The Magus accepts my question at face value and responds lecture-like, why wouldn’t I expect anything less?
“Well firstly you need to offer them something their existing worship can’t and in this, your Goddess excels. After all, every parent wishes for a successful conception, full-term pregnancy, harmless birth for mother and child and to produce a strong child any parent would be proud of. Therefore [Bless Wife] is mandatory, which you can learn from this Shrine and although the name indicates a married woman, it is code for non-virgin, so between [Bless Maiden] and [Bless Wife], I would think it has the greater versatility in your case. When you are ready, I will summon several Cult Spirits to teach you her Faith Magic, in particular [Sooth Birthing], [Locate (Faithful, Faithless, Heretic)], [Beauty] and [Far Sight]. If you do succeed you will need [Assess Aspirant], [Worship (Aphrodite)] and [Sanctify Area (Aphrodite)] which as a Priest Adept you should have. All these spells need to be held in your mind and frankly, even I wouldn’t contemplate such a task and for an Adept Sorcerer, this is fatal. You need your mind clear to allow you to manipulate your Sorcery Spells and be able to resist attacks from other Sorcerers. Further, you must never draw upon your magic reserves to cast a spell, any spell. That is an absolute rule unless the difference is your life or your death or your teacher is a poor one and pushes you out his door without any help.”
I listen intently. This Magus, who is so willing to assist me I can only conclude he does so to ask for repayment at some point in the future or maybe I sell him short because he isn’t a ‘poor one’ but instead generous and eager to share his knowledge and advice. Like a father ... So unlike my father … who demands I listen, well now not so much, demanded I follow in his footsteps, a girl going to sea, how absurd? And yet, I am a male now and I wonder if my father would finally see this change as a success and an answer to all his concerns … I can afford no more stray thoughts for now.
“You will find some empty Spirit Binding Matrixes in the collection left behind by your Goddess. To any Apprentice but mine, they would appear to be trinkets worth their value in gold or silver and no more. Now you should recognise their worth. To command a Spirit from where I come from required you to journey to a battlefield or murder scene and the like to summon the Spirit back from the soil. An exceedingly difficult hit and miss task, as likely to be attacked by one or more Spirits at once if they all answer or at times one powerful Spirit if the being has grown. I don’t know how they do so, but because they can, and my situation is similar I hope to as well. Anyway, with this Spirit Plane, they are all gathered nicely as your testing proved. You will practice using the [Combine] Sorcerer Skill linking the [Summon Magic Storing Spirit] ritual and [Dominate Spirit] ritual to place a Magic Storing Spirit in a Spirit Binding Matrix. Ensure you have cast [Spirit Resistance] upon yourself before you do.”
He dictates and I prepare according to his advice, he tolerates reasonable questions and his answers provide worthwhile explanations and justification for his choices. I wouldn’t expect any less given his skill, I just need to acquire as much of his learnings as I can before he ‘pushes me out his door’. About to reach for an excuse, my [Dominate Spirit] Ritual skill is still developing, I chose to refrain and accept his confidence in me.
“Before you begin there is one more preparation. You say a storm has landed. Well, I say an opportunity. You must seek a Familiar and the storm will ground one of the more ideal types in my opinion. Seek a bird, Crow or Raven are usually best, thought to be the more intelligent bird species when awoken and more useful in the real world. Owls are overrated of course, but some Sorcerers don’t see why.”
Another Ritual in which my skill is lacking and yet he advises acquiring a familiar in any case, so to study this typically one use ritual to an expert proficiency a waste of time instead of say, Dominate or one of the Spirit Summoning and I realise the value of his guidance.
I spend the afternoon beachcombing and shortly after a reward, able to pick and choose several birds passing up several species, all in a sorry state, seeking land as a refuge from the storm. Trying to dry out by fluffing their wings and staying dry by perching where they can.
A prod on my mind turns my head and behind an elevated nook, she stands. Beak preening under a wing and I observe the small fussy movements, like a dance or dare I say it, a ritual, with a determination to finish, regardless of the bold intruder, which is me.
