There is a place in the heart that will never be filled,
A space
And even during the best moments
And the greatest times
We will know it
We will know it
More than ever
There is a place in the heart that will never be filled
And we will wait and wait in that space – Charles Bukowski
(excerpt of "you get so alone at times that it just makes sense")
Edward/Heka 2570 African continent, nine years old
There are dozens of ways to express one's feelings on any given situation; my personal favorite is the immediate dismissal of the problem itself, though the problem persists festering all the while I feign ignorance of its existence. Usually, that works, but considering the circumstances I find this situation demands a different approach, how could one ignore the bizarre machinations that tore my world asunder and threw my concept of reality to the winds, well obviously you can't people die like that.
A caravan of merchants, soldiers, and high-profile members of court made their way through the Savannah moving at a leisurely pace, passing through villages as children ran along the parade of unfamiliar faces making their way through the small communities towards the closest kingdom. As the children followed along, they spotted a boy their age amongst the men and women, and he was no taller than any of the children present yet held himself as-well-as the adults. His skin was as dark as theirs a feature making him stand out amongst his bronze-skinned companions, the bravest amongst them a young girl of six ran up to him grabbing ahold of his arm to pull him along to join them. However, the boy wouldn't budge an inch. The young boy regarded her with a calm gaze, pulled his hand free from her grasp, and patted her head, patronizingly, and continued to follow the convoy uninterested in the game's the children played.
Walking in as if in a trance, I contemplated what I was going to do and for how long in this new life, while my host's mind continued to meld with my own. It was near 2 weeks after my episodic spirit quest, the memories of the boy named Heka mixing with my own giving me all the tools I would need to pass as a resident of these Era coupled with my years of experience. I felt far older then my current body would suggest appearing nine years old in form yet having 32 years of memories, 24 years of them from adolescence. Yet, more than anything else, there is always an unseen benefit to every given crisis; this one is the existence of magic.
Knowledge of the arcane was compelling, and sadly my new master had yet to impart his infinite wisdom on the matter. This predicament left me with a significant gap in my training, and I found myself at a loss until I realized I had a plethora of memories about television and fictional books about supers and magic to carve my path.
I was bending over midstride to scoop up several promising rocks for experimentation, only picking up one or two as I moved along within the convoy, ensuring to look up occasionally, ensuring not to be left behind. I held out my right hand, within the palm of my hand sat one of the pebbles I picked up earlier on the way, I intended to familiarize my self with the witches most underrated skill telekinesis. I would be remised if I did not explain, witches have an odd assortment of abilities: telekinesis, channeling, conjuring, mental abilities, and the coup de grâce longevity.
With these new powers bestowed upon me opened pathways, I could only dream of opening up a whole world of possibilities in front of me, and all I had to do was reach out and take it. Looking up from my hand, I scanned through the mob of moving bodies until I spotted the supposed master to be and the anchor that stunted my growth in my new life. Abraxas, the Envoy he was a newcomer to the pharaoh's magi council, hedging a promising career as our lord pharaoh's close confidant and spiritual advisor, it did not hurt that he was the pharaoh's eldest sons' best friend either.
Our current journey was a byproduct of his and the pharaoh's goal to sue for peace and prosperity; we were the peace delegation to our Kerman brethren, the other superpower on the Nile river. Tensions between the Kerman monarchy and Egypt have been rocky for quite some time since their founding the Kerman's had no love for Egypt conflicts sparked across the Giza plateau.
Where Egypt had the technology and infrastructure the Kerman's had the numbers their agricultural ability paved the roads for expansion, the short of it was they had the means to supply an army Egypt would look prettier but would fall to their overwhelming numbers.
I returned to my training, imagining a hand grasping one of the many stones I held in my open palm this was the best method I could come up with while pilfering through Heka's memories and thinking of the force. All things considered, I was doing very well; in the beginning, no matter how hard I tried to move the stone, nothing would happen. I didn't have the training that disciples received after their awakening ceremony, and this was partly due to this ridiculous odyssey we were undertaking; the other reason being was my mentor was to busy leading to instruct me on a damn thing.
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So, I did what every red-blooded American would I would take matters into my own now tiny hands. I went around and watched the magistrate's daily activities; only the mid-tier used magic intermittently throughout the day, low-class magi had their servants cater to the vainest of needs. It would seem power clouds the mind no matter what universe you were in alternative or otherwise.
After days full of ass-kissing and schmoozing with the low-class magi for the slightest bit of clues on telekinesis, I pieced together what I needed using the poorly described explanations I received. Honing the most useful skill in my repertoire would be the best course of action as I was a defenseless boy in a world of super-powered bureaucrats.
