Seed 5

June 4th, 2032.

I stuck my tongue out as I drew out the pattern of the glyph. The strange form of magic I had learned from Ultima’s portals. It was such a simple pattern, a circle within a circle, with a cross intersecting the center of the glyph. And yet that was all it took to call upon magic.

“Sifra, interesting name.” Ultima and I had besieged ancient texts for any hints of what the hell I had even done.

We hadn't found more than hints, it was an Old Magic that had been abandoned generations ago. To the point we knew nothing aside from this glyph being the source for certain words of Cyfrinic and bits and pieces of implied lore. Sifra was the name of this glyph, which had interesting implications.

The word Sifra… it reminded me of the Arabic word Sifr, which meant zero, nothing, and was the origin of both cipher and decipher in dozens of languages. That was an important clue when it came to what kind of power this glyph had. Ultima said it appeared to be some type of elemental magic, but it wasn't an element she recognized.

Air, water, earth, fire, those were the main elements known to the Children, and of course, there were many sub-elements in existence. Lightning was considered a cold-blooded fire, magma was both flame and earth, metal was refined earth, and living organic matter was water.

Sifra controlled none of those elements, it seemed to be associated with gravity and… dark matter and energy. Though I couldn't be certain. The texts had simply said Sifra channeled ‘The energies of elsewhere, of the smallest spaces between spaces, holding the universe together.’

There were other concepts Sifra seemed to embody. But I was going to have to figure them out by trial and error like a proper scientist. It was more than just manipulating the forces of gravity and mass.

I found out through testing, I could use Sifra to suppress or amplify mass and use it to pull or kick things away. The strongest spell I had tested let me launch Ultima about fifteen feet back… which was probably enough to kill a normal human. But it was amazing, it was magic in the palm of my hand.

I was outdoors, while Ultima was hunting and gathering supplies out in the plains and woods surrounding the house. Not all local cuisine was easily digestible by my human gut. I didn't have the enzymes or two stomachs but there was a good range of edible foods available just in case we couldn't run out and buy human food from home. That included chicken of the woods which was an edible fungus with the texture and taste of chicken.

Edible animals included domestic griffins, bonnacon, terror boars, and a number of other crops were safe to eat. Err… beasts, they said everything in this world were considered otherkind but…

I looked up at the sun, as a cloud blocked out some of its light. I registered how different things were in this world beyond just red skies and nights full of alien constellations.

For in this world, the sun rises from the west and falls in the east. The planet itself had a retrograde spin. Reversing who knows how many aspects of the climate and weather and biosphere distribution. Eastern coasts are warmer and drier with milder winters at temperate latitudes and harsher summers in subtropical ones while west coasts are the reverse.

It's why despite the Calafia Isles being in the same position as California, it had a wet and stormy climate more like Florida. It was frankly kind of a headache, but it was interesting to note.

I wiggled on the tree stump I had chosen to use as a chair. Practicing and studying my single spell. Ink appeared to be a rather fragile conduit for the more intense magic of the glyphs. But the paper itself was reusable up to a point. But eventually it would crumple and fly apart no matter what I did.

I grabbed a small sheet of paper. One I had cut down to size to fit a glyph about half the size of my palm. I brushed my fingers along the symbol. Applying pressure and focusing my mind onto the task of shaping the energies tracing along the glyph.

I stood up, moving into a kata, one my mother had taught me on top of my own lessons. Ultima herself had said fighting was part of the Craft just as much as creation. Two sides of the same coin.

The energies of this element seemed to prefer winding and flicking motions. So I expanded the spell as far as I could and— did I flick my wrist?

O-Oops.

I launched a kinetic blast that sent me back on my ass with a squeak, and flew through a nearby grove. I heard someone yell out and paled, oh fuck.

I immediately got off my seat. Taking my papers with me in case I needed to use any magic. I moved quickly, stumbled when I felt pins and needles run up and down my legs. Then righted myself when they went away over the next few seconds.

I jumped over half a dozen bushes and right into the clearing within a small grove of blood pine. With their red bark and leaves of blue bordering on purple. I could see where my spell had pushed branches and small bushes. Following the trail towards the end of the clearing.

My eyes immediately honed in on a form huddled on the ground, clearly having gotten pushed down by my idiotic and careless use of the Craft. I felt my anxiety spike at the slight groan coming from the stranger and ran over.

“I'm so sorry!” I blurted out my words without thinking, catching the attention of the stranger as they rolled onto their rear with a grunt.