Her head snaps up and both eyes see through me and with a single squark, I am flat on my bum overcome with surprise. My heart races from shock and my blood races from excitement.
I assume the [Meditate] position and place an offering of dried fish between us hoping my prospective familiar will wait for me. When I am as ready as I can be, I begin the [Create Familiar] ritual, my mind journeying to find a companion mind, simple, instinctive and yet with a nudge, a turn of a key wanting, no needing to be more. My attempt is feeble, my concentration is on maintaining the ritual instead of reaching out in search.
She did wait. I don’t know why. I offer her a portion of my Spirit, a drop that contains my personality, my knowledge trying to enlighten the instinctive animal mind before me. I feed this connection with magic; I am trying to turn the key.
“My name is Sirfah.”
“Welcome Sirfah, my name is Allene,” I reply.
She twitches her head and squarks. “I … know, the Evening Star told me to wait for you.”
“The Evening Star?”
“The one who has provided you sustenance until you could fish for yourself, clothes for modesty and comfort … The Evening Star.”
Starving I dared to enter Arsu’s Dungeon and she did provide clothes …
“Arsu?” I query.
Her head bobs. “The Evening Star.”
“How did you know to wait?”
“The Evening Star saved me from the angry sky and set me free and I, in turn, promised to repay her. She said I didn’t need to as her Star shone brightly now and yet she knew I would pester her and so she sent me out into the sun once the sky calmed to wait for you.”
Her magic is different, my Master mentioned in passing his regret not investigating a different source of magic he discovered, perhaps the source is a Dungeon.
“If in the language of Dungeons Arsu means Evening Star what does Sirfah mean?”
Tucking her head under a wing, a single glistening eye escaping the black of her feathers she caws, while thought speaking a single word. “Favourite.”
An easy warm smile graces my lips, a welcome. She isn’t a pet requiring training to heel with offerings of food, no she is an equal. With a desire to expand her knowledge, and understand mysteries within the unknown now her intelligence is capable of learning and a reservoir for me. The transfer of Spell knowledge a given; [Mend Flesh], [Manipulate Stone], [Fly], [Increase Strength], [Haste], [Analyse Magic], [Increase Size], [Remove Magic] I clear these from my mind and yet I can recall them at will through our shared bond. I free my mind! My mind is free of clutter. I am jumping on the spot before I realise I am. Sirfah squarks. My face warms and a rough cough follows to disguise my juvenile celebration.
I skip and dance back to Aphrodite’s Shrine even though I am aware Sirfah believes my behaviour improper, such is the happiness filling me. A task awaits, Drawing upon Sirfah’s mana which I can shape and manipulate as my own I begin the [Summon Magic Storing Spirit] ritual, and then bind the entity into the available Spirit Binding Matrix Magus gifts me, using the [Dominate Spirit] ritual. The process is tedious requiring a significant amount of time and mana, such that each ritual attempt takes most of my waking hours day and night. Upon success Magus releases the Spirit and commands me to try again, the Matrix can hold one Spirit, best it is the strongest, not just the first. I return to Magus Drexel after several days for more advice, once I am satisfied, I have done my best.
“I made you my Apprentice for another reason, my Amulet is now usable by you, although your capability to manipulate Spells in your mind is just beginning so you will need to strike a balance between the [Empower] and [Duration] Sorcerer Skills, which will come with time as will the other Skills. I also gift you two more Matrix bound Magic Storing Spirits and with these, in your possession Mana should be plentiful enough so casting more often is better than weakening the Spell.”
