being completely poised, each muscle relaxed. It’s like that, only more than you can imagine. During that time, Fren will coax your body to heal itself and provide energy to speed the process.”

“I’m not that great at meditation,” Lana said dubiously.

“Even that he can help with, trust me. This night will outshine the ‘best day’ you’ve had in years.” I said, inflecting my words with a little sarcasm about how this day, of all days, could be the best of anything.

“Are there any ill effects?”

“None. It’s the most natural thing. Like, literally natural. Fren is a being of nature and forests. Imagine perfect supplementation for your body, grounding, and deep meditation. That’s what it’s like, a total body reset and rejuvenation.”

“Grounding… is that like where you just put your feet on the dirt?”

“Yes, it is. You get the star pupil award,” I said. “It’s a connection thing more than the act of touching the earth. The earth has an almost spiritual or religious power to it and when you touch it with your bare skin that power connects to you. Most people have a hard time feeling it. Some experience it more so. I have wondered if those who do have a higher innate magical affinity or are more sensitive to things like that. Not enough to do what I do, but enough to feel the energy. Or it could be they are more responsive to the placebo effect of just about everything—I don’t know. But this is like that, only more.”

“It is quite healthy for the human composition,” Fren said, his tree form shifting slightly to his more humanoid. “Humans don’t take enough time to be still, to allow their bodies to rest and heal. I simply guide you into the stillness and oneness that is in life all around you.”

Lana smiled, larger than any I’d gotten all night, simply by seeing Fren’s change and hearing his voice again. If he managed to steal my girl he was definitely going into a pot out back.

“I believe you,” she said, looking at us both but trusting more on Fren’s calming words. “What do I need to do?”

“We just need to lay down together,” I said, gesturing to the spot in the little garden.

Lana smirked, shook her head at me, then snatched a pillow from my hands. My cheeks burned as I realized my wording.

“It’s nothing more than lying in the grass.”

“This isn’t even a date,” She muttered before walking up to the edge of the basement flooring. “Should I take my shoes off or something?”

“Being unclothed is most freeing,” Fren said. “And that helps with the­—”

“Clothes are fine,” I cut in. “Some part of your skin needs to touch the earth for his powers to have an effect, but it can be a hand, or your feet, anything really.”

She gave me a sideways look raising one eyebrow. I raised my hands in front of me, I mean Fren had been the one to suggest anything more, and here I was getting in trouble. Then I considered for a moment she might be thinking of listening to Fren and I wanted to kick myself for jumping in. But no. She’d had an awkward enough night as it was, full of new things. I wanted a good friend, needed one honestly. If this developed into something more, so be it. But I had far too few relationships in general and most of the closer ones knew nothing about my true self. We were in uncharted territory and I didn’t want to muddy the waters too much too early. Lana was wonderful, but relationships were built on more than attractiveness. She’d managed far more than I would have given anyone credit for in a single day. But she was likely still in shock. I needed to see what came after.

“Here I’ll show you,” I said, kicking off my shoes and shucking off my socks before I stepped off the floorboards and out into the miniature glen. I walked to the center, showing that it wouldn’t ruin or disrupt what Fren had clearly spent a lot of time crafting.

“And let you steal the most comfortable spot; I don’t think so,” Lana said, gently nudging me aside with her hip as she raced past me, claiming the left side of the little clearing.

“Like little fawn, awkwardly playing,” Fren droned from where he was standing.

“Whatever Fren,” I said looking at the forest ancient. “Now get to the healing.”

“Why so defensive when I have not yet received my proffered boon for silence given?”

I groaned. It was true. I hadn’t gotten Fren any Coke, and he could make me pay the price for it if he wanted.

“Please,” I whispered anxiously. Lana looking on at our exchange.

“Double,” Fren said with finality.

“A little extortionist, but fine,” I had to make it sound like a large amount, else he’d push for more. The truth was I would buy him an entire jeep load of coke if it shut him up right now.

“A pact on your word, I will refrain.”

“What was that all about?” Lana asked, lying on her side facing me.

I laid down, using one of the pillows for my head. The grass and soil were exceptionally soft. Fren would make it more so once he began, shaping the soil and plant life to perfectly contour and relieve the stress and strain from our bodies.

“Just an agreement we made earlier today. I need to get him his favorite drink,” I said. Lana looked gorgeous laying in the grass. The dim light from the candles I’d left on the floor made the scene somewhat romantic as the shadows moved on her face. Her pupils were wide alert pools. Her shirt shifted down and away from her hip as she lay on her side revealing a tantalizing bit of skin which the light caught upon.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Coke. Mexican cola in glass bottles to be exact.”

Lana laughed, the muscles on her torso bouncing as she did, “The Coke!” She said, “He’s your plant guy. You told the truth.”

I smiled, “He loves the stuff.”

Fren let out a pleased hum which silenced our mirth, before he began to work his magic.

Lana’s eyes grew wide for a moment, and she glanced toward the cores laying on the floorboards a few feet away.

“It’s a different working, trust me.” I said, reading her train of thought in thinking we might end the same way the pixies had.

Her eyes met mine and she gave a slight nod of trust.

“Plus, you don’t have a core so you would be fine regardless.” The idea did make me gulp. Could someone harvest a core from a wizard? It made sense, but I’d never heard of it being done or even imagined it. My mind gently eased from those worrying thoughts as Fren’s harmonic solid tones which shifted slightly from time to time began to pass over the room. It was as if my body began to vibrate at the same frequency causing tensions and muscles to relax, my mind’s thoughts to ease. We were both bathed in the sounds of earth.

I felt exhausted, the stress and excitement of the day culminating into a very tired wizard. Yet lying next to Lana the last thing I wanted to do was sleep and miss a moment. Lana gave me another smile, her eyes growing lidded, as Fren strode over the ground. His bulky sledgehammer-like feet were somehow delicate in this own domain.

“Now, listen to my song,” Fren whispered, the first words to break the tone which still hung in the air. He made a few light adjustments to each of our positions. Expertly knowing how to reduce tensions and make us more comfortable. Then the vibrational humming tone began again, it was primal, foundational, and as I listened my eyes slowly closed. I knew Lana would be feeling the same.

As my body relaxed, stress I didn’t even know I was carrying in my shoulders began to loosen. My still throbbing headache eased. Everything began to feel warm as the tone shifted again and I fell deeply asleep with it.