I blinked as I got a good look at this person for the first time.

She was a girl, a witch who looked around my age. She wore colors that reminded me of an open field, with a long linen tunic colored a shade of earthy brown, belted so that it fell to the knees. Letting me see she wore tights with a paler shade of brown, and pointed boots of an even paler shade. I noted the cloak draped over her shoulders, shaded with pale gray and white like an Earth sky.

As for her actual appearance, she was curvy and muscular, with freckled light brown skin. Her face was soft-featured and oval, with a narrow nose versus my own fat one. Her wide lips pulled in an uncertain expression, revealing blunt fangs that flicked forward. She had a faint spread of freckles across her face. Her bright honey blonde hair was curly, more than my own somehow, forming ringlets. Pointed ears swiveled in my direction, reminding me of a dog.

Her hands were extended out in front of her as if to catch her, claws flexing out. I held back a shiver at their length. She had claws as long as a lion’s and I knew they had the strength and sharpness to cut through flesh. But I also found them fascinating. How strong were they, and how did their fingers have the room to fit such daggers under skin and bone?

There's a time and place for everything, Celia.

I offered a hand before I could think better of it. “Umm. Again. Sorry about that, I was practicing and ended up launching a spell by mistake.”

She blinked, pale gold staring back at me with suspicion. “You… launched a spell by mistake?” Her voice was deeper than mine, a tad husky and breathy, the world seemingly reacting to her voice.

I blushed brightly. “I'm not very experienced with magic for reasons, so yes. I… My name is Celia Safar Esteban.”

She took my hand, claws gently tugging on my skin but not tearing into it.

“Althea… Althea Rookwood.”

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I had walked the young witch toward the tree stump I had been using as a seat. I continued to watch her hands and how they nervously flexed in and out. I looked up and smiled at her, trying to put her at ease. I didn't show my teeth much of course, that could be interpreted as a threat. Sharp fangs means different body language apparently.

“Are you sure you're okay?” I asked with poorly hidden concern, noting a cut along her arm which didn't seem to be from when my spell had knocked her down.

Althea shook her head. “You didn't do this, and I can take care of it myself.”

“Okay?” I blinked, confused for a moment and then she did something strange.

She pulled out a pitcher of water and tipped it onto her wound with a hiss. She closed her eyes, opened her throat, and began a barely intelligible whisper: a prayer, a demand, a song. “Adaptable water, nectar of the gods, wandering river, song of the morning. Gear of Regeneration. Swimmer of the old and beaten paths, flow through this humble form and fill it with majesty. Rejuvenate! As life arose from the waters, so shall life return to those waters. Flesh becomes water once more, just as water returns to renew the flesh. Heal what has been damaged. Restore what once was mine.”

The water shuddered and pulsed, writhing like a swarm of… spirits, it had to be spirits. She was commanding them, and they were knitting themselves into her wound, flowing through the blood in her cut until there was no injury, not even a hint of a scar.

I immediately took a few steps forward, bouncing just slightly. “How did you do that? I didn't know spells could be cast with an incantation!” Ritual magic yes, but those were of another kind of Craft.

Althea flinched, lips curling into a snarl and ears pinning back. “You heard what I said?”

I blinked, and leaned back when I noticed our noses were almost touching. “Oh. Yes? It was pretty quiet, but I was paying attention to you. I haven't met anyone my age around here, I only know my Mentor and some of her friends.”

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Althea flushed, her cheeks turning darker, along with her freckles. “Most people tend to just say I’m muttering nonsense, or say I'm just a lawless witch in the making.”

I tilted my head. “Those people sound like total assholes then, your magic is incredible. Does it have something to do with commanding spirits?”

Althea grimaced. “I don't know, it's just a power I've always had. And spirits can't be asked to help… we’re supposed to contain and control them carefully. So I'm probably doing it wrong.”

I nodded. “So uhh, I don't usually see many people around here, Cruorpool is a fair distance away isn't it?” Cruorpool was the largest settlement on the island that was more or less the counterpart of Puerta Springs. The harsh desert replaced by a boiling sea caused by tectonic activity. Rich in minerals due to the lava flows on the lake. Surrounding the island in thick steam from the immense heat of the massive enclosed sea.

The island was part of the Taifa of Caudalaan. One of sixteen that encompassed the entire kingdom of Danab. Area wise it was about twice the size of the city of San Diego proper, but only had a population of around sixty thousand. The kingdom in total had a population of over one million and—

“Hello?” Althea leaned closer, waving her hands in front of my face.