His Amulet is a masterpiece, containing a single condition of use, ‘Only usable by current or former Apprentices of Magus Drexel Marner and granted his permission to do so to ensure only those he deems worthy can benefit. This is several lives work. To [Enchant] an item requires the Sorcerer to contribute a piece of his soul. Your soul though also determines your mana reserves, so you can’t weaken your soul too rapidly otherwise you weaken yourself. To recover your soul requires time and exposure to stressful situations which challenge your soul, so risk when your soul is weakened. I deeply appreciate the Spirit Binding Matrixes now as they are products of [Enchant], I even question if I am deserving of them …
“Between your familiar, my Amulet and the Spell Storing Spirit Matrix all of your Spells should be elsewhere so you can walk from here with a clear mind. The Matrix bound Spell Casting Spirit is from my continent, which I sort to replace with a similar spirit from the Spirit Plane. In a word, disappointing, although I understand why, Divine Magic and Faith Magic are in their infancy on this continent and non-existent on mine, while Sorcery is the reverse, except for Element Manipulation, most peculiar. You may need to release this Spirit and replace it with one of the other types shortly, but I leave that to you. For now, your final task, leverage my Amulet to cast the weekly protections on yourself and your familiar as any spell attacks on her will also affect you and vice versa. A good night’s sleep and in the morning you leave.”
“I am most grateful …” I reply, my thought words heavy with sincerity.
“I thought teaching another would be tedious and if confined to a body, probably so, without a body, no need to eat, sleep or take care of other needs I feel liberated and you, my boy, the first beneficiary so please don’t die. Be sure to return to me and tell me of your exploits.”
“Have you … examined Sirfah with [Mystic Vision]?”
He doesn’t answer.
“The magic, the new magic …”
There is excitement in his thought words, genuine bubbly child-like joy.
“The Dungeon Arsu rescued her and I presumed named her as she told me her name, I didn’t provide her with one.”
“One more task, please ask Dungeon Master Arsu if she can draw herself closer to me and I can swear upon Aphrodite’s Truth Rune I will engage in a fair exchange of knowledge and skill.”
With that [Magiclink] closed down and therefore he left me alone to complete the final tasks. Our Master and Apprentice link now an echo, aware of each other yet separate since attaining Adept Sorcerer, another sign of my growing need to develop self-reliance.
As it happened, I couldn’t fit all of the Spells as he presumed, needing to hold one in my mind. My familiar capable of holding Sorcerer Spells and no others, not unexpected, but inconvenient. How could one make a difference?
Entering [Meditate], allowing the rhythm of the rolling waves to wash over me and find my peaceful middle I begin the task of casting my weekly [Duration] Spells. This preparation is my first and with giddy excitement, I believe myself well on my way to following in the Magus’ footsteps. This all comes crashing down while attempting the manipulation of [Empower] and [Duration] with a Spell in my mind. As per Magus’ advice, I reduce [Duration] instead of weakening the Spell, which means I need to recast every three days instead of every seven days, a great disappointment at a great cost of mana and recovery time.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Over the previous several days Sirfah hunted while I recovered mana, saving some of my last to augment her with [Increase Size], [Increase Strength] and on her beak [Strike] returning more often than not with rabbits. In a short time, I become adept at skinning and cooking her catch over a fire and my last evening with Magus continues our routine. Before sleep, I visit Morning Star and relay Magus’ invitation. I sense an acknowledgement and no more.
---
Morning and I thought my teacher would see me off and yet no offer of [Magiclink], so I break my fast on a cold rabbit, sling my water skin over my shoulder and utilise [Meditate] to cast [Fly] and once again the one spell in my mind comes back to handicap me. I can’t reduce the weight component of the [Fly] spell, although not heavy set I still need to account for my weight. I then need to devote a portion of [Empower] for flying speed, obviously the more I do so the faster I would fly. This then leaves [Duration] and my flying will need to be recast every two hours instead of every four hours, which I can only accomplish four times before I exhaust my mana and only when factoring in passive recovery. Given the limited duration, I will also always be on the lookout for a ledge to perch upon, for that purpose I task Sirfah.