The stone began to levitate off my palm in my imaginary grasp, and the effort to raise it brought beads of sweat down my face as two more rose up shakily, threatening to fall right out of the sky. Slowly I began to make them dance through the air it was like wading through syrup, the act of moving three objects separately, happened to be just as hard as patting your head and rubbing your belly while hopping on one foot it was a nightmare.
The battle against the forces of gravity ended abruptly when someone grabbed my wrist. The sudden action caused me to lose concentration; the stones dropped merrily, as if happy to return to the ground. I could swear the world had suddenly taken on a red hue as I raised my head to assess my soon to be victim, it was Habib, a low tier magus one that stood in the anti-Abraxas corner of the magi council. "Boy, what In Yahweh are you doing," Habib asked with a look of pure disbelief. "Training what does it look like" I responded heatedly quickly pulling my wrist free.
Habib stared me down expecting some sort of apology I smirked at him and thought funny how he thought he deserved one
"If you would excuse me…senior Hab-,'' I started. "Boy your head is as empty as the sky, what exactly were you trying to accomplish, outing magic to the common folk" He interrupted. I could feel the heat rushing to my face as I took in my surroundings, amongst the weary convoy were common folk staring wild-eyed at me. "Heka wasn't? It boy, I believe you'd better come with me. It would seem your education is severely lacking!" Habib said as he put his hand upon my back to guide me to our destination. I resisted the urge to slap his hand away, and it would appear the day was far from over, I thought as I resigned myself to my fate.
Gamal the Forsaken 2570 African continent
The sun had set upon another glorious day; the red-billed oxpeckers flew homeward bound. Gamal was enjoying this moment for what it was blissful; this journey gave him precisely what he desired. If this expedition failed, it was on Abraxas, and if they succeeded, everyone benefitted. Gamal returned his thoughts to the squabbling pair in front of him, Sabra and Dawud were deep into a debate about what mystical arts and advancements the Kushite would have to offer from the biggest threat to Egypt's Dominance the Nubian menace, the Kingdom of Kerma. While the debate continued about absent a member, Gamal investigated a disturbance in the distance, making its way towards him. Habib looking frustrated beyond measure pulling a young boy along by the arm, upon further reflection, the boy seemed oddly familiar.
Gamal could not help but smile at the thought of what this village boy could have done to send one of the most passive men he knew over the edge. Catching Habib's gaze, Gamal gave the man a slight nod towards the boy, seemingly grateful Habib changed course mid-step, making a bee-line straight to Gamal. "Either the company you keep are getting younger, or you're getting older, my friend!" Quipped Gamal. "Ah, I am getting older, my friend, and even more by the second with this one in tow." Habib replied with a sigh, "what did the Nubian boy do steal a loaf of bread" Gamal continued jokingly. Habib' s widened and turned to the boy reappraising him. "Nubian?" the boy seemed just as surprised as his captor. Laughing at both of their surprise at the apparent piece of information, "look at him, it was quite telling by his features" Gamal supplied, "although I can see both Nubian and Egyptian features. A half-breed perhaps," Gamal continued surprised himself at the oddity before him.
True, it was not unheard-of Nubians who were not much different from the Egyptians. Yet, the constant animosity seemed to demure any friendly advances on either side. "is that why I am here?" an unfamiliar voice questioned no one in particular. Surprising, Gamal even further Habib retorted, "no boy, you know damn well why you are here" the boy made an obnoxiously loud click with his tongue. Gamal could not help but chuckle at the gall the boy had in spades, Habib, on the other hand, seemed far wearier from the extended company of the Nubian. Habib looked to Gamal "The boy is Magi, I believe he's the ward of Abraxas" pulling the wrist he held up to pull him closer Habib continued "I caught him using the Arts in the open for all to see" Habib surveyed the surrounding during his spiel no doubt wary of prying ears. The boy in question was silent and studying Gamal and Habib Intensely, not a hint of shame or fear on his face.
Gamal sighed he had heard of Abraxas ward the boy was his key to buying access to Kerma, numerous attempts to placate the savages to the south, and we would do so with a child of mild import. Allowing the boy into the Magi Council showed our willingness to accept the southerners, having a man on the inside to pilfer secrets worked in our favor as well.
The boy was not getting the tutelage he needed with Abraxas busy with this expedition, starving for an outlet for his budding power. This was a sign from the gods a chance for Gamal to impart his teachings to one who could rise to heights he never would. "Boy…what is your name?" queried Gamal with a new light of hope in his eyes as he saw past the boy towards the future. "Heka…my name is Heka." hesitated the boy now known to all as Heka. "Well, Young Heka, I have a proposition for you."