“Oh sorry! I got distracted,” I apologized with a blush. “Did you say something while I was being an idiot?”

Althea replied with an uncertain look. “I just like to visit the forest beyond the farmland, it's only like an hour on foot,” I nodded with a shrug, only about a quarter of the original island was settled. The rest of the settlement was reclaimed land. The non-reclaimed settled space was a five by six kilometer square. Which started at the western shore plains. With the deep dense forest being full of monsters and lawless witches like Ultima. “The forest around here feels nice.”

“My Mentor says the wilds of Comedo Island is a deeply spiritual place, so it makes sense you'd like it I think.” I brushed back my bangs with a nervous smile, and she gasped.

“No fangs? Small round ears, and no claws, are you a human?” Althea immediately replaced my social anxiety with absolute terror and I flinched back from her.

“Shhh! Please don't say that so loud!” I poked her nose without thinking, and she seemed to be debating between biting and flinching back. “But… yes I may or may not be what you just said.”

God I had already blown my cover like an idiot.

Althea nodded and sighed. “I won't tell a soul, you've been nice to me so I’ll be nice in return. Calafia knows you're better than most of the people my age.”

My eyebrows furrowed, something distinctively unpleasant sitting in my stomach. “They don't treat you well do they?”

Althea shook her head with a resentful expression, eyes flashing with a pale light. “No. No, they don't. All they see is a lawless, savage werewolf witch in the making, using strange outdated, dangerous magic rather than the magic passed down to us by the followers of the Chantry.”

Werewolf?

“That… sucks, not going to lie. Your magic seems amazing too, I can't even cast magic normally either. Being human and all.”

“I was wondering about that…” Althea nodded to herself, gaze focused on my notebook. “So you figured out a way to use magic as a human?”

“I did—” Althea cut me off by covering my mouth, and I picked up conversation from the clearing we had met in.

“Damn, she got away. We didn't even get to show that damn charlatan what we think of her cursed magic. That mutt needs to be put in her place.” It was a girl speaking, and the emphasis on charlatan had a nasty twist to it that made my stomach curdle.

I pushed aside Althea’s hands but stayed silent. Ignoring the odd sensation of long, sharp claws pressed against skin. She was definitely… scared, angry, concerned? A low growl was quietly rumbling into my body as her eyes darted back and forth across the trees and bushes that blocked the sight of whoever was in the grove now.

I nudged her, gesturing towards the path that led to Ultima’s home. We shuffled quietly as I led her towards home, and Althea shuddered as we passed the thin barrier that separated it from the rest of the world.

The bushes rustled, and I pulled Althea behind a tree right as two witches pulled themselves out of the thorny bushes. One was a pale-skinned girl who was fire. Patterns of heat and flame burning under her skin while her hair radiated a scarlet light, wearing a black tunic and shorts getup while her claws were out, sparkling with fire.

She had a lackey (was that mean?) who was built like a brick, wider than humanly probable, and standing a solid head taller. His gaze slid past the tree we were hiding behind, and Althea looked astonished.

“There’s nobody here, that bitch is long gone now,” he growled, and I wanted to punch him in the face. “She can't keep this up forever, this is a lesson a wild witch like her has to learn.”

We waited for a few minutes as the pair retreated back to where they had come from, and once that happened…

I pulled Althea towards the house.

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Althea was looking around the living room and kitchen with a mix of awe and curiosity. Her hands tightly clenched around a cup that she tilted back as she drank some eldritch orange juice. Which tasted a lot like orange juice mixed with the sensation of the veil growing thin. Madness and dark edges of rage and dead realities.

It was actually quite tasty, and was one of my favorite local drinks.

“My Mentor’s home has very powerful wards built into her domain, anyone who isn't friendly isn't getting in here. That's why I didn't mind bringing you here too.” I shrugged at her shocked expression, I guess that kind of magic was rare then? “You can lay low until she comes back so she can escort you home safely. She won't let some bigoted assholes get their way.”

Althea stared at me and I saw the gears turning in her head like she was trying to figure me out. “You really don't care do you?”

“Why would I? I'm human, remember? I've got no context for the prejudice of this world, and… I've got no reason to be that way toward other people. I've dealt with prejudice for what I am before.” I shrugged, rubbing my bare neck with a sad smile. “The Human Realm has its fair share of people like that too, and my magic is a tad strange.”