Looking towards the Shrine, I knew him in residence – a feeling. One step. Choose a direction, run back to Magus, ‘excuse me Teacher but I am not ready, a slight miscalculation’, admit I am not ready, an Adept Sorcerer in name only. Instead one leap. With flight the decision made, and no disappointment, I will follow my purpose and manage. After eight hours of starting and stopping flying my familiar finds an empty shallow cave and with no obvious paths to or from, as safe as any on the side of a steep tall mountain range. Entering the cave, I discover flying is a cold method of travel, although, with the wind chill gone, I thaw while my body shivers. My backpack contains one blanket courtesy of Evening Star which I wrap about my shoulders and begin [Meditate]. I am going to change a Spirit. I will regret the loss of the Spirit’s Spell Casting, although no manipulation could be performed by the Spirit and that is where Sorcery Magic reveals the limitations as well as strengths of its method. Lack of manipulation is a definite restriction.
Releasing the Spell Casting Spirit from the binding is a simple task of calling it forward without issuing any other command. At that moment I realise the Spirit can cast [Decrease Size], being slightly smaller would have enabled a longer duration for the [Fly] Spell, I sigh in frustration as what is done, is done. Completing the [Meditate] session and utilising the [Combine] Sorcerer Skill I link the [Summon Spell Storing Spirit] ritual with the [Dominate Spirit] ritual. I did this for safety reasons, the failure of one would mean the failure of all, while the success of [Combine] will mean I can proceed. With [Spirit Resistance] active I can subdue any Spirit I chose to reject for the [Dominate Spirit], without a great deal of risk and yet each Spirit tests me. After two further attempts taking two days, just before my [Spirit Resistance] ends I find and dominate a Spell Storing Spirit able to store three Spells, two more than I require although not equal to the one I had which could store six Spells.
With my mind clear and after a further day of rest I cast my Weekly Spells. My familiar hunts food, raw flesh after skinning and I ration my water. Another overnight stay and I cast the [Fly] Spell with a four-hour duration and three repeats later I find myself hovering over a snow-covered mountain plateau, the wind chill off the snow cuts through my robe and underclothes with ease. I cast [Far Sight] and begin searching the white for, well anything.
---
Fingers stiff and teeth chattering I relieve the ugly humanoid of his leather gloves. Next, I remove his heavy ring mail and throw down the cold metal armour beside him. Fumbling due to the gloves I then take more time than typical to unbuckle his padding, coat first, which I immediately wear, ignoring the stiff black bloodstain and then the long-legged pants, the bottoms of which fall over the tops of my Magus stolen boots.
Thinking to [Fly], my body doesn’t move. I am too heavy.
“Many others.” She is my eye in the sky. I command Sirfah to return as I can now offer warmth, while I trudge forward through the snow to intercept her, instinctively knowing her approximate location. I cast [Far Sight] to ensure I spy them before they see me.
Scrabbling over a snow dune my eyes fall upon them, Frost Giants, light blue skin, males with full reddish beards and females with hair plaits, odd, they search the sky and point. Trying to draw a direction from a particularly odd cloud formation, an arrow of sorts if imagination is added. Someone or something has the authority to send fifteen or more Frost Giants on an errand, guided only by a vague arrow shape in an otherwise cloudless sky.
Their line of travel will take them further away, simple to avoid I conclude. In terms of ultimate destination though they would fall off the edge of the plateau well past Aphrodite’s Shrine, probably more in line with the other coastal town Magus mentioned, although a guess at best. This assumes of course they have a way down which doesn’t require flying.
Is this the opportunity I have been waiting for?
Who is to say they weren’t being guided to meet me? There would have to be at least one in their community who would benefit from fertility or easing difficult childbirth? If I guess wrong and none do now, then surely at a future time. Therefore, the obvious story is a simple one, I have been called early to ensure the utmost of preparations can be made. The axes resting upon the shoulders of the male Frost Giants are the most obvious reason to give me pause, yet if they worship Zeus, wouldn’t they at least pause for conversation first before swinging death? Then again what sort of threat am I to fifteen or more Frost Giants?
I recast [Fly], at half [Duration] as before to add more [Empower] manipulation into size and speed. I skim across the snowdrifts, staying low, taking advantage of every snow dune and white tree to ensure I remain unseen. There is a break in the trees, narrow and then the snow-covered trees are thick once again. I stop. Floating back to the break and hovering in the middle I decide this is a trail cut through the forest. Some saplings are now growing here and there, so certainly not well used …
I follow the trail to the sea as I reason I would need to leave tracks behind me if I am the chosen one they are destined to meet. Landing upon the trail several heartbeats before [Fly] ends, I create two neat footfalls in the snow. I need to make some distance from this spot towards them in case they send one of their number to backtrack, to confirm my origin and with the sky clear, snowfall could be days or weeks away. I cast [Increase Strength] manipulated with [Duration] and [Empower] so can push through the snow towards them with haste.
Sirfah keeps me apprised of their progress and they frequently stop and discuss what needs to be done. Are they uncertain, have doubts, wouldn’t any intelligent person question their commitment following such an abstract sign? I decide to downplay, I am the one they are intending to meet needing to follow their lead and confirm their thoughts without any prior announcement from me. Purely a chance meeting, one of which they are guided to and I am unaware of.
Next is to choose the situation and time of our meeting. Campfire with roasting rabbit comes to mind and Sirfah is quick to hunt after I augment her like usual. Starting the campfire is an almost impossible hurdle, although there is no breeze and after digging deep into the snow around one of the trees, I find an animal nest of some sort along with last season’s dead leaves and twigs. The fire smokes badly, to begin with until the thicker wood begins to burn.
About to take a bite and I need to pause, mouth half-open.
“It is not often we find strangers upon the mountains, especially a small one like yourself?” The words rumble out from between the lips of a Frost Giant peering around a nearby snow-ladened tree. His teeth, a solid wall of white peeking out between a bushy red moustache and untamed chin beard.
“My name is Allene and if you shake my hand without breaking it, we will no longer be strangers,” I reply, with a wink while climbing to my feet, one hand armed with a portion of rabbit.
“You carry no weapons?” His voice rises slightly, perhaps I surprise him.
“What would it matter if I did? I am certain the axe on your shoulder, swung by your gigantic arms would soon cleave me in two.”
A thunderous bellowing issues from deep down as he offers his giant meaty hand to me. I manage to shake his thumb more than his hand and yet he seems content.
“Well met Allene, I am Hrut, Myrmidon of Zeus. Do you believe in Gods?”
“Hrut, enough, leave recruiting worshippers to your Mother Priestess.” Her voice is deep also although not as intimidating, almost friendly.
“I am Bera, his betrothed although at times he gives me cause to doubt …”
I shake her hand by the thumb also when she offers. Their faint bluish skin is a mystery, not cold as I expect and yet immune to the cold as they don’t seem to wear clothes or armour for warmth, more for etiquette and protection.
“You don’t feel the cold?” I ask.
Several bouts of laughter surround me as the other Frost Giants make their presence known. I am certainly warned by my campfire smoke they decided to err on the side of caution and treat me as a hostile, sneaking up on me as much as their bulk would allow. Given my size and lack of weapons, their concerns are no more.
“Sorry,” I say. “I am new to the mountains. I would offer you some rabbit, but I doubt there would be enough.”
“Even you roasted over a fire wouldn’t be more than a snack, so consider yourself safe for now at least,” replies Bera.
“Is this mission complete then, Hrut,” shouts another.
I take a bite of rabbit, trying to ignore the question.
Hrut shrugs. “Well, we did meet someone unexpected and right or wrong this trail will remain the source if Allene is not the intended.”
Glancing first at Bera, I decide to rest my eyes upon Hrut and then hold up a portion of rabbit.
“Bring your meal with you if you must, we leave now,” he replies, with humour.
---
Snow-covered trees and more snow-covered trees. The Frost Giants carve a passage through the snow for me, so I no longer have to pretend to struggle and after a time the spell runs out and I am grateful they blaze a trail. One positive, my feet are nice and toasty, perhaps Magus Drexel placed a special enchantment upon his boots. The log cabin rooves of a settlement appear. At distance, normal in every way. As we draw close though their size and height are remarkable, suitable for Giants.
A cold howling scream welcomes me to their village and the Frost Giants march onwards. A couple peels off to the left and enters a cabin. Others do likewise to the right. We must be taking a stroll down the main street of the village. A short wailing scream now.
“Perhaps we return too soon?” This sole comment receives some chuckling until a feminine voice hisses them into silence.
Hrut and Bera are the only Frost Giants who remain as my escort when we approach the source of the screaming.
“My mother is inside, and she will want to meet you. I apologise for the deafening noise, but the Jarl’s wife is in labour,” explains Hrut.
“First child,” adds Bera, who then leans upon Hrut, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind, nibbling at his ear and smiling.
His body twitching and then relaxing, perhaps considering a response, and then thinking the better of it. They are giants and yet they live their own lives like any other creature, eager to find love, start a family and watch their children grow while being as safe as they can.
“We found someone Priestess, guided by the signs,” says Hrut, before turning away from the interior of the cottage and dashing for the door.
“Oh Hrut, you big buffoon, is but the blessing of childbirth,” giggles Bera, following him out.
I peer inside.
“You need to see my Mother …”
Next, I am hurtling forward, airborne. Childbirth, the baby is crowning. Wait … no.
“Almost there Grimhild, one more push!”
An instant reply, “You have said,” she screams. “One more push many times!”
The child’s head is growing, no I am sailing towards a painful sudden stop. Then the Mother’s massive muscular legs flail about and they swat me like a fly. I try to grip, but a mix of sweat and blood defeat me and I slide down, the bedsheets below me. She lifts her leg and the thigh I am clinging to straightens. Soft springing red curls cushion my fall, my eyes stare at a flat stretching belly button on a huge blue baby bump, I slide again until my boots find purchase upon a hard, round surface. I did contemplate holding onto the red curls … only as a last resort though.
There are multiple screams, which deafen me. Not unexpected given my position. The mother’s hands curl and grip the sides of the bed, the tensing of her lower body jolts me and I decide to act instead of being tossed again. I cast [Sooth Birthing], which I back with an overflow of magic in case a mother while already in childbirth has some bizarre resistance.
My clothes go taunt and in an instant, I am airborne again, although hanging, with an excellent view of the birthing. Perhaps my former female self is accepting of the blood, sweat and pain as I can concentrate on the changes unfolding before my eyes.
My initial reading of the spell solely suggests pain suppression and yet before my eyes, the Giantess’ cervix continues to dilate. Giant babies are … enormous, in fact, close to my size. The Giantess pushes and her face contorts, yet not in pain, purely from effort and the giant baby’s head is now clear as a set of giant hands cradles and guides the newborn. Suddenly another push and the rest of the giant baby falls out as it were, trailing blood and umbilical cord.
“Wait outside.”
Airborne once again the white of the snow smashes into my face upon landing and the rattling of the door closing marks my departure. Flailing about I extract myself, both Hrut and Bera are beside themselves in full-on fits of belly laughter.
“Why did you throw me in?” My tone, while not angry, somewhat demanding.
Hrut chuckles once more and wipes his wide-open eyes. “My mother demanded we tell her what we found, or she met whomever we encountered immediately upon our return and well …”
Bera finishes, “My big brave betrothed couldn’t stomach childbirth, so thought of the next best thing.”
What could I do? Scream and shout, punch him in the jaw? I shrug instead.
“From screaming to near silence, what spell did you cast?” asks Bera, who now lays across her betrothed or more accurately sprawling across his chest.
“One which eases childbirth, easing pain mainly although able to assist with complications …” I glance back at the door.
“What complications did the Jarl’s wife suffer?” questions Bera.
The Jarl’s wife. My breathing fails me, and words are difficult to find. They both laugh, a solid good-natured boisterous bellow. I stumble away. I do recall they mentioned this fact earlier and yet only now do the full ramifications hit me.
“You must take credit,” chuckles Bera.
“We will bear witness,” adds Hrut, blue face red.
I rearrange logs from the wood stack beside a nearby cottage, perching upon them, eyes shut. Cooing and baby cries from Jarl’s newborn son haunt me. I pray to my Goddess a successful birth trumps the indignation of my unusual interloping.