I brushed my fingers along a glyph, and the ink dissolved once more. I held my intentions and my movements in mind. Gravity lurched around my right hand, gently swirling around as I lightly tossed the calm vortex of lightened gravity and mass.

“I've… heard of gravity magic before, but I've never seen it cast that way before.” Althea looked impressed as she watched the gravity well dissipate.

“Magic doesn't come naturally to me, the most I was capable of was brewing potions and writing cyfrinic chains. And now glyphs are mine to wield too.” My skin and my teeth buzzed with static as the energies of magic sent a shockwave through reality. Magic would never stop being wonderful to me.

Althea nodded, and her wide lips pulled into a big shining grin, blunt fangs inching forward. “Thank you, this is all really nice of you.”

I didn’t dare meet her pale gold eyes, heat rushing into my face and ears. “It's no problem, my mama raised me well.” I swayed even while sitting, expending my nervous energy. “There's still some time left, so how about we watch something? I know you have movies using enchanted mirrors?”

“Those are extremely expensive, and are only outfitted to theaters and rich noble homes.”

I grinned smugly. “Oh you're in for a treat then, my Mentor installed a TV here a long while ago.” I gestured to the 8K quantum dot television mantled in the living room. “Human thing, we can watch something. If that's okay?”

Althea’s ears perked up. “I don't mind at all.” Why was I picturing a golden retriever?

I nodded my head vigorously.

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So I've somehow managed to establish a social link with another living person and I have no idea how to feel about it. I had managed to get her into watching an old Pixar movie. Which was about the time needed for Ultima to come back.

I chewed on my lip as I saw Ultima’s eyes go up and down Althea’s form.

“Huh, you finally made a friend,” her too-wide smile was sharp, her hair parting as she brushed it back with her claws, third again as large as Althea’s own. “She’s cute isn't she?”

“Shut!” I hissed at her, and Ultima laughed. “Not relevant!” there was a victorious gleam in her eyes and I sighed. “She needed a place to rest for a bit, can you escort her home?”

Althea was just giving a wide-eyed stare, mouthing Ultima’s name under her breath. My lips curled into a taunting, smug beyond smug grin. Her stare was sort of cute. The way her claws flexed in and out. How fangs flicked back and forth, and how black pupils constricted within a sea of pale gold.

“Your Mentor is Ultima Grimshaw, The Wandering Abyss?” Althea wasn't afraid, just shocked as I nodded.

“Yep. Are you surprised?”

Althea smirked back. “No. A lot of things are making sense now.” I pouted at the teasing tone in her voice.

I stuck out my tongue and she giggled at my expense. “Mean.”

She flattened out her face with a sigh. “My parents are going to be worried if I stay out any longer, I don't think I can stay any longer.”

“That’s fine, I wasn't planning on keeping you here anyways.” A part of me didn't want her to leave just yet though.

“Then we should get going, I don't need people searching these woods for a missing witchling. Too much trouble, and I doubt my sweet little apprentice wants her new friend to get into a mess either.” Ultima was laughing in her head, I fucking knew it.

Althea stepped over to Ultima who was blocking the front door with her tall lithe frame. “I think I'm ready to leave but first… do you have a g-speaker? So I can call you?”

“She does.” I blinked as something was tossed at me by Ultima, and I scrambled to pick up the object.

I looked down at a beetle-shaped golem, tilted my head. Recalling an interesting tidbit of this world. Their development of tools occasionally known as golems but more commonly called constructs. This specific type was an animated object able to convey sound to one another over long distances, a sort of mix between a duplex radio and voicemail.

They didn't function on a network like modern phones. No cell towers or repeaters, so their range was quite variable depending on interference, usually from ambient magic. A range of five miles was a good bet for them. They were reliable enough, but they were a recent phenomenon.

Althea eagerly pulled out her own little guy, shaped more like a cat-faced bean and with a flash, our two g-speakers let out an eerie ping, using sympathetic magic to share contact information.

The witch just smiled, a big stupid one that took up her entire face. “I'll be calling you often I think. It's not every day I meet someone able to overlook what I am.”

I mirrored her face, unable to help that small childish spark of hope and muted joy brought by that single statement.

“I'll look forward to it.”

Ultima hummed. “I'll help make those arrangements, building bonds are important whether human or witch.”

It didn't take long after that for Ultima to set off, casting a subtle illusion spell and flying off on her staff. I offered Althea a shy goodbye, the creaky, mechanical shadow of a wave, while her own wave was heavier and more confident, with a slight twitch of hopeful wariness.

…

Today was a